Music Since 1900

Music Since 1900 is a comprehensive chronological record of musical events, performances, and developments from 1900 onwards. The book serves as both a reference work and a historical narrative of 20th century music. Slonimsky documents premieres, deaths of composers, institutional changes, and technological innovations that shaped modern music. The entries range from major concert debuts to obscure but significant musical inventions, with precise dates and locations provided. The book includes information about classical, experimental, and electronic music across multiple continents and traditions. Biographical details about composers and performers are integrated throughout the chronological format. This reference work captures the rapid evolution of musical forms and techniques during a transformative period in cultural history. The chronological structure reveals patterns of influence and innovation across different musical movements and geographic regions.

Readers value this book as a reference text chronicling 20th century music events, compositions, and developments year by year. Many note its usefulness for music research and academic work. Liked: - Detailed chronological organization - Coverage of both major and obscure musical events - Inclusion of world music, not just Western classical - Clear writing style Disliked: - Some errors in dates and details - Bias toward classical/academic music over popular genres - Limited coverage of late 20th century music - Dense text formatting makes browsing difficult Ratings: Goodreads: 4.2/5 (12 ratings) Amazon: 4.5/5 (6 ratings) Several reviewers on classical music forums note the book's strong focus on modernist composers. One Amazon reviewer criticized the "crammed" page layouts while praising the comprehensive scope. A Goodreads reader highlighted its value as a "day-by-day account of musical happenings" but wished for more coverage of electronic and experimental music.

A History of Western Music by Claude V. Palisca, Donald Jay Grout This chronological survey presents musical developments, composers, and works from ancient Greece through the twentieth century with musical examples and historical context.

The Rest Is Noise: Listening to the Twentieth Century by Alex Ross The book traces the history of twentieth-century classical music through its key figures, cultural shifts, and political events.

The Oxford History of Western Music by Richard Taruskin This five-volume work examines Western classical music through its social, cultural, and political contexts from the earliest notated music to the late twentieth century.

Classical Music: A Chronology by Jon Paxman This reference work provides year-by-year documentation of classical music events, compositions, and premieres from 1600 to the present.

Lexicon of Musical Invective by Nicolas Slonimsky This collection presents critical reactions and reviews of classical music compositions at their premieres, demonstrating the evolution of musical reception through history.

🎵 Nicolas Slonimsky served as the conductor for the first performance of Edgar Varèse's "Ionisation" in 1933, the first concert piece written solely for percussion instruments. 📚 The book has gone through multiple editions since its first publication in 1937, with each new version expanding to include contemporary developments in music, making it one of the longest-running music reference works. 🎼 Slonimsky coined several musical terms that became standard in music theory, including "pandiatonicism" and "polyharmony." 🌟 Frank Zappa considered Slonimsky a major influence and invited him to perform with his band in 1981 when Slonimsky was 87 years old. 📅 The book is structured as a day-by-day chronology, allowing readers to discover what significant musical events occurred on any given date throughout the 20th century.