Entertainment Books

Book SynopsisThe initial volume in a series of American Bach Society Guides, Bach''s Art of Fugue and Musical Offering is a comprehensive study of two closely related masterworks of the late Baroque fugal style. This compact guide, intended for practitioners, music scholars, and a general readership, summarizes a considerable body of knowledge about these famously cerebral collections in an engaging and accessible style. Bach specialist and keyboard player Matthew Dirst explains the Art of Fugue and Musical Offering''s idiosyncratic musical language while reviewing how both projects took shape during Bach''s final decade. They reflect Bach''s lifelong fascination with learned counterpoint, as demonstrated in elaborate series of fugues and canons in both and in an unusually intricate trio sonata in the latter. Dirst provides commentary on individual movements and groups of pieces and on the historical reception of this music, including its impact on other disciplines. Recurring themes include Bach''Table of ContentsForeword Acknowledgements Introduction 1. Contrapuntal Pursuits 2. Origins and Audience 3. From One, Many 4. Musical Gaming 5. Paying Tribute 6. Elusive Ideals Glossary Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewDawn's witty outlook on life will have you laughing * Prima *A must-read to pass on to friends and family of all ages * Women and Home *A manual for how to create your own happiness * Sunday Times *A mellow, gentle read with words of wisdom * Independent *It's beautiful, like Dawn, and stuffed full of goodies -- Jo BrandThis book is inspired!!! -- Nadiya HussainOne brilliant, inspiring woman -- Emma KennedyWho wouldn't want to spend a year in the company of Dawn French? * BEST *A lovely concept . . . it's very intimate -- Matt Baker, BBC The One ShowLovely! -- Jane Garvey, BBC Radio 4 Woman's HourDawn French will get you thinking * Fabulous Magazine *I spent a good 10 minutes snogging it -- Sarah CoxI love it. Lots of my friends are getting sent one now!!! -- Deborah MeadenThis woman is a warm hug in human form - just thinking about her makes me smile. Dawn spreads joy in abundance. She is dazzling -- Lorraine Kelly

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Book SynopsisKelly Knox is a freelance entertainment writer in the Seattle area and the author of Marvel Studios: Be More Spider-Man, Star Wars: Be More Obi-Wan, and Marvel Monsters. She contributes to the official websites for franchises like Star Wars, DC Comics, and Marvel Comics. She also writes for pop culture reporting sites including Nerdist and IGN. Kelly specializes in entertainment news and features and creating original DIY and craft projects for all ages.

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Book SynopsisThe more I thought about it, the more I realised my career has been unusual. How did I manage to do everything wrong but still end up on the front cover of magazines, headlining world tours and achieving Top 5 albums? How did I attract such obsessive and fanatical fans, many of whom take everything I do or say very personally, which is simultaneously flattering but can also be tremendously frustrating? Even this I somehow cultivated without somehow meaning to. My accidental career.Limited Edition of One is unlike any other music book you will ever have read. Part the long-awaited memoir of Steven Wilson: whose celebrated band Porcupine Tree began as teenage fiction before unintentionally evolving into a reality that encompassed Grammy-nominated records and sold-out shows around the world, before he set out for an even more successful solo career. Part the story of a twenty-first century artist who achieved chart-topping mainstream success withouTrade ReviewNot only is Limited Edition of One a consistently fascinating overview of [Steven's] life and career to date, but it's also tackled in the same way as he approaches his music: keen to avoid the predictable or generic without ego-tripping; always thoughtful without ever being dull; and ultimately keeping hold of the fact that he does what he does for the enjoyment and self-expression as much as proving his genius to the world . . . as unique as its title suggests . . . * Prog *

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Book SynopsisOctober 2019 marks the fiftieth anniversary of the first broadcast of Monty Python's Flying Circus on BBC Television. This book contains the full script with pictures of the last Monty Python film.

