A Book of Music

Composed in 1944. Premiered in New York, January 21, 1945.

30 minutes

This is a virtuoso concert work in 2 parts, Part I lasting about 12 minutes, part II, 18. Each part is subdivided into several smaller sections. Part I, in 4 short movements (I - IV), has a rhythmic structure of 2-7-2-3 and 2-7-2-3-3 and a tempo of 66. Part II is longer and more complex and has 3 major sections (V, VI and IX), in a tempo of 176. Here, the rhythmic structure is 5-21-5-7 and 5-21-5-7-7. The second and third sections of part II are interrupted by five short movements (VIIa, VIIb, VIIIa, VIIIb and VIIIc) for alternating solo keyboards; these sections have a slower tempo (132). The notation is conventional and the preparations are relatively elaborate.

There are 8 recordings of A Book of Music in our database.

Here is a random recording. Click here to see another.

A Book of Music

Robert Fizdale and Arthur Gold, prepared pianos.

New York Public Library