This is a companion set to Naxos' "The A~Z of Opera" (previously reviewed.. It follows the same format and is an ideal compilation for people who are new to classical music as well as classical music buffs. It contains a double CD with two and a half hours of classical music (as you would expect) ... Read review
Is it a two-CD set with a particularly thick booklet, or a 562-page book with a ... more
compilation album attached? Whichever, the unpretentious text by Keith Anderson offers a basic introduction to the lives and works of dozens of composers, together with rec...
Postage & Packaging: Free! Availability: Usually dispatched within 4 to 6 weeks...
Wise Publications A-Z of Classical Music: Over 60 of the most famous pieces in classical ... more
music specially arranged for easy Piano; Ave Maria (Schubert), Barcarolle (Offenbach), Brandenburg Concerto No.6 (Bach), Clair du Lune (Debussy), La Donna č mobile (Verdi), Eine kleine Nachtmusik (Mozart), Für Elise (Beethoven), Liebesträume (Liszt), Ode to Joy (Beethoven), Nimrod (Elgar), Pie Jesu (Fauré), Träumerei (Schumann) and more
Postage & Packaging:refer to website Availability:in stock
Is it a two-CD set with a particularly thick booklet, or a 562-page book with a ... more
compilation album attached? Whichever, the unpretentious text by Keith Anderson offers a basic introduction to the lives and works of dozens of composers, together with recommended recordings from the Naxos and Marco Polo catalogues. Anderson also includes a useful 59-page glossary of musical terms and an extensive listing of which classical pieces have been employed in which films. The odd thing about the 36 extracts and complete pieces on the CDs is that they do not form an A-Z at all, but are arranged chronologically, from 1,000-year-old Gregorian chant to the opening movement of contemporary composer Philip Glass's Violin Concerto. Between these two points is the early music of Palestrina and Byrd, the baroque glories of Vivaldi and Bach, the 19th-century romantic masters from Beethoven to Tchaikovsky, and such 20th-century greats as Rachmaninov and Stravinsky. Opera, song and chamber music are barely represented, but there isonly so much that can fit into 151 minutes. Essentially a deluxe sampler for the vast Naxos catalogue, the discs offer a good introduction to some of the most famous and melodic music ever composed, while the book will be very useful to the newcomer to the potentially confusing world of classical music. --Gary S Dalkin
Postage & Packaging:£1.21 Availability:Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Advantages: An excellent introduction to Classical Music Disadvantages: None
This is a companion set to Naxos' "The A~Z of Opera" (previously reviewed.. It follows the same format and is an ideal compilation for people who are new to classical music as well as classical music buffs. It contains a double CD with two and a half hours of classical music (as you would expect) and a 562 page book (not quite as thick as the Opera one) compiled and written again by Keith Anderson.
So what's in the pack? .../>
This contains 562 pages of information pertaining to classical music. It's the same size as a CD and fairly thick. The text is concise and clear and informative, with portraits of composers throughout. After the index you get 450 pages of concise histories of composers, with recommendations of recordings from the Naxos catalogue. It is arranged in alphabetical order, and starts with Adolphe Adam and is completed by Bernd Alois Zimmerman. As well ... more
This is a companion set to Naxos' "The A~Z of Opera" (previously reviewed.. It follows the same format and is an ideal compilation for people who are new to classical music as well as classical music buffs. It contains a double CD with two and a half hours of classical music (as you would expect) and a 562 page book (not quite as thick as the Opera one) compiled and written again by Keith Anderson.
So what's in the pack?
~~ The Book
This contains 562 pages of information pertaining to classical music. It's the same size as a CD and fairly thick. The text is concise and clear and informative, with portraits of composers throughout. After the index you get 450 pages of concise histories of composers, with recommendations of recordings from the Naxos catalogue. It is arranged in alphabetical order, and starts with Adolphe Adam and is completed by Bernd Alois Zimmerman. As well as details about the composer there are sections on the different types of music each composer produced (e.g. keyboard, opera, dance etc.). This is an excellent reference volume and full of lots of useful information. It would an excellent addition to any library or school music department.
This is followed by a sixty page glossary of musical terms, which also includes musical instruments and styles. Ideal for awkward crossword clues. There is then a forty five page section on classical music used in films, ordered by film name. The book is completed by a list of illustrations followed by a page about the author. The package is worth buying for the book alone.
~~ The Music
There are two CDs , arranged in chronological order , giving a good representation of classical music drawn from the Naxos catalogue. The names are not all familiar , but the music is uniformly excellent, so for every Beethoven you get a Corelli, for every Verdi you get a Palestrina and so on. The first CD opens with a Gregorian Chant (De Profundis) and is followed by "O Virga Mediatrix" by Hildegard Von Bingen. More familiar territory is covered on the second CD which opens with Scubert's "Ave Maria" and includes Mendelssohn's "Wedding March" , finishing with Orff's "O Fortuna", Britten's "Playful Pizzicato" and Glass' "Violin Concerto - 1st Movement". A very listenable collection, and available for 8.99 GBP from Amazon.
