Welcome back. More generally, the flow sometimes seemed to get distracted from the main quandry of what it means to know a piece of music. Two parallel threads run through this book, the "Bach" and the "Mother" respectively. “The older we get, the more subtly we must undertake the double exercise of shedding aspects of ourselves so that we have the capacity to develop new ones.”, Patti Smith Talks About Creativity and the Stories that Take Root. The Resource Counterpoint : a memoir of Bach and mourning, Philip Kennicott, (electronic resource eBook) As his mother was dying, Philip Kennicott began to listen to the music of Bach obsessively. Counterpoint: A Memoir of Bach and Mourning. I, for starters, root for Beethoven. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of, Published I liked the mix of memoir and biography/history, and it was fun to listen to the Bach pieces while/after reading about them. I read a preview excerpt in the Washington Post shortly after my father died, so I took it as a sign that I should read this book. *Counterpoint* is an aptly titled book -- Philip Kennicott's memoir weaves together narrative strands, much as a contrapuntal piece of music weaves together melodic strands within a piece. A fantastic book that is well put together. In his, I recognized my own troubled relationship with my mother which was directly related to my own troubled relationship with the piano, but also to the joys and love of music and piano we both shared. And Brahms, and Dvorak, and Shostakovich. Wrought with gut-wrenching cynicism and probing questions about why and how we grieve, this book shaped my outlook on life during the pandemic. (I took the subtitle -- the mourning part -- more seriously than was perhaps warranted...) -- 'Counterpoint' works on a number of different levels (befitting its title! Playing music is a basically a solitary activity that we use to try to find some meaning in life, but in the end we all end up alone and not knowing what of it all is. I felt poignant delight as I read his honest thoughts about music, practice, struggles, joys, conflicts which were also my own, but which I don't think I ever verbalized even to myself. Bach is not a composer I feel the need to listen to on a regular basis. His complicated relationship with his mother is part of his story, and it is her decline and death that causes him to do a deep-dive into the music of J.S. Counterpoint: A Memoir of Bach and Mourning Philip Kennicott. This made me realize that I would like a more in-depth knowledge of classical music, but then didn't quite scratch that itch. I was reminded of Jackson Brown's lyrics for "To a Dancer," that go "In the end there is one dance you do alone." I strongly believe it will resonate with a lot more readers than those who care about Bach. But I laughed out loud at the episode -- toward the end of the book -- involving eggplant parmigiana. ‎A Pulitzer Prize–winning critic reflects on the meaning and emotional impact of a Bach masterwork. The Bach anecdotes were amusing, but I think maybe a bit digressional at times. For him, Bach's music held the elements of both joy and despair, life and its inevitable end. (You can judge, I'll get over it.) Reviews for Counterpoint: A Memoir of Bach and Mourning In short, this is a beautiful and unexpectedly uplifting read which will have you reaching for both Gould's Goldbergs and the Chaconne, and perhaps even looking at the world with renewed thoughtfulness. He’s nowhere to be found in the book. I chose to review “Counterpoint: A Memoir of Bach and Mourning” by Philip Kennicott for two reasons. Counterpoint: A Memoir of Bach and Mourning ; About; Explore; About. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Counterpoint : A Memoir of Bach and Mourning by Philip Kennicott (2020, Hardcover) at the best online prices at … © 1996-2020, Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. ): it is a memoir of the author's complicated relationship with his mother, a tracing of his interactions with Johann Sebastian Bach's 'Goldberg Variations,' a set of b. The content about the author's family was so enjoyable and interesting but ultimately only tenuously connected to the rest of the content. In some ways, my father had a similar temperament to Kennicott's mother in that his moods could be unpredictable at times, so the author's recounting of his relationship with his mother and about her death hit me a little harder than I had expected. At points, the book is sad, and at others, especially in the final 10 pages, I found myse. $26.95; ebk. Absolutely loved it, I normally don't read memoirs of people I don't know, but this was a fascinating take that I enjoyed very much! There's a problem loading this menu at the moment. Philip Kennicott, author of Counterpoint: A Memoir of Bach and Mourning (Norton), is the Pulitzer Prize-winning Senior Art and Architecture Critic of The Washington Post. Music intertwines all aspects of life, and the author does a good job of showing