Michael Colgrass: Adventures of an American Composer

by Michael Colgrass

(Meredith Music Resource). In this delightful collection of anecdotes, Michael Colgrass invites the reader into his private encounters with Igor Stravinsky, Aaron Copland, Leonard Bernstein, Dizzy Gillespie, and a host of other key figures in American music. Maverick to the core, Colgrass also writes about romancing a Cold War spy in Bucharest, composing a ballet overnight for the Joffrey Ballet, and playing a gig for a stripper that landed him a job in West Side Story . His anecdotes often humorous and profound describe a pivotal era in American music that shaped this Pulitzer Prize-winning composer. A "must read" for music lovers.

222 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 2009

Reviews

[M.G. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a joy to read! Instead of long chapters, Michael Colgrass writes in short chapters about moments and experiences that helped form him. I like both formats of memoirs, but this seemed like the right fit for Michael Colgrass and his experiences. He lived an interesting life and had a lot of humorous and useful pieces of information to share. I recommend.

[Yu Wang · Rating 5 out of 5]

Funny, light hearted, and incredibly entertaining to read.