Music History Books?

[ThEmUsIcMaNBJ]

Can anyone suggest some good music history books.  General books covering era's in depth with styles etc...  And some books more specifically to composers like biographies on liszt chopin etc....  And where I could buy them online?  I can't seem to find a lot of books that seem very interesting around where I live...  Thanks!  Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated!

[natasha]

actually my teacher finds lots of interesting music history and manuscript books at antique stored and second hand shops!! u can get something that went out of print 20 yrs and more ago and only pay $2!!!
natasha

[dskim]

The standard (and pretty thorough) history books used in colleges is called "The History of Western Music" by Donald Grout and Claude Palisca.  It has a corresponding 12 CD set and 2 volume score anthology, too.  I used it in college.

There are a lots of biographies out there, and lots of collections of letters (I really suggest the letters of Mozart -- Chopin's letters are also published, but not as interesting).  Has anyone ever read the Beethoven conversation books?

David

[rachfan]

I agree with dskim that Grout's "The History of Western Music" is certainly the classic and is used extensively in musicology courses.  Another history text geared more to the music appreciation or survey level is Machlis' "The Enjoyment of Music".  While not nearly as detailed as Grout, it still presents an excellent history of periods, styles, composers, concurrent trends in the fine arts, etc.  If you can find it, I would recommend reading Machlis first as your introduction to music history, followed by Grout which will demand more concentration.  

[ThEmUsIcMaNBJ]

Thanks a lot I just ordered "The History of Western Music"  but I could't find the Machlis one.  Anyways I'm sure It'll do fine!  One more thing that anyone could help me with.  I want to learn more theory but everytime I look for a book it is either way above me or way below me.  Either it's teaching what notation and chords are or it's teaching complicated counterpoint.  Two extremes when I'm right in the middle  
If anyone could suggest a good theory book on my level I would be very appreciative.

Basically I have a really strong foundation on basic music theory.  I have all the intervals, chords, key signatures memorized like the back of my hand.  You know around there.  Inversions, progressions, modes, simple forms ie. binary ternary etc...  Pretty much yeah...  I hope that gives you a pretty decent idea on where I am.  Any suggestions would help a lot!