Customer Reviews (4)

An Entertaining Life
My interest in reading George Antheil's autobiography came from admiration for his music and what he could relate about Paris in the 1920's.Mr. Antheil was a very good writer and wrote quite a lot during his life, particularly for Esquire magazine. He gives his writing a conversational style that flows nicely.I liked the fact that he began his book with stories of his brief career as a pianist and how hard it is to be a traveling musician.Must amusing is that he had a gun concealed in a silk holster when he perform - except once in Budapest when he placed it on the piano.His performances had been greeted with so many riots that he felt he needed the option to shot his way out of the concert hall.

Mr. Antheil's book is more the story of his life than a review of his musical life and compositions.He does discuss the writing of his operas, sometimes in rather tedious detail, but he rarely talks about his compositions with any detail.One interesting comment in the book concerns his Fourth Symphony which had been compared to the music of Dmitri Shostakovich.Mr. Antheil revealed that a good portion of the music came from his opera "Transatlantic" and so pre-dated all of the Shostakovich symphonies.Therefore, any similarities in style are coincidental.

We learn a lot from Mr. Antheil about his life and loves and money worries, and there are some interesting anecdotes about Stravinsky, Hemmingway and James Joyce but Mr. Antheil seldom focuses on his realtionships with other famous people. The chapter about Mr. Antheil and Hedy Lamarr inventing a radio controlled torpedo is very interesting but one is left wondering how they set about designing such a thing.

The book also provides an interesting look at Europe, particularly Germany, after the First World War. "Bad Boy of Music" is entertaining if sometimes a bit rambling at times but if you have an interest in Mr. Antheil's music this book is a must read.

Bad Boy of Music
This book is thoroughly entertaining. From tips on how to control and unruly audience(a pistol works well) to patents on guidance systems for torpedoes this book covers the gamut. Oh yes, he does talk about music. Get a copy of Ballet Mecanique and you will understand Mr. Antheil, bright mind, brilliant technique, tongue firmly in cheek and willing to be audacious 24/7.His music is really quite intriguing. The Chicago Symphony Orchestra played Symphony no. 5 'Joyous' during the 2000-2001 season and introduced me to this under-appreciated, under-performed American composer.

A gem by a forgotten Wonderkind
If you like the legendary "Autobiography of Edwark Bok" I think you will like this.It is a wonderful and witty book by a man who had a meteoric career and then was, strangely, forgotten.Extremelyentertaining, very well written.One of the top 100 books I've ever read.

entertaining
This would have been much better if its author had limited his story to his adventures in Paris in the twenties, as did Hemingway in "A Moveable Feast". (Hemingway appears in "Bad Boy of Music" bythe bye.) Still this is very entertaining. Its author exaggerates andinvents and lies through his teeth--you might learn something.

Alsorecommended: PENTATONIC SCALES FOR THE JAZZ-ROCK KEYBOARDIST by Jeff Burns. ... Read more

Book Description
This haunting "little piece for Olga" was composed in 1924 by American composer George Antheil (1900-1959). For intermediate players, though more advanced violinists will like it. ... Read more

Book Description
This publication for the first time presents the full score of George Antheil's Ballet mecanique as originally conceived. The work to prepare this edition was the result of a remarkable collaboration between a team of editors, musicologists, engravers and othermusicians. With the original Pianola parts transcribed for MIDI by Paul Lehrmann (who also gave the premiere of this version and subsequently recorded it), Antheil's composition can finally be performed as he imagined it. Rental material, which includes all MIDI files for performance, can be obtained from the Schirmer Rental and Performance Department. www.schirmer.com ... Read more

Book Description
This contemporary American composer collection contains 10 of his compositions from 1922-1955. He is best known for his sound which copied that of-the age of machines. This edition is written in an intermediate piano solo format. Best known for Ballet Mechanique and the Airplane. ... Read more

Book Description
George Antheil was an American composer (1900-1959) whose most famous works include the "Airplane" Sonata for piano and the Ballet Mecanique. His distinctly modern compositions were landmark in the avant garde movement in Paris in the 1920's, and his influences included Stravinsky and Schoenberg. ... Read more

Book Description
George Antheil was an American composer (1900-1959) whose most famous works include the "Airplane" Sonata for piano and the Ballet Mecanique. His distinctly modern compositions were landmark in the avant garde movement in Paris in the 1920's, and his influences included Stravinsky and Schoenberg. ... Read more

Book Description
George Antheil was an American composer (1900-1959) whose most famous works include the "Airplane" Sonata for piano and the Ballet Mecanique. His distinctly modern compositions were landmark in the avant garde movement in Paris in the 1920's, and his influences included Stravinsky and Schoenberg. ... Read more

Book Description
This digital document is an article from Sensible Sound, published by Sensible Sound on June 1, 2001. The length of the article is 454 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Antheil: Symphonies Nos. 4 and 5; Decatur at Algiers. Hugh Wolff, Radio-Sinfonie-Orchester Frankfurt. CPO 999 706-2.(Review) (sound recording review)
Author: John Puccio
Publication: Sensible Sound (Magazine/Journal)
Date: June 1, 2001
Publisher: Sensible Sound
Page: 73

Article Type: Sound Recording Review

Distributed by Thomson Gale ... Read more

Book Description
This exuberant modernist work from the 1930s, dedicated to Aaron Copland, was designed to be performed as a violin/cello duo or as a piano solo. ... Read more

Book Description
This digital document is an article from Sensible Sound, published by Sensible Sound on April 1, 2005. The length of the article is 435 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Antheil: Symphony No. 3 "American"; Tom Sawyer; Hot-Time Dance; McKonkey's Ferry; Capital of the World.(Sound Recording Review)
Author: John Puccio
Publication: Sensible Sound (Magazine/Journal)
Date: April 1, 2005
Publisher: Sensible Sound
Issue: 103Page: 72(2)

Article Type: Sound Recording Review

Distributed by Thomson Gale ... Read more

Product Description
Hardcover 1960 402 pages. "Enfant Terrible Der Musik" by George Antheil. Printed in Austria. In German. ... Read more