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Music Books - A Quick Reference
Related thread
Music Books - A Quick Reference
“Never argue with an idiot. They will drag you down to their level and beat you with experience.” ― Mark Twain
"Liberté, égalité, fraternité"
The biographies by Steven C. Smith are quite good
I just received Swafford's Beethoven biography. It's a massive hardcover, weighs about 4 pounds. I prefer to read lying on my back in bed but I'm afraid of dropping this on my face. The paperback version seems to be rare and more expensive. Paperbacks can be heavy, too. I wish they would print big books in multiple volumes.
It looks good, though. I enjoyed Swafford's (smaller) Brahms biography.
Last edited by Open Book; Dec-03-2020 at 20:41.
"No one chooses the tuba" - Alexander von Puttkamer
Get a forklift!Originally Posted by Open Book
Open Book liked this post
Imogen Holst's biography of her father is a great book but she can be a little hard on his music.
Alma Mahler's autobiography of her life with her husband is good. I read it years ago. What stood out from the first read is the death of their little daughter from disease. Shocking that it was a common occurrence for people to lose children in those days, they lived with that agony. That event was responsible for the deep emotion expressed in his symphonies.
I read bits and pieces again and learned that she was at first critical of his music (she was a composer herself) but that they were drawn to each other immediately, soul mates.
Last edited by Open Book; Dec-03-2020 at 23:37.
"No one chooses the tuba" - Alexander von Puttkamer
The two volume biography of Stravinsky by Stephen Walsh is, I would say, a major achievement.
I agree. I thought that the Verdi one was particularly good. The Brahms and Shostakovich lectures are also fine, but shorter.
I bought the Kindle version when it was on sale for a couple of bucks.
DjPooChoo liked this post
Yeah, if anything were to convert me to trying Kindle, you'd think this would be it.
"No one chooses the tuba" - Alexander von Puttkamer
This is a biography about 3 composers. Very informative and pretty well written.
Schoenberg, Berg, and Webern: A Companion to the Second Viennese School
You hit on the main reason I use a Kindle. I like to read while laying on the couch, and I've had too many incidents of dozing off and having the book bounce off my nose.
Roger Knox liked this post
Swafford Brahms VG!
Have often considered the Beethoven!
Last edited by jim prideaux; Dec-04-2020 at 22:50.
'so where are the strong, who are the trusted and where is the harmony, sweet harmony?'
(Nick Lowe)
Roger Knox liked this post
Swafford's Beethoven would break your nose.
Last edited by Open Book; Dec-04-2020 at 22:59.
"No one chooses the tuba" - Alexander von Puttkamer
Roger Knox liked this post
Alfred Einstein on Mozart is written with considerable stylistic elegance.
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