Song on Record: Volume 2 - Essential Reference for Art Song Collectors

In this review of Song on Record: Volume 2 the reviewer finds a focused, scholarly reference aimed at serious collectors and researchers of art song recordings. The book's single biggest strength is its wide geographic sweep beyond Lieder, gathering substantial coverage of French, Russian, Scandinavian, Spanish, English, American song, plus Bartok, Janacek and Britten, which makes it a useful research companion for librarians, musicologists and performers seeking recorded repertory context rather than a purchasing guide.

Key Features

• Comprehensive coverage: The book surveys song repertory across several national traditions so readers can locate recording references outside the German Lieder canon.
• Organized by composer groups: Chapters arranged by major French composers, Russian, Scandinavian, Spanish, English and American song allow targeted consultation.
• Inclusion of modern central European composers: Dedicated sections on Bartok and Janacek help users find resources on less commonly indexed 20th-century song.
• Coverage of Britten: A chapter on Britten gives practical focus for those researching mid-20th-century English song cycles and recordings.
• Final Encores chapter: The concluding chapter titled Encores assembles shorter, often overlooked pieces that appear on recital recordings and anthologies.

Who It's For

This volume is best suited to musicologists, academic librarians, graduate students and professional singers who need a compact bibliographic guide to recorded song outside the German tradition. It is particularly valuable when preparing recital programs, academic papers, or discography-oriented collection development.

Casual listeners or buyers seeking listening recommendations or price comparisons should look elsewhere; this is a reference work rather than a popular listening guide and assumes familiarity with composers and repertory.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Broad geographic scope brings French, Russian, Scandinavian, Spanish, English and American song into one reference.
• Specific chapters on Bartok, Janacek and Britten concentrate material that is often scattered elsewhere.
• The Encores chapter highlights short pieces frequently omitted from other bibliographies, aiding recital programming.

Cons

• The book is scholarly and reference oriented, so readers seeking annotated listening recommendations may find it too technical.

Specifications

Our Verdict

Song on Record: Volume 2 is a compact and focused reference that fills a clear gap for scholars and practitioners interested in recorded song beyond the German Lieder tradition. Its organized chapters and inclusion of 20th-century composers make it good value for those building a discography-informed library or planning recital repertory.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this volume cover Lieder?
This second volume covers song repertory not included in the Lieder volume and focuses on other national traditions and composers.

Who compiled the entries?
The book is by Alan Blyth and presents organized chapter coverage rather than a consumer buying guide.

Is it suitable for performers?
Yes; performers researching recorded examples and program options will find the chapter structure useful, though it is reference oriented.