A Yankee Book Peddler US Core Title for 2012 'For those who only know Messiaen's later writings, Olivier Messiaen: Journalism 1935-1939 will be a revelation. Even for those familiar with some of this material, it is wonderful and immensely useful to have this material collated in a single volume. As such, this is not only an invaluable resource for any scholar interested in both Messiaen and the musical and artistic discourse within France in the 1930s but also a thoroughly absorbing read. Broad adroitly assesses Messiaen's written style and the recurrent themes found in the journalism, while succinctly providing context, and the translations of Messiaen's texts elegantly capture his voice.' Christopher Dingle, Birmingham Conservatoire, UK and author of The Life of Messiaen '... this is a beautifully produced book'. Classical Music Magazine ' ... a valuable addition to the Messiaen literature, making these early writings available in one convenient volume. Messiaen’s journalism and Stephen Broad’s lucid, penetrating scholarship both deserve the warmest possible recommendation'. International Record Review 'Broad makes a valuable contribution not only to Messiaen scholarship, but to current debates about the francophone musical press in the twentieth century and the role composers played in promoting and advertising their own works and projecting their distinctive musical contribution.' H-France
