Talk Back

[Eisworth]

I think I enjoyed this book more than any other I've read in the past few years...it made me feel empowered in a way. The subtitle is "Listening to the Twentieth Century", and the book is a history of 'classical music' from 1900 to 2000.

Over the past couple of years, I've been taking advantage of Rhapsody (as well as our university's library) and trying to learn my way around the composers of the last 100 years. Reading this book gave me an epiphane --- suddenly, all sorts of things I'd been listening to made sense, and sometimes I even think I understand now a bit what some of the more notorious composers of the last century (like Schoenberg, for example) were trying to do.

Equally fascinating is the relationship between history and music --- how the tumultuous events of the past century had an impact in music, and how intertwined politics and music have been. This too was very eye-opening for me.

I wish the book had been longer; I want to know so much more. I read and re-read several passages, and frequently downloaded pieces from Rhapsody.com to hear what was being described. All of this prolonged the reading experience, but still it has not been enough. More please!
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Todd Eisworth
Associate Professor of Mathematics
Ohio University

[jeffp]

Now that is an excellent and concise review. Well done!

[Patguy]

I read your review, and immediately afterward pulled up Salon.com, and look what I found. The universe is telling me to read this book.

[Eisworth]

This was actually the first time I've heard a book discussed on NPR, thought to myself "I really would like to read that", and then ordered it.
_________________
Todd Eisworth
Associate Professor of Mathematics
Ohio University