In his preface to the first "Arcana: Musicians on Music" (2000), avant-garde composer and saxophone player John Zorn wrote: "This book exists to correct an unfortunate injustice, the incredible lack of insightful critical writing about a significant generation of the best and most important work of the past two decades." That the injustice was repaired by that collection was happily affirmed by its subsequent success. The range of writing--from the technical to the aphoristic/diaristic--demonstrated that sometimes critical writing on music can inspire as much as it can explicate. As Zorn acknowledged, though, "Arcana" was also a first step. Now "Arcana II," also edited by Zorn, extends the scope of its predecessor, compiling further essential writing by luminaries of contemporary improvisation and composition such as Butch Morris, Evan Parker, Marina Rosenfeld, Ned Rothenberg, Sylvie Courvoisier, Steve Coleman, Dave Douglas, Annie Gosfield, Jim O'Rourke, Milford Graves, Zeena Parkins, Bill Laswell and Uri Caine.

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.

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.