Author(s): Alan Rich

Performing Arts

A survey of the American composers who invented new musical languages.

A spirit of innovation has flourished in American music since the turn of the twentieth century, with composers keen to diverge from European influences and invent new musical languages.

Charles Ives captured this early pioneering flair, taken up later by Henry Cowell and John Cage - all initially met with much critical resistance. The same exploratory driving force is equally strong in the music of Carl Ruggles, Edgard Varèse, Harry Partch, Colin McPhee, Lou Harrison and members of America's youngest composing generation.

This volume traces the development of this boundary-breaking musical verve through a series of daring composers, whom we now recognize as established, as without them the music of today would not be the same.