Chamber Music Books

Symphonies Nos. 1, 2, 3 and 4 in Full Score

Ludwig van Beethoven

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 4 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

student's companion 5 out of 5 stars.
8 of 8 people found this review helpful.

This edition of the first four symphonies followed me through my conservatory training, including some extremely frightening conducting lessons in front of a bored orchestra. There are no errors in the score that I have ever found, and the music is clear and easy to read. The best edition of a necessary score for any orchestral musician.

Let the BUYER BEWARE!!! 2 out of 5 stars.
5 of 5 people found this review helpful.

While Dover's many scores represent an amazing value across the musical repertoire, their collection and reprint of the Litolff Edition of the Beethoven Symphonies was a mistake. For the casual buyer they are workable, but not for serious use in performance, as they are riddled with editorial mistakes and problems. Purchaser would be better advised to find a set of the miniature (octavo-sized) Bärenreiter critical scores. They are bound just as nicely and the paper is of excellent quality. I use the full-size Bärenreiter set when I conduct my orchestra.

Editorial Review:

Superb authoritative German editions (Henry Litolff’s Verlag) of Symphony No. 1 in C Major, Op. 21; Symphony No. 2 in D Major, Op. 36; Symphony No. 3 in E-flat Major ("Eroica"), Op. 55; and Symphony No. 4 in B-flat Major, Op. 60. Finest inexpensive full-score editions. Lists of instruments.

Indivisible by Four: A String Quartet in Pursuit of Harmony

Arnold Steinhardt

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 23 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

Chamber-music lovers will rejoice in this story of the formation, nurturing, and maturing of the Guarneri String Quartet. First violinist Arnold Steinhardt has written a delightful memoir that radiates the love of music and sense of mutual respect and affection that have kept the Guarneri's players together since the ensemble was founded in 1964. How a famous, extremely busy musician learned to write so well is a mystery, but Steinhardt's style is as engaging and captivating as his playing. After sketching his own and his colleagues' pre-quartet careers, he describes how they choose and rehearse their repertoire and how they resolve their inevitable disagreements--and he even throws light on the inexplicable magic that happens in performance. Steinhardt recounts the pleasures and hardships of traveling and the group's partnership with illustrious guests (notably pianist Artur Rubinstein); he tells musical and personal anecdotes, wryly poking fun at himself and others, but never saying a malicious or derogatory word about anyone. Most remarkably, his discussions of a score are illuminating without becoming too technical. Steinhardt describes the emotional impact of music with a strikingly felicitous, often poetic touch, yet his characterizations resonate with his own experience and avoid the overblown or extravagant. Though it helps to know the music he feels so strongly about, this is a book anyone can enjoy. --Edith Eisler

Johannes Brahms Complete Symphonies in full score (Vienna Gesellschaft Der Musikfreunde Edition)

Johannes Brahms

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 5 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Great Reproduction of a Classic Scores 5 out of 5 stars.
12 of 12 people found this review helpful.

This edition is (inexpensive), detailed, and easy to read. I use these scores for study and rehearsal and I highly reccommend it. Detailed corrections (as well as explanations) from earlier editions were done by Hans Gal.

It is a large score (9 3/8 x 12 1/4 inches)and the is very durable. The pages are thick and the binding allows for the score to lie flat for easy use.

Very good 5 out of 5 stars.
4 of 5 people found this review helpful.

This edition of the Brahms symphonies is relativley cheap for the wealth of material it presents. The music is very easy to follow and is a must for the Brahms fan and serious student or layperson.

Excellent way to study the classics. 4 out of 5 stars.
3 of 9 people found this review helpful.

Buying the full score of these wonderful symphonies allows you to dig deeper into such wonderful works. I strongly recomend you buy this full score.

Absolutely Wonderful! 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 2 people found this review helpful.

Brahms was a genius. This book includes his greatest and most important works, with the notable acception of the student of harmony/orchestration/composition student.

Editorial Review:

Brahms was a master of musical structure, especially in his four symphonies, included together in this one-volume edition: No. 1 in C Minor, No. 2 in D Major, No. 3 in F Major, and No. 4 in E Minor.

The Planets in Full Score

Gustav Holst

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 13 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

a beautiful edition 5 out of 5 stars.
4 of 4 people found this review helpful.

Clean, clear, large print, handsome edition of this well known and loved classic. Lists instrumentation on every page (some editions don't list the score instrumentation except for the first page. This often makes score study [especially big orchestral works like this or R. Strauss] very hard to read).

Great price as well.

Very Good Score 5 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

This Dover score presents everything in a clear and easy-to-read way even though Holst wrote some interesting things that are difficult to notate by ear! The score does open up a new world - listening to it and reading/watching the score are two different things. I was completely unaware of Holst's gigantic forces and his wonderful orchestration that is present in the score.

There's no see through on the pages (and where there is, it is only minimal). Main languages are English and Italian terms. For an 80-year old score, it's pretty impressive and in very good condition. A very good buy I must say for $10 - my friend had to pay close to $70 for her copy (both of which are exactly the same). A great bargain!

