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We recently had a good thread on classical music books (thanks for the many good suggestions, all). I recommended a trilogy by the late NY Times music critic Harold Schonberg: Lives of the Great Composers (1970), The Great Conductors (1967) and The Great Pianists (1963).
Looking through some of my late father's music books, I found another old favorite: Franz Farga's Violins and Violinists, first published in 1950, and every bit as fascinating and readable as the Schonberg Trio.
With these supplying an excellent background, one can move on to more recent histories, memoirs and biographies that cover the mid- to late-20th century. A recent one I greatly enjoyed was The Leonard Bernstein Letters. The editor rightly mourns the end of the days when prominent people routinely wrote lengthy letters. I doubt we'll find many more collections as great as Bernstein's.
None of this is quite on a level that would earn one a PhD in musicology. But it is great fun to read.
Follow Ups:
A highly recommended DVD: The Art of The Violin directed by Bruno Monsaingeon.
The cool thing about this DVD is it uses actual footage of the virtuoso Voiolists of the past where available. Ginette Neveu, Id Haendel, Ysaye, Enesco, and of course, the later, more contemporary soloists.
The selections contrasts the stylist differences and the difference in tonal qualities the various players could elicit from their instruments.
superb
I have that one, as well as his conductor and pianist DVDs, and they are all great. The only criticism I have of any of his stuff is that you often wish he could go on longer and in more detail on many of his subjects. But he manages to pack a lot of great material into a relatively short time.
They are unique documents with some unforgettable moments, like Cortot's poetic description of musical inspiration.
I almost consider them mandatory watching for the piano, violin, as well as the conductors insights.
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