Description: Harrison Birtwistle (1934- ) is one of the most eminent and acclaimed of contemporary British composers. This is the first book to provide a comprehensive view of his large and varied output, containing descriptions of every published work, and also a number of withdrawn and unpublished pieces. The book is structured around a number of broad themes--theater, song, time and texture--themes of significance to Birtwistle, but also to much other music. This approach avoids in-depth technical analysis, and Dr. Adlington focuses instead on the music's wider cultural significance.
Review Quotes: "...excellently written...Literate, well informed, and wel organized (by general themes - theaters, roles, texts, times, sections, layers, audiences - and by individual works), This is a book bor advanced students, fans of he avant-garde, and fellow practitioners...recommended to very serious music libraries..." Choice