Talking Music - by William Duckworth (Paperback)

About the Book

"Talking Music is comprised of substantial original conversations with seventeen American experimental composers and musicians--including Milton Babbitt, Pauline Oliveros, Steve Reich, Meredith Monk, a"

Book Synopsis

Talking Music is comprised of substantial original conversations with seventeen American experimental composers and musicians-including Milton Babbitt, Pauline Oliveros, Steve Reich, Meredith Monk, and John Zorn-many of whom rarely grant interviews. The author skillfully elicits candid dialogues that encompass technical explorations; questions of method, style, and influence; their personal lives and struggles to create; and their aesthetic goals and artistic declarations. Herein, John Cage recalls the turning point in his career; Ben Johnston criticizes the operas of his teacher Harry Partch; La Monte Young attributes his creative discipline to a Morman childhood; and much more. The results are revelatory conversations with some of America's most radical musical innovators.

From the Back Cover

Talking Music is comprised of substantial original conversations with seventeen American experimental composers and musicians -- including Milton Babbitt, Pauline Oliveros, Steve Reich, Meredith Monk, and John Zorn -- many of whom rarely grant interviews.

The author skillfully elicits candid dialogues that encompass technical explorations; questions of method, style, and influence; their personal lives and struggles to create; and their aesthetic goals and artistic declarations. Herein, John Cage recalls the turning point in his career; Ben Johnston criticizes the operas of his teacher Harry Partch; La Monte Young attributes his creative discipline to a Mormon childhood; Steve Reich explains how his reharmonizations relate to Debussy; and much more. The results are revelatory conversations with some of America's most radical musical innovators.

Review Quotes

"These composers open up to Duckworth. . . . Even the mysteries of the creative process are not beyond discussion.... There are plenty of gems [in this book]". -- Opera News

About the Author

William Duckworth is a composer, professor of music at Bucknell University, author of two books on music theory, and editor of John Cage at 75. He lives in New Jersey.