Composers and songwriters Books

Book SynopsisJohn Lennon was a rock star, a school clown, a writer, a wit, an iconoclast, a sometime peace activist and finally an eccentric millionaire. He was also a Beatle - his plain-speaking and impudent rejection of authority catching, and eloquently articulating, the group''s moment in history.Chronicling a famously troubled life, Being John Lennon analyses the contradictions in the singer-songwriter''s creative and destructive personality. Drawing on many interviews and conversations with Lennon, his first wife Cynthia and second Yoko Ono, as well as his girlfriend May Pang and song-writing partner Paul McCartney, Ray Connolly unsparingly reassesses the chameleon nature of the perpetually dissatisfied star who just couldn''t stop reinventing himself.Trade ReviewConnolly, the author of Being Elvis, takes a sensible route down the path dividing the saint and the monster inthis careful, thoughtful biography. It's a well-told story, but Connolly has a substantial advantage: as a journalist for the Evening Standard and the Sunday Times, he came to know Lennon well enough to be invited repeatedly to his Berkshire house, Tittenhurst Park ... Yet Connolly wears his acquaintance lightly, never forcing himself into the narrative or sinking into the hideous mateyness that can blight rock biographies ... For Connolly, it is Lennon's insecurities that are ultimately most revealing, rooted in an unsettled childhood in Liverpool's postwar suburbs ... Connolly does all this with quiet expertise, an understated writer who collates all the details into a vivid whole ... [N]either hatchet job nor hagiography, Being John Lennon swerves dead-hero worship. What survives is the complicated, enduringly fascinating man -- Victoria Segal * Sunday Times *Connolly draws on his archive conversations with the Beatles to give a superb portrait of a dissatisfied star who couldn't stop reinventing himself * Daily Telegraph *Connolly tells the story with a fitting, powerful sense of drama. * DAILY MAIL *Connolly perfectly captures the shabby conformism and deference of post-war Britain that the Beatles would help to overturn. He handles their much-told tale with welcome concision ... He deals with the difficult subject of Yoko deftly ... there was never a Saint John - the man in Ray Connolly's account is much more human, and much more lovable * Observer *'[John Lennon] would probably enjoy this very fair biography... Connolly's book presents him as neither saint nor sinner but captures with honesty a complex and fascinating character. Lennon's is an oft-told story but Connolly still unearths nuggets about the insecurities that shaped his life, and the collaboration and rivalry with Macca that created magic * The Sun *An intimate biography that finds much to say that is new about the head Beatle * Choice Magazine *Excellent -- Helen Brown * Daily Telegraph Music Books of the Year *Ray Connolly's Being John Lennon is an excellent portrait of the man. * CHOICE MAGAZINE *

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Book SynopsisAn exploration of Radiohead's game-changing album. Rather than simply reinforcing Kid A's canonical status, it situates the album in the temporal, examining it from various philosophical and cultural interpretations of time in order to arrive at its political and social stakes.Trade Review"A growing Alexandria of rock criticism - Los Angeles Times, 2008 Ideal for the rock geek who thinks liner notes just aren't enough - Rolling Stone One of the coolest publishing imprints on the planet - Bookslut"Table of ContentsKid Aesthetics; Kid Advertising; Kid Apolitical; Kid Association; Kid Ascension.

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Book SynopsisAn extraordinary selection of revealing letters to and from one of the titans of 20th-century musicTrade Review“With their intellectual brilliance, humour and wonderful eye for detail, Leonard Bernstein’s letters blow all biographies out of the water. His galaxy of correspondents includes Stephen Sondheim, Boris Pasternak and Jacqueline Kennedy. Full of fresh information and the authentic voice of a constant seeker.”—The Economist (named a 2013 Book of the Year)“His collaborator Betty Comden once noted, in a letter to Bernstein, that he saved ‘every scrap of correspondence.’ You will be grateful . . . a rich collection of letters to and from Bernstein, filled with revelations about his musical and personal lives.”—James R. Oestreich, New York Times“Bernstein’s versatility and ambition were such that he spent a lot of time trying to figure out who he was—which also meant searching for American music and for the future of music generally. This book doesn’t resolve Bernstein’s quest. But it’s an invaluable resource, and the quest itself continues to fascinate and to matter.”—Joseph Horowitz, Wall Street Journal“A rich selection of letters to and from Bernstein, meticulously edited by Nigel Simeone. . . . Alive with spontaneous intelligence, Leonard Bernstein’s letters display exactly this unforced intimacy, though there were moments when he no doubt knew that posterity was listening in.”—Morris Dickstein, Times Literary Supplement“His letters have a tremendous zest, and a good journalistic eye, too, and since he was often at the right place at the right time, at some of the key moments in his 20th-century history, this gives them a wider interest.”—Christopher Hart, Sunday Times“The correspondence from and to the remarkable conductor is full of pleasure and insights.”—New York Times Book Review (Editors’ Choice)“This volume has been handsomely edited, and the decision to include letters from Bernstein’s correspondents results in a rich portrayal of a particular age of privilege.”—Philip Hensher, The Guardian“Like Britten, Bernstein was an assiduous correspondent, and The Leonard Bernstein Letters is a vast, absorbing canvas of a life lived at full speed, with a cast list that reads like a who’s who of American cultural life in the 20th century.”—Adam Lively, Sunday Times“Simeone’s choice of letters [are] superbly amplified by his exhaustively researched footnotes, which manage to identify and flesh out even the most obscure of his subject’s multifarious correspondents.”—Stephen Walsh, The Spectator“For . . . eloquent and moving testimony read the entry for 25 November 1963 in The Leonard Bernstein Letters edited by Nigel Simeone, the contents of which give an . . . overview of a liberal American century.”—Chris Ford, The Guardian“[A] fascinating selection of correspondence edited by Nigel Simeone. . . . The Leonard Bernstein Letters is indeed a written reflection of the man himself—fascinating, discursive, frequently brilliant.”—Ken Smith, Fontes Artis Musicae“A marvelously entertaining new book. . . . The Leonard Bernstein Letters makes it possible to take stock of Bernstein’s weaknesses—his enthusiasm could lead to sentimentality, and clearly his fame became a kind of bubble. But these pale in comparison with his energy, joy, and absolute dedication to music. It’s sad to think that our culture will probably never produce someone like him again.”—Adam Kirsch, Tablet magazine“It is a major, highly accomplished piece of work in its own right.”—Illtyd Harrington, Camden New Journal“The Leonard Bernstein Letters . . . contains so much that is startling and unknown that all past books, including his own, become instantly inadequate. Don’t take my word for it. On the jacket, Bernstein’s official biographer, Humphrey Burton, declares that, with this book in hand, ‘I want to start all over again.’”—Norman Lebrecht, Standpoint Magazine“In Nigel Simeone’s editorial labour of love The Leonard Bernstein Letters some of the most entertaining letters come from Bernstein’s correspondents.”—Sameer Rahim, Sunday Telegraph“Opinions [are] expressed with force and often with elegance in his correspondence with performers, composers, publishers, promoters and many other else, as revealed in The Leonard Bernstein Letters, edited by the eminent Bernstein scholar Nigel Simeone.”—Christopher Morley, Birmingham Post“The Leonard Bernstein Letters will be pounced upon by aficionados. . . . Christmas reading doesn’t come any better.”—International Record Review“[The] extraordinary archive, The Leonard Bernstein Letters, [is] edited meticulously by Nigel Simeone.”—Jenni Frazer, Jewish Chronicle“[H]ats off to Nigel Simeone for his painstaking research into the myriad references in Bernstein’s correspondence. Concerts, recordings, broadcasts, travel dates, parties, you name it, they are all meticulously recorded in the brilliant footnotes to this large collection of letters. . . . A magisterial survey.”—Fiona Clampin, Classical Music“Top of my list for music books this Christmas has to be the new compendium of Leonard Bernstein’s collected letters which are brilliantly written, seriously engaging, and strangely contradictory, in the way that Bernstein was himself a mass of fascinating contradictions—egocentric/loving, boastful/blisteringly honest, gay/straight; with a curious ambivalence, for a Jew, towards the remnants of the Third Reich.”—Ham & High“[W]hat emerges is an absorbing and highly readable portrait of a complex, larger-than-life character nicely described by a fellow-composer as ‘one of the blessed ones who make everything they encounter come alive.’”—Anthony Burton, BBC Music Magazine“The . . . mainly unpublished correspondence both from and to Bernstein, between 1932 and 1990, shines a light on this unique figure’s thoughts, work and passions, his voice ringing clear with warmth and candour. . . . He was a remarkable artist and human being—elusive in his complexity, yet evoked, through these letters, with undeniable presence.”—Teresa Levonian Cole, Country Life“Offering 650 letters, this book is a major event in the documentation of the life and work of one of the greatest American musicians, who still exercises an enormous influence through his revelatory records.”—Peter Dickinson, Gramophone Magazine“What terrifying letters you write: fit for the flames is what they are. Just imagine how much you would have to pay to retrieve such a letter forty years from now when you are conductor of the Philharmonic.”—Aaron Copland to Leonard Bernstein in 1940“This incredible collection of letters gives us a glimpse into the depth and breadth of Bernstein’s world. The sheer volume of correspondence, all beautifully presented and annotated by Nigel Simeone, shows us that Bernstein loved the written word as much as the musical word!”—Marin Alsop, musical director, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra“With their intellectual brilliance, humour and wonderful eye for detail, Leonard Bernstein’s letters blow all biographies out of the water. His galaxy of correspondents includes Stephen Sondheim, Boris Pasternak and Jacqueline Kennedy. Full of fresh information and the authentic voice of a constant seeker.”—The Economist (named a 2013 Book of the Year) * The Economist *“His collaborator Betty Comden once noted, in a letter to Bernstein, that he saved ‘every scrap of correspondence.’ You will be grateful . . . a rich collection of letters to and from Bernstein, filled with revelations about his musical and personal lives.”—James R. Oestreich, New York Times -- James R. Oestreich * New York Times *“Bernstein’s versatility and ambition were such that he spent a lot of time trying to figure out who he was—which also meant searching for American music and for the future of music generally. This book doesn’t resolve Bernstein’s quest. But it’s an invaluable resource, and the quest itself continues to fascinate and to matter.”—Joseph Horowitz, Wall Street Journal -- Joseph Horowitz * The Wall Street Journal *“A rich selection of letters to and from Bernstein, meticulously edited by Nigel Simeone. . . . Alive with spontaneous intelligence, Leonard Bernstein’s letters display exactly this unforced intimacy, though there were moments when he no doubt knew that posterity was listening in.”—Morris Dickstein, Times Literary Supplement -- Morris Dickstein * TLS *“His letters have a tremendous zest, and a good journalistic eye, too, and since he was often at the right place at the right time, at some of the key moments in his 20th-century history, this gives them a wider interest.”—Christopher Hart, Sunday Times -- Christopher Hart * The Sunday Times *“The correspondence from and to the remarkable conductor is full of pleasure and insights.”—New York Times Book Review (Editors’ Choice) * New York Times Book Review *“This volume has been handsomely edited, and the decision to include letters from Bernstein’s correspondents results in a rich portrayal of a particular age of privilege.”—Philip Hensher, The Guardian -- Philip Hensher * The Guardian *“Like Britten, Bernstein was an assiduous correspondent, and The Leonard Bernstein Letters is a vast, absorbing canvas of a life lived at full speed, with a cast list that reads like a who’s who of American cultural life in the 20th century.”—Adam Lively, Sunday Times -- Adam Lively * The Sunday Times *“Simeone’s choice of letters [are] superbly amplified by his exhaustively researched footnotes, which manage to identify and flesh out even the most obscure of his subject’s multifarious correspondents.”—Stephen Walsh, The Spectator -- Stephen Walsh * The Spectator *“For . . . eloquent and moving testimony read the entry for 25 November 1963 in The Leonard Bernstein Letters edited by Nigel Simeone, the contents of which give an . . . overview of a liberal American century.”—Chris Ford, The Guardian -- Chris Ford * The Guardian *“Exhaustive, thrilling [and] indispensable.”—Elysa Gardner, USA Today, starred review -- Elysa Gardner * USA Today *“Energetic, intimate . . . an eye-opening volume: a glimpse into the personal life of a legend.”—Jeff Lunden, NPR “Weekend Edition Sunday” -- Jeff Lunden * NPR "Weekend Edition Sunday" *“Bernstein emerges as highly literate, compassionate, astonishingly busy and gifted almost beyond measure.”—Kirkus Reviews (starred review) * Kirkus Reviews *“A hugely entertaining chronicle of a enviable life, and a trove of musical and show-business gossip.”—Adam Kirsch, New Republic -- Adam Kirsch * The New Republic *“[It’s] full of both serious and gossipy correspondence between the musical genius and such friends as Stephen Sondheim, Betty Comden and Aaron Copland.”—Joe Meyers, CTNews.com -- Joe Meyers * CTNews.com *“A document of a golden age.”—Jimmy So, Daily Beast -- Jimmy So * The Daily Beast *“The book—consisting of 650 letters both from and to Bernstein, dated between 1932 and 1990—is not merely interesting. It is fascinating, enlightening and a veritable page-turner that will keep you up nights, ruin your sleep and wreak all sorts of havoc for 600 pages.”—Steve Suskin, Playbill -- Steve Suskin * Playbill *“Magnificent and long-awaited.”—Maria Popova, Brain Pickings -- Maria Popova * Brain Pickings *“Simeone has managed to encapsulate a central tradition in the history of music of the last century as seen through the correspondence of one of its most important exponents.”—Paul Seydor, Absolute Sound -- Paul Seydor * Absolute Sound *“This anthology of Bernstein’s correspondence, assembled by Nigel Simeone, shines a light on the famous conductor and composer’s private thoughts.”—WQXR.org * WQXR.org *“Time and again, The Leonard Bernstein Letters demonstrate how the composer and conductor lived in overdrive.”—Carol Oja, Harvard Magazine -- Carol Oja * Harvard Magazine *“[Bernstein’s] manifold legacy, including these letters, lives on.”—John Simon, Weekly Standard -- John Simon * Weekly Standard *“Opens a window into the world of one of the most accomplished and brilliant artists of the 20th century.”—Irene Javors, Harvard Gay and Lesbian Review -- Irene Javors * Harvard Gay and Lesbian Review *“A marvelously entertaining new book. . . . The Leonard Bernstein Letters makes it possible to take stock of Bernstein’s weaknesses—his enthusiasm could lead to sentimentality, and clearly his fame became a kind of bubble. But these pale in comparison with his energy, joy, and absolute dedication to music. It’s sad to think that our culture will probably never produce someone like him again.”—Adam Kirsch, Tablet magazine -- Adam Kirsch * Tablet magazine *“It is a major, highly accomplished piece of work in its own right.”—Illtyd Harrington, Camden New Journal -- Illtyd Harrington * Camden New Journal *“The Leonard Bernstein Letters . . . contains so much that is startling and unknown that all past books, including his own, become instantly inadequate. Don’t take my word for it. On the jacket, Bernstein’s official biographer, Humphrey Burton, declares that, with this book in hand, ‘I want to start all over again.’”—Norman Lebrecht, Standpoint Magazine -- Norman Lebrecht * Standpoint Magazine *“In Nigel Simeone’s editorial labour of love The Leonard Bernstein Letters some of the most entertaining letters come from Bernstein’s correspondents.”—Sameer Rahim, Sunday Telegraph -- Sameer Rahim * The Sunday Telegraph *“Opinions [are] expressed with force and often with elegance in his correspondence with performers, composers, publishers, promoters and many other else, as revealed in The Leonard Bernstein Letters, edited by the eminent Bernstein scholar Nigel Simeone.”—Christopher Morley, Birmingham Post -- Christopher Morley * Birmingham Post *“The Leonard Bernstein Letters will be pounced upon by aficionados. . . . Christmas reading doesn’t come any better.”—International Record Review * International Record Review *“[The] extraordinary archive, The Leonard Bernstein Letters, [is] edited meticulously by Nigel Simeone.”—Jenni Frazer, Jewish Chronicle -- Jenni Frazer * Jewish Chronicle *“[H]ats off to Nigel Simeone for his painstaking research into the myriad references in Bernstein’s correspondence. Concerts, recordings, broadcasts, travel dates, parties, you name it, they are all meticulously recorded in the brilliant footnotes to this large collection of letters. . . . A magisterial survey.”—Fiona Clampin, Classical Music -- Fiona Clampin * Classical Music *“Top of my list for music books this Christmas has to be the new compendium of Leonard Bernstein’s collected letters which are brilliantly written, seriously engaging, and strangely contradictory, in the way that Bernstein was himself a mass of fascinating contradictions—egocentric/loving, boastful/blisteringly honest, gay/straight; with a curious ambivalence, for a Jew, towards the remnants of the Third Reich.”—Ham & High * Ham & High *“[W]hat emerges is an absorbing and highly readable portrait of a complex, larger-than-life character nicely described by a fellow-composer as ‘one of the blessed ones who make everything they encounter come alive.’”—Anthony Burton, BBC Music Magazine -- Anthony Burton * BBC Music Magazine *“The . . . mainly unpublished correspondence both from and to Bernstein, between 1932 and 1990, shines a light on this unique figure’s thoughts, work and passions, his voice ringing clear with warmth and candour. . . . He was a remarkable artist and human being—elusive in his complexity, yet evoked, through these letters, with undeniable presence.”—Teresa Levonian Cole, Country Life -- Teresa Levonian Cole * Country Life *“Offering 650 letters, this book is a major event in the documentation of the life and work of one of the greatest American musicians, who still exercises an enormous influence through his revelatory records.”—Peter Dickinson, Gramophone Magazine -- Peter Dickinson * Gramophone Magazine *“What terrifying letters you write: fit for the flames is what they are. Just imagine how much you would have to pay to retrieve such a letter forty years from now when you are conductor of the Philharmonic.”—Aaron Copland to Leonard Bernstein in 1940 -- Aaron Copland“This incredible collection of letters gives us a glimpse into the depth and breadth of Bernstein’s world. The sheer volume of correspondence, all beautifully presented and annotated by Nigel Simeone, shows us that Bernstein loved the written word as much as the musical word!”—Marin Alsop, musical director, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra -- Marin Alsop

