Boydell & Brewer

The book is fascinating for its insights into politics as much as into musical matters including the Russians' influence on Britten and he on the Russians — American Record Guide More…

Offers a stimulating reading with insights into the act of creation, the compositional process, and the vantage point of the modern creative artist in the twenty-first century — Music and Letters More…

Now we can all appreciate these works afresh, with the useful and pertinent insights afforded by this welcome volume — International Piano More…

Generously filled with black and white photographs, reproductions of programmes and musical illustrations, this handsome volume is an invaluable - and essential - contribution towards a fuller... — International Piano More…

This welcome, much-needed study is superbly argued and written. It is attractively produced and presented — Tempo More…

[A]n eminently readable [...] volume — Musical Times More…

An extensive haul of letters spanning more than four decades (1929-41) [that] saw the continuation of the composer's remarkable contribution to 'modernist discourse — Musical Times More…

[U]ntil now there has been no extensive study of what the words set by Byrd in his 1588 and 1589 song collections really mean, that is, 'what they are,' apart from songs. Smith...offers a brilliant,... — Choice More…

The book raises more questions than it answers, and that is surely a good thing: it makes one think. . . [Many of the] scores [in reduction] are quoted complete, which is certainly an aid to... — Tempo More…