Eight Symphonic Masterworks of the Twentieth Century

Book excerpt: Based on his decades of experience conducting these works, Leonard Slatkin guides readers through eight of the most beloved orchestral pieces of the twentieth century: Claude Debussy’s La Mer Dmitri Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 5 Béla Bartók’s Concerto for Orchestra Igor Stravinsky’s Le Sacre du printemps (The Rite of Spring) George Gershwin’s An American in Paris Aaron Copland’s Appalachian Spring Suite Samuel Barber’s Adagio for Strings Benjamin Britten’s The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra Slatkin tackles problems conductors face before stepping onto the podium and highlights the many decisions they make during the study process, as well as in rehearsal and performance, to bring a score to life. He also shares tricks of the trade for leading efficient rehearsals and recounts engaging anecdotes from a lifetime of music making. This book will open the world of score study to conductors, other musicians, and students interested in expanding their knowledge of this essential repertoire.