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Book Synopsis''The ideal interpreter of the Ring ... a fascinating and valuable study ... absorbing and convincing'' Sunday TimesThe Ring of the Nibelung is one of the greatest works of art created in modern times. Roger Scruton''s brilliant and passionate exploration of the drama, music, symbolism and philosophy of Wagner''s masterpiece - with its themes of love, death, sacrifice and freedom - shows how, ultimately, it expresses the truth about the human condition. ''Highly original and penetrating ... tremendous'' Tim Blanning, Literary Review''A rich, historical account ... After reading this book, only the most unadventurous reader would turn down the chance to see Wagner''s masterpiece'' Economist''A brilliant gallop through the master''s religious, musical and philosophical contexts'' Sue Prideaux, Spectator''Scruton is one of the finest philosopher-musicians since Schopenhauer'' Jonathan Gaisman, StandpointTrade Reviewa masterpiece, all told the best book on Wagner I have ever read -- Michael Tanner * Literary Review *After reading this book, only the most unadventurous reader would turn down the chance to see Wagner's masterpiece. * Economist *Roger Scruton is in many ways the ideal interpreter of the Ring -- Adam Lively * The Sunday Times *Highly original and penetrating ... he writes about the music authoritatively but comprehensibly... lucidly, cogently and even entertainingly -- Tim Blanning * Literary Review *Admirably lucid ... a perceptive and detailed account ... constantly enlightening commentary -- Lucy Beckett * Tablet *

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Book SynopsisINCLUDES COMPLETE JOHN LENNON LYRICS FOR THE FIRST TIMELennon's life after the Beatles was eventful and fascinating. He moved from stardom in the world's biggest pop group to global peace campaigner and figurehead for radical causes. He left England for a new life in the USA with Yoko Ono. He later abandoned public life and retired to his New York apartment to raise their son and live the life of a recluse. In 1980 he re-emerged with a new album, but the plan to resume his career was cruelly curtailed on a fateful night outside the Dakota Building when he was murdered.Upon first publication, this book was the first to examine and assess all of John Lennon's solo work. This updated edition includes lyrics and is released on the 40th anniversary of his death and the 80th anniversary of his birth.Table of ContentsIntroduction • Shining On • John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band • Imagine • Some Time in New York City • Mind Games • Walls and Bridges • Double Fantasy • Milk and Honey • Long Lost John • Discography • Index.

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Book SynopsisHank Shteamer is a writer and musician living in Brooklyn. He covers music for Time Out New York, The Wire and various other outlets, including his personal blog, Dark Forces Swing Blind Punches. He also plays in the band STATS.Table of ContentsAcknowledgements Introduction: "These guys got no future"—Ween beat the odds Before Chocolate and Cheese, part I: "We both loved to hear ourselves on tape": Ween's humble originsBefore Chocolate and Cheese, part II: Subsidized scribbles: Pure Guava and the underdog mystiqueAfter Chocolate and Cheese: "We can pull off our fantasies"—Ween comes into their own Chocolate and Cheese, part I: The making of... Chocolate and Cheese, part II: The songsChocolate and Cheese, part III: The artworkOutro: "The hardest thing to get"—Ween's autonomy

