Where Music Comes from

The New York Public Library, Office of Young Adult Services has recognized Where Music Comes From by Nubar Alexanian for it's 1997 list of inspirational books for young adults. This annual list has been published by the library since 1929 and receives attention from school and public libraries in all 50 states, as well as internationally

Nubar Alexanian's photographs in Where Music Comes From (Stockport, England: Dewi Lewis, 1996) are fast and furious, like the performers and fans pictured. Wynton Marsalis lords over his trumpet at the New Orleans Jazz Festival; the Mississippi Mass Choir rehearses on its tour bus; Joseph Shabalala of Ladysmith Black Mambazo holds red roses and two apples on opening night on Broadway. The book celebrates the dedication that goes into creating great music.

With a title like this, the photographer can include almost any musician, composer or arranger--anyone who makes music--and he did. In this instance, Nubar Alexanian, after a five-year trek across the music landscape, has done his finest work, including such diverse music personalities as Philip Glass, Aretha Franklin, Wynton Marsalis, the Roches, Paul Simon, Junior Wells and Emmylou Harris. To prepare for this project the photographer bought their music, listened to it all, watched them rehearse and perform, hung out with them, and finally, photographed them. Alexanian's photographs are brilliant, imiaginative, compelling and very moving