Description: The first book to be published in English about the Russian composer Alfred Schnittke (b. 1934), this biography presents a fascinating portrait of a man whose musical output has been inextricably linked to the strictures of life in the Soviet Union. His music, as a reflection of Russian cultural and social traditions, as well as mentality, enjoys tremendous popularity in his own country, and increasingly on an international level. The author gives a detailed and admiring discussion of Schnittke's music and his theories, arguing that the various stylistic elements in his works -- his polystylism -- may be perceived as part of a new, more universal language.

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