The Great Composers: An Illustrated Guide To The Lives, Key Works And Influences Of Over 100 Renowned Composers

by Wendy Thompson

This authoritative volume provides a beautifully illustrated guide to the most influential composers of classical music: those who have defined or developed particular styles of composition, and created for themselves a significant place in music history. Starting from medieval times, the book gives detailed biographies covering the life and times of each composer, listing their most important works and placing them in their historical context.

There are over 100 individual entries, from the pre-eminent Bach, Mozart and Beethoven to other greats such as Vivaldi, Schubert and Tchaikovsky, continuing up to modern composers such as Carter, Boulez and Stockhausen. The entries are accompanied by portraits or photographs of each composer, illustrations of the places where they lived and worked, scenes from their ballets or operas, and examples of their original handwritten manuscripts.

The text also explores each composer's place in society, with analyses of the contemporary events and artistic movements that influenced their work, and information about how their compositions were regarded by other composers and the public. Biographies and lists of principal works are provided for each entry.

For the enthusiast looking for a reference volume of their favourite composers, or for all those who love classical music and want to find out more, The Great Composers is an essential companion.

Genres: Music

256 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2001

About the author

Wendy Thompson studied piano and violin at the Royal College of Music, London, and then musicology and French Baroque opera at King's College, London. She subsequently moved to publishing, working on the New Groove Dictionary of Music and the New Oxford Companion to Music, and was Editorial Director of Faber Music Limited from 1986-91. In between she spent six years working for the BBC's Music Information Department, and continued a parallel career as a freelance violinist.

In 1993 Wendy Thompson founded Classic Arts Productions Limited, an independent radio production company that provides distinguished music programmes for BBC Radio 3, including the award-winning weekly series Private Passions, the music quiz Full Score, and the series on 20th-century British music and poetry A Land Without Music?. Classic Arts has also recorded many live concerts and concert series.

Wendy Thompson has published several books, including Piano Competition: The Story of the Leeds, Mozart: A Bicentennial Tribute, titles on Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, Debussy and Tchaikovsky in the Composer's World series, and biographies of Handel and Grieg. She provides programme notes on a regular basis for the BBC and the Philharmonia Orchestra, among others.

Reviews

[Peter Asaad · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book shows to the reader a high variety in classical Music , shows Names Immortalized by their masterpieces .
the author summarized the lifetime of the composer with the major works which made the best impacts in his life and after .
mainly it's a very good book to collect and bookmark invaluable pieces of music by it's Composer .

[Suanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

The colourful illustrations (found in every page of the book) are very visually pleasing - some of which are even arresting - this book makes for a truly light coffee-table read; however, it is not very informative nor comprehensive - every composer is only glossed over with merely one to two pages dedicated to each, and many of their major works bore no mention.

Somehow, it seems to me that this book is meant for casual classical music fans new to this genre, rather than the serious enthusiast.

[Keita Hayakawa · Rating 5 out of 5]

10,8 60 min
Level 3 IBC PUBLISHER

worry
life
love
change
enjoy
share
feeling

This book is about love and life.The author said love changes person. But if rush to get the love,it is bad thing. The author said time is very important.

Question

Please tell me your ways that change feeling when you are nurvous.

In my case, I often sleep when I feel tired of mental or I go outside and walk around my town.

[Linda]

Easy to read and understand and loved the illustrations

[Vasile · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fantastic piece of work with great detail and illustrations...