Music Quickens Time

September 29, 2008
Why does music have such universal appeal, and how does music help us understand human nature? In this sometimes electrifying, sometimes pedantic journey through the world of music, world famous director, composer and conductor Barenboim engages these and other questions as he searches to unlock music's peculiar power. In the book's first part, he meditates on topics ranging from sound and thought, listening and hearing through a tale of two Palestinians from different backgrounds (one grew up in a Ramallah refugee camp, the other in Nazareth), in which he chronicles the ways that music changed their lives. He recalls how music bridged the gap of political hatred in the West-Eastern Divan project, an orchestra composed of Israeli and Palestinian musicians that he and the late Edward Said put together. For the young people in this orchestra, music provided the language for continuous dialogue. The book's second section gathers occasional pieces previously published in magazines and newspapers that range over topics from Schumann, Bach and Mozart to Pierre Boulez and Wilhelm Furtwängler. In his tribute to his late friend Edward Said, for example, Barenboim recalls that for Said every musical masterpiece was a conception of the world. Barenboim concludes through these illuminating meditations that the power of music lies in its ability to speak to all aspects of the human being.

October 1, 2008
Meditations on one's professional life and work are numerous, especially in the area of music performance and musicology. Barenboim, one of the premier pianists and conductors of the modern era (he conducted the Chicago Symphony Orchestra for 15 years), offers his examination of various topics within and around music, music performance, and music personalities. His book is divided into two parts: Part 1, "The Power of Music," comprises six chapters dealing with various issues such as listening and hearing music, the orchestra, and the author's personal relationship with Palestine and Palestinians; in Part 2, "Variations," Barenboim shares his thoughts on musical composers such as Mozart, Boulez, and Schumann and discusses his friendship with Edward Said and his creation of the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra. Anyone interested in Barenboim's musical wisdom will enjoy this volume. An appropriate purchase for most public libraries and a welcome addition to all academic music libraries and performing arts libraries.Bradford Lee Eden, Univ. of California Lib., Santa Barbara

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