Composers and songwriters Books

Book SynopsisOf the many girl-groups that came out of the 1960s, none is more idiosyncratic and influential than the Shangri-Las. They were together only five years, but within that time they subverted pop standards and foreshadowed a generation of tough women in music. Critically, they are not lauded in the way of the Ronettes, and they are certainly not a household name like the Supremes. They were a little too low-brow with an uncouth flair for theatrics that has placed them just left of the girl-group canon.This book examines the still-elusive validation of 1960s girl-groups as a whole, but also paradoxically aims to free the Shangri-Las from that category, viewing them instead with the sort of individuality traditionally afforded to rock groups. They were somehow able to challenge the status quo under the guise of sticky-sweet pop, a feat not many pop groups can achieve, but which they do fleetingly but not insubstantially in Golden Hits of the Shangri-Las. Trade ReviewAn energetic kaleidoscope-spin through the Shangri-Las 1966 album, Golden Hits of the Shangri-Las. * The Booklist Reader *Table of ContentsIntroduction Sophisticated Boom Boom Out In the Streets What Is Love? At the Moment, It Doesn’t Look Good Shangri-La, or Tomorrow’s a Long Way Off Does This Sound Familiar?

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Book SynopsisThe Drive-By Truckers' Southern Rock Opera takes listeners on a road trip through the American South, with stops along mean old highways and soul-sucking swamps, iconic recording studios and doomed chartered jets, and even Heaven and Hell. Along the way, the Truckers attempt to untangle the mess that is southern history by exploring the contradictory, dualistic nature of the region.Like twin paths intersecting and diverging before meeting again, the opera's libretto focuses on the lives of two bands: the fictional Betamax Guillotine, a stand-in for the Truckers themselves, and Southern rock gods Lynyrd Skynyrd. Rien Fertel takes us for a ride along the Truckers' winding road through the opera's Southlands, a region filled with youthful rockstar aspirations, fatal crashes, the wreckage of one band gone too soon, and the ambitions of another wrestling with the great hope and tragedy that is America.Table of ContentsTrack Listing Acknowledgments Act One 1. A Mean Old Highway - U.S. Route 72 2. That Muscle Shoals Sound - The Shoals, Alabama 3. Dying before Your Time - Macon, Georgia 4. Hell - Birmingham, Alabama Act Two 5. Fly around the World and Back - The Road 6. From the Swamps of Northern Florida - Jacksonville 7. Hurtling through Space - Outside Gillsburg, Mississippi 8. America - Huntsville, Alabama / Oxford, Mississippi Notes

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Book SynopsisBryan Wagner is Associate Professor of English and American Studies at the University of California, Berkeley, USA. His books include Disturbing the Peace: Black Culture and the Police Power after Slavery (2009), The Tar Baby: A Global History (2017), and The Life and Legend of Bras-Coupé: The Fugitive Slave Who Fought the Law, Ruled the Swamp, Danced at Congo Square, Invented Jazz, and Died for Love (2019).Trade ReviewIn his view, the Wild Tchoupitoulas is both a harbinger of that future and a symbol of the past that is long gone now. For a long essay/short book, [Bryan Wagner] does a great job, and he never forgets that the music and personalities that made it are what makes it the classic that it is. * Offbeat Magazine *Bryan Wagner’s truly enjoyable book is a fascinating trip into some of the history of the amazing city of New Orleans and the past and traditions of a section of the population who don’t always get the attention they deserve. It is much more about tradition and history than it is about the album per se; and it’s an all the better read as a result of that. * Americana UK *Table of ContentsMaps Introduction 1 Family 2 Tradition 3 Arrangement 4 Culture and Commerce Acknowledgements Notes on Sources

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Book SynopsisMy Neighbor Totoro is a long-standing international icon of Japanese pop culture that grew out of the partnership between the legendary animator Miyazaki Hayao and the world-renowned composer Joe Hisaishi. A crucial step in the two artists' collaboration was the creation of the album, My Neighbor Totoro: Image Song Collection, with lyrics penned by Miyazaki and Nakagawa Rieko, a famed children's book author, and music composed by Hisaishi. The album, released in 1987 prior to the opening of the film, served not only as a promotional product, but also provided Miyazaki with concrete ideas about the characters and the themes of the film. This book investigates the extent to which Hisaishi's music shaped Miyazaki's vision by examining the relationship between the images created by Miyazaki and the music composed by Hisaishi, with special emphasis on their approaches to nostalgia, one of the central themes of the film.Trade ReviewMany fans of Japanese anime love their musical soundtracks, but few scholars have studied their appeal. Kunio Hara explains in clear, soulful language how Joe Hisaishi and Miyazaki Hayao collaborated to create the sonic environment for the beloved My Neighbor Totoro, balancing a scholars’ sophisticated musical analysis and a fan’s emotional engagement. * E. Taylor Atkins, Distinguished Teaching Professor and Assistant Chair of History, Northern Illinois University, USA *Kunio Hara is one of the few music and Japanese film scholars with a truly multidisciplinary and multilingual competence. To discover the minutest details of Totoro's music through a panoply of references previously unavailable to English-speaking readers, while also enjoying endearing recollections on the special sense of nostalgia exuded by the film, is all the more satisfying. * Marco Bellano, Research Fellow and Adjunct Professor in History of Animation, University of Padova, Italy *Table of ContentsList of Examples Acknowledgments Preface Introduction 1. Miyazaki, Hisaishi, and Their Collaboration 2. Two Songs from the Image Album 3. Totoro in Music and Sound 4. The Wind and the Forest 5. Satsuki and Mei 6. Forgotten Sounds Conclusion: Forgetting and Remembering Notes References Filmography Discography Track Lists Index

