THE REST IS NOISE: LISTENING TO THE TWENTIETH CENTURY

New York City, NY: Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 2007. First Edition. First Printing.. Hardcover. Fine/Fine Dust Jacket.. New York City, NY: Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 2007. Hardcover. Fine/Fine. First Edition/First Printing. 625 pages. The author's breakthrough debut book. One of the most important books on classical music ever published in our time. The First Hardcover Edition. Precedes and should not be confused with all other subsequent editions. Published in a small and limited first print run as a hardcover original only that sold out shortly after publication. The First Edition is now rare. Presents Alex Ross' "The Rest Is Noise: Listening To The Twentieth Century". Still his very best book. "A whirlwind tour, from the Viennese premiere of Richard Strauss' 'Salome' in 1906 to Minimalist Steve Reich's downtown Manhattan apartment. The real strength of this study, however, lies in his detailed musical analysis, teasing out, in precise but readily accessible language, the notes that link Leonard Bernstein's 'West Side Story' to Arnold Schoenberg's avant-garde compositions or hint at a connection between Sibelius and John Coltrane" (Publisher's blurb). Currently the Resident Music Critic of The New Yorker Magazine, Alex Ross succeeded not one but two of the greatest music critics we shall ever read: Andrew Porter and Paul Griffiths, both Brits. His essays are among the reasons The New Yorker Magazine remains necessary reading, nothing less than one of contemporary life's most civilized pleasures (but only for as long as he avoids his more, and seemingly inescapable, ideological bent of late). An absolute "must-have" title for Alex Ross collectors. This copy is very prominently, neatly, and beautifully signed, dated (shortly after publication), and inscribed in black ink-pen on the half-title page by the author: "For John, With best wishes, Alex Ross 11/3/07". It is signed directly on the page itself, not on a tipped-in page. The recipient, who is named, is John Wood, the poet, photography historian/critic, and music scholar, whose son, Daffyd, himself a writer/librettist, also inscribed a Christmas Greeting on top of the page to his Daddy. What is most remarkable, fascinating, and unique about this copy, however, is that John Wood himself wrote detailed commentary at the Back End Pages in his own hand, in what is, in effect, a draft of his critical appraisal of the book. John Wood is a very meticulous reader: None of the internal pages is marred, highlighted, or marked in any way. This title is a contemporary classic. As far as we know, this is the only such signed, publication-year dated, and inscribed copy (with the recipient's own original notes) of the First Hardcover Edition/First Printing available online and is in especially fine condition: Clean, crisp, and bright. Please note: ALL other copies available online have serious flaws (because they were avidly read) or are in multiple subsequent printings. This is surely an accessible and lovely alternative. A rare signed copy thus. Lavishly illustrated with vintage photographs. Winner of the MacArthur Genius Grant in 2008. One of the finest American writers of our time. A fine collectible copy. (SEE ALSO OTHER ALEX ROSS TITLES IN OUR CATALOG). ISBN 0374249393.