The Unanswered Question: Six Talks at Harvard (The Charles Eliot Norton Lectures) - Softcover

Bernstein, Leonard

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0674920015 ISBN 13: 9780674920019

Publisher: Harvard University Press, 1981

Synopsis

The varied forms of Leonard Bernstein’s musical creativity have been recognized and enjoyed by millions. These lectures, Mr. Bernstein’s most recent venture in musical explication, will make fascinating reading as well. Virgil Thomson says of the lectures: “Nobody anywhere presents this material so warmly, so sincerely, so skillfully. As musical mind-openers they are first class; as pedagogy they are matchless.”

Mr. Bernstein considers music ranging from Hindu ragas through Mozart and Ravel, to Copland, suggesting a worldwide, innate musical grammar. Folk music, pop songs, symphonies, modal, tonal, atonal, well-tempered and ill-tempered works all find a place in these discussions. Each, Mr. Bernstein suggests, has roots in a universal language central to all artistic creation. Using certain linguistic analogies, he explores the ways in which this language developed and can be understood as an aesthetic surface. Drawing on his insights as a master composer and conductor, Mr. Bernstein also explores what music means below the surface: the symbols and metaphors which exist in every musical piece, of whatever sort. And, finally, Mr. Bernstein analyzes twentieth century crises in the music of Schoenberg and Stravinsky, finding even here a transformation of all that has gone before, as part of the poetry of expression, through its roots in the earth of human experience.

These talks, written and delivered when Leonard Bernstein was Charles Eliot Norton Professor of Poetry at Harvard University, are the newest of the author’s literary achievements. In addition to a distinguished career as conductor, pianist, and composer, Mr. Bernstein is the recipient of many television Emmys for the scripts of his Young People’s Concerts, Omnibus programs, and others, and is the author of The Infinite Variety of Music and The Joy of Music, for which he received the Christopher Award.

About this title

From the Back Cover:

Leonard Bernstein's Norton Lectures on the future course of music drew cheers from his Harvard audiences and television viewers. In this re-creation of his talks, the author considers music ranging from Hindu ragas through Mozart and Ravel to Copland, Schoenberg, and Stravinsky.

Review:

“Bernstein on the page turns out to be as vital and evocative as Bernstein in the lecture hall.”―The New York Times Book Review

“Explores the nature of the musical experience with incisive brilliance. It is a book that should be read and treasured by anyone―professional, amateur and layman―with an interest in music.”―Newsday

“At all levels this is an outstanding contribution to thinking and talking about music.”―Composer

“The Bernstein lectures were...performances of great wit, charm, and virtuosity... They should be read, considered, argued with and profited from.”―The Music Review

About this edition

• Publisher: Harvard University Press
• Publication date: 1981
• ISBN 10: 0674920015
• ISBN 13: 9780674920019
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 440