I do not have a copy of this excellent text. However, several local libraries do have copies. As you know, it is out of print. However the publisher has given me permission to copy it, which is time consuming and laborious. If there is enough interest and the publisher would agree, I would undertake to update it to the present time with anecdotal input from parties interested in such a venture.

I use this book all the time for a reference. It has been with me throughout the years. I would very much like to update into current years of songs with a book of the same quality. Is there one available?

Like the commentator, I would like to have a copy of this book. And I could really use an updated version, too, from 1965 to present. Does any such book exist?

I used this book for my course in American popular music at DePaul University in Chicago. It covers vaudeville, operetta, minstrel shows, dance bands, folk music, 30's workers songs, R&B, rock, as well as radio, TV, and film scores. Its style is less scholarly and more oral tradition.

Although it is not up to date, it covers in depth the foundations of American popular music. Bring it back!

This is one of my all-time favorite books on the history of American music, mainly emphasizing popular music from the beginning of European settlement in North America (and later the arrival of African Americans) up to the 1970s (which is when the edition I own was published).

Ewen often adds interesting anecdotes surrounding the songs, songwriters, composers and performers. While the book is dated (which is probably why it is out of print), I find the index helpful when I want to quickly look up the background to older songs.

Reading this chapter by chapter, one can get a clear idea of the "greatest hits" of each era.

This is a highly readable book, which I recommend to any fan of American music, or even American history. This one certainly deserves to be updated and republished.

This encyclopedia covers multiple aspects of opera, including much more than just their synopses. It is conveniently set up in traditional encyclopedic format, i.e., all entries are in alphabetical order.

There are 25,000 entries including the stories of over 500 operas and discussions of about 650 of the most memorable arias, duets, and choruses.

There are entries on world premiers of all listed operas and American premieres as well as performances on radio and TV. It also includes listings of childrens operas.

This is only the beginning. You can also look up your favorite character from almost any opera, over 900 of them, in fact. There are biographies of composers, librettists, conductors, performers, choreographers, and members of almost all of the associated crafts.

It is also a true encyclopedia when it comes to definitions of technical terms associated with opera, and, even defines various kinds of opera.

The only shortcoming that I can find has to do with age. Because of the publication date, it has no listings of operas written in the last third of the 20th century. Since the vast majority of the current operatic repertoire predates that period, this doesn't cause much of a problem.

In addition, I have found the listed biographies of famous opera stars of the past to be very useful. If, as I occasionally do, I come across an old recording featuring someone no longer performing, I am able to to find out a little about that person. This happened recently when I found an old recording by Rosa Ponzelle.

Many of you have probably seen Gian-Carlo Menotti's AMAHL AND THE NIGHT VISITOR on TV around Christmas time. You know the one. It's about the poor little cripppled boy who offers his crutches as a gift to the Christ Child and is miraculously cured. I'll bet that you didn't know that it was actually written for TV and premiered on NBC. This is all covered in the entry for the opera. I found this bit of information interesting as I'd never heard it in conjunction with any TV performance that I'd seen.

Open it at random to any page and, if you enjoy opera, you'll find something of interest. When getting ready to attend an opera, or even after seeing one and needing some clarification about a character, his or her motivation, or the plot itself, this encyclopedia will really prove its worth.

The synopses are shorter than in some other references and therefore more accessible to the opera goer who has limited time to prepare for his attendance at an opera.

This book, published in the mid-Sixties, is a great introduction to famous conductors for older children. Ewen tells the stories of these conductors without talking down to his audience. He includes a lot of interesting episodes and quotable quotes. I don't offhand know where children can get this kind of knowledge nowadays. So unplug that greasy kid's stuff they're listening to now, and put them in touch with great music. This is a _great_ way to start.

David Ewen's The Complete Book of American Musical Theater is just what it says it is: a wonderful account of American musical theater history. Well written and well researched, Mr. Ewen explains how and why theater changed throughout the years and what theatrical events caused them to change. Definitely not just a database, the author entertains with insider information regarding plays, librettists, songwriters, producers, and actors, etc. This book is delightful and thorough. From the production of Flora in 1735, until the date of publication, The Complete Book of America's Musical Theater lets us peek behind the scenes of the theatrical events that made theater what it is today.