Reviewed by Steven Whitehead

This is difficult to review in my 200 or so words so if I cannot comment fully on the quality I can at least marvel at the quantity. We start with a 236-page paperback book, illustrated and indexed and written in a pleasing, non-technical style by the Wall Street Journal's music critic. Inside are two CDs with 29 tracks taking over two and a half hours to play, from Stephen Foster to Ellen Taafe Zwilich. In addition there is a password that unlocks a dedicated website with more than 150 extra tracks by 53 different composers so there is no doubting the value for money offered here. For Cross Rhythms readers it's a shame the author's definition of "classical music" restricts his selection to the concert hall so there is almost no vocal or choral music and thus very little Christian content. The early chapters of the book acknowledge the importance of sacred music, both Catholic and Puritan, but no musical illustrations are given. One can understand the need to limit the scope of this type of book and the definitions of different genres are notoriously debatable but we are left wondering whether the whole story has been told.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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