Schubert (Master Musicians Series) - Hardcover

Reed, John

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0028648145 ISBN 13: 9780028648149

Publisher: Schirmer Reference, 1997

Synopsis

When this much acclaimed biography was published ten years ago, Eric Sams welcomed it as 'a model of critical biography ...an essential vade mecum for all Schubertians'. In the intervening years, however, Schubert's public image has changed considerably. He has, since the 1860s, been the favourite composer of the man in the street, but the view from the academic lecture room has not always been equally attractive. Now the doctoral theses flow from the university presses, and 1997, when Schubert's bicentenary is celebrated, is likely to see many more. Modern scholarship in the meantime has destroyed many of the familiar hagiographic images of Schubert the man, the impoverished Bohemian, the eternal youth, the reluctant lover, the genius in the garret, and has even dared to bring Schubert's sexuality within the compass of critical discussion. This has made it necessary to revise thoroughly the main text of the book as well as the four detailed appendices which serve as a useful reference section to the book. Its aim remains the same: to provide a readable, authoritative, and reliable guide to Schubert's life and works for the student, the musician, and the general reader.

About this title

Review:

The most remarkable composer of song literature in the history of Western music, Franz Schubert sometimes gets overlooked in favor of his more bombastic contemporaries. 1997 marks the bicentennial of his birth; record companies and concert programmers, who love such pegs, have accordingly scheduled loads of Schubert for the year. You can find some useful insights into the composer and his work with this biography, a slightly expanded version of the essay written for the New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians. Also helpful is the detailed chronicle of his music, arranged by type and date of composition.

About the Author:

Formerly a music critic for the Manchester Guardian, John Reed is the author of several books on Schubert.

About this edition

• Publisher: Schirmer Reference
• Publication date: 1997
• ISBN 10: 0028648145
• ISBN 13: 9780028648149
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 270