The Sacrum Profanum Festival marks many tracks which are covered in the guidebook Everything Is Important. Instead of simply presenting the programme, the guidebook sets it in a context. It is divided into three sections.

Sacrum focuses on the composers who are closer to the academic understanding of music. This section contains a multi-layered introduction to Romanian spectralism by Jan Topolski and a presentation of the pioneers of electronic music: Pauline Oliveros and Éliane Radigue by Izabela Smelczyńska, Alvin Lucier is presented by Antoni Michnik in a structured way. There are also different voices on the story of Julius Eastman, by Mary Jane Leach – a researcher of his oeuvre and the composer’s friends: Petr Kotik and Joseph Kuber interviewed by Dariusz Brzostek.

Profanum deals with alternative music. Jan Błaszczak has written a text about Moondog’s eccentricity and musical talent. We will also find Cole Gagne’s interview with Hardin 1992. Filip Szałasek reveals the weaknesses of Lubomyr Melnyk and shows how they led him to success. Jarek Szubrycht introduces us to Murcof’s creative method, whilst Piotr Strzemieczny makes an attempt at defining post indie classical.

The third part – under the cover title – contains collected miscellaneous issues. Bolesław Błaszczyk shares his views on the free spirit of Tomasz Stańko in the 1980s. Michał Mendyk talks with Evan Ziporyn about the limits of improvisation and composition in the context of Górecki’s Little Music. We can also read about conceptualism with Brecht in the background in the correspondence between Marcin Barski and Michał Libera. Monika Pasiecznik invalidates the myth that contemporary music is ”not funny” and asexual. Karolina Dąbek appeals to us for rediscovering our inner child in the contact with most modern music.

The book abounds with thoughts and talks devoted to contemporary music. It is worth sparing some time for it; perhaps it will stimulate reflection about the present social , musical and cultural situation.

The book is available at: http://wydawnictwo.krytykapolityczna.pl