Product Description

"This reference work is certainly a valuable addition to the study of Russia and its music. . . . The dictionary is, of course, a must for academic and large public libraries or any library where research is done." Reference Quarterly

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #3541643 in Books
• Published on: 1989-12-06
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 764 pages

Review
"Editors Ho and Feofanov are both extensively published musicologists, and Feofanov is also a noted pianist, with 31 additional contributors, all listed with credentials, they have produced a scholarly and extensive Russian/Soviet composers biographical dictionary. The work consists of introductory materials including lists of abbreviations (general and bibliographical) and introduction; the alphabetically arranged dictionary; a supplementary list of composers including names and dates with brief discographies and bibliographies; a discography with label names and numbers; an index listing all composers with page numbers; and editor and contributor information. This dictionary features entries for more than 2,000 composers, with worklists, bibliographies, discographies, and comments on style in addition to the biographical information. Russian/Soviet composers in this work include anyone born in Russia and its provinces or in the USSR and its republics. This then includes emigres such as Irving Berlin and others not normally associated with Russia or the Soviet Union. Entry length varies according to importance of composer. More than half of the composers are not listed in any English-language reference sources. The introductory material is extremely helpful in understanding the content and scope of the work plus transliteration and date problems; reading it is necessary for maximum dictionary utilization. A vast network of cross-references and abbreviations complicates use, but not unduly. An extremely rich and excellent reference tool for historians and scholars." -- Choice

Review
“Editors Ho and Feofanov are both extensively published musicologists, and Feofanov is also a noted pianist, with 31 additional contributors, all listed with credentials, they have produced a scholarly and extensive Russian/Soviet composers biographical dictionary. The work consists of introductory materials including lists of abbreviations (general and bibliographical) and introduction; the alphabetically arranged dictionary; a supplementary list of composers including names and dates with brief discographies and bibliographies; a discography with label names and numbers; an index listing all composers with page numbers; and editor and contributor information. This dictionary features entries for more than 2,000 composers, with worklists, bibliographies, discographies, and comments on style in addition to the biographical information. Russian/Soviet composers in this work include anyone born in Russia and its provinces or in the USSR and its republics. This then includes emigres such as Irving Berlin and others not normally associated with Russia or the Soviet Union. Entry length varies according to importance of composer. More than half of the composers are not listed in any English-language reference sources. The introductory material is extremely helpful in understanding the content and scope of the work plus transliteration and date problems; reading it is necessary for maximum dictionary utilization. A vast network of cross-references and abbreviations complicates use, but not unduly. An extremely rich and excellent reference tool for historians and scholars.”–Choice

“. . . This reference work is certainly a valuable addition to the study of Russia and its music. . . . The dictionary is, of course, a must for academic and large public libraries or any library where research is done.”–Reference Quarterly

“. . . This is a necessary source for any library with a music reference collection. Responsibly edited, it includes information of use to scholars (particularly the longer entries) and to general readers seeking ready reference or introductory information.”–Preview

About the Author
ALLAN B. HO is currently an Associate Professor at Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville.

DMITRY FEOFANOV, who received his musical education at the Moscow Conservatory, is a concert pianist and teacher.