Dictionary of Composers and Their Music

This is an excellent reference if you are interested in the major composers and not in the thousands of other American and European composers. The three parts: alphabetic listing of composers and their works (in chronological order), chronological lists of composers and a complete timeline are useful when a listener wants to know who composed what (major works), who is contemporary to whom and what happened in the music world around a certain period or in a certain year. As a serious listener of classical music, I never use this book all by itself but I use it in conjunction with 'Classical Music the Third Ear', 'The penguin Guide of CD/DVD', 'The Classical Music All Music Guide' and the 'Canon of Classical Music' book. However, I do use it!!!

Yes, the selections are incomplete - but how much can one include in such a book. The truly comprehensive book would cover many more volumes. The exclusion of Arvo Part is sad but I hope Mr. Gilder will listen to his readers and think about this.I have used this book for 20 years since it's earliest edition. I have found NO OTHER BOOK like this with Cross-referencing of Dates to Composers names. I know this book will only improve with each edition. The first edition was barely more than 400 pages. Mr. Gilder has added a lot more since. He deserves DUE CREDIT for having amassed such a wonderful book. Thank you, Mr. Gilder,,,for years and years of pleasure and learning.Enrique Sanchez Miami, FL