[Item #3523] The Arts Journal: North Carolina Arts Monthly Vol. 15 No. 10 (July 1990). Thomas Rain Crowe, Allen Ginsberg, Philip Glass.
The Arts Journal: North Carolina Arts Monthly Vol. 15 No. 10 (July 1990)
The Arts Journal: North Carolina Arts Monthly Vol. 15 No. 10 (July 1990)

The Arts Journal: North Carolina Arts Monthly Vol. 15 No. 10 (July 1990)

Asheville, NC: The Arts Journal Inc., 1990. First Printing. Stapled folded Sheets. Signed by Philip Glass to Thomas Rain Crowe. This number of "The Southeast's Most Complete Arts Calendar" (front cover) features a lengthy, illustrated article by Thomas Rain Crowe based on an interview he conducted with the canonical contemporary composer Philip Glass. The interview, as Crowe explains in his introduction, took place earlier on the day of the premiere at the Spoleto USA Festival in Charleston, SC of Glass's opera "Hydrogen Jukebox," with libretto (as well as the title) consisting of excerpts from classic poems by Allen Ginsberg, Founding Father of the Beat Generation. As he further writes: "...I chose to use a repetitive structure similar to Glass' own compositional techniques. I decided to collaborate, in effect, with Glass and Ginsberg, combining the three aspects of my total experience of the performance that seemed most essential and most familiar-- my own spontaneous notes taken in the dark of Sottile Theater during the performance; sections lifted from Ginsberg's libretto that most powerfully represent the thematic progression and lyrical procession of the piece; and excerpts from my interview with Glass that seem to best suit the sentiments of both the libretto sections, the visual sequences and my own observations and impressions of the performance." The result is a unique hybrid of interview, premiere review & impressions; interspersed with many excerpts from Ginsberg's poetry that were recited in the Opera. Crowe, whom our collectors can much further learn about in our publication Starting from San Francisco (item No. 3071, Deluxe Edition No. 3075), is a poet, publisher & occasional journalist (as here) who was at the very center of the Baby Beat Generation/ Second San Francisco Renaissance during the 1970s. On the front cover, which features a photograph of Glass playing his music on an electronic instrument, the great composer has hand-written, boldly in blue ink: "For Thomas/ (Signed) Philip Glass." Also in this issue are many more reviews & articles; schedule of events, letters to the editor, contemporary ads etc. A most innovative & informative article by our good friend TRC obtained by us from his library; & a very rare & desirable Philip Glass collectible. In very fine condition, stapled sheets folded once width-wise with only light browning & spotting to newspaper-quality covers, stapled spine & interior; very light wear & a few tiny bumps at edges & corners of same. Very Fine. [Item #3523]

Price: $100.00