how that works. This article was adapted from his new book, “Counterpoint: A Memoir of Bach and Mourning” (Norton, February 2020). Philip Kennicott, author of Counterpoint: A Memoir of Bach and Mourning, is the Pulitzer Prize-winning Senior Art and Architecture Critic of The Washington Post. In some ways, my father had a similar temperament to Kennicott's mother in that his moods could be unpredictable at times, so the author's recounting of his relationship with his mother and about her death hit me a little harder than I had expected. Punk rock legend, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee, award-winning writer, photographer, activist, and all-around Renaissance woman Patti Smith is... As his mother was dying, Philip Kennicott began to listen to the music of Bach obsessively. I respected his realistic perspective on the powers of music-- that it cannot magically heal grief and pain, but is transformative nonetheless. Kennicott won the 2013 Pulitzer Prize for Criticism . Bach. It uses Kennicott's Sisyphian process of learning Bach's, In many ways this book is quite good; there are moments when the author expresses his grief about losing his mother in ways which are both beautiful and profound. Biology, Genetics | Music. It's not that it isn't interesting, but I'm not sure how much I'll be able to take out of it. Start by marking “Counterpoint: A Memoir of Bach and Mourning” as Want to Read: Error rating book. A MEMOIR OF BACH AND MOURNING by Philip Kennicott ‧ RELEASE DATE: Feb. 18, 2020 Pulitzer Prize winner Kennicott, senior art and architecture critic of the Washington Post, makes his book debut with an absorbing meditation on grief. February 18th 2020 ISBN 9780393635379. I felt poignant delight as I read his honest thoughts about music, practice, struggles, joys, conflicts which were also my own, but which I don't think I ever verbalized even to myself. After viewing product detail pages, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in. Refresh and try again. The author is a gifted writer. But Counterpoint can be painful to read because the author’s mother was extremely abusive to him, both emotionally and physically. Similar books. Unfortunately, this book gets a lower rating from me, not solely on its merits (it's a rather good book, actually), but based on my expectations in approaching it. Counterpoint: A Memoir of Bach and Mourning, by Philip Kennicott, W.W. Norton & Company, https://wwnorton.com. After his mother died, the author began to learn Bach's Goldberg Variations in seriousness. The author certainly did. I have a lot in common with this author in regards to grief, a toxic parent, and a life long love of music. ISBN 9780393635362. So, you may. In the now popular genre of grief memoir as woven through a single work of art (usually a work of literature, for example All the Lives we Ever Lived), this one is the best I've read. Bach. As his mother was dying, Philip Kennicott began to listen to the music of Bach obsessively. His complicated relationship with his mother is part of his story, and it is her decline and death that causes him to do a deep-dive into the music of J.S. He spent the next five years trying to learn one of, As his mother was dying, Philip Kennicott began to listen to the music of Bach obsessively. Download to App. Read "Counterpoint: A Memoir of Bach and Mourning" by Philip Kennicott available from Rakuten Kobo. Kennicott creates a most unusual book about Bach and grief (surrounding his mother’s life. Enter your mobile number or email address below and we'll send you a link to download the free Kindle App. Once she yanked his hair so hard that he fell backwards off of the piano bench onto the floor. Try again. It was a rare and exceptional pleasure for me to discover that there is another suffering soul with thoughts, feelings and experiences (especially in childhood and early adulthood) that parallel mine. Once she yanked his hair so hard tha. The Essential Collection: Early Keyboard Gold. It was the only music that didn’t seem trivial or irrelevant, and it enabled him to both experience her death and remove himself from it. Which is a good thing, because there are no answers, only experiences. Many times it made me question my own relationship with classical music as a professional musician. It was a rare and exceptional pleasure for me to discover that there is another suffering soul with thoughts, feelings and experiences (especially in childhood and early adulthood) that parallel mine. Every student who sweated at the piano keys will relate to the shared experience of failure, fake starts, false expectations, futility, bitterness and will appreciate the sincerity in writing about such a delicate subject as reaching a limit. At points Kennicott describes both life and music in rather technical terms, at other points he infuses anecdotes and insightful turns of phrase. We’d love your help. Just a moment while we sign you in to your Goodreads account. By Philip Kennicott. It was the only music that didn’t seem trivial or irrelevant, and it enabled him to both experienc… Save for Later Save Counterpoint: A Memoir of Bach and Mourning For Later. ): it is a memoir of the author's complicated relationship with his mother, a tracing of his interactions with Johann Sebastian Bach's 'Goldberg Variations,' a set of biographical musings on the life of Bach, and, ultimately, a search for an answer to two questions: What do we mean when we say we 'know' a piece of music? 