Editorial Review:

Spectacular symphonic suite, scored for large orchestral forces and a wordless chorus, is divided into seven movements, the music of each embodying the astrological and mystical qualities of a different planet. Remarkable emotional sweep and innovative techniques have made the work a staple of the orchestral repertoire. Only full-size score available.

Symphonies Nos. 8 and 9 in Full Score

Ludwig van Beethoven

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 8 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Let the BUYER BEWARE!!! 2 out of 5 stars.
7 of 8 people found this review helpful.

While Dover's many scores represent an amazing value across the musical repertoire, their collection and reprint of the Litolff Edition of the Beethoven Symphonies was a mistake. For the casual buyer they are workable, but not for serious use in performance, as they are riddled with editorial mistakes and problems. Purchaser would be better advised to find a set of the miniature (octavo-sized) Bärenreiter critical scores. They are bound just as nicely and the paper is of excellent quality. I use the full-size Bärenreiter set when I conduct my orchestra.

Wonderful Beethoven Score 5 out of 5 stars.
7 of 8 people found this review helpful.

Like the other two books in Dover's Beethoven Symphonies set, the score to the Eighth and Ninth are wonderful. The print is large and very readable. The best part is the low price. This is a must for the starving (music) student, teachers, listeners, and professionals alike. I highly reccommend it.

Editorial Review:

Superb, highly authoritative editions (Henry Litolff’s Verlag) of Symphony No. 8 in F Major, Op. 93 and Symphony No. 9 in D Minor, Op. 125. Large, clear noteheads and wide margins for easy reading and study. Lists of instruments. Translation of vocal texts.

Symphonies Nos. 5, 6 and 7 in Full Score

Ludwig van Beethoven

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 12 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Let the BUYER BEWARE!!! 2 out of 5 stars.
7 of 8 people found this review helpful.

While Dover's many scores represent an amazing value across the musical repertoire, their collection and reprint of the Litolff Edition of the Beethoven Symphonies was a mistake. For the casual buyer they are workable, but not for serious use in performance, as they are riddled with editorial mistakes and problems. Purchaser would be better advised to find a set of the miniature (octavo-sized) Bärenreiter critical scores. They are bound just as nicely and the paper is of excellent quality. I use the full-size Bärenreiter set when I conduct my orchestra.

You will hear these works more clearly watching the score while you listen 5 out of 5 stars.
4 of 6 people found this review helpful.

Beethoven's Fifth, Sixth (Pastorale), and Seventh symphonies are among his most popular works. While I am sure you can hear the opening motive of the Fifth in your mind, it is typical to hear it as a triplet with a strong articulation of the first note. However, a quick look at the score will show you that it begins with an 8th rest and that the three notes are really three straight 8ths of G that flow into the strong downbeat on the E-flat. That is the kind of clarity you get from looking at the scores and making sure that you are hearing the music correctly. It makes a great deal of difference in how you make sense of the music. The same holds true for the Sixth and Seventh. You will love watching how the Horns are used in the Seventh and those groaning basses in the last movement. Just wonderful stuff.

I appreciate the Dover edition of these works because the large format makes for easier reading and provides room for making notes while you are studying. For example, you might want to make something special or unique to one recording so that when you listen to another you can compare the two.

And if you don't read music very well, these symphonies are a good place to start. You can listen to the music and what the shapes go by. And eventually you will get used to the link between the sound and what you see. These scores are not as dense as, say Mahler or Strauss or works with huge orchestras. So, the classics make a great way to get into the pool, so to speak. Honestly, even if you can't read the notes, you will notice things after a few listenings that you had not heard before because you see the `shape' in the score.

The Dover editions are also very durable and will last for many years of use. These editions are nice and clear and easy on the eyes because the contrast between the dark ink and light paper is very good, but not blinding.

Recommended. Expand your horizons!

Editorial Review:

Superb, authoritative editions (Henry Litolff’s Verlag) of great orchestral masterworks: Symphony No. 5 in C Minor, Op. 67; Symphony No. 6 in F Major ("Pastoral"), Op. 68; Symphony No. 7 in A Major, Op. 92. Lists of instruments.

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Arranging and Orchestration

Michael Miller

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 3 Average rating: 2.5 of 5

I expected more 2 out of 5 stars.
21 of 25 people found this review helpful.

Although this book teaches some of the basics of arranging/orchestrating, and the author does a good job explaining things so that they are easy to understand, the audio examples included are pretty horrible. Not that I expect educators to be extremely talented (well, there sometimes is some truth to the saying "Those who can't, teach.")--they just have to be able to pass on knowledge, but I think teachers in general are that much more compelling when they display actual talent and a real sense of creative authority. The audio examples for this book are at best hack-jobs that you'd expect from a hack composer/arranger. For example, if you're going to compose examples that demonstrate countermelodies or melodic variations, you better come up with examples that are actually compelling and really add something significant to the original. But when done badly, the student will wonder why they should bother with those approaches at all if they just muck up the original and make things worse. The fully arranged examples are just as bad--with horrible MIDI orchestration that manages to sell cheap sample libraries even shorter than they already are (it's absolutely possible to achieve far better MIDI orchestration using the tools/sample libraries that the author used--just browse online forums like Northern Sound Source or V.I. Control and you'll hear tons of examples from far better composers/arrangers--pro or amateur). The various examples of different musical styles are all bad enough to make you cringe--some are even laughable. But then again, what else is new, right? It's the same thing with books that teach you how to draw, paint, photograph, write...etc--plenty of them are written by people who have the knowledge but lack the talent. This is why I suggest people always try to buy instructional materials created by authors who are known and respected in their chosen creative field. That way, you know the examples they use are always compelling and full of creative authority.

