Memories and Commentaries: New One-Volume Edition Compiled and Edited by Robert Craft - Hardcover

Stravinsky, Igor; Craft, Robert

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9780571212422: Memories and Commentaries: New One-Volume Edition Compiled and Edited by Robert Craft

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0571212425 ISBN 13: 9780571212422

Publisher: Faber & Faber, 2002

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For the first time in one volume--the celebrated Stravinsky and Craft Conversations

Few would dispute that Igor Stravinsky was the greatest composer of the twentieth century. Conductor and writer Robert Craft was his closest colleague and friend, and for over twenty-one years he lived with the Stravinskys in their Hollywood home. In the early 1950s he accompanied the composer on his concert tours, and from the mid-1950s to Stravinsky's death in 1971 he co-conducted his concerts. Together Stravinsky and Craft published five acclaimed collections known as the Conversations series, which sprung from informal talks between the two men.
In this newly edited and re-structured one-volume version, Craft brings Stravinsky's reflections on his childhood, his family life, professional associates, and personal relationships into sharper focus and places the major compositions in their cultural milieux. The Conversations books are the only published writing attributed to Stravinsky that are actually "by him" in terms of fidelity to his thoughts and opinions, making this volume required reading for all fans and students of Stravinsky's music.

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About the Author:

Igor Stravinsky (1882-1971) is perhaps best known for his revolutionary ballet Le Sacre du printemps.

Robert Craft, the author of more than a dozen books on Stravinsky, continues to write about the composer and conduct his music on recordings.

From Booklist:

From the early 1950s until Stravinsky's death in 1971, Craft, awriter and conductor, accompanied the famed composer on his concerttours and even coconducted his concerts. Between 1958 and 1969 theypublished five books together, known collectively as theConversations. This new work is a one-volume version of those five andwas compiled by and contains new material by Craft. Entries arepresented in order following the stages of Stravinsky's life: Russian,Swiss, French, and American. At Craft's prodding, Stravinsky talksabout his early musical experiences as a pianist and accompanist, hismemories of other composers, the creation of the Firebird andother works, and his relationship with his family. He recalls hisfriendships with such celebrated people as Matisse, Picasso, Rodin,Debussy, Monet, and others. The book's final section deals with thecomposer's life in California and the music he created there, and whatCraft calls "perspectives of an octogenarian." This is a fascinatingportrait of the composer and the geniuses in his circle offriends. George Cohen
Copyright � American Library Association. All rights reserved

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