Charlie Rose - Alex Ross

A conversation with author & music critic Alex Ross about his book The Rest is Noise : Listening to the Twentieth Century, a cultural history of music since 1900.

Visit charlierose.com for the full interview

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  Entertainment

[azuzaj1]

there is only one Alex Ross. And he's in comics.

[Alun Richards]

I really can't get behind that opening statement - I'm no great Ives fan, but I think there's a monumental, ecstatic impulse in much of his music (consider his interest in the New England Transcendentalists). Ives' work may be technically sophisticated in many respects, but it's also incredibly visceral, and you can hardly accuse the composer of 'The Unanswered Question' of being coldly intellectual. Whether or not he has the 'divine feel' is a matter I don't feel equipped to comment on.

[darkmacty]

Yes.

[riethc]

You do realize that my post was from over a year ago?

[darkmacty]

There's a lot of modern classical music out there. I wouldn't be so quick to write it all off. The Beatles were influenced by Stockhausen, Frank Zappa was influenced by Stravinsky, Ellington was influenced by Varese. You probably haven't given modern classical the appropriate time to resonate. Have you tried listening to Arvo Part, Philip Glass, Steve Reich? If you can appreciate jazz, there's no reason you can't get into Gershwin or Stravinksy's "Ebony Concerto"...

[thehognias]

yeah wtf this guy doesn't draw x-men gtfoh

[toni reed]

And the great thing about BECOMING is that there are always more attainable levels--of dare I say contemplative mysticism. Try questing you'll eventually like IT. : )

[toni reed]

You probably have had at least a moment, doing what ever it is that you feel most akin to, where you FEEL utterly peaceful, contented--where if you did that for the rest of your life it would be just fine. For example--playing tennis-when I get IN suddenly I FEEL all of the space as though one with it. There is no fear, no missing all becomes joyous. Or while watching pelicans swoop low over the water you can get the Gs with them because space and time are different. Non existent! You BECOME!

[riethc]

I don't know, most modern "serious" music seems to take the joy out of music. I'd rather listen to Bach or Mozart then any modern composers I've heard.

Jazz, soul and rock and roll seem more important than the "serious" music of the 20th century because, at least early on, those styles were more life affirming. Most modern music seems to come from the mind of the depressed and lunatics.