REVIEW: LISTEN, MY CHILDREN AND YOU SHALL HEAR: The Rest is Noise by Alex Ross

There has been over the years a trend to tell the history of man through a specialized or specific subject matter: salt, dirt, the chair. But to reflect on the dizzying scope of 20th century classical music within the context of history and the effect of that history on the art of composition makes my head spin!

Which is why my hat is off to Alex Ross and his magnificent opus "The Rest is Noise: Listening to the 20th Century". Mr. Ross attacks this material with relish, hitting the high points (riots at "The Rite of Spring", the persecution of Shostakovitch by Stalin) but also shining lights into some of the lesser known corners of music history (the American composer William Marion Cook, the Information Control Division of the Office of Military Government, United States (OMGUS) and its effect on post-war European music).

Though his writing can get a bit bogged down with 'tech talk' (tritones, diminished fifths, etc), he has the ability to tie these changes in sound, tone, and harmony into a reflection of change in a rapidly changing era.

And for us dilettantes of classical music ("I may not know what it means, but I know if it hurts my ears!"), Mr. Ross has made available an extensive selection of music to which he refers in the book! Musical samples are accompanied with page references, as well as supplementary materials, like a copy of the original cover of the score to Messiaen's "Quartet for the End of Time". The website is an invaluable partner for anyone taking the time to read the masterful piece of writing.

Take it to the beach with you... You can surf the web on your phone (can't you?).

http://www.therestisnoise.com/audio/