Breaking the Sound Barrier: A Critical Anthology of New Music [Ed. Gregory Battock]

[Avant] [Garde] [Music]

Breaking the Sound Barrier: A Critical Anthology of New Music 

Ed. Gregory Battock

Dutton, NY. 1981. First edition paperback. Minor creasing to the front and rear cover. Text is cleaned. Small round sticker on rear cover. Signed "Feld" on front page; likely from the collection of UNM Musicologist Steven Feld. An excellent copy.

This is a scarce anthology of essays focusing on avant garde composition, the avant gardes role in society, and more pragmatic matters like "performance and electronic music".

Some of the pieces within include:

"Musical Cosmology"

"The Music of Futurism: Concerts and Polemics"

"Electronic Music and Live Performance"

The most compelling section is the "new music" series of essays focusing on the burgeoning world of synthesis.

Thought provoking as hell and very important for those of us looking to get to the outer edges of sound. Highly recommended.