INSCRIBED FROM CARLOS CHAVEZ TO AARON COPLAND

(COPLAND, Aaron) CHAVEZ, Carlos. Toward A New Music. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, Inc., 1937. Octavo, original cloth. $850.

First edition in English, inscribed on the half title by Chavez to his close friend Aaron Copland in the year of publication, "Para Aaron con todo mi afecto. Carlos Chavez, Marzo 1937."

Towards a New Music: Music and Electricity was one of the first works to explore the implications of electric generation and amplification of music, and includes discussions of movies, radio, amplifiers and notes generated electronically. Its author, Carlos Chavez, perhaps the most important Mexican composer of the 20th century, was also a close friend of Copland's. The two men occupied similar statures in their respective countries, and both were highly invested in the exploration of their national folk music traditions in a classical format. Each also served as an important ambassador for the other's music, with Copland introducing Chavez to American audiences and Chavez often programming Copland's music with the Mexican Symphony Orchestra, which Chavez directed. Copland spent much time in Mexico in the 1930s; at least one result of those travels was his popular El Salón México, inspired in part by the Mexican dancehall music that Chavez introduced him to; Chavez himself directed the premiere in 1937, the same year as this book and its inscription. Without original dust jacket.

Interior fine, wear and toning to original cloth. A wonderful presentation/association copy.