Old Scores and New Readings Discussions on Music & Certain Musicians

Old Scores and New Readings: Discussions on Music & Certain Musicians by John F. Runciman is a vivid, opinionated survey of composers and performances that shaped the classical-music landscape from Byrd to Tchaikovsky. Runciman’s collection of essays blends historical perspective, personal anecdote, and sharp critical judgment as he examines William Byrd’s Mass in D minor, Henry Purcell, Bach’s Matthew and John Passions, Handel, Haydn’s Creation, Mozart’s Don Giovanni and Requiem, Beethoven’s Fidelio, Schubert, Weber and Wagner, the arc of Italian opera, Verdi’s evolution, Bayreuth in 1897, Brahms, Dvořák, and Tchaikovsky’s Pathétique, among others. Written at the turn of the 20th century, these pieces reflect contemporary performance practice and the author’s encounters with landmark concerts, offering readers both historical context and reflections on how masterpieces endure and change in interpretation. The tone is erudite yet accessible, aimed at illuminating compositional craft, operatic drama, symphonic form, and the cultural currents that informed them. Perfect for classical-music enthusiasts, students of music history, and anyone who enjoys lively, informed music criticism, this audiobook brings authoritative, old-world insight to enduring works and the musicians who made them famous.