Twelve-Tone Music in America (Music in the Twentieth Century, Series Number 25) Illustrated Edition

by Joseph N. Straus (Author)

7 ratings

ISBN-13: 978-0521899550

ISBN-10: 0521899559

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Most histories of American music have ignored the presence of twelve-tone music before and during the Second World War, and virtually all have ignored its presence after 1970, even though so many major composers continued (and continue) to compose serially. This book provides a comprehensive history of twelve-tone music in America, and compels a revised picture of American music since 1925 as a dynamic steady-state within which twelve-tone serialism has long been, and still remains, a persistent presence: a vigorous and unbroken tradition for more than eighty years. Straus outlines how, instead of a rigid orthodoxy, American twelve-tone music is actually a flexible, loosely-knit cultural practice. The book provides close readings of thirty-seven American twelve-tone works by composers including Copland, Babbitt, Stravinsky and Carter, among many others, who represent a typically American diversity of background and life circumstances, and strips away the many myths surrounding twelve-tone music in America.

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Editorial Reviews

Review

"A worth-while introduction to American twelve-tonality."
--The Opera Journal

Book Description

This book investigates the important role twelve-tone composition has played in American music from 1927 to the present day.

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Cambridge University Press; Illustrated edition (October 30, 2009)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 326 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0521899559
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0521899550
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.79 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.69 x 0.75 x 9.61 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #4,321,858 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #6,365 in Music (Books)
- #7,671 in Opera Music (Books)
- #12,389 in Music History & Criticism (Books)

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Robert Wilks

A Well-Written Myth-Buster

Reviewed in the United States on November 8, 2020

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This is a thoughtful, well-supported, well-written book that addresses a wide variety of myths regarding American serial and twelve-tone music. He shows how music can be serial, or twelve-tone, or both, or neither. He shows the great variety of styles and approaches American composers have used within this area of work. He focuses exclusively on American composers and distinguishes them from European. He shows how a kind of 12-tone music was being created before Schoenberg arrived in the US, and before many people even knew much about his music. He shows how this music goes far beyond that of the most famous / infamous of 12-tone / serial composers (Schoenberg, Babbitt), how it has existed outside of the world of academia, and how it has not had the dominating force in the world of composition that some have claimed.

This aim of this book primarily to debunk myths, and he does it very convincingly. He starts with the music itself, examining in detail exerpts from 37 pieces composed by a full range of composers from Weiss to Nichols. This part is somewhat technical, and if you have had some exposure to the terminology, it would be helpful, but it doesn't take a degree to get the main ideas. I have been for several periods of my life deeply immersed in 20th-century music, with some exposure to some of the terminology, and I found that helpful. However, I didn't dwell on every chart and attempt to understand every detail. Most of the pieces referenced in the book are at this point available on YouTube, so the reader can listen as they read. I was happy to become acquainted with many works and composers I was unfamiliar with, including some works that I really liked.

Part 2 focuses on a list of myths which he debunks one by one with a great deal of supporting facts. The numerous writings he quotes as examples of the myths that have been spread about 12-tone music are embarrassingly uninformed. I'm glad I never read them before, and now I know what to avoid.

Straus is passionate and very knowledgeable about his subject and I recommend this book highly.

Helpful

Jim F. Wilson

Varieties of the 12-Tone Experience

Reviewed in the United States on May 31, 2012

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I was surprised at how engaging this book was. Music theory is not normally attractive in the sense of drawing in the interested reader. But I did find this particular book a really good read. This is a tribute to Straus both as a stylist and as someone who is broadly acquainted with the subject and able to pass on his insights to the reader.

The book is divided into two sections. The first section contains analyses of works by 37 different American 12-tone composers. Straus groups these composers into roughly generational groupings, starting with the earliest, pre-WW II 12-tonalists, up to those born after 1940. The analyses demonstrate how incredibly varied are the different approaches to the 12-tone system.

The second section is a reconfiguration of the history of 12-tone music in America. Straus does this by countering a series of `myths' regarding 12-tone music that have common currency such as the myth of the academician, the myth of serial purity, the myth of overdetermination, the myth of unnaturalness, etc. I found this section to be especially thoughtful. And this second section more accurately reflects my own experience regarding 12-tone approaches when I was a graduate student.

For those interested in 12-tone procedures I think this book is invaluable. Highly recommended.

7 people found this helpful

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Robert Paolinelli

Extremely Informative

Reviewed in the United States on December 23, 2009

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This book by Joseph Straus is a ground-breaking reveal of how American composers have enhanced the twelve-tone method and made it their own. As an American twelve-tone composer myself, I found it enlightening,educational and affirming. It showed me I was in good company and proud to be an American composer.

6 people found this helpful

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Paul B

Thoughtful and penetrating

Reviewed in the United States on January 17, 2010

Joseph Straus is a significant American music scholar who is able to bring penetrating thought to a diverse audience. His large and inspiring collection of writings - from "elementary" music theory and the music of Ruth Crawford-Seeger to remaking the past and pointing towards a future - approach his chosen topics, groomed from his remarkable well grounded research, with penetrating intellectual acumen. Twelve-tone Music in America is the first book to survey the impact of a specific musical aesthetic with European roots within the confines of the American "academic" experience. Straus' selection of composers - from "serial war-horses" Babbitt, Wuorinen and Martino to "fringe" composers Weber, Pentland and Cordero will give the reader insight in how the implications of this "system" were interpreted. In addition to penetrating analyses, Straus confronts the many myths that surround this particular approach to composition. While "twelve tone music" ran a quick course in Europe, it's influence in American musical thought continues to confront composers, performers and audiences in America. This book is one big step towards understanding how and why twelve tone music in America is an important topic to acknowledge.

13 people found this helpful

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Top reviews from other countries

Thomas Scott McGill

I highly recommend this book

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 4, 2015

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I highly recommend this book. Joseph Straus is an absolute authority on twentieth century music and twelve-tone music in particular. His writing is clear, concise, and engaging and I find myself going back to this book again and again. Straus debunks a number of myths about the American twelve-tone tradition, and I found his examples very informative, especially regarding George Perle's working practice which I've always had difficulty understanding. I would give six stars if it was possible and I recommend this text without hesitation.

2 people found this helpful

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Twelve-Tone Music in America (Music in the Twentieth Century, Series Number 25) Illustrated Edition

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