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Book SynopsisDaniel B. Sharp is Associate Professor at Tulane University, USA, jointly appointed in music and Latin American studies. He is currently chair of the Tulane music department. He is the author of Between Nostalgia and Apocalypse: Popular Music and the Staging of Brazil (2014).Trade ReviewThe structure of this well-documented work is as rigorous as it is thoughtful and provocative. … Sharp choreographs and curates with thematic balance and stylistic creativity throughout the pages of his highly readable volume. -- Steven F. Butterman, University of Miami * Latin American Music Review *Table of ContentsAcknowledgments Figures Introduction 1. Naná in Recife, from Bossa to Tropicália 2. Counterculture and Dictatorship in Rio de Janeiro 3. The Enchanting and Revolutionary Berimbau: Naná and Glauber Rocha in New York City 4. Naná and Don Cherry: In Tune with Time Interlude: ECM Records Interlude: Creative Music Studio (CMS): The Unmusic School 5. Naná and Egberto 6. Utopia, Caricature, Satire, and Therapy: Naná in France Interlude: Naná’s place within the Fourth World 7. Race, Primitivism, and Counterculture 8. Voice, Body, Rhythm, and Special Effects 9. Saudades and Saudades Epilogue: After Saudades List of Interviews Endnotes Index

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Book SynopsisModeselektor, the Berlin electronic duo consisting of Gernot Bronsert and Sebastian Szary, released Happy Birthday! in 2007, an album that mixed emotion, humor, and party excess. Through this album, this book presents a unique window into the histories of Berlin techno, European rave culture, and electronic music. By emphasizing Happy Birthday! as a network of collabs, genres, and insider winks, it highlights key features in Modeselektor''s career: above all, the beginnings of Moderat, the famous project between Modeselektor and Apparat, as well as the connections to groups and artists as diverse as Thom Yorke, Ellen Allien, Paul St. Hilaire, Otto von Schirach, Scooter, and Jones & Stephenson.33 1/3 Global, a series related to but independent from 33 1/3, takes the format of the original series of short, music-based books and brings the focus to music throughout the world. With initial volumes focusing on Japanese and Brazilian music, the series will also inTable of ContentsAcknowledgments Track Listing Prelude: Transatlantic Vertigo Part I: Different Voices 1. The Former East 2. Title Track: Birthday Noise 3. The 200000 Decade: Russian Crunk, Or Genre Fun 4. Moderat Beginnings 5. Radiohead Stardust Part II: Rave Chronicles 6. Arena Techno Heritage 7. Cover I: Scooter Studies 8. Interlude: What about Breakcore? 9. Cover II: Rave Rebirth 10. Arena-Techno to Anti-EDM Postlude: Wall Ghosts Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisIn 1973, the musical collective 24-Carat Black released an unheralded masterpiece on Stax Recordsand then disappeared. Ghetto: Misfortune's Wealth, a soul-funk concept album primarily written by the ex-Motown arranger Dale Warren, was too bleak, ambitious, or just outright bizarre to reach mainstream audiences. 24-Carat Black collapsed when Stax went bankrupt, and the group's only completed album sank into cultural obscurity. With deep reporting elucidating an untold story full of cinematic details, this book traces how Ghetto went from commercial flop to enigmatic underground classic embraced by the hip-hop community. It also chronicles, in infuriating detail, how the music industry of the 1970s systematically exploited soul musicians and then left them struggling to get paidand where 24-Carat Black fits into this broader injustice. This is a fascinating and multilayered story about a remarkable album nearly lost to history. It's also a rare glimpse into what it's like tTrade ReviewI hardly knew anything about 24 Carat Black or Ghetto: Misfortune’s Wealth until very recently, when I picked up Zach Schonfeld’s amazingly well-researched 33 1/3 book on the topic. Imagine my surprise as it slowly dawned on me how much of the music assembled by this collective served as the bedrock to so many songs I’ve known and loved for years. My world was rocked. * Sonic Breadcrumbs *[Veteran] music journalist and past A.V. Club contributor Zach Schonfeld uses the LP to unpack the ’70s soul scene, the decline of the influential Stax Records, and the [BS] industry practices that have made it so difficult for 24-Carat Black’s surviving members to get paid. * A.V. Club *Bloomsbury's 33 1/3 series has gained a stellar reputation over the years for meticulously and lovingly analyzing classic and important albums. Almost every self-respecting rock music fan has at least a passing familiarity with the more than 150 albums covered in the series …[24-Carat Black's Ghetto: Misfortune's Wealth] succeeds on multiple levels – it's a wonderful snapshot of the American funk music scene of the '70s, it provides telling but unfortunate glimpses of the pitfalls of the music business, and it bridges gaps between classic soul, modern-day hip-hop, and other more adventurous genres that have mined classic albums for new inspiration. * PopMatters *Table of ContentsIntroduction: “Synopsis” 1 “The Story of the Ghetto” 2 “In the Ghetto” 3 “Rebirth” 4 “Gone” 5 “Poverty’s Paradise” Epilogue Acknowledgments Works Cited