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Book SynopsisA lush visual celebration of Pulpâs sixth album, This Is Hardcore, featuring unseen photography, behind-the-scenes interviews and revealing visuals. From the mid- to late 1990s, Paul Burgess was invited by Jarvis Cocker to document the British band Pulp, taking photographs during video shoots, live gigs and other events for what has become one of the landmark albums of the period, This Is Hardcore. Written and designed by Burgess and Louise Colbourne, Hardcore contains a candid selection of previously unseen images of the band, behind the scenes and on set, of the four main video shoots made to promote the album. Twenty-five years have passed since Pulp released this extraordinary album, and this book holds up a mirror to the ingenious creative processes and characters behind the seminal record. With carefully curated images from Burgessâs archive, Hardcore also includes quotations and interviews from then and now by the video directors, band members and other artists involved

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Book SynopsisAn invaluable analysis of the director''s art and craft, from one of the most revered of all film school directors. Alexander ''Sandy'' Mackendrick directed classic Ealing comedies plus a Hollywood masterpiece, Sweet Smell of Success. But after retiring from film-making in 1969, he then spent nearly 25 years teaching his craft at the California Institute of the Arts in Los Angeles. Mackendrick produced hundreds of pages of masterly handouts and sketches, designed to guide his students to a finer understanding of how to write a story, and then use those devices peculiar to cinema in order to tell that story as effectively as possible. Gathered and edited in this collection, Mackendrick''s teachings reveal that he had the talent not only to make great films, but also to articulate the process with a clarity and insight that will still inspire any aspirant film-maker.

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Book SynopsisGustav Mahler: Letters to his Wife is undoubtedly the best way to understand Mahler as a man and as a composer: in his own words, intimately detailing his inner world to his wife, Alma. ''Are Collected Letters a superior form of biography? When as numerous and meticulously edited as these of Gustav Mahler, when they provide a time capsule ride back to the last days of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the answer must be yes . . . This remarkable book is unputdownable, even for a non-Mahlerite.'' Literary Review ''The letters are linked by a commentary that makes the volume both an easy and gripping read . . . There is passion in this book to scald the hand.'' Sunday Times''A vivid and telling portrayal of Mahler''s personality in his voice.'' Times Literary SupplementTrade Review'Are Collected Letters a superior form of biography? When as numerous and meticulously edited as these of Gustav Mahler, when they provide a time capsule ride back to the last days of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the answer must be yes... This remarkable book is unputdownable, even for a non-Mahlerite'. Literary Review 'A vivid and telling portrayal of Mahler's personality in his voice.' Times Literary Supplement 'The letters are linked by a commentary that makes the volume both an easy and gripping read... There is passion in this book to scald the hand.' Sunday Times

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Book SynopsisTHE TIMES & UNCUT MUSIC BOOK OF THE YEARCritically-acclaimed and bestselling author Paul Morley's long-awaited biography of Factory Records co-founder and Manchester icon Tony Wilson.A BOOK OF THE YEARSUNDAY TIMES, NEW STATESMAN, MOJO, LOUDER THAN WAR'Compelling . . . befitting its extraordinary subject.'BRIAN ENO'Bracing and often surprisingly tender . . . the perfect monument.'SUNDAY TIMES'Via Morley's magical prose Tony Wilson comes back to life . . . inspiring.'RICHARD RUSSELLTony Wilson was a man who became synonymous with his beloved city. As the co-founder of the legendary Factory Records and the HaÃienda, he appointed himself a custodian of Manchester's legacy of innovation and change, becoming a cultural pioneer for the North. To Paul Morley, he was this and much more: bullshitting hustler, fTrade Review'From Manchester with Love is the perfect monument.' - SUNDAY TIMES'Epic . . . More than a mind map, the book's peculiarity and expanse and, yes, love, means it becomes an immersive experience. I found it very moving indeed.' - OBSERVER'A gigantic, haphazard and unexpectedly emotional monolith dedicated to the "irritating dilettante", "pretentious charlatan" and "huckster extraordinaire" who put his city on the musical map . . . Here he burns on fantastically bright.' - UNCUT (9/10)'This is no ordinary biography . . . [From Manchester with Love] is a work unto itself, solidifying Tony Wilson as a postmodern hero . . . it's brilliant . . . I have to imagine Tony Wilson (if ghosts of dead impresarios read from their graves) is pleased with From Manchester with Love.' - LOUDER THAN WAR'Written with Technicolour perspective, humour, pathos and empathy in fluid, immensely readable prose, it is a book that does justice to Wilson's memory and enduring influence.' - RECORD COLLECTOR (5/5)'Captivating . . . Across 600 pages, each of the 51 chapters weaves dream states with journalistic investigation, a tale of how one human being, with the help of like-minded spirits, psychically co-opted an entire city.' - CONFIDENTIALS

