Unlocking the Masters Series No. 4. Mozart was the first composer whose operas have never left the international repertoire and for many he remains one of the finest vocal composers who ever lived. In a sense all of his music is vocal music depending as it does on arresting singable melodies but in his great operas single arias and sacred works Mozart put his melodic gift to work revealing the subtleties and expressive potential of a wide range of texts in languages ranging from Italian to Latin to German. In every case he created masterpieces from operas such as The Marriage of Figaro Don Giovanni and The Magic Flute to the sacred choral motet Ave Verum Corpus and of course the unfinished Requiem his final project. This second Getting the Most Out of Mozart volume in our Unlocking the Masters series focuses on Mozart's great operas and other vocal works but also discusses numerous lesser-known compositions from operas he wrote as a child to insertion arias for favorite singers or operas by other composers. In each case David Hurwitz describes how the musical setting and choice of instruments supports the text. He takes readers through the seven major operas aria by aria showing how Mozart uses vocal style and orchestration to create believable and moving characters that remain the standard for characterization in music to which all composers and dramatists aspire. The accompanying CD from Telarc Records includes 14 works.

William Percy French was one of Ireland's favourite sons and his influence on traditional Irish Music can still be felt today. His lyrics are still humorous ironic and perceptive but never mocking or scornful and these exemplify his love of his motherland. Representing some of the finest examples of this genre this volume contains forty-seven of his most famous and enjoyed songs all lovingly arranged by James Nealy with melody-line complete lyrics and chords. Includes notes on the inspiration and background of each of the songs and a commentary on the life and talents of French himself. This is a wonderful reference book as well as a compilation of his magnificentworks for enjoyment. Songs include Eileen Oge The Emigrants Letter and ‘Who said the Hook Never Hurted the Worms?’.

No composer has ever achieved the amazing artistic progression that Haydn has. He invented the string quartet as we know it became known as 'the Father of the Symphony' and mentored the great Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. His creative life was one of ceaseless experimentation and invention. Author David Hurwitz shows readers how to more fully enjoy Haydn's music acquainting them with the master's innovative melodic creativity revolutionary use of musical form and important characteristics of his personal style such as his genius for writing in minor keys and creating comedy in his music. Hurwitz explores Haydn's vocal music and instrumental masterpieces that fall outsidethe mainstream as well as his principle instrumental works. A special chapter of letters and quotations by the composer himself introduces the reader to Haydn the man. Four appendices list all of his symphonies string quartets Piano sonatas and Piano trios and specify their distinguishing characteristics. Two accompanying Naxos CDs provide more than two and a half hours of beautiful music keyed to pieces described in the book.