The Classical Music Lover's Companion to Orchestral Music

Robert Philip, scholar, broadcaster, & musician, has compiled an essential handbook for lovers of classical music, designed to enhance their listening experience to the full. Covering four hundred works by sixty-eight composers from Corelli to Shostakovich, this engaging companion explores & unpacks the most frequently performed works, including symphonies, concertos, overtures, suites, & ballet scores. It offers intriguing details about each piece while avoiding technical terminology that might frustrate the non-specialist reader. 

Philip identifies key features in each work, as well as subtleties & surprises that await the attentive listener, & he includes enough background & biographical information to illuminate the composer's intentions. Organized alphabetically from Bach to Webern, this compendium will be indispensable for classical music enthusiasts, whether in the concert hall or enjoying recordings at home.