Music Book Review: Arcana X: Musicians on Music, edited by John Zorn

Arcana 10: Musicians on Music

by John Zorn (Music 780.904 Arc V. 10)

 

In editor John Zorn’s preface to Arcana X, it becomes clear that he considers this 10th volume in the series to be the final volume. As a reader since the first Arcana was published in 2000, I’m bummed to hear that we’ve reached the end of this series, but incredibly grateful for the journey. If I had to choose one set of books in the Polley Music Library that have had the greatest impact on my own musical thinking and work, it would be the Arcana series.

 

Like all of the Arcana books, this is a collection of essays written by contemporary working musicians across a wide range of musical backgrounds. The topics and styles of each essay can vary widely — some talk specifically about their own musical practices or influences in a straightforward manner, others take philosophical, poetic, or academic approaches, and others are downright playful, creating theatrical skits to illustrate their ideas. My favorite thing about all of these books is that you’re likely to read about some artists you already know, but you’re just as likely to read about some new-to-you artists that you’re sure to love. For me, I was delighted to read composer Charlie Looker’s intense philosophical considerations toward using melismatic passages in his music, a touching autobiographical recap from legendary drummer Dave Lombardo, and an inspiring discussion of the pedal steel guitar and its unusual quirks by Susan Alcorn, among other great essays. And new-to-me artists in this volume include composer/trombonist Alex Paxton and young composer Ben Coniguliaro, both of whose music seems to have a certain resonance with their writing styles.

 

Most of the essays in this final volume were written during the pandemic conditions of 2020, so some artists were pursuing ideas they’d never had the time to consider in their usual rushed schedules as professional musicians. Composer David Hertzberg writes of developing a new relationship with the recordings of John Coltrane, for example, and violinist Stefan Jackiw details his time thinking about and playing through sections of Beethoven’s Violin Concerto. Perhaps my favorite essay here is by German composer Ulrich Krieger, who writes convincingly about our current moment in music history as being on the cusp of an unprecedented transition toward freer and fuller musical futures. But you really can’t go wrong reading anything in Arcana X — in a period of uncertainty, the optimism and dedication of all of these artists is a reward unto itself for readers.

 

Like the other volumes in the series, the main essay section is followed by short biographies for each contributor and recommended listening lists for each. My advice: read the essays, and if someone especially captures your imagination, flip to the back and track down some examples of their music from the listening list. If you’re like me, you’ll find yourself repeating this process many times, and your own listening and music-making will become all the better for it.

 

(If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try Arcana: Musicians on Music, Arcana volume II and Arcana Volume IX, all edited by John Zorn.)

 

( official Tzadik – John Zorn web site )

 

Recommended by Scott S.
Polley Music Library

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