Books in the Landmarks in Music Since 1950 series

One of the Broadway musicals that can genuinely claim to have transformed the genre, West Side Story has been featured in many books on Broadway, but it has yet to be the focus of a scholarly monograph. This book explores the process of creating West Side Story, discussing Bernstein's sketches, early drafts of the score and script, and cut songs.

What makes "Oiseaux exotiques" so important is that it is arguably the first of Messiaen's major works to create a successful synthesis between his music and his passion for ornithology. This book outlines the background to "Oiseaux exotiques", analyses Messiaen's compositional methods, provides a commentary on the music, and more.

Jonathan Harvey (b 1939) is one of Britain's leading composers: his music is frequently performed throughout Europe, the United States (where he has lived and worked) and Japan. He is particularly renowned for his electro-acoustic music. This book studies music from Harvey's considerable body of work for conventional forces.

Hailed at its premiere at the London Coliseum in 1986 as the most important musical and theatrical event of the decade, "The Mask of Orpheus" is undoubtedly a key work in Harrison Birtwistle's output. This title presents a study of this 'lyric tragedy' that places it in the wider context of the reception of the Orpheus myth.

Louis Andriessen is one of the foremost living composers in the world today. De Statt (The Republic) brought Andriessen to international attention in 1976, and it remains his best known work. This book is the first extended, single-author study of Andriessen in any language. CD recording of the work is also included.

"Caritas" relates the 'true', yet largely undocumented story Christine Carpenter, a 14th-century anchoress who moves towards insanity as her desire for a divine revelation continues to be unfulfilled after a period of three years locked in her cell. The author provides a detailed contextual setting in which to evaluate "Caritas".