The Gramophone Classical Good Cd Guide 1996

By Music Sales Corporation

No Synopsis Available.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0902470582
• ISBN13: 9780902470583
• Release Date: January 1995
• Publisher: General Gramophone Pubn
• Length: 1100 Pages
• Weight: 2.70 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.5" x 1.5" x 6.0"

Customer Reviews

Excellent Guide w/UK leanings, second only to Penguin

This is an outstanding classical music book with a CD Listening Guide inside the front cover. The supplemental materials at the end such as Gramophone Award Winners, comprehensive Index of Reviews of composers' works and equally fine Artists Index are very valuable and make GMP above the rest. Major works such as the Mozart Violin Concertos are described with one or two CD versions rated: In this case GMP selects the Phillips Mozart Edition, 422-508-2PME4 )four discs, 265 minutes, ADD/DDD 6/91) Recorded 1966-70 with the New Pharmonia/Sir Alex Gibson; Academy of St. Martin in the Field/Iona Brown, Henryk Szerying and Gerard Poulet as violinists. Rated G G. Below the review, price range and reasons for top choice, there are Additional Recommendations. However, while a few of the other versions are given special recognition and antique instrument CDs identified there are no descriptions of the other works. In contrast Penguin rates most of the selections chosen.Some composers are not listed such as Ferde Grofe and Ernesto Lecuona; othrs just their names listed with one, two or some works with no commentary including Anthony Scarmolin, Edwin Lemare, Roy Harris and Howard Hanson. Some of the contemporary composers are not included. There is a bias toward English performers. Only two of George Szell's CDs are described while Eugene Ormandy is not even cited. Magnificient tenor Richard Tucker is only listed with Verdi's Aida despite having a large number of equally superb performances.There are Collections of various types of music at the end, just before the indexes including Orchestral, Chamber, Choral and song, Film and Show music included and the reviews here, as with the others are valuable. This section could have been expanded.The 1996/97 Edition is valuable for older works compared with the 2000 version. Asian artists are almost overlooked in both. A classical music lover should own both an older and the latest editions to see if any "better" performances are listed as well as new artists added in place of other. I often consult the 1997 and 2000 editions before deciding on a CD to determine any differences.Penguin and Gramophone are the top two classical music guides. Copies of both should be owned.This is a must holding and keeper.Alan D. Kardoff, Ed.D, Mgmtdr@hotmail.com, Melbourne FL USA