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And Then I Wrote: The Songwriter Speaks
by Sylvia Tyson Tom RussellAn entertaining look at the craft of songwriting, in the words of songwriters themselves: a collection of anecdotes and quotations from well-known songwriters, past and present, on their influences, work habits, and how they came to write particular songs now ingrained in the popular psyche. The book forms an effective oral history, featuring songwriters from Irving Berlin and Noel Coward to Bob Dylan and Joni Mitchell; from Stephen Foster and Hank Williams to R. E. M. , Nirvana, and the Smashing Pumpkins. It's a book to be enjoyed by songwriters and music fans alike.
And There I Stood with My Piccolo
by Meredith WillsonAnd There I Stood with My Piccolo, originally published in 1948, is a zesty and colorful memoir of composer Meredith Willson&’s early years—from growing up in Mason City, Iowa, to playing the flute with John Philip Sousa&’s band and the New York Philharmonic Orchestra, to a successful career in composing for radio and motion pictures in Hollywood. It was apparent to everyone, except maybe Willson himself, that he was on his way to something big.Lighthearted and inspiring, it is no surprise Willson&’s tales caught the attention of prominent Broadway producers. In 1957, just nine years after the publication of this book, The Music Man became a Broadway sensation, winning five Tony Awards, including Best Musical. Meredith Willson&’s musical comedy is to this day arguably the most produced and beloved musical in American culture.
And They All Sang: Adventures of an Eclectic Disc Jockey
by Studs TerkelThe Pulitzer Prize–winning historian talks with some of twentieth century&’s most iconic musicians—&“Riveting . . . Just about every interview has a revelation&” (San Francisco Chronicle). Through the second half of the twentieth century, Studs Terkel hosted the legendary radio show &“The Wax Museum,&” presenting Chicago&’s music fans with his inimitable take on music of all kinds, from classical, opera, and jazz to gospel, blues, folk, and rock. Featuring more than forty of Terkel&’s conversations with some of the greatest musicians of the past century, And They All Sang is &“a tribute to music&’s universality and power&” (Philadelphia Inquirer). Included here are fascinating conversations with Louis Armstrong, Leonard Bernstein, Big Bill Broonzy, Bob Dylan, Dizzy Gillespie, Mahalia Jackson, Janis Joplin, Rosa Raisa, Pete Seeger, and many others. As the esteemed music critic Anthony DeCurtis wrote in the Chicago Tribune, &“the terms &‘interview&’ or &‘oral history&’ don&’t begin to do justice to what Terkel achieves in these conversations, which are at once wildly ambitious and as casual as can be.&” Whether discussing Enrico Caruso&’s nervousness on stage with opera diva Edith Mason or the Beatles&’ 1966 encounter in London with revered Indian sitar player Ravi Shankar, &“Terkel&’s singular gift for bringing his subjects to life in their own words should strike a chord with any music fan old enough to have replaced a worn-out record needle&” (The New York Times). &“Whether diva or dustbowl balladeer, Studs treats them all alike, with deep knowledge and an intimate, conversational approach . . . as this often remarkable book shows, Studs Terkel has remained mesmerized by great music throughout his life.&” —The Guardian &“[Terkel&’s] expertise is evident on every page, whether debating the harmonic structure of the spirituals or discerning the subtleties of Keith Jarrett&’s piano technique . . . As ever, he is the most skillful of interviewers.&” —The Independent &“What makes And They All Sang a rousing success isn&’t just Terkel&’s phenomenal range and broad knowledge, it&’s his passionate love of the music and his deep humanity.&” —San Francisco Chronicle
And A Voice to Sing With: A Memoir
by Joan Baez* The perfect time for a reissue: In October 2009, PBS will air a ninety-minute primetime special on Joan Baez as part of the Emmy Award-winning American Masters series. Told often from Baez's perspective, but supported by a rich performance and historical archive, the documentary centers on her career as a musician, power as an artist, those who influenced her, and those she championed. She will also be on a 27-city U.S. tour starting July 2009..* A musical force and a catalyst for social change: At the age of eighteen Baez was an international star with a Time magazine cover story; fifty years later she has thirty-three albums to her credit. She also marched alongside Martin Luther King, Jr., was jailed for supporting the draft resistance, and sang in the first Amnesty International tour. An extraordinary woman who has led an eventful life, Baez's memoir is as honest, unpretentious, and courageous as she is. .on as Baez shares her introduction to folk music and her baptism as its first female star in the coffee houses of Cambridge, Massachusetts. She recounts her musical and personal entwinement with Bob Dylan; her marriage to David Harris, and their painful breakup; and the joy she found upon the birth of her son, Gabriel. With a new introduction by acclaimed music critic Anthony DeCurtis, And a Voice to Sing With is the story of an American cultural icon. Marked by the openness and vulnerability that have touched us in her music, and the passion and integrity that have informed her politics, this is a disarmingly frank and stirring memoir of the life and work of one of the most extraordinary performers of our time.
