A Sounding Mirror: Courage and Music in Our Time (Directions 21 Book) - Softcover

Stumpf, Thomas

9780974115870: A Sounding Mirror: Courage and Music in Our Time (Directions 21 Book)

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0974115878 ISBN 13: 9780974115870

Publisher: Higganum Hill Books, 2008

Reviewer: Mr. F. L. Dunkin Wedd - This wonderful book was lent me by a friend. I couldn't bear to return it, so bought my own copy. I wanted to pencil the sections that I wanted to note particularly - and now have pencil marks on virtually every page! It's a fearless attempt to tackle a number of thorny issues, such as why is some music 'better' than others - to which Stumpf gives a convincing answer. He is uncompromising in his search for honesty and in his analysis of our responses to music; his prescriptions are tough and demanding - but offer rich rewards. And in the process of discussing music, Stumpf sheds enormous light on the link between music and spirituality, and offers fascinating comparisons between the two. The whole is enlightened by Stumpf's palpable honesty, integrity and humility. A truly outstanding book that will tell you things about yourself, your reactions to music and your spiritual nature that you have never examined.

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About the Author:

Thomas Stumpf received his degrees from the Mozarteum in Salzburg, Austria, and the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston. He won concerto competitions at both institutions, and was awarded the B�sendorfer Prize and the Lilli Lehmann Medal. His performing career has taken him across four continents and he is featured on seven CD's. Stumpf's repertoire ranges from Bach to the avant-garde; he has conducted several Mozart concerti from the keyboard, and pe rformed the complete solo piano works of Mozart at Boston University and at UMassLowell. He has premiered many compositions by contemporary American composers and has performed with such luminaries as Rita Streich, Edith Mathis, D'Anna Fortunato, Richard Stoltzman, Jack Brymer, Walter Trampler and Leslie Parnas. He has also appeared with the HongKong Philharmonic, the Boston Pops Orchestra (under Arthur Fiedler), Alea III (under Theodore Antoniou), and numerous other ensembles. Stumpf's compositions have appeared on concert programs in Boston, throughout the U.S. as well as in Germany and the U.S.S.R.; in 1992 he won the Kahn Award for his music theater project "Dark Lady," one section of which was recorded on the Neuma label by soprano Joan Heller. Recently his choral work "Though I walk" was premiered at St. Bartholomew's in New York City by the Pharos Music Project. He is Director of Music at Follen Church in Lexington MA, where he has conducted many major choral works. His experience at Follen has led to his first book: a collection of essays entitled "A Sounding Mirror: Courage and Music in our Time," published in 2005 by Higganum Hill Books. He is also the co-founder and Artistic Director of Prism Opera, and has conducted and directed Mozart's "La Clemenza di Tito" (in his own translation), as well as operas by Britten, Vaughan-Williams and Holst. Stumpf has taught piano at the New England Conservatory, UMassLowell (where he was head of the keyboard department), and Boston Universi ty (where he was Chair of the Collaborative Piano Department). He has been teaching piano and chamber music at Tufts University since September 2007. In addition, he regularly gives master-classes and recitals at the Musikschule in Mannheim, Germany.

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