Cultural Writing. Music. Through manifestos, scores, interviews, notes and critical papers, contributors to this in-depth anthology address composing, playing, improvising, teaching, and thinking in and through music. Rather than attempting to distill or define musician's work, ARCANA illuminates it with personal vision and experience. "A remarkable book. Challenging and original. ARCANA is a vibrant testimony to the continuing vitality of new music. These exciting young composers are as idiosyncratic and eloquent with words as they are with music" -- Meredith Monk, composer/singer.

John Zorn's acclaimed "Arcana" series, now in its seventh installment, is a major source on new music theory and practice in the twenty-first century. The most varied collection to date, "Arcana VII" includes personal essays by New Music luminaries Pat Metheny, Bryce Dessner, Irvine Arditti, Thurston Moore, Kenny Werner, Eugene Chadbourne and David Krakauer alongside articles on musical theory and practice by veterans Joe Morris, Matt Shipp, Ben Goldberg, Ches Smith, George Steel, Billy Martin, Hilda Paredes and Gloria Coates and insightful new views by younger musicians Chris Otto, James Moore, Theresa Wong, Shanir Blumenkranz, Jay Campbell, Du Yun, James Ilgenfritz, Chuck Bettis, Aya Nishina and many others. A kaleidoscope of manifestoes, scores, interviews, critical papers, musical studies, rants and more, "Arcana VII" is a fascinating compendium from first word to last.

Now in its fourth installment, with a fifth in preparation, John Zorn's acclaimed "Arcana" series provides insight into the work and methodologies of some of the most creative musical minds of our time. Rather than an attempt to distill or define a musician's work, "Arcana IV" illuminates directly via personal vision and experience, through the undiluted words and thoughts of the practitioners themselves, elucidating through manifestos, scores, interviews, notes and critical papers, composer/performers address composing, improvising, teaching, living, touring and thinking in and through music. Essential for composers, musicians, students and fans alike, this challenging and original series has now become the major source on new music theory and practice in the twenty-first century. Among "Arcana IV"'s contributors are the late Derek Bailey, Nels Cline, Chris Cutler, Paul Dresher, Kenneth Gaburo, Shelley Hirsch, Wayne Horvitz, Vijay Iyer, Gordon Mumma, Matana Roberts, Katherine Supove and Carolyn Yarnell.

"Arcana III" is the third groundbreaking collection of critical writings on avant-garde and experimental music put together by editor (and experimental music legend) John Zorn. In this volume, 30 distinguished composer/performers illuminate and speculate upon method and practice in the process of making, experiencing and thinking about music. Comprised of essays, scores, manifestoes and interviews both real and imaginary, "Arcana III" gives voice to a new generation of brave musical explorers who live outside of the mainstream academy. Contributors include John Zorn, Maryanne Amacher, Derek Bermel, Steven Bernstein, Theo Bleckmann, Gavin Bryars, Greg Cohen, Jacques Coursil, Mario Diaz de Leon, Timb Harris, Scott Hull, Jerry Hunt, Henry Kaiser, Ha-Yang Kim, Makigami Koichi, Pamelia Kurstin, Okkyung Lee, Sean Lennon, Frank London, Brad Lubman, Christian Marclay, Kaffe Matthews, Olga Neuwirth, Buzz Osbourne, William Parker, Paola Prestini, Jamie Saft, Eric Singer, Wadada Leo Smith, Laeticia Sonami and Hal Willner.
John Zorn has created an influential body of work that defies academic categories. A native of New York City, he has been a central figure in the downtown scene since 1975, incorporating a wide range of musicians in various compositional formats.

A major resource for new music theory and practice in the twenty-first century, the acclaimed "Arcana" series looks at the inner workings of the artistic process through manifestoes, scores, interviews, notes and critical papers written by the practitioners themselves, providing insight into the work, mind and methodologies of some of the most remarkable creative minds of our time. Contributors to this volume include Duck Baker, Eve Beglarian, Karl Berger, Chuck Bettis, Claire Chase, Anna Clyne, John Corigliano, Jeremiah Cymerman, David Fulmer, Jeff Gauthier, Alan Gilbert, Judd Greenstein, Mary Halvorson, Hillary Hahn, Jesse Harris, David Lang, Mary Jane Leach, Steve Lehman, Steve Mackey, Rudresh Mahanthappa, Denman Maroney, Brad Mehldau, Jessica Pavone, Toby Picker, Gyan Riley, Jon Rose, Steve Schick, Jen Shyu, Dave Taylor, Richard Teitelbaum, Julia Wolfe, Kenny Wollesen, Nate Wooley and Charles Wuorinen.