And We're All Brothers: Singing In Yiddish In Contemporary North America (SOAS Studies in Music Series)
by Abigail WoodThe dawn of the twenty-first century marked a turning period for American Yiddish culture. The 'Old World' of Yiddish-speaking Eastern Europe was fading from living memory - yet at the same time, Yiddish song enjoyed a renaissance of creative interest, both among a younger generation seeking reengagement with the Yiddish language, and, most prominently via the transnational revival of klezmer music. The last quarter of the twentieth century and the early years of the twenty-first saw a steady stream of new songbook publications and recordings in Yiddish - newly composed songs, well-known singers performing nostalgic favourites, American popular songs translated into Yiddish, theatre songs, and even a couple of forays into Yiddish hip hop; musicians meanwhile engaged with discourses of musical revival, post-Holocaust cultural politics, the transformation of language use, radical alterity and a new generation of American Jewish identities. This book explores how Yiddish song became such a potent medium for musical and ideological creativity at the twilight of the twentieth century, presenting an episode in the flowing timeline of a musical repertory - New York at the dawn of the twenty-first century - and outlining some of the trajectories that Yiddish song and its singers have taken to, and beyond, this point.
André Jolivet: Music, Art and Literature (Music and Literature)
by Caroline RaeThis first book in English on the French composer André Jolivet (1905–1974) investigates his music, life and influence. A pupil of Varèse and colleague of Messiaen in La Jeune France, Jolivet is a major figure in French music of the twentieth century. His music combines innovative language with spirituality, summarised in his self-declared axiom to ‘restore music’s ancient original meaning when it was the magic and incantatory expression of the sacred in human communities’. The book’s contextual introduction is followed by contributions, edited by Caroline Rae, from leading international scholars including the composer’s daughter Christine Jolivet-Erlih. These assess Jolivet’s output and activities from the 1920s through to his last works, exploring creative process, aesthetic, his relationship with the exotic and influences from literature. They also examine, for the first time, the significance of Jolivet’s involvement with the visual arts and his activities as conductor, teacher and critic. A chronology of Jolivet’s life and works with details of first performances provides valuable overview and reference. This fascinating and comprehensive volume is an indispensable source for research into French music and culture of the twentieth century.
Andrei Tarkovsky's Sounding Cinema: Music and Meaning from Solaris to The Sacrifice (Music and Sound on the International Screen)
by Tobias PontaraAndrei Tarkovsky's Sounding Cinema adds a new dimension to our understanding and appreciation of the work of Russian director Andrei Tarkovsky (1932–1986) through an exploration of the presence of music and sound in his films. The first comprehensive study in English concentrating on the soundtrack in Tarkovsky’s cinema, this book reveals how Tarkovsky’s use of electronic music, electronically manipulated sound, traditional folk songs and fragments of canonized works of Western art music plays into the philosophical, existential and ethical themes recurring throughout his work. Exploring the multilayered relationship between music, sound, film image and narrative space, Pontara provides penetrating and innovative close readings of Solaris (1972), Mirror (1975), Stalker (1979), Nostalghia (1983) and The Sacrifice (1986) and in turn deeply enriches critical understanding of Tarkovsky’s films and their relation to the broader traditions of European art cinema. An excellent resource for scholars, researchers and students interested in European art cinema and the role of music in film, as well as for film aficionados interested in Tarkovsky’s work.
