John Duke is a towering figure in twentieth century song composition; one who composer Ned Rorem calls "the master of the medium." The opportunity to view the opinions and attitudes of this exemplary composer in his own words is now available in The Selected Writings of John Duke. Editors Robin Fisher and Ruth C. Friedberg have amassed essays, lectures, reviews, and diaries from the Smith College Archives detailing many facets of Duke's life and career, while letters of personal correspondence with Friedberg express the composer's intimate involvement with the poets, performers, and music publishers of his era. Duke's articles from music journals are also reprinted here, expressing his concise and cohesive thoughts about word-setting. Valuable appendixes inventory Duke's complete catalog of works, including comprehensive lists of his songs, arranged both chronologically by composition date and alphabetically by title, detailing literary sources, publishers, and suggested voice categories. These writings paint an interesting picture of American concert life in the middle of the twentieth century, while providing a fascinating insight into Duke's intellectual and professional development.

About the Author
Ruth C. Friedberg is Professor Emerita at the University of the Incarnate Word and a concert pianist. She is the author of American Art Song and American Poetry, volumes 1, 2, and 3 (Scarecrow Press 1981, 1984), and The Complete Pianist: Body, Mind, Synthesis (Scarecrow Press, 1993). Robin Fisher is assistant professor at Sacramento State University in California.

Reviews
This volume is the first to present unpublished material by the composer, including excerpts from journals, drafts, sketches, and letters....there are riches to be found in this collection. -- . * Mla Notes, June 2008 *
The Selected Writings of John Duke is an exceptional scholarly work. The research is exemplary, and the editors provide objective and unobtrusive guidance to the documents....The book is highly recommended. -- . * Journal of Singing, April 2008 Vol. 64, No. 4 *



Book Information
ISBN 9780810858671
Author Ruth C. Friedberg
Format Paperback
Page Count 282
Imprint Scarecrow Press
Publisher Scarecrow Press
Weight(grams) 454g
Dimensions(mm) 229mm * 154mm * 18mm