Reviewed by Steven Whitehead

This is the largest CD/book package that I have ever seen with two CDs accompanying a massive volume of more than 900 pages. If that is not enough, a dedicated website offers 150 more tracks to listen to with 25 that can be downloaded. And all this for under 10 pounds! Please don't get me wrong: this is not a case of never mind the quality, just look at the price although it such astounding value that you really cannot loose. The book really does exactly what it says on the cover, to coin a phrase. The first section covers "Composers And Their Music" and takes us from Heikki Aaltoila (1905-1992), a Finnish composer of music for stage and screen, since you ask, through to Ellen Taafe Zilch (born in 1939), one of the "most popular contemporary American composers". Then we get a "glossary of musical terms" which takes us from "A", surprisingly enough, to "Xylophone" and then a final section on "Classical Music in Films". All the articles are brief; even Mozart only runs to four pages. However, every word is well-chosen and as a ready-reference book it is a wonderful resource. The CDs give a splendid overview of the classical world taking us from John Adams ("Short Rise In A Fast Machine" to Richard Wagner's "Isolde's Liebestod". The emphasis is on deceased European male composers and there is little by way of vocal music but once we sign up for the online bonus area we are given a much wider choice from Albeniz to Zwilch with a good few pieces for those looking for explicitly Christian content from Byrd's 'Mass For Four Voices' to Tomas Luis de Victoria's 'Missa O Quam Gloriosam'. I could say more but I hope this paints a clear enough picture of an essential work if you have any interest at all in classical or choral music.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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