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hachim's review against another edition
4.0
I don't usually write reviews but my thoughts of this were a little coherent so i thought i'd give it a try
"There is also something deeply abnormal about Mahler's music. If I have to put a label on it I'd call it schizophrenic."
I've read this book mainly for 2 reasons : first of all I'm fond of murakami's works, "Kafka on the shore" was one of the greatest pieces of art I came across this year, and secondly because of a movie, lately i watched Tàr (a stunning fictional biography that centers on a widely known conductor) and it struck me that - As someone who thought knew so much about music - I had so little knowledge about classical music (I'm even embarrassed to say that i first heard Mahler's fifth during the film)
The greatest pleasure I had while reading this was listening to the pieces -Especially the 3rd piano concerto of Beethoven by Gould and Bernstein- while being discussed.
The parts about ozawa's life and career were quite interesting, the author was extremely good in describing ozawa's insights on music and the way he understands it and feel it based just on reading the score. "Music is not a sound but an idea"
Opera still remains something i do not care for but i did appreciate ozawa's inputs about its development and importance in western music
Altogether a useful, informative and entertaining book that offers a fresh and a unique approach to classical music however i think it should be read with some music background (especially Brahms, Beethoven & Mahler works).
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7oNeUCxdCfL9Egyj2SKp5d
"There is also something deeply abnormal about Mahler's music. If I have to put a label on it I'd call it schizophrenic."
I've read this book mainly for 2 reasons : first of all I'm fond of murakami's works, "Kafka on the shore" was one of the greatest pieces of art I came across this year, and secondly because of a movie, lately i watched Tàr (a stunning fictional biography that centers on a widely known conductor) and it struck me that - As someone who thought knew so much about music - I had so little knowledge about classical music (I'm even embarrassed to say that i first heard Mahler's fifth during the film)
The greatest pleasure I had while reading this was listening to the pieces -Especially the 3rd piano concerto of Beethoven by Gould and Bernstein- while being discussed.
The parts about ozawa's life and career were quite interesting, the author was extremely good in describing ozawa's insights on music and the way he understands it and feel it based just on reading the score. "Music is not a sound but an idea"
Opera still remains something i do not care for but i did appreciate ozawa's inputs about its development and importance in western music
Altogether a useful, informative and entertaining book that offers a fresh and a unique approach to classical music however i think it should be read with some music background (especially Brahms, Beethoven & Mahler works).
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7oNeUCxdCfL9Egyj2SKp5d
jjlim1996's review against another edition
5.0
I'm a little like Mr Murakami, in that I am uneducated on music (theory-wise) but I love it, although for me choral music is more familiar than to him. Yet, many of his observations struck me as someone who actually knows music, rather than simply loving music, and in part I feel that is because of his ability and experiences as a writer, with influences from jazz and classical music, which hones his knowledge in nuances, either musically or in writing. It was a simple read, with conversations between him and the esteemed Seiji Ozawa, but within the simple dialogues lay so many beautiful nuggets of wisdom, which came across really smoothly.
This paragraph grabbed my attention, which was Mr Murakami's reaction on a wonderful performance by a student orchestra at the Seiji Ozawa International Academy:
"Seeing (the students) so deeply moved (by their stellar performance), and seeing the audience's feverish reaction, I began to grasp how Ozawa felt pouring his heart and soul into the activities of this academy. Nothing could ever take its place for him. To hand genuine 'good music' on to the next generation; to convey that intense feeling; to stir the hearts of young musicians in such a pure and fundamental manner: these surely gave him a joy that was fully as profound as that to be gained from conducting such world-class orchestras as the Boston Symphony and the Vienna Philharmonic."
Music really goes beyond everything - it is something that we cannot really quantify, but once enjoyed, we always yearn for more.
This paragraph grabbed my attention, which was Mr Murakami's reaction on a wonderful performance by a student orchestra at the Seiji Ozawa International Academy:
"Seeing (the students) so deeply moved (by their stellar performance), and seeing the audience's feverish reaction, I began to grasp how Ozawa felt pouring his heart and soul into the activities of this academy. Nothing could ever take its place for him. To hand genuine 'good music' on to the next generation; to convey that intense feeling; to stir the hearts of young musicians in such a pure and fundamental manner: these surely gave him a joy that was fully as profound as that to be gained from conducting such world-class orchestras as the Boston Symphony and the Vienna Philharmonic."
Music really goes beyond everything - it is something that we cannot really quantify, but once enjoyed, we always yearn for more.
damc's review against another edition
5.0
a beautiful extended dialogue between two absolute masters of their respective crafts, this book offers very real and accessible insight into the world of art, touching on its creation, sure, but more profoundly on its interpretation and re-creation by those who engage with it.
carolinareads's review against another edition
2.0
i started reading this book last december, then forgot about it with only like 30 pages left. awkward.
second Murakami book that i didnt really like. i want to like pls someone help
second Murakami book that i didnt really like. i want to like pls someone help