Description
Laura Emmery’s examination of Elliott Carter’s String Quartet No. 1 provides an in-depth analysis of one of the twentieth century’s most important chamber works. Rather than treating the composition in isolation, Emmery contextualizes it within the broader cultural and political landscape of the Cold War period.
The book explores how Carter’s avant-garde compositional techniques became intertwined with American cultural diplomacy efforts to demonstrate Western artistic superiority. Emmery investigates the myths and narratives surrounding both the work and its composer, revealing how they shaped critical reception and cultural significance. Through careful examination of the String Quartet No. 1, she illuminates the complex relationship between modernist music, national identity, and geopolitical strategy during the Cold War.
This volume is part of Cambridge University Press’s Elements in Music since 1945 series, offering scholarly insight into how classical music functioned as a tool of soft power and cultural influence in twentieth-century America.
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