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Book SynopsisCall it batida, kuduro, Afro house, Lisbon bass: anyone with a keen ear for contemporary developments in global electronic dance music can''t fail to have noticed the rise in popularity and influence of Lisbon-based DJs such as DJ Marfox, DJ Nervoso and Nídia. These DJs and producers have brought the sound of the Lisbon projects to the wider world via international club nights, festival appearances, recordings and remix projects for a range of international artists.This book uses the 2006 compilation DJs do Guetto as a prism for exploring this music''s aesthetics and its roots in Lusophone Africa, its evolution in the immigrant communities of Lisbon and its journey from there to the world. The story is one of encounters: between people, sounds, neighborhoods, technologies and cultural contexts. Drawing on reflections by DJ Marfox and others, the book establishes DJs do Guetto as a foundation stone not only for a burgeoning music scene, but also for a newfound sense of priTable of ContentsAcknowledgements 1. PR001 2. Uprouted beats 3. Close encounters 4. Quinta do Mocho 5. Looped encounters 6. The making and unmaking of a DJ crew 7. Nobility 8. Strange futurity 9. Translation 10. An ending Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisThe first collection dedicated to David Bowie''s acting career shows that his film characterisations and performance styles shift and reform as decoratively as his musical personas. Though he was described as the most influential pop artist of the 20th century, whose work became synonymous with mask, mystery, sexual excess and ch-ch-ch-changing genres, Bowie also applied his genius to the craft of acting.Bowie's considerable filmography is systematically examined in 12 scholarly essays that include tributes to Bowie''s performance craft in other media forms. Classic films such as The Prestige and Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence, cult hits Labyrinth and The Man Who Fell To Earth, as well as lesser-known roles in The Image, Christiane F. and Broadway hit The Elephant Man are viewed, not simply through the lens of Bowie's mega-stardom, but as the work of a serious actor with inimitable talent. This compelling analysis celebrates the risk-takiTrade ReviewA lively, welcome and often surprising addition to our knowledge of the mercurial David Bowie and his place in popular culture. This is a wide-ranging and significant stimulus to Bowie studies. * Rodney Hall, Former Distinguished Visiting Professor at Victoria University, Australia, and author of Captivity Captive (1988) *I’m Not a Film Star: David Bowie as Actor succeeds in being not only scholarly, thorough and enlightening, but also highly readable. Whilst it covers perhaps the least explored facet of Bowie’s career, the authors weave in-depth analyses across his entire film (and stage) career intertwined with his better known (other) work and life. Bowie was an artist who resisted being pigeonholed concerning what it was to be one, and this book follows, thereby shedding new light on his whole oeuvre. I wish the research had been published when we were developing the exhibition David Bowie is. * Victoria Broackes, Director, London Design Biennale, UK, and co-curator of David Bowie is (2013-2016) *The rich and engaging essays Dixon and Black have collected in I’m Not a Film Star treat everything from Bowie’s cameos, short films, and videos to his notable starring performances. Together, they teach us that Bowie was more than a rock star dabbling in the movies. Rather, he chose his roles carefully and made thoughtful decisions about acting styles as he rethought his relation to realist acting and Brechtian ideas of gestural performance. The range of approaches represented here, including celebrity studies, close analysis of individual scenes, and performance theory, matches the diversity of Bowie’s work in film. * Glenn Hendler, Professor of English and American Studies, Fordham University, USA, and author of David Bowie's Diamond Dogs (Bloomsbury 2020) *Table of ContentsList of Contributor Bios List of Figures Acknowledgements Preface Shelton Waldrep, University of Southern Maine, USA Introduction Ian Dixon (Nanyang Technological University, Singapore) and Brendan Black (Independent Scholar, Australia) 1. Ziggy Stardust, Direct Cinema and the Multi-modal Performance of Gesamtkunstwerk Lisa Perrot (University of Waikato, New Zealand) 2. David Bowie Is…Actor, Star and Character: Entangled Agencies in The Man Who Fell To Earth Dene October (University of the Arts, London, UK) 3. The Posed and the Unposed: Inhabited Clowns and Grotesques in Bowie’s Scary Monsters and The Elephant Man Amedeo d’Adamo (American Film Institute, USA) 4. Consuming Bowie: Christiane F’ and the Transgressive Allure of Anglo-American Pop Culture in Cold-War West Berlin Susanne Hillman (San Diego State University, USA) 5. Gesturing Dust: Sensing David Bowie’s Performance in Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence Sean Redmond (Deakin University, Australia) 6. The Hunger’s deathly shadow: The sweet annihilation of David Bowie, NYC, circa. 1980-83 Mitch Goodwin (University of Melbourne, Australia) 7. ‘Who Can I Be Now?’: Codpieces, carnival and the blurring of identity in Labyrinth Brendan Black (Independent Scholar, Australia) 8. Bowie as Actor/Bowie as Icon: Authenticity versus Iconography in Martin Scorsese’s The Last Temptation of Christ Ian Dixon (Nanyang Technological University, Singapore) 9. The Surveillant Power of the (A)Temporal Cameo In Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me (1992) Tyne Daile Sumner (The University of Melbourne, Australia) 10. Loving the Alienation: Bowie, Basquiat, Brecht Glenn D’Cruz (Deakin University, Australia) 11. Performative Emotional Symbolism and Stylistic Gesture in Christopher Nolan’s The Prestige Toija Cinque (Deakin University, Australia) 12. ‘Just Like the Films’: Lazarus and Cinematic Melancholia Denis Flannery (University of Leeds, UK) Filmography/Discography Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisThis book is the first to address in a serious way the impact and meaning of the music of “Weird Al” Yankovic. Though everyone knows his name, Yankovic is often dismissed as a novelty. His music builds on a rich American tradition of parody song, with many levels of signification—humorous, insulting, political, often at the same time. His songs, including his original compositions, make us laugh but also have a point of view, be it on society, popular culture, food, or words themselves. Very few other artists have created music so dense in meaning and for so long, and it’s high time we recognize Yankovic’s cloyingly humorous appeal. Through original interviews with the man himself, Lily Hirsch addresses Yankovic’s relationship to past parody song as well as his unique approach to the art form. Focusing mainly on his fourteen studio albums, the book explores his music based on themes like insult, politics, race, and word abuse. It also discusses his reputation as one of the music industry’s good guys. In today’s age of incivility (political and otherwise), his nice-guy persona stands out and has helped win him fiercely loyal fans who’ve found in his music a certain acceptance and affirmation. This book is for those fans but also invites music enthusiasts of all stripes to consider and reconsider Yankovic’s music.Table of ContentsForeword, by Dr. Demento Introduction—Still Weird Al Chapter 1—This Is the Life Chapter 2—The Prince of Pop Parody Chapter 3—Policing and Playing with Language Chapter 4—Sugar and Spice and Everything Almost Nice Chapter 5—The Art of Self-Deprecation Chapter 6—President Al Chapter 7—The Woke Joke Chapter 8—Junking Gender Chapter 9—Al-most Famous Conclusion

