Voices in the Wilderness

Six American Neo-Romantic Composers

Nonfiction, Entertainment, Music, Music Styles, Classical & Opera, Classical, Theory & Criticism, History & Criticism
Cover of the book Voices in the Wilderness by Walter Simmons, Scarecrow Press
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Author: Walter Simmons ISBN: 9781461621195
Publisher: Scarecrow Press Publication: February 24, 2006
Imprint: Scarecrow Press Language: English
Author: Walter Simmons
ISBN: 9781461621195
Publisher: Scarecrow Press
Publication: February 24, 2006
Imprint: Scarecrow Press
Language: English

Despite the Modernist search for new and innovative aesthetics and rejection of traditional tonality, several twentieth century composers have found their own voice while steadfastly relying on the aesthetics and techniques of Romanticism and 19th century composition principles. Musicological and reference texts have regarded these composers as isolated exceptions to modern thoughts of composition—exceptions of little importance, treated simplistically and superficially. Music critic and scholar Walter Simmons, however, believes these composers and their works should be taken seriously. They are worthy of more scholarly consideration, and deserve proper analysis, assessment, and discussion in their own regard. In Voices in the Wilderness, the first in a series of books celebrating the "Twentieth-Century Traditionalist," Simmons looks at six Neo-Romantic composers:

Ernest Bloch
Howard Hanson
Vittorio Giannini
Paul Creston
Samuel Barber
Nicolas Flagello

Through biographical overviews and a comprehensive assessment of musical works, Simmons provides readers with a clear understanding of the significance of the composers, their bodies of work, and their placement in musicological history. The chapters delve deeply and objectively into each composer's oeuvre, addressing their origins, stylistic traits and consistencies, phases of development, strengths and weaknesses, and affinities with other composers. The composers' most representative works are identified, and each chapter concludes with a discography of essential recordings.

Visit the author's website to read samples from the book and to listen to representative excerpts of each composer's work.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

Despite the Modernist search for new and innovative aesthetics and rejection of traditional tonality, several twentieth century composers have found their own voice while steadfastly relying on the aesthetics and techniques of Romanticism and 19th century composition principles. Musicological and reference texts have regarded these composers as isolated exceptions to modern thoughts of composition—exceptions of little importance, treated simplistically and superficially. Music critic and scholar Walter Simmons, however, believes these composers and their works should be taken seriously. They are worthy of more scholarly consideration, and deserve proper analysis, assessment, and discussion in their own regard. In Voices in the Wilderness, the first in a series of books celebrating the "Twentieth-Century Traditionalist," Simmons looks at six Neo-Romantic composers:

Ernest Bloch
Howard Hanson
Vittorio Giannini
Paul Creston
Samuel Barber
Nicolas Flagello

Through biographical overviews and a comprehensive assessment of musical works, Simmons provides readers with a clear understanding of the significance of the composers, their bodies of work, and their placement in musicological history. The chapters delve deeply and objectively into each composer's oeuvre, addressing their origins, stylistic traits and consistencies, phases of development, strengths and weaknesses, and affinities with other composers. The composers' most representative works are identified, and each chapter concludes with a discography of essential recordings.

Visit the author's website to read samples from the book and to listen to representative excerpts of each composer's work.

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