THE CONCERT COMPANION. A COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE TO SYMPHONIC MUSIC.

New York : Whittlesey House Book. Good. Hardcover. (1947), xi, 868pp, index. Extremities lightly worn, else G+. 'From the introduction by Deems Taylor: "There are other books of program notes, of course; but most of them present difficulties for the average reader. Some run to many volumes and are so erudite that they are likely to be heavy going for the nonprofessional; others cover only a limited field; still others stick to cold fact with no trimmings; and too many are written in such a high rhapsodic vein that the music they describe comes rather as an anticlimax. This book manages to avoid all these pitfalls. I know of no similar book that covers such a wide and catholic field.The oldest composer discussed is Tomas Louis De Victoria, who would be celebrating his four hundred and seventh if he were alive. The youngest, Lucas Foss, is three hundred and eight two years his junior. For the book's extraordinary range, the authors undoubtedly have to thank the Philharmonic-Symphonies fondness for guest conductors.".