Song. A Guide To Art Song Style And Literature

Customer Reviews

One of the best "accidents" I've ever had!

2008-01-20
Researching for an accademic paper on the development of the Art song has brought me to Amazon and it's great prices and selection. I bought this book based on the description, assuming that I would find some good resources for my paper and for future research.

When I got this book, I was astonished at the heft of the thing! This book is huge, and is much more than just information on a few songs or composers. "Song" gives a basic introduction to the idea of the Art Song, and then gives ideas on researching and studying the song that is being studied. from there, and for the vast majority of the book, the author completes a thorough, systematic survey of songs, grouping into location of origin (German, French, etc), then by composer in a chronological (earliest to latest) order.

Each of the most important composers of Art Songs is included here, with no glaring omissions that I have found. Each composer is presented, with valuable information on the individual, influence and styles. Then, the most important of that composer's songs (or song cycles) is given the same, thorough, systematic treatment, with more than a page of information and insight into each song.

I will doubtless use this book over and over in order to research my repertoire pieces I am studying, and those I am assigning to my students. I will also be passing this on to my own teacher and my mentor for their libraries.

A wonderful resource for song text and background infomation

2007-10-11
This text contains valuable information on Standard Song Rep.
It provides in-depth but concise information on the composer, song text and the poet.

Song: A Guide to Art Song style and Literature

2007-06-11
This book is fabulous! It is an important resource for a serious singer.

Outstanding Reference Book, A Must for Any Survey Course

2006-12-25
This book occupies a unique place in the entire body of published works for an overview of the art song genre and its development. Dr. Kimball's superb eye for detail has carefully amassed an amazing compilation of biography, analysis, and commentary on the most comprehensive number of composers, spanning all eras of song composition. The introductory
section of the book lays out a practical but not mandatory approach to using the information, in a way that encourages good listening skills and a coherent overview. Additional bibliography provides a very flexible resource for any course structure or further independent study.

Excellent Survey

2003-02-22
Excellent survey of the literature in the major European languages. Well-organized, thorough, wonderful bibliographies. Start with this book, check out the references, read the title recommendations, lots of hidden musical gems in here. Buy it first, then search for the references in Amazon or your local library. A splendid service to those who want to know more about classical song literature and its background.

A book that is complete, savvy and useful

1999-03-08
Carol Kimball's comprehensive survey of art song literature has been the principal one-volume American source on the topic. Now back in print after an absence of several years, this newly revised edition includes biographies and discussions of the work of 150 composers of various nationalities, as well as articles on styles of various schools of composition.