Norman Del Mar – författare

It might be thought presumptuous to detail every thought, beat, and gesture in conducting the standard repertoire, for the art of interpretation must always, by its very nature, be a personal one. But from his lifelong experience in conducting the Beethoven symphonies Norman Del Mar is able to lead us in a discussion of them with passion and great insight.This is an essential guide for students of these great works and a starting-point for young conductors. Del Mar offers an analysis of the music's structure, pointing out key events in the score and offering advice on how to achieve the desired effect. He also compares variant readings in the different editions. But his book further traces the development of Beethoven's style and that of the symphony over the 24 years of their composition, from the inspired yet simple First, so evocative of Haydn and Mozart, to the supreme peak of the 'Choral', one of the greatest masterpieces of the symphonic form. Del Mar is thus able to speak to all devotees of Beethoven's symphonic output, and enhance our appreciation of these works.

After two volumes of reflections on conducting the orchestral music of Beethoven, Normal Del Mar now turns to the music of Brahms. His own interpretations, over a career of half a century, have been hailed as unusually sincere and thoughtful. As before, Del Mar's insights will be of great interest to practising musicians and lovers of these great works.

Following on from his reflections on conducting the nine Beethoven symphonies, Del Mar now gives his views on the remainder of Beethoven's orchestral output. He offers analyses of the music's structure, pointing out key events in the score, and gives advice on how to achieve the desired effect. Drawing on a lifetime's experience of conducting, these reflections are an essential starting-point for young conducters.

This is the final book in the magnificent series of advice on conducting the repertoire that Norman Del Mar had been writing until his death in February 1994. As with the previous books, each chapter is devoted to a specific work, and once again all the major orchestral works of this important composer are covered. The book culminates in an important study of The Dream of Gerontius, and it was in the middle of this chapter that Norman was forced to lay down his pen. His son, Jonathan, himself a conductor, was with him in hospital helping him, and knew what line the chapter should take. He has now completed this and seen the whole book through the press with authority and devotion. Norman Del Mar renowned in his generation as the principal interpreter of English music and in particular for his understanding of Elgar. His explanations of the subtleties of guiding an orchestra through these magnificanet scores will be a lasting memorial to his lifework and invaluable help to all those who seek to clarify this elusive music. Elgar's own recordings are frequently drawn upon, but by no means always accepted, the changing fashions of interpretation being a constantly changing subject.

This apparently haphazard collection of essays on the interpretation of more unusual concert pieces was chosen partly with a view to more imaginative programme planning, the other requirement being that each piece is by a composer whose output would never make up a whole book. There are many composers who wrote one, or two, masterpieces, yet failed to leave a worthy oeuvre; these are often forgotten when building programmes, yet they enhance so many when brought to mind. This compilation spans a little over a hundred years from the 19th and 20th centuries and all are colourful and attractive. Once again Norman Del Mar brings us his expertise in handling the orchestra over a wide variety of styles and complicated instrumentation, his compulsive enthusiasm and broad knowledge being an invaluable guide to both the aspiring conductor, the expert, and the music-loving listener alike. The twenty-two essays range from Russia to Spain, from Schönberg to Kodály, from Wolf to Poulenc, with such firm favourites as La Forza del Destino revealing unexpected tricky moments and the Four Sea Interludes and Passacaglia from Peter Grimes full of hints and advice straight from Britten himself, for Norman Del Mar worked for many years with him at Aldeburgh and on tour with the English Opera Group.

The difficulties of interpreting Berlioz are interestingly explained by a conductor of legendary knowledge and understanding. For the students of conducting this book is nothing short of invaluable, being a guide to technique as well as to the confusions arising from Berlioz's imaginative orchestration. This book is intended for musicians, primarily students of conducting, and specialists in Berlioz.

Before his death in 1994, Norman Del Mar was acknowledged as one of the world's foremost authorities on the orchestra. "Anatomy of the Orchestra" is written not only for fellow conductors, players, students, and professional musicians, but also for everyone interested in the performance of orchestral music.

Norman Del Mar (1919-1994) was universally recognised as a leading authority on the music of Richard Strauss, and his masterly three-volume study of his life and works remains a classic.Volume I deals with the years from the composer's birth (1864) to Der Rosenkavalier (1912), discussing the early orchestral and chamber music, the tone poems and the operas Guntram, Feuersnot, Salome and Elektra.'Deploying a well-nigh encyclopaedic knowledge, Mr Del Mar acquits himself brilliantly of his task of disentangling and reassembling the numerous strands that make up the backcloth of poetry and philosophy which Strauss, while not always understanding every intricacy, yet needed as a constant reference map for his composing. The three volumes of this magnificent book should be studied by all lovers of the late-romantic music, amateurs and professionals alike...a monumental achievement.' Times Literary Supplement'A brilliant and copiously analytical study ... a constant fascination.' Guardian

Norman Del Mar (1919-1994) was universally recognised as a leading authority on the music of Richard Strauss, and his masterly three-volume study of his life and works remains a classic.Volume II spans the years 1912 to 1933 (the première of Arabella), taking in the Ariadne versions, Die Frau ohne Schatten, the ballets and much incidental music.'Deploying a well-nigh encyclopaedic knowledge, Mr Del Mar acquits himself brilliantly of his task of disentangling and reassembling the numerous strands that make up the backcloth of poetry and philosophy which Strauss, while not always understanding every intricacy, yet needed as a constant reference map for his composing. The three volumes of this magnificent book should be studied by all lovers of the late-romantic music, amateurs and professionals alike ... a monumental achievement.' Times Literary Supplement'A brilliant and copiously analytical study ... a constant fascination.' Guardian

Norman Del Mar (1919-1994) was universally recognised as a leading authority on the music of Richard Strauss, and his masterly three-volume study of his life and works remains a classic.Volume Three spans from 1934 to Strauss's death in 1949, taking in the last five operas, the late instrumental music, all the songs from early youth to the Vier letzte Lieder, and concluding with eight appendixes of works, dates and opus numbers, and a meticulous index.'Deploying a well-nigh encyclopaedic knowledge, Mr Del Mar acquits himself brilliantly of his task of disentangling and reassembling the numerous strands that make up the backcloth of poetry and philosophy which Strauss, while not always understanding every intricacy, yet needed as a constant reference map for his composing. The three volumes of this magnificent book should be studied by all lovers of the late-romantic music, amateurs and professionals alike ... a monumental achievement.' Times Literary Supplement'A brilliant and copiously analytical study ... a constant fascination.' Guardian