Composers and songwriters Books

Book SynopsisTales of The Smiths is a comic book retelling of the band members' teenage years, before the group was famous, and includes fascinating digressions about their influences (the New York Dolls, Nico, Sex Pistols, NY punk, Patti Smith, etc) and the times in which they were growing up. The story reaches its climax with the meeting of Morrissey and Marr, the formation of the band in 1982 and their first gig as The Smiths. With an introduction by Simon Wolstencroft, The Smiths' first drummer and the former drummer with The Fall, Patrol and Freak Party, which featured Andy Rourke and Johnny Marr.

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Book SynopsisFirst as a journalist and then a publicist at Warner Brothers Records for nearly twenty years, Barbara Charone has experienced, first-hand, the changes in the cultural landscape. Access All Areas is a personal, insightful and humorous memoir packed with stories of being on the cultural frontline, from first writing press releases on a typewriter driven by Tip Ex, then as a press officer for heavy metal bands taking the bus up to Donnington Festival with coffee, croissants and the much more popular sulfate. To taking on Madonna, an unknown girl from Detroit, and telling Smash Hits 'you don't have to run the piece if the single doesn't chart', and becoming a true pioneer in music, Charone continues to work with the biggest names in music, including Depeche Mode, Robert Plant, Foo Fighters and Mark Ronson at her agency MBCPR. The story of how a music-loving, budding journalist from a Chicago suburb became the defining music publicist of Trade ReviewBarbara is the quintessential force of nature. In this great memoir her insatiable thirst for beauty and adventure is fabulously quenched, be it by great music, interesting people or ultimately a fine rosé, all for the reader to sit back and enjoy. Of course, having been in the right place at the right time also helps, and every day I thank my lucky stars we crossed paths years ago and I was permitted to join her on such a fabulous adventure. -- Rufus WainwrightFrom Keith Richards to Madonna to Mark Ronson, the inimitable BC is a music industry legend and Access All Areas is the story of a life like no other -- Alexis PetridisBarbara Charone had a massive role in shaping my career over the past 15 years and she's one of the most adored figures in the music industry for good reason. Access All Areas is a warm, funny, boozy take on the last 40 years of the British music industry from the perspective of someone who helped shape it but is also obviously still a massive fan at heart. Her teenager-like enthusiasm for every project and artist she's ever worked beams from very page and as a music trivia junky, I lived for all the 80's Smash Hits-era insider information . . . This book rules -- Mark RonsonI loved this book! Smart, sharp and hilarious -- Suggs

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Book SynopsisArguably the most important British post-minimalist composer, Gavin Bryars has worked in classical music, jazz, free improvisation, minimalism, historicism, avant-garde, and experimental music. This new book brings together musicians and academics who have worked with Bryars, each discussing one particular aspect of his work.Trade Review'Listening to The Sinking of the Titanic, Jesus' Blood Never Failed Me Yet, Double Bass Concerto (Farewell to St. Petersburg), Cello Concerto (Farewell to Philosophy) and One Last Bar then Joe Can Sing gave me the distinct impression of a thoughtful, committed composer with a very strong personal voice - always the main issue for me.' - Steve Reich; 'The music of Gavin Bryars falls under no category. It is mongrel, full of sensuality and wit and is deeply moving. He is one of the few composers who can put slapstick and primal emotion alongside each other. He allows you to witness new wonders in the sounds around you by approaching them from a completely new angle. With a third ear maybe?' - Michael OndaatjeTable of ContentsForeword by Steve Reich Preface by David Wordsworth Prologue - an interview with Gavin Bryars 1. Vocal Music - John Potter 2. Choral Music - David Wordsworth 3. Opera - David Wordsworth 4. Jazz and Improvisation - Brian Morton 5. Experimental Music - Virginia Anderson 6. Dance - Roger Heaton 7. Titanic and Jesus' Blood - Brian Morton 8. Orchestral Music - Martin Cotton 9. Notes from a Collaborator - Blake Morrison 10. The Adnan Songbook - Anna Maria Friman 11. The Flower of Friendship - The Gavin Bryars Ensemble - Audrey Riley 12. Bryars and Art School - Simon Strange 13. After Handel's 'Vesper' and the Harpsichord's Dual Life - Mahan Esfahani 14. Tributes - Howard Skempton and Bryn Harrison Epilogue: Career and Evolution - Gavin Bryars Appendices Bryars' Desert Island Discs Catalogue of Works Arrangements by others Discography Contributors Index of Names Acknowledgements

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewThe writing is relaxed; the cast of characters is awesome. Starker makes a fascinating centerpiece. * The Herald Times *[Starker] looks back on his remarkable life in this detailed and eminently readable memoir. . . highly recommended. * Library Journal *Table of ContentsEpigraph DedicationPrelude Scotch and SodaAnacrusis Autobiography of a StomachC HungaryC# [short story to be selected]D Romania, Austria and SwitzerlandD# Mozart MeterE FranceF America, DallasF# Soft Pitch For the PitG ChicagoG# AfricaA Bloomington ThenA# L'art pour l'art: Waldo Caper, 1926-1960B Bloomington NowC Twilight at Tiffany'sCadence EpiloguePostlude That Room at the TopAppendix 1: "An Organized Method of String Playing"Appendix 2: Lists of publications, recordings

