Description
Book SynopsisThe most influential compositional movement of the past fifty years, spectralism was informed by digital technology but also extended the aesthetics of pianist-composers such as Liszt, Scriabin and Debussy. In The Spectral Piano, Marilyn Nonken explores these shared fascinations and the parallels between the movement's contemporary aesthetics and psychological research.
Trade Review'Marilyn Nonken belongs to a generation of new music performers who bring subtlety, nuance and even humour to complex music; hers is the leading recording of the piano music of Tristan Murail, who is one of the composers featured in her new book, The Spectral [Piano]. A great value of Dr Nonken's study is that she sets the Spectral movement in a wide historical context, going back indeed to Liszt and Scriabin; another that she demonstrates the influence of Murail and Gérard Grisey (together with their teacher Messiaen) on composers beyond France, arguing convincingly for the far-reaching influence and implications of Spectral concerns. What is particularly welcome is that here is a scholar whose writing carries particular authority, based as it is on her experience of understanding and communicating the music as its performer.' Peter Hill, University of Sheffield
'Marilyn Nonken's new book on spectral music for the piano is a screaming success … Few books can boast as much, and it is gratifying to encounter an international concert performer who can make so engaging a discourse around her core repertoire.' Bob Gilmore, Tempo
Table of Contents1. An intimate history; 2. Itinerary; 3. Protospectralists at the piano; 4. The first generation; 5. The spectral effect; 6. Spectral music and its pianistic expression Hugues Dufourt.
