Hanging Off the Edge: Revelations of a Modern Troubadour.* Hanging Off the Edge: Revelations of a Modern Troubadour troubadour One of a class of lyric poets and poet-musicians, often of knightly rank, that flourished from the 11th through the 13th century, chiefly in Provence and other regions of southern France, northern Spain, and northern Italy. , by Priscilla McLean. iUniverse (www.iuniverse.com), 2006. $21.95. Hanging Off the Edge: Revelations of a Modern Troubadour chronicles the vicissitudes vicissitudes Noun, pl changes in circumstance or fortune [Latin vicis change] vicissitudes npl → vicisitudes fpl; peripecias fpl of author Priscilla McLean's non-traditional career choices. Like the traveling poet-composers of Medieval Europe, composer McLean and her musician husband traveled the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. seeking opportunities to engage audiences at colleges, conservatories, universities and music festivals with performances of innovative contemporary works. They were presented in residencies, master classes and multimedia productions. The McLeans relinquished the comfort of more conventional careers to live the hand-to-mouth existence of traveling musicians (modern troubadours troubadours (tr  `bədôrz), aristocratic poet-musicians of S France (Provence) who flourished from the end of the 11th cent. through the 13th cent. ) with trials and tribulations including
lack of insurance, unpredictable incomes, vehicle breakdowns and
equipment failures.
The book is divided into four chapters: "Beginnings and Endings," "Becoming," "The Composing Life" and "Dangling Thoughts." The writing style combines elements of a diary with personal introspection introspection /in·tro·spec·tion/ (in?trah-spek´shun) contemplation or observation of one's own thoughts and feelings; self-analysis.introspec´tive in·tro·spec·tion n. and reflection, and elements of a travelogue with the cataloging of specific events from the mundane to the sublime sublime /sub·lime/ (sub-lim´) to volatilize a solid body by heat and then to collect it in a purified form as a solid or powder. : a flat tire side-by-side with an especially inspiring performance. This format sometimes creates confusion with its non-chronological entries. The book clearly addresses contemporary concerns of how to make a viable living in music during a time when the demand for live performances, as well as the audience of music aficionados to support these performances, is shrinking. Music students and pre-professional musicians embarking on their early careers in music will find this book to be of special interest. McLean is to be commended for her courage. Few musicians would have either the tenacity or the imagination to remain "Hanging Off the Edge," for an entire career span.--Reviewed by Louise Lepley, West Hills, California * This items can be ordered via the MTNA MTNA Music Teachers National Association MTNA Middle Tennessee Nursery Association (McMinnville, Tennessee) website through our affiliation with Amazon.com. Go to www.mtna.org for more information. |
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