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Book SynopsisFrom Prince's superstardom to studio seclusion, this second book in the award-winning Prince Studio Sessions series spotlights how Prince, the biggest rock star on the planet at the time, risked everything to create some of the most introspective music of his four-decade career. Duane Tudahl takes us on an emotional and intimate journey of love, loss, rivalry, and renewal revealed through unprecedented access to dozens of musicians, singers, studio engineers, and others who worked with him and knew him best—with never-before-published memories from the Revolution, the Time, the Family, and Apollonia 6. Also included is a heartfelt foreword by musical legend Elton John about his time and friendship with Prince.Trade ReviewIn this second Prince Studio Sessions series, Tudahl continues to explore the annals of Prince’s voracious creative drive, even while touring the Purple Rain album at a pinnacle of his stardom. Working day-by-day and session-by-session, Tudahl meticulously recreates Prince’s daily timeline in 1985 and 1986 while layering in a heap of technical information about the production process, equipment, and mixes that were created (many vaulted, still unheard). Brief snippets of information provide context for Prince’s surroundings, the people he worked with, and concurrent events, but the focus remains on the music and how it poured out of Prince wherever he was, whether on the road or back at the studio. While these years weren't all glory—Prince sustained blows like the failure of his directorial debut Under the Cherry Moon, his decision not to participate in the “We Are the World” recording, and wavering public opinion after strutting around with his bodyguards at awards shows—it seems to have had little effect on his creativity and productivity. Compulsively readable and hugely useful to researchers, this dense chronology will command the rapt attention of casual fans and scholars alike. -- Booklist (starred review)In this second Prince Studio Sessions series, Tudahl continues to explore the annals of Prince’s voracious creative drive, even while touring the Purple Rain album at a pinnacle of his stardom. Working day-by-day and session-by-session, Tudahl meticulously recreates Prince’s daily timeline in 1985 and 1986 while layering in a heap of technical information about the production process, equipment, and mixes that were created (many vaulted, still unheard). Brief snippets of information provide context for Prince’s surroundings, the people he worked with, and concurrent events, but the focus remains on the music and how it poured out of Prince wherever he was, whether on the road or back at the studio. While these years weren't all glory—Prince sustained blows like the failure of his directorial debut Under the Cherry Moon, his decision not to participate in the “We Are the World” recording, and wavering public opinion after strutting around with his bodyguards at awards shows—it seems to have had little effect on his creativity and productivity. Compulsively readable and hugely useful to researchers, this dense chronology will command the rapt attention of casual fans and scholars alike. * Booklist, Starred Review *Tudahl continues his Prince saga in this laudatory book, which is a meticulously researched day-by-day account of Prince’s songwriting, recording, and live performances during 1985 and 1986. It chronicles the making of the film Under the Cherry Moon and the albums Around the World in a Day, Parade, and Sign o’ the Times. Using interviews with Prince’s fellow musicians and studio engineers, Tudahl painstakingly describes the importance of each stage rehearsal, concert, and song mix, and creates an intimate portrait of the singer, songwriter, and actor. Prince emerges as a controlling, sometimes generous, many times denigrating, wildly creative workaholic who became increasingly imperious after his Purple Rain stardom. The second installment in Tudahl’s Prince chronology is a treasure trove for fans. * Library Journal *The 600-plus-page tome captures Prince’s arguably most creative era in fascinating detail. More than anything else in Prince’s life, the recording sessions and tour dates — i.e. the music — provided the framework for everything else in that life, and Tudahl expertly weaves the details into the music that was made at the time. This book is something fans can savor for months on end. * Variety *Duane Tudahl's work has now become must-reads for Prince aficionados. Prince may be the most important musical artist of the latter half of the twentieth century and this book underlines this with zero fanfare. Just read the magic, as it rolls from day to day. Amazing stuff. * The Aquarian Weekly *A new book by Duane Tudahl, Prince and the Parade & Sign O’ The Times Era Studio Sessions: 1985 and 1986, provides a definitive account of two heady years that followed Prince’s Purple Rain breakthrough, climaxing with his completion of a mammoth three-record set that would be pared down into Sign o’ the Times. * Washington Independent Review of Books *[A] thick daily chronicle of Prince's recording sessions in those two years, which means it's essentially a daily chronicle of Prince's life. As Tudahl documents here (and in his equally essential predecessor volume focusing on the Purple Rain era), days when Prince was in no way involved in a recording project were rare for his entire adult life.... Tudahl's book is a sizable tome, but it's readable throughout: you're left thinking that there are few better ways to understand Prince than to see his life through the lens of the recording studio, which was always his temple. * The Current *For a second time, author and Prince historian Duane Tudahl set out to do something that could never be questioned or contradicted when it came to telling Prince‘s real story. Painstakingly digging through hundreds, if not thousands, of studio work orders, interviews with band members who were there (print and audio), and cross-referencing notes and statements. Then he put it all in chronological order and arduously documented the sources to alleviate any questions any naysayers may have.... The details of Prince‘s work ethic and recording habits are mind boggling and staggering. Even people who claim to know even the smallest details of Prince‘s life have to hand the crown to Duane Tudahl. His exhaustive and comprehensive research was poured over in order to verify and check every detail for authenticity and become the undisputed document of record of Prince‘s life both in and out of the studio.... It is by far the most entertaining and thorough history of Prince that has or will ever exist. Duane Tudahl has accomplished the impossible by capturing lightning in a bottle twice. Through hard work and commitment to honor the legacy of Prince, his in-depth knowledge and storytelling mastery shines on every page. These two books are now the standard by which all books about Prince will be judged. Every Prince fan should add this book to their collection now. * Funkatopia *Presented in diary form across the two years in question, we're granted access to concerts, video shoots, studio sessions and soundchecks, which allows us to track Prince's creative progress. We see in detail how songs grow from a germ of on idea recorded on tape during a soundcheck to becoming some of the most recognizable tracks of oil time. Every recording session is documented, songs taking on various forms, held in the vaults until they find a home on a project. Compiled from hundreds of interviews with a dream wishlist of Prince's closest collaborators, including Wendy Melvoin, Lisa Colemon, Brownmark and Bobby Z, arranger Clare Fischer, sound engineer Susan Rogers, Sheila E and Eric Leeds, Tudahl's book is on access-all­-areas pass to the star's creative hub and the closest thing to being in the studio with him. Contributions from Susannah Melvoin (Prince's girlfriend at the time) offer a rare, more personal side to the star and illustrate how he was impacted by his relentless work ethic and rarely switched off. Meticulously researched, superbly presented - the day-by-day format really is akin to having a peek at Prince's diary. With a handful of previously unpublished photographs, this is on indispensable addition to the collection of any fan of the Purple One. A fascinating insight into the elusive world of Prince during one of his most creative periods, this meticulously researched and respectful account includes insights from hundreds of his collaborators and closest confidantes, resulting in an immersive experience that’s as close to being in the studio with the Purple One as it’s possible to have * Classic Pop Magazine *Duane Tudahl's in-depth research combined with the vast number of people interviewed for this stunning series makes this new book, about perhaps Prince's artistically most interesting time of his career, another must-read. -- jooZt Mattheij, editor of PrinceVault.comThe only thing better than reading about Prince’s music is listening to it. Duane Tudahl inspires us to do both. -- Alan Leeds, tour manager, production manager for PrinceDuane is the quintessential Prince historian. This book will definitely give you accurate insight into his creative process. -- Matt "Dr. Fink" Fink, member of The Revolution, Prince’s keyboard playerDuane Tudahl set the bar high with his previous book. I’m glad to say that the sequel, Prince and the Parade and Sign “O” the Times Era Studio Sessions: 1985 and 1986, is even better. The book contains many interesting musical and lyrical observations by Duane, providing undisputed proof that he is the leading scholar of Prince’s work. -- Per Nilsen, author of The Vault and Dance, Music, Sex, RomanceAn excellent and thorough account of the creative process. A must read for anyone interested in understanding the complexities and vicissitudes of Prince’s musical journey. -- Albert Magnoli, writer and director of Purple RainHistorians and scholars will have Duane Tudahl to thank for the meticulous effort he has brought to understanding Prince Rogers Nelson through the lens of how he spent his days. -- Susan Rogers, Prince's recording engineer (1983-1988)I have often wondered if the legacy of Prince would remain in good hands. After reading Duane Tudahl’s works, I am sure it is. -- Levi Seacer Jr., member of the New Power Generation, Prince’s bass player and guitaristThe work coming from Duane Tudahl is top notch. It’s a singular and superlative work. -- Wendy Melvoin, member of The Revolution, Prince’s guitaristPrince and the Parade and Sign “O” the Times Era Studio Sessions is such an invaluable resource that you'll wonder how you ever tried navigating this transformative period of Prince's work without it. -- Andrea Swensson, host, Minnesota Public Radio's The CurrentThank you Duane for keeping Prince and all of our hard work and legacy’s alive. -- Bobby Z, member of The Revolution, Prince's drummerDuane is the one person who has managed to pull all of the different threads together and represent Prince's work in the best possible way. -- Craig Mortimer-Zhika, Prince MuseumTable of ContentsPrefaceJanuary 1985February 1985March 1985April 1985May 1985June 1985July 1985August 1985September 1985October 1985November 1985December 1985January 1986February 1986March 1986April 1986May 1986June 1986July 1986August 1986September 1986October 1986November 1986December 1986Epilogue

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Book SynopsisPaul Kildea's Benjamin Britten: A Life in the Twentieth Century is the definitive biography of Britain's greatest modern composer - now in paperbackBenjamin Britten was Britain's greatest twentieth-century composer, who broke decisively with figures such as Elgar and Vaughan Williams and recreated English music in a fresh, modern, European form. Paul Kildea's biography has been acclaimed as the definitive account of Britten's extraordinary life, exploring his deeply held and controversial pacifism; his complex forty-year relationship with Peter Pears; and his creation of an artistic community in Aldeburgh. Above all, however, this book helps us understand the relationship of Britten's music to his life, and takes us as far into its unique alchemy as we are ever likely to go.PAUL KILDEA is a writer and conductor who has performed many of the Britten works he writes about, in opera houses and concert halls from Sydney to Hamburg. His previous books include Selling Britten (2002) and (as editor) Britten on Music (2003). He was Head of Music at the Aldeburgh Festival between 1999 and 2002 and subsequently Artistic Director of the Wigmore Hall in London, and lives in Berlin.'Must now rank as the standard work' Financial Times'Indispensable ... This is a masterly, highly readable account and the most comprehensive to date of the life and work of one of the 20th century's great musical figures' Barry Millington, Evening Standard'[A] wise, cautious, challenging book ... Kildea's verbal explorations of the music are done with level-headed sensitivity leavened by a quirky lightness of touch' Alexandra Harris, New StatesmanTrade ReviewIndispensable ... This is a masterly, highly readable account and the most comprehensive to date of the life and work of one of the 20th century's great musical figures -- Barry Millington * Evening Standard *[A] wise, cautious, challenging book ... Kildea's verbal explorations of the music are done with level-headed sensitivity leavened by a quirky lightness of touch -- Alexandra Harris * New Statesman *

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Book SynopsisA complete new edition of Beethoven's conversation books, now translated into English in their entirety for the first time, covering a period associated with the revolutionary style of what we call "late Beethoven". Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) is recognized the world over as a composer of musical masterpieces exhibiting heroic strength, particularly in the face of his increasing deafness from ca. 1798. By 1818, the Viennese composer hadbegun carrying blank booklets with him, for his acquaintances to jot their sides of conversations, while he answered aloud. Often, he himself used the pocket-sized booklets to make shopping lists and other reminders, including occasional early sketches for his compositions. Today, 139 of these booklets survive, covering the years 1818 up to the composer's death in 1827 and including such topics as music, history, politics, art, literature, theatre, religion, and education as perceived on a day-to-day basis in post-Napoleonic Europe. An East German edition, begun in the 1960s and essentially complete by 2001, represents a diplomatic transcription of these documents. It is a masterpiece of pure scholarship but is difficult to use for anyone who is not a specialist. Moreover, Beethoven scholarship has moved on significantly since the long-ranging genesis of the German edition. These important booklets arehere translated into English in their entirety for the first time. The volumes in this series include an updated editorial apparatus, with revised and expanded notes and many new footnotes exclusive to this edition, and brand newintroductions, which together place many of the quickly changing conversational topics into context. Due to the editor's many years of research in Vienna, his acquaintance with its history and topography, as well as his familiarity with obscure documentary resources, this edition represents an entirely new venture in source studies - vitally informative for scholars not only in music but also in a wide variety of disciplines. At the same time, these oftenlively and compelling conversations are now finally accessible for the English-speaking music lover or history buff who might want to dip into them and hear what Beethoven and his friends were discussing at the next table. THEODORE ALBRECHT is Professor of Musicology at Kent State University, Ohio.Trade Review[T]hese volumes are welcome additions to the literature. They contain much of value for those interested in the last decade of Beethoven's life, particularly concerning his social circle, his daily routine, and his ideas and beliefs. One can only hope that the remaining ten volumes are published soon. -- Marten Noorduin * NOTES, THE QUARTERLY JOURNAL OF THE MUSIC LIBRARY ASSOCIATION *Featured in the10 must-read books for Beethoven 250, * BBC MUSIC MAGAZINE *There are several more interesting musical jottings.including several sketches for parts of the Missa Solemnis as well as numerous canons, often to scurrilous lyrics...Another rather poignant aspect of volume 2 is the appearance in the conversation books of Beethoven's poor nephew Karl...monologues also show that Beethoven was extremely interested in contemporary European politics and events...Boydell Press are again much to be thanked for their involvement in the publication of these fascinating documents which reveal so much about the composer. * THE CONSORT *A heroic feat of scholarship...these truncated conversations are extraordinary revealing. * BBC MUSIC MAGAZINE *A brilliantly accessible piece of scholarship. . . . As they flash from scene to scene, with a huge cast of characters taking turns in the spotlight, these extraordinary little books read like a film script, with a laconic but massive presence at its heart. It's a goldmine for music historians, and a riveting saga for the rest of us. -- Michael Church * BBC Music Magazine *Table of ContentsHeft 9 (March 11, 1820 - March 19, 1820) Heft 10 (March 20, 1820 - ca. April 1, 1820) Heft 11 (April 1, 1820 - April 14, 1820) Heft 12 (ca. April 18, 1820 - April 29, 1820) Heft 13 (May 1 or 2, 1820 - May 10, 1820) Heft 14 (ca. June 2, 1820 - ca. July 4, 1820) Heft 15 (ca. July 7/8, 1820 - August 19, 1820) Heft 16 (ca. August 25, 1820 - mid-September, 1820) Appendix A: Descriptions of the Conversation Books in Volume 2 Bibliography

