Paris: A Musical Gazetteer » (New Edition)

This is a concise gazetteer--part reference, part guidebook--to the musical landmarks of Paris, which until the early 20th century was arguably the musical capital of the Western world. Intended for tourists as well as scholars, the book contains biographical portraits of fifty major musical figures of the past 230 years who resided in Paris, with detailed information about where they lived and what they did. Descriptions of sites are arranged by category, including theaters, churches, schools, publishing houses, and composer museums. Simeone offers a list of the most significant musical sites in Paris, as well as four walking tours designed for visitors who have only a few hours to explore. The sites are also keyed to Michelin maps and nearest Metro stops.

Library Journal

Simeone (music, Univ. of Wales) has written an informative and specialized reference on the musical history of Paris. The guide begins with a history of Paris, then continues with biographies of the many composers, performers, and others connected with the musical world who have passed through the city, with special reference to any of their known residences. Liberally illustrated with black-and-white reproductions of old prints and photographs, the book includes four walking tours and also describes the musical associations of churches, museums, schools, theaters, and other landmarks. Although map references and Metro stops are cited, no maps are included. The short, choppy biographies make for less-than-satisfying reading, but the comprehensive nature and organization of the book may make it useful for large music or travel collections. Most travelers will do just as well with more general guides.--Linda M. Kaufmann, Massachusetts Coll. of Liberal Arts Lib., North Adams Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information.\