The Indispensable Composers: A Personal Guide, Paperback

An exploration of the question of greatness from the chief classical music critic of The New York Times

Anthony Tommasini has devoted particular attention to living composers and overlooked repertory. But, as with all classical music lovers, the canon has remained central for him. Tommasini resists the neat laws of canon formation--and yet, he can't help but admit that these exalted composers have guided him through his life, resonating with his deepest emotions and profoundly shaping how he sees the world.

Now, in The Indispensable Composers, Tommasini offers his own personal guide to what the mercurial concept of greatness really means in classical music. As he argues for his particular pantheon of indispensable composers, Tommasini provides a masterclass in what to listen for and how to understand what music does to us.

Anthony Tommasini is the chief classical music critic for the New York Times. He graduated from Yale University, and later earned a Doctorate of Musical Arts from Boston University. He is the author of three books, including a biography of the composer and critic Virgil Thomson. As a pianist, he made two recordings of Thomson's music on the Northeastern label which were supported by the National Endowment for the Arts.