In this delightful collection of anecdotes, Michael Colgrass invites the reader into his private encounters with Igor Stravinsky, Aaron Copland, Leonard Bernstein, Dizzy Gillespie, and a host of other key figures in American music. Maverick to the core, Colgrass also writes about romancing a Cold War spy in Bucharest, composing a ballet overnight for the Joffrey Ballet, and playing a gig for a stripper that landed him a job in West Side Story. His anecdotes - often humorous and profound - describe a pivotal era in American music that shaped this Pulitzer Prize-winning composer. A "must read" for music lovers.
Michael Colgrass: Adventures of an American Composer
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Editorial Reviews
Review
"The 89 anecdotes that make up this 222-page volume are compelling reading. This is no mere laundry list of dates, places, names and events."
--John Terauds, Toronto Star
"It is the inspiring tale of a man who has questioned his goals in life but once having chosen them, strove mightily to achieve them and succeeded brilliantly. Bravo!"
--Robert Markow, Fanfare
"This autobiography will prove to be an enormously inspiring document of one of the most talented composers of the past century."
--Jim Lambert, Percussive Notes
"Toronto-based composer Michael Colgrass is a natural story-teller -- and he has some terrific stories to tell."
--Pamela Margles, The WholeNote
"He sought to leave 'the boring stuff out' and made sure to include encounters that were funny or thoughtful and captured pivotal moments that teach something invaluable to everyone, not just musicians."
--Crystal Chan, La Scena Musicale --This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.
--John Terauds, Toronto Star
"It is the inspiring tale of a man who has questioned his goals in life but once having chosen them, strove mightily to achieve them and succeeded brilliantly. Bravo!"
--Robert Markow, Fanfare
"This autobiography will prove to be an enormously inspiring document of one of the most talented composers of the past century."
--Jim Lambert, Percussive Notes
"Toronto-based composer Michael Colgrass is a natural story-teller -- and he has some terrific stories to tell."
--Pamela Margles, The WholeNote
"He sought to leave 'the boring stuff out' and made sure to include encounters that were funny or thoughtful and captured pivotal moments that teach something invaluable to everyone, not just musicians."
--Crystal Chan, La Scena Musicale --This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.
About the Author
Michael Colgrass is a Hal Leonard author.
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More About the Author
Michael Colgrass is a Pulitzer Prize-winning composer and the author of two books, "My Lessons with Kumi" and "Adventures of an American Composer." Born in Chicago in 1932, he started out as a jazz drummer and later became a classical percussionist. Since the 1960s, he has earned his living as a composer, writing for the New York Philharmonic, the Boston Symphony, and other world-class ensembles. He also teaches and writes about Neuro-Linguistic Programming. He lives in Toronto with his wife, Ulla. See www.colgrassadventures.com and www.michaelcolgrass.com.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
A consummate modern composer, Michael Colgrass has penned an intriguing series of vignettes that tell the story of his life and, not coincidentally, a history of growing up in America from within both the jazz and classical music fields.
A Pulitzer prize winner, his career has brought him into contact with many musical legends and his courageous spirit has made these interactions revealing, both of his own character and those with whom he worked or met.
It is unusual for someone to migrate from the field of jazz to 'classical' but Michael did so in a remarkable way and his music, which defies description, is dear to lovers of both genres.
This is a captivating read with chuckles and insights into human nature on every page. I heartily recommend it for all lovers of music and life.
You can see more of his writings and his blog at [...]
A Pulitzer prize winner, his career has brought him into contact with many musical legends and his courageous spirit has made these interactions revealing, both of his own character and those with whom he worked or met.
It is unusual for someone to migrate from the field of jazz to 'classical' but Michael did so in a remarkable way and his music, which defies description, is dear to lovers of both genres.
This is a captivating read with chuckles and insights into human nature on every page. I heartily recommend it for all lovers of music and life.
You can see more of his writings and his blog at [...]
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I've read this book twice now. Very easy read and interesting for all - not just music lovers. Each adventure Colgrass shares is very different - certainly not something that just anyone could have had happen in their life. It's an exciting journey to read as we go through his life. It certainly was an adventure!!!
By trex144
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
Couldn't put it down. It is a great look into the life of a great modern American composer. I highly recommend it.
Format:Paperback
What a treat to read about a composers life in this format of small anecdotes. It was totally entertaining. Learning about the tenacity and vision to create a unique life was most interesting. Great writing, wonderful sense of humor, a gift to the reader. It is a story of overcoming struggles, seizing the right opportunities,
celebrating success, and making one's own "luck" in order to pursue and achieve the goals - culminating in a successful career. A lesson for everyone.
Heinke Brendler, Longmeadow, MA
celebrating success, and making one's own "luck" in order to pursue and achieve the goals - culminating in a successful career. A lesson for everyone.
Heinke Brendler, Longmeadow, MA
By J. Kohler
Format:Paperback
Being an artist in America ain't easy. How do you put a life together and create work you care about? When someone pulls it off, you pay attention. Michael Colgrass pulls it off year after year with passion, wit and force (just listen to Snow Walker for organ and orchestra!). How does he do it?
Mike's answer is deceptively simple. He works his ass off, he chose the right life partner, and he always challenges himself to stretch creatively. His stories are alternately funny, poignant, informative, sweet, and leave you with a lived-in sense of the grand sweep of American music in the 20th century. It is amazing to reflect on the music history that lives in the man's bones. You hear "Copland" and "Cage" and perhaps you think "giant"--Michael Colgrass hears their names and says "Oh yeah, that guy I know--lemme tell you a story..." I have had the pleasure of hearing a few of these stories "live" and was happy to see them, along with many new surprises, in this delightful book. Definitely check it out.
