Books in the Magnum Opus series

Johann Sebastian Bach's the "St Matthew Passion" stands as a singular expression of religious sensibility. Highlighting the inspiration Bach drew from opera, this book illuminates the hybrid forms that comprise the work, thereby clarifying many of the composer's dramatic strategies.

Drawing from both Testaments, this title ranges musically from madrigal to aria, with an unvarying transparency of expression, imbued with humility and grace. It is suitable for those seeking a greater familiarity with the cornerstones of Western Classical Music - operatic, choral and symphonic.

Brahms' symphonies are often treated somewhat like medicine, as something 'good for you', but otherwise lacking in purely sensual pleasure. This book takes the reader beyond the jargon and pedantry and unlocks the mystery (and the joy) contained within Brahms' symphonies.

Aids listeners in getting beneath the surface of Beethoven's Fifth and Sixth symphonies, revealing that however disparate the expressive message, the language and style remain Beethoven's - a symphonic voice as powerful in struggle and victory as in relaxation and meditation.