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Book SynopsisRichard Wagner is one of the influential and also the polarizing composers in the history of music. Over the course of his long career, he produced a stream of spellbinding works that challenged musical convention through their experimentation, paving the way for modernism. This title offers an overview of Wagners life, work and times.Trade Review'An excellent book … lavishly illustrated, with photographs and portraits of the leading participants in Wagner’s astounding life … this book should be on every budding Wagnerian’s shelves' - Opera Now'The Wagner book of the bicentenary … sumptuous … If you only read one book about Wagner, make it this one … Puts the great man into context and perspective, and this is a wonderfully readable book about a musical genius. Simply fantastic' - Books Monthly'A balanced and beautifully illustrated compendium of life and works, written in Millington’s easy-to-read style' - Financial Times (Best Books of 2012)'Exemplary lucidity whether outlining an opera plot or musical structure, unravelling a complex philosophical argument or adjudicating a contentious socio-political issue' - Opera'The most readable of books, engagingly presented and beautifully produced - with striking illustrations on good paper that make it a pleasure to turn the pages' - Ham & HighTable of Contents1. Father of the Man: Paternity and Childhood • 2. Learning the Craft: Youthful Apprenticeship • 3. Earning his Keep: First Professional Appointments • 4. Under the Yoke: Kapellmeister in Dresden • 5. The Eternal Wanderer: Der fliegende Holländer • 6. Desperately Seeking Venus: Tannhäuser • 7. Swansong to Traditional Opera: Lohengrin • 8. Revolutionary Road: Uprising in Dresden • 9. The Zurich Years: Wagner’s Exile in Switzerland • 10. The Rise and Fall of Valhalla: Der Ring des Nibelungen • 11. ‘Most Excellent Friend': Franz Liszt • 12. Muses, Mistresses and Mother-Figures: Wagner’s Women • 13. The Behemoth of Bayreuth: Wagner’s Personality • 14. Always Short: Wagner and Money • 15. In the Pink: The Role of Silks and Satins in Wagner’s Life • 16. ‘My Adored and Angelic Friend’: Ludwig II • 17. Fatal Attraction: Tristan und Isolde • 18. ‘Art is What Matters Here’: Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg • 19. Grit in the Oyster: Anti-Semitism in Wagner’s Life and Work • 20. Creative Spark: Sources of Inspiration in Wagner’s Work • 21. The Silent Sufferer: Cosima Wagner • 22. Tribschen Interlude: The Lucerne Years • 23. A Home for the Gods: The Bayreuth Project • 24. Wagner’s Last Card: Parsifal • 25. Death in Venice: The Events of Wagner’s Last Days • 26. Perfect and Imperfect Wagnerites: The Spread of the Wagner Cult • 27. Panning for Gold: Wagner and Cinema • 28. Swastikas Over Bayreuth: Wagner and the Third Reich • 29. Regime Change: The Grandsons Usher In the Era of New Bayreuth • 30. Renewing the Legacy: Bayreuth Today and in the Future • Family Tree

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Book SynopsisA new edition of Humphrey Burton''s celebrated biography of Leonard Bernstein, published to coincide with the centenary of his birth. With a new introduction by the author.Humphrey Burton''s biography remains the essential account of American music''s dominant figure.' Alex RossComposer, pianist, author, television teacher, Harvard lecturer, cultural icon, humanist and conductor without peer, Leonard Bernstein''s versatility was legendary. He captivated Broadway with such hits as On the Townand West Side Story and introduced middle America to classical music with his Young People''s Concerts on television. He composed three symphonies and a full-length opera, and he inspired the world''s leading orchestras to give some of the most memorable performances of the twentieth century.Humphrey Burton was given exclusive access to Bernstein''s rich legacy of letters and papers, and the book draws on hundreds of interviews with family, frie

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Book SynopsisThe Rolling Stones have long been considered one of the greatest rock-and-roll bands of all time. At the forefront of the British Invasion and heading up the counterculture movement of the 1960s, the Stones' innovative music and iconic performances defined a generation, and fifty years later, they're still performing to sold-out stadiums around the globe. Yet, as the saying goes, behind every great man is a greater woman, and behind these larger-than-life rockstars were four incredible women whose stories have yet to be fully unpacked. . . until now.In Parachute Women, Elizabeth Winder introduces us to the four women who inspired, styled, wrote for, remixed, and ultimately helped create the legend of the Rolling Stones. Anita Pallenberg, Marianne Faithfull, Marsha Hunt, and Bianca Jagger put the glimmer in the Glimmer Twins and taught a group of straight-laced boys to be bad. They opened the doors to subterranean art and alternative lifestyles, turned them on to Russian literature, occult practices, and LSD. They connected them to cutting edge directors and writers, won them roles in art house films that renewed their appeal. They often acted as unpaid stylists, providing provocative looks from their personal wardrobes. They remixed tracks for chart-topping albums, and sometimes even wrote the actual songs. More hip to the times than the rockers themselves, they consciously (and unconsciously) kept the band current--and confident--with that mythic lasting power they still have today.Lush in detail and insight, and long overdue, Parachute Women is a group portrait of the four audacious women who transformed the Stones into international stars, but who were themselves marginalized by the male-dominated rock world of the late '60s and early '70s. Written in the tradition of Sheila Weller's Girls Like Us, it's a story of lust and rivalries, friendships and betrayals, hope and degradation, and the birth of rock and roll.

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Book SynopsisPresents an examination of the classic "Pavement" album, including interviews with band members and record label staff. This book pays attention to Malkmus' growth as a musician and songwriter, both of which are evident everywhere on Wowee Zowee.Trade ReviewCharles puts himself in the center of the book—we read about his aimless college years in Michigan and his discovery of Pavement, whose songs initially seem half hearted, even bratty, but actually contain an undertow of emotion that's hard to articulate. Charles' writing is the same way. He succinctly captures the flavor of being in one's late teens and early 20s without going into unnecessary detail. Finishing school, he undergoes that arduous, interminable crisis of figuring out what to do with life, discovering that one of the only things that still makes sense is Pavement. Charles returns to the band time and again, the music weaving a thread through his life. The book includes unvarnished interviews with members of the band, providing an honest, first-person account of the making of the record. But the heart of the book isn't Pavement; it's Charles, and novelist or no, he has turned in one of the best pieces of rock journalism in recent memory—a no-bullshit, heartfelt manifesto of fandom. * The Portland Mercury *At the core of every 33 1/3 book is the question of roping in readers who may be unfamiliar with the band or album, but Charles is able to resituate Pavement as the everyman band they were during the 90s payday. From tales of major label flirtations (which the band is quick to dismiss as nothing more than random dalliances with the powers-that-be) to the band's reputation as slackers (which finds Stephen Malkmus tossing aside by pointing out the band's relentless touring schedule), Charles covers much more than the time period of Wowee Zowee without abandoning the album's specific importance in their catalog. Part history lesson, part fanzine love letter, Bryan Charles has written a book that is as ambitious and yet as untethered as his subject matter. * Tiny Mix Tapes *[Charles has written] an oral history about the genesis and recording of Pavement's Wowee Zowee album that is infused with his own personal fandom of the band. Charles paints a vivid picture of the band as it wrote and recorded the album through interviews with band members and the creatives who surrounded the production of the album, all the while sharing his own experiences with the album and as a Pavement fan.Mixing the album's history with Charles' own works exceedingly well, and captures not only the essence of Pavement when they recorded Wowee Zowee, but also the indie rock culture of the time. * Largehearted Boy *Pavement’s third album isn’t the most obvious choice for a 33 1/3 book … But the series is more concerned with telling new stories than in re-telling old ones, and Bryan Charles relishes the opportunity to argue for a personal favorite. Wowee Zowee may have been a flop (he even admits a ‘lack of excitement’ when he first heard it), but he shows how the album has gradually revealed a new cohesiveness governing its scattershot aesthetic over the last two decades and how it is now revered by the same listeners who initially shrugged their shoulders. -- Stephen M. Deusner * Pitchfork *

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Book SynopsisHe is known as the Mark Twain of American songwriting, a man who transformed the everyday happenings of regular people into plainly profound statements on war, industrialization, religion, and the human condition. Marking the 50th anniversary of the album's release, John Prine chronicles the legendary singer-songwriter's Middle American provenance, and his remarkable ascent from singing mailman to celebrated son of Chicago.Illegal Smile, Hello in There, Sam Stone, Paradise, Your Flag Decal Won't Get You Into Heaven Anymore, Far from Me, Donald and Lydia, and Angel from Montgomery are considered standards in the American Songbook, covered by legions of Prine's peers and admirers. Through original interviews, exhaustive research, and incisive commentary, author Erin Osmon paints an in-depth portrait of the people, places, and experiences that inspired Prine's landmark debut.After exploring his roots in rural Western Kentucky and suburban Maywood, Illinois, the book takes readers oTrade ReviewErin Osmon’s new book on John Prine, his eponymous 1971 debut, is a gift for fans of the plainspoken singer and this career-making album. * Chicago Reader *Osmon writes about the history of Prine's musical beginnings right up to when his debut was released and how the importance of that record has grown, establishing Prine as one of America's great songwriters. * BETA - Wisconsin Public Radio *Extensively researched while economically written, you couldn’t ask for a better literary guide to an Americana classic. * Spectrum Culture *Table of ContentsPreface Acknowledgments 1. Ten Miles West 2. Down by the Green River 3. We Come for to Sing 4. A Winning Hunch 5. The Singing Mailman 6. And Then He Has You 7. The Earl 8. The Best Damned Songwriter 9. The Bitter End 10. Thinking and Feeling 11. Midwestern Mindtrips Notes Bibliography

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Book SynopsisThrilling.' John Banville, GuardianThe Eighth Symphony was going to be different from anything Mahler had ever done before: it would speak in different tones, and of a different kind of experience. The world premiere in Munich in the summer of 1910 was the artistic breakthrough for which the composer had yearned all his adult life. Stephen Johnson recounts the symphony's far-reaching effect on composers, conductors and writers of the time. Placing Mahler within his world, The Eighth reassesses Mahler's work in the context of the prevailing thought of his age, but also against the backdrop of that tumultuous summer, when Mahler worked desperately on his Tenth Symphony, was betrayed by his wife, and consulted Sigmund Freud. It is a story like no other.

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Book Synopsis(Percussion). Neil Peart''s ten appearances on the cover of Modern Drummer magazine span the years 1980, when he was five albums and several tours into his historic run with the Canadian progressive rock band Rush, and 2020, the year of his passing. No other drummer has come close to appearing so many times on the front of a drum publication, certainly not the world''s most recognized one. This, the first installment in Modern Drummer magazine''s Legends book series, collects all nine of Peart''s cover stories, plus the complete contents of his May 2020 Modern Drummer tribute issue. Highlights include analyses of Neil''s performances on every Rush studio album, a survey of the evolution of his famous live drumkits, transcriptions of deep Rush cuts, dozens of photos, and much more.

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Book Synopsis2019 marks the golden anniversary of the mass musical gatherings that saw the hippie generation at their 1969 zenith. Two events stand out, staged within days of each other that magical August: in the United States, there was Woodstock, and in the UK the Isle of Wight Festival of Music. Woodstock drew 400,000 fans and a quality bill that was a Who's Who of contemporary talent - all bar the main man the organisers hoped to lure on the doorstep of his home, Bob Dylan. Instead, Dylan opted to headline at the Isle of Wight, in front of close to 200,000 adoring fans. Here Bill Bradshaw celebrates the events of that summer 50 years on... and how the Isle of Wight, off England's southern coast, staged what was then the nation's biggest festival - and how it pulled off such a huge coup. Eye-witness accounts from fans, artists and the promoters bring alive that gilded summer and how it influenced both Dylan and the rock festival movement for generations to come.

