| Gramophone Classical Music Guide 2008 (Classical Good CD, DVD, & Download Guide) |
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Product Details
This is the most comprehensive guide to classical music recordings. Drawing on the reviews by Gramophone magazine's unparalleled roster of critics, the guide offers authoritative opinions on over 3000 recordings from popular works like the Beethoven symphonies to more obscure repertoire for the classical music aficionado.
Product Reviews
 (2 stars) - Gramaphone Classical Music Guide
I've always used The Penguin Guide but bought Gramaphone, too, the last time I ordered. I won't make that mistake again. Gramaphone has nothing Penguin doesn't have; in fact, it has a lot less.
 (3 stars) - Highly mixed
There are a lot of great recommendations in this book. I have found some wonderful recordings through this guide. That said, there are many odd omissions and insignificant inclusions. Grofe is not listed anywhere - granted, he is not the most influential composer, but his "Grand Canyon Suite" is very popular, so why no mention anywhere in the Music Guide? Then Lou Harrison is mentioned in the history section as being a modern influential composer worth listening to, but his recordings get no mention in the alphabetical listings. What gives there? What are his best recordings? Also, there is no Terry Riley, whose "In C' is considered a modern classic and has several recordings. Instead, we get listings for some truly obscure composers - Maw, Mayerl, McCabe and Medtner - to give just the M's. They may have produced work of value, but they can hardly be considered "important". Why include them and not the others? It seems a little haphazard, like a collection of recordings that happened to cross the editors desks, rather than a collection of who is important in recorded music.
(3 stars) - not as good as Penguin
I thought it would be interesting to have alternate opinions on classical music, but I still find myself picking up the Penguin guide. It is better written and more comprehensive. The authors of Gramophone seem stuck in the past and don't consider more modern recordings as much. Penguin does better comparisons as well. While I do not always agree on their evaluations, for the most part, it is a very reliable guide.
(3 stars) - Good but Quirky
Anyone wanting to use this guide should be aware that I have found it very quirky. For example I looked up Kurt Weil and thought I would find some reviews for the Three Penny Opera. To my surprise there was nothing. Also it does lean heavily to the english side of things for performers and composers. Overall, its good and that you could say it has personality and is individualistic.
 (5 stars) - Excellent Classical Music Guide
The Gramofone Classical Music Guide (2008) is the best source of Classical Music information that I have found in recent times. Highly recommended. I am still looking for good information and I will take suggestions.
reader1
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