Sound Within Sound

A Radical History of Composers in the 20th Century

By: Kate Molleson

Narrated by: Kate Molleson

A radical and compelling new history of 20th century composers, shining light on the sonic pioneers whose work transformed musical history.

The twentieth century was the century of modernity. Classical music flourished, and yet when we reflect on the genre’s history its central figures seem to share three characteristics: they were white, male and western.

Sound Within Sound is the impassioned and exhilarating story of the composers who dared to challenge the conventional world of classical music in the twentieth century. Traversing the globe from Ethiopia and the Philippines to Mexico, Russia and beyond, Kate Molleson tells the stories of ten figures who altered the course of musical history, only to be sidelined and denied recognition during an era that systemically favoured certain sounds—and people—over others.

A celebration of radical creativity rooted in ideas of protest, gender, race, ecology and resistance, Sound Within Sound is an energetic reappraisal of twentieth-century classical music that opens up the world far beyond its established centres, challenges stereotypical portrayals of the genre and shatters its traditional canon.

©2022 Kate Molleson (P)2022 McClelland & Stewart

Critic reviews

“The vividness and passion of Molleson’s portraits of these ten extraordinarily gifted, exasperating, headstrong individuals is wonderfully engaging.” —Daily Telegraph

“Clever and accessible. . . . Sound Within Sound introduces us to thrilling dreamers from the last century who believed that music could fundamentally – and disruptively – recalibrate our lives. . . . It focuses our ears on the brilliant stuff that survives, encouraging us to dig deeper and keep listening.” —The Guardian

“A clear-eyed, utterly fascinating exploration of outsiders in classical music. Molleson’s excellent book challenges and enlightens.” —Sinéad Gleeson