Elliott Carter (American Composers)

By: James Wierzbicki

Narrated by: Tim Lundeen

This compact introduction to the life and works of composer Elliott Carter provides a fresh perspective on one of the most significant American composers of the 20th and 21st centuries. A leading voice of the American classical music tradition and a two-time winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Music, Carter was initially encouraged to become a composer by Charles Ives, and he went on to learn from Walter Piston at Harvard University and Nadia Boulanger in Paris.

Drawing on Carter's voluminous writings and compositions, James Wierzbicki provides a clear discussion of Carter's evolving understanding of musical time and the influence of film on his work. Celebrating his 100th birthday in 2008 by premiering a number of new compositions, Carter has been a powerful presence on the American new music scene, an important connection to American music's foundational figures, and a dynamic force in its continuing evolution.

©2011 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois (P)2012 Redwood Audiobooks

Critic reviews

"Thoroughly researched and accessible to the lay reader, the book will intrigue readers who wish to deepen their appreciation of this legendary composer." ( Library Journal)

"A gratifying success. The story of Elliott Carter's life and work is succinctly told and is one that specialists and non-experts alike can read with great profit." (Arnold Whittall, author of Exploring Twentieth-Century Music: Tradition and Innovation)