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Book SynopsisSax Appeal tells the story of Ivy Benson, the famous wartime leader of an all-female jazz and swing band. Battling the dangers and privations of wartime touring, male opposition and the constant loss of her girls' to American Servicemen, she formed a professional band which entertained successfully for over forty years.Table of ContentsChapter 1. Big Bands Chapter 2. Changing Times—The 1930s Chapter 3. Ivy Chapter 4. Early War Chapter 5. ENSA (Entertainments National Service Association) Chapter 6. Battle of the Saxes Chapter 7. The Wartime ‘Girls’ Chapter 8. Overpaid, Oversexed and Over Here Chapter 9. Living Through History Chapter 10. The Shock of Berlin—the first post-war tour. Chapter 11. The Post-war Band Chapter 12. On the Road Chapter 13. Ivy the Woman Chapter 14. Pop go the Big Bands Chapter 15. Silver Lady Chapter 16. Memories Chapter 17. Legacy

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Book SynopsisLegendary maestro Leonard Slatkin provides personal insights and offers his ideas to solve the current dilemmas of classical music.As the new millennium poses some of the greatest challenges to the relevance of the art form, Slatkin reflects on the modern evolution of classical music and presents ways for both music lovers and musicians alike to navigate these uncertain times. Classical Crossroads: The Path Forward for Music in the 21st-Century addresses a wide range of relevant and provocative topics such as performance in the era of COVID-19, shrinking audiences, the lack of classical music in public education, broken audition systems, technology replacing live concerts, and the lack of diversity in the classical music world. While the new millennium has provided great obstacles, Slatkin emphasizes that there are also new opportunitiesif there was ever a time for change in classical music, that time is now.