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Book SynopsisA compelling portrait of composer-performer Julius Eastman's enigmatic and intriguing life and music. Composer-performer Julius Eastman (1940-90) was an enigma, both comfortable and uncomfortable in the many worlds he inhabited: black, white, gay, straight, classical music, disco, academia, and downtown New York. His music, insistent and straightforward, resists labels and seethes with a tension that resonates with musicians, scholars, and audiences today. Eastman's provocative titles, including Gay Guerrilla, Evil Nigger, Crazy Nigger, and others, assault us with his obsessions. Eastman tested limits with his political aggressiveness, as reflected in legendary scandals like his June 1975 performance of John Cage's Song Books, which featured homoerotic interjections, and the uproar over his titles at Northwestern University. These episodes are examples of Eastman's persistence in pushing the limits of the acceptable in the highly charged arenas of sexual and civil rights. In addition to analyses of Eastman's music, the essays in Gay Guerrilla provide background on his remarkable life history and the era's social landscape. The book presents an authentic portrait of a notable American artist thatis compelling reading for the general reader as well as scholars interested in twentieth-century American music, American studies, gay rights, and civil rights. This Life of Sounds: Evenings for New Music inBuffalo received an ASCAP Deems Taylor Award for excellence. Mary Jane Leach is a composer and freelance writer, currently writing music and theatre criticism for the Albany Times-Union.Trade ReviewJulius Eastman enjoyed the admiration of peers such as Morton Feldman, Meredith Monk and Pierre Boulez. Here, highly engaging essays by those who knew Eastman well recall him as a person and assess his brilliance. While there are amusing anecdotes about his more madcap moments...the overall message is that he was an artist deserving of significant respect. * BBC MUSIC MAGAZINE *[Eastman's work] effectively rewrote the history of post-war American New Music, restoring to its narrative a gay black voice creating a liberating, high-energy form of organic minimalism. * THE GUARDIAN *It is eminently readable throughout. * JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL MUSIC STUDIES *[The book will be] a starting point for others who want to engage with Julius Eastman as a performer, scholar, or composer. * ARSC JOURNAL *A picture of [Eastman]--charismatic performer, magnetic personality and emotional escape artist--that puts his work in a context larger and more representative. * BAY AREA REPORTER *A composer of visionary power, a singer with a cavernous bass voice, a collaborator with the diverse likes of Meredith Monk and Pierre Boulez, Eastman had long been a fixture of the New York Music scene....Part of the pleasure of Eastman's rediscovery has been the belated, deserving reinsertion of a black, gay figure into music history. * THE NEW YORK TIMES *Outspoken about his own identity as a black queer man...Eastman was ahead of his time. His music is politics by other means, in search of a form, alighting toward a future that could grant him dignity, when he could be something other than an abstraction. * THE NEW YORKER *A fascinating new collection of essays exploring the life and work of the enigmatic composer Julius Eastman...who worked fluently in jazz, improvisation and acoustical experiments. An indication of his impact is the very fact that so many people have come together [in this book] to remember him and are actively championing his music. * ALBANY TIMES-UNION *The publication of this rigorously researched, lovingly produced, multidimensional study of a singular artist will surely be met with joy by those of us who remember Julius Eastman--the inspired creator, the sly provocateur and martyred saint of the avant-garde. For those who are interested in iconoclasts of whatever stripe, this volume will be a revelation and an invitation to rethink what composition, performance, and life at the precipice of madness can be.-- -- Bill T. Jones, choreographer and dancerThis book has arrived just in time for Black Lives Matter and gets my deepest praise. This important volume of essays brought forth by two brilliant women who have long championed Eastman's music, belongs in every music conservatory library and beyond.-- -- Pauline Oliveros, composerTable of ContentsForeword by George E. Lewis Acknowledgments Introduction: Julius Eastman and His Music - Renee Levine Packer Julius Eastman, A Biography - Renee Levine Packer Unjust Malaise - David Borden The Julius Eastman Parables - R. Nemo Hill Julius Eastman and the Conception of "Organic Music" - Kyle Gann Julius Eastman Singing - John Patrick Thomas An Accidental Musicologist Passes the Torch - Mary Jane Leach A Flexible Musical Identity: Julius Eastman in New York City, 1976-90 - Ryan Dohoney Evil Nigger: A Piece for Multiple Instruments of the Same Type by Julius Eastman (1979), with Performance Instructions by Joseph Kubera - David Borden A Postminimalist Analysis of Julius Eastman's Crazy Nigger - Andrew Hanson-Dvoracek "The Piece Does Not Exist without Julius": Still Staying on Stay On It - Matthew Mendez Connecting the Dots - Mary Jane Leach Gay Guerrilla: A Minimalist Choralphantasie - Luciano Chessa Appendix: Julius Eastman Compositions - Mary Jane Leach Chronology Selected Bibliography List of Contributors Index

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Book SynopsisGet a completely new look at guitar legend Eddie Van Halen with this groundbreaking oral history, composed of more than fifty hours of interviews with Eddie himself as well as his family, friends, and colleagues.When rock legend Eddie Van Halen died of cancer on October 6, 2020, the entire world seemed to stop and grieve. Since his band Van Halen burst onto the scene with their self-titled debut album in 1978, Eddie had been hailed as an icon not only to fans of rock music and heavy metal, but to performers across all genres and around the world. Van Halen's debut sounded unlike anything that listeners had heard before and remains a quintessential rock album of the era. Over the course of more than four decades, Eddie gained renown for his innovative guitar playing, and particularly for popularizing the tapping guitar solo technique. Unfortunately for Eddie and his legions of fans, he died before he was ever able to put his life down to paper in his own words, and much of his compelling backstory has remained elusiveuntil now. In Eruption, music journalists Brad Tolinski and Chris Gill share with fans, new and old alike, a candid, compulsively readable, and definitive oral history of the most influential rock guitarist since Jimi Hendrix. It is based on more than 50+ hours of unreleased interviews they recorded with Eddie Van Halen over the years, most of them conducted at the legendary 5150 studios at Ed's home in Los Angeles. The heart of Eruption is drawn from these intimate and wide-ranging talks, as well as conversations with family, friends, and colleagues. In addition to discussing his greatest triumphs as a groundbreaking musician, including an unprecedented dive into Van Halen's masterpiece 1984, the book also takes an unflinching look at Edward's early struggles as young Dutch immigrant unable to speak the English language, which resulted in lifelong issues with social anxiety and substance abuse. Eruption: Conversations with Eddie Van Halen also examines his brilliance as an inventor who changed the face of guitar manufacturing.As entertaining as it is revealing, Eruption is the closest readers will ever get to hearing Eddie's side of the story when it comes to his extraordinary life.

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Book SynopsisThis is a complete examination of all the songs from David Bowie's golden years, which extends from his days as a mod saxophonist through to his astonishing 1980 hit album, Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps). His songs run the gamut from extraordinary to esoteric but were always written from the heart.

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewThis concise but remarkably comprehensive book is essential reading for music creators. It fills a significant gap. The organ, despite its great history and exciting contemporary presence, has hitherto hardly figured at all in orchestration guides. Composers will find ideas, encouragement and inspiration within these pages. * Judith Weir CBE, Master of the King's Music *This is essential reading for any lover of the organ as a reminder of how historical and important the instrument is. For anyone unfamiliar with the organ, it will be a fascinating journey of discovery, wonderfully written and informative. It could have been so easily dry and predictable, but it is the antithesis of that. What a superb piece of work. * David Hill MBE, President, Royal College of Organists *Table of ContentsIntroduction Chapter 1: Introduction to the organ Overview Organ Building Trends Historic Organs Common Mistakes Extended Techniques Chapter 2: Registration Overview Main Stop Categories Principals Flutes Strings Reeds Other Categories Foundations Mixtures Mutations Miscellaneous Stops Couplers Registration Aids General Pistons Divisional Pistons Crescendo Pedal Chapter 3: The Manuals Overview Idiomatic Writing Non-Chordal Techniques Chordal Techniques Playing on Multiple Manuals Chapter 4: The Pedals Overview Idiomatic Writing Double/Multi-Pedalling The Pedals in Context Chapter 5: Other Types of Organ Overview Chamber Organ Harmonium Theatre Organ Hammond Organ Chapter 6: The Organ in Ensemble Overview Organ and Choir Organ and Orchestra Concertos Organ and Chamber Ensembles Organ and Electronics

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Book SynopsisFrom 1975, through the eighties, re-activated in the nineties and a slight return in 2016-18, Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow took its fans on numerous journeys from the grandiose beginnings with Ronnie James Dio to the chart busting times with Graham Bonnet and Joe Lynn Turner. And again in the nineties with Doogie White as lead vocalist, and finally stepping out for the last time in the twenty-first century for a handful of shows allowing a new generation of fans to have the opportunity of hearing Rainbow live on stage. In this hefty tome Jerry Bloom charts Rainbow’s full career with great detail and information, along with a huge raft of superb imagery that covers the entire career. Aside from band photos, the visual element is enhanced with rare memorabilia and artifacts.

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Book SynopsisAn absorbing, wide-ranging and incisive biography of celebrated composer Sergei Prokofiev.

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Book SynopsisA stunning musical biography of Stevie Nicks that paints a portrait of an artist, not a caricature of a superstar. Reflective and expansive,Mirror in the Skysituates Stevie Nicks as one of the finest songwriters of the twentieth century. This biography from distinguished music historian Simon Morrison examines Nicks as a singer and songwriter before and beyond her career with Fleetwood Mac, from the Arizona landscape of her childhood to the strobe-lit Night of 1000 Stevies celebrations. The book uniquely: Analyzes Nicks's craftthe grain of her voice, the poetry of her lyrics, the melodic and harmonic syntax of her songs. Identifies the American folk and country influences on her musical imagination that place her within a distinctly American tradition of women songwriters. Draws from oral histories and surprising archival discoveries to connect Nicks's story to those of California's above- and underground music industries, innovations in recording technology, and gendered restrictions.Trade Review"Written with respect and admiration, Mirror in the Sky analyzes Stevie Nicks’s music with care, noting how it expressed the sentiments of a generation." * Foreword Reviews *"Morrison’s extensively researched biography does not shy away from Nicks’s battles with addiction and emphasizes how as a woman musician, she has had to work harder and be better than the men around her. Nicks fans will appreciate Morrison’s care in the details of her songwriting and the song production." * Library Journal *"Stevie Nicks the artist whirls to life in these pages, a woman fiercely committed to her own blazing imagination and powers of perception. With meticulous research, a light touch and understated wit, Simon Morrison charts the rise in influence of Fleetwood Mac's black-laced, iron-willed sylph, whose irrepressible freedom continues to haunt the past and present of popular music and female artistry." * Sarah Kaufman, Washington Post *[E]nlightening . . . I enjoyed reading Mirror in the Sky . . . Most important, Morrison sent me back to Nicks’s catalogue, including gems I’d overlooked or missed." * Air Mail *"A richly crafted yet never fawning biography of one of rocks most beloved and iconic artists. Awe inspiring in detail but never too technical, Morrison writes a highly accessible book for both the casual fan and the true aficionado. One comes away with a heightened appreciation for Nicks musical talent as well as her very unique journey. One of the best written and most articulate music biographies in recent memory." * Eddie Dalva, Executive Vice President, MTV Networks *"There are lots of music biographies out there, but few are as in-depth, intelligently written, and expertly researched as Mirror in the Sky. Penned by Simon Morrison, the book extends beyond a simple recap of the events, as it analyzes the songwriting craft of Nicks, places her within a greater artistic context of American folk and country, and dives deep into the archives to produce the most accurate account possible." * Consequence Sound *"[Morrison’s] narrative centers on Stevie’s remarkable gifts as a songwriter, musical artist, and visionary, which have been historically downplayed by journalists and even her musical partners. Delving into the 'fandom,' Mirror in the Sky is refreshingly different from past books on Stevie Nicks." * Stevie Nicks info site *"A warmly affectionate and discerning critical biography." * Stuart Mitchner *"The analyses of Nicks’s songs, both monumental and lesser lights, are spellbinding. . . . Another important note about this book is Morrison’s respectful voice and tone in his interpretation of Nicks’s persona and of feminism in general. . . . I strongly recommend this biography for all collections of popular music." * Notes *"Mirror in the Sky would make a great addition to any academic library or public library music collection. Simon Morrison has experience writing for both academic and general audiences, and Mirror in the Sky reflects an academic writing style through his attention to detail within research while providing a story enjoyable for any rock music fan." * Music Reference Services Quarterly *Table of ContentsIntroduction: Crystal Visions 1. StephanieA.J. • Fritz • Van Nuys • Alabama 2. Stevie"Landslide" • "Rhiannon" • Glunk Glunk • BDE • The White Album • Rumours • “Dreams” • Maryland • “I Don’t Want to Know” • Love and Hate • Tusk • "Angel" • "Sara" • “Storms” • Luna • Disappeared Years • The Kingston Trio • "The Goldfish and the Ladybug" 3. Bella Donna"Stop Draggin' My Heart Around" • Age of Seventeen • "After the Glitter Fades" • "Bella Donna" • Face to Face • Sharon and Lori • Ghosts • "Designs of Love" • “Gypsy” • The Wild Heart • "Beauty and the Beast" • "Stand Back" • Joe • "Don't Come Around Here No More" • Rock a Little • Live at Red Rocks 4. Sara "Welcome to the Room, Sara" • Tango in the Night • "Joan of Arc" • Rupert • The Nadir • Twister • Trouble in Shangri-La • Say You Will • Someone She Used to Know • In Your Dreams • Fred and Ginger • MusiCares 5. 24 Karat GoldExcept for Mabel • Mabel Conclusion: A Thousand Stevies Acknowledgments Appendix 1: Demos Appendix 2: Fandom Notes Index

