Overview

Contemporary British composers talk about their music, with the emphasis on the aesthetic sensibilities and psychological processes behind composing rather than technique. This book features interviews with leading and upcoming British composers who use the same raw materials but produce classical music that takes very different forms. Uniquely, Andrew Palmer approaches the sometimes baffling worldof contemporary music from the point of view of the inquisitive, music-loving amateur rather than the professional critic or musicologist. Readers can eavesdrop on conversations in which composers are asked a number of questionsabout their professional lives and practices, with the emphasis on the aesthetic sensibilities and psychological processes behind composing rather than technique. Throughout, the book seeks to explore why composers write the kindof music they write, and what they want their music to do. Along the way, readers are confronted with an unspoken but equally important question: if some composers are writing music that the public doesn't want to engage with, who's to blame for that? Are composers out of touch with their public, or are we too lazy to give their music the attention it deserves? ANDREW PALMER is a freelance writer and photographer. He is editor of Composing in Words: William Alwyn on His Art (Toccata Press, 2009), author of Divas... In Their Own Words (Vernon Press, 2000) and co-author of A Voice Reborn (Arcadia Books, 1999). Since 1998 he has been a corresponding editor of Strings magazine (USA). Interviewees include: Julian Anderson, Simon Bainbridge, Sally Beamish, George Benjamin, Michael Berkeley, Judith Bingham, Harrison Birtwistle, Howard Blake, Gavin Bryars, Diana Burrell, Tom Coult, Gordon Crosse, Jonathan Dove, David Dubery, Michael Finnissy, Cheryl Frances-Hoad, Alexander Goehr, Howard Goodall, Christopher Gunning, Morgan Hayes, Robin Holloway, Oliver Knussen, James MacMillan, Colin Matthews, David Matthews, Peter Maxwell Davies, John McCabe, Thea Musgrave, Roxanna Panufnik, Anthony Payne, Elis Pehkonen, Joseph Phibbs, Gabriel Prokofiev, John Rutter, Robert Saxton, John Tavener, Judith Weir, Debbie Wiseman, Christopher Wright

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9781783270705

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A welcome treat for music enthusiasts. CHOMBEC This is not an ordinary Q&A compilation. Palmer provided the general questions beforehand and then elicited candid and personal information not likely to be found in other biographical resources, rendering the responses with clarity and sympathy. CHOICE A fascinating collection of interviews with leading and upcoming composers from our shores, and includes conversations with numeraries such as Sir Harrison Birtwistle, the Matthews brothers, Jonathan Dove and Roxanna Panufnik. BIRMINGHAM POST Dickinson is authoritative, lucid, persuasive, lively and sharply witty. . . . With fine illustrations and selected music examples, this is a richly satisfying book. CLASSICAL MUSIC MAGAZINE Impressive. Paul Griffiths TLS [A] compelling book BBC MUSIC MAGAZINE [A] compendious collection of interviews. THE SUNDAY TIMES

(A) compendious collection of interviews. THE SUNDAY TIMES

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