SYMPHONY CONDUCTORS OF THE U.S.A.

Convenient reference, in the form of thirty-two substantial biographies of our major conductors and over four hundred sketches of school and community orchestra leaders, this should be a boon to any youngster with a more than passing interest in classical music and its modern makers. The biographies are alphabetically arranged and quite complete as to detail. They sketch a conductor's life, his musical education, his techniques and many of the struggles, both with his musicians and with the public, to get what he wants. An introductory chapter also helps to develop the idea of what it means to be a conductor. Hope Stoddard is associate editor of the International Musician and has also written From These Comes Music, a study of orchestra instruments.