Whats the best classical guide book to get for a beginner?

[Bobaroo]

Great thread, thanks to you all, I can get more reading material.

[SonicMan]

Here is a book that helped me greatly, some may dislike the concept of the 50 greatest composers, but the author admits it is just a tool to start you on your way. It is very readable and I must have re-read parts of this book 50 times for enjoyment, not stuffy at all.

Matt - already recommended by me on the first page of this thread - thanks for the endorsement. 

[DavidRoss]

Here is a book that helped me greatly, some may dislike the concept of the 50 greatest composers, but the author admits it is just a tool to start you on your way. It is very readable and I must have re-read parts of this book 50 times for enjoyment, not stuffy at all.

Thanks for the tip, Matt.  I thumbed through this once and saw red at some of the rankings, but I like unstuffy books so ordered one (drat!  forgot to use the GMG Amazon link!).

[SonicMan]

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0451528670/qid=1134946724/sr=8-8/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i8_xgl14/104-8620980-2607116?n=507846&s=books&v=glance

Just for others - this URL confusion can be simplifed by using the 'Insert Hyperlink' symbol in your replies - just place the URL as shown if you quote this message.

Copland's book - easy to do - 

[matman35]

Sonic, that's funny I didn't even register that you already recommended the 50 composers book. The pict you linked had a yellow cover, and mine is red, maybe my brain did not make the connection since its been several years since I have looked at it. Good call.

David, its a good book. If you already have quite a bit of knowedge on these composers and their recordings, you may find it a little simplistic. I found that after reading the Bach, Beethoven, and Mozart ones a few times I did not go back to them too much except for the works and recordings sections because I already knew most of the facts and stories about them, but most of the other composers I re-read a few extra times expecially the farther down the list I got since they were not as familiar to me. Then I would look at their works list and ask my father's buddy about them and he would recommend some good recordings (nowadays I would come on here for the recommendations )

Some of the reviews on amazon are negative because people get all wrapped up in the rankings even though the author states his purpose for this SEVERAL times and even encourages you to make your own list, the book is writen in a laid back style and though there might be some oversimplification in the biographies, the main goal of the book is still acheived which is to make the classical music world approachable and understandable to newbies.

[SonicMan]

Sonic, that's funny I didn't even register that you already recommended the 50 composers book. The pict you linked had a yellow cover, and mine is red, maybe my brain did not make the connection since its been several years since I have looked at it. Good call.

Matt - no problem - bought the hardbound version when first released, which has a red dustcover - believe the paperback one is yellow. 

[Sean Austen]

The Penguin Guide to CDs is the best guidebook (if you like, I have a few comments in my How to build knowledge thread).

[Harry]

Hi

I was one the verge of ordering the gramaphone guide to classical music and DVD's put someone in another thread warned me off it. So which book is the best one to start with?

No books just listen!
Harry

[Daverz]

The Penguin Guide to CDs is the best guidebook (if you like, I have a few comments in my How to build knowledge thread).

A guidebook for beginners should give them some idea of what repetoire to start with, though.

[DavidRoss]

A guidebook for beginners should give them some idea of what repetoire to start with, though.

Agreed.  Shouldn't that be the primary if not the sole purpose?  I've been browsing the Goulding book.  He does try to do this. Having first determined his "top 50" composers, he then offers biographical sketches for each and discusses their musical contributions, then lists what he considers their 5, 10, and 20 most important works.  His results speak for themselves, suggesting that both his methodology and his qualifications are a bit suspect, but it's a good effort nonetheless.

I'm not sure that I would recommend it to rank beginners.  They might be more prone to take the word of an "expert" as gospel and it could color their thinking considerably, perhaps condemning them to ill-founded prejudices that will prove difficult to shake.  But for someone who already has a basic grasp of the core repertoire, it might offer a fair introduction to some of the less revered masters and their works--but only with the caveat that his "rankings" must be taken with several heaping teaspoons full of salt.

[Sean Austen]

Daverz

A guidebook for beginners should give them some idea of what repetoire to start with, though.

Yes indeed, that's why I particularly recommend the Penguin Guide- because you just look for the works that have been recorded more. It's a good start anyway. But in recent editions, where they try to cover more repertory, it has become slightly less useful I admit; I also list other criticisms on my other thread.

[Daverz]

Yes indeed, that's why I particularly recommend the Penguin Guide- because you just look for the works that have been recorded more. It's a good start anyway. But in recent editions, where they try to cover more repertory, it has become slightly less useful I admit; I also list other criticisms on my other thread.

Well, I suppose.  I admit I have a low opinion of Penguophone.

[Harry]

I did it without books, just listening.
Harry

[hildegard]

My favorites are David Dubal's Essential Canon of Classical Music and Harold Schonberg's The Lives of the Great Composers.

[~George]

Check out The third ear Guide to Classical Music. It's American and has many contributors versus Penguin's two. It also covers more recordings. I love it but I don't hear GMG talking about it.
If you buy without a guide I can GUARANTEE that you will end up with MUCH more garbage than if you use one. Eventually, you can make these decisions all on your own but why bother when you don't have to?