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Book SynopsisA new year for David Bowie means new clothes, new boots, new hair and a new name: Ziggy Stardust. To the gloomy blacked-out Britain of powercuts and three-day weeks he may as well be from outer space - if that's what it takes to make him famous, far be it from him to tell anyone he isn't. Bowie's success as the bisexual Starman soon rubs off on his new friends Mott The Hoople and his hero Lou Reed as 1972 becomes Annus Glamrockus. Music, fashion and the old codes of gender will never be the same again. But as his runaway fame quickly blurs all lines between fantasy and reality, neither will David. The third volume of the Bowie Odyssey series offers a wild and revelatory snapshot of the year of Ziggy as Simon Goddard continues his vivid real-time journey through the decade Bowie changed pop forever.Trade Review'A stonking good read' Mike Scott, The Waterboys 'Deep dive into the year Bowie achieved glam lift-off. Goddard's narrative is immersive, novelistic as he gets as deep inside as he can of the Bowie experience of 1972' Classic Rock, 9/10 'In which Ziggy touches down and Bowie takes off... The third instalment of Simon Goddard's wonderful Bowie Odyssey series' Record Collector, 4* 'David Bowie was at the Big Bang of my music consciousness. Simon Goddard’s immersive yearly look at the world in which Bowie operated, have become a must read for me. I’m very much looking forward to 1972.' Tim Burgess

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Book SynopsisA love letter to Harry Styles, a pop star who’s a sign of the times. Now with stickers!The world may have had to say goodbye to One Direction, but that hasn’t stopped Harry Styles from stealing our hearts. From the swoop of his boy band bangs to his sheer Gucci look on the runway, the singer, actor and all-around dreamboat is a tour de force of a cultural icon. But our love is deeper than his great choices in fashion. Did you know that Shania Twain is one of his idols? That he knows how to knit? That he’s bffs with Stevie Nicks? And that he’s generous with his money, donating to a long list of charities?This book is packed with 50 tidbits of Harry Styles trivia and some very serious collages. Billie Oliver can only pray that he one day sees it and graces her with a DM. (A girl can hope.) This Special Edition now includes totally heartable stickers!

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Book SynopsisBuddy Holly died in 1959. He was just 22 years old. Don McLean called that fatal day 'The Day the Music Died'. But, his music hasn't died, as he left us a wonderful legacy. Spencer Leigh's highly-readable biography Buddy Holly: Learning the Game is the most definitive account of Buddy Holly and his career.Trade Review'A highly-readable mix of impeccable research, first-hand testimonies and a personal critique on Holly's life, career and music. First-rate.' Michael Leonard, Vintage Rock. 'I was deeply touched by Spencer leigh's Words of Love about Buddy Holly. This book will ensure that the legacy of one of rock's greatest icons will Not Fade Away.' Gary Osborne, songwriter. 'Spencer Leigh is a fine writer and good researcher and I certainly enjoyed what he had to say about Buddy Holly.' Hunter Davies, author, journalist and broadcasterTable of ContentsForeword by Frank Ifield ............................................................................................v Acknowledgements...................................................................................................vii Introduction...............................................................................................................xi Timeline: Everyday, it’s a-gettin’ Closer...................................................................xiv Chapter 1. Never Mind the Lubbocks........................................................................1 Chapter 2. Tighten up Your Bible Belt......................................................................11 Chapter 3. Buddy and Bob.......................................................................................17 Chapter 4. Shock of the New....................................................................................29 Chapter 5. The Tex-New Mex Sound.......................................................................41 Chapter 6. The Rhythm Method ..............................................................................49 Chapter 7. Here I Go, Breaking All of the Rules.......................................................80 Chapter 8. Gotta Travel On....................................................................................121 Chapter 9. Buddy Holly Lives ................................................................................143 Chapter 10. Grave On............................................................................................152 Chapter 11. Listen To Me.......................................................................................158 I. I Can’t Believe it’s Not Buddy....................................................................... 158 II. Influencing the 60s....................................................................................... 161 III. Cover Versions – it’s so Easy, or is it?.......................................................... 166 IV. Family Connections..................................................................................... 172 Chapter 12. The Buddy Holly Story.......................................................................173 I. The Buddy Holly Story.................................................................................. 173 II. Buddy........................................................................................................... 177 III. Buddy on the Box....................................................................................... 180 IV. From Lubbock to Liverpool ........................................................................ 181 Chapter 13. The Crickets and Their Buddies .........................................................185 Chapter 14. Now and Forever Till the End of Time ...............................................203 I. Those Who Really Care ................................................................................ 203 II. What If ........................................................................................................ 207 x That’s What They Tell Me: The Contributors........................................................209 Bibliography ...........................................................................................................216 Appendix 1. Discographies.....................................................................................221 UK Discography............................................................................................... 221 US Discography................................................................................................ 230 Appendix 2. Some Buddies.....................................................................................234 Tribute Songs.................................................................................................... 234 Tribute Albums................................................................................................. 235 Cover Versions................................................................................................. 237 Appendix 3. Bye Bye Miss American Pie ................................................................242 Index ......................................................................................................................245

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Book SynopsisAn artist in every sense of the word, Lhasa de Sela wowed audiences around the globe with her multilingual songs and spellbinding performances, mixing together everything from Gypsy music to Mexican rancheras, Americana and jazz, chanson française, and South American folk melodies. In Canada, her album La Llorona won the Juno Award and went gold, and its follow-up, The Living Road, won a BBC World Music Award. Tragically, de Sela succumbed to breast cancer in 2010 at the age of thirty-seven after recording her final album, Lhasa.Tracing de Sela’s unconventional life and introducing her to a new generation, Why Lhasa de Sela Matters is the first biography of this sophisticated creative icon. Raised in a hippie family traveling between the United States and Mexico in a converted school bus, de Sela developed an unquenchable curiosity, with equal affinities for the romantic, mystic, and cerebral. Becoming a sensation in MontTrade Review[Why Lhasa de Sela Matters] gets to the heart of what made de Sela such a singular and beloved talent…Goodman's book makes a wonderful case for continued reverance. * CBC Music *Why Lhasa de Sela Matters...is an intimate portrait of the creativity that resulted from the collision of a hopeful and hopeless romantic. Goodman narrates the challenges and possibilities of living a nomadic life, and how those challenges and possibilities impacted Lhasa as an artist, a sister, a daughter, a partner, and a loving human being. * Boing Boing *Fred Goodman has uncovered the story of an obscure, adventurous singer who refused to take the easy path…[A] slim but absorbing book. * Rolling Stone *[An] engrossing new biography. * Los Angeles Times *Why Lhasa de Sela Matters captures the lightning-in-a-bottle of her life and music. * Please Kill Me *A compelling and valuable biography…Goodman probes de Sela's upbringing with surgical skill. * FYI Music News *Goodman's book captures the beauty of de Sela's life and music...[an] insightful biography. * No Depression *Goodman's account relies heavily on interviews he conducted with Lhasa's family, friends, and musical collaborators, and to give each of them as much space as he does is welcome, illuminating Lhasa through the primary legacy she left for her loved ones. The argument that Goodman sets out to make—that Lhasa is worth remembering—is proven time and again by the stories her intimates tell to memorialize her. * Athenaeum Review *Goodman crafts an enchanting story that's nothing less than modern musical mythology…While [Why Lhasa de Sela Matters] features deft prose and taut pacing, the hallmark of the book is Goodman's otherworldly interview skills. Specifically, his ability to weave together an immense amount of direct quotations from Lhasa's inner circle and her own interview archives makes for a fresh and vital reading experience...Goodman invites you to first wrap yourself in this tragic tale of a life cut down in its prime, and then dive headlong into the music she created. * Bearded Gentlemen Music *Through gripping, dynamic storytelling, [Goodman] paints a lavish portrait of this sometimes-nomadic and temperamental, yet lovable artist…Why Lhasa de Sela Matters is a long, winding tale, with amazing highs and decimating lows, all about a rare and old soul, someone who was taken from this life far too soon. Fans and the uninitiated alike will be equally enthralled by this lovely and all-too-short story—one that is incredibly difficult to put down. * Exclaim! *Why Lhasa de Sela Matters is an eloquent argument on behalf of the late singer. * Shepherd Express *[Why Lhasa de Sela Matters] goes a long way to giving some overdue—and, sadly, posthumous—credit to a singer with a unique voice that was always seeking new musical roads. * On Milwaukee *[Why Lhasa de Sela Matters is] a slim but illuminating book that fills a gap and serves a dual purpose: the ideal introduction for Lhasa neophytes, it also offers fans entry into deeper currents of her music and sensibility. In the process, it amply justifies its title. * Montreal Gazette *Table of ContentsPrologue Chapter 1. A Flock of Black Sheep Chapter 2. The Wailing Woman Chapter 3. The Paradox Chapter 4. Mile End Chapter 5. Bells Postscript: “The Girl-Fish”: A Catalonian Folktale as Recounted by Andrew Lang in The Orange Fairy Book Acknowledgments Notes

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Book Synopsis''Present Tense is an anthology to savour . . . giving you as sharp a portrait of this unknowable band as you could hope for . . . Radiohead fans will love it'' Classic RockA Rock''s Backpages anthology of Radiohead, the most radical and fascinating rock band in modern music history, edited and introduced by Barney Hoskyns.For over 25 years, Radiohead have been the most radical and fascinating rock band in the world. Fearless in their desire to change and shape-shift, the Oxfordshire quintet has - through the nine studio albums from 1993''s Pablo Honey to 2016''s A Moon-Shaped Pool - consistently stretched the boundaries of what ''rock'' means and does. Anchored in Thom Yorke''s soaring voice and elliptical lyrics, and in the compositional genius of guitarist/keyboardist Jonny Greenwood, Radiohead continue to astonish as they approach their fourth decade.Present Tense collects the best writing on this most liteTrade ReviewPresent Tense is an anthology to savour . . . giving you as sharp a portrait of this unknowable band as you could hope for . . . Radiohead fans will love it * Classic Rock *

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Book Synopsis''In ancient tales many marvels are told us ... now you may hear such marvels told!''The greatest of the heroic epics to emerge from medieval Germany, the Nibelungenlied is a revenge saga of sweeping dimensions. It tells of the dragon-slayer Sivrit, and the mysterious kingdom of the Nibelungs with its priceless treasure-hoard guarded by dwarves and giants, of Prünhilt the Amazonian queen, fortune-telling water-sprites and a cloak of invisibility. Driven by the conflict between Kriemhilt, the innocent maiden turned she-devil, and her antagonist, the stoic, indomitable Hagen, the story is one of human tragedy, of love, jealousy, murder, and revenge, ending in slaughter on a horrific scale. The work of an anonymous poet of c.1200, since its rediscovery in the eighteenth century the Nibelungenlied has come to be regarded as the national epic of the Germans. It has inspired countless reworkings and adaptations, including two masterpieces: Fritz Lang''s two-part film, and Richard Wagner''s Ring cycle.This is the first prose translation for over forty years: accurate and compelling, it is accompanied by a wealth of useful background information. ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World''s Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford''s commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.Trade ReviewIt makes for glorious reading. * Yann Martell, 'What is Stephen Harper Reading?' *A new translation by Cyril Edwards, the most faithful to date to the Nibelungenlied. * Bettina Bildhauer, TLS *For a taste of the original style in English, Edwards's is now the best translation. * Bettina Bildhauer, TLS *This magnificent story...now brought to an English speaking audience in a new translation by Cyril Edwards, (is) the most faithful one to date... the Nibelung legend is still li ttle known in the anglophone world (except to Wagnerians). But a narrative of such splendour and importance deserves a wide audience outside the walls of the academy. * Bettina Bildhauer, Times Literary Supplement *The power and immediacy of this translation offers unparalleled insight into a forgotten world. * Editor's Choice, Good Book Guide *A gripping tale, packed with violent incident...the poem's history is fascinating. * Editor's Choice, The Good Book Guide *

