Alex Ross Books
Alex Ross has been The New Yorker’s music critic for over 20 years. His writing has earned him multiple awards, as well as a Guggenheim Fellowship and a MacArthur Fellowship. The Rest Is Noise is his first book and was a Pulitzer Prize finalist.
What's The Rest Is Noise about?
The Rest Is Noise (2011) takes you on a musical journey through the twentieth century, from the game-changing work of Richard Strauss and Igor Stravinsky to the minimalist compositions of John Cale and Philip Glass. Author Alex Ross puts modern classical music into eye-opening perspective, chronicling the revolutionary changes and how they were influenced by the tumultuous events of the 1900s.
Who should read The Rest Is Noise?
- Music buffs and fans of classical music
- Anyone interested in the history of the twentieth century
- Scholars of contemporary art
What's Wagnerism about?
Wagnerism (2020) chronicles how the works of Richard Wagner have influenced thinkers in the years since his death. Exploring the multitude of ways in which people have interpreted his music, it looks beyond his artistic legacy to his political influence – most of all on the Nazi party.
Who should read Wagnerism?
- Classical music fans who want to broaden their knowledge
- Historians interested in the role of music and culture
- Politics enthusiasts who want to explore the history of ideas