Musicians with a Mission: Keeping the Classical Tradition Alive

In this engaging work, Andrew L. Pincus profiles six remarkable artists-cellist Yo-Yo Ma, violinist Midori, singer Phyllis Curtin, the Juilliard String Quartet, composer Gunther Schuller, and conductor Robert Spano-who have advanced American musical culture through their spirited support of new repertoire, new artists, and new ideas.

While the musicians featured here have followed different paths, they share a common goal: to constantly refresh an art form endangered by ossification, commercialization, and inadequate public support and funding. Whether the means is performance and commissioning of new music, teaching, publishing, advocacy, or innovations in programming, these devoted artists have extended themselves far beyond stardom or conventional careers to strengthen and enrich the world of music. Drawing on extensive interviews with his subjects and on his several years' experience as a journalist covering Tanglewood, Andrew L. Pincus devotes a chapter to each of his subjects. He shows how the artist has been and continues to be a vital force in shaping the course of music and highlights other musicians or ensembles that are carrying on the ideals of their mentors.

Musicians with a Mission provides an enlightening perspective on these talented artists and on the musical progeny they have nurtured and guided.