Lies: A Diary 1986-1999

by Ned Rorem

Book Overview

This latest installment of Ned Rorem's diary opens in 1986, when the author is sixty-two, and closes in 1999, when he is seventy-five. Though Rorem remains as energetic as ever during these years --... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1582430578
• ISBN13: 9781582430577
• Release Date: November 2000
• Publisher: Counterpoint LLC
• Length: 400 Pages
• Weight: 1.80 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.3" x 6.4" x 9.4"

Customer Reviews

Planet Earth's greatest diarist

I bitterly begrudge Ned for being one of those self-congratulatory artsy-fartsy types who are constantly blathering about Art with a capital "A". I hate that mentality. But that doesn't prevent me from being a Nedhead. My other complaint about Ned's prose is his refusal to provide English translations for the French quotes. For the benefit of us non-francophones. Ned's self-righteous proselytory pacifism is another thing that drives me up the goddam wall. It's a big fat boring blindspot and he excretes smugness whenever the subject of war comes up. Pacifism is a form of simplistic absolutism. And it's just as wrong-headed as any other form of absolutism. Including aesthetic absolutism. Which Ned has himself addressed: "Until an Absolute is established as to what defines 'good music', I will retain my right to call trash certain works of Beethoven: the Emperor, the Appassionata, the end of the Ninth."Let me commend Ned's heroic stoicism in regard to the illness & death of Jim Holmes. I was depressed to find out that Jim was every bit the atheist that Ned is. As usual, I blame God.

Necessary

Ned Rorem is our best diarist. Is there another one at present? I find myself dipping into this latest diary all the time. I love the gossip as much as the next fella, but it's the mini essays on any number of topics that I truly love. Elucidates the sad state of the composer and the song right now.