Embodying what is perhaps the most original and useful idea devised for indexing melodies, The Directory of Classical Themes will be of unique interest to music lovers everywhere.

Have you ever had a classical tune buzzing around your head and not been able to identify it? In The Directory of Classical Themes, with no greater musical knowledge than the ability to hum the tune, you will be able to find it. Denys Parsons discovered that the only necessary feature to distinguish any number of different themes was the up-and-down pattern of the melody. This enabled him to compile a reference work that is incredibly easy to use.

Practically every well-known classical theme from the sixteenth century onwards is found in these pages. It can be used to find the composer, identify the theme and movement of a sonata, symphony or concerto and to check the opus number or key of a work you already know.