Mike's answer is deceptively simple. He works his ass off, he chose the right life partner, and he always challenges himself to stretch creatively. His stories are alternately funny, poignant, informative, sweet, and leave you with a lived-in sense of the grand sweep of American music in the 20th century. It is amazing to reflect on the music history that lives in the man's bones. You hear "Copland" and "Cage" and perhaps you think "giant"--Michael Colgrass hears their names and says "Oh yeah, that guy I know--lemme tell you a story..." I have had the pleasure of hearing a few of these stories "live" and was happy to see them, along with many new surprises, in this delightful book. Definitely check it out.
By Leah Lambert
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Adventures of an American Composer by Michael Colgrass is a gem of a book. sparkling with wit and glowing with genuine warmth. Colgrass shares many of his life's experiences, drawing readers inside the worlds of jazz and classical music, as he describes the transitions he made in his career from percussionist to composer. His "adventures" are short pieces, none more than just a few pages in length. Although each anecdote is brief, Colgrass manages to be candid about his collaborations and chance meetings with many of the legendary figures in the world of music and theater. He stresses how important it is for artists who have already achieved success to nurture new talent.
Throughout the book, Colgrass is honest about his own feelings, sometimes expressing regret about how he handled specific situations or interacted with some individuals. Although most of the book is written in a matter-of-fact style, some of his anecdotes demonstrate sensitivity and joy, especially when he describes his relationships with his family. Through this inside look at his own life and the music world he inhabits, Colgrass has succeeded in painting a picture of a truly creative person. He demonstrates how talent, determination and confidence helped him to follow his inner calling. His joy in his work and his ability to overcome obstacles shine through every page.
Throughout the book, Colgrass is honest about his own feelings, sometimes expressing regret about how he handled specific situations or interacted with some individuals. Although most of the book is written in a matter-of-fact style, some of his anecdotes demonstrate sensitivity and joy, especially when he describes his relationships with his family. Through this inside look at his own life and the music world he inhabits, Colgrass has succeeded in painting a picture of a truly creative person. He demonstrates how talent, determination and confidence helped him to follow his inner calling. His joy in his work and his ability to overcome obstacles shine through every page.
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
An interesting set of recollections by a successful musical composer who couldn't read music before he started college. Many of his stories point out how chance encounters can change a life.
Format:Paperback
Colgrass will take you on a fascinating journey, meeting all sorts of people, places and things he has done. Indeed, he has lived a life that most people would require 2 lifetimes to live.
His journey starts in his hometown of Brookfield, Illinois. We see a precocious trickster, who comes up with ingenious pranks such as, breaking a fellow classmate's pencils and placing the pieces back on her desk when she wasn't looking; sticking spitballs to the classroom ceiling; then (my favorite) setting up every percussion instrument in the room to come crashing down at once. (A la the domino effect!)
Colgrass also has a talent for drawing. He drew portraits of jazz greats Charlie Spivak, Benny Goodman, Jimmy Dorsey, Gene Krupa, Lionel Hampton and more. He was introduced to these greats, courtesy of Mike, the one-eyed doorman at the Oriental Theater in downtown Chicago.
The story, "Getting Gertie's Garter", is a very sad, but truthful anecdote. Young Colgrass had already learned that when you want something you go after it. A lesson that many people never learn, as stated by the downcast Miss Macdonald.
Colgrass takes us to New York where he discovers be-bop and hears the likes of Charlie Parker and Max Roach. Sometimes, I wish that I'd been born in an earlier era to have partaken the musical delights of those artists.
His great sense of humor is constant in these stories. Some of my favorites are: stuffed bears in the army, complete with uniforms and caps; trying to pick-up a beautiful girl in Paris; romancing a spy in Bucharest and many more.
After freelancing in New York and playing with the best musicians and orchestras, he makes a sudden change in his career and turns to the theatre, mime, and clown playing.... Read more ›
His journey starts in his hometown of Brookfield, Illinois. We see a precocious trickster, who comes up with ingenious pranks such as, breaking a fellow classmate's pencils and placing the pieces back on her desk when she wasn't looking; sticking spitballs to the classroom ceiling; then (my favorite) setting up every percussion instrument in the room to come crashing down at once. (A la the domino effect!)
Colgrass also has a talent for drawing. He drew portraits of jazz greats Charlie Spivak, Benny Goodman, Jimmy Dorsey, Gene Krupa, Lionel Hampton and more. He was introduced to these greats, courtesy of Mike, the one-eyed doorman at the Oriental Theater in downtown Chicago.
The story, "Getting Gertie's Garter", is a very sad, but truthful anecdote. Young Colgrass had already learned that when you want something you go after it. A lesson that many people never learn, as stated by the downcast Miss Macdonald.
Colgrass takes us to New York where he discovers be-bop and hears the likes of Charlie Parker and Max Roach. Sometimes, I wish that I'd been born in an earlier era to have partaken the musical delights of those artists.
His great sense of humor is constant in these stories. Some of my favorites are: stuffed bears in the army, complete with uniforms and caps; trying to pick-up a beautiful girl in Paris; romancing a spy in Bucharest and many more.
After freelancing in New York and playing with the best musicians and orchestras, he makes a sudden change in his career and turns to the theatre, mime, and clown playing.... Read more ›
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