Music and Inspiration - Jonathan Harvey
This is a book which provides some excellent insight into the composition process of others, and draws from the writings of many historical composers. It is also full of personal insight, and is written by a composer which lends it weight.
Messiaen's Language of Mystical Love - Siglind Bruhn
Messiaen is one of those composers who always fascinated me, as much for his outlook as his output. This book helps to pull together both his technical approach and his spiritual and philosophical ideas.
Music 109: Notes on Experimental Music - Alvin Lucier
An excellent overview of much of the experimental avantgarde of the 60s and 70s, from the perspective of someone who was not only in amongst it creating music of his own, but also then communicating those ideas to students. As a result this is a great balance of artistry and practical information.
Eight Lectures on Experimental Music - Alvin Lucier
A series of lectures by some of the great composers of the 60s American avantgarde. This is an era which holds particular interest for me, and as usual hearing from the perspective of the artists themselves lends weight and insight.
Sacred Music - Alain Daniélou
My single favourite book on the subject of tunings and various musical traditions.
Silences So Deep: Music, Solitude, Alaska - John Luther Adams
Artists talking about their work can be very insightful, or very self-indulgent. This is the former, and the descriptions of the wilds of Alaska make more sense of the composition process and the resulting music.
Contemporary Orchestration - R.J. Miller
I have found this book to be helpful and accurate. It is enormous, and far beyond the scope of what I need as a composer. But, if I am working on music for actual musicians and I have a question, then I know it will be answered here.
Genesis of a Music - Harry Partch
Harry Partch is one of the great originals of the American avant garde. He created a wealth of new instruments and was highly influential in his use of new tuning systems and alternative scales. Some instruments have become famous, such as the ‘cloud chamber bowls’ but there is much to learn from all of his creations. The book covers everything from his theatrical pieces to a detailed breakdown of his scales and tuning systems.
Guerrilla Film Scoring - Jeremy Borum
This has been my constant companion when working on film or TV music, and has given a feeling of confidence and support when I have felt out of my depth. It is very practical and covers projects of both small and very large scale.
Deep Listening - Pauline Oliveros
I feel a great affinity with the American composers of the 60s, and Pauline Oliveros typifies some of the thinking of that era: a re-focus on the inner qualities of life and how art might be used to access that. Deep Listening is the name she gave to her practice of meditative listening and silent interaction with the world, and it is more relevant than ever.