Anecdotes of Great Musicians: Three Hundred Anecdotes and Biographical Sketches of Famous Composers and Performers
by W. Francis GatesThis book, which was first published in 1895, is a wonderful collection of some 300 anecdotes and biographical sketches of famous composers and performers since time began.In the author’s own words, “[I]n the search for what this volume comprises, much material has been examined. I have attempted to cull from the mass of material that came to my notice such anecdotes as have two features,—that of being characteristic of the person referred to, and that of possessing sufficient interest; and in this re-narration I have incorporated such bits of musical information, along biographical and historical lines, as came to mind at the time of writing, but letting this feature be secondary to the main idea of the work. Thus it is hoped that while my readers may find interesting anecdote, they may also incidentally find that which is of more permanent value.”Gates’ work may be regarded as a companion volume to his book Musical Mosaics (1889), “supplementing the thoughts of the great musicians there expressed with incidents giving somewhat of a clue to their personality.”
Angel Song: Medieval English Music In History
by Lisa ColtonAlthough medieval English music has been relatively neglected in comparison with repertoire from France and Italy, there are few classical musicians today who have not listened to the thirteenth-century song ‘Sumer is icumen in’, or read of the achievements and fame of fifteenth-century composer John Dunstaple. Similarly, the identification of a distinctively English musical style (sometimes understood as the contenance angloise) has been made on numerous occasions by writers exploring the extent to which English ideas influenced polyphonic composition abroad. Angel song: Medieval English music in history examines the ways in which the standard narratives of English musical history have been crafted, from the Middle Ages to the present. Colton challenges the way in which the concept of a canon of English music has been built around a handful of pieces, composers and practices, each of which offers opportunities for a reappraisal of English musical and devotional cultures between 1250 and 1460.
Angel Standing By: The Story of Jewel
by P. J. McFarland"There really aren't mistakes. Be very adventurous and brave in your life. Love bravely, live bravely, be courageous--there's really nothing to lose. There's no wrong you can't make right again, so be kind to yourself. . . There are no bounds." --JewelAngel Standing By offers an intimate, behind-the-scenes look at the struggles and successes of Jewel Kilcher, who in a few short years went from living in her van near the beach in San Diego to becoming a multiplatinum recording artist and nationally best selling author. With personal photographs and exclusive interview material, this fascinating account is not to be missed by any fan moved by the music of Jewel.
Angelic Music: The Story of Benjamin Franklin's Glass Armonica
by Corey Mead"With spirited charm, Mead weaves history, music, science, and medicine into the story...Fascinating, insightful, and, best of all, great fun." --The Washington Post A jewel of musical history--the story of Ben Franklin's favorite invention, the glass armonica--including the composers who wrote for it (Mozart, Beethoven, Handel, among others); Dr. Mesmer who used it to hypnotize; Marie Antoinette and the women who popularized it; its decline and recent comeback.Benjamin Franklin is renowned for his landmark inventions, including bifocals, the Franklin stove, and the lightning rod. Yet his own favorite invention--the one he said gave him the "greatest personal satisfaction"--is unknown to the general public. The glass armonica, the first musical instrument invented by an American, was constructed of stacked glass bowls and played by rubbing one's fingers on the rims. It was so popular in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries that Mozart, Beethoven, Handel, and Strauss composed for it; Marie Antoinette and numerous monarchs played it; Goethe and Thomas Jefferson praised it; Dr. Franz Mesmer used it for his hypnotizing Mesmerism sessions. Franklin himself played it for George Washington and Thomas Jefferson. In Angelic Music, Corey Mead describes how Franklin's instrument fell out of popular favor, partly due to claims that its haunting sounds could drive musicians out of their minds. Some players fell ill, complaining of nervousness, muscle spasms, and cramps. Audiences were susceptible; a child died during a performance in Germany. Some thought its ethereal tones summoned spirits or had magical powers. It was banned in some places. Yet in recent years, the armonica has enjoyed a revival. Composers are writing pieces for it in genres ranging from chamber music and opera to electronic and pop music. Now Mead brings this instrument back to the public eye, telling the compelling, fascinating story of its origins.
