LIVING UR SONATA reveals the transcendent truth of Kurt Schwitters' 1920s epic of nonsense. The Nazis burned Ur Sonata and mocked Schwitters' visionary art as degenerate. Today widely performed, Ur Sonata inspires us to reject nationalism and overcome language barriers to embrace our common humanity. With urgency and humor, Andrew Laties brings tales of Kurt Schwitters' dramatic life into resonance with stories of Laties' own forty years performing, encouraging readers to seize the hour and sing along with Ur Sonata.

Includes full text of Ur Sonata.

PREFACE

PART ONE: TRANSCENDENCE

CHAPTER ZÄTT-THEMES 6, 12, 13, 14, 17

CHAPTER ÜPSIILON

CHAPTER IKS-THEMES 1, 6

CHAPTER WEE

CHAPTER FAU-THEME 18

CHAPTER UU

CHAPTER TEE

CHAPTER ÄSS

CHAPTER ÄRR-THEMES 11, 15, 16

CHAPTER KUU

CHAPTER PEE-THEME 5

CHAPTER OO-THEME 4

CHAPTER ÄNN

PART TWO: REMEMBRANCE

CHAPTER ÄMM-THEME 1

CHAPTER ELL-THEMES 8, 9, 10

CHAPTER KAA-THEME 1

CHAPTER II-THEME 3

CHAPTER HAA

CHAPTER GEE-THEME 7

CHAPTER ÄFF

CHAPTER EEE-THEME 2

CHAPTER DEE-THEMES 3, 11

CHAPTER ZEE-THEME 18

CHAPTER BEEEE?-THEME 1

PHOTOS

UR SONATA

NOTES

BIBLIOGRAPHY

INDEX