New series by Nicolas Slonimsky now available

[mosc]

New series by Nicolas Slonimsky now available
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Throughout his long life, Russian composer, conductor, and pianist Nicolas
Slonimsky was revered for the quality of his books on music, especially the
Baker's dictionaries and Music Since 1900, and these and others of his
works are still relied upon for definitive information presented in fine
style. Now, ten years after his death, Routledge has released four volumes
of Slonimsky writings never before published in book form, and some never
published at all.

The first volume collects articles he wrote for the Boston Evening
Transcript from the late 20s through the mid-30s, full of insight and
original commentary on the composers newly appearing on the scene,
especially in Boston, where he lived. Volume Two covers Russian and Soviet
music and composers with articles both scholarly and political, spiced with
personal reflections. Music of the Modern Era is covered in the third
volume, with profiles and overviews, including a monograph on Roy Harris.
The final volume, which daughter Electra Slonimsky Yourke, who edited the
series, helplessly calls Slonimskyana, contains... well, Slonimskyana.

Filled with Slonimsky's signature wit, erudition, and vitality, the
Writings on Music series is a major new resource for musicians,
researchers, teachers, writers, and cultural historians.

For more information, visit http://www.slonimsky.net.

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Thanks to MindAlert at Other Minds http://www.otherminds.org/

[seraph]

I found a second hand copy of this book a long time ago in Boston. it's very entertaining
"Thesaurus of Scales and Melodic Patterns" is a classic
Thanks for the link

[mosc]

I met Nicholas Slonimsky once. He was visiting Mills College when I was a grad student. My "job" was to entertain him for a day - drive him around - take him to his appointements, etc. He was a brilliant man. He had the greatest sense of humor. He could play the piano beautifully behind his back. He could demonstrate the Rhythmicon in real time on the piano keeping independent time for every note on the keyboard - amazing. He knew everyone in early 20th century music and could remember everything they said to him. That was one of the most exciting days of my life. It was the same for my wife, Juli, too. That day was a gift.

[7/4]

[mosc]

[7/4]

[quote="mosc"]

[seraph]

[7/4]

A big influence on Giant Steps and what became known as Coltrane changes.

[7/4]

"Published in 1947, this book seems to have circulated among jazz musicans by the mid -1950s, and by several reports including Tyner's, Coltrane spent time with it." - page149, Lewis Porter "John Coltrane, His Life and Music"

[mosc]

Very cool. It's really fun to play the pattern in that book, but they can be difficult to play. I would love to have a volume of MIDI files from the book. It would be a fabulous resource.