Music - Resources by Instrument

This unique book is an authoritative and detailed guide to all the best musical creations for small string ensembles, including prominent works by Mozart, Hayden, Beethoven, Schubert and more. It provides a description and evaluation of all the works covered, rating the level of difficulty and the level of enjoyment for the amateur performer.

Comprehensive database of original works written for the standard string quartet during the twentieth century. The sources of information include publishers' list, music reference materials, data from national music information centers, programmes, composers' correspondence and other publicity materials. Lawrence lists countries that have produced string quartets throughout the century, as well as the context of a composer's string-quartet output within the wider range of his/her work. Lawrence's book is a solid, comprehensive basis for investigation, welcome in universities and conservatories, as well as in any music enthusiast's library.

This Companion offers a concise and authoritative survey of the string quartet by eleven chamber music specialists. Its fifteen carefully structured chapters provide coverage of a stimulating range of perspectives previously unavailable in one volume. It focuses on four main areas: the social and musical background to the quartet's development; the most celebrated ensembles; string quartet playing, including aspects of contemporary and historical performing practice; and the mainstream repertory, including significant 'mixed ensemble' compositions involving string quartet. Various musical and pictorial illustrations and informative appendixes, including a chronology of the most significant works, complete this indispensable guide. Written for all string quartet enthusiasts, this Companion will enrich readers' understanding of the history of the genre, the context and significance of quartets as cultural phenomena, and the musical, technical and interpretative problems of chamber music performance. It will also enhance their experience of listening to quartets in performance and on recordings.

This research guide is an annotated bibliography of sources dealing with the string quartet. This second edition is organized as in the original publication (chapters for general references, histories, individual composers, aspects of performance, facsimiles and critical editions, and miscellaneous topics) and has been updated to cover research since publication of the first edition. Listings in the previous volume have been updated to reflect the burgeoning interest in this genre (social aspects, newly issued critical editions, doctoral dissertations). It also offers commentary on online links, databases, and references.

20th-Century Chamber Music features an introduction giving a chronological overview of 20th-century chamber music and the major composers in the style, setting in context the following chapters that cover a wide selection of chamber works grouped thematically, including program music; vocal chamber music; works for new ensembles; the modern sonata; and contemporary string quartets. Composers covered range from Schoenberg and Bartók to Toru Takemitsu and George Crumb. The book is ideal for a course focussing on the history of chamber music or a unit in a 20th-century music on the chamber works of the era. Plus, students and scholars will find it an excellent resource summarizing current research.

This practical guide is devoted to the important issues of baroque performance practice. Listeners and performers will find the analytical tools they need to understand and interpret period works. Scores for 11 works are included.