224p. Create a List. What I got from the book was different from what I expected. To get the free app, enter your mobile phone number. It’s a beautiful and poignant look at how we know music as well as how we truly know a person. Please try your request again later. I’ve been in mourning since my husband died in April 2019 and I love baroque music (JS Bach is the master). As his mother was dying, Philip Kennicott began to listen to the music of Bach obsessively. But Counterpoint can be painful to read because the author’s mother was extremely abusive to him, both emotionally and physically. I found the book, on the whole, to be insightful, moving, and beautifully written. He describes the joys of mastering some of the piano pieces, the frustrations that plague his understanding of others, the technical challenges they pose, and the surpassing beauty of the melodies, harmonies, and counterpoint that distinguish them. It was the only music that didn't seem trivial or irrelevant, and it enabled … He lives in Washington, D.C. To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Counterpoint: A Memoir of Bach and Mourning: Amazon.co.uk: Philip Kennicott: 9780393635362: Books As in, “I love her/ I hate her”. Given that the author is not a professional musician but is a serious hobbyist, I valued the perspective in describing the life and music of Bach with his own experiences. You're listening to a sample of the Audible audio edition. Beautiful, upsetting, redemptive, informative -- written with such care. Thank you. A memoir of Bach in terms of the author’s efforts to be able to play Bach’s Goldberg Variations, a memoir of mourning in the sense of his grief over the loss of his mother. It jumps between the author's life, Bach's life, and musical analysis, the last of which can be difficult to follow for someone who isn't classically trained. I believe the book might have benefited from some musical examples. I listened to this book on audiotape, and wished I could listen to the story on a loop as soundtrack to my life. So, you may ask, which audiences will the book resonate with? He spent the next five years trying to learn one of the composer's greatest keyboard masterpieces, the Goldberg Variations. It makes total sense psychologically that the author grew up to become a music critic. Counterpoint: A Memoir of Bach and Mourning. Approved third parties also use these tools in connection with our display of ads. Evidently she had a deep and powerful connection to music as he does, but she also attacked him in vicious unpredictable ways, at times when he was practicing the piano. It was the only music that didn't seem trivial or irrelevant, and it enabled him to both experience her death and remove himself from it. Kennicott is the author of Counterpoint: A Memoir of Bach and Mourning (Norton 2020). EPUB. It was the only music that didn’t seem trivial or irrelevant, and it enabled him to both experience her death and remove himself from it. While exploring Bach's compositions he sketches a cultural history of playing the piano in the twentieth century. The information and commentary on Bach does not add to whatever one can find in a music history book and the part about the family is personal, with maybe a glimpse of mid century suburban America making it engaging and informative. Not just for classical music nerds but being a bit nerdish won't hurt. In his, I recognized my own troubled relationship with my mother which was directly related to my own troubled re. Conditions apply. This turned out to be phenomenally good. I strongly believe it will resonate with a lot more readers than those who care about Bach. Definitely good, interesting on mourning and family histories and Bach. (You can judge, I'll get over it.) As his mother was dying, Philip Kennicott began to listen to the music of Bach obsessively. Philip Kennicott is the chief Art and Architecture Critic of The Washington Post. I, for starters, root for Beethoven. A mostly stellar book, that functions as part memoir, part Bach biography, part music criticism, part reflection on the nature of the more esoteric aspects of music, grief, and art. Download Counterpoint: A Memoir of Bach and Mourning. Music. The beauty of this memoir is not only in the compassion Kennicott ultimately finds for … Beautifully written, informative, honest and very very moving. I felt compelled to write a review not only because I loved it, but because I suspect the title may give the erroneous impression that