Leading composers, producers and writers consider the role of the composer in the community in Britain today and over the last fifty years. With his Aspen award lecture (1964), Benjamin Britten expressed a unique commitment to community and place. This book revisits this seminal lecture, but then uses it as a starting point of reflection, inviting leading composers, producers and writers to consider the role of the composer in the community in Britain in the last fifty years. Colin Matthews, Jonathan Reekie and John Barber reflect on Britten's aspirations as a composer and the impact of his legacy, and Gillian Moore surveys the ideals of composers since the 1960s. Eugene Skeef and Tommy Pearson discuss the influence of the London Sinfonietta, while Katie Tearle reviews the tradition of community opera at Glyndebourne. Nigel Osborne and Judith Webster explore the role of music as therapy, and James Redwood, Amoret Abis, Sean Gregory and Douglas Mitchell look at music in the classroom and creative workshops. John Sloboda, Detta Danford and Natasha Zielazinski discuss collaboration in music-making and ways of facilitating exchanges between the composer and the audience, while Christopher Fox and Howard Skempton examine the role of modernism and the use of 'other', radical techniques to stimulate new dialogues between composer and community. Peter Wiegold and Amoret Abis interview Sir Harrison Birtwistle, John Woolrich and Phillip Cashian, and Wiegold discusses his formative experiences in encountering music-making in other cultures. All of these approaches to the role and identity of the composer throw a different light on how we address 'the composer and the community': the varied, sometimes contradictory, motivations of composers; the role of music in 'enhancing lives'; the concept of 'outreach' and the different ways this is pursued; and, finally, the meaning of 'community'. Underpinning each are genuine questions about the relationship of arts to society. This book will appeal not only to composers, performers and practitioners of contemporary music but to anyone interested in the changes in twentieth-century music practice, music in education, and the role of music and the arts in the wider community and society.

The story behind the scandalous first performance of one of the most influential works in the history of music, as part of the stunning Landmark Library series. On 29 May 1913, at the Theatre des Champs-Elysees in Paris, a new ballet by Diaghilev's Ballets Russes, choreographed by Vaslav Nijinsky, received its premiere. Many of the cultural big names of Paris were there, or were rumoured to have been there: Debussy, Ravel, Proust, Gertrude Stein, Picasso. When the curtain rose on a cast of frenziedly stamping dancers, a near-riot ensued, ensuring the evening would enter the folklore of modernism. While it was the dancing that triggered the mayhem, Stravinsky's score contained shocks enough, with its innovations in form, rhythm, dissonance and its sheer sonic power. The Rite of Spring would achieve recognition in its own right as a concert piece, and is now seen as one of the most influential works of the 20th century. Gillian Moore explores the cultural climate that created The Rite, tells the story of the creation of the music and the ballet and provides a guide to the music itself, showing how a scandalous novelty of 1913 became a 21st-century concert staple. As well as considering its influence on 20th-century classical composers, she probes The Rite's impact on film music (including scores for Star Wars and Jaws); its extensive influence on jazz musicians (including Charlie Parker) and by artists as diverse as Weather Report, Joni Mitchell, Frank Zappa and The Pet Shop Boys.

'The book does what it says on the label. It is punctuated throughout with useful and relevant quotes from working journalists - their opinions, tips and warnings - a technique that drives home the message and adds life and colour' -THES Textbook Guide The job of a journalist has changed dramatically over the past few decades with satellite links, 24 hour rolling news, and the Internet creating constant pressure for the latest updates. But for all that, the fundamentals of doing the job remain the same: it's about identifying a story, getting the interviews, and delivering a balanced and interesting report. 'Introduction to Journalism' examines the skills needed to work as a journalist in newspapers, television, radio and online: " Provides case studies as a guide to researching stories, interviewing, and writing for each medium, as well as recording material for both radio and television. " Offers a wide range of comment and tips on the best way to approach stories " Includes interviews with journalists working on a variety of news outlets from the BBC to weekly newspapers. This book provides a lively and authoritative introduction to journalism and readers will enjoy the insight from a range of journalists.

'The book does what it says on the label. It is punctuated throughout with useful and relevant quotes from working journalists - their opinions, tips and warnings - a technique that drives home the message and adds life and colour' -THES Textbook Guide The job of a journalist has changed dramatically over the past few decades with satellite links, 24 hour rolling news, and the Internet creating constant pressure for the latest updates. But for all that, the fundamentals of doing the job remain the same: it's about identifying a story, getting the interviews, and delivering a balanced and interesting report. 'Introduction to Journalism' examines the skills needed to work as a journalist in newspapers, television, radio and online: " Provides case studies as a guide to researching stories, interviewing, and writing for each medium, as well as recording material for both radio and television. " Offers a wide range of comment and tips on the best way to approach stories " Includes interviews with journalists working on a variety of news outlets from the BBC to weekly newspapers. This book provides a lively and authoritative introduction to journalism and readers will enjoy the insight from a range of journalists.