Invaluable commentary, questions, and suggestions throughout this project came from several anonymous readers and also from my fellow scholars Ian Reyes, Marsha Bryant, Daphne Carr, Robert Fink, Mary Lewis, Andrew Weintraub, Rebekah Ahrendt, Philip Tagg, Zarah Ersoff, and Galen Brown. Helpful discussions and opinions were offered by attendees at conferences where earlier versions of this book’s chapters were presented. Amy Gorelick, Lee Hendricks, and Phil Sandifer also inspired, advised, and cooked good food. Vital early manuscript guidance came courtesy of Jane Behnken. Thomas Finnegan provided detailed and witty copy editing. Suzanne Ryan is to thank for believing in this book enough to bring it to Oxford University Press.
Thanks to all of those who granted interviews or whose incidental conversations made their way into this book; whether you’re quoted directly or not in these pages, you helped to shape them. I’m also grateful to those who helped me with archival research and with helping me find some obscure sources: James “Ned” Kirby, Kelly Litzenberger, and Walt Miller deserve mention here by name. Thanks also to my army of volunteer transcribers: Daniel Siepmann, Amber Braun, Leslie McCluskey-Eissing, John Aho, Stefanie Acevedo, James Young, Donovan Howe, Andria Poiarkoff, Amanda Swenson, Morgan Rich, Sarah Bushey, Adam Scott Neal, Lindsey O’Brien, and Holly Ray.
My colleagues at the University of Florida and New York University have been immensely supportive throughout the writing of this book. Especially vital has been the trusting encouragement of John Duff, Paul Richards, Paul Koonce, James Paul Sain, Leslie Odom, Jennifer Thomas, Silvio Dos Santos, Margaret Butler, Mutlu Çitim-Kepic, and Amanda Mayberry. The University of Florida Fine Arts Scholarship Enhancement Fund assistance in my 2011 research travel. Penelope Collins, Aiva Veinberga, Sarah Manvel, and Koen, Annette, and Jaap Brand were wonderfully hospitable during these expeditions. Further funding for this book was provided by the AMS 75 PAYS Endowment of the American Musicological Society.
Thanks to the countless people around the world who have made, written about, and contextualized this music. Those who personally helped me know, enjoy, and think critically about it are too many to name, but they include my sisters, Robyn and Karen, Kurt Thorn, Doug Morse, Chris Boone, Ian Struckhoff, Rosemary Ledesma, Jacob Racusin, Brian Ales, Rik Millhouse, Aaron Fuleki, and Jeremy Long. I am particularly grateful to my parents for tolerating my lifelong immersion in this music. Finally, I owe special thanks to my wife, Meredith Collins, whose love, patience, proofreading, academic camaraderie, encouragement, and smart conversation make writing, thinking, and music better every day.