Other Non-Fiction Ives, Charles E: Essays Before a Sonata, v1, 5Feb2009

[Strether]

The American composer Charles Ives, lived from 1874-1954.

In his Introduction, he writes: The following pages were written primarily as a preface or reason for the [writer's] second Pianoforte Sonata--"Concord, Mass., 1845,"--a group of four pieces, called a sonata for want of a more exact name, as the form, perhaps substance, does not justify it. The music and prefaces were intended to be printed together, but as it was found that this would make a cumbersome volume they are separate. The whole is an attempt to present [one person's] impression of the spirit of transcendentalism that is associated in the minds of many with Concord, Mass., of over a half-century ago.

The movements of the sonata correspond to the sections of this book:
I. Emerson
II. Hawthorne
III. The Alcotts
IV. Thoreau

Ives’ dedication reads: "These prefatory essays were written by the composer for those who can't stand his music--and the music for those who can't stand his essays; to those who can't stand either, the whole is respectfully dedicated."