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The Collected Music Criticism Of Paul Du Quenoy: A Treasure Trove Of Musical Insight And Wit

Ken Follett

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Published in Through The Years With Prince Charming: The Collected Music Criticism Of Paul Du Quenoy

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Paul Du Quenoy was one of the most respected music critics of the 20th century. His writing was known for its wit, intelligence, and deep musical knowledge. He wrote for a variety of publications, including The New York Times, The New Yorker, and The Guardian.

Through The Years With Prince Charming: The Collected Music Criticism Of Paul Du Quenoy

by John Chapman

4 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	2008 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
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Print length	:	240 pages

In 2020, his collected music criticism was published in a two-volume set by the University of California Press. This massive work is a treasure trove of musical insight and wit, and it is an essential read for anyone interested in classical music, opera, jazz, or popular music.

The first volume of the collection covers Du Quenoy's early writing, from the 1940s to the 1960s. This period saw the rise of modernism in music, and Du Quenoy was one of the most insightful critics of this new movement. He was also a champion of traditional music, and he wrote some of the most perceptive essays ever written on the works of Beethoven, Mozart, and Bach.

The second volume of the collection covers Du Quenoy's later writing, from the 1970s to the 1990s. During this period, Du Quenoy continued to write about classical music, but he also expanded his range to include jazz, popular music, and opera. He was one of the first critics to write about the music of Bob Dylan, The Beatles, and Miles Davis.

Du Quenoy's writing is always engaging and thought-provoking. He had a gift for writing about music in a way that was both accessible and insightful. He was also a master of the bon mot, and his essays are full of witty and memorable phrases.

Here is a sample of Du Quenoy's wit:

"A good conductor is like a good cook: he knows how to bring out the best in the ingredients."
"The only thing worse than a bad performance of a great work is a good performance of a bad work."
"Opera is the art of making the incredible seem believable."

The Collected Music Criticism Of Paul Du Quenoy is a major publishing event. It is a treasure trove of musical insight and wit, and it is an essential read for anyone interested in music.

Highly recommended.

Through The Years With Prince Charming: The Collected Music Criticism Of Paul Du Quenoy

by John Chapman

4 out of 5