In Child Composers and Their Works: A Historical Survey, Barry
Cooper examines over 100 composers born before 1900 who wrote
substantial musical works before age 16. The book provides a
general overview of the subject, examining the ways and
identifying possible reasons these works have been marginalized
in the general literature. The book also contains an annotated
checklist of over 100 notable child composers, presenting a
valuable and handy reference of these creators and their early
works. The annotated checklist presents a chronological listing
of child composers born before 1900 and features a descriptive
list of what they wrote, often including analytical commentary
and offering occasional music examples for illustration. The
list also includes a select catalog of works, suggestions for
further reading, and recordings when available. Complete with a
bibliography and an index of composers, this resource is
invaluable to scholars and historians. A lofty undertaking?
Certainly. But one that must happen if