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Book SynopsisThis first critical appreciation of T Bone Burnett reveals how the proponent of Americana music and producer of artists ranging from Robert Plant and Alison Krauss to B. B. King and Elvis Costello has profoundly influenced American music and culture.Trade ReviewSachs’ fine book is a welcome addition to the living history of American music and a delightful read. * Booklist *A Life in Pursuit is the first bio of the now 68-year-old American and, smartly, author Sachs understands going in that Burnett's story is that of the music he's touched. . . . Rarely has a music biography been this jam-packed with names of artists and the records they've made—Burnett's footprint is enormous and the minutiae of that maze-like career is recounted expansively here. . . . Sachs has created what will likely remain a definitive account. * MOJO *Sachs artfully weaves together news clips and original interviews to create a valuable context for the musician-producer’s work. * Texas Monthly *In telling this story, Sachs has done roots music a great turn, in fine style. * Songlines Magazine *Table of Contents Opening Chorus: On Top of the World (or Close) 1. Sound Citizen 2. The Outsider 3. Player in the Band 4. Alpha Male 5. Spiritual Gumshoe 6. Master Builder 7. Co-Conspirator 8. Seeker 9. Svengali 10. Imagist 11. Native Son 12. Mentor 13. Hit Man 14. Reluctant Artist 15. Starmaker 16. Company Man 17. Coen Brother 18. Soundtrack Auteur 19. Minimalist 20. Lead Actor 21. Alchemist 22. Jazz Man 23. Blues Man 24. Senior Adviser 25. Audio Activist 26. Dylanologist 27. Televisionary 28. Back to the Futurist The Kill Squad: A Short List of Longtime Musical Associates Acknowledgments Selected Discography Selected Bibliography Index

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Book Synopsis‘In the beginning,’ Billy Joel entertained Long Island locals, with The Hassles and Attila, prior to forging a solo career in 1971. One year later, the singer-songwriter-pianist captivated college students when ‘Captain Jack’ dominated the Philadelphia airwaves. ‘And so, it goes…’ Cold Spring Harbor was rife with barrelhouse piano and tear-stained balladry but with Turnstiles Joel realised his dream of forming a stellar band. The success of The Stranger led to sold-out arenas and 52nd Street honoured the heyday of American jazz, while The Nylon Curtain highlighted socio-economic inequities and wartime brotherhood. 1993’s River of Dreams fused reggae and world music. Then, in the early 2000’s, his celebration of classical works ushered in a sea change. Unquestionably, Billy’s catalogue has thrived, despite constantly changing trends in the music industry. Over a fifty-plus year span, many of his relatable songs have become standards, covered by countless artists. The third best-selling solo artist in the U.S. has continued to attract multi-generational audiences across the planet, so if you’re ‘all in the mood for a melody,’ read on. Billy Joel On Track contains behind-the-scenes stories and an analysis of Joel’s extensive studio recordings, many of which became top 40 hits in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s. ...

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Book SynopsisEmma Bardac and her relationship with Claude Debussy take centre stage in this insightful exploration of their lives together. The singer Emma Bardac (1862-1934) has often been presented as a woman who ensnared Claude Debussy (1862-1918) because she wanted to be associated with his fame and to live a life of luxury. Indeed, in many biographies and composer-related studies of Debussy, the only mentions that she receives are brief and derogatory. Here Emma Bardac and her relationship with the composer take centre stage. The book traces Emma's Jewish ancestry and her background, the significant role of her wealthy uncle Osiris, her marriage at seventeen to the wealthy Jewish banker Sigismond Bardac, her affair with Gabriel Fauré and her liaison with and subsequent marriage to Debussy. As Gillian Opstad shows, the pressure and stifling effects of domestic life on Debussy's attitude to his composing were considerable. The financial consequences of their partnership were disastrous, and their circle of close friends was small. Emma suffered physically and mentally from the tensions of the marriage, particularly money worries, and the possibility that Debussy was attracted to her older daughter. She considered divorce but supported him through his deepest depression and during the First World War until he succumbed to cancer in 1918. After Debussy's death, Emma felt driven both on his behalf and for financial reasons to further performances of the composer's works and provoked the annoyance of other musicians by having early compositions resurrected, completed and performed. In this engagingly written biography, Gillian Opstad brings to light little-known facts about Emma's background and family, advances new insights into her relationship with Debussy, and provides a glimpse of an early twentieth-century Parisian milieu that experienced wide-spread antisemitism.Trade ReviewGillian Opstad's tireless research has here produced a genuine addition to Debussy studies, based on the substantial correspondence between the couple . . . plus copious contemporary documentation. Four stars. -- Malcolm Hayes * BBC MUSIC MAGAZINE *Her examination of Debussy's friendship with Gabriele d'Annunzio and the history of Le Martyre de Saint Sébastien is more thorough than in any biography of either man that I know. . . . Above all, this is a moving and exacting study of a woman who ultimately stood by [Debussy] for the last 16 years of his life, and as such adds immeasurably to our understanding of them both. -- Tim Ashley * GRAMOPHONE *Opstad presents an in-depth account of the relationship between the French composer and his second wife, Emma Bardac. . . . Opstad humanizes Bardac (a professional singer) as a woman committed to her musician husband despite the difficulties that pervaded their ten-year marriage. . . . Meticulous, comprehensive, and well researched, this volume paints a vivid picture of a woman who had previously been a mere footnote in the history of her famous husband. Highly recommended. -- J. J. Leary-Warsaw * CHOICE *Opstad's book is a welcome addition to the literature on Debussy and his family life. Not only does it illuminate many significant details about Emma's background and early experiences, but it also traces the subsequent lives of her surviving children Raoul and Dolly and their families. -- Marie Rolfe * H-FRANCE REVIEW *Table of ContentsList of Illustrations Acknowledgements Abbreviations and note Part One. Emma: Wife, Mother, Lover 1) Emma's ancestry and background 2) Emma's relationship with Gabriel Fauré 3) Debussy's life until 1902 4) Emma meets Debussy. 1899 - August 1904 5) August 1904 - August 1905. Pourville and Eastbourne. 6) August 1905 - December 1906. Life in the Avenue du Bois de Boulogne 7) 1907. Stagnation 8) 1908. Marriage and an ivory tower 9) 1909. Illness and depression 10) 1910. Floods and despair 11) 1911. A marriage and Le martyre 12) 1912. Confined to home 13) 1913. Troubles and travels 14) 1914. The approach of war 15) 1915. Patriotism and love awakened 16) 1916. Debussy's treatment and mounting concerns 17) 1917 - April 1918. The last summer Part Two. Emma the Widow 18) April 1918 - Dec. 1918. Emma's mission 19) 1919. Tragedy and commemoration 20) 1920-1921. Disappointments and disputes 21) 1922-1923. Fiascos and controversies 22) 1924-1927. Friends and enemies 23) 1928-1931. Litigation and invective 24) 1932-1934. The final struggle 25) Epilogue Select Bibliography

