The 100 Greatest Composers and Their Musical Works: An Introduction to the Fascinating World of Classical Music

by Gary a Smook

Overview

His fascinating exploration takes you inside the rich music and colorful lives of the world's greatest classical composers. From Bach to Stravinsky and beyond, you will learn how the unique life stories of these gifted composers are reflected in the musical masterpieces that we enjoy to this day.

Designed as an introductory book on classical music, this comprehensive collection presents biographical snapshots of the major composers in the context of distinct historical and stylistic periods and in relation to their notable contemporaries. Special attention is given to recognizing their prominent musical works. The book delineates the many forms of instrumental and vocal music; and it explores the "basics" of tonality, musical structure, performance criteria, the orchestra and its instruments, orchestration, chamber music, and the cataloguing of musical works. As well, the newcomer to classical music will find advice on building a musical library.

This book is an excellent source of information about classical music in a unique and entertaining format. It will help lay the foundation for a lifelong love of classical music, through the great musical heritage of these fine composers.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781525537868
Publisher:	FriesenPress
Publication date:	07/25/2019
Pages:	388
Sales rank:	714,553
Product dimensions:	7.00(w) x 10.00(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

Gary Smook has loved classical music all his life. It's been a constant companion throughout his career as a process engineer, a post-secondary instructor, and creator (along with his wife) of a publishing business. In retirement, Gary wants to share his passion for classical music with a new generation of people who are receptive to developing an appreciation.

Gary has a B.S. in chemical engineering from the University of California, Berkeley. He has written two technical books: Handbook for Pulp and Paper Technologists, 1st Edition (1982), 2nd Edition (1992), 3rd Edition (2002), 4th Edition (2016); and Handbook of Pulp and Paper Terminology, 1st Edition (1990), 2nd Edition (2000). The first title sold more than eighty thousand copies in four editions, and is the all-time bestseller in the paper industry.

He lives in Vancouver, British Columbia, with his wife, Hilda Wiebe

Editorial Reviews

2019-07-24
A comprehensive introduction to the world of classical music makes a case for the 100 greatest composers.

Intended as an entry point for those interested in the subject but who lack knowledge, this debut book offers an overview of the history of classical music and Smook's list of the greatest composers, beginning in the Baroque period and ending with 20th-century giants. The volume's ranking relies on a six-tier rating system for composers based on "the aesthetic importance of their major musical works; the overall substance of their musical legacy; their innovations in musical form and style; their influence on other composers." In the first and highest tier, the author lists Bach, Mozart, and Beethoven. Unsurprisingly, German and Austrian composers are the most represented in Smook's conservative list. Each composer entry delivers a brief biography and includes a section on the artist's musical legacy. The author offers this description of Chopin's legacy (the Polish composer is in Tier 3 of Smook's rating): "Chopin created or developed a number of new forms of solo piano music to exploit his poetic use of the instrument." The legacy sections include samplings of the composers' popular works. There are also miniprofiles of artists who almost made the top 100 list (among them, Anton Webern—musical cousin to Schoenberg—and the Estonian minimalist composer Arvo Pärt). The author's descriptions are a bit dry though the book is intended for neophyte listeners. The brief overview of classical music history effectively avoids jargon and includes clear definitions of musical terms (for example, "cantata" and "recitative music"). In the introduction, the author admits to no formal musical training and confesses that he doesn't play an instrument. The work adds nothing new to interpretations of classical music ("I am not presenting new information," Smook asserts). The volume also suffers from a bizarre insistence on categorization—"Remember that music falls into four basic categories," he tells readers, which he identifies as Orchestral, Chamber, Keyboard, and Vocal. Still, the book should serve as a helpful and handy guide to those new to the genre.

This compendium of musical biographies offers useful insights and accessible descriptions of various styles, composers, and periods.

Kirkus Reviews