Unheard of by John Beckwith

Unheard of by John Beckwith

Composer John Beckwith recounts his early days in Victoria, his studies in Toronto with Alberto Guerrero, his first compositions, and his later studies in Paris with the renowned Nadia Boulanger, of whom he offers a comprehensive personal view. The memoir's central chapters describe his activities as a writer, teacher, scholar, and administrator.

``The focus of Unheard Of is clearly Beckwith's own life and careerHe documents both with a keen eye for detail and strong sense of wit. What makes the book truly fascinating is the rich insight Beckwith provides into the musical culture of his time. Beckwith was part of the generation that saw the establishmnet of composition in Canada as a legitimate professional endeavour and the widespread acceptance and appreciation of the arts in Canada. By writing of his own expereinces, Beckwith reveals much about a crucial time in which Canadian music achieved maturity and recognition.... Beckwith is an engaging writer with a gift for narrative. His memoirs are informative and entertaining while also addressing one of the main preoccupations throughout his career, namely, the relative obscurity of Canadian music and the difficulties in bringing it to a wider audience both within Canada and abroad. In summarizing the honours that have been bestowed upon him in recent years, Beckwith allows that the book's title, âunheard of," may be an exaggeration. Still, while it is true that Beckwith has achieved a level of recognition and respect that very few other Canadian composers can claim, the issue of the music remains. As Beckwith notes, âfrom being heard, the pieces, with only a few exceptions, become soon unheard of, and unheard" (p. 303). Beckwith, in his memoirs, asks to be heard. He gives us good reason to listen.'' -- J. Drew Stephen, University of Texas at San Antonio -- Fontes Artis Musicae, 61/1

In his sixty-year career, John Beckwith has drawn attention with performances, broadcasts, and recordings of his more than 150 compositions and with his critical and research writings on personalities and issues of Canadian music past and present. Associated from 1952 to 1990 with the Faculty of Music, University of Toronto, he was a witness of, and often a participant in, ""the excitement of new creative directions in theatre, painting, and music"" (as he once put it) of late-twentieth-century Canada. John Beckwith is a member of the Order of Canada and holds honorary doctorates from five universities.

SKU	Unavailable
ISBN 13	9781554583584
ISBN 10	1554583586
Title	Unheard of
Author	John Beckwith
Series	Life Writing
Condition	Unavailable
Binding Type	Paperback
Publisher	Wilfrid Laurier University Press
Year published	2012-02-28
Number of pages	408
Cover note	Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.