Craig’s Reviews > The Rest Is Noise: Listening to the Twentieth Century > Status Update

How many operas have you noted down to listen to later?

I’m amazed and increasingly cynical by the attempts by politicians to influence the composers. It’s always been true, I guess. If it’s not the CIA,it’s the king and his desires.
Also I’m not sure I have enough of a musical background to distinguish atonal, from tonal, from 12 note styles of composition. Overall it’s a very interesting piece of work ( I have the audio book version). I have a lot to learn and a lot to listen to…

It’s due back at hoopla in 8 hours. I’m not going to finish.🎧🤨Have to check it out again..

I thought the first bit was the best part, that's where Ross is most passionate, the music has a more distinguishable narrative and development. Post-WWII everything just fractures and it becomes harder to tell a coherent story. Still some good stuff though, I have so many sticky notes in the book to mark more pieces to discover/re-visit.

For atonal / tonal - I was surprised how much the atonal stuff just sounded ... normal (If that's the right word) to me. An indicator of how much its permeated the culture I guess. At this point atonal music from the 1920's / 30's isn't difficult to hear and follow?