This book will be the largest, most comprehensive reference publication on American Music. Twenty-five years ago, the four volumes of the first edition of the dictionary initiated a great expansion in American music scholarship. This second edition reflects the growth in scholarship the first edition initiated. a wide variety of ethnic and cultural groups, musical theater, opera, and music technology.

Andrew Shenton's groundbreaking cross-disciplinary approach to Messiaen's music presents a systematic and detailed examination of the compositional techniques of one of the most significant musicians of the twentieth century as they relate to his desire to express profound truths about Catholicism. It is widely accepted that music can have mystical and transformative powers, but because 'pure' music has no programme, Messiaen sought to refine his compositions to speak more clearly about the truths of the Catholic faith by developing a sophisticated semiotic system in which aspects of music become direct signs for words and concepts. Using interdisciplinary methodologies drawing on linguistics, cognition studies, theological studies and semiotics, Shenton traces the development of Messiaen's sign system using examples from many of Messiaen's works and concentrating in particular on the M tations sur le myst de la Sainte Trinit or organ, a suite which contains the most sophisticated and developed use of a sign system and represents a profound exegesis of Messiaen's understanding of the Catholic triune God. By working on issues of interpretation, Shenton endeavours to bridge the traditional gap between scholars and performers and to help people listen to Messiaen's music with spirit and understanding.

"It is a little over eight years since this compact but comprehensive little work first appeared. Much has happened during that period: new composers have emerged in Europe and America, those already represented in the first edition who are still alive have produced many new works, a number of eminent performers have become eligible for inclusion through their death, new organizations and institutions have been formed and old ones have changed their personnel, and even some new technical subjects have called for discussion. What is more, mistakes, errors and misprints have been noted by the editor and by numerous users of this Dictionary who have been kind enough to communicate them, so that this new edition has had the benefit of far-reaching corrections as well of sufficient additions to swell its size considerably" 1946.Keywords: This Dictionary Europe And America Eminent Performers Technical Subjects New Edition Still Alive Composers Swell Inclusion Additions Benefit

This bibliography of bibliographies lists and describes sources, from basic references to highly specialized materials. Valuable as a classroom text and as a research tool for scholars, librarians, performers, and teachers.

"Kenneth Morgan, who began collecting Reiner's recordings while still a schoolboy, has consulted printed and archival resources and undertaken new interviews with Reiner's associates, critics, and family. Fritz Reiner, Maestro and Martinet also offers the first close and systematic look at Reiner's recordings, interpretations, and musicality, vividly characterizing Reiner's distinctive qualities as a conductor."--Jacket.

Using landscape as its unifying concept, this engaging book explores orchestral music that represents real and imagined physical and cultural spaces, natural forces, and humans and wildlife. Spanning continents and centuries, David Knight links contrasting forms of music through unifying themes of time and space; waterscapes; imagined and mythic spaces; the search for meaning in extreme landscapes; and realms of death, survival, and remembrance. The author also underscores the importance of the physical spaces in which music is performed. Orchestral works are rarely perceived in geographical terms, but Knight, himself an accomplished geographer and musician, offers a deeply satisfying approach to interpreting and appreciating a wide range of music. Comparing classic masterworks from Europe and Russia alongside more recent compositions from the United States, Canada, New Zealand, Japan, and China, this innovative study offers a fresh understanding of the links between music and the worlds around us.