Angélica and la Güira
by Angie CruzA young girl harnesses the power of music to bridge the distance between the Dominican Republic and Washington Heights in this jubilant picture book debut by Angie Cruz, bestselling and award-winning author of Dominicana.Angélica has spent the summer in the Dominican Republic with her tías and primas, her grandparents, and their parrot, but soon she&’ll have to say goodbye. The end of summer means returning home to start school on another shore. Before she leaves, her grandfather gives her the perfect gift. It's something with the power to make people dance as fast as the wings of a hummingbird: a güira. Angélica falls in love with this musical instrument, though nobody shares her enthusiasm at first. &“What is that sound,&” they say, &“pennies inside a tin cup?&” But on a hot, sunny day, in the land of Washington Heights, where the frío frío woman scrapes ice for a long line of customers and the men on the corner plunk dominoes on a makeshift carboard table, Angélica shows her neighbors the power of la güira. Angélica and la Güira lovingly explores music and community, the wisdom and guidance of our elders, and the joy and freedom of dancing in the street. No matter where we are, music brings us closer to home. Don't miss the Spanish-language edition of this book, Angélica y la güira.
Angélica y la güira
by Angie CruzUna niña aprovecha el poder de la música para acortar la distancia entre la República Dominicana y Washington Heights. Este es un debut inolvidable en el género infantil de Angie Cruz, ganadora de múltiples premios y autora de la exitosa novela Dominicana. Angélica ha pasado todo el verano en la República Dominicana con sus tías y primas, sus abuelos y con la cotorra de al lado. Pronto, tendrá que despedirse. El final del verano significa regresar a casa para volver a la escuela en la otra orilla. Antes de irse, su abuelo le da el regalo perfecto, algo con el poder de atraer multitudes y mover a la gente tan rápido como las alas de un picaflor: una güira. Angélica se enamora de esta lata sin fondo y peine de hojalata que mantiene el ritmo, aunque al principio nadie parece compartir su entusiasmo. &“¿Qué es ese sonido?&” dicen. &“¿Centavos dentro de una lata?&”. Pero un día soleado y caluroso en la tierra de Washington Heights, donde la mujer del frío-frío raspa hielo para una larga fila de clientes y los hombres de la esquina estrellan fichas de dominó en una improvisada mesa de cartón, Angélica les muestra a sus vecinos el poder de la güira. ¡Angélica y la güira explora con cariño y ternura la música y la comunidad, así como la sabiduría y guía de nuestros mayores y la alegría y libertad de bailar en la calle! Este libro también disponible en inglés bajo el título Angélica and la Güira. A young girl harnesses the power of music to bridge the distance between the Dominican Republic and Washington Heights in this jubilant picture book debut by Angie Cruz, bestselling and award-winning author of Dominicana.Angélica has spent the summer in the Dominican Republic with her tías and primas, her grandparents, and their parrot, but soon she&’ll have to say goodbye. The end of summer means returning home to start school on another shore. Before she leaves, her grandfather gives her the perfect gift. It's something with the power to make people dance as fast as the wings of a hummingbird: a güira. Angélica falls in love with this musical instrument, though nobody shares her enthusiasm at first. &“What is that sound,&” they say, &“pennies inside a tin cup?&” But on a hot, sunny day, in the land of Washington Heights, where the frío frío woman scrapes ice for a long line of customers and the men on the corner plunk dominoes on a makeshift carboard table, Angélica shows her neighbors the power of la güira. Angélica and la Güira lovingly explores music and community, the wisdom and guidance of our elders, and the joy and freedom of dancing in the street. No matter where we are, music brings us closer to home. Don't miss the English-language edition of this book, Angélica and la Güira.
Angels and Idols: The Rise, Fall, and Redemption of a Would-be Pop Star
by Regie HammRegie Hamm's life has all the twists, turns, and drama of a Hollywood movie. Only this isn't Hollywood, and the cast isn't actors. As a hit artist, producer, and songwriter, Regie was familiar with the drama of the press, the endless nights in the studio, and the uncertainty of his next paycheck. But nothing would prepare him for the drama of a rural Chinese hospital, the endless nights of raising an insomniac baby, or the uncertainty of her condition. There was nothing he could do except stand by and helplessly watch his life and career spin out of control. Regie's story is one of a man and his family who overcame enormous obstacles. It is a journey that put him in the company of Angels and Idols--a journey that would test not only his physical resources but also his faith. Join author Regie Hamm as he recounts his rise, his fall, and his ultimate surrender to God's will.