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Book SynopsisRoy Orbison emerged as an artist alongside his Sun Records contemporaries in the early days of rock 'n' roll. He did not possess the good looks of Elvis Presley or the everyman toughness of Johnny Cash nor did he conduct wild-child stage antics like Jerry Lee Lewis. But he did possess a magnetic mystique that would captivate fans around the world and inspire countless musicians.ÞA quiet man who k.d. lang would refer to as Buddha Orbison was more interested in building model airplanes watching films and reading books in his den than talking about himself or partying hard. Yet he was nothing shy of a superstar ä determined to succeed driven by a relentless love for music that started in childhood and blessed with some of the best pipes in the business. Standing still onstage hidden behind his perpetual Ray-Bans Orbison delivered his melodious songs with haunting emotional depth. His artful recordings mysterious image and angelic voice have left an indelible mark on popular music.ÞIn ÊRhapsody in BlackÊ John Kruth tells the story of Roy Orbison in prose as musical as the artist's melodies and does not shy away from or trivialize the personal pain alienation and tragic events that shaped Orbison's singular personality and music. Featuring interviews with people who worked closely with Orbison career-spanning photos a select discography and a new afterward for the paperback edition ÊRhapsody in BlackÊ is both celebratory and touching. It delves into the behind-the-music details of Orbison's collaborations recording sessions tours and business affairs as well as his personal life ä his roots his marriages and his children ä to present a telescopic view of his legacy.

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Book SynopsisExperience spiritual encouragement from the Queen of Country Music with this collection of devotionals and uplifting lyrics.It's been over sixty years since the late Loretta Lynn first rose to stardom, transforming from a coal miner's daughter to the Queen of Country Music. Loretta knew she was blessed-to record music, to sing her songs to such great crowds, and to write books.A Song and A Prayer is a collection of devotionals combined with song lyrics that delivers a unique form of worship. Inspired by her songwriting sessions with Kim McLean (a fellow songwriter, music producer, as well as ordained minister and reverend doctor), Loretta's love of God is felt on every page of this book. Readers will learn to experience and maintain an intimate one-on-relationship with God. This volume will become a cherished companion for Loretta Lynn fans and readers everywhere as they strive to live each precious moment to the fullest and happiest.Through A Song and A Prayer, readers of all faiths and walks of life will have the opportunity to bask in a month's worth of spiritual encouragement. Loretta's thoughts and lyrics not only capture the presence of God, but also capture a presence that transcends Christianity-the spirit of creativity. In a busy world, Loretta's lyrics and prayers remind readers that God loves them more than they could imagine.

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Book SynopsisA collection of rare and insightful images of the now-legendary rock band Metallica, taken between 1982 and 1984.

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Book SynopsisClaude Debussy was the father of the modern era in classical music. His innovations liberated Stravinsky Schoenberg and Bartìk to write their iconoclastic works and his harmonic inventions are still heard in American jazz. Though he was among the most compelling figures of the Belle »poque his life is little known to all but scholars; and of his considerable musical output only ÊPrelude to the Afternoon of a FaunÊ ÊLa merÊ and ÊClair de luneÊ are widely known.ÞHarvey Lee Snyder addresses this cultural neglect by presenting the composer and his music without jargon or biographical trivia in a richly detailed accurate narrative that reads like a novel. Here is the story of a poor unschooled Parisian boy swept by odd coincidences to the Paris Conservatory at age ten. Here is a brilliant man struggling to invent a tonal language capable of expressing his unique musical vision finding inspiration not in Bach and Beethoven but in Mallarm©'s poetry and the paintings of Whistler and Turner; a man determined to end two centuries of Germanic domination of European music. Here is a reclusive gentle man whose misguided love affairs ended in scandal and scorn. His hard work failed to end decades of poverty and debt but when he died in 1918 he was and has remained the foremost French composer of the twentieth century.

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Book SynopsisNikolay Rimsky-Korsakov is one of Russia's great musical figures. Although largely self-taught he became a professor at the Saint Petersburg Conservatory and one of the famed Mighty Handful of Russian nationalist composers. Works like ÊScheherazadeÊ and ÊCapriccio EspagnolÊ remain popular as does his textbook on orchestration. His influence extended from students like Stravinsky and Prokofiev to non-Russian composers such as Debussy Dukas and Ravel. Yet relatively little written about him is available outside Russia.ÞÊRimsky-Korsakov: Letters to His Family and FriendsÊ is a rare revealing look at the composer written by his granddaughter Tatiana. Featuring a wealth of correspondence and photographs from his family's archives this book provides new fascinating details about the composer's life work and relations with close friends and colleagues including Borodin Mussorgsky and Tchaikovsky. It also sheds new light on his wife Nadezhda Purgold an accomplished composer and pianist who helped her husband with his own compositions. Many letters involve Rimsky-Korsakov's other family members and important figures in art history literature and music of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.ÞFilled with material presented in English for the first time this book is an essential resource on Rimsky-Korsakov late romantic and early modern music and culture in Russia as it approached the end of an era.

