Classical Music: Third Ear: The Essential Listening Companion

by Alexander Morin

Ranging from Gregorian chant to Philip Glass, this well-balanced guide to historical and contemporary classical music examines major works by 500 composers worldwide. It focuses on exemplary recordings of symphonies, operas, concertos, choral pieces, chamber music, piano pieces and other works performed by an international spectrum of premier conductors, musicians and vocalists. Incisive, often anecdotal critiques define the distinctive style and interpretation of thousands of selected works and recordings. Composers profiled and reviewed include: Bach, Beethoven, Bernstein, Brahms, Chopin, Copland, Czerny, Debussy, Gershwin, Gilbert & Sullivan, Handel, Haydn, Mozart, Prokofieff, Puccini, Reich, Schubert, Tchaikovsky, Varese, Wagner and hundreds of others.

Genres: Music, Classical Music, Reference, Nonfiction, History

1 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 2001

Reviews

[Ed · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't own this book (unfortunately!), but it is in the collection of my local public library and I have been consulting it for years. While no record guide can possibly be "complete," this one aims at a comprehensiveness that is very useful when considering or comparing recordings. The Penguin Guide often presents multiple versions, and more extensive reviews, but it lacks a certain something which I don't know exactly how to say it, a certain je ne sais quoi. The Gramophone Good CD Guide, while containing interesting reviews, is much more limited, and claims to choose the "best" versions. But this is the one I often turn to in establishing a playing field.

[Wake Harper · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is getting on in years now - and I don't think an update will be coming - but for me it eclipses any of the old Gramophone or Penguin guides. The recommendations to me seem more expert, less biased, and arranged in a more entertaining manner.

A weakness is that coverage of composers is inconsistent. About a single page for Bruckner, while 30+ pages on Handel operas (great if you like Handel's operas, but still...)? However, most major composers are given somewhere in between. If you are into collecting classical recordings, this is essential - though just bear in mind that it was published in 2003.

[Ron · Rating 5 out of 5]

I prefer this over the Penguin guides that have come out. This book is fairly thorough, with opinions on various recordings of classical music, sorted by composer. The names of conductors and performers are highlighted in bold throughout for easy reference. Excellent reference.

[Chuck · Rating 4 out of 5]

Older book and the layout is rough but a very good, compendious guide to classical recordings.