The Rest Is Noise Series: Apparition from the Woods: The Loneliness of Jean Sibelius

The Rest Is Noise

by Alex Ross

This is a chapter from Alex Ross’s groundbreaking history of twentieth-century classical music, ‘The Rest is Noise’. Further extracts are available as digital shorts, accompanying the London Southbank festival programme.

Jean Sibelius hailed from the ‘small nation’ of Finland. Working in isolation, far from the great artistic capitals of Europe, Ross shows how Sibelius’s reinvention of classical forms went on to set the pace for classical composers around the world.

Now a major festival running throughout 2013 at London’s Southbank, The Rest is Noise is an intricate commentary not just on the sounds that defined the century, but on art’s troublesome dance with politics, social and cultural change.

Alex Ross is the New Yorker’s music critic, and the winner of the Guardian First Book Award and the National Book Critics Circle Award for The Rest is Noise, which was also shortlisted for the Samuel Johnson and Pulitzer prizes for non-fiction.

Genres: Music, Nonfiction

24 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 17, 2013

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.

Alex Ross has been the music critic of The New Yorker since 1996. From 1992 to 1996 he wrote for the New York Times. His first book, The Rest Is Noise: Listening to the Twentieth Century, was published in 2007 by Farrar, Straus & Giroux and became a national bestseller. It won a National Book Critics Circle Award, the Guardian First Book Award, and the Royal Philharmonic Society Creative Communication Award; appeared on the New York Times's list of the ten best books of year; and was a finalist for the Pulitzer and the Samuel Johnson prizes. Ross has received a Letter of Distinction from the American Music Center, fellowships from the American Academy in Berlin and the Banff Centre, three ASCAP-Deems Taylor Awards, and an honorary doctorate from the Manhattan School of Music. He has also served as a McGraw Professor in Writing at Princeton University. In 2008 he was named a MacArthur Fellow. His next book, an essay collection titled Listen to This, will appear in fall 2010. A native of Washington, DC, Ross now lives in Manhattan. In 2005 he married the actor and filmmaker Jonathan Lisecki.

Reviews

[Jaden Griffin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Feeling a connection with the book
I gave this book five stars because it made me want to read the Frontlines series again. I lost myself in the story, reading the book in one sitting, fascinated by the exciting account of a youngster and his dog negotiating life in the neighbourhood among Lankies, the quintessential unruly neighbours. These animals not only destroy the environment but also reduce the value of properties. My spouse was also completely absorbed in the book, finishing it in one night. My ranking is simple: five stars means this is a book I absolutely must reread, four indicates that it may be worth reading again in the future, three is that it was a fun read for me once, two means it's not my cup of tea, and one means I was unable to connect with or finish the book.

[Adriana W. · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Rest is Noise by Alex Ross offers a comprehensive and insightful look into 20th-century classical music, blending history with engaging analysis. While Ross’s writing is informative and richly detailed, some readers might find the book dense and occasionally overwhelming with information. The narrative provides a fascinating exploration of composers and their works, but at times it lacks a cohesive flow that makes it accessible for all audiences. Despite its depth, the book can feel somewhat dry and challenging for those not already familiar with the subject. Overall, The Rest is Noise is a valuable resource for music enthusiasts but may require patience and persistence to fully appreciate.
I give this ⭐️⭐️⭐️stars out of ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.

[Hang Bongda · Rating 5 out of 5]

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Giám đốc điều hành: Hoàng Văn Dân

Địa chỉ: 69 Lê Sát, Hải Châu, Đà Nẵng

Số điện thoại: 0981001327

[Terry Ives]

This book had a unique voice, and I appreciated the author’s creativity. However, there were sections where the plot meandered, and I lost interest temporarily. The ending was satisfying, though, which redeemed some of the slower parts.

[용우 권 · Rating 2 out of 5]

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[Azweb · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a perfect piece of work, looks so similar with the content I saw at http://holavibes.com

[Miltiadis Michalopoulos · Rating 3 out of 5]

A brief review of Jean Sibelius' music. I expected more from this bookand I was a little disappointed. A very good start for the music of the great composer

[Sidney Geary · Rating 5 out of 5]

nice

[Nang Cuc · Rating 5 out of 5]

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[Vanessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved that the entire novel was really a letter, in a way. There’s a mystery at the center so I can’t say too much more. But this YA book was short and sweet. I really liked it.

[Quagmire Clicker · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book took me on a profound journey of self-discovery. The author’s attention to detail and emotional depth left me thinking about the characters long after I turned the last page. Highly recommended for fans of character-driven stories.

[Brock Natt · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book took me on a profound journey of self-discovery. The author’s attention to detail and emotional depth left me thinking about the characters long after I turned the last page. Highly recommended for fans of character-driven stories.

[Ellie Huston · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book took me on a profound journey of self-discovery. The author’s attention to detail and emotional depth left me thinking about the characters long after I turned the last page. Highly recommended for fans of character-driven stories.

[Joel Conners · Rating 5 out of 5]

I devoured this book in a single sitting! The tension and suspense kept me hooked the entire time. The characters felt so real, and the ending left me wanting more. Perfect for readers who love page-turners

[Charlie Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book offers a unique perspective on a topic we think we already know. The way the author approached familiar themes felt fresh and thought-provoking. It’s definitely a great read for anyone looking for something different.

[Emma Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

I went into this book with certain expectations, and it completely surprised me. The twists were clever, and the characters' development was so much deeper than I anticipated. Definitely exceeded my expectations!

[Jeremy Hulu · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book took me on a profound journey of self-discovery. The author’s attention to detail and emotional depth left me thinking about the characters long after I turned the last page. Highly recommended for fans of character-driven stories.

[Morty Banner · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book transported me to another world. The depth of the writing and the intricacies of the characters kept me hooked from start to finish. It's one of those rare books where you can feel the atmosphere with every turn of the page.

[Sadie Sink · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book took me on a profound journey of self-discovery. The author’s attention to detail and emotional depth left me thinking about the characters long after I turned the last page. Highly recommended for fans of character-driven stories.

[David Harbour · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book took me on a profound journey of self-discovery. The author’s attention to detail and emotional depth left me thinking about the characters long after I turned the last page. Highly recommended for fans of character-driven stories.

[Millie Bobby · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book took me on a profound journey of self-discovery. The author’s attention to detail and emotional depth left me thinking about the characters long after I turned the last page. Highly recommended for fans of character-driven stories.

[Isabella Perez · Rating 5 out of 5]

There were some compelling characters and interesting themes, but I found the resolution a bit unsatisfying. It felt rushed and didn’t do justice to the buildup. Still, it had its moments!

[Chris Noir · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was blown away by the writing style in this book. Every sentence felt deliberate, crafted with precision. The pace was perfect, keeping me engaged from start to finish. A true literary gem!

[Ken Hank · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was blown away by the writing style in this book. Every sentence felt deliberate, crafted with precision. The pace was perfect, keeping me engaged from start to finish. A true literary gem!

[Robin Hood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Few books have made me feel as much as this one did. The emotional highs and lows were incredibly well handled. If you're looking for a story that will move you deeply, this is the one to pick up.