Foreign Classical Music Dictionary (Volume 1 and 2)

Author: Wang Zhixiong (Editor)
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-12-01
Features: With the deepening of reform and opening up in China, the splendid flower of foreign music, after decades of silence, has finally revived and grown to become an important part of the Chinese music stage today. A wave of passion for foreign classical music, its appreciation and study, has formed and is advancing vigorously. Numerous professional and amateur groups engaged in foreign music research, teaching, performance, playing, dissemination, and popularization have also sprouted like bamboo shoots after rain, creating a situation unseen since the founding of the country. Against this backdrop, this dictionary was written to meet the urgent demand of music workers, enthusiasts, and aficionados for knowledge of foreign music, as well as their desire to understand, recognize, and grasp it. Clearly, this is a timely specialized reference book introducing foreign music works, disseminating foreign musical knowledge, and popularizing foreign music appreciation. The dictionary contains over 4,000 entries, basically covering all stages of foreign music development from the Renaissance to the end of the 20th century, various styles, genres, and the main musical works of key composers. It can be said that it is a systematic and comprehensive specialized music dictionary introducing foreign music works. Although the introductions to the works are not written as critical reviews, lacking some vividness and refinement, they still hold certain value as a reference for appreciation.