Notations 21 (Hardcover)

~ Theresa Sauer (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Drawing inspiration from John Cage's, Notations, Notations 21 features illustrated musical scores from more than 100 international composers, all of whom are making amazing breakthroughs in the art of notation. These spectacularly beautiful and fascinatingly creative visual pieces not only make for exciting music, but inspiring visual art as well. The scores are accompanied by written contributions from the artists that explore every facet of their creative processes, from inspiration to execution. Contributors include the likes of Karlheinz Stockhausen, Earle Brown, Halim El-Dabh, Joan La Barbara, and Yuji Takahashi, as well as emerging composers whose compositions are also visually astounding and important. In the spirit of honoring the 40th anniversary of Cage's seminal book, while furthering it in a 21st century context, a portion of the sales will be donated to the Foundation for Contemporary Performing Arts.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: Mark Batty Publisher (April 30, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0979554640
• ISBN-13: 978-0979554643
• Product Dimensions: 11.1 x 8.7 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #187,565 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Notations21 is brilliant and gorgeous, May 10, 2009

By	Dennis Bathory-Kitsz (Northfield, VT USA) - See all my reviews

"Notations21" is gorgeous, and worth the wait. It was announced in early 2008, and I had ordered a copy through Amazon in May 2008 and it arrived today (May 9, 2009) -- almost exactly 40 years after John Cage's legendary "Notations" collection, which has been on my shelf since then.

The design of "Notations21" is spectacular ... subtle, lovely, comprehensive, with a wonderful feel, in full color and full-size. Each page is full of ideas from scores and essays through the design of the page itself. (The word "full" keeps coming to mind.)

The Moller/Shim/Stabler "SoundVisions" (published in 2005 and quickly out of print) was an attempt to fill the years since Cage's "Notations", and kept to the square, monochrome format. I was pleased to discover "SoundVisions", but "Notations21" is a very special book, taking advantage of both the technology and the expectations that have changed since 1969.

With 165 composers represented, "Notations21" is at last a worthy and thorough successor to "Notations".

(Disclaimer: I am one of the composers in this book. But whether I had been selected or not, I would still feel this book is remarkable.)

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Great idea poorly executed, June 11, 2009

By	Harry Philips (Encinitas, CA United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

I eagerly looked forward to receive this book because composer Trevor Baca was included and because of my general interest in contemporary music. I must say that the idea intrigued me not only as a interesting compilation of new 'scoring' practices but as a useful reference and entertaining 'cocktail table' volume. However, I found the reproductions of scores to be less than accurate and virtually all of the accompanying write-ups to be almost entirely illegible .... due to poor selections of backgrounds and inks. After working hard to read the material, I finally gave up and sent it on to a musicologist with younger eyes. It could have been a excellent project if well executed ... my final thought, as stated in the title, - a truly super idea gone astray because of too much artsy-craftsy and lack-luster reproduction. Maybe next time!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a must!, May 28, 2009

By	M. S. Loyato (New York, NY) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Notations 21 is a book that must be in any university, conservatory or library. You will enjoy it! congratulations to the author of this beautiful anthology!