The War on Music

A well-founded, cogent, and forceful argument for a fresh look at all of the century's great music, much of it written under extraordinary circumstances, and why we need to go back and listen. -Jon Burlingame, author of The Music of James Bond A profound thinker and observer and an eminent American musician, John Mauceri brilliantly explores the contested terrain of twentieth-century classical music and adds a whole new dimension to our understanding of musical politics and musical repertory. - Larry Wolff, author of The Singing Turk En garde! In his provocative new book The War on Music: Reclaiming the Twentieth Century-one that is certain to initiate heated and impassioned discussion-the prodigiously talented and multifaceted conductor and writer John Mauceri throws down a musical gauntlet as he endeavors to upend and re-examine some of the reigning assumptions of the history of post-war twentieth-century classical music. No matter how one responds to the thrust of John Mauceri's sweeping musical worldview, one must salute him for his fervent, dauntless, and audacious engagement. -Jonathan Cott, author of Dinner With Lenny: The Last Long Interview With Leonard Bernstein Mauceri's brilliant The War on Music begins with the question, 'Why do we not play the music Hitler banned?' and then pulls back the curtain to answer it, in chilling detail. - Robert Thompson, President, G. Schirmer