"Source: Music of the Avant-Garde, 1966 - 1973" Edited by Larry Austin and Douglas Kahn (the University of California Press)
April 6, 2023
In this very rotten year of 2023, I found a gem of a book called "Source: Music of the Avant-Garde, 1966-1973." 'Source' was a journal written and edited by avant-garde composers, other avant-garde composers, and those who are/were interested in the type of music. I guess the readership was small, but probably more like it - all geniuses. Larry Austin and Douglas Kahn (composers themselves) made the perfect publication. "Source" debated about the music of its time, as well as published visual and musical scores, and interviewed the prominent figures of that musical movement.
We have John Cage, Karlheinz Stockhausen, Toshi Ichiyanagi, Morton Feldman, Robert Ashley, the recently late and great Pauline Oliveros, Christian Wolff, Dick Higgins, Steve Reich, and so forth. The talent doesn't stop! Each issue focused on one or two composers and a specific work by them, as well as dialogue/interviews with specific composers—also manifestos of all sorts and even a dip into politics. I understand that finding a copy of "Source" is nearly impossible, and I can see why. Why would anyone want to give up their copy?
This book is an essential and incredible source of music produced from 1966 thru 1973. A casual reader would want to check out a composer's work just by reading what that work is/was. Also, much of the new music at that time was theatrical and performance friendly. Towards the end of the book, one gets a great sample of works by the Fluxus artists/performers. Highly entertaining, this book is essential for those who study the arts that were produced during that time and the importance and greatness of new music of that time.
Oh, cool!!! I'm sure you have seen the documentary Sisters With Transistors. That opened up another world for me...
This was a great compilation of avant-garde music at the time. I had a subscription to it during those years and still have the copies in my library. The book with the collection is wonderful Tosh. Thanks for giving it space here.