Book Description
The second title in the Amadeus Press Parallel Lives series, this volume examines the lives and work of two giants of 20th century music. Both composers influenced countless others, and their works are performed often in today's concert and opera houses. Felsenfeld gives us a penetrating look into the lives of these two extraordinary men, helping us get to know them and therefore better understand their music. In clear, concise language he examines their major works, helping us to understand their genius and power, which is illustrated by the accompanying full-length CD.The author points out parallel developments in Britten and Barber's lives and careers. Both came of age in a time of war, a time of political and artistic unrest and upheaval, and both were celebrities in their own time. Both wrote primarily - and most successfully - for the voice, but neither became ghettoized as a strictly vocal composer, and both were possessed of a flawless compositional technique, with a fluency that bordered on wizardry. Finally, both were prolific, involved musical presences on the world stage.The accompanying full-length CD from Naxos Records includes six complete pieces. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

AVOID THIS BOOK!
Anyone interested in Barber's life and/or music should seek out the amazing bio by Barbara Heyman, Samuel Barber - The Composer and his Music (Oxford U. Press). As a lifelong student of the career & music of Barber, I was appalled to read this book by Felsenfeld. It is FILLED with inaccuracies, half-truths, ambiguities, and similarly misleading statements. And was there ANY attempt at editing the ms? It is likewise filled with errors in usage, punctuation, even vocabulary. The Britten section is equally poor. The recorded music on the attached cd does not fairly represent the composers, either - it's all from the "middle period" of each man and does not properly represent either composer's stylistic breadth. The concept of a brief book introducing these composers to the lay listener, with listening excerpts provided in the package, is a fine one, which makes it doubly sad that a golden opportunity has been botched. If I could give this item "zero stars" or maybe a minus number, I would. AVOID THIS ONE!

A welcome addition to Barber research!!
I was so pleased to find that this book had just come out!I'm researching Barber for a Masters Thesis project and enjoyed the information presented-some that has not been discussed in the handful of books about him.Very interesting to see the similarities between him and Britten.The CD that comes with it is also nice.Well-written and a good read!

But what is on the CD you ask...
Since nearly half of the book is dedicated to the discussion and dissection of Benjamin Britton's and Samuel Barber's compositions, here listed is the music on the accompanying Naxos CD: 1) Britten: Passacaglia (from Peter Grimes); 2) Britten: Serenade for Tenor, Horn and Strings (complete); 3) Britten: The Turn of the Screw (Act II: Variation XV, scene 8); 4) Barber: Adagio for Strings; 5) Barber: Knoxville, Summer of 1915; and 6) Barber: Second Essay for Orchestra. I will offer a review of the book itself after I read it as it just arrived in my mailbox today (July 26, 2005). ... Read more

Product Description
This Elibron Classics book is a facsimile reprint of a 1913 edition by Druck von Karg und Manneck, Königsberg i Pr.. ... Read more

Book Description
This digital document, covering the life and work of Samuel Daniel Breslauer, is an entry from Contemporary Authors, a reference volume published by Thompson Gale. The length of the entry is 870 words. The page length listed above is based on a typical 300-word page. Although the exact content of each entry from this volume can vary, typical entries include the following information:

• Place and date of birth and death (if deceased)
• Family members
• Education
• Professional associations and honors
• Employment
• Writings, including books and periodicals
• A description of the author's work
• References to further readings about the author

Product Description
Short retellings for children of four episodes from the Old Testament. ... Read more

Book Description
This book touches on why people worry, why we should not; what to do in stead of worrying. It leads believers on the path of unshaken faith in the unchanging God who only can turn obstacles into miracles and pains into gains. It also leads non-Christians to God through Christ Jesus. ... Read more