Nothing To Say Here
  • Home
  • Us
  • Dave's Movie & TV Reviews
  • Shana's Book Reviews
  • Natalie's Humor
  • Get In Touch
  • Home
  • Us
  • Dave's Movie & TV Reviews
  • Shana's Book Reviews
  • Natalie's Humor
  • Get In Touch

The Rest Is Noise: Listening to the Twentieth Century

3/29/2018

0 Comments

 
Author: Alex Ross
Rating: 5​ Stars
Review By: Shana
Picture
​This is surely the decisive history of 20th century orchestral music. Ross showcases an encyclopedic knowledge of 20th century composition, which is nicely complemented by his thorough and insightful research into the cultural, social, and political history each of the composers sprouted from. 
He weaves his way around the world and through various schools of composition, highlighting the composers and their works whether romantics or modernists, post-modernists or jazz (and in that swing or bebop), impressionistic or twelve tone. The book has a corresponding website that lives on with continuing blogposts, links to works, suggested listening, and the like. Being able to turn to the website to actually hear the works being discussed is a boon to the reader/listener.

Though Ross obviously wants laypeople to enjoy his work, this book is probably best for readers who already have at least some familiarity with the classical repertoire and is made much richer by knowledge of (or at least taking the time to listen to) the works discussed. 

An eye-opening and educational book, an introduction to the realities and politics (both at the governmental and international levels, as well as within the musical community) that gave rise to much of the music of the last century. Well worth the time of any lover of orchestral music. 
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Author:

    My love of reading was sparked in 3rd grade by the promise of personal pan pizzas via the BOOK IT! Program. Hmmmm... any chance that someone might give adults free food for reading? Asking for a friend...

    Archives

    March 2020
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018

    Categories

    All
    5 Stars
    Autobiography / Memoir
    Biography
    Fantasy/Supernatural/Horror
    General Fiction
    General Nonfiction
    General Science
    History
    Language
    Medicine / Health / Mental Health
    Military & War
    Mystery
    Neurology & Cognition
    Politics & Government
    Satire & Humor
    Science Fiction & Speculative Fiction
    Technology & Cyber
    Thriller
    True Crime

    RSS Feed

Site powered by Weebly. Managed by SiteGround