This is the sort of opinion where a spell checker is not much uses. I hope I got all the names right.
Product Information for "A-Z of Classical Music" »
Product details
Title
A-Z of Classical Music
Composer
Abbess Hildegard of Bingen (1098 - 1179); Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina (1525/6-1594); William Byrd (1543 - 1623); Johann Pachelbel (1653 - 1706); Arcangelo Corelli (1653 - 1713); François Couperin (1668 - 1733); Antonio (Lucio) Vivaldi (1678 - 1741); Georg Philipp Telemann (1681 - 1767); Johann Sebastian Bach (1685 - 1750); George Frideric Handel (1685 - 1759)
Main Performer
Laurence Cummings (Harpsichord); Takako Nishizaki (Violin); Miroslav Kejmar (Trumpet); Jenö Jandó (Piano); Ernst Ottensamer (Clarinet)
Orchestra / Ensemble(s)
Oxford Camerata Choir; Red Byrd; Rose Consort of Viols Choir
Date of Release
02/10/2000
Recomended Retail Price
9.99 GBP
Label / Distributor
Naxos / Select
Pieces in Set
2
Running Time
3 hours 31 minutes
Genre(s)
Vocal and choral, Chamber, Orchestral, Instrumental, Stage works
EAN
747313531929
Catalogue Number
8
Work 1
Work Title
O virga mediatrix
Excerpt(s)
1. O virga mediatrix
Composer
Abbess Hildegard of Bingen (1098 - 1179)
Genre
Vocal & Choral
Conductor
Jeremy Summerly
Orchestra / Ensemble
Oxford Camerata Choir
Work 2
Work Title
Missa Papae Marcelli
Excerpt(s)
1. Gloria
Composer
Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina (1525/6-1594)
Genre
Vocal & Choral
Date Written
Published 1567
Conductor
Jeremy Summerly
Orchestra / Ensemble
Oxford Camerata Choir
Work 3
Work Title
Pavan and Galliard a 6, C, BE17/15
Excerpt(s)
1. Pavan and Galliard a 6, C, BE17/15
Composer
William Byrd (1543 - 1623)
Genre
Chamber
Orchestra / Ensemble
Rose Consort of Viols Choir
Orchestra / Ensemble
Red Byrd
Work 4
Work Title
Canon and Gigue in D
Excerpt(s)
1. Canon
Composer
Johann Pachelbel (1653 - 1706)
Genre
Orchestral
Conductor
Richard Edlinger
Orchestra / Ensemble
Capella Istropolitana Orchestra
Work 5
Work Title
(12) Concerti Grossi, Op. 6
Excerpt(s)
1. Vivace - Grave
Composer
Arcangelo Corelli (1653 - 1713)
Genre
Orchestral
Date Written
Published 1714
Conductor
Jaroslav Krchek
Orchestra / Ensemble
Capella Istropolitana Orchestra
Work 6
Work Title
Concerts royaux
Excerpt(s)
1. Prélude
Composer
François Couperin (1668 - 1733)
Genre
Chamber
Date Written
Published 1722
Main Performer
Laurence Cummings (Harpsichord)
Opera Part(s)
Laurence Cummings
Work 7
Work Title
(12) Concerti for Violin and Strings, '(Il) cimento dell'armonia e dell'inventione', Op. 8
Excerpt(s)
1. Allegro
Composer
Antonio (Lucio) Vivaldi (1678 - 1741)
Genre
Orchestral
Date Written
Published 1725
Conductor
Stephen Gunzenhauser
Orchestra / Ensemble
Capella Istropolitana Orchestra
Main Performer
Takako Nishizaki (Violin)
Opera Part(s)
Takako Nishizaki
Work 8
Work Title
Concerto for Trumpet and Strings in D
Excerpt(s)
1. Adagio
Composer
Georg Philipp Telemann (1681 - 1767)
Genre
Orchestral
Conductor
Petr Skvor
Orchestra / Ensemble
Capella Istropolitana Orchestra
Main Performer
Miroslav Kejmar (Trumpet)
Opera Part(s)
Miroslav Kejmar
Work 9
Work Title
(4) Orchestral Suites, BWV1066-9
Excerpt(s)
1. Air ('Air on a G String')
Composer
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685 - 1750)
Genre
Orchestral
Date Written
c1717-23
Conductor
Jaroslav Dvorák
Orchestra / Ensemble
Capella Istropolitana Orchestra
Work 10
Work Title
Messiah, HWV56
Excerpt(s)
1. Hallelujah
Composer
George Frideric Handel (1685 - 1759)
Genre
Vocal & Choral
Date Written
1742
Orchestra / Ensemble
(The) Scholars Baroque Ensemble Choir