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Book SynopsisJarvis Cocker is widely regarded as one of the most original and memorable lyricists and performers of the last three decades. Here, for the first time, is a selection of sixty-six lyrics, presented with commentary and an introduction by the man himself.In this volume, readers (and Pulp fans) will find such classic Jarvis lyrics as ''Common People'', ''Disco 2000'', ''Babies'', ''This is Hardcore'' and ''Do You Remember the First Time?'' The selection, assembled by the author, reveals a sensibility that is unmistakeably Jarvis: a sometimes visceral, sometimes everyday take on love, relationships and the things we do to each other when the lights get low.Mother, Brother, Lover takes the reader on a thirty-year tour into the life, art and preoccupations of one of the great British artists of the late twentieth century. Shocking, sharp, clever and funny, it is a beautiful collection of lyrics and commentary.

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Book SynopsisAll drama takes the form of one of 36 situations. That was Georges Polti's theory about theatre, which he put forward in his book 36 Dramatic Situations, published in French in the mid-19th century.A century and a half later, Mike Figgis was struggling with a film treatment. He couldn't get it right. But when he turned to Polti's book, the sample situations helped clarify his ideas and broaden the landscape of his creativity. He saw just how useful this sort of a framework could be for writers, and decided to rework Polti's theory for a modern, film-focused audience. Combining re-imagined situations with cinematic examples, and chart-based analysis of 150 great films, the resulting book is an invaluable and stimulating tool for any writer.

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Book Synopsis''One of the best things published about cinema.'' Sight & SoundHerzog was once hailed by Francois Truffaut as the most important director alive. Famous for his frequent collaborations with mercurial actor Klaus Kinski including the epics Aguirre, the Wrath of God and Fitzcarraldo, and the terrifying Nosferatu and more recently with documentaries such as Grizzly Man, Cave of Forgotten Dreams and Into the Abyss, Herzog has built a body of work that is one of the most vital in post-war German cinema. Here, he reflects on his legendary and inspiring career.

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Book SynopsisA BBC RADIO 4 BOOK OF THE WEEKBessie Smith: singer, icon, pioneer. Scotland''s National Poet Jackie Kay brings to life the tempestuous story of the greatest blues singer who ever lived. ''A gem of a book . . . beautiful.'' BERNARDINE EVARISTO''A wonderful writer on a magnificent singer.'' ROBERT WYATT''Kay's book is the amplifier that Smith's voice deserves.'' SUNDAY TIMES''The most vivid evocation of Bessie Smith I have ever read.'' IAN CARR, BBC MUSICBESSIE SMITH was born in Tennessee in 1894. Orphaned by the age of nine, she sang on street corners before becoming a big name in travelling shows. In 1923 she made her first recording for a new start-up called Columbia Records. It sold 780,000 copies and made her a star. Smith's life was notoriously difficult: she drank pints of bathtub gin', got into violent fist fights, spent huge sums of money and hadTable of Contents'A passionate, personal, imaginative insight in to Bessie's art' - Daily Mail 'Kay has paid her [Bessie Smith] true and heartfelt homage' - Daily Telegraph

