Conversations with Roger Sessions

Library Journal

Sessions (1896-1985) belonged to that generation of composers from which emerged what was academically acknowledged as this country's first true talents. Following the obligatory study in Europe, he taught at Princeton and Berkeley. Public acceptance has been slow in coming but, starting in 1974, Olmstead (then a young student) began the 11-year interview that resulted in this beautifully edited work. Without undue modesty, Sessions speaks of his works, their conception and performance, not hesitating (when relevant) to offer opinions on other musicians, education, politics, and others matters. The autobiography he contemplated having never been realized, this work clearly takes on primary importance. Dominique-Rene de Lerma, Music Dept., Morgan State Univ., Baltimore