Books and Articles You Consult

I was working on a review and started going through the things I consult
when doing so.  I began to wonder what kinds of materials others read or
consult when listening to music or writing about it.  Here are my two bits:

First of all I check into Michael Steinberg's books The Symphony or
The Concerto.  Steinberg wrote (writes?) the program notes for the San
Francisco Symphony and basically took those and turned them into a book.
His writings are directed to an audience that may not be able to understand
a lot of the argot or references to specific passages in a score and so are
accessible but not simplistic.  I hope he is working on one about
orchestral music like La Mer, etc.

Next, I consult the notes with the disc.  Sometimes they are helpful but
sometimes they are too technical to really help develop an understanding
of the music.  I have never particularly liked Toscanini's approach to
rehearsing, preferring Stokowski's more natural language with an orchestra.
With my background in literature it helps me to understand and appreciate
the music if I can get that kind of language.

Comparison and contrast are essential in reviewing recordings, especially
new releases.  I sometimes consult books like The Penguin Guide to Compact
Discs but recently added a better source, Alexander Morin's Third Ear:  The
Essential Listening Companion.  Either one is frustrating at points, for
example Morin's book doesn't mention Giulini's recording of Bruckner's 2nd
(Testament) nor Klemperer's 6th (EMI).  Sometimes I use these in helping
make a decision to add a recording, especially if I don't have one, so that
I can put things in the necessary context.  Other times I will use them to
let the reader know that some people disagree with my point of view (for
example a review of Gottschalk music I am working on at the moment)

I also have a collection of hundreds of articles I have acquired over the
years since I began listening to classical music in 1976.  They include
Stereo Review, Hi Fidelity, Stereophile, Gramophone, and recently from the
Net I have added Tony Duggan's essays on Mahler.  These are catalogued by
composer and usually can add to what I am writing.  I particularly look for
interesting stories.

I recently dug out Martin Bookspan's 101 Masterpieces of Music and Their
Composers from 1972.  He offers brief biographies and reviews of recordings
he had reviewed at the time for "Consumer's Report".  Again, I look for
some discussion of the music that I can add to what I picked up from
Steinberg's books.

Less often I consult Edward Downes' Guide To Symphonic Music.  This book
can offer information I can't find in the other sources but I find the
writing somewhat boring and not particularly helpful when I am thinking
about my audience.

Sometimes I will be writing about an older recording and there may be
little about it in any of the above.  Some years ago I added the 1943
edition of The Record Book by David Hall.  I met him at a conference in
1982 and he had fascinating stories about damn near every famous musician.

Occasionally I check a 1975 copy of H. L. Mencken on Music edited by
Louis Cheslock.  He doesn't talk about recordings but does have some
absolutely hilarious stories and insights to conductors and music that
was "in" then.

Then there is Stokowski.  I have four books about him, the best being
Oliver Daniel's Stokowski:  A Counterpoint of View.  The others have
several errors, sometimes due to accepting Stokowski's version of his life.
(For some reason I cannot locate the others at this time...I have misplaced
them again) None of these are any longer available but you might find them
in used bookstores.  Another source I check on occasion is Edward Johnson's
"Leopold Stokowski:  Off The Record".  This is a collection of reviews from
"Gramophone" dating from the early days of LP and offer another context to
think about.

Okay, I wanted to share this information with you so that you will know
what sources I check into when I read about music, especially if I am
writing about it.  I usually include references in the reviews.  This is
actually a second installment in an essay I wrote a few years ago called
"Principles of Reviewing:  Credo".  It is vital to know the context a
writer is working from in order to better understand what you are reading.

Peace from he who is stumpf
"since feeling is first"