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Book Synopsis''Almost as miraculous as the songs it exists to celebrate.'' PETE PAPHIDES''The only ABBA book that the world will ever need.'' TONY PARSONS''Writing perfection on musical perfection: book heaven.'' CAITLIN MORANThrough exclusive interviews and over a decade of deep research, renowned music journalist Jan Gradvall explores the secrets to ABBA''s success.More than half a century after their songs were recorded, ABBA still make people the world over dance and sing their hearts out. After interviewing the four members for an article in 2013 at which time the band had not been interviewed for over thirty years Jan Gradvall was granted unique access to them for the next decade. In The Book of ABBA, the band share their thoughts and opinions more openly than ever before, while Jan reveals the context in which their sound developed and shows how the story of ABBA is also the story of Sweden and the globalisation of pop culture.From their chart-topping ABBA Voyage their first album in forty years to the two-million-ticket-selling concert-experience of the same name, it is undeniable that, in the history of pop culture and music, there has never been a group like ABBA. With remarkable intimacy, Gradvall''s book brings readers closer than ever to one of the world''s most notoriously private music icons.

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Book SynopsisDeals with The Beatles and their contemporaries. Focusing on one of the most exciting periods in British rock history, this title provides comprehensive family trees for the quintessential groups of the Liverpool and London scenes.Trade ReviewProbably the world's foremost chronicler of rock n roll history' The Observer.

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Book SynopsisLearn from an expert (Gold Star Magic Inner Circle) magician: step by step tricks, including card magic, stage and optical illusions, stunts, puzzles, party and dinner table pranks.

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Book SynopsisAn extraordinary assembly of photographs of the Queen of Punk from childhood to today by the renowned photographer, now available in an unabridged trade edition (based on the Taschen limited edition retail $1,000), bringing these previously unpublished photographs to her fans.

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Book SynopsisGiant Steps examines the most important figures in the creation of modern jazz, detailing the emergence of bebop through the likes of Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker, Fats Navarro, Bud Powell and Thelonious Monk. Using this as its starting point, Giant Steps subsequently delves into the developments of jazz composition, modal jazz and free jazz. The music of each of these great masters is examined in detail and will provide both a fine introduction for the large audience newly attracted to the music but unsure of their direction through it, as well as an entertaining and informative read for those with a more substantial background.

