The Symphony
A Listener's Guide
Published on 1. April 1999
Book
Paperback/Softback
704 pages
978-0-19-512665-5 (ISBN)
Description
From the agile beauty of Mozart's `Jupiter' and the fierce power of Beethoven's Fifth to the celebration of heroism in Shostakovich's `Leningrad,' the symphony has long held a prime place in the Western musical pantheon. Now, in The Symphony, renowned teacher and critic Michael Steinberg offers music lovers a monumental guide to this most celebrated of musical forms, with perceptive commentaries on some 118 works by 36 major composers.
Tracing the ways in which composers have dealt with the extraordinary musical challenges that have engaged them throughout the centuries, Steinberg takes us through the revolutions of expression, sound, and form that have shaped the symphony's remarkable history.
Tracing the ways in which composers have dealt with the extraordinary musical challenges that have engaged them throughout the centuries, Steinberg takes us through the revolutions of expression, sound, and form that have shaped the symphony's remarkable history.
Reviews / Votes
a treat for those addicted to reading the program notes before the concert begins * Booklist * an essential book for any concertgoer and any new or veteran fan of classical music * Michael Tilson Thomas, Music Director, The San Francisco Symphony *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
New York
United States
Illustrations
music examples
Dimensions
Height: 234 mm
Width: 156 mm
Thickness: 37 mm
Weight
1042 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-19-512665-5 (9780195126655)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Michael Steinberg is the program annotator of the San Francisco Symphony and the New York Philharmonic. He has been on the faculty of the Manhattan School of Music and the New England Conservatory, and was the music critic for The Boston Globe for twelve years.