The Music of Conlon Nancarrow

Conlon Nancarrow, an innovative American composer, is celebrated for his rhythmically complex music primarily composed for player piano. His work features intricate contrapuntal systems with multiple tempos, drawing inspiration from jazz and Indian music. Despite being created in isolation since 1940, Nancarrow's compositions gained international recognition only recently. The author explores sixty-five of Nancarrow's works and provides a biographical chapter with previously unpublished details, offering insight into the life of this groundbreaking artist who fled to Mexico City.