Alex Ross's New Book?

[Opus106]

Not absolutely none, but hardly any (more mentions than of Wuorinen, for instance).

I know, Velimir did say "practically zilch," but I guessed Ross has nothing new to tell me beyond what I already know about the man.

[karlhenning]

I know, Velimir did say "practically zilch," but I guessed Ross has nothing new to tell me beyond what I already know about the man.

Well, but one of the good things about the book is, that even for someone who has read a great deal about the composers, there is apt to be something new on each page or so.

[Brian]

I saw that Alex Ross had written an article in the Guardian today, and started reading it. At the end of the article was a tagline: "Alex Ross will be giving a talk at the British Library tomorrow." Cool! I'm in the British Library! I looked at the date. The article was published yesterday! I am in the same building where Alex Ross will be giving a talk, on the same day, and I had ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA.

How awesome is that???

Now if you'll excuse me... the talk begins in 10 minutes 

Well, that was a stupid mistake. The talk actually is tomorrow.

[karlhenning]

Will you go tomorrow?

[Brian]

Will you go tomorrow?

I've got a class.  <-note I don't actually commit to answering the question, though!

[DavidW]

Bring your book, get it signed!   I still have to read The Rest is Noise, I started it quite awhile ago...

[petrarch]

The thing I am disappointed with it is the fact that so little space was actually about later 20th century music.

If you are looking for a thorough coverage of 20th C music, this is absolutely the best book I have read on the subject:

http://www.amazon.fr/musique-du-XXe-siècle/dp/2818500206/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1291076915&sr=8-2

Got my copy in the mid-90s, and I see this latest edition is thicker, which makes me want to get it--the extra material probably covers the decade between the two editions.

[RJR]

Here's a good introduction to 20th Century symphonies, first published in 1967 and edited by Robert Simpson:

A Pelican Original
The Symphony
2: Elgar to the Present Day


I think there's an updated edition but I haven't found a copy yet.

Also,
H. H. Stuckenschmidt
Twentieth Century Music
World University Library

Eric Salzman
Twentieth-Century Music: An Introduction
Prentice Hall History of Music Series

Not exclusively 20th C but interesting just the same are:
Deryck Cooke
The language of music
Oxford Paperbacks

The Structure of Music:
A listener's guide by Robert Erickson
The Noonday Press