Overall, if you are an absolute beginner to arranging, then this book should be helpful. It does not go into any detail about various uses of different articulations of instruments--just very basic descriptions. If you can look past the horrible audio examples the author composed/arranged, you should be able to get some stuff out of the book. It's very likely that after learning what you need from the book, you'll be able to compose/arrange better music than those audio examples.

Editorial Review:

Music-making made easy—CD included.

There are few books on arranging and orchestration, fewer yet that are recent, and none that explain the process easily in a fun-to-read fashion. This book demonstrates how to take a simple composition and arrange it for different types of instrumental and vocal ensembles. The same song is used as an example throughout the entire book, and a variety of different types of arranging are covered.

—For musicians playing in any type of band, songwriters and composers, and students learning the art of arranging and orchestration
—Follow-up to The Complete Idiot’s Guide® to Music Composition and the bestselling The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Music Theory
—Combines essential reference material with progressive practical examples
—One composition is used throughout the book and CD to demonstrate different types of arrangements

Essentials Elements 2000 For Strings: Violin: Book Two

Michael Allen, Robert Gillespie, Pamela Tellejohn Hayes

Amazon Price: $6.95 List Price: $6.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Hal Leonard Corp Amazon Marketplace: 46 new & used starting at $2.00

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 4 Average rating: 3.5 of 5

Watered-down and of little value 1 out of 5 stars.
9 of 11 people found this review helpful.

I had to buy this book for the strings class at college. The whole class was bored to death for the whole semester, despite the good effort by the instructor to make the best of it. It looks like the publisher decided to divide the Essential Elements for Strings (which is a fine beginning book that I did several years ago) into 2 books in order to generate more business. If you already know the notes in the first position, don't waste your money on this book. There are lots of good post-absolute-beginner book for violin - Spotlight on Strings, ABCs of Violin, All for Strings, String Builder, or Essential Elements for Strings (NOT this 2000 thing). For private instructions for beginners, I would recommend Doflein Book 1 and Suzuki Book 1.

Good Beginner Student Violin Book 4 out of 5 stars.
4 of 4 people found this review helpful.

The book is very helpful as it shows at each stage of progression the proper techniques to hold the violin, the proper placement of the fingers, and other good illustrations. The lessons are straight forward and easy to follow.

A bit dry, but an important step for beginner violinists 4 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

While it's true that this second book in the series is dry, it still does a great job of covering the "next steps' in learning to play. The lessons, despite being a bit dry, do a great job of clearly explaining these techniques. I use this book in my home violin studio and have had great success with it, with students of all ages and playing abilities; BUT I supplement this book's lessons with additional music.

Essentials Elements 2000 For Strings Book 2: Cello

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 1 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Great Learning Book 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

I recommend this to anyone! Very basic, yet advanced at the same time!! It was a great help to me!

Ludwig van Beethoven Complete String Quartets

Ludwig van Beethoven

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 5 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

A MUST 5 out of 5 stars.
19 of 20 people found this review helpful.

This edition of the Beethoven String Quartets is by far the best value. It is a must for any musician. The music is carefuly researched, clearly marked, and printed on high quality paper for many years of use. This Dover edition is like all of the other Dover scores, OUTSTANDING! I use my copy all of the time and could not live without it. Thanks Dover. Jeffrey Noel Lastrapes, The Lindsayan String Quartet

Perhaps the best bargain in music ever... 5 out of 5 stars.
18 of 19 people found this review helpful.

Not every Dover score is a gem; some are merely reprints of earlier editions complete with the typographical errors that didn't get caught the first time around. But this edition of Beethoven's complete string quartets is of excellent quality, and for the price it may well be the best bargain in music ever. The music is incredibly important--superb pieces by one of the most gifted people to ever live. That all the quartets are included allows the student of these works to trace Beethoven's stylistic development in a single volume from the early quartets rooted in the Classical tradition through those absolutely innovative late quartets, which combined Baroque contrapuntal and formal elements with Romantic harmonies and Beethoven's own unique sense of rhythm and drama. (In addition to the originally published version of the final quartet with the new final movement suggested by his publisher, the Grosse Fuge is included also.) I recommend to all my music students and especially my composition students that they get these pieces and study them throughout their lives. I can honestly say that I have learned more from these quartets than from any other, similar body of music literature by a single composer; and even as a composer of twenty-first century music I am continuously educated and inspired by them.

Editorial Review:

Breitkopf & Härtel edition. 6 quartets of Opus 18; 3 quartets of Opus 59; Opera 74, 95, 127, 130, 131, 132, 135, and Grosse Fuge. Study score.