Theory and Practice in Late Nineteenth-Century Violin Performance: An Examination of Style in Performance, 1850-1900

Theory and Practice in Late Nineteenth-Century Violin Performance: An Examination of Style in Performance, 1850-1900. By David Milsom. Ashgate (82 Winter Sport Lane, PO Box 2225, Williston, VT 05495; www.ashgate.com), 2003. 287 pp. Index, bibliography, discography, appendices, music examples, figures, CD. Hardcover, $69.95.

In his book, Theory and Practice in Late Nineteenth-Century Violin Performance: An Examination of Style in Performance, 1850-1900, David Milsom presents a compelling and thorough study of the theories, philosophies, and practices of nineteenth-century performers and pedagogues, with a comparative emphasis on their relationships to modern musical styles and ideals. Milsom's writing includes careful attention to issues of reliability and validity and is a comprehensive examination of research sources, including primary written sources such as treatises, methods, modern writings, and both period and modern recordings.

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