Alex Ross’s the Rest is Noise is by far the most comprehensive and accessible introduction to the classical music of the long difficult twentieth century that I know of. Born in 1968, Alex Ross studied classical composition, but was also a rock DJ at Harvard. He was just 28 when he was appointed classical music critic for […]
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The Rest Is Noise 12: New World Order
To the South Bank for the twelfth and final weekend of the year-long festival about 20th century classical music, The Rest Is Noise 12: New World Order, designed to bring the story up to date, covering classical music from the 1990s to the present, and beyond. As usual each day was stuffed with lectures and workshops […]
Posted by Simon on December 8, 2013
https://astrofella.wordpress.com/2013/12/08/the-rest-is-noise-12-new-world-order/
The Rest Is Noise 11: Superpower
Last weekend it was composers in Russia and the Soviet bloc; this weekend The Rest Is Noise festival focused on composers in 1970s and 80s America – which meant overwhelmingly the minimalism of Steve Reich and Philip Glass who were both in town to perform live with their ensembles, one on Saturday, one on Sunday […]
Posted by Simon on November 11, 2013
https://astrofella.wordpress.com/2013/11/11/the-rest-is-noise-11-superpower/
The Rest Is Noise 10: Politics and Spirituality
To the South Bank for the tenth study weekend in their year-long The Rest Is Noise festival based on the fabulous book about twentieth century classical music by Alex Ross. This weekend it investigated the widespread revival of religious or ‘spiritual’ compositions by composers behind the ‘Iron Curtain’ ie in Russia and East Europe, in […]
Posted by Simon on November 3, 2013
https://astrofella.wordpress.com/2013/11/03/the-rest-is-noise-10-politics-and-spirituality/
The Rest Is Noise 8: Post-War World
To the South Bank for the eighth study weekend in their year-long The Rest Is Noise festival; this weekend it’s the Post-War World ie the radical avant-garde music created in Europe immediately after World War II, focusing on composers from the Darmstadt School and especially on Karlheinz Stockhausen and Pierre Boulez. As usual Saturday and Sunday […]
Posted by Simon on October 12, 2013
https://astrofella.wordpress.com/2013/10/12/the-rest-is-noise-post-war-world/
The Rest is Noise 4: Berlin in the 20s and 30s
The South Bank Centre is hosting a year long festival of 20th century music based on the book, The Rest Is Noise, by American critic Alex Ross. Part of the festival is a series of 12 weekends each focusing on an important time and place. This weekend the focus was on Berlin in the 20s […]
Posted by Simon on March 3, 2013
https://astrofella.wordpress.com/2013/03/03/berlin-in-the-20s-and-30s-the-south-bank/
The Rest is Noise 1: Here comes the 20th century
21 and 22 January 2013 When Jude Kelly, artistic director of the South Bank, finished reading American critic’s history of classical music in the 20th century, The Rest Is Noise, she was so impressed she rang up the author. “Hey Alex. How’s about we put on a year long festival of music at London’s premiere […]
Posted by Simon on January 27, 2013
https://astrofella.wordpress.com/2013/01/27/the-rest-is-noise-the-south-bank/
Towards the Flame: Empire, War and the End of Tsarist Russia (2) by Dominic Lieven (2015)
Lieven concludes his rather exhausting history of the diplomatic build-up to the First World War as seen from Russia, with some Big Ideas. Big ideas – The First and Second World Wars were essentially wars fought between Russia and Germany for control of Europe. The first war ended in stalemate; Russia won the second one. […]
Posted by Simon on September 3, 2018
https://astrofella.wordpress.com/2018/09/03/towards-the-flame-empire-war-and-the-end-of-tsarist-russia-2-dominic-lieven/
Books & Boots 