Camille Saint-Saëns and His World (The Bard Music Festival) (The Bard Music Festival, 32)

Princeton University Press has recently published twenty three (23) collections of scholarly writing on classical music composers and their world. This 400 page volume, devoted to Camille Saint Saens, comprises thirty eight (38) individual essays on this most fascinating French composer, who if he had not been known for his brilliant music compositions, would have been known as an extraordinary polymath, knowledgeable in science, a world traveler, an organist par excellence and a brilliant pianist. The subjects deal with Saint Saens' compositions, his writings, his acceptance in Germany, England and the United States, his performances worldwide, analysis of some of his better known works, his preeminent position as a French cultural leader straddling the centuries, his competition with Massenet and his influence on Ravel, Faure, Debussy and D'Indy. The contributors are French, German and American including Leon Botstein and D. Kern Holoman, the author of "The Orchestra, A Short Introduction." This is a welcome addition to anyone interested in Camille Saint Saens whether musicologist or lay person.

I was looking for more general information on the genius of Saint-Saens and got more than I bargained for. This is a great book for anyone wanting to better understand genius and social personalities of the celebrated among us. I highly recommend the book and further study of his life.

Unbelievably dull collection of essays. Too many chapters use Saint-Saens simply as an excuse to talk about topics that are fashionable in American universities nowadays. Not for those who love Saint-Saens and his exciting and beautiful work.

Great!