Hold On to Your Dreams is the first biography of the musician and composer Arthur Russell; one of the most important but least known contributors to New Yorkrsquo;s downtown music scene during the 1970s and 1980s. With the exception of a few dance recordings; including ldquo;Is It All Over My Face?rdquo; and ldquo;Go Bang! #5;rdquo; Russellrsquo;s pioneering music was largely forgotten until 2004; when the posthumous release of two albums brought new attention to the artist. This revival of interest gained momentum with the issue of additional albums and the documentary film Wild Combination. Based on interviews with more than seventy of his collaborators; family members; and friends; Hold On to Your Dreams provides vital new information about this singular; eccentric musician and his role in the boundary-breaking downtown music scene.Tim Lawrence traces Russellrsquo;s odyssey from his hometown of Oskaloosa; Iowa; to countercultural San Francisco; and eventually to New York; where he lived from 1973 until his death from AIDS-related complications in 1992. Resisting definition while dreaming of commercial success; Russell wrote and performed new wave and disco as well as quirky rock; twisted folk; voice-cello dub; and hip-hop-inflected pop. ldquo;He was way ahead of other people in understanding that the walls between concert music and popular music and avant-garde music were illusory;rdquo; comments the composer Philip Glass. ldquo;He lived in a world in which those walls werenrsquo;t there.rdquo; Lawrence follows Russell across musical genres and through such vital downtown music spaces as the Kitchen; the Loft; the Gallery; the Paradise Garage; and the Experimental Intermedia Foundation. Along the way; he captures Russellrsquo;s openness to sound; his commitment to collaboration; and his uncompromising idealism.
#717742 in eBooks 2012-01-23 2013-02-04File Name: B005LW5J0S
Review
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. A Story of Transformation Through MusicBy GBBThe story narrated in this book is breathtaking. How one man. Juan Antonio Abreu. and his dream of El Sistema. transformed Venezuela from a country whose professional orchestra employed no Venezuelans to a country where EVERY child has the right to study music with gifted teachers for as many years as they wish. to have an instrument to play. and the opportunity to play in musical groups of all sizes and talent. Now the country has several world-class orchestras of young people and even school children who are invited all over the world to play for sophisticated musical audiences and then treated to enthusiastic standing ovations and patrons shouting approval! These young musicians are proficient not only in all genres of European music. they are also proficient in Latin American music. both popular and classical. To hear and see (via YouTube) more than 200 talented young musicians all playing together enthusiastically and extremely articulately for a gifted conductor. Gustavo Dudamel. who is himself a product of El Sistema. is a grand testament to Abreus dream and Venezuelas support for this transformative program.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. GUSTAVO DUDAMEL. WHO IS THE CONDUCTOR FOR THE LOS ...By NJGUSTAVO DUDAMEL. WHO IS THE CONDUCTOR FOR THE LOS ANGELS PHILAMONIC IS EXTRAORDINARY AND THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH WORDS IS THE DICTIONARY TO DISCRIBE HIS TALENTS.2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Musical competence to combat poverty and gangsBy PatriciaDThis is an informative and inspiring journey throught the development of El Sistema in Venezuela and the power that learning to play music with others has to motivate young people to become creative and caring members of society.Gustavo Dudamel. the charismatic conductor with focused love of young people. has completely changed the environment of classical music not only in Los Angeles but all over the world. Dont miss this positive development in the world. Its a great antidote to network news of today!
