Hans Keller 1919 - 1985 : A musician in dialogue with his times

A musician of penetrating insight, Hans Keller (1919-1985) was also an exceptional writer whose importance for post-war music in Britain is fundamental. Witty, passionate, sometimes disarmingly honest, Keller''s letters present not only a vivid picture of an extraordinary mind, but also a significant insight into his musical times. Keller''s correspondents included Alfred Brendel, Yehudi Menuhin, Peter Pears, Benjamin Britten, Alexander Goehr, Peter Maxwell Davies, H.C. Robbins Landon, Deryck Cooke and Nicholas Kenyon. Garnham and Woodhouse present a fascinating biography, illuminated by Keller’s own letters, which shall appeal to all serious classical music lovers.

Hans Keller 1919–1985: A Musician in Dialogue with His Times is the first full biography of Hans Keller and the first appearance in print of many of his letters. Eight substantial chapters, integrating original documents with their historical context, show the development of Keller’s ideas in response to the people and events that provoked them.

A musician of penetrating insight, Keller was also an exceptional writer and broadcaster, whose remarkable mind dominated British musical life for forty years after the Second World War. It was a vital time for music in Britain, fuelled by unprecedented public investment in the arts and education and the rapid development of recording and broadcasting. Keller was at the centre of all that was happening and his far-sighted analysis of the period is deeply resonant today.

Illustrated throughout by extracts from Keller’s writings, diaries and correspondence with musicians including Arnold Schoenberg, Benjamin Britten and Yehudi Menuhin, this book vividly conveys the depth of his thought and the excitement of the times. Published for the centenary of Keller’s birth, it is an illuminating celebration of his life and works for all those interested in the music and history of post-war Britain.