Perspectives of New Music
Encyclopedia
Perspectives of New Music (ISSN 0031-6016) is a peer-reviewed, academic journal
specializing in music theory
and analysis
. It was founded in 1962 by Arthur Berger
and Benjamin Boretz
(who were its initial editors), making it the second-oldest music-theory journal now published in the United States (after the Journal of Music Theory
).
Perspectives was a Princeton-based journal when first published, "initially supported by the Fromm Music Foundation, which had funded the Princeton Seminars in Advanced Musical Studies, in 1959 and 1960. Foundation head Paul Fromm (1906-87), a wine importer who had fled Nazi Germany and settled in Chicago, had proclaimed in the inaugural issue that the journal would be devoted to 'opening avenues of communication between composers and interested performers and listeners' in order to encourage 'a mutual interchange of ideas.' It was to be 'a forum of considerably broader scope' than the previous Princeton Seminars, one that 'would draw together American composers, their European colleagues, their fellows in the musical world, and literate people in every field.' However, as the journal's editorial 'perspective' coalesced, Fromm became -- in the words of David Gable -- disenchanted with the 'exclusive viewpoint [that] came to dominate' it. 'However intrinsically valuable the kinds of analytic approaches that came to typify it may [have been], Perspectives [became] in essence a highly specialized theory journal for contemporary music. For a decade, Fromm and certain members of the advisory board attempted to broaden the journal's scope, and when the editorial board . . . refused to return to the original conception, Fromm withdrew his funding in 1972.'" When Fromm discontinued his support, Perspectives formed an independent corporation, which has continued its publication up to the present.
According to its website, Perspectives "is directed to a readership consisting of composers, performers, scholars, and all others interested in any kind of contemporary music. Published material includes theoretical research, analyses, technical reports, position papers by composers, sociological and philosophical articles, interviews, reviews, and, for special purposes, short musical scores or other creative productions." "It is an independent journal, incorporated as a 501c3 not-for-profit corporation," that "publish[es] two, 250-page issues per year."
Benjamin Boretz
edited the journal from 1962 through 1983, with co-editors Arthur Berger
(1962-64), Edward T. Cone
(1968-72), and Elaine Barkin (1972-83). John Rahn was editor from 1983-1993, and Boretz
again in 1994-95. In 1995-2000, there was a group of five editors: Joseph Dubiel, Marion Guck, Marianne Kielian-Gilbert, Andrew Mead, and Stephen Peles. The current editors are Boretz
, Robert Morris
, and John Rahn.
Academic journal
An academic journal is a peer-reviewed periodical in which scholarship relating to a particular academic discipline is published. Academic journals serve as forums for the introduction and presentation for scrutiny of new research, and the critique of existing research...
specializing in music theory
Music theory
Music theory is the study of how music works. It examines the language and notation of music. It seeks to identify patterns and structures in composers' techniques across or within genres, styles, or historical periods...
and analysis
Musical analysis
Musical analysis is the attempt to answer the question how does this music work?. The method employed to answer this question, and indeed exactly what is meant by the question, differs from analyst to analyst, and according to the purpose of the analysis. According to Ian Bent , analysis is "an...
. It was founded in 1962 by Arthur Berger
Arthur Berger
Arthur Victor Berger was an American composer who has been described as a New Mannerist.-Biography:Born in New York City, of Jewish descent, Berger studied as an undergraduate at New York University, during which time he joined the Young Composer's Group, as a graduate student under Walter Piston...
and Benjamin Boretz
Benjamin Boretz
Benjamin Boretz is an American composer and music theorist.-Life and work:Boretz was born in Brooklyn, New York and graduated with a degree in music from Brooklyn College...
(who were its initial editors), making it the second-oldest music-theory journal now published in the United States (after the Journal of Music Theory
Journal of Music Theory
The Journal of Music Theory is a peer-reviewed academic journal specializing in music theory and analysis. It was established by David Kraehenbuehl in 1957....
).
Perspectives was a Princeton-based journal when first published, "initially supported by the Fromm Music Foundation, which had funded the Princeton Seminars in Advanced Musical Studies, in 1959 and 1960. Foundation head Paul Fromm (1906-87), a wine importer who had fled Nazi Germany and settled in Chicago, had proclaimed in the inaugural issue that the journal would be devoted to 'opening avenues of communication between composers and interested performers and listeners' in order to encourage 'a mutual interchange of ideas.' It was to be 'a forum of considerably broader scope' than the previous Princeton Seminars, one that 'would draw together American composers, their European colleagues, their fellows in the musical world, and literate people in every field.' However, as the journal's editorial 'perspective' coalesced, Fromm became -- in the words of David Gable -- disenchanted with the 'exclusive viewpoint [that] came to dominate' it. 'However intrinsically valuable the kinds of analytic approaches that came to typify it may [have been], Perspectives [became] in essence a highly specialized theory journal for contemporary music. For a decade, Fromm and certain members of the advisory board attempted to broaden the journal's scope, and when the editorial board . . . refused to return to the original conception, Fromm withdrew his funding in 1972.'" When Fromm discontinued his support, Perspectives formed an independent corporation, which has continued its publication up to the present.
According to its website, Perspectives "is directed to a readership consisting of composers, performers, scholars, and all others interested in any kind of contemporary music. Published material includes theoretical research, analyses, technical reports, position papers by composers, sociological and philosophical articles, interviews, reviews, and, for special purposes, short musical scores or other creative productions." "It is an independent journal, incorporated as a 501c3 not-for-profit corporation," that "publish[es] two, 250-page issues per year."
Benjamin Boretz
Benjamin Boretz
Benjamin Boretz is an American composer and music theorist.-Life and work:Boretz was born in Brooklyn, New York and graduated with a degree in music from Brooklyn College...
edited the journal from 1962 through 1983, with co-editors Arthur Berger
Arthur Berger
Arthur Victor Berger was an American composer who has been described as a New Mannerist.-Biography:Born in New York City, of Jewish descent, Berger studied as an undergraduate at New York University, during which time he joined the Young Composer's Group, as a graduate student under Walter Piston...
(1962-64), Edward T. Cone
Edward T. Cone
Edward Toner Cone was an American composer, music theorist, pianist, and philanthropist.Cone studied composition under Roger Sessions at Princeton University, receiving his bachelor's in 1939...
(1968-72), and Elaine Barkin (1972-83). John Rahn was editor from 1983-1993, and Boretz
Benjamin Boretz
Benjamin Boretz is an American composer and music theorist.-Life and work:Boretz was born in Brooklyn, New York and graduated with a degree in music from Brooklyn College...
again in 1994-95. In 1995-2000, there was a group of five editors: Joseph Dubiel, Marion Guck, Marianne Kielian-Gilbert, Andrew Mead, and Stephen Peles. The current editors are Boretz
Benjamin Boretz
Benjamin Boretz is an American composer and music theorist.-Life and work:Boretz was born in Brooklyn, New York and graduated with a degree in music from Brooklyn College...
, Robert Morris
Robert Morris (composer)
Robert Morris is an American composer and music theorist.-Work in music theory:As a music theorist, Morris' work has bridged an important gap between the rigorously academic and the highly experimental. Born in Cheltenham, England in 1943, Morris received his musical education at the Eastman...
, and John Rahn.