Henry Sutherland Edwards (1828 1906) wrote this volume in Francis Hueffer's 'Great Musicians' series, published by Novello, in 1881. It was unusual for this series because of the addition of 'the School': most of the other books dealt with an individual composer, but Edwards discusses Bellini and provides chapters on Donizetti and Verdi (still alive, and at the height of his powers, at the time this book was published) as well as his main subject. The book covers Rossini's life and deals in detail with what the author regarded as his most significant works a selection which may surprise or...

Francis Hueffer (1845 89) was born and studied music in Germany, but moved to London in 1869 to pursue a career as a critic and writer on music. He edited the series 'The Great Musicians' for Novello and Co., was music critic of The Times, wrote libretti for some now-forgotten operas, and was an early advocate and interpreter to the British of Wagner. As well as writing Wagner in his own 'Great Musicians' series (1881), and Richard Wagner and the Music of the Future (1874), he translated the correspondence of Wagner and Liszt. This fascinating two-volume selection, published in 1888, covers...

Francis Hueffer (1845 89) was born and studied music in Germany, but moved to London in 1869 to pursue a career as a critic and writer on music. He edited the series 'The Great Musicians' for Novello and Co., was music critic of The Times, wrote libretti for some now-forgotten operas, and was an early advocate and interpreter to the British of Wagner. As well as writing Wagner in his own 'Great Musicians' series (1881), and Richard Wagner and the Music of the Future (1874), he translated the correspondence of Wagner and Liszt. This fascinating two-volume selection, published in 1888, covers...

Hermann Deiters (1833 1907) first met Brahms in 1856, and became an enthusiastic supporter of his work. This 'biographical sketch' was published in English in 1888, edited by J. A. Fuller Maitland, the English musicologist whose Schumann in the Novello 'Great Musicians' series and Masters of German Music are also reissued in this series. Brahms was still alive and composing at this time: the book consists of a short account of his life followed by a critical review of all his works up to 1887. The preface states: 'That Johannes Brahms is by far the greatest composer of our time ... will not...

A reissue of the first edition of this famous dictionary, providing fascinating insights into the Victorian musical world.

A reissue of the first edition of this famous dictionary, providing fascinating insights into the Victorian musical world.

A reissue of the first edition of this famous dictionary, providing fascinating insights into the Victorian musical world.

A reissue of the first edition of this famous dictionary, providing fascinating insights into the Victorian musical world.

A reissue of the first edition of this famous dictionary, providing fascinating insights into the Victorian musical world.

This is the first of several in-depth studies of Wagner and his music by the renowned music critic Ernest Newman (1868 1959), leading up to the great four-volume biography The Life of Richard Wagner, published 1933 47. This 1899 work presents a thoroughly researched critical analysis of the composer's aesthetics, philosophy, social and political ideas, and their expression through his musical development and theoretical writings. As Newman states in his introduction, his exploration of Wagner's personality through his works aims to answer the question, 'In virtue of what constitution of brain...