The Music of Howard Ferguson

Publication: London, Thames Publishing, 1989 Formatting: 8vo, pp. 124. Condition Report: Near Fine. This copy presents exceptionally well, featuring a remarkably tight and square binding that feels entirely unread. The publisherâs tan cloth boards are pristine, entirely devoid of shelf-wear, bumping, or corner rubbing, while the gilt tooling to the spine remains notably bright and free of oxidation. Internally, the page block is crisp and the leaves are wonderfully bright, bearing no traces of foxing, age-toning, or marginalia. The original dust-jacket is similarly excellent; it remains unclipped, retaining the original price to the rear panel, and shows only the most trivial edge-wear and trace surface rubbing, with no chips, tears, or significant fading. Catalogue Note: This is a true First Edition of Alan Ridoutâs comprehensive symposium on the music of Howard Ferguson. Issued to coincide with the composer's eightieth birthday, the work includes a memoir by Ferguson himself alongside detailed analytical chapters from leading musicians and scholars. The text is supplemented by in-text musical quotations and photographic illustrations, offering a complete bibliographic and discographic record of Fergusonâs output up to the time of publication. The striking dust-jacket features a 1984 portrait of the composer by the esteemed British artist Benedict Rubbra. While titles from smaller, specialist music imprints can often be difficult to source in collector's condition, this edition remains relatively accessible on the open market. Finding a copy that retains such a crisp, unclipped jacket and an unread binding, however, is increasingly uncommon, making this a highly desirable addition for collectors of twentieth-century British classical music. Blurb: Published to mark the eightieth birthday of the celebrated Northern Irish composer and musicologist, The Music of Howard Ferguson offers an unprecedented, in-depth exploration of his creative legacy. Edited by fellow composer Alan Ridout, this authoritative symposium gathers insights from distinguished musicians such as Denis Matthews and Yfrah Neaman, delving into Ferguson's chamber, orchestral, and choral works, as well as his highly respected scholarly editions. Complete with an intimate personal memoir by Ferguson himself, this volume stands as the definitive testament to a musician whose meticulous craftsmanship and profound emotional resonance have left an indelible mark on twentieth-century British music.…