Charles E. Ives: Memos

Rating:
Summary: A classic American text.
Review: Like Miles Davis, Duke Ellington and Charles Mingus' respecive autobiographies, Ives' "Memos" is a fascinating look at the inner workings of one of America's greatest gifts to international music. Like Mingus espescially, Ives was a very opinionated and . . . well, masculine presence. In fact, my favorite quote, which could have easily been Mingus as well is "Stand up and face the full force of a dissonance like a man." Yikes! This collection of essays - he decided against calling the project an autobiography because, in his mind, anyone who found himself important enough to deserve one probably didn't - deals with family, friends, but focusses primarily on music aesthetics. There are several stories of awful performances, justifications for experimentalism, and run-ins with his hilarious nemesis "Rollo". Highly recommended reading for anyone interested in experimental music, masculinity, Americana, as well as Ives' history. Hey, it's all straight from the horses mouth. A primary source like this is invaluable! We're lucky this stuff wasn't lost for good.

Rating:
Summary: A classic American text.
Review: Like Miles Davis, Duke Ellington and Charles Mingus' respecive autobiographies, Ives' "Memos" is a fascinating look at the inner workings of one of America's greatest gifts to international music. Like Mingus espescially, Ives was a very opinionated and . . . well, masculine presence. In fact, my favorite quote, which could have easily been Mingus as well is "Stand up and face the full force of a dissonance like a man." Yikes! This collection of essays - he decided against calling the project an autobiography because, in his mind, anyone who found himself important enough to deserve one probably didn't - deals with family, friends, but focusses primarily on music aesthetics. There are several stories of awful performances, justifications for experimentalism, and run-ins with his hilarious nemesis "Rollo". Highly recommended reading for anyone interested in experimental music, masculinity, Americana, as well as Ives' history. Hey, it's all straight from the horses mouth. A primary source like this is invaluable! We're lucky this stuff wasn't lost for good.