Alex Rose’s The Rest is Noise was a nonfiction book that was impacted by the author’s bias and opinions. Ross omitted the names and information of many composers whom were considered Innovative of their time. On the other hand, the controversies of the composers the author did mention were overshadowed by other details which meant they were Inconsequential to the book. This argument can be refuted through the use of facts and research.
One puissant composer who Alex Ross failed to mention was Coaching Rossini ho was an Italian composer in the sass’s time period. He wrote music in the Romantic time period which revolved around opera. This style of music was very banal during Rosin’s time. During his lifetime, he wrote a total of 39 operas as well as sacred music, chamber music, and piano solos. Perhaps his famous works were “The Barber of Seville” and “William Tell Overture” (Encyclopedia Britannica). These two pieces of music were efficacious in drawing large audiences because they were so well written.
Rossini was and still is considered to be an innovator to the opera style of music. He made several changes that revolutionized this genre. For one, he often gave the bass section of the choir the melody to some of his operas. This Is still practiced today In modern opera (BBC). Also, he Insisted the choir sang the written notes and not an Improvisational cadenza. This contradicted the current practice In Italy at that time. If it weren’t for Rosin’s “spark of genius”, the opera theatre would not have been enhanced and renewed.
Despite his contributions to romantic and opera music, Coaching Rossini served and continues to serve as a paragon and was one composer who should have been in Alex Rose’s book The Rest is Noise. Horace Silver, an American jazz pianist and composer, was one influential musician who should have been mentioned in The Rest is Noise. He made many compositions such as “Safari” in 1952, and “Opus De Funk” in 1953 (Scarify). The solid beat and rhythm style of his music is known today as hard bop.
This combined the elements of rhythm and blues and gospel music. He was and still is considered the pioneer of the hard bop category of present day Jazz. Also, he also Influenced many other groups of Jazz musicians because Silver played In a small quintet of instrumentalists. This encouraged other groups of five people in jazz (PBS). Lastly, he is considered as a genuine and original composer and recorder of music. Silver’s humorous groove of music left an imprint on the jazz genre for many other musicians to follow.
Despite his pioneering in creating a new feel of contemporary Jazz, he as not talked about in Alex Rose’s book. Richard Wagner was a composer during Nazi Germany times who was mentioned in the book that should not have been. There are several reason as to why he doesn’t fit into the book. First of all, some of his works are still considered controversial and unethical because his operas were about the persecution of Jewish people. This almost Immediately gave him the title of Hitter’s most favored composer (Guilford).
His vexed pieces of music all begin with the same techniques used by past imposers. Ross states In his book “… Anti-Smelts seeped Into discussion of the music itself” (336). This was another recurring topic relating that continues to put a outbreak and questions concerning his ethical views. Since Wagner lived before the birth of Nazism, many critics believe his works were what helped trigger the start of Nazis. Richard Wager’s negative outlooks overshadow his works and does not deserve recognition in Alex Rose’s The Rest is Noise because of his role as a disputable figure.
There were many talented musicians who first introduced musical concepts and set a path for others to follow in their footsteps. Some composers include Coaching Rossini and Horace Silver. These two highly influential were well-deserving of being recognized in Alex Rose’s book but failed to do so. One composer who was mentioned was Richard Wagner who was not worthy of being in the book. This was because his negatives far outweighed his contributions to music. All in all, The Rest is Noise was a nonfiction book which was swayed by Rose’s opinions and biases.