Ways of Hearing: Reflections on Music in 28 Pieces

This book features extraordinary creative spirits, including musicians, poets, critics, scholars, an architect, a visual artist, a filmmaker, a scientist, and a Supreme Court justice, that reflect on their favorite music. This diverse collection explores how music shapes us and our culture through personal essays, conversations, interviews, improvisatory meditations, poetry, and visual art. It spans musical genres like opera, jazz, bluegrass, and classical and contemporary concert music.

Pico Iyer meditates on Handel, Arnold Steinhardt on Beethoven’s Grosse Fuge, Laurie Anderson and Edgar Choueiri on spatial music, Richard Powers shares a personal musical secret, Daphne Brooks connects Toni Morrison and Cécile McLorin Salvant, and Ruth Bader Ginsburg reveals her favorite opera duet. Poems further enhance our musical imagination.

(This book may contain a sharpie mark on the top or bottom edge and may show mild signs of shelfwear.)