Description: Not long after Bertolt Brecht's death in 1956, his musical collaborator of many years, Hanns Eisler, characterized Brecht's attitude toward music with a mixture of admiration and skepticism as «dieses Streben Brechts nach Vernunft auch in der Musik.» In this comprehensive, chronologically-arranged study of Brecht's involvement with music, the origins and implications of the writer's quest for «rationality, even in music» are systematically examined. Particular attention is given to the pertinent critical writings of both Brecht and his major musical collaborators Kurt Weill, Hanns Eisler and Paul Dessau as a framework for examining Brecht's multifaceted relationship to music. Finally, the book offers a critical assessment of Brecht's views on music as well as the nature and extent of his influence on 20th century musical aesthetics.
Review Quotes: «Die Lektüre dieses Buches ist zu empfehlen. ... Gilberts Bemühen, gegenüber der Position Brechts die eigenständigen Beiträge der verschiedenen Komponisten angemessen zu berücksichtigen, bleibt vorbildlich.» (Albrecht Dümling, Das Brecht-Jahrbuch)
«The author of the book under discussion has researched all of Brecht's connections to composers and to music in general... Because of the wide scope of this Brecht study, both literary and musical scholars will appreciate its publication...» (Helmut F. Pfanner, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, German Studies Review)
«This book is superbly documented, giving copious quotations (many from hard-to-find sources) in the original German. Musicologists, literary and drama critics, and social and intellectual historians will all find this book to be a goldmine of information and objective interpretation. All in all, this book promises to be the major work in its field for many years to come.» (William E. Grim, Yearbook of Interdisciplinary Studies in the Fine Arts)
«The result is a monograph of the highest standards of research and stylistic clarity. For years to come it will serve as a valuable reference work on Brecht and his collaborations with various composers.» (Robert C. Conrad, Monatshefte)
«Gilbert's book is a highly useful contribution to Brecht scholarship, and readers of Brecht will grasp this only seemingly laconic statement as a meaningful compliment: 'Es ist brauchbar'.» (Vera Stegmann, South Atlantic Review)
«One of the few studies on this topic in English, written in an admirably clear style ..., it is to be strongly recommended for anyone who wishes an overview of the material and the issues at stake.» (Marc Silberman, Literary Research)
«Neben den von Gilbert zusammengetragenen und weithin bekannten Fakten bietet sein Buch auch wertvolle, weniger verbreitete Information. ...eine wichtige und informative Quelle zum Thema Brecht und Musik.» (Karl-Heinz J. Schoeps, The German Quarterly)