Product Description

Authoritative, beautifully written guide presents 231 of the most frequently performed pieces of chamber music by 55 composers. For each, the author gives a brief biography, followed by discussions of the individual compositions--both their historical and musical contexts and their salient features, including formal organization, content, and any extramusical associations. "No lover of chamber music should be without this Guide."--John Barkham Reviews. Preface. Glossary.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #321962 in Books
• Published on: 2001-07-18
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 480 pages

From Library Journal
A collection of more than 230 program notes of chamber music composed by 55 composers. The author is himself an enthusiastic chamber music musician and program annotator. Typically, he offers a biography of each composer followed by descriptive notes about each composition. The text is generally readable, though not penetrating; the book will appeal primarily to the casual listener rather than to the student or musician. Berger has managed to find subtitles nobody knew existed: one wonders if any real service is performed by listing "Werther" as a subtitle for the Brahms Piano Quartet Op. 60. Recommended, with reservations, for public libraries with record collections. William Shank, CUNY Graduate Sch. Lib.
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From the Publisher
This comprehensive, analytical, and historical guide is designed to help music lovers--from casual listeners to experienced concertgoer--deepen their understanding and enhance their enjoyment of chamber music.

Customer Reviews

A well-written guide to SOME major chamber works
The primary audience of this guide is the classical music fan who has limited musical knowledge but a keen interest in learning chamber music in more depth and following the form and details within each movement. For each work, Berger presents a brief but quite interesting historical prelude, followed by 'play-by-play' highlights of each movement as to its structure, harmony patterns and distinguishing features. While each description is not long, there is enough condensed information to give a definate sense to the flow of the piece and what makes it unique. I really admire Berger's writing style that is engaging, creative and says a lot in a few words. Also, his prose are not overly "flowery," intimidating or condesending. Also included is the brief but excellent glossary at the end which contains really clear definitions of key musical terms encountered in chamber music.

Overall, this guide should be a staple in the library of the chamber enthusiast and it is inexpensive as well. It is my most used guide out of many. Musicians too can benefit from this book as an intro to some works but it will not likely satisfy them with enough details as to the score. While a healthy amount (or all) of each composer's chamber works are represented in this volume, the sonatas (for one or two instruments) are not. These are covered in a different book by Berger: "Guide to the Sonatas," which unfortunately is a very short book that tends to leave one wanting for more descriptions and details. But, what is here in this book is quite good. Berger gives wonderful, in-depth coverage of most major works of Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Brahms, Haydn and Schubert, but much less for "minor" composers like Dvorak, Faure, Ravel and others. Hard to fit too much into a small paperback I guess. What many of us would love to see who greatly enjoy Berger's skilled commentary is ONE DEFINITIVE BOOK on the entire (or at least most of) chamber-music repertoire - combining this book, his tiny, rather-superficial book on the Sonatas and expand it into a new major edition. Then, we would have a volume for the ages.

Best available
As far as we know, this is the best available book of commentary on standard repertoire of chamber music. It is also terrific - gives a little relevant biographical information on composers as well as notes on the works. Useful to look at before hearing a performance of a work, and great material (when combined with other sources) for writing program notes.

A must have for all lovers of chamber music
This book covers quite a vast output and describes each work movement by movement. A very useful reference.