Richard Strauss: New Perspectives on the Composer and His Work (Revised)

Originally published by Duke University Press in 1992, this book examines Strauss's life and work from a number of approaches and during various periods of his long career, opening up unique corridors of insight into a crucial time in German history. Beyond the enlightening introduction by Michael Kennedy, individual essays use Strauss's creative work as a framework for larger musicological questions such as the tension between narrative and structure in program music, the problem of extended tonality at the turn of the century, stylistic choice versus stylistic obligation, and conflicting perspectives of progressive versus conservative music.