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Book SynopsisTo speak of Gerard Schwarz ä musician conductor festival organizer gig hopper educator television personality patron and proselytizer of the arts ä is to tell an exemplary American story.ÞYou could convey it exclusively in clich©s from his industrious ©migr© parents to his precocious childhood from his ardor and diligence as a prodigy trumpeter to his meteoric rise as a conductor from his unforeseen cross-country migration to the gradual construction of a world-class orchestra in a city formerly regarded as a cultural backwater from the halls of New York City's High School of Performing Arts to the digital instructor's chair of the All-Star Orchestra's Khan Academy course series.ÞYou could simply recite the numbers: over 300 new works premiered over 350 recordings in his discography 14 GRAMMY nominations five Emmy awards six ASCAP Awards and hundreds of other honors and laurels.ÞYou could dazzle and festoon and bewitch with talk of truth and beauty and the pursuit of ever-higher forms of artistic expression.ÞOr you could tell it Jerry's way.ÞÊBehind the BatonÊ is a quintessentially Schwarzian memoir: intrepid forthright risible subtly self-assured and entirely unpretentious. It offers an intimate inside look at a man whose immense talent is rivaled only by his humility and work ethic ä a man who for nearly fifty years has strived to leave every orchestra and musician he touched better than when he found them. Whether you're a classical music aficionado an orchestra initiate just cutting your teeth or an everyday reader interested in the remarkable story behind an extraordinary man ÊBehind the BatonÊ belongs on your nightstand.

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Book SynopsisAn illuminating study of the relationship between African songs and the literature of Eastern Africa.

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Book SynopsisFrom journalist and Grammy®-nominated music producer Leo Sacks, and New York Times chief popular music critic Jon Pareles, Keeping Time places Hunstein’s photos in the context of musical and social change, adding an untold chapter to the cultural historyDon Hunstein’s images of music’s most influential artists are unforgettable. As Columbia Records’ staff photographer for more than four decades, Hunstein earned the trust and confidence of the most celebrated singers, songwriters, composers, and musicians of our time, including Bob Dylan, Miles Davis, Johnny Cash, Simon & Garfunkel, Aretha Franklin, Leonard Bernstein, Dave Brubeck, Tony Bennett, and Thelonious Monk, to name a few. Hunstein photographed these greats with noticeable informality, demonstrating a perpetual ease with his subjects. With his relaxed approach, he was able to glean private moments from public lives filled with fascinating, telling, and intimate details. Logging his daily assignments, Hunstein created an archive of profound images that parallel the soundtracks to our lives. To this day, his work exists as a unique record chronicling the creative efforts and energies of the world’s greatest musicians. Edited by journalist and Grammy®-nominated music producer Leo Sacks and with text by New York Times chief popular music critic Jon Pareles, Keeping Time places Hunstein’s photos in the context of musical and social change, adding an untold chapter to the cultural history of the second half of the twentieth century.

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Book SynopsisÊBilly Joel: The Life and Times of an Angry Young ManÊ is a look at the superstar's entire career including his troubled youth as a gang member; the controversy surrounding his first hit Captain Jack ; his legal problems; his storied marriage with Christie Brinkley; and his continued artistic frustration. The Beatles did 'Michelle' and 'Yesterday ' he has said. They also did 'Revolution' and 'Helter Skelter' and they weren't pegged as balladeers. But because I had hit singles that were ballads I became known as a balladeer. I've always resented it. ÞÞJoel ä one of the top ten touring takes of the decade ä has continued his standing road date with Elton John on the never-ending Two Pianos tour. It was one of the world's top-grossing tours in 2009 just behind U2 and Bruce Springsteen.

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Book SynopsisCountless stories have been written about Tito Puente's percussive musical abilities but never before have his talent and intuition as well as the mishaps and controversies surrounding him been presented with such vivacity and love chronicling the popular and combative King of Latin rhythm who climbed from El Barrio to international fame and recognition influencing multiple generations of jazzers and Latin rockers from Dizzy Gillespie to Santana.ÞTito Puente was more than a flamboyant percussionist; he was a multi-instrumentalist and gifted composer. Despite the importance and popularity of Tito's music his contributions are too often ignored ä witness Ken Burns' television documentary about jazz which he virtually ignores Afro-Cuban jazz ä this book reclaims Tito's rightful place in the history of music.ÞAuthor Joe Conzo was Tito's confidant and chronicler for nearly 40 years ä no one was closer to Tito or knew him better. Joe tells the story of Tito's intensity for perfection and describes Tito's musical brilliance in a manner that is as exciting a rapid-fire explosion on the timbales as it is deeply personal.ÞÊMambo DiabloÊ is like no book before it a must-read for all music fans and for anyone who loves New York. Famed author and journalist Pete Hamill sets the stage for the journey with a loving preface.

