David Whitwell has drawn together a valuable collection of Chopin's own intimate revelations on his personality, his character and his health. Here too the reader will find Chopin's personal insights on his own musical studies, his creative process and his resulting compositions. Chopin has also left fascinating first-hand observations on other pianists, composers and personalities whom he knew. Added to this are the fascinating personal descriptions of Chopin by Franz Liszt and George Sand.

Francois Sudre was a nineteenth-century musician who invented something long dreamed of by philosophers: a language based on music. For several decades he successfully demonstrated his new musical language throughout Europe to astonished audiences. No one ever reported a case where this system failed to communicate a desired text, regardless of the original language. On the other hand, no one else could duplicate his accomplishment and so the new musical language failed to take root. There was one remarkable result, however, for Sudre's system was clearly the seed which, in Wagner, blossomed...

For a period which ended 2,500 bc ours was a matriarchal world. History does not tell us how well the women did because history his-story] was written by later men. The men took over about 2,500 bc and how well they have done in organizing and running society is at best debatable. During the 4,500 years of patriarchal rule the women nevertheless continued to make exceptional contributions to society and in this volume the reader will find a generous sampling of extraordinary women. And they are not just writers and women of the stage but also the rulers of nations, generals leading troops...

Nineteenth-Century Wind Band and Wind Ensemble Repertoire is the ninth volume in Dr. David Whitwell's ground breaking thirteen-volume History and Literature of the Wind Band and Wind Ensemble series. During the first decades of the nineteenth century one finds continued composition of music for Harmoniemusik. After the end of the Napoleonic Wars there was a new birth of civic bands in Europe and this resulted in numerous original compositions for large concert band. For society at large, however, the nineteenth century was one of enormous interest in all things military, which resulted in a...

David Whitwell has drawn together a valuable collection of Schumann's own intimate revelations on his personality, his character and his health, the latter a critical issue in the case of Schumann. Here as well the reader will find Schumann's personal insights on his own musical studies, his creative process and on some of his compositions. Schumann has also left fascinating first-hand observations on other pianists, composers and personalities whom he knew. Foremost among these, of course, are his private thoughts on his wife, the very gifted pianist, Clara Schumann.

A Supplementary Catalog of Wind Band and Wind Ensemble Repertoire is the tenth volume in Dr. David Whitwell's ground breaking thirteen-volume History and Literature of the Wind Band and Wind Ensemble series. This volume represents Whitwell's continuing research in the field of wind band repertoire with a focus on libraries in England and Italy. Because of the earlier political connection between Northern Italy and Austria, the holdings of the civic libraries in Italy offer important contributions to our understanding of the Harmoniemusik Period of Central Europe. With respect to large band...

A Catalog of Wind Repertoire Before the Twentieth Century for One to Five Players is the eleventh volume in Dr. David Whitwell's ground breaking thirteen-volume History and Literature of the Wind Band and Wind Ensemble series. The History and Literature of the Wind Band and Wind Ensemble has had its focus on the repertoire for ensembles of six or more players. But there is much more to the story of the early professional wind player. His performance of solo repertoire and his participation in smaller wind ensembles reflect the use of such music in smaller palace rooms and in more intimate...

A Second Supplementary Catalog of Early Wind Band and Wind Ensemble Repertoire is the twelfth volume in Dr. David Whitwell's ground breaking thirteen-volume History and Literature of the Wind Band and Wind Ensemble series. The repertoire found in this supplementary volume is the result of visits to specific European collections recommended by other musicians. These include a deserted palace in Hungary, a large Hautboisten collection in Sweden and a visit in Paris with the widow of Charles Koechlin. Also included in this volume are lists of original wind repertoire from the early twentieth...

Name Index, Volumes 1-12 is the thirteenth and final volume in Dr. David Whitwell's ground breaking History and Literature of the Wind Band and Wind Ensemble series. This volume includes nearly eight thousand entries - musicians, composers, publishers, historians, royalty, philosophers - a virtual encyclopedia of people who have played a part, big or small, in the creation and growth of the wind band and wind ensemble. From the earliest philosophers of ancient Greece to composers from the twentieth century, this index to the History and Literature of the Wind Band and Wind Ensemble series...

David Whitwell has drawn together a valuable collection of Liszt's own intimate revelations on his personality, his character and his health. Here as well the reader will find Liszt's personal insights on his own musical studies, his creative process and on some of his compositions. Liszt has also left fascinating first-hand observations on other pianists, composers and personalities whom he knew.