Classic FM Guide to Classical Music

If ther is just one book one should have on their bookshelf as a clasical music guide this is the one. I heard about this book on The Classical Music Radio station in Portland, Oregon and it is excellent.

This is it...the book to buy if you want to learn more about classical music. Packed with more information than other collections ten times its size, this volume serves as a guide to the history of music, classical composers and their essential works. Classic FM (a legendary British Classical radio station) has producced a "classic" of its own here...a book that will become an indispensible part of your library. Here's what you get:1. A concise history of music, from the earliest tonal experiments to the eclectic directions of the twentieth century;2. An alphabetical list of composers, including a short biography, brief appraisal of his/her contributions, and a list of essential works;3. Assorted tidbits of vital information, including a glossary of music terms, a list of most popular pieces, and much more.4. The entire book is peppered with drawings, photographs, quotes and anecdotes.I've literally worn out my copy of this book, marking it up extensively as I used it to develop my interest and appreciation for classical music. I recommend it heartily, with two "caveats": First, the author - understandably, since he's English - tends to emphasize recent British composers over American (for example, why is George Lloyd included and Alan Hovhaness not), and second, this is not a guide to specific recordings (there are other books that exist for that purpose, but don't do nearly as good of a job with the music itself as this one does). But these are minor comments. Anyone with even the slightest liking for music will find this fascinating, and they could even find themselves embarked on a lifelong study of the classics. Enjoy!