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Book SynopsisSince 1973 KISS has recorded over 20 studio albums; been recognized as an innovator in rock presentations; witnessed a firestorm of rumors and controversies; remained a thorn in critics' sides; and continues to surprise its massive fan-following the KISS Army with various career twists and turns. Moreover many television shows movies toys and even comics have kept KISS a bigger-than-life name in entertainment for decades.ÞYet with all that has been written over the years there are subjects that fans have never put to rest when it comes to the hottest band in the land : What were the most significant concerts? Why did ÊPhantom of the ParkÊ turn out that way? What were the best ä and worst ä album covers? How did the comics come about? And what the heck is a deuce?ÞThese subjects and more appear in ÊKISS FAQÊ ä showcasing the good bad and the weird that has made KISS the legendary ultimate rock-and-roll party band still going strong after 40 years. Accompanying this entertaining work of solid rock scholarship are dozens of rare images ä from posters to live shots and beyond. Also included is a foreword by Bill Starkey the creator of the original KISS Army.

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Book SynopsisIn October 2016 the Swedish Academy finally conceded to a quarter-century's worth of clamorous petitions and sustained lobbying enacted by a chorus of poets novelists songwriters and academics. At long last Bob Dylan was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature his vast corpus spread out like Highway 61 behind him. How is a Dylan debutante to make sense of the song and dance man's six decade career? How might a diehard Dylan fanatic stumble upon something they didn't know they didn't know? Why with award-winning journalist Bruce Pollock's ÊBob Dylan FAQÊ of course!ÞÊBob Dylan FAQÊ the latest installment in Backbeat's FAQ series condenses the life and times of America's premier songster into an addictively vivacious 400-page brick jam-packed with critical analysis minutiae photographs ephemera and period history. Every aspect of Dylan's life and career from his ever-expanding discography touring history fallow periods literary and visual artistic efforts peers influences and legacy to his devoted fanbase is explored. Best of all the book's structure invites perusing at any random point as each chapter serves as a freestanding article on its subject. Dive into Dylanana with ÊBob Dylan FAQÊ!

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Book SynopsisOther people locked themselves away and hid from their demons. Townes flung open his door and said, 'Come on in. So writes Harold Eggers, Townes Van Zandt's longtime road manager and producer, in My Years with Townes Van Zandt: Music, Genius, and Rage a gripping memoir revealing the inner core of an enigmatic troubadour, whose deeply poetic music was a source of inspiration and healing for millions but was for himself a torment struggling for dominance among myriad personal demons. Townes Van Zandt often stated that his main musical mission was to write the perfect song that would save someone's life. However, his life was a work in progress he was constantly struggling to shape and comprehend. Eggers says of his close friend and business partner that like the master song craftsman he was, he was never truly satisfied with the final product but always kept giving it one more shot, one extra tweak, one last effort. A vivid, first-hand account exploring the source of the singer's prodigious talent, widespread influence, and relentless path toward self-destruction, My Years with Townes Van Zandt presents the truth of that all-consuming artistic journey told by a close friend watching it unfold.

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Book SynopsisTwo full-color eight-page photo inserts

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Book SynopsisA compelling narrative woven out of interviews with who knew him, The Prodigal Rogerson, explains what happened to Rogerson against the backdrop of Los Angeles punk scene in its prime.

