Eight Symphonic Masterworks of the Twentieth Century

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.

Eight Symphonic Masterworks of the Twentieth Century will open the world of score study to conductors, other musicians, and students interested in expanding their knowledge of this essential repertoire.