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Book SynopsisTable of ContentsIntroduction 1 About This Book 1 Conventions Used in This Book 2 Foolish Assumptions 3 How This Book Is Organized 3 Part 1: Waking Up Your Fingers 3 Part 2: Developing a Strong, Supple, and Speedy Hand 3 Part 3: Including Your Arms and Body 4 Part 4: Integration and Independence 4 Part 5: The Part of Tens 4 The website 4 Icons Used in This Book 5 Where to Go from Here 5 Part 1: Waking Up Your Fingers 7 Chapter 1: Getting Ready to Practice 9 Warming Up Away from the Instrument 9 Releasing tension and releasing your muscles 10 Breathing in an unending circle 10 Massaging, stretching, and contracting your hands 10 Warming up your wrists 12 Swinging and twisting your arms 13 Stretching your shoulders and neck 15 Working on your back 18 Stretching your hamstrings 18 Perfecting Practice with Proper Posture 19 Sitting at the piano: Height and angle 19 Getting a handle on proper hand position 20 Hands on the fallboard: Counting out loud and bouncing 21 Hands on the fallboard: Hand arches and finger drops 22 Hands on the fallboard: Rotation in and out, movement up and down the keyboard 22 Hands on the keyboard: Sound and movement on the keys 23 Overcoming other posture pitfalls 24 Chapter 2: Isolating and Exercising Your Fingers 25 Two-Finger Exercises for the Left Hand 26 Fingers one and two (left hand) 26 Fingers two and three (left hand) 27 Fingers three and four (left hand) 27 Fingers four and five (left hand) 28 Two-Finger Exercises for the Right Hand 28 Fingers one and two (right hand) 29 Fingers two and three (right hand) 30 Fingers three and four (right hand) 30 Fingers four and five (right hand) 31 Three-Finger Exercises for the Left Hand 31 Fingers one, two, and three (left hand) 32 Fingers two, three, and four (left hand) 32 Fingers three, four, and five (left hand) 33 Three-Finger Exercises for the Right Hand 33 Fingers one, two, and three (right hand) 34 Fingers two, three, and four (right hand) 34 Fingers three, four, and five (right hand) 35 Four-Finger Exercises for the Left Hand 35 Fingers one, two, three, and four (left hand) 36 Fingers two, three, four, and five (left hand) 36 Four-Finger Exercises for the Right Hand 37 Fingers one, two, three, and four (right hand) 37 Fingers two, three, four, and five (right hand) 38 Performance Piece: “Come Back to Sorrento” 38 Chapter 3: Music for Five Fingers 41 Smooth Articulation: Playing Legato 42 Legato exercise for the right hand 42 Legato exercise for the left hand 43 Short Articulation: Playing Staccato 43 Staccato exercise for the right hand 44 Staccato exercise for the left hand 44 Developing Right-Hand Finger Independence with Five-Finger Position Scales 45 Major: In sequence, out of sequence 45 Minor: In sequence, out of sequence 46 Whole tone: In sequence, out of sequence 46 Chromatic: In sequence, out of sequence 47 Developing Left-Hand Finger Independence with Five-Finger Position Scales 48 Major: In sequence, out of sequence 48 Minor: In sequence, out of sequence 49 Whole tone: In sequence, out of sequence 49 Chromatic: In sequence, out of sequence 50 Doubling the Fun: Putting the Hands Together 50 Legato articulation, five-finger positions 51 Staccato articulation, five-finger positions 52 Performance Piece: Paganini Variation for Ten Fingers 53 Part 2: Developing a Strong, Supple, and Speedy Hand 55 Chapter 4: Passing Under and Crossing Over 57 One Under Two, Two Over One 58 One Under Three, Three Over One 60 One Under Four, Four Over One 62 Extending Scales with Crossovers and Pass-Unders 63 C- and G-major scale passages 63 B-flat and F-major scale passages 64 Performance Piece: Aria from La Cenerentola 65 Chapter 5: Playing Intervals 67 Playing Seconds with Different Finger Combinations 68 Finger combination: Two and three 68 Finger combination: Three and four 70 Finger combination: One and two 70 Finger combination: Four and five 72 Playing Thirds with Different Finger Combinations 73 Finger combination: One and three 73 Finger combination: Two and four 73 Finger combination: Three and five 75 Finger combinations: One and four, two and five, one and five 76 Playing Fourths with Different Finger Combinations 78 Finger combinations: One and four, two and five 78 Finger combinations: One and three, one and two 80 Playing Fifths, Sixths, and Sevenths 82 Exercise in fifths 82 Exercise in fifths and sixths 83 Exercise in fifths, sixths, and sevenths 83 Performance Piece: “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” 85 Chapter 6: Playing Chords without Tension 87 Chord Relaxation 88 A simple two-chord progression 88 A longer progression 88 Voicing Chords 89 Chord Repetition 90 Pulsing rhythms 90 Changing dynamics 91 Simple Progressions, Adding Small Arm Motions 92 Progression #1 93 Progression #2 94 Chord and Melody Combination Exercises 94 Chord and melody combo #1 94 Chord and melody combo #2 96 Chord and melody combo #3 97 Performance Piece: “Battle Hymn of the Republic” 98 Part 3: Including Your Arms and Body 99 Chapter 7: Extending Your Scales 101 The 12 Major, Harmonic Minor, and Melodic Minor Scales 102 C major, C harmonic minor, C melodic minor 102 G major, G harmonic minor, G melodic minor 103 D major, D harmonic minor, D melodic minor 104 A major, A harmonic minor, A melodic minor 105 E major, E harmonic minor, E melodic minor 106 B major, B harmonic minor, B melodic minor 107 F♯ major, F♯ harmonic minor, F♯ melodic minor 108 D♭ major, C♯ harmonic minor, C♯ melodic minor 109 A♭ major, A♭ harmonic minor, A♭ melodic minor 110 E♭ major, E♭ harmonic minor, E♭ melodic minor 111 B♭ major, B♭ harmonic minor, B♭ melodic minor 112 F major, F harmonic minor, F melodic minor 113 The Three Diminished Scales 113 Starting on C 114 Starting on D♭ 114 Starting on D 115 The Chromatic Scale 115 The 12 Blues Scales 116 C blues 116 G