Composing a World

An exploration of the life and works of one of America's most original composers.

Presents a portrait of an exceptionally beloved pioneer in American music - Lou Harrison. This title features works catalog reflecting compositions completed after 1997 and adds a brief description of the circumstances of Harrison's death. It includes an annotated works-list detailing more than 300 compositions.Composing a World is the definitive work on Lou Harrison, the prolific California composer often cited as one of America's most original and influential figures. The product of extensive research, including seventy-five interviews with the composer and those associated with him over half a century, Composing a World includes chapters on music and dance, intonation and tuning, instrument building, music criticism, Harrison's political activism, homosexuality, Asian influences, and final years.

This edition features an updated catalog of works reflecting compositions completed after 1997. It also includes an annotated work list detailing more than 300 compositions and a CD featuring over seventy-four minutes of illustrative Harrison compositions, including several unique and previously unrecorded works.

A compelling and deeply human portrait, Composing a World offers an indispensable study of a beloved musical pioneer.