| Contents |
Introduction. The American Neo-Romantics -- Ernest Bloch. Biography -- Music. Most representative, fully realized works ; Early works: first European period (1901-1906) ; Maturity: first European period (1909-1916) ; Maturity: New York period (1916-1919) ; Maturity: Cleveland period (1920-1925) ; Maturity: San Francisco period (1925-1929) ; Maturity: second European period (1930-1939) ; Later maturity: Oregon period (1939-1959) -- Howard Hanson. Biography -- Music. Most representative, fully realized works ; Early period (until 1920) ; Early maturity (1921-1946) ; Later maturity (after 1947) -- Vittorio Giannini. Biography -- Music. Most representative, fully realized works ; First phase (1920s through early 1940s) ; Second phase (early 1940s through 1960) ; Third phase (1960-1966) -- Paul Creston. Biography -- Music. Stylistic features ; Most representative, fully realized works ; Discussion of works -- Samuel Barber. Biography -- Music. Most representative, fully realized works ; "Childhood": early period (until 1942) ; "Adolescence": period of exploration and experimentation (1942 through 1952) ; "Adulthood": music of maturity (after 1952) -- Nicolas Flagello. Biography -- Music. Most representative, fully realized works ; Early period (until 1958) ; Transitional period (1958-1959) ; Mature period (1959-1985). |
| Abstract |
Despite the Modernist search for new and innovative aesthetics and rejection of traditional tonality, several twentieth century composers have found their own voice while steadfastly relying on the aesthetics and techniques of Romanticism and 19th century composition principles. Musicological and reference texts have regarded these composers as isolated exceptions to modern thoughts of composition--exceptions of little importance, treated simplistically and superficially. The author, however, believes these composers and their works should be taken seriously. They are worthy of more scholarly consideration, and deserve proper analysis, assessment, and discussion in their own regard. In this book, Simmons looks at six Neo-Romantic composers. Through biographical overviews and a comprehensive assessment of musical works, Simmons provides readers with a clear understanding of the significance of the composers, their bodies of work, and their placement in musicological history. The chapters delve deeply and objectively into each composer's oeuvre, addressing their origins, stylistic traits and consistencies, phases of development, strengths and weaknesses, and affinities with other composers. The composers' most representative works are identified, and each chapter concludes with a discography of essential recordings. |