Anger Is an Energy: My Life Uncensored
by John LydonFrom the legendary frontman of the Sex Pistols, comes the complete, unvarnished story of his life in his own words.John Lydon is an icon—one of the most recognizable and influential cultural figures of the last forty years. As Johnny Rotten, he was the lead singer of the Sex Pistols-the world’s most notorious band. The Pistols shot to fame in the mid-1970s with songs such as “Anarchy in the UK” and “God Save the Queen.” So incendiary was their impact at the time that in their native England, the Houses of Parliament questioned whether they violated the Traitors and Treasons Act, a crime that carries the death penalty to this day. The Pistols would inspire the formation of numerous other groundbreaking groups and Lydon would become the unlikely champion of a generation clamoring for change.Following on the heels of the Pistols, Lydon formed Public Image Ltd (PiL), expressing an equally urgent impulse in his character: the constant need to reinvent himself, to keep moving. From their beginnings in 1978 PiL set the groundbreaking template for a band that continues to challenge and thrive to this day, while also recording one of the eighties most powerful anthems, “Rise.” Lydon also found time for making innovative dance records with the likes of Afrika Bambaataa and Leftfield. By the nineties he’d broadened his reach into other media while always maintaining his trademark invective and wit, most memorably hosting Rotten TV on VH1.John Lydon remains a captivating and dynamic figure to this day—both as a musician, and, thanks to his outspoken, controversial, and from-the-hip opinions, as a cultural commentator. In Anger is an Energy, he looks back on a life full of incident, from his beginnings as a sickly child of immigrant Irish parents growing up in post-war London to his present status as a vibrant, alternative hero.The book includes 70 black-and-white and color photos, many which are rare or never-before-seen.
Ani DiFranco: Verses
by Ani DifrancoWith eight Grammy nominations and sales of over 4.5 million, Ani DiFranco is one of America's most fiercely independent and beloved musicians, as well as an outspoken voice of conscience. For the first time, she releases a book of poetry and paintings, capturing her essential artistry that has helped define and invigorate a new generation. Ani DiFranco: Verses rages, eulogizes, menaces, revels, and envisions. With a poet's precision and a citizen's stake, DiFranco finds the meeting places of intimacy and politics, of self and country, of resolve and compromise, and of the fickle and magnificent capacities of love and solitude.
Animal Musicalities: Birds, Beasts, and Evolutionary Listening (Music-culture Ser.)
by Rachel MundyOver the past century and a half, the voices and bodies of animals have been used by scientists and music experts as a benchmark for measures of natural difference. Animal Musicalities traces music's taxonomies from Darwin to digital bird guides to show how animal song has become the starting point for enduring evaluations of species, races, and cultures. By examining the influential efforts made by a small group of men and women to define human diversity in relation to animal voices, this book raises profound questions about the creation of modern human identity, and the foundations of modern humanism.
Animal Orchestra (Little Golden Book)
by Ilo OrleansIn this Read & Listen edition of the classic Little Golden Book from 1958, an animal orchestra and its hippo conductor put on a performance for a happy crowd of their animal friends. Children will have front-row seats as they imagine the rousing experience of hearing an orchestra!This ebook includes Read & Listen audio narration.
Animation, Plasticity, and Music in Italy, 1770-1830
by Ellen LockhartThis path-breaking study of stage works in Italian musical performances reconsiders a crucial period of music history. Through an interdisciplinary examination of the statue animated by music, Ellen Lockhart deftly shows how Enlightenment ideas influenced Italian theater and music, and vice versa. As Lockhart reveals, the animated statue became a fundamental figure within aesthetic theory and musical practice during the years spanning 1770–1830. Taking as its point of departure a repertoire of Italian ballets, melodramas, and operas from this period, Animation, Plasticity, and Music in Italy traces its core ideas between science, philosophy, theories of language, itinerant performance traditions, the epistemology of sensing, and music criticism.
