The Complete Copland

"Complete" hardly does justice to this book—at more than 350 pages, it covers the life and works of prolific and popular composer Copland (1900–90) and updates and combines his original two-part autobiography published in 1984 and 1989. Intimately written, it includes hundreds of black-and-white photos and scans of handwritten songs and manuscripts. Copland's plan was not so much to write an autobiography but to write the story of American music as he experienced it. This huge tome fulfills both desires. Chapters are divided chronologically, with historical "Interludes" (several pages of history and biography in context) between chapters. The title is full of primary sources, whether Copland's own or reviews/analysis from other musicians. A favorite, Copland's "Reflections on My Life in Music," is at the end.