(Unlocking the Masters). The music of Antonin Dvorak defies fashion. He is one of the very few composers whose works entered the international mainstream during his own lifetime, and some of them have remained there ever since. The pieces that historically define his international reputation, however, represent only a small fraction of what he actually composed. They comprise just one facet of his complex and remarkably rich artistic personality. This book/2-CD pack invites readers to celebrate his extraordinary achievement and experience the pleasure of getting to know more than 90 of his most important works. The two full-length CDs from Suprahon Records include 22 works.

"Aus Holbergs Zeit, Suite im alten Stil, Op.40" - now more commonly known as the "Holberg Suite" - was written in 1884 for the 200th anniversary celebration of playwright Ludvig Holberg's birth. Originally for piano, the composer scored it for strings the following year, conducting the newly-completed arrangement at a March concert in Bergen. The Suite consists of a Prelude and four dances characteristic of the 18th century. The work was meant to capture the feel of the era of Holberg's lifetime and has become one of Grieg's most beloved and performed works, especially in the present setting for strings. This new edition by Richard W. Sargeant, Jr. has been thoroughly researched to bring you a beautiful score as the composer intended it.

"We do not understand music--it understands us." This aphorism by Theodor W. Adorno expresses the quandary and the fascination many listeners have felt in approaching Beethoven's late quartets. No group of compositions occupies a more central position in chamber music, yet the meaning of these works continues to stimulate debate. William Kinderman's The String Quartets of Beethoven stands as the most detailed and comprehensive exploration of the subject. It collects new work by leading international scholars who draw on a variety of historical sources and analytical approaches to offer fresh insights into the aesthetics of the quartets, probing expressive and structural features that have hitherto received little attention. This volume also includes an appendix with updated information on the chronology and sources of the quartets and a detailed bibliography.

A full orchestra piece, composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

A thick and informative guide to the world of classical music and its stunning recordings, complete with images from CD cases, concert halls, and of the musicians themselves.

Sketches of classical composers and CD reviews.