Anna Maria's Gift
by Janice ShefelmanWhen Anna Maria's father, a famous violin maker, passes away, she is sent to live in the Pieta, an orphanage in Venice. Though she misses her father, she knows he will always be with her, as long as she has the beautiful violin that he crafted for her. Luckily, the Pieta is not just an orphanage-it's also a renowned music school whose teacher is none other than composer Antonio Vivaldi. When Anna Maria becomes his star pupil, another orphan's jealousy leads her to throw Anna Maria's precious violin into the canals. With help from her beloved teacher and new friends, Anna Maria searches Venice's bridges, streets, and canals, but it seems hopeless. Will Anna Maria ever find her father's violin? Can she ever be happy in Venice without it? This lyrical historical fiction story by Janice Shefelman perfectly captures the beauty of Venice, the joy of music, and how a bit of kindness can make a scary new place feel like home.
Anna Maria's Gift
by Janice Shefelman Robert PappReissued with a fresh look and added content, the Stepping Stones History series is kid-friendly and Common Core ready! When Anna Maria's father dies, she moves to an orphanage in Venice. Though she misses her father, she knows he will always be with her, as long as she has his beautiful violin. Luckily, the orphanage is also a renowned music school, with a teacher who is none other than composer Antonio Vivaldi. But when her violin is stolen, Anna Maria must search Venice's bridges, streets, and canals. Will she ever find it--and can she ever be happy in Venice without it? This lyrical historical-fiction story captures Venice, the joy of music, and how kindness can make a scary new place feel like home. History Stepping Stones now feature updated content that emphasizes Common Core and today's renewed interest in nonfiction. Perfect for home, school, and library bookshelves!
Anna's Summer Songs
by Mary Q. SteeleTrees, flowers, ferns, and fruit-- Anna's joyous songs celebrate everything that grows. Delightful children's poetry with picture descriptions present.
Années de Pèlerinage, Complete (Dover Classical Piano Music)
by Franz LisztThe present volume reproduces -- directly from an authoritative Russian edition -- the famous cycle of solo piano works that comprises a summa of Liszt's pianistic achievement, representing the maturation of his style over a period of decades. The Années de Pèlerinage (Years of Pilgrimage) consists of the Première Année(Suisse); DeuxiemeAnnée (Italie) -- including the formidable "Après une lecture du Dante" -- and its supplement, Venezia e Napoli; and Troisième Année. Also included in this volume are a number of related pieces: "Lyon," from Album d'un voyageur; the three pieces called Apparitions; the original version of Venezia e Napoli. In addition, new English translations of the Russian footnotes and of the editor's preface have been provided. Printed in a sturdy, attractive, and inexpensive format, this rich cycle of masterly works for solo piano belongs in the library of every serious pianist or music lover.
The Annotated Mixtape
by Joshua Harmon"Most of the time," Theodore Adorno has noted, "records are virtual photographs of their owners." The Annotated Mixtape is a memoir of record collecting, cross-fades music with personal history and American history and culture (the 2008 Recession, AM radio, Reaganomics, nuclear war) to show how the vinyl LP has shaped and informed the author's life.
Another Little Piece of My Heart
by Tracey MartinWhat if your devastating break-up became this summer's hit single? In this rock-and-roll retelling of Jane Austen's Persuasion, music can either bring you together or tear you apart.At her dying mother's request, Claire dumps Jared, the only boy she's ever loved. Left with a broken family and a broken heart, Claire is furious when she discovers that her biggest regret became Jared's big break. While Jared is catapulted into rock-star status, another piece of Claire's heart crumbles every time his song plays on the radio.The summer after her senior year, it's been months since the big break-up, and Claire is just trying to keep her head down and make it through a tense trip to the beach with her family. But when Jared shows up, and old feelings reignite, can Claire and Jared let go of the past? Or will they be stuck singing the same old refrain?"Sweet, sassy and incredibly swoon-tastic! The romance between these two musicians will strum every reader's heartstrings." - Jennifer Walkup, author of Second Verse"A rocking second chance story layered with wit, music, and heart." - Jean Haus, author of In the Band