Francis Poulenc (20th Century Composers)
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | 4.75 (683 Votes) |
| Asin | : | 071483503X |
| Format Type | : | paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 240 Pages |
| Publish Date | : | 2013-01-17 |
| Language | : | English |
DESCRIPTION:
The consistent wit and charm of the music of Francis Poulenc (1899-1963), has often led to an underestimation of its value, yet there is now a growing recognition of his stature. His love affairs with working-class men and his sensitivity about his role in the wartime occupation of France have been somewhat obscured; in this fresh and amusing biography, however, the author uses recently published documents to shed new light on the composer and the man, and presents a three-dimensional portrait of this complex and sometimes contradictory composer.. In Ivry's biography, Poulenc's work is dicussed in the context of his homosexuality and against the colourful background of Paris in the first half of the century. His music is simple and direct, and neither rhythmically nor harmonically innovative, but he was a di
. Benjamin Ivry is an arts correspondent based in Paris. He has been music critic for Seven Days and a regular contributor to Opera News
Ivry approaches his task with more humor than some of his colleagues, and he is open throughout about Poulenc's homosexuality and its effect on the composer's work and personal life. The French composer Francis Poulenc (1899-1963) is often dismissed as the lightweight composer of short, clever pieces, lumped in with the rest of "Les Six." In this volume--one of Phaidon's 20th-Century Composers series--author Benjamin Ivry argues for more consideration and respect for the man who wrote Dialogues of the Carmelites. As is the rule with Phaidon's series, the book is rich in photographs and integrates the composer's life and work in a relatively brief (240 pages, including index), very accessible form; there are no musical examples, although they might be helpful. . Mr
"Ready or not -- the truth about a fascinating gay composer" according to Chase White. This book is the most current and accurate account of Poulenc's life to date, and it gives incredible insight into the musings behind his totally original and charming music. It is unfortunate that some readers may be dismayed by Poulenc's homosexual lifestyle, but an accurate biography could not exclude this information. If fact, being a part of a gay subculture in the early 20th Century as a prolif. "A good gossipy overview of Poulenc's life" according to A Customer. A much needed book, as there is no new biography of Poulenc in English or for that matter in French since the Henri Hell book of 1958, which was subsequently revised in the late 1970s. Ivry is much franker about Poulenc's private life than earlier writers as the publication of unexpurgated editions of Poulenc's letters allows this now. I could have done with some more relevant pictures: for instance . "Gossipy, yes. Good???" according to Qi_Zuze. At last! We are in possession of a tawdry, rambling account of the life of this uniquely gifted composer. The unnecessary focus upon Poulenc's sexual orientation does little to aid the reader's understanding of the subject but perhaps betrays some unresolved issues in the author's psyche. More insightful musical analysis would have been welcome and a broader perspective requisite. I can only partiall