Julian Anderson
Dialogues on Listening, Composing and Culture
Published on 23. October 2020
Book
Hardback
470 pages
978-1-78327-498-7 (ISBN)
Description
Revealing much about the workings of the musical world, these conversations will not only be essential reading for composers and composition students, but also contemporary music lovers more generally
Julian Anderson is renowned internationally as one of the leading composers of his generation. This substantial book of conversations with the scholar and critic Christopher Dingle captures Anderson's thoughts and memories in-depth for the first time, not only providing biographical information and background material, but also capturing the workings of a remarkable mind. It is rare to find a composer prepared to speak extensively and honestly on as broada range of topics as Anderson. These extraordinarily diverse conversations range far beyond his own compositions and even beyond the sphere of music, exploring issues of broad cultural interest.
Of particular value, providing insights into the practicalities and psychology of composing, are the glimpses of Anderson's thoughts on works in progress during the conversations, including the period from composing the score for his ENO opera Thebans to its first production, as well as his violin concerto, his 3rd String Quartet and his Berlin Philharmonic commission Incantesimi. Anderson's work with dance, his love of the voice and his varied collaborations with orchestras, soloists and conductors are also explored. With their wide range of musical and artistic topics, these conversations will be essential reading not only for composers and composition students, but for those interested inculture more generally.
Julian Anderson is renowned internationally as one of the leading composers of his generation. This substantial book of conversations with the scholar and critic Christopher Dingle captures Anderson's thoughts and memories in-depth for the first time, not only providing biographical information and background material, but also capturing the workings of a remarkable mind. It is rare to find a composer prepared to speak extensively and honestly on as broada range of topics as Anderson. These extraordinarily diverse conversations range far beyond his own compositions and even beyond the sphere of music, exploring issues of broad cultural interest.
Of particular value, providing insights into the practicalities and psychology of composing, are the glimpses of Anderson's thoughts on works in progress during the conversations, including the period from composing the score for his ENO opera Thebans to its first production, as well as his violin concerto, his 3rd String Quartet and his Berlin Philharmonic commission Incantesimi. Anderson's work with dance, his love of the voice and his varied collaborations with orchestras, soloists and conductors are also explored. With their wide range of musical and artistic topics, these conversations will be essential reading not only for composers and composition students, but for those interested inculture more generally.
Reviews / Votes
Erudite yet informal and wholly engaging, every page yields fascinating insights on a wide range of interrelated topics. From dance to opera; Messiaen to Croatian folk; spectralism to sampling; musical memory to perception, sound and resonance; music is never seen in isolation from society but as a vibrant, constantly evolving communicative force. The glossary alone is a treasure-trove, written by Anderson and reflecting his quietly brilliant unorthodoxy. FIVE STARS. -- Steph Power * BBC Music Magazine * Here we have another beautifully produced and thought-provoking text from the Boydell Press. . . . It is abundantly clear that Anderson's sympathies and ideas range widely beyond music to embrace issues of broad cultural interest. The value of the book is greatly enhanced by glimpses of the motivation behind some of his most recent work - the scope of the book takes us to the immediate present. . . . [P]rovides a stimulating insight into one of today's most interesting musical figures. -- Alistair MacDonald * British Music Society * The contextual knowledge, analytical abilities, realism, personal insight and honesty of emotional response to music of all forms are dazzling, from both the composer Anderson and his friend the musicologist Christopher Dingle. -- Andrew Mellor * Gramophone * The ground covered [in the book] is both wide-ranging and often abundantly engaging. The shop talk will be of particular interest to composers. . . . Students will learn a great deal about banishing the blank page from Anderson's imaginative approach to creativity. . . . [A] fine resource for scholars and performers as well as composers. -- Christian Carey * TEMPO *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Woodbridge
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Boydell & Brewer Ltd
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Product notice
Cloth over boards
Illustrations
14 b/w.
Dimensions
Height: 239 mm
Width: 157 mm
Thickness: 38 mm
Weight
953 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-78327-498-7 (9781783274987)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Persons
JULIAN ANDERSON is a leading composer, teacher and writer on music. He has composed works in a wide range of media and has held prominent musical and teaching posts in Britain and the USA. He is currently Professor of Composition and Composer in Residence at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, London. CHRISTOPHER DINGLE is Professor of Music at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire. He has authored/edited five books on Messiaen, including Messiaen's Final Works and The Life of Messiaen. He is also the editor of The Cambridge History of Music Criticism and has written for BBC Music Magazine for over 25 years.
Content
Foreword by Gillian Moore
Prelude: Jeux
Origins
Enthusiasms
Training
Dance
Folk
Composing (or not)
Understandings
Beginnings (and endings)
Puzzles
Singing
Olly
Memory
Opera
Practices
Outsiders
Quartets
Advocacy
Partnerships
Coda: Multiple Choices
Catalogue of Words by Julian Anderson
List of Recordings of Julian Anderson's Music
Prelude: Jeux
Origins
Enthusiasms
Training
Dance
Folk
Composing (or not)
Understandings
Beginnings (and endings)
Puzzles
Singing
Olly
Memory
Opera
Practices
Outsiders
Quartets
Advocacy
Partnerships
Coda: Multiple Choices
Catalogue of Words by Julian Anderson
List of Recordings of Julian Anderson's Music