Who are the ten most important classical composers? Who in the world was Palestrina? Why did Stravinsky's "Rite of Spring" cause a riot? Which five of each important composer's works should you buy? What is a concerto and how does it differ from a sonata? Maybe you don't know the answers to these questions; author Phil Goulding certainly didn't. When Goulding first tried to learn about classical music, he found himself buried in an avalanche of technical terms and complicated jargon--so he decided to write the book he couldn't find. The result is a complete classical music education in one volume. Comprehensive, discriminating, and delightfully irreverent, Classical Music provides such essential information as:
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Rankings of the top 50 composers (Bach is #1. Borodin is #50)
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A detailed and anecdotal look at each composer's life and work
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The five primary works of each composer and specific recommended CDs for each.
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Further great works of each composer--if you really like him
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Concise explanations of musical terminology, forms, and periods
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A guide to the parts and history of the symphony orchestra
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