Book123

    Free register and download UseNet downloader, then you can FREE Download from UseNet.

    Download without Limit " Lyrics & Music Baker's Biographical Dictionary of Musicians, Vol. 2 " from UseNet for FREE!

More

Baker's Biographical Dictionary of Musicians, Vol. 2

Although longtime Baker's editor Slonimsky died in 1995, his easily recognizable, sometimes tongue-in-cheek style pervades this ninth, or "centennial," edition of his famed dictionary. Since the last edition in 1992, this most important reference source has been greatly broadened and is especially valuable for its biographical sketches of 20th-century jazz and popular musicians, written and edited by leading authors in the fields. In addition, series advisory editor Laura Kuhn has overseen the expansion of the articles on classic musicians. One of the best features of the new Baker's is its expansion from a huge, single-volume work into six volumes. Despite the occasional and generally minor mistake-Louis Moreau Gottschalk's pseudonym "Seven Octaves" is given as "Steven Octaves," for example-this centennial edition should prove to be a most valuable reference tool both in music and public libraries. In fact, because of its coverage of even somewhat minor figures, the new Baker's should prove to be an excellent companion to the just-released second edition of The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians. Nonmusicians in particular will delight in Baker's, largely because of Slonimsky's light-hearted spirit. The personalities covered here are indexed by nationality, genre, and time period in Volume 6, and the best of Slonimsky's introductions to previous editions are reprinted in Volume 1. [The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, 2d ed., will be reviewed in LJ 3/15/01; a review of the online edition will appear in a future Database&Disc column.-Ed.]-James E. Perone, Mount Union Coll., Alliance, OH. Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.

This new edition of a six-volume reference (originally edited by eminent musicologist, Nicolas Slonimsky, who died in 1995) contains an additional 2,000-plus entries on popular, jazz, country, and rock musicians, as well as 20th-century classical musicians not previously covered. The genre index shows inclusion of early music, renaissance, baroque, classical, romantic, modern, early jazz, bebop, swing, country, pop, rock, avant-garde, revivalist, and r&b/rap. Entries on composers contain the titles of major compositions (operas, ballets, symphonic works) together with dates of first performance. Those on musicologists list most of their published books in various languages, and some of their significant articles in the musical press. As for performers, their most signal accomplishments are brought out, with dates of their European and American d<'e>buts. A similar service is done for outstanding music teachers, with a list of their educational positions. Although this is technically a dictionary of musicians, many other individuals connected with music are included (librettists, publishers, impresarios, etc.). Introductions to this and previous editions are found in Volume I. Among other items of interest, they reveal the challenges of separating fact from fiction and lore in collecting biographical data. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Buy Book at Lowest Price on Amazon

Rating:
2.5 out of 5 by Book123