Book Review
Oct. 15th, 2011 11:35 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
kenjariHartmann, Hindemith, and Henze
by Guy Rickards
I picked up this book (one of the Phaidon series) because I didn't know much about any of the composers it covers. I now know more, but I can't say I found either the composers or this book particularly compelling. I thought Rickards lacked focus in his framing and organization. He attempts to set the book up as a look at issues in German musical culture in the 20th century, particularly surrounding WWII, with these three composers as a focal point for that. However, I don't think Rickards quite follows through or provides the insight he initially alludes to. Also, I found his weaving together of the three biographies to be occasionally unclear - several of his transitions from one to another were extremely clunky. I think the composers would have been better served by more separation.
by Guy Rickards
I picked up this book (one of the Phaidon series) because I didn't know much about any of the composers it covers. I now know more, but I can't say I found either the composers or this book particularly compelling. I thought Rickards lacked focus in his framing and organization. He attempts to set the book up as a look at issues in German musical culture in the 20th century, particularly surrounding WWII, with these three composers as a focal point for that. However, I don't think Rickards quite follows through or provides the insight he initially alludes to. Also, I found his weaving together of the three biographies to be occasionally unclear - several of his transitions from one to another were extremely clunky. I think the composers would have been better served by more separation.
