The fascinating letters of conductor-author Nicolas Slonimsky
(1894-1995) to his wife, sharing his adventures as he traveled around
the world to conduct new American music.
In the mid-twentieth century renowned musicologist, conductor, and
lexicographer Nicolas Slonimsky traveled to cities throughout the world
to play and conduct music of the American avant-garde. From trips to
Paris, Berlin, Havana, New York, Los Angeles, Buenos Aires, Rio de
Janeiro, and Moscow, Slonimsky wrote letters to his wife, the art critic
Dorothy Adlow, vividly and humorously describing his adventures.
Dear Dorothy: Letters from NicolasSlonimsky to Dorothy Adlow is a
collection of these missives. Though personal, they chronicle
Slonimsky's work as an ambassador of modern music who introduced
twentieth-century composers, particularly American composers, to
audiences worldwide. Full of his admired wit and energy, the letters
recount his performances, rehearsals, lectures, day-to-day activities in
foreign cities and concert halls, and the anxieties of stretching
limited funds to cover an ever-expanding itinerary. They also reveal a
side of Slonimsky not seen from his other published writings: a man with
deep devotion to his wife and family.
Annotated and with an introduction by Slonimsky's daughter, Electra
Slonimsky Yourke, this collection documents the meeting of historic
musical cultures-Old World Europe, the Soviet Union, and the vibrant
countries of Latin America-with the modernist music of the United
States. Written in a lively, humorous style, these letters will be of
interest to scholars and students of American music and social
historians as well as musicians, music lovers, and concertgoers.
Electra Slonimsky Yourke is the daughter ofNicolas Slonimsky and Dorothy
Adlow, and editor of several collections of her father's work, including
The Listener's Companion and the four-volume Writings on Music.
Nicolas Slonimsky (1894-1995) was a Renaissance man in the modern-music
world of the mid-twentieth century. Composer, conductor, critic, and
lexicographer, he authored many books including Lexicon of Musical
Invective: Critical Assaults on Composers since Beethoven's Time and a
memoir, Perfect Pitch.