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Book SynopsisThe extraordinary life of one of the world’s greatest music and literary icons, in the words of those who knew him best.Poet, novelist, singer-songwriter, artist, prophet, icon—there has never been a figure like Leonard Cohen. He was a true giant in contemporary western culture, entertaining and inspiring people everywhere with his work. From his groundbreaking and bestselling novels, The Favourite Game and Beautiful Losers, to timeless songs such as “Suzanne,” “Dance Me to the End of Love,” and “Hallelujah,” Cohen is a cherished artist. His death in 2016 was felt around the world by the many fans and followers who would miss his warmth, humour, intellect, and piercing insights. Leonard Cohen, Untold Stories chronicles the full breadth of his extraordinary life. The first of three volumes—The Early Years—follows him from his boyhood in Montreal to university, and his burgeoning literary career to the world of music, culminating with his first international tour in 1970. Through the voices of those who knew him best—family and friends, colleagues and contemporaries, rivals, business partners, and his many lovers—the book probes deeply into both Cohen’s public and private life. It also paints a portrait of an era, the social, cultural, and political revolutions that shook the 1960s. In this revealing and entertaining first volume, bestselling author and biographer Michael Posner draws on hundreds of interviews to reach beyond the Cohen of myth and reveal the unique, complex, and compelling figure of the real man.Trade ReviewA Globe and Mail Top 100 Book of 2020“Posner undertook dozens and dozens of interviews . . . creating a unique oral history, as if they’re in a room together, sharing memories and stories. . . . They’re linked together with a light narrative voice that gives this biography a very intimate and personal feel.” — Toronto Star“The life of Leonard Cohen—poet, novelist, artist, Zen monk, and oh, yes, singer-songwriter—is too vast to be contained within one book. Thankfully, Posner is giving us three. . . . Posner draws on hundreds of interviews to explore Cohen’s private and public lives, his complexities and contradictions, and, of course, his inarguable charisma. Serve yourself some tea and oranges and settle in.” — Zoomer“Through these stories, a unique portrait of a young Leonard Cohen is revealed, with insights into not only his extraordinary life but also his timeless poetry and music.” — ANNE MURRAY, Grammy Award–winning singer“Posner masterfully weaves an abundance of interviews with Cohen’s family, friends, and myriad lovers to create an intricate tapestry and, ultimately, produces the most revealing portrait of the legendary songwriter and wordsmith to date.” — NICHOLAS JENNINGS, journalist and bestselling author of Lightfoot“Out of a welter of stories—from those who encountered Leonard Cohen as associate, friend, or lover—Michael Posner has shaped a fascinating multi-faceted portrait. Posner is indeed Cohen’s Boswell, no doubt about it.” — SEYMOUR MAYNE, poet, editor, and translator“Offers an impressively thorough excavation of stories, including some gems and, well, dirt. Together, [Posner’s] various positions and perspectives create a cubist portrait of the Montreal-born icon as a young man—and simultaneously an artist, intellectual, prankster, bon vivant, workaholic, and dabbler in everything . . . If Cohen’s your man and you’re his fan, you’ll want this book.” — Maclean’s“Posner masterfully weaves the story of the iconic musician’s life through hundreds of interviews with the people who knew him best, including family members, business partners, and lovers alike.” — Chatelaine“Leonard Cohen’s posthumous album in 2019 proved he still had something profound to say, even in death. This book likewise confirms that hundreds of others have their own tales to tell about the master songwriter. The first of three volumes, it covers his early life via a myriad of fascinating interviewees, from rabbis to lovers. . . . Give it to anyone who misses Cohen.” — Evening Standard“As the anecdotes accumulate up until 1970, they build a compelling picture of the worlds around [Cohen]—affluent Montreal suburbia, Canadian Jewish summer camps, beatnik coffeehouses, jetset bohemia—grounding his myth in solid context, enriching it with casual detail. . . . As with any good oral history, the stories and opinions slowly coalesce like pointillist dots, shifting into a complex portrait of a man stepping into his myth, becoming brilliant.” — MOJO Magazine“Sex, drugs, and poetry permeate this oral history of Leonard Cohen. . . . This book offers a seductive blend of sometimes contradictory insights.” — Library Journal“A detailed account of Cohen’s fascinating early life and career. For serious Cohen fans, it’s a page-tuner.” — Canadian Jewish Record“[The] multiple perspectives capture man and myth in tandem. For all of his gift for words, Cohen would have struggled to tell his story better himself.” — Uncut Magazine

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Book SynopsisHave you ever been carried away by a piece of classical music? In this funny, evocative, personal book, previously published as Music for the People: The Pleasures and Pitfalls of Classical Music', Gareth takes us on a journey of musical discovery that explains and entertains in equal measure.Have you ever been carried away by a piece of classical music? The sad song of a single violin might make us cry, but the idea of finding out more about classical music can often be intimidating. There are musical terms we don''t recognise, dead composers we can''t connect with, and a feeling that we were never given the right tools to appreciate, understand, and most importantly, enjoy classical music.So who better to cut through the misconceptions and the jargon than the star of BBC2''s Bafta award-winning series The Choir, Gareth Malone. Over the course of three series, Gareth has unearthed a passion for classical music in schoolchildren, reluctant teenage boys, and even a whole town. With his Trade Review'Why do we love Gareth? Seriously, you have to ask?'Daily Mail 'One of the most strangely beguiling presences television has ever uncovered: impish but laconic, funny and yet still resolute, reserved but shameless, camp but dignified - and clearly a bloody good choirmaster.'The Guardian About The Choir: 'As profoundly a moving piece of television as has ever been made'The Independent 'The mystery at the heart of The Choir is Malone's charisma'The Times

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Book SynopsisSteven Patrick Morrissey is one of the most original and controversial voices in the history of popular music. With The Smiths, he led the most influential British guitar group of the 1980s, his enigmatic wit and style defining a generation. As a solo artist, he has continued to broach subjects no other singer would dare.Worshipped by some, vilified by others, Morrissey is a unique rock and roll creation. The 300,000 words of Mozipedia make this the most intimate and in-depth biographical portrait of the man and his music yet. Bringing together every song, album, collaborator, key location, every hero, book, film and record to have influenced his art, it is the summation of years of meticulous research. Morrissey authority Simon Goddard has interviewed almost everybody of any importance, making Mozipedia the last word on Morrissey and The Smiths.Trade ReviewGenius ... the fullest portrait of Morrissey yet put to paper. Goddard has become what Hunter Davies is to The Beatles or Jon Savage is to punk; the number one authority on the subject * Q magazine *The next best thing to Morrissey’s autobiography * GQ magazine *A superb achievement * Mojo *The perfect gift for any Morrissey fan * Daily Telegraph *A witty, well-informed collection of fact and anecdote, full of fascinating bits and pieces * Uncut *

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Book SynopsisDiscover the untold history of reggae legends of Bob Marley and the original Wailers.The perfect must-read if you loved the film One Love.Over one dramatic decade, a trio of Trench Town R&B crooners, Peter Tosh, Bunny Wailer and Bob Marley, swapped their 1960s Brylcreem hairdos and two-tone suits for 1970s battle fatigues and dreadlocks to become the Wailers - one of the most influential groups in popular music. Now one of our best and brightest non-fiction writers examines the story of the influential reggae band.Charting their complex relationship, their fluctuating fortunes, musical peak, and the politics and ideologies that provoked their split, Colin Grant shows us why they were not just extraordinary musicians, but also natural mystics. And, following a trail from Jamaica through Europe, America, Africa and back to the vibrant and volatile world of Trench Town, he travels in search of the last surviving Wailer.''In Grant'Trade ReviewBy the end, the three central characters, the force that they became together and the forces that drove them apart... are more vividly portrayed than in any previous biography. What's more, Grant's clear, concise book, as well as revealing the Wailers in the light of their own culture, helps us to see into the heart of Jamaica itself, through the lives of three of its sons * Daily Telegraph *Grant has pulled off a remarkable feat in the telling of their individual stories... An absorbing read that sheds new light on the famous triumvirate -- Linton Kwesi Johnson * Wasafiri *The main merit of this perceptive work is that, by not making Marley its focus, it gets closer to the truth about him than most other biographers... Colin Grant has composed a highly evocative and original account of a misunderstood group, and the misunderstood man at its core * Literary Review *Provides a lively introduction to the life and times of the Wailers and, incidentally, to the neo-African religions and animist cults of beautiful, bedevilled Jamaica * Sunday Times *In Grant's hands life in Trench Town in the 1960's is energetic and theatrical, rich in comedy and tragic irony... Grant's original and stylish second book... This brilliant book is not just about Jamaica, but about ourselves, no longer the country of The King's Speech but a post-imperial nation many of whose citizens have a buried history. Read it also for Grant's acute descriptions of its characters * Guardian *

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Book SynopsisWagner was one of the few major composers who studied philosophy seriously. Bryan Magee places the composer''s artistic development in the context of the philosophy of his age, and gives us the first detailed and comprehensive study of the close links between Wagner and the philosophers - from the pre-Marxist socialists to Feuerbach and Schopenhauer. Magee explores the relationship between words and music, between the conscious and the unconscious mind, between art and philosophy. It tackles soberly and judiciously the Wagner whose paranoia, egocentricity and anti-semitism are repugnant, as well as the Wagner of artistic genius. The resulting text illuminates Wagner and the music-dramas in altogether new ways.

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Book SynopsisNo artist''s achievement connects more directly with early experience than that of Berlioz. David Cairns draws on a wealth of family papers to recreate in authentic and intimate detail the provincial milieu of Berlioz''s boyhood, showing how the son of a village doctor was already transforming himself into the composer of the Fantastic Symphony. Berlioz''s desperate attempts to win his father''s approval for his vocation, his struggles to establish himself on the Parisian musical scene, and his passionate pursuit of love are all brought vividly to life in this first volume of David Cairn''s award-winning biography.

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Book SynopsisIn Pick a Pocket Or Two, acclaimed author Ethan Mordden brings his wit and wisdom to bear in telling the full history of the British musical, from The Beggar's Opera (1728) to the present, with an interest in isolating the unique qualities of the form and its influence on the American model.Trade ReviewThe volume is meticulously researched, well organized, and eminently useful. It is highly recommended. * Debra Greschner, Journal of Singing *An excellent resource for those interested in the performing arts. * R. D. Johnson, emeritus, SUNY College at Oneonta, CHOICE *Musical theater aficionados are indebted to Mordden for his informative, well-written, lively volumes on musical theater. His oeuvre provides a superb chronicle of the American musical stage. In the present volume, Mordden crosses the Atlantic to examine the English musical theater. * R. D Johnson, CHOICE *An enjoyable read [...] the discography at the end of the book is especially entertaining. * Nick Wakeham, Musical Theatre Review *That Pick a Pocket Or Two is worthwhile will come as no surprise to anyone who's read, re-read and RE-re-read any or all of the works of this great musical theater historian. But an added bonus in each book is Mordden's distinctively great sense of humor. * Peter Filichia, Masterworks Broadway *Table of Contents1. Beginnings: In the Days of My Youth 2. G & S: Our Loving Frivoliyt 3. Toy Town: The Edwardian Musical 4. Charleston Mad: The 1910s and 1920s 5. And then a Violin Began to Play: Ivor Novello 6. Dancing with a Ghost: The 1930s and 1940s 7. Imagine the Duchess' Feelings: Noël Coward 8. It's Sort of Romantic: The 1950s 9. Behind the Times: Sandy Wilson and Julian Slade 10. Sweep My Off My Feet: The 1960s 11. The Little Things We Used to Do: The 1970s and 1980s 12. To Love Another Person is to See the Face of God: Pop Opera 13. With One Look I'll Be May: Andrew Lloyd Webber 14. A Little Bit Naughty: The Last Thirty Years Discography Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisFor this authoritative post-cold-war biography of Shostakovich''s illustrious but turbulent career under Soviet rule, Laurel E. Fay has gone back to primary documents: Shostakovich''s many letters, concert programs and reviews, newspaper articles, and diaries of his contemporaries. An indefatigable worker, he wrote his arresting music despite deprivations during the Nazi invasion and constant surveillance under Stalin''s regime. Shostakovich''s life is a fascinating example of the paradoxes of living as an artist under totalitarian rule. In August 1942, his Seventh Symphony, written as a protest against fascism, was performed in Nazi-besieged Leningrad by the city''s surviving musicians, and was triumphantly broadcast to the German troops, who had been bombarded beforehand to silence them. Alone among his artistic peers, he survived successive Stalinist cultural purges and won the Stalin Prize five times, yet in 1948 he was dismissed from his conservatory teaching positions, and many Trade Review"The rest of us can nevertheless be grateful for [Fay's] humble and herculean efforts, thanks to which Shostakovich can no longer be discussed in terms of black or white; her work has begun to make it possible to focus on the lasting inner life of the music and to think of the music's creator in fuller human terms."--The Boston Sunday Globe"The combined effects of scholarly incompetence, deliberate obfuscation, and the imposition of political agendas have made it nearly impossible to get a clear picture of the life of Shostokovich, one of the most fascinating figures in the cultural life of the twentieth century. Laurel Fay, the most patient of scholars, has done an amazing job of getting the material sorted out so as to be able to tell the compelling story of this troubled life. She is calm, bound by no political parti pris, and when even she has been defeated in her research she is not afraid to say 'I don't know'. Long awaited, this is an immensely important book and hugely welcome."--Michael Steinberg, author of The Symphony: A Listener's Guide and The Concerto: A Listener's Guide (OUP)."Fay's Shostokovich is not only the best biography in English or in any other West European language, it offers readers a factual accuracy and balanced perspective unmatched in post-Soviet era publications by Shostakovich specialists in the composer's homeland. Undaunted by the lurid debates surrounding Shostakovich's purported lifelong dissidence and the covert meaning of his music, Fay has produced exactly what we need at this stage in Shostokovich scholarship; a reliable and basic life and works--clear-eyed, straightforward, copiously researched, sympathetic, objective, and uncluttered by Cold-War and post-Cold-War myths."--Malcolm Hamrick Brown, Professor Emeritus of Music, Indiana University, and Founding Editor, Russian Music Studies

