The Northern Silence: Journeys in Nordic Music and Culture
by Andrew Mellor, Yale University Press £18.99/$30

The Nordic lands have become a musical powerhouse, from Grieg and Sibelius to Björk and Eurovision winners. Over a decade or more a passion for all things northern has taken Mellor on an exploration of Nordic culture, its folklore and landscapes, the Nordic noir mindset and, above all, its musical richness.

The War on Music: Reclaiming the Twentieth Century
by John Mauceri, Yale University Press £22.00/$28

Two world wars changed the course of music in the 20th century. Charting the malign influence of politics, from Hitler to Stalin, Mauceri shows how music became part of the weaponry of identity. Refugee composers lost their place in the mainstream and Mauceri argues for a re-evaluation of those forgotten and discarded.

Conversations
by Steve Reich, Hanover Square Press £22.11/$27.99

Imagine having the opportunity to talk one-on-one to Reich about his music. Here are 19 conversations, simply transcribed as they happened, with other musicians who have had a close connection to Reich. They include Jonny Greenwood, Nico Muhly, Stephen Sondheim and Julia Wolfe.

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