blues 116 D blues 116 A blues 117 E blues 117 B blues 117 F♯ blues 118 D♭ blues 118 A♭ blues 118 E♭ blues 119 B♭ blues 119 F blues 119 Gaining Greater Command of Scales 119 Varied articulation 120 Varied rhythmic groupings 121 Performance Piece: Variation VII from “Variations on ‘Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star’” 122 Chapter 8: Parallel and Contrary Motion 125 Parallel Movement at the Octave 126 Parallel octave exercise #1 126 Parallel octave exercise #2 127 Parallel Movement at the Interval 127 Parallel sixths 128 Parallel tenths 129 Contrary Motion Away from the Center 129 Scalewise motion away from the center 130 Chromatic motion away from the center 131 Contrary Motion Toward the Center 132 Scalewise motion toward the center 132 Patterns toward the center 133 Combination Movement Exercise 134 Performance Piece: “Turkey in the Straw” 135 Chapter 9: Footwork: Using the Damper Pedal 137 Pedaling Chords 138 Broken-chord pedaling 139 Block-chord pedaling 140 Pedaling Changes on a Single Line 141 Uniform pedal changes 142 Varied pedal changes 142 Pedaling for Effect 143 Blurred lines and long sustains 144 Sustaining as the hands leave the keyboard 145 Performance Piece: “Simple Gifts” 146 Chapter 10: Jumping Across the Keyboard 149 Jumping and Landing Accuracy Skills 150 Note-to-note jumps 150 Note-to-chord jumps 151 Chord-to-chord jumps 152 Mastering More Complicated Jumps 153 Accents on the downbeat 154 Accents on the upbeat 154 Jumping with Both Hands Together 155 Two-hand parallel motion jumps 156 Two-hand contrary motion jumps 157 Left-Hand Accompaniment Patterns (with Pedal) 158 Bass-note-to-chord pattern in 4/4 158 Bass-note-to-chord pattern in 3/4 159 Left-Hand Accompaniment Patterns (without Pedal) 160 Ragtime and stride pattern 161 Waltz pattern 162 Performance Piece: “Lily Pad Rag” 163 Part 4: Integration and Independence 165 Chapter 11: Playing Arpeggios 167 Finger Jumps 167 Jumping thirds 168 Jumping fourths 169 Jumping fifths 170 The Arpeggiator 170 Triad arpeggio exercise #1 171 Triad arpeggio exercise #2 172 Seventh-chord arpeggio exercise 173 Broken Chords (and How to Fix Them) 173 Alberti bass exercise 174 Guitar-style broken chord exercise 175 Blues-style broken chord exercise 176 Octave and extended broken chord exercise 177 Performance Piece: “Harp Heaven” 178 Chapter 12: Alternating Hands 181 Hand-to-Hand Scale Handoffs 181 Scale handoff exercise #1 182 Scale handoff exercise #2 183 Hand-to-Hand Arpeggio Handoffs 184 Arpeggio handoff exercise #1 185 Arpeggio handoff exercise #2 186 Crossing Over 187 Crossing over with the right hand 188 Crossing over with the left hand 189 One Hand on Top 190 Right hand on top exercise 190 Left hand on top exercise 191 Extreme Keyboard Positions 191 Full Keyboard Exercises 193 Full keyboard arpeggios 193 Full keyboard triads 195 Full keyboard seventh chords 196 Chord “Drumming” 197 Performance Piece: “El Choclo” 199 Chapter 13: Stretching Out with Octaves and Broken Octaves 201 Opening Up to the Octave 202 Octave scale exercise 202 Octave interval exercise 204 Octave Jumps 205 Exercise with shorter jumps 206 Exercise with longer jumps 207 Broken Octaves 207 Exercise with wrist rotation 208 Exercise with hand contraction and expansion 209 Octave Chords 210 Adding one inner note 211 Adding two inner notes 212 Performance Piece: “Schumann’s Octave Workout” 213 Chapter 14: Chord Progressions and Cadences 215 Triad Progressions 216 Diatonic triad progressions 216 Chromatic triad progressions 218 Seventh Chord Progressions 219 Seventh chord progressions exercise #1 219 Seventh chord progressions exercise #2 220 Chord Cadences and Familiar Patterns 221 Cadences 222 Turnarounds and sequences 223 Extended Chord Progressions 225 Extended major-key chord progression 225 Extended minor-key chord progression 226 Chords in One Hand, Melody in the Other 227 Chords with melody exercise #1 228 Chords with melody exercise #2 229 Performance Piece: “Awake, My Heart, and Sing” 230 Chapter 15: Trilling Thrills and Other Fancy Ornaments 231 Grace Notes 231 Trills 233 Mordents 235 Turns 236 Repeated Notes 237 Repeated notes in triplet rhythms 238 Repeated notes in eighth- and sixteenth-note rhythms 239 R-R-R-Rolling Chords 239 Rolling chords in the right hand 240 Rolling chords in both hands 240 The Glissando 241 The Tremolo 242 Performance Piece: “Caro Nome” 243 Chapter 16: Maximum Independence: Challenging Rhythms and Syncopations 245 Combining Scale and Arpeggio Patterns 246 Independent rhythms, scales, and arpeggios #1 246 Independent rhythms, scales, and arpeggios #2 247 Exercises with Changing Note Values 249 Scale patterns with changing note values 250 Arpeggio patterns with changing note values 251 Exercises with Changing Meters 252 Changing from 6/8 to 3/4 252 Expanding and contracting meter changes 253 Syncopation Exercises 254 Syncopation exercise #1 255 Syncopation exercise #2 256 Exercises with Polyrhythms 257 Two in the right hand against three in the left 257 Three in the right hand against two in the left 258 Performance Piece: “I’ll Build a Stairway to Paradise” 259 Part 5: The Part of Tens 261 Chapter 17: Ten Dances for Your Hands 263 Jig: “Captain Jinks” 263 Calypso: “Water Come-a Me Eye” 265 Waltz: “Waltz from Faust” 266 Tarantella 268 Tango: “El Porteñito” 269 Mexican Hat Dance 270 Polka: “Pizzicato Polka” 272 Boogie: “Johnson Rag” 273 “Hungarian Dance No 5” 275 Gypsy Dance from Carmen 276 Chapter 18: Ten Great Composers and Their Daily Workouts 279 Johannes Brahms (1833–1897) 280 Frédéric Chopin (1810–1849) 280 Muzio Clementi (1752–1832) 280 Karl Czerny (1791–1857) 280 Claude Debussy (1862–1918) 280 Enrique Granados (1867–1916) 281 Franz Liszt (1811–1886) 281 Edward MacDowell (1861–1908) 281 Carl Nielsen (1865–1931) 281 Sergei Rachmaninoff (1873–1943) 281 Appendix: How To Use The Website 283 Index 287