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Book SynopsisThe human body is the primary instrument of war, yet those waging war often confront soldiers'' bodies in a detached or merely intellectual way. In The Tenderness of Silent Minds, Martha C. Nussbaum, a leading thinker on emotion, morality, and justice, conducts a pioneering study of Benjamin Britten''s musical representations of the tender male body amidst the brutality of war, and their ability to transform consciousness by evoking potent, non-personal emotions.Offering a reading of Britten''s views about the value and beauty of the body that situates these in the context of his thirty-nine year partnership with his lover, the singer Peter Pears, and also surveying pacifist themes in works written both before and after War Requiem, Nussbaum presents a compelling framework for critically assessing Britten''s oeuvre. Nussbaum engages with a remarkably wide range of Britten''s works, examining his treatment of aggression and its roots in his collaborations with the poet W.H. Auden, offering readings of the value placed on the body in early partnerships with Britten''s beloved and singer Peter Pears, and surveying pacifist themes in Britten''s earlier works. The analysis throughout is enriched with perspectives from Britten''s personal letters and thoughtful study of the social and political backdrop of fear and homophobic disgust in mid-twentieth century Britain. According to Nussbaum''s interpretation, War Requiem confronts listeners with the reality of bodily experience in war, eliciting compassion by its depiction of beauty, vulnerability, and eroticism. Issuing a stern warning, it points the way to hope for postwar reconciliation. Nussbaum''s careful analysis of Britten''s score and its settings of both the Requiem Mass and Owen''s poems, their historic performance at Coventry, and its philosophical commitments, unveils a message of human love in a hostile world that resonates as powerfully today as in post-war Britain.

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Beautifully written and lavishly illustrated, with both modern photographs and 18th-century images, Exploring the World of Bach is an invaluable guidebook for any traveler wishing to explore Bach's Germany and Germany's Bach… A sophisticated and original piece of scholarship (including a superb bibliography and valuable appendix) which will be of great value to both Bach experts and novices for years to come."--Early Music America "An extraordinary accomplishment and an indispensable resource for anyone interested in the life and works of J. S. Bach. The authors combine in a single volume the results of the latest research and biographical studies in the form of an illustrated guide of the towns in which Bach lived and which he visited." --Don O. Franklin, The American Bach Society"For the academic, student, or aficionado who might not be able to travel to Germany, this resource provides an excellent gateway into the geopolitical world where Bach lived, produced music as performer and director, and composed."--Notes "It is equal parts social history, travelogue, memoir, and biography, making for a surprisingly engaging look at one of the most iconic musicians of all time." --RoguesPortal"The book is clear, intelligent, authoritative, and readable. Also, it is stocked with photos. . . . You may wonder whether Robert and Traute Marshall themselves have followed Back through Bach Country. They have. Every step. I wish I had done it with them. But you can do it, in a sense, through this book. . . . I esteem what the Marshalls have done."--Jay Nordlinger, The New Criterion"This book deserves a wide audience of both specialists and general readers." --BACH: Journal of the Reiemenschneider Bach Institute"This highly informative, practical, beautifully illustrated, and altogether inviting travel guide to Bach country has no equivalent. Robert and Traute Marshall describe both the principal stations and the lesser known places where Johann Sebastian Bach and members of this distinguished family of musicians lived and worked in a wonderful way. History is truly brought to life for the traveling music lover. Small as it is in terms of geographic extent, Bach's world becomes truly monumental and memorable in this extremely useful book."--Christoph Wolff, author of Johann Sebastian Bach: The Learned Musician"The vivid descriptions and images of the places where Bach visited or lived, and the latest in musicological research, make this book essential reading for everyone who wants to know more about his music, life, and world."--Mark Kroll, harpsichordist and author of Johann Nepomuk Hummel: A Musician's Life and World

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Book SynopsisLeigh H. Edwards explores Partons roles as musician, actor, author, philanthropist, and entrepreneur to show how her gender subversion highlights the challenges that can be found even in the most seemingly traditional form of American popular music. As Parton depicts herself as simultaneously "real" and "fake," she offers new perspectives on country music's claims of authenticity.Trade ReviewA stellar exploration of how Parton deftly balanced traditional country aesthetics with her willingness to rebel against those same trappings by completely owning her image and how she performed her femininity. Thanks to thorough research that digs into Parton's personal statements across her autobiography, social media outlets, and interviews in a variety of mediums, the reader is presented with a woman completely in control of who she is, her art, and how people interact with her. -- Adam P. Newton * BeardedGentlemenMusic.com *With her generous, comprehensive examination of Parton's image and career, Edwards makes a valuable contribution to studies of celebrity, gender, music, media, and popular culture that should be useful to scholars working in any of these areas. -- Jennifer Lynn Jones * Celebrity Studies *"The new book Dolly Parton, Gender, and Country Music investigates the character behind the chart-topping musician we've come to know and love." * Shondaland *Dolly Parton, Gender, and Country Music is a timely full-length monograph on a figure who has endured on the national and international scene for more than one-half century. Fittingly, this study is authored by a leading scholar of contemporary popular culture. The keyword in Dolly Parton, Gender, and Country Music is 'transgression,' for Professor Edwards demonstrates the terms by which, over decades, Parton's personae both conform to well-established patterns of identity and simultaneously subvert them. -- Cecelia Tichi, Journal of Popular Music Studies The book moves seamlessly from the mythology of Dolly Parton and the crafting of her gender persona to the singer's performance within different types of frameworks through Hollywood, crossover markets, and the digital stage. Edwards has allowed us to look deeper into how that combination of femininity has been a platform of change for both Parton and our perception of her persona, while opening the door for exploration of how Parton's influence may help craft the careers of future performers. * The Journal of Popular Culture *The book is full of solid arguments for the worthiness of Parton as a scholarly subject, including the complexities and juxtapositions of her life as a media figure with an enduring career. * Music Reference Services Quarterly *Overall, Dolly Parton, Gender, and Country Music examines Parton's trailblazing career in the male-dominated world of country music through the lens of gender themes and identity, including the expansion of her media empire of music, movies, theme park, and numerous other efforts. * Communication Booknotes Quarterly *Deftly introduces the public and private Dolly Parton in this well-researched study of a cultural phenomenon. * AudioFile *Table of ContentsAcknowledgmentsIntroduction: Dolly Mythology1. "Backwoods Barbie": Dolly Parton's Gender Performance2. My Tennessee Mountain Home: Early Parton and Authenticity Narratives3. Parton's Crossover and Film Stardom: The "Hillbilly Mae West"4. Hungry Again: Reclaiming Country Authenticity Narratives5. "Digital Dolly" and New Media FandomsConclusion: Brand Evolution and DollywoodWorks CitedIndex

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Book SynopsisA biography that offers a fresh account of Robert Schumann's life. It confronts the traditional perception of the doom-laden Romantic, forced by depression into a life of helpless, poignant sadness. It frees Schumann from one hundred and fifty years of myth-making and unjustified psychological speculation.Trade Review"This interesting, well-researched examination of the life and death of one of the most important composers of the 19th-century Romantic movement is appropriate for students and researchers in higher education with some knowledge of Schumann's life and music."—Library Journal * Library Journal *"Drawing on letters, diaries, and previous biographies, Worthen relates Schumann's life in sometimes excruciating detail, dispelling myths of possible bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. One of the best biographies of a composer who had a lust for life of music, family, and friends."—Booklist * Booklist *"...beautifully written and meticulously researched and foodtnoted." -Simon Heffer, Literary Review -- Simon Heffer * Literary Review *"For well over a century the reputation of the Romantic composer Robert Schumann has been obscured by the perception of him as a man beset by mental illness, a hapless figure buffeted by perpetual misfortune. John Worthen's achievement is to rehabilitate Schumann through detailed attention to contemporary sources which substantially conflict with received wisdom...what emerges here is a man of conspicuous determination, passion and creativity." - The Good Book Guide * The Good Book Guide *"...engaging, well written and clearly aimed at the general reader...for those wanting to read an affectionate life of one of the greatest and most loveable figures of the early 19th century, this book can be recommended." -- Steven Isserlis, The Guardian -- Steven Isserlis * The Guardian *"…alongside the tragedies, this riveting account of Schumann’s life also manages to encapsulate both the joy and elation of one of music’s greatest, still neglected geniuses, and to express a passionate enthusiasm for his works. For this, Schumannites ought to be deeply grateful."---Hugh Canning, The Sunday Times -- Hugh Canning * The Sunday Times *"We have always lacked good biographies of Schumann, and this one will become a standard reference work. The late John Daverio’s fine 1997 biography is more deeply attuned to the music, but Worthen’s is by far the most comprehensive account I have read of the facts of Schumann’s life. His central thesis is important, and he writes clearly and freshly, bringing a wise head to an intricate tangle of evidence."---Susan Tomes, The Independent -- Susan Tomes * The Independent *"The tragedy of Schumann’s final years has fitted so perfectly with a certain Romantic stereotype – the demented and troubled genius – that it has exercised a captivating influence over his biographers ever since… It is this hindsight-laden interpretation of Schumann’s career that John Worthen’s fine and scholarly new biography sets out to undo."--- John Adamson, The Sunday Telegraph -- John Adamson * The Sunday Telegraph *"this is an impressive and elegantly-written biography." - Misha Donat, BBC Music Magazine -- Misha Donat * BBC Music Magazine *"this is a biography with attitude." - Misha Donat, BBC Music Magazine -- Misha Donat * BBC Music Magazine *"Life and Death of a Musician avoids the pitfalls which often beset large, detailed musical biographies, largely because it's so beautifully written." - Arminta Wallace, Irish Times -- Arminta Wallace * Irish Times *"A well-documented, genial, easy-to-read biography for the general reader. . . . We learn a great deal about the young and dissolute dilettante, music journalist, hypochondriac, mediocre conductor, literate and prolific composer, and of course the ardent suitor who finally makes Clara Wieck his wife over her father's objections. . . . A very affectionate portrayal of both the man and the composer."—Symphony * Symphony *A 2007 Top Seller in Music as compiled by YBP Library Services * YBP Library Services *Selected as a 2008 AAUP University Press Book for Public and Secondary School Libraries. -- Best Book of the Year Selection * Association of American University Presses (AAUP) *"An exemplary effort: beautifully written, very meticulously researched, with scrupulous reliance on original sources, balancing fine command of detail with a broader sense of Schumann's milieu. . . . This is an excellent and provocative biography that is sure to spark fierce debate among musicians and psychologists."—Aaron Kozbelt, PsycCRITIQUES -- Aaron Kozbelt * PsycCRITIQUES *"Worthen's biography takes its proper place as a book to reckon with on any shelf of studies of this brilliant, enigmatic, and tragic figure."—Stanley Hauer, Southern Humanities Review -- Stanley Hauer * Southern Humanities Review *“[A] detailed, insightful and above all affectionate account of Schumann’s life that reveals a man whose music defines the Romantic era.”—Julian Haylock, Classic FM Magazine -- Julian Haylock * Classic FM Magazine *

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