The Richard Strauss Companion

(Hardback)

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Description

Featuring ten essays on different aspects of the compositions, artistic influences, and persona of Richard Strauss, this title explores the composer's relationship to his own work and to that of his noted contemporaries. Guided by not only musical interests but literary, political, and philosophical ones as well, Strauss is an ideal candidate for this sort of treatment. Following this discussion of his influences, the volume moves to a discussion of the works themselves, including operas, tone poems, and stage works; explored analytically and also in terms of their critical reception. The final chapter investigates Strauss's much-neglected choral works, revealing their rich musical and vocal capacities, while a select bibliography and complete works-list round out the volume.

Reviews

"This Companion is a delightful vade mecum. It will give pleasure to all ... [it] deserves to be read by anyone with an interest in music and to join the very select band of essential reference volumes."-Richard Strauss Society Newsletter
Schmid brings some welcome additions to recent literature on Strauss....Lower-division undergraduates through faculty; general readers.-Choice
This Companion is a delightful vade mecum. It will give pleasure to all ... [it] deserves to be read by anyone with an interest in music and to join the very select band of essential reference volumes.-Richard Strauss Society Newsletter
"Schmid brings some welcome additions to recent literature on Strauss....Lower-division undergraduates through faculty; general readers."-Choice

Author Bio

MARK-DANIEL SCHMID is an Assistant Professor of Music History and Literature and Piano at Mansfield University in Mansfield, Pennsylvania. Having previously taught for several years at the Musikschule Leinfelden-Echterdingen in Germany, his scholarly interests include Richard Strauss, Frantisek Xaver Dusek, and film music.