Reader's Guide to Music: History, Theory, Criticism. - Review - book review

Contemporary Review, Oct, 2000

Murray Steib, editor. Fitzroy Dearborn Publishers. [pound]95.00. 891 pages. ISBN 1-57958-143-9. The aim of this vast reference book is 'to provide some help to those who wish to explore the wealth of writing on music'. There are 500 entries which concentrate on 'Western art music' but also include non-Western composers, 'popular' music such as 'rock and roll' although surprisingly there is no entry on operetta.

There are also entries for geographic regions such as Africa and South America and on music in general: atonality, liturgy, instruments, convents, masque and copyright. The editor's rule was to exclude any composer, such as Telemann, for whom there were not at least two books in English. However this does not explain the exclusion of the Strauss family which is most odd. Few composers have given more pleasure to more people for a longer period than the Strausses. Having said that, this book must become one of the standard references to which people desiring solid introductory knowledge may turn with confidence. (P.P.F.)