Renowned music critic Conrad Wilson illuminates the music of some of history's greatest composers in relation to their private lives. In each "Notes on ..." volume Wilson selects twenty crucial works of a given composer, discusses each masterpiece with insight and verve, and tells why these particular works are fundamental to understanding the composer.Permeating these pages are Wilson's vast musical expertise and his colorful, succinct, polished prose style. Meant for any general reader interested in music, these guidebooks are ideal for dipping into as well as reading straight through.
Wilson's books on Mozart, Beethoven, and Schubert are the first three volumes of more to come.
Each "Notes on ..." volumedescribes the composer's status and how our perception of him has changed over the years offers outstanding commentary on twenty select works -- a cross-section of the composer's output -- in order of composition interweaves the composer's musical approach with the events of his life clears up old myths that have grown up around the composer points readers to choice recordings of the music discussed explains technical terms in a brief glossary includes a short, annotated "further reading" list