Work 11
Work Title
Symphony No. 104, 'London' in D
Excerpt(s)
1. Menuet
Composer
(Franz) Joseph Haydn (1732 - 1809)
Genre
Orchestral
Date Written
1795
Conductor
Barry Wordsworth
Orchestra / Ensemble
Capella Istropolitana Orchestra
Work 12
Work Title
Symphony in F Major, Grave F7
Excerpt(s)
1. Symphony in F Major, Grave F7
Composer
Carl Ditters von Dittersdorf (1739 - 1799)
Genre
Orchestral
Conductor
Uwe Grodd
Orchestra / Ensemble
Failoni Orchestra, Budapest
Work 13
Work Title
Serenade No. 13, "Eine kleine Nachtmusik" in G, K525
Excerpt(s)
1. Allegro
Composer
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756 - 1791)
Genre
Orchestral
Date Written
1787
Conductor
Wolfgang Sobotka
Orchestra / Ensemble
Capella Istropolitana Orchestra
Work 14
Work Title
Sonata for Piano No. 14, 'Moonlight' in C sharp minor, Op. 27/2
Excerpt(s)
1. Adagio sostenuto
Composer
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770 - 1827)
Genre
Instrumental
Date Written
1801
Main Performer
Jenö Jandó (Piano)
Opera Part(s)
Jenö Jandó
Work 15
Work Title
Concerto for Clarinet and Orchestra No. 2 in E flat, J118 (Op. 74)
Excerpt(s)
1. Andante
Composer
Carl Maria (Friedrich Ernst) von Weber (1786 - 1826)
Genre
Orchestral
Date Written
1811
Conductor
Johannes Wildner
Orchestra / Ensemble
CSSR State Philharmonic Orchestra
Main Performer
Ernst Ottensamer (Clarinet)
Opera Part(s)
Ernst Ottensamer
Work 16
Work Title
Stabat mater
Excerpt(s)
1. Quis est homo
Composer
Gioachino (Antonio) Rossini (1792 - 1868)
Genre
Vocal & Choral
Date Written
1832
Conductor
Pier Giorgio Morandi
Orchestra / Ensemble
Hungarian State Opera Orchestra
Orchestra / Ensemble
Hungarian State Opera Chorus
Main Performer
Antonio Siragusa (Tenor), Carlo Colombara (Bass), Gloria Scalchi (Mezzo soprano), Patrizia Pace (Soprano)
Opera Part(s)
Antonio Siragusa, Carlo Colombara, Gloria Scalchi, Patrizia Pace
Work 17
Work Title
Ave Maria, 'Ellens Gesang III', D839
Excerpt(s)
1. Ave Maria, 'Ellens Gesang III', D839
Composer
Franz (Peter) Schubert (1797 - 1828)
Genre
Vocal & Choral
Date Written
1825
Conductor
Lászlo Kovács
Orchestra / Ensemble
Budapest Camerata Orchestra
Main Performer
Ingrid Kertesi (Soprano)
Opera Part(s)
Ingrid Kertesi
Work 18
Work Title
Symphonie fantastique, Op. 14
Excerpt(s)
1. Un bal
Composer
(Louis-)Hector Berlioz (1803 - 1869)
Genre
Orchestral
Date Written
1830
Conductor
Pinchas Steinberg
Orchestra / Ensemble
Czecho-Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra
Work 19
Work Title
(A) Midsummer Night's Dream, Opp. 21 and 61
Excerpt(s)
1. Wedding March (Entr'acte to Act 5)
Composer
(Jakob Ludwig) Felix Mendelssohn (-Bartholdy) (1809 - 1847)
Genre
Stage works
Date Written
1826-1842
Conductor
Richard Hayman
Orchestra / Ensemble
Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra
Work 20
Work Title
Waltzes
Excerpt(s)
1. No. 6 in D flat, Op. 64/1 (Minute)
Composer
Fryderyk Franciszek Chopin (1810 - 1849)
Genre
Instrumental
Main Performer
Idil Biret (Piano)
Opera Part(s)
Idil Biret
Work 21
Work Title
Symphony No. 1, 'Spring' in B flat, Op. 38
Excerpt(s)
1. Larghetto
Composer
Robert (Alexander) Schumann (1810 - 1856)
Genre
Orchestral
Date Written
1841
Conductor
Alexander Rahbari
Orchestra / Ensemble
Brussels Belgian Radio & TV Philharmonic Orchestra
Work 22
Work Title
(Der) Ring des Nibelungen: Part 2, '(Die) Walküre'
Excerpt(s)
1. Ride of the Valkyries (concert version)
Composer
(Wilhelm) Richard Wagner (1813 - 1883)
Genre
Stage works
Date Written
1850
Conductor
Uwe Mund
Orchestra / Ensemble
Czecho-Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra