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Book SynopsisPhilip Glass has, almost single-handedly, crafted the dominant sound of late-twentieth-century classical music. Yet in Words Without Music, his critically acclaimed memoir, he creates an entirely new and unexpected voice, that of a born storyteller and an acutely insightful chronicler, whose behind-the-scenes recollections allow readers to experience those moments of creative fusion when life so magically merged with art. From his childhood in Baltimore to his student days in Chicago and at Juilliard, to his first journey to Paris and a life-changing trip to India, Glass movingly recalls his early mentors, while reconstructing the places that helped shape his creative consciousness. Whether describing working as an unlicensed plumber in gritty 1970s New York or composing Satyagraha, Glass breaks across genres and re-creates, here in words, the thrill that results from artistic creation. Words Without Music ultimately affirms the power of music to change the world.Trade Review"Illuminating…[Glass] is always vigorous in defending his artistic choices and aesthetics. Glass's music may sound simple, but it revels in subtle complexity." -- Sudip Bose - Washington Post"Glass, a key figure of musical minimalism, was one of the first composers to reject a distinction between 'ethnic' music and Western classical music, and in this memoir he explains how he came to view a composition not as a linear narrative but as progressive rhythmic sequences." -- The New Yorker"Essential reading for anyone remotely interested in the evolution of the avant-garde during the past half-century…Words Without Music [is] an important contribution to cultural history." -- Steven G. Kellman - Dallas Morning News"Lively and colorful…. Glass is one of the most articulate composers around. Insight and practical common sense pervade his new book…. With a composer’s sense of form, Glass returns, in the final pages, to his youth, the subject that elicits his most evocative writing." -- Kyle Gann - New York Times Book Review"Well-supplied with droll observations and plainspoken assessments regarding the details of a career that has been as remarkable and noteworthy as any in American music—indeed, in American culture…. Honest and candid." -- Steve Smith - Boston Globe"Readers don’t have to like Glass’s music to find pleasure in this warm, unaffected, and deeply human book, but they may come away with an improved understanding of and a greater appreciation for both the music and its composer…. If a listener’s view of a composer is one of the things that shapes his or her perception of the music, an autobiography that alters the composer’s image should have the potential to change the way the music comes across. Words Without Music has done precisely that for me." -- David Hajdu - The Nation"Philip Glass has written a fascinating account of his life with recollections of family, teachers, and friends. From his childhood in Baltimore to his studies with Ravi Shankar and Nadia Boulanger and the collaborations with Robert Wilson, Allen Ginsburg, Godfrey Reggio, and Martin Scorsese, among others, Glass offers insights to his music and personal life. Words Without Music will be a pleasure to read, not only for musicians (although they will particularly enjoy it) but for anyone interested in the world of art." -- Paul Simon"I came to Philip Glass’s music very simply, without any critical prodding or guidance. I listened and was transfixed. I was excited to work with Philip on Kundun, and he exceeded my wildest expectations giving us a score that was genuinely transcendent. He’s exceeded my expectations again with this rich and beautifully written memoir. Who knew that he was as good a writer as he is a composer?" -- Martin Scorsese

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Book SynopsisGeorge Young wasn't so much on the charts for the best part of three decades: he and his musical partner Harry Vanda were the charts. George's journey began with the trailblazing Easybeats and continued, alongside Harry, as producer/songwriter for hire with John Paul Young, The Angels, Rose Tattoo, Cheetah, Ted Mulry, Stevie Wright and, most crucially, AC/DC. George and Harry also struck gold with Flash and the Pan, almost by accident.George Young helped create such classics as 'Friday on My Mind', 'Sorry', 'Love is in the Air', 'Evie', 'Yesterday's Hero', 'Down Among the Dead Men', 'Hey, St. Peter', 'Bad Boy for Love', 'Jailbreak' and 'It's a Long Way to the Top'. In 2001, APRA voted 'Friday on My Mind' the best and most significant Australian song of the past 75 years.In this long-overdue book, the first to focus exclusively on the life and work of George Young, writer Jeff Apter explores George's long and fruitful association with Harry; his rare ability to maintain a stable married life with his wife Sandra; and his handshake deal with Ted Albert that helped create a music empire. The book also reveals such little-known events as the accident that almost killed off 'Hey, St. Peter' before its release, and the tragedy that bonded George and Harry for life.

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Book SynopsisFour Grammys. 20 US Number Ones. A Hollywood marriage. Who wouldn't want to be Keith Urban?Keith Urban came from humble origins. His father worked at the local tip and Keith was a high school dropout. But Keith had a plan: conquering Nashville. 'It's my destiny,' he said. And Keith was hell-bent on scaling that musical Everest. Whatever it took.It didn't come easy. Keith served his apprenticeship in the beer barns of Australia and his early trips to America were disastrous. But he never gave up, settling in Nashville in the 1990s and forming The Ranch. When the band fell apart, so did Keith, ending up in rehab (not for the last time). But Keith did eventually reach the top, through a combination of talent, charisma, sex appeal, dogged perseverance-and skin thick enough for a rhino. And along the way he married Nicole Kidman.As Keith has said, 'All those detours, especially the really dark ones, got me to where I am now. I would not want to change one leaf on any tree in the whole journey.'Keith Urban is the definitive biography of an Australian superstar.

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Book SynopsisA white rock 'n' roll guitarist on stage with the Godfather of Soul.

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Book Synopsis35 concerts. 17,000 motorcycle miles. Three months. One lifetime. Now in paperback.

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Book SynopsisMahler's life was a remarkably complex one, his success as a conductor continually overshadowed by his craving for recognition as a composer. Recognition which never came in his lifetime. In this biography, the author reveals how Mahler's personality, his extraordinary life and his music are inseparable. New light is shed on his strange relationship with Alma Mahler, his wife, and on his turbulent love affairs. In Vienna, where he directed the Opera, Mahler was a prime target for rumour mongers. Nothing he did, whether private or public, escaped the attention of a Vienna avid for details of his personal life. The author portrays vividly the conflict which arose from the demands made on Mahler by his enormously successful career, and his desperate desire to pursue the creation of great music. Illustrated with portraits of the people who made up Mahler's world and photographs of places associated with him, this book unfolds Mahler's story with impressive psychological insight. Includes a CD featuring a selection of recordings by the composer.

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