Ewen’s
LIGHTER CLASSICS
IN MUSIC
by DAVID EWEN
In one brilliant volume, David Ewen offers a classic in musical literature. Here are the treasured semi-classical works of two continents—enduring, always alive—analyzed by a famed authority, acclaimed as “music’s interpreter to the American people.” A must for the music lover THE LIGHTER CLASSICS IN MUSIC is the first reference book of its kind in any language.
Here is the music of Victor Herbert, Eric Coates, Jacques Offenbach, Johann Strauss and Franz Lehár. This is the music of the salon, café-house, pop concert, and operetta theatre.
THE LIGHTER CLASSICS IN MUSIC is also the story of the spontaneity and creative invention of popular contemporary composers; Duke Ellington (“Black, Brown, and Beige”), Morton Gould (“Yankee Doodle Went To Town”), George Gershwin. These favorites are universally loved; their long life-span is assured.
There is still a third story—a story of the genius of classical masters who have produced works whose popular interest and subtle freshness compels an immediate emotional impact. Beethoven, Mozart, Haydn, Brahms, Chopin, Schubert—all have brought forth wonderlands of sound to delight the senses.
The author needs no introduction to music afficionados. MUSIC FOR MILLIONS went through six printings in as many years. A revised, up-dated edition, EWEN’S MUSICAL MASTERWORKS, was soon demanded and brought about. On the whimsical side, illustrator A. Birnbaum and Mr. Ewen put their heads together and came up with LISTEN TO THE MOCKING WORDS, a medley of anecdotes about music and musicians.
Now Mr. Ewen turns a brilliant musical literacy and easy, non-pompous style exclusively to the lighter classics. Here are the lives of 187 composers; over 1000 perceptive analyses of musical masterpieces in the lighter style prefaced by biographical sketches. An easy-to-use alphabetical listing of the lighter classics makes it easy to get the specific information you need.
THE LIGHTER CLASSICS IN MUSIC is an enduring book to be cherished by the concertgoer, record collector, musician, instructor, historian—all music lovers who know the universal sounds of music in the lighter style.