This reference work is certainly a valuable addition to the study of Russia and its music. . . . The dictionary is, of course, a must for academic and large public libraries or any library where research is done. Reference Quarterly

This important new biographical dictionary is the most comprehensive single-volume work on Russian and Soviet composers published outside of the Soviet Union to date. Incorporating contributions by a distinguished group of performers, musicologists, and other scholars, including many specialists in Russian music, it provides detailed, up-to-date information on over 2,000 composers, the majority of whom are not represented in other English-language references.

Entries vary from brief profiles of lesser-known figures to lengthy articles on major Russian and Soviet composers. Each of the longer essays summarizes current scholarship on the composer, offers new insights, and complements or corrects coverage available in standard music references. Commentary on musical style is presented in most entries, and musical influences are clarified through careful documentation of teacher-student relationships. The biographical section is followed by a selective list of compositions arranged according to media and genre. The accompanying bibliography lists works consulted as well as sources of additional information on the individual composer, and an international discography documents the breadth of the repertory committed to phonodisc, tape, and compact disc. Thorough cross-referencing facilitates the location of materials. Reflecting meticulous research and including first-hand information supplied by living Soviet composers, this work makes a significant contribution to music scholarship. This book is recommended for library reference shelves and courses in Russian music.