The New Music Theater: Seeing the Voice, Hearing the Body - Hardcover

Salzman, Eric; Desi, Thomas

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0195099362 ISBN 13: 9780195099362

Publisher: Oxford University Press, 2008

Synopsis

Alternatives to grand opera and the popular musical can be traced at least as far back as the 1912 premiere of Schoenberg's "Pierrot Lunaire." Yet this ongoing history has never been properly sorted out, its complex ideas and philosophy as well as musical and theatrical achievements never brought fully to light. The New Music Theater is the first comprehensive attempt in English to cover this still-emerging art form in its widest range. This book provides a wealth of examples and descriptions not only of the works themselves, but of the concepts, ideas, and trends that have gone into the evolution of what may be the most central performance art form of the post-modern world. Authors Salzman and Desi consider the subject of music theatre from a social as well as artistic point of view, exploring how theatre works in culture, and how music works in the theatre. Illuminating their discussion with illustrations from current artists and their works, The New Music Theater both describes where we have been and points the way to the future of this all-encompassing art form.

About this title

About the Author:

Eric Salzman is a composer, writer, director, producer, dramaturg, and performer, and he has been involved in over 50 major productions. He is also the author of Twentieth Century Music: An Introduction, one of the most successful 20th Century music texts.
Thomas Desi is an Austrian composer, director, and writer.

Review:

"Fascinating, sometimes maddening cornucopia of erudition, the authors have many wise, often provocative ideas and insights to share."--Bookforum

"As an artist who has worked between the cracks of art forms since the 1960's, I applaud Salzman and Desi for providing a fresh and inclusive survey of the important and evolving field of new music theater- a form that continues to expand our perception of what is possible in art that lives and breathes."--Meredith Monk

"Thoroughly researched and historically grounded, this is a comprehensive look at this alternative performance art."-Library Journal

"The New Music Theater traces the complicated evolution of many artistic traditions and leads to a deeper understanding of the state of new music theater today. The authors infuse their analysis with perspective that is certain to provoke debate - as well as a desire to learn more about the context and direction of new creation in the realm of singing theater."--Marc Scorca, President and CEO, Opera America

"This valuable book appears like Orpheus to guide the reader through the land of that complex and unpredictable reality which is the music theater of our time. This book tells us about music theater not just as a show, but as a way of bringing onto the stage what the real world cannot show us."--Giorgio Battistelli, Composer-in-residence at the D:usseldorf Opera and Music Director of the Arena di Verona

"A very good read of contemporary music history that has been missing until now. Bravo!"--Michel Rostain, Stage Director, Librettist and Director, Scène nationale de Quimper

"As an artist who has worked between the cracks of art forms since the 1960's, I applaud Salzman and Desi for providing a fresh and inclusive survey of the important and evolving field of new music theater- a form that continues to expand our perception of what is possible in art that lives and breathes."--Meredith Monk

"The New Music Theater traces the complicated evolution of many artistic traditions and leads to a deeper understanding of the state of new music theater today. The authors infuse their analysis with perspective that is certain to provoke debate - as well as a desire to learn more about the context and direction of new creation in the realm of singing theater."--Marc Scorca, President and CEO, Opera America

"This valuable book appears like Orpheus to guide the reader through the land of that complex and unpredictable reality which is the music theater of our time. This book tells us about music theater not just as a show, but as a way of bringing onto the stage what the real world cannot show us."--Giorgio Battistelli, Composer-in-residence at the D:usseldorf Opera and Music Director of the Arena di Verona

"A very good read of contemporary music history that has been missing until now. Bravo!"--Michel Rostain, Stage Director, Librettist and Director, Scène nationale de Quimper

"The New Music Theater is a smart, thoughtful book." -- Theaterforschung

About this edition

• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Publication date: 2008
• ISBN 10: 0195099362
• ISBN 13: 9780195099362
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 416