Reviews
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"Diane Thome's memoir is a heartfelt traversal of her unique life journey. In our time of heightened reflection on what makes creative people “tick," Diane's insights from the vantage point of her own long-established career as an artist and educator make this important as well as moving reading. Yet, even if she were not someone of such notable achievements, including her significant body of musical works, the intimate poignancy and direct writing style of this self-portrait would deeply touch all who read it." “Palaces of Memory by Diane Thome is a new memoir from a remarkable composer that includes ruminations on her life, early musical studies, and, most strikingly, accounts of the chauvinistic and sometimes shockingly conservative musical culture that pervaded academia in the 1960s and 70s. What I find most compelling about this memoir are the straightforward accounts of Diane’s personal encounters with sexism and musical conservatism, in combination with the rich and diverse array of experiences and influences that inform her musical personality. She shows considerable wisdom and honesty in accounting for how her past enabled her present, highly distinctive compositional voice. I heartily recommend this memoir to all readers interested in contemporary music — especially in computer-synthesized music from one of the pioneers in the field — and for those interested in the very real gender struggles that women have had to face, and still must face, in academia and the world of art music.” |
“Diane Thome has written a compelling personal reflection, an odyssey of creative discovery and fulfillment. Her predilection for artistic, spiritual, and intellectual self-examination projects a ceaseless commitment to inner growth and awareness. Her love of art, music, poetry, and philosophy provide a rich framework through which she forges her own personal creativity. “This memoir is an inspiration for anyone who wishes to live a life that is profoundly creative and magical. Each of us has a unique life’s journey. Sometimes the challenges of the unknown feel overwhelming, the obstacles insurmountable. Diane Thome shows us they are not. As a woman in the world of contemporary music, she kept her eye on the goal, meeting what life presented with passion, strength, and grace. Ultimately, this is a love story, a story of her love for her muse and her love for life. |