Work 23
Work Title
(La) traviata
Excerpt(s)
1. Prelude
Composer
Giuseppe (Fortunino Francesco) Verdi (1813 - 1901)
Genre
Stage works
Date Written
1853
Conductor
Alexander Rahbari
Orchestra / Ensemble
Czecho-Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra
Work 24
Work Title
(21) Hungarian Dances, WoO 1
Excerpt(s)
1. F (orch Brahms)
Composer
Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897)
Genre
Orchestral
Date Written
1852-69
Conductor
István Bogár
Orchestra / Ensemble
Budapest Symphony Orchestra
Work 25
Work Title
Swan Lake, Op. 20
Excerpt(s)
1. Scene finale (Andante)
Composer
Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky (1840 - 1893)
Genre
Stage works
Date Written
1877
Conductor
Ondrej Lenárd
Orchestra / Ensemble
Czecho-Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra
Work 26
Work Title
(16) Slavonic Dances, B78 & B145 (Opp. 46 & 72)
Excerpt(s)
1. B78 - No. 1 in C
Composer
Antonín Dvorák (1841 - 1904)
Genre
Chamber
Date Written
1878, 1886
Main Performer
Balázs Szokolay (Piano)
Opera Part(s)
Balázs Szokolay
Work 27
Work Title
Variations on an Original Theme, 'Enigma', Op. 36
Excerpt(s)
1. Nimrod
Composer
Sir Edward (William) Elgar (1857 - 1934)
Genre
Orchestral
Date Written
1898-99
Conductor
George Hurst
Orchestra / Ensemble
Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra
Work 28
Work Title
Suite bergamasque
Excerpt(s)
1. Clair de lune
Composer
(Achille-)Claude Debussy (1862 - 1918)
Genre
Instrumental
Date Written
1905
Conductor
Keith Clark
Orchestra / Ensemble
Czecho-Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra
Work 29
Work Title
Also sprach Zarathustra, 'Thus spake Zarathustra', Op. 30
Excerpt(s)
1. Opening
Composer
Richard (Georg) Strauss (1864 - 1949)
Genre
Orchestral
Date Written
1895-96
Conductor
Zdenek Kosler
Orchestra / Ensemble
Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra
Work 30
Work Title
(24) Preludes
Excerpt(s)
1. C sharp minor, Op. 3/2
Composer
Sergey (Vasil'yevich) Rachmaninov (1873 - 1943)
Genre
Instrumental
Main Performer
Idil Biret (Piano)
Opera Part(s)
Idil Biret
Work 31
Work Title
Fontane di Roma, 'Fountains of Rome'
Excerpt(s)
1. La fontana di Villa Medici al tramonto
Composer
Ottorino Respighi (1879 - 1936)
Genre
Orchestral
Date Written
1914-16
Conductor
Enrique Bátiz
Orchestra / Ensemble
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Work 32
Work Title
Pulcinella
Excerpt(s)
1. Sinfonia (Overture)
Composer
Igor (Fyodorovich) Stravinsky (1882 - 1971)
Genre
Stage works
Date Written
1922 rev 1949
Conductor
Stefan Sanderling
Orchestra / Ensemble
Bournemouth Sinfonietta Orchestra
Work 33
Work Title
Carmina Burana
Excerpt(s)
1. Fortuna imperatrix mundi - O Fortuna
Composer
Carl Orff (1895 - 1982)
Genre
Vocal & Choral
Date Written
1936
Conductor
Stephen Gunzenhauser
Orchestra / Ensemble
Czecho-Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra
Orchestra / Ensemble
Slovak Philharmonic Chorus
Work 34
Work Title
Simple Symphony, Op. 4
Excerpt(s)
1. Playful Pizzicato
Composer
(Edward) Benjamin (Lord Britten of Aldeburgh) Britten (1913 - 1976)
Genre
Orchestral
Date Written
1933-34
Conductor
Richard Studt
Orchestra / Ensemble
Bournemouth Sinfonietta Orchestra
Work 35
Work Title
Concerto for Violin and Orchestra
Composer
Philip Glass (b 1937)
Genre
Orchestral
Date Written
1987
Conductor
Takuo Yuasa
Orchestra / Ensemble
Ulster Orchestra
Main Performer
Adele Anthony (Violin)
Opera Part(s)
Adele Anthony
Ciao
Listed on Ciao since
17/04/2001
Compare A-Z of Classical Music to other similar Classical »
