MAGAZINE/RECORD REVIEW The Great Musicians (Fabbri & Partners Ltd., 39-40 St. James's Place, London, SW.!.). Price: 13s. lid. Volume 1 Beethoven.

Readers may remember an article by Mr Robbins Landon (March 1966) describing an Italian project for a weekly series 'of magazines (for want of a more apt word), each containing a record, and each devoted to a composer or to some aspect of his work. The scheme, suitably re-devised under a distinguished advisory board, is now being launched in this country and I have been sent the first issue, No. 1 of the dozen to be devoted to Beethoven. The plan is surely remarkable in several ways, but certainly for the quality of the production combined with extraordinarily low cost. The literary part of it consists of 12 large pages of high-grade paper, allowing first-rate reproduction of illustrations, in thin cardboard covers and is excellently done, with essays by Dr Robert Simpson that are readable by anyone, yet which will also interest the more experienced music-lover (and it can scarcely be easy to write with such fresh thought about Beethoven), with well-chosen paintings, sketches and the like, many of them of special relevance to the work under discussion, the Pastoral Symphony. There is also a detailed analysis of the music, obviously more helpful if you have a miniature score, though with a record that can be repeatedly played it is certainly of more use than such things are in Concert programmes. The record, a 10-inch one since it has to fit into a sleeve in the back cover, is newly made by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra under Charles Groves and is of as high a quality as you could wish. And all for 13s. lid.

There will be 84 weekly issues, devoted to 20 composers, and you buy them, like any magazine, from your newsagent or they can be ordered by post from Fabbri & Partners. There are also binders holding a dozen issues each: and since you may not want to group your collection in the order of publication, there is a lettering kit so that you can title each volume as you like. (There seems nothing they haven't thought of!)

This first issue is more than worth it for the record alone, a performance of the Pastoral that must surely enhance Groves's status in the record world. It is a swift performance rather than a leisurely one (readings of this symphony fall basically into one category or the other), most perceptive in detail and with playing of a very high standard. The first movement is delightfully happy, while the brook flows with great beauty of musical expression; the peasants dance very quickly indeed (virtuosity from the orchestra here, though just once or twice some players tend to hurry slightly), the storm makes a fine effect and the final movement of peaceful thanksgiving doesn't outstay its welcome, as it easily can.

I read that many of the records will not be new and one can only hope that the standard set at the start will be maintained. Mozart, whose series begins in the following issue, is first represented by the B flat Piano Concerto, K595, with Brendel and the Vienna Volksoper Orchestra, and these older Brendel records (from which I presume this comes) have not been as notable for their sound quality as for the soloist's playing. Still, if the music is illuminated by as good a booklet as this first issue, the result will still be an unusual bargain.

To judge by this first sample, those who want to understand (and therefore enjoy) the world's greatest composers better—and I don't mean only those who feel they know nothing—will be well advised to make a modest financial investment in such a promising project. I cannot think of it being better done: unless a miniature score were included—but that could hardly be done except at a considerably higher price.

T.H.