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Book SynopsisThis book is ideal for anyone keen to understand how contemporary plays and playwrights work, particularly those wanting to write for the stage themselves. Drawing heavily on contemporary practice, it considers moments from a range of plays, with a focus on those from the National Theatre''s repertoire. The book embraces a range of different dramaturgical structures and styles popular today; plays by a diverse selection of writers; and the current openness of dramatic form. A book of tools, rather than rules, this guide provides suggestions and provocations, exercises and tricks, examples and discussions. An ideal text for playwrights to hone their craft.Trade ReviewIt's hard to think of a scholar and theatre maker more knowledgeable about new work and how it’s made or a more perspicacious critic of the contemporary UK theatre scene than Dan Rebellato. * David Eldridge, Dramatist and Screenwriter *Written in an informal style, it’s an inspiring and entertaining resource, providing tools, suggestions, exercises and tricks. * Writers' Forus *Rebellato offers up concrete examples to demystify the process of writing … He shares examples of his own playwriting practice, quotidian events that could be turned into drama, and the practices of great playwrights from history. The book is packed full of references to other contemporary and classic plays, which is helpful to see and note down real-world examples of the process in action. * Drama & Theatre *Table of ContentsIntroduction 1. What Does a Playwright Do? 2. How to have Ideas 3. Monologue 4. (How) Can We Learn from Aristotle? 5. Structure 6. Form 7. Plot vs. Story 8. Time and Place 9. Making a Scene 10. Dialogue and Subtext 11. Character 12. Writing Your Play 13. Getting It Staged Notes Further Reading

