Encyclopedia of Music

A comprehensive encyclopedia of musical instruments, covering all sections of the orchestra; and an authoritative guide to over 100 famous classical composers.

This title covers Musical Instruments and the art of music-making. This is a comprehensive encyclopedia of musical instruments, covering all sections of the orchestra: strings, woodwind and brass, percussion, keyboards and the voice, as well as historical, rare and non-Western instruments. This is an authoritative guide to over 100 of the most famous classical composers, from Bach to Xenakis, encompassing all styles of compositions from medieval times to the present day. It describes the fascinating lives of the great composers, the places where they lived and worked, scenes from their ballets or operas, and examples of original scripts. It is fully illustrated with over 1000 photographs and illustrations of musical instruments and composers. This comprehensive encyclopedia gives an overview of the way music has developed, beginning with ancient civilizations through to the present day. The section on music-making shows how instruments, ensembles and orchestras evolved and all the elements that co-ordinate to make them function. The book then provides an illustrative guide to the most influential composers: those who have defined or developed particular styles of composition, and who have created for themselves a significant place in music history. Over 100 composers are featured, including the pre-eminent Bach, Mozart and Beethoven, other greats such as Vivaldi, Schubert and Tchaikovsky, and modern composers such as Carter, Boulez and Stockhausen.