Exploring Top Books of Shelfari

Spiritual Lives of the Great Composers

by Patrick Kavanaugh

This is a compelling and inspiring look at spiritual beliefs that influenced some of the world's greatest composers, now revised and expanded with eight additional composers.

Chamber Symphony No. 1 for 15 Solo Instruments, Op. 9

Chamber Symphony No. 1 for 15 Solo Instruments, Op. 9

by Arnold Schoenberg

This piece is unusual in concentrating all the elements of a symphony into a single movement; in being written for 15 solo instruments; in using chords built up of fourths; and in creating dissonances without immediate resolution. To its first audiences, the symphony seemed shocking. But today it is one of Schoenberg's most pleasing and accessible works. Scored for a chamber ensemble of flute, oboe, English horn,... (more)

Chopin's Funeral

by Benita Eisler

Frédéric Chopin’s reputation as one of the Great Romantics endures, but as Benita Eisler reveals in her elegant and elegiac biography, the man was more complicated than his iconic image. A classicist, conservative, and dandy who relished his conquest of Parisian society, the Polish émigré was for a while blessed with genius, acclaim, and the love of Europe’s most infamous woman writer, George Sand. But by the... (more)

Richard Strauss: Man, Musician, Enigma

by Michael Kennedy

Was Richard Strauss the most incandescent composer of the twentieth century or merely a bourgeoisie artist and Nazi sympathizer? For the fifty years since his death on September 8, 1949, Richard Strauss has remained dogmatically elusive in the wider body of musical and historical criticism. Lauded as nothing less than the "greatest musical figure" of his time by Canadian musician, Glenn Gould, in 1962, Strauss... (more)

The Secret Life of Eva Hathaway

by Janice Weber

Johannes Brahms: A Biography

by Jan Swafford

A New York Times Notable Book "This brilliant and magisterial book is a very good bet to...become the definitive study of Johannes Brahms."-- The Plain Dealer Judicious, compassionate, and full of insight into Brahms's human complexity as well as his music, Johannes Brahms is an indispensable biography. Proclaimed the new messiah of Romanticism by Robert Schumann when he was only twenty, Johannes Brahms... (more)

Bruckner (Master Musicians)

by Derek Watson

Celebrating its 100th anniversary, this extraordinary series continues to amaze and captivate its readers with detailed insight into the lives and work of music's geniuses. Unlike other composer biographies that focus narrowly on the music, this series explores the personal history of each composer and the social context surrounding the music. In a precise, engaging, and authoritative manner, each volume combines... (more)

The Beethoven CompanionLouis Biancolli

The Beethoven Companion

by Louis Biancolli

American ComposersDavid Ewen

American Composers

by David Ewen

Symphonies Nos. 3 and 4 in Full Score

by Gustav Mahler

Two brilliantly contrasting masterworks—one scored for a massive ensemble of full orchestra, two choruses and soloist, the other for small orchestra and soloist, the latter also marking Mahler’s move into the contrapuntal style of all his later works. Reprinted from authoritative Viennese editions with new translations of texts.

Fourth, Fifth and Sixth Symphonies in Full Score

Fourth, Fifth and Sixth Symphonies in Full Score

by Peter Ilyitch Tchaikovsky

Complete orchestral score of Symphony No. 4 in F Minor, Op. 36; Symphony No. 5 in E Minor, Op. 64; Symphony No. 6 in B Minor, "Pathetique," Op. 74. Study score. Breitkopf & Härtel editions.

Complete Chamber Music for Strings

by Felix Mendelssohn

All of Mendelssohn's chamber music: Octet, 2 Quintets, 6 Quartets, and Four Pieces for String Quartet. (Nothing with piano is included.) Complete works edition (1874–1877). Study score included.

Complete Chamber Music for Strings

by Franz Schubert

Gustav Mahler: The Symphonies

by Constantin Floros

Gustav Mahler thought of his symphonic writing as autobiographical, an expression of his philosophy of life. Important references to musical meaning in Mahler's symphonies can be found in sketches, drafts, autograph scores, and printers' proofs; they demonstrate that his symphonies cannot be classified as absolute music but rather as music with personal, biographical, literary, and philosophical meanings. In... (more)

The Planets: Op. 32 (Dover Miniature Scores)

The Planets: Op. 32 (Dover Miniature Scores)

by Gustav Holst

Symphony No. 1 in D Major: "Titan" (Dover Miniature Scores)

Symphony No. 1 in D Major: "Titan" (Dover Miniature Scores)

by Gustav Mahler

Vividly orchestrated, with innovative symphonic structure and rich emotional expression, this staple of the orchestral repertoire continues to enjoy longstanding popularity. Reprinted from the authoritative Josef Weinberger edition, the inexpensive high-quality volume features the full score in a conveniently sized edition that is ideal for study at home, in the classroom or the concert hall.

A Companion to Beethoven's Pianoforte Sonatas: Complete AnalysesDonald Francis, Sir Tovey

A Companion to Beethoven's Pianoforte Sonatas: Complete Analyses

by Donald Francis Tovey

Mozart Tonight

by Julie Downing

The life of the celebrated composer is related by Mozart himself in a first-person narrative complemented by vibrant illustrations with sumptuously authentic period details. Full-color illustrations.

Bagatelles, Rondos and Other Shorter Works for Piano

Bagatelles, Rondos and Other Shorter Works for Piano

by Ludwig van Beethoven

Most popular and most performed shorter works, including Rondo a capriccio in G and Andante in F. Breitkopf & Hartel edition.

Annees de Pelerinage, Complete

by Franz Liszt

Authoritative Russian edition of piano masterpieces, including Première Année (Suisse); Deuxième Année (Italie) and its supplement, Venezia e Napoli; Troisième Année, and a number of related pieces, including Apparitions and "Lyon" from Album d’un voyageur. New translation of Russian footnotes and of editor’s preface.

Shelfari Book Activity

Tags: composer

by Patrick Kavanaugh

by Arnold Schoenberg

by Benita Eisler

by Michael Kennedy

by Janice Weber

by Jan Swafford

by Derek Watson

by Louis Biancolli

by David Ewen

by Gustav Mahler

by Peter Ilyitch Tchaikovsky

by Felix Mendelssohn

by Franz Schubert

by Constantin Floros

by Gustav Holst

by Gustav Mahler

by Donald Francis Tovey

by Julie Downing

by Ludwig van Beethoven

by Franz Liszt