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Book SynopsisA book of selected theatre reviews from 2020 from one of the foremost authorities on British theatre. Starting each chapter is a brief commentary on the developments of that era and the social, political and cultural context within which this theatre was being produced. Also included are key obituaries and letters in response to reviews written, providing a rich collection of curated archival material. Following on from his first collection, One Night Stands, Michael Billington's chronicle offers a rich, authoritative insight into British theatre over the last 3 decades from his unique professional perspective. It begins with Tony Kushner's UK premiere of Angels in America at the National Theatre in 1992 and culminates with Inua Ellams's celebrated adaptation of Chekhov's Three Sisters at the same venue almost 30 years later. En route, we're exposed to the fallibility of theatre criticism through his much-regretted original criticism of Sarah Kane's Blasted and its role in identifyTrade ReviewThe best theatrical read of the year. * British Theatre Guide *A hugely valuable document of almost three decades of British theatre, but also a highly personal collection. * Times Literary Supplement *Here is 18 years' worth of [Billington's] wisdom, starting with a recession and ending with a pandemic, culled from a half-century at the Guardian ... This book is more than a wander down memory lane, however; it brilliantly shows how theatre reflects society, art imitating life. * Country Life Magazine *Table of ContentsAcknowledgements xi Introduction 1. Towards the End of the Millennium: 1992–9 1992 Angels in America Faith Healer Moby Dick The Rise and Fall of Little Voice 1993 Is there Life after Deptford? 400 Years since the Death of Christopher Marlowe Arcadia Moonlight Cabaret 1994 The Atheist’s Tragedy Footfalls John Gielgud: a celebration of his 90th birthday The Queen and I/Road Measure for Measure Pentecost The Life and Legacy of John Osborne 1995 Blasted Letters to the Editor about Blasted Dealer’s Choice Skylight The Importance of Being Earnest/ Private Lives Mojo 1996 Shakespeare on Screen The Beauty Queen of Leenane Divine Right Hedda Gabler Ashes to Ashes 1997 Bird and Fortune Ivanov A Six-Point Plan for Theatre Playhouse Creatures Blue Heart The Weir 1998 An Experiment With An Air Pump Naked Cleansed Copenhagen The Merchant of Venice/As You Like It Via Dolorosa 1999 The Colour Of Justice Lift Off 71 House and Garden Ricky Jay and his 52 Assistants Mnemonic Noel Coward Centenary 2. Hopes of Renewal: 2000–9 2000 The Island Celebration/The Room Richard II Blue/Orange 4.48 Psychosis The Bogus Woman Is there a Crisis in Black Theatre? 2001 A Raisin in the Sun Alive From Palestine Mother Clap’s Molly House The Seagull No Man’s Land 2002 The York Realist Up For Grabs The Marriage of Figaro Frozen The Coast of Utopia Joan Littlewood A Number 2003 Iphigenia Henry V Fallout The Elephant Vanishes Iain Duncan Smith’s Leader’s Speech at the Conservative Party Conference The Sugar Syndrome Cut-Price Shakespeare Lear’s Daughters 2004 The Goat, or Who Is Sylvia? When Harry Met Sally Endgame Festen Sing Yer Heart Out for the Lads Guantanamo Stuff Happens Thou shalt not cough Don Carlos 2005 Professor Bernhardi