the book is only for music lovers. Philip Kennicott is the chief … Norton, $26.95 (224p) ISBN 978-0-393-63536-2. Playing music is a basically a solitary activity t. I listened to this book on audiotape, and wished I could listen to the story on a loop as soundtrack to my life. There are 0 reviews and 0 ratings from United Kingdom. For him, Bach’s music held the elements of both joy and despair, life and its inevitable end. Lots of little biographical tidbits about Bach, Gould, and other music histories that keep a nice balance. Either is a conservative estimate. I’ve been in mourning since my husband died in April 2019 and I love baroque music (JS Bach is the master). At points Kennicott describes both life and music in rather technical terms, at other points he infuses anecdotes and insightful turns of phrase. Your recently viewed items and featured recommendations, Select the department you want to search in. Kennicott's journey in learning Bach's Goldberg Variations resonated less with me, but was still enjoyable to read. I was reminded of Jackson Brown's lyrics for "To a Dancer," that go "In the end there is one dance you do alone." I chose to review “Counterpoint: A Memoir of Bach and Mourning” by Philip Kennicott for two reasons. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. A Pulitzer Prize–winning critic reflects on the meaning and emotional impact of a Bach masterwork. A strange but brilliant melding of memoir and music education, going deep on a troubled mother-son relationship and the son's attempt to try something that's as difficult (playing Bach's Goldberg Variations on the piano) as coming to terms with grief for the person he struggled his whole life to understand. I admit I had the Aria theme running through my head as I was reading the book, and it did make me want to listen to the entire piece again, with music in hand. Please try again. I don’t know where the author’s father was during all of this. This is a beautifully written book. All the while not making a conclusion about our parents, grief, and making music. Despite its appearance, this is no self- help book nor an endeavour by a busy journalist to conquer the classical piano repertory, in the manner of Alan Rusbridger’s struggle with Chopin in Play It Again (Jonathan Cape, 2013). A poignant, and at times solipsistic and quixotic, detour into the psyche of a classical pianist and the inner communion of his life and his relationship with music after his mother had passed away. Many of his reflections were clearly the extension of a well examined inner life, which draws the reader into much of the same. I felt compelled to write a review not only because I loved it, but because I suspect the title may give the erroneous impression that the book is only for music lovers. This turned out to be phenomenally good. I loved the Bach stuff and the content on the nature of learning, studying, and practicing music. A Pulitzer Prize–winning critic reflects on the meaning and emotional impact of a Bach masterwork. Prime members enjoy fast & free shipping, unlimited streaming of movies and TV shows with Prime Video and many more exclusive benefits. This book deserves to be widely read. Clearly I’ve got mixed feelings about this book too :). What does it mean to know another human being? In Counterpoint: A Memoir of Bach and Mourning, Pulitzer Prize-winning critic Philip Kennicott reflects on these questions through a richly expansive exploration of a Bach masterwork. I chose to review “Counterpoint: A Memoir of Bach and Mourning” by Philip Kennicott for two reasons. There are no discussion topics on this book yet. And I learned so much. Book Information Counterpoint: A Memoir of Bach and Mourning. Definitely an insightful read and one worth reading, Gay Men Write About Their Moms (and Death) – a reading list. In many ways this book is quite good; there are moments when the author expresses his grief about losing his mother in ways which are both beautiful and profound. In Counterpoint, he recounts his efforts to rise to the challenge, and to fight through his grief by coming to terms with his memories of a difficult, complicated childhood. I found this memoir sometimes insightful and other times scattered. The author is not a professional musician but a dedicated amateur who has spent much of his life studying piano or trying to overcome the mental obstacles that kept him from growth. This book was great but not five stars. *Counterpoint* is an aptly titled book -- Philip Kennicott's memoir weaves together narrative strands, much as a contrapuntal piece of music weaves together melodic strands within a piece. Learn more about Import fee deposit here. Buy Counterpoint: A Memoir of Bach and Mourning by Philip Kennicott (ISBN: 9780393635362) from Amazon's Book Store. -- I found the writing style a bit dry and clinical. At points, the book is sad, and at others, especially in the final 10 pages, I found myself laughing out loud. For children, the discovery of death … Buy this product and stream 90 days of Amazon Music Unlimited for free. I really liked the parts where he was able to be transparent with the reader. This is probably not a book for everyone. Counterpoint: A Memoir of Bach and Mourning, Choose from over 13,000 locations across the UK, Prime members get unlimited deliveries at no additional cost, Dispatch to this address when you check out. Bach's Musical Universe: The Composer and His Work, Wagnerism: Art and Politics in the Shadow of Music, Music in the Castle of Heaven: A Portrait of Johann Sebastian Bach, Bach and the Meanings of Counterpoint: 10 (New Perspectives in Music History and Criticism, Series Number 10). A good read overall. It also analyses reviews to verify trustworthiness. Philip Kennicott is the chief Art and Architecture Critic of The Washington Post. He is also a two-time Pulitzer finalist (for editorial writing in 2000 and criticism in 2012), a former contributing editor to The New Republic, and a regular contributor to Opera News and Gramophone. Unable to add item to List. I normally don't read memoirs of people I don't know, but this was a fascinating take that I enjoyed very much! -- Recommended...with caution. Kennicott won the 2013 Pulitzer Prize for Criticism and was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize for Editorial Writing. Definitely an insightful read and o, I have a lot in common with this author in regards to grief, a toxic parent, and a life long love of music. Something went wrong. Any musician who has ever experienced loss should pick this book up. EPUB. More generally, the flow sometimes seemed to get distracted from the main quandry of what it means. There are so many issues addressed in this book that I can relate to: aging parents, the effect of hypercritical parenting, a love for classical music, and the beauty brought to your life by playing and listening to music. A beautiful balance between memoir and music writing. I loved every page of this book. Which is a good thing, because there are no answers, only experiences. He spent the next five years trying to learn one of the composer’s greatest keyboard masterpieces, the. His mother certainly was. No matter what, children always seem to love abusive parents. I found the power of healing through Phillip Kennicott's comparisons and words. Feb. 2020. A Kirkus Reviews Best Nonfiction Book of 2020 A Pulitzer Prize–winning critic reflects on the meaning and emotional impact of a Bach masterwork. (I took the subtitle -- the mourning part -- more seriously than was perhaps warranted...) -- 'Counterpoint' works on a number of different levels (befitting its title! It was the only music that didn't seem trivial or irrelevant, and it enabled him to both experience her death and remove himself from it. A mostly stellar book, that functions as part memoir, part Bach biography, part music criticism, part reflection on the nature of the more esoteric aspects of music, grief, and art. Then you can start reading Kindle books on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required. As someone who knows almost nothing about the science of music there were parts of this that were hard to read, but as someone who was invested in completing this book, I nonetheless found the extended metaphors appropriate/understandable for the music philistine audience. Norton. And Brahms, and Dvorak, and Shostakovich. We use cookies and similar tools to enhance your shopping experience, to provide our services, understand how customers use our services so we can make improvements, and display ads. And, perhaps more significantly, How is it ever possible to know another human being? It’s hard to imagine he doesn’t have a deeply ambivalent relationship to music too. As the Midwestern fall turned into a frigid, icy winter, I listened to Glenn Gould playing Bach’s “Goldberg Variations” and read Philip Kennicott’s Counterpoint: A Memoir of Bach and Mourning.Alternating between listening and reading, I found myself overwhelmed by emotion and flooded with the desire to do something. Bach is not a composer I feel the need to listen to on a regular basis. Counterpoint is, as stated on the cover, a memoir of Bach and mourning. I’ve been in mourning since my husband died in April 2019 and I love baroque music (JS Bach is the master). In Counterpoint, he recounts his efforts to rise to the challenge, and to fight through his grief by coming to terms with his memories of a difficult, complicated childhood. Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read. Philip Kennicott, the senior art and architecture Critic of the Washington Post and a former contributing editor for the New Republic, won the Pulitzer Prize for Criticism in 2013. I found this memoir sometimes insightful and other times scattered. As his mother was dying, Philip Kennicott began to listen to the music of Bach obsessively. See, I've just expanded the market for Kennicott's memoir about ten thousand fold, or shall we say one hundred thousand?