This long-anticipated book is a tremendously valuable resource for studies in contemporary American music since the 1950s. In addition to being one of our nation's original and prolific composers, Wolff is an intelligent, articulate, elegant writer.
Amy C. Beal, author of New Music, New Allies: American Experimental Music in West Germany from the Zero Hour to Reunification
For ... Read morethose who claim that writing about music is a futile enterprise, and that perhaps a composer should not write about their own music, let this book dispel any doubts. Christian Wolff's life, music, and thought exemplify how complexity, imagination, vision, and an ear for sounds previously unheard can be combined seamlessly, creating a body of work unlike any other before (and, I expect, after) him. For those of us who have always wondered: 'how does he do it?', this new book provides an essential and welcome piece of the puzzle. We still won't know, but the clarity, depth, and honesty of Wolff's writing brings us, tantalizingly, a bit closer to the answer.
Larry Polansky, composer and performer
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