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Book SynopsisWatch Blake Shelton''s career begin and flourish from the viewpoint of a lifelong friend who moved the award-winning musician to Nashville when he was seventeen and has been with him every step of the way. In Blake Shelton: Happy Anywhere, Carol Cash Large takes you backstage for personal and unique insight into the life of the young singer. Large starts at the beginning, when Shelton worked with producer Bobby Braddock, recorded his #1 song Austin, and performed on the Grand Ole Opry. She shares his victories and the rise in fame when he started garnering nominations at award shows and then recorded seventeen consecutive #1 songs. Large''s favorite stories come from Shelton''s time as host and entertainment on Saturday Night Live and his induction into the Grand Ole Opry. But, she says, landing a gig as a coach of the NBC hit, The Voice, had the biggest impact on his career. Along with his music career success and fame, Large delves into his personal life, showing his

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Book SynopsisMorley Calvert’s Suite from the Monteregian Hills is cherished by brass players globally and performed hundreds of times annually, making Calvert perhaps the most performed Canadian composer outside the country. And Harmony Abound is a fascinating picture of Calvert’s contribution to musical composition, education, and cultural fabric.Trade Review“The breadth of information in And Harmony Abound provides a pathway for potential ongoing research for years to come. Long overdue, it encompasses the life and work of an important composer. Keith Kinder underscores the contributions Morley Calvert has made to instrumental and choral communities in Canada.” Glen Gillis, University of Saskatchewan

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Book SynopsisWhen he died suddenly at the age of twenty-six, Otis Redding (1941–1967) was the conscience of a new kind of soul music. Berry Gordy built the first black-owned music empire at Motown but Redding was doing something as historic: mainstreaming black music within the whitest bastions of the post-Confederate south. As a result, the Redding story—still largely untold—is one of great conquest but grand tragedy. Now, in this transformative work, Mark Ribowsky contextualises Redding’s life within the larger cultural movements of his era. What emerges in Dreams to Remember is not only a triumph of music history but also a reclamation of a visionary who would come to define an entire era.Trade Review"...lively and judicious account of the life of Otis Redding…" -- The Telegraph"His [Ribowsky's] understanding of the music is exemplary…" -- Mojo"A lot of familiar ground is inevitably covered, but Ribowsky is largely equal to the task of making it seem fresh again...He's especially good at the way the music business at the time was run…" -- Uncut"Ribowsky tackles his subject matter with conviction and aplomb, reaffirming Redding's seismic role in Southern soul music…" -- Record Collector

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Book SynopsisFrom the young Black teenager who built a bass guitar in woodshop to the musician building a solo career with Motown Records—Prince’s bassist BrownMark on growing up in Minneapolis, joining Prince and The Revolution, and his life in the purple kingdom In the summer of 1981, Mark Brown was a teenager working at a 7-11 store when he wasn’t rehearsing with his high school band, Phantasy. Come fall, Brown, now called BrownMark, was onstage with Prince at the Los Angeles Coliseum, opening for the Rolling Stones in front of 90,000 people. My Life in the Purple Kingdom is BrownMark’s memoir of coming of age in the musical orbit of one of the most visionary artists of his generation. Raw, wry, real, this book takes us from his musical awakening as a boy in Minneapolis to the cold call from Prince at nineteen, from touring the world with The Revolution and performing in Purple Rain to inking his own contract with Motown.BrownMark’s story is that of a hometown kid, living for sunny days when his transistor would pick up KUXL, a solar-powered, shut-down-at-sundown station that was the only one that played R&B music in Minneapolis in 1968. But once he took up the bass guitar—and never looked back—he entered a whole new realm, and, literally at the right hand of Twin Cities musical royalty, he joined the funk revolution that integrated the Minneapolis music scene and catapulted him onto the international stage. BrownMark describes how his funky stylings earned him a reputation (leading to Prince’s call) and how he and Prince first played together at that night’s sudden audition—and never really stopped. He takes us behind the scenes as few can, into the confusing emotional and professional life among the denizens of Paisley Park, and offers a rare, intimate look into music at the heady heights that his childhood self could never have imagined.An inspiring memoir of making it against stacked odds, experiencing extreme highs and lows of success and pain, and breaking racial barriers, My Life in the Purple Kingdom is also the story of a young man learning his craft and honing his skill like any musician, but in a world like no other and in a way that only BrownMark could tell it.Trade Review"A story of low notes and high stakes, of Revolution and of evolution, of bands and fans and best-laid plans, of pills and thrills and daffodils. Hang tough, children, and read it."—Questlove, from the Foreword"This is not a tell-all book. It is simply a candid, honest, heartfelt story about a young kid who goes on to achieve his dream of making it in the music industry, and the price that he pays along the way. It’s an uplifting tale about working with Prince, and it is an enjoyable read that serves as another piece of the puzzle that is Prince."—The Great Song Traveler"This page-turning memoir... will appeal to BrownMark’s fans and general music enthusiasts."—Library Journal"Those looking for a memoir awash in sex, drugs, and the seamier sides of Prince’s private life will instead discover hard work and rigid discipline under a stern taskmaster, an artist who became what he was through minute attention to detail as well as genius. A memoir of vivid detail and understandable ambivalence."—Kirkus Reviews"If you want to get to know Mark Brown, the human, I would say this book is a good way to go."—Insight News"The profound life lessons BrownMark learned while playing in the Revolution, as well as his experiences touring the world with Prince, forever changed his life. And BrownMark proudly carries those memories with him as he continues to blaze new trails while keeping Prince’s legacy alive."—City Pages"Simultaneously poignant and inspiring."—The Arts Fuse"By turns a reflective examination of his own place in the Paisley world over those years and a straight-shooting account of the less beautiful side of Prince’s modus operandi at his commercial zenith."—SoulTracks"An arresting piece of social history, often interesting and original."—Moving the River"Enlightening."—Chicago Review of Books"This memoir could be a real inspiration to someone with dreams."—The Bookworm Sez"My Life in the Purple Kingdom makes it clear anyone who thinks BrownMark was handed phenomenal success at a young age on a platter can think again."—Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder "Seemingly overnight, BrownMark was thrown into an entirely different reality, sharing the stage with The Rolling Stones, Madonna, Bruce Springsteen, Sting and more. With Prince & The Revolution, he’d tour the world in one of the most iconic bands in history, perform some the greatest hits in popular music and experience an overwhelming level of fame."—Forbes Magazine Table of ContentsContentsForewordQuestlovePrologueRadio DaysDiscovery YearsChain ReactionsThe Skin I’m InNew Look, New SoundOff to See the WizardPrimping for PrnControversy, SexualityThreshold of a NightmareControversy TourMojo1999The ShadowLet’s Go CrazyThe Carrot and the Hat TrickThe Bitter TasteMoving OnEpilogue

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Book SynopsisBorn in Russia in 1891, Serge Prokofiev tirelessly devoted himself to the search for a new, individual music. His rich creative life coincided with the artistic, cultural, and political tumult that forged the early life of the Soviet Union. When first performed, much of Prokofiev''s work was greeted with scorn and derision. However, the fiery Russian composer went on to exert an influence on modern music which is still being felt to this day.This study by one France''s most eminent musicologists gives a detailed account of Prokofiev''s development as a composer, including his progressive search for new musical forms and his heady collaborations with Serge Diaghilev''s fabulous Ballets Russes.The book is heavily illustrated throughout with many rare photographs and drawings, as well as scores, costume designs and choreographic sketches.

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Book SynopsisWith a glimpse of the daily life of European art and artists during the fertile last decades of the nineteenth century, this book is suitable for anyone passionate about opera.Trade Review"Verdi, who had previously considered librettists good only for translating into verse dramatic outlines he had already created, learned to work with an equal; Boito was a superb poet, passionately devoted to the renewal of the musical theater, who had to be treated as a peer, not a subordinate. The letters, stuffed with fascinating detail, catch the two titans in the process of creating the revised Simon Boccanegra, then Otello and Falstaff; sections of text, structural and musical ideas, even production concepts fly back and forth between Milan and Sant'Agata.... A must-have for every music lover's shelf." (Kirkus) "Opera lovers will be pleased." (Publishers Weekly)

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Book SynopsisTony Allen is the autobiography of legendary Nigerian drummer Tony Allen, the rhythmic engine of Fela Kuti's Afrobeat.Trade Review“There’s a sentence in the introduction where Veal, a Yale professor, uses the phrase ‘indigenization of jazz drumming’, but don’t let that put you off. The academic is present primarily to transcribe and edit, while Allen reflects on 50 years at the coalface. . . One of the great sidemen, Allen here cuts mercilessly through the bullshit.” -- David Hutcheon * Mojo *“Allen bring us his inspirational biography. Written together with Michael Veal, author of Fela Kuti’s biography, this is the most accessible Afrobeat book of them all. . . . Highly recommended for anyone with an interest in the history of West-African popular music.” * AfrobeatMusic.net *“Tony Allen is a fascinating insider’s view of how a musician and a musical style developed over time. Allen is a compelling storyteller and sharp observer whose memories bring forth a stream of ideas, anecdotes, humor, and life lessons that add up to an insightful auto-ethnography. Well-organized and concise, the book flows as a story of one of the most important West African musicians of the past 50 years, a narrative of creativity in post-colonial African popular music, and sound advice on how to have a long and productive career in music.” -- Thomas Brett * Popular Music and Society *“This master drummer’s account is enriched by unstinting critical appraisal, whether evaluating Fela’s most loved recordings or his own subsequent solo efforts. Tony Allen, ever restless, retains the enthusiasm of an absolute beginner, tempered with a survivor’s wisdom. His life obviously a work in progress, one anticipates music yet to come and the stories that surface in its wake.” -- Richard Henderson * The Wire *“[D]rummers are going to love this book. With so few autobiographies of drummers in print, the publication of Tony Allen: An Autobiography of the Master Drummer of Afrobeat is a cause for celebration. . . . Most importantly, the book is a hell of a lot of fun to read, although Allen's first-hand accounts of his struggles with shamanistic bandleader and Nigeria's adopted ‘black president’ Fela Anikulapo-Kuti will piss off any musician who has had to fight to get paid for playing a gig." -- Chris Becker * All About Jazz *“After decades of being underpaid and underappreciated for his contributions with Kuti and beyond, it’s satisfying to see Tony Allen: An Autobiography of the Master Drummer of Afrobeat in print. Drummers, fans of African music, and lovers of music more generally will find a lot to love in this book.” -- Zachary Stockill * Popmatters *"There is much to enjoy from his account of growing up and becoming part of 'swinging Lagos' pre 1978, before it was unsafe to venture out at night. The part describing his musical influences and relationship with Fela Kuti is illuminating. Tony, one of the originators of Afrobeat, still plays to sellout crowds in his seventies . . . demonstrating that age is just a number. Allen's autobiography is a gem." * The Voice *“Anyone who knows their Afrobeat will tell you how pivotal the kit drummer Tony Allen was to the genre’s development. Indeed, as . . . Michael Veal points out in this important, deftly crafted book, the pairing of Allen and the late great Fela Anikulapo Kuti could be likened to partnerships between such jazz supernovas as Coltrane and Elvin Jones; Miles and Philly Joe Jones; Ornette and Billy Higgins.” -- Jane Cornwel * Jazzwise *“This is not a slice of dry academia, what we get in this incredibly fruitful collaboration is 160 pages of rich revealing narrative that is so engrossing that I missed my stop on the tube. . . . Basically, I couldn’t put the book down and it had me sifting through the records to provide a soundtrack to the narrative.” -- Paul Brad * Ancient to Future *“This is a much needed, truly fascinating book. . . . Allen spins the tale of his life, and of the evolution of one of the great popular musical styles of the 20th century, like the great storyteller he is. It’s a narrative filled with tasty anecdotes and twinkling details, which just add to its momentum. You can almost see the wry smile on his face as he challenges you to make up his own mind . . . Allen’s totally absorbing narrative was edited and shaped by Michael E. Veal. . . . In his introduction he treats us to an unbeatably succinct, lucidly accurate contextual analysis of Allen as a ‘Yoruba modernist’. He also gets to grips with how the Allen technique works. . . . This is highly readable and highly recommended.” -- Max Reinhardt * Songlines *Table of ContentsAcknowledgments ix Introduction / Michael E. Veal 1 1. Right in the Center of Lagos 21 2. Highlife Time 36 3. The Sky was the Limit 47 4. God's Own Country 68 5. Swinging Like Hell! 85 6. Everything Scatter 108 7. Progress 128 8. When One Road Closes . . . 146 9. Paris Blues 162 10. No End to Business 175 Selected References 187 Index 193

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Book SynopsisOffers an introduction to one of the most important and influential piano concertos in the history of Western music. It combines an account of the work's genesis with a detailed yet accessible analysis of each movement and new research into its reception and performance history.Table of ContentsIntroduction: situating Schumann's piano concerto; 1. Rethinking the romantic piano concerto; 2. The genesis of Schumann's piano concerto; 3. Analysis (1): the first movement; 4. Analysis (2): the slow movement and Rondo Finale; 5. Reception and Legacy; Appendix I: Glossary of Technical Terms and Symbols; Appendix II.

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Book SynopsisAt the height of his initial, turn-of-the-1990''s infamy as the maraca-wielding dancer with ''Madchester'' giants Happy Mondays, the pop-eyed Mark Berry, forever known to the world as Bez, was visibly a danger to society. He became the so-called Chemical Generation''s bug-eyed pied piper, every weekend leading millions out to oblivion and beyond, as they adopted his E-gobbling party lifestyle.Neither an accomplished musician nor even a very good dancer, Bez was a prime candidate for fleeting celebrity, soon to sink into ''Where Are They Now?'' obscurity. That, however, never happened, nor does it show any sign of happening. Through Black Grape, the second band he co-fronted with the Mondays'' Shaun Ryder, and his ever-presence in the mass media, Bez''s popularity has grown exponentially, his star rocketing ever upwards.When he bowled into Celebrity Big Brother in 2005, he ended up winning the series, as viewers came to understand his fundamental decency and sunny outTrade ReviewIf there were a Prince of Manchester it would surely be Bez. -- Rev Richard Coles * BBC RADIO 4 SATURDAY LIVE *A cavalcade of eye-popping adventures. -- Ian Winwood * THE TIMES *The most jaw-dropping addition to the entire history of the genre. -- Nick Duerden * THE I PAPER *As an account of the deeds of the most wayward member of one of our most wayward bands, it does not disappoint. * THE TIMES SATURDAY REVIEW *

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Book SynopsisWhen LCD Soundsystem broke up in 2011, they left behind a small but remarkable catalog of music. On top of the genius singles and a longform composition for Nike, there was a trilogy of full-length albums. During that initial run, LCD Soundsystemand the project''s mastermind, James Murphywere at the center of several 21st century developments in pop culture: indie music''s growing mainstream clout, Brooklyn surpassing Manhattan as an epicenter of creativity in America, the collision and eventual erosion of genre perceptions, and the rapid and profound growth and impact of digital culture. Amidst this storm, Murphy crafted Sound Of Silver, the centerpiece of LCD''s work.At the time of Sound Of Silver's creation and release, Murphy was a man closing in on 40 while fronting a critically-adored band still on the ascent. This album was the first place where he earnestly grappled with questions of aging, of being an artist, and the decisions we make with the time we have left. Trade ReviewLeas is an excitable ... host, and his love for the music ... shines. ... As the first LCD book per se, it's peerless. * Record Collector *Now in this book Ryan Leas has written down in detail the story of the album, and fans of LCD Soundsystem or anyone looking for more information will have come to exactly the right place. * OX Fanzine (Bloomsbury translation) *Table of Contents1. I Was There 2. Fashion 3. Living On Repeat 4. The Ways We Show Our Age 5. Borrowed Nostalgia For The Unremembered '80s 6. New York, I Love You But You're Bringing Me Down 7. We Can Still Come Home To This

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Book SynopsisBorn in the summer of 1912, Woody Guthrie remains one of the most significant figures in American folk music to this day. While most Americans know his iconic anthem “This Land Is Your Land”, surprisingly few understand Guthrie’s place in the greater context of American radicalism and protest in the 1930s and beyond.In Searching for Woody Guthrie, Ron Briley embarks on a chronological exploration of Guthrie’s music in the vein of American radicalism and civil rights. Briley begins this journey with an overview of five key periods in Guthrie’s life and, in the chapters that follow, analyses his political ideas through primary and secondary source materials.While numerous biographies on Woody Guthrie exist - including Guthrie’s own 1943 autobiography - this book takes a different approach. Less biographical and more thematic in nature, Searching for Woody Guthrie centres around Guthrie’s faith in the common working people of America, bringing together People’s Daily World “Woody Sez” newspaper columns, Guthrie centennial secondary source texts, research in the Woody Guthrie Archives, and Briley’s own personal reflections to present a narrative that is at once personal to the author and relatable to America’s rural working class.Interlacing Guthrie’s music with his own geographic and economic background, Briley presents an original and eloquent chronology of Guthrie’s life and work in what amounts to a compelling new case for why that work, more than fifty years after Guthrie’s death, continues to leave its mark.

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Book SynopsisChristopher Norton's acclaimed Microjazz series has won worldwide popularity with teachers and students alike for its stimulating blend of contemporary genres and classical values. Two beginners' books and five collections of repertoire pieces form seven clearly defined levels of achievement, making Microjazz the ideal basis for progressive learning and teaching.Microjazz Beginners is the second book in the series and is suitable for learners of all ages. Using a combination of words, music and illustrations, it takes first-time pianists steadily through the early stages of both the practical and theoretical aspects of playing.A booklet of accompaniments, suitable for use by a teacher or any intermediate player, is included. The resulting duets can be played on one or two keyboards, and turn even the easiest pupil''s tunes into unmistakable Microjazz pieces.Online audio resources containing both backing and full performance tracks are available to enthuse and enhance both your practice and performance.Instrumentation:piano

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Book SynopsisEverynow and then, a band comes along that defies convention, refuses to bepigeon-holed, thumbs its nose at comfy predictability and blows raspberries atcommercial wisdom. That band is Gong.

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Book SynopsisStep into the world of Harry Styles with this celebratory little book which will definitely leave you with a watermelon sugar high! An opportunity to dive into those green eyes, messy hair and raspy yet soulful voice, this book is a must-have collection of quotes, facts and trivia for any Harry Styles fan.

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Book SynopsisIn the mid-1960s, a new generation of young Turkish musicians combined Western pop music with traditional Anatolian folk to forge the home-grown phenomenon of Anadolu Pop. But that was just the beginning. Through the second half of that turbulent decade, Turkish rock warped and transformed, striking out into wilder and stranger territory - fuelled by the psychedelic revolution and played out over a backdrop of cultural, social and political turmoil. The Turkish Psychedelic Music Explosion tells the story of a musical movement that was brought to an end by a right-wing coup in 1980, largely forgotten and only recently being rediscovered by Western crate-diggers. It's a tale of larger-than-life musical pioneers with raging political passions and visionary ideas ripe for rediscovery.

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Book SynopsisBy the end of 1973, Deep Purple Mk2 was no more. Ian Gillan had been replaced by David Coverdale on vocals whilst Roger Glover had been replaced by Glenn Hughes on bass and vocals. It left the nucleus of Ritchie Blackmore, Jon Lord and Ian Paice to take Deep Purple in a new direction, which eventually came to a halt with the Mk4 line-up in 1976. With Deep Purple In Rock (1970), Fireball (1971), Machine Head (1972) and Who Do We Think We Are (1973) to Mk2’s credit, many fans lived in hope that one day, the band would get back together — with the music press occasionally courting the odd rumour that it would happen! Finally, in April 1984, the reunion of Deep Purple Mk2 was announced. Fans had got their wish. Or had they? With the landscape of rock and pop music having changed since the band’s success in the seventies, and with each member of Deep Purple Mk2 having nurtured very different careers as individuals by that point, a reunion was never going to be plain sailing! In this this book, Laura Shenton MA LLCM DipRSL examines the merits and challenges of what it was for Deep Purple Mk2 to get back together in the eighties. Included is a critical analysis of Mk2’s second round of albums: Perfect Strangers (1984), The House Of Blue Light (1987) and The Battle Rages On… (1993).

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Book SynopsisIn A Night of Rhythm and Mews, words and pictures go hand in hand to tell the story of a singular musical partnership between a composer and his rather special cat. Percy Nightingale wants to be a composer. He longs to write a piece that will make his name and bring him fame. But first he needs an idea. For ages he's stuck until one day he gives a home to Bruno, a poor abandoned little cat. Only then does inspiration strike. The music flows at last and a creative partnership begins to flourish. Percy brings the rhythm, Bruno brings the mews. Together they create a musical extravaganza for a concert like no other.

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Book SynopsisA searing, triumphant story. A testament to the tenacity of the human spirit as well as a beautiful ode to an iconic figure' IRENOSEN OKOJIELetters to Gil is Malik Al Nasir's profound coming of age memoir the story of surviving physical and racial abuse and discovering a new sense of self-worth under the wing of the great artist, poet and civil rights activist Gil Scott-Heron.Born in Liverpool, Malik was taken into care at the age of nine after his seafaring father became paralysed. He would spend his adolescence in a system that proved violent, neglectful, exploitative, traumatising and mired in abuse. Aged eighteen, he emerged semi-literate, penniless with no connections or sense of where he was going until a chance meeting with Gil Scott-Heron.Letters to Gil will tell the story of Malik's empowerment and awakening while mentored by Gil, from his introduction to the legacy of Black history to the development of his voice through poetry and music. Written with lyricism and power, it is a frank and moving memoir, highlighting how institutional racism can debilitate and disadvantage a child, as well as how mentoring, creativity, self-expression and solidarity helped him to uncover his potential.Trade Review‘A searing, triumphant story. A testament to the tenacity of the human spirit as well as a beautiful ode to an iconic figure’Irenosen Okojie ‘An incredible story, one that will have you jaw-dropped in disbelief at the cruelty meted out to Malik as a boy but also uplifted by his courageous, irrepressible exuberance, by his determination to defy the shitty hand he was dealt after he was put into the care system. And at the centre of this remarkable story stands the towering figure of Gil Scott-Heron …This is an intensely powerful and vivid memoir … When a book like Letters to Gil comes along, you are reminded of how indomitable the human spirit can be and how light can emerge from darkness, and joy from pain’Jamie Byng ‘Letters to Gil [is] part of a growing corpus of Black British memoir that confronts difficult subjects … It is also a tribute to artists who blend creative expression with fearless political commentary, such as the hip-hop artists Mos Def, Nas and the members of Public Enemy. With this brave memoir, Al Nasir can be counted among them’TLS ‘So compelling … Given the magnetism that he clearly displays I only hope that he will find time to be a new leader for the UK jazz movement … Voices such as his are certainly needed. His story is a wake-up call’Marlbank ‘Tells the story of his life – including his brutal treatment in care homes as a child –and his friendship with the musician-poet [Gil Scott-Heron]. His candid, eye-opening story includes a joyously uplifting tale of the time he accompanied Scott-Heron to meet Stevie Wonder’Independent, Books of the Month ‘A harrowing yet ultimately heartening memoir, Letters to Gil transcends the purely personal to make an important contribution to the burgeoning science of public history, championed by the likes of David Olusoga’London Jazz News ‘Get this book and read it… Superb’ The Grooved Review

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Book Synopsis Ticket to the World is a joyous, nostalgic celebration of 80s culture from one man at the centre of it all. Trade Review‘A brilliant storyteller’ – James O’Brien ‘Celebrates the 80s as the decade that made him’ – Guardian

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Book SynopsisBrings a jazz legend into clear viewTrade ReviewThe musical legend is nearing his 80th birthday, and this book serves as a testament to his long career. It's a pleasure to have Baker's stories gathered in one place.July 17, 2011 * Bloomington Herald-Times *[A] fascinating and well-documented book. . . The book is rich in detail and stories, personal and musical. * Hoosier Times *Congratulations to Monika Herzig and the team of experts she assembled to contribute to a thorough look at the musical values and achievements of David Baker . . . [It's] a worthy 80th birthday tribute to a unique musician-educator. * Indianapolis Star *Each chapter and contributor to the book is effusive in praise of Baker's personal touch. The reader is reminded that Baker is humble, funny, self-effacing, passionate and of great conviction. It may seem a hagiography at times but Herzig's book serves to inspire. * JazzTimes *Books about musical artists often do a good job of telling us about the artist's life or about the artist's music; only rarely do they do both well. Monika Herzig's new book David Baker is one such book. * Bloom *With the help of several key contributors, Herzig carefully traces Baker's career as a player, composer, educator and artist. It reads like the lives of several wrapped into one amazing person. . . . [T]his book is for anyone who wants to read about a class act, as well as a nice guy who wins in the face of great odds. * Down Beat *Overall, this is a fine tribute to the Indianapolis native and Living Jazz Legend, illuminating his 60-year career as performer, composer, and educator. * Black Grooves *Unlike many other examples of the [Festschrift] genre, this one has real substance. It is a fine tribute to this extraordinary man and a valuable contribution to the history of jazz for the last half-century. I recommend it highly. * JJA News *Table of ContentsForeword / Quincy JonesPrefaceAcknowledgments1. Indiana Avenue and Crispus Attucks High School / Lissa May2. A Star Is Born / Monika Herzig3. New Beginnings / Monika Herzig and Nathan Davis4. Defining Jazz Education / JB Dyas5. 21st Century Bebop / Monika Herzig and Brent Wallarab6. The Composer / David Ward-Steinman7. David Baker and the Smithsonian: A Personal Perspective / John Edward Hasse8. Social Engagement / Willard Jenkins9. Coda / Monika HerzigAppendixesBibliography of Written Works by David Baker DiscographySelected List of Books, Articles, and Other Publications about David Baker About the ContributorsCD Track ListingIndex

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Book SynopsisDiscusses Debussy's music in the context of pop cultureTrade ReviewBrown . . . has written a fascinating study of Claude Debussy's lifelong interest in popular music, the impact of his music on popular culture, and the migration of musical ideas, materials, and pieces between different cultural domains. * Choice *Debussy Redux is a timely and original contribution to both popular music studies and Debussy scholarship, not least for the sheer wealth of examples that Brown has amassed of what he calls 'Debussy kitsch.' * Music Theory Online *Table of ContentsAcknowledgementsIntroduction: Debussy's Legacy1. From Parisian Salon to Billboard Phenom2. The Medium and the Message3. Lights, Camera, Soundtrack!4. In the Moog5. "YoBaudelaire!"6. The Schlock of the New7. Assez Lent or Allegro non troppo?8. Other Cultures, Other SoundsAfterword: High and LowBibliography

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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Book SynopsisJournalist and Beatles authority Spencer Leigh analyses the Beatles back catalogue drawing upon his extensive interviews with contributions from Mike Batt, Pete Best, Dave Clark through to Ken Dodd, Hunter Davies, Adam Faith, Georgie Fame, Alan Freeman, Steve Harley, Graham Nash and Barry Norman to name just a few.Trade Review'An accomplished writer of musical biographies, this is a typically authoritative book.' Choice Magazine;'A wonderful book!' Harold Krämer, The Beatles Museum, Germany;'Remarkable. It has been a great pleasure reading your book.' David Charters, Liverpool Echo

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Book SynopsisPaul Evans, a New Yorker started his music career as one of the first young writers to work in the Bill Building on Tin Pan Alley. He has written hits for himself as well as for Bobby Vinton - the 1962 classic, 'Roses Are Red, My Love', the Kalin Twins 'When' in 1957, and Elvis Presley 'The Next Step Is Love', 'I Gotta Know' and more.

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Book SynopsisLacroixâs poems connect readers to the physical and emotional struggles of Chopin, Schumann, and Debussy.Trade ReviewMelissa Morelli Lacroix crafts poems responding to the complex negotiations of love... A Most Beautiful Deception recounts death and suffering woven through with the irreplaceable moments of life and the sweet sting of memories. Reaching to the early nineteenth century, the poems weave lives of artists, mourners, and admirers while modelling the composers' musical scores in form.... Although emphasizing degeneration and death--physical, social, psychological--the poems maintain vibrancy, often crystallizing sound, light, colour, and emotion.... Despite its complexity and range, Deception is remarkably accessible, managing to humanize musical giants and to harmonize life's glory and brutality while avoiding sentimentalism. -- Tina Trigg * Canadian Literature *

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis

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Book SynopsisThe compelling story of one of the foremost exponents of authentic rhythm & blues and rock ''n'' roll in the world today. Michael Madden has been given full access to a vast archive of material charting Mike Sanchez''s journey from his Spanish roots through an eventful 35 year musical career that has seen him progress through the ranks of the Rockets, the Big Town Playboys and Bill Wyman''s Rhythm Kings to fronting his own band and performing with some of the biggest names of the rock world including Robert Plant, Eric Clapton, Mick Fleetwood and Jeff Beck. The text is illuminated with comments from many friends, fans and fellow musicians, and generously illustrated with many rare / previously unseen photographs.

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Book SynopsisAddressing established scholars and advanced students of Purcell, this book proposes the first analytical approach to Purcell's music to be based on examination of his compositional methods alongside historically contemporary theory. It will be of interest to analysts and music theorists of seventeenth-century music, and of early music.Trade Review'This book documents a remarkable achievement. It not only offers direct insights into the creative processes of a great composer on a technical level, but also succeeds in getting, as it were, into his skin as he faced compositional problems - something not previously attempted in the case of Purcell (and all too rarely accomplished for any composer).' Bruce Wood, Bangor University'Compositional Artifice in the Music of Henry Purcell represents a step-change in the emerging musicological sub-discipline of historically informed analysis. By introducing the contemporary notion of 'artificial' composition - in which the composer incorporated intricate imitative devices to provide creative satisfaction for both composer and performer - Howard unravels with remarkable clarity the hidden compositional techniques lying behind Purcell's inventive strategies in both his instrumental chamber music and his later large-scale vocal works. The book provides a set of historically sensitive analytical tools that have the potential to transform the reader's understanding of some of Purcell's greatest masterpieces.' Rebecca Herissone, University of ManchesterTable of ContentsIntroduction; Part I. Purcell's 'Art of Descant': 1. In counterpoint: sources and analysis; 2. Artifice, Fugeing and fantazia; 3. 'The chiefest instrumental musick now in request': canzonas and other sonata fugues; 4. 'The power of the Italian notes': Purcell's sonatas as and in reception; Part II. 'Thou Didst Thy Former Skill Improve': 5. 'Celestial art[ifice]' in Hail, bright Cecilia; 6. Artifice and musical modelling; 7. Augmentation as artifice, artifice as augmentation; 8. 'Italian sonatas in orchestral garb'.

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Book SynopsisThe life and career of George Frideric Handel, one of the most frequently performed composers from the Baroque period, are copiously and intricately documented through a huge variety of contemporary sources. This major multi-volume publication is the most up-to-date and comprehensive collection of these documents. Presented chronologically in their original languages with English translations and with commentaries incorporating the results of recent research, the documents provide an essential and accessible resource for anyone interested in Handel and his music. In charting his activities in Germany, Italy and Britain, the documents also offer a valuable insight into broader eighteenth-century topics, such as court life, theatrical history, public concerts and competition between music publishers. This volume covers the period of Handel's London opera career during which he achieved gradual independence from the Royal Academy opera company, but also introduced English theatre oratorioTable of ContentsIntroduction; The Documents 1725–1734: 1725–1726; 1726–1727; 1727–1728; 1728–1729; 1729–1730; 1730–1731; 1731–1732; 1732–1733; 1733–1734; Libraries and archives; Bibliography; Index of Handel's works; Index of persons; General index.

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Book SynopsisThe life and career of George Frideric Handel, one of the most frequently performed composers from the Baroque period, are copiously and intricately documented through a huge variety of contemporary sources. This multi-volume major publication is the most up-to-date and comprehensive collection of these documents. Presented chronologically in their original languages with English translations and with commentaries incorporating the results of recent research, the documents provide an essential and accessible resource for anyone interested in Handel and his music. This volume begins with Handel''s move to the Covent Garden theatre, during the period of his competition with the Opera of the Nobility, and ends with his season of oratorio performances in Dublin. These years saw the composition of Italian operas including Ariodante, Alcina and Serse but also of the major English works Alexander''s Feast, Saul and Messiah.Trade Review'An impressive undertaking and an irresistible read.' BBC Music MagazineTable of ContentsIntroduction; The documents 1734–42; 1734–5; 1735–6; 1736–7; 1737–8; 1738–9; 1739–40; 1740–1; 1741–2; Libraries and archives; Bibliography; Index of Handel's works; Index of persons; General index.

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Book SynopsisThis is the first comprehensive study of the life and work of Bartolomeo Cristofori, the Paduan-born harpsichord maker and contemporary of Antonio Stradivari, who is credited with having invented the pianoforte around the year 1700 while working in the Medici court in Florence. Through thorough analysis of documents preserved in the State Archive of Florence, Pollens has reconstructed, in unprecedented technical detail, Cristofori's working life between his arrival in Florence in 1688 and his death in 1732. This book will be of interest to pianists, historians of the piano, musicologists, museum curators and conservators, as well as keyboard instrument makers, restorers, and tuners.Table of ContentsIntroduction; 1. Bartolomeo Cristofori in Padua; 2. Cristofori in Florence; 3. Cristofori's extant instruments; 4. Musical life in Florence in Cristofori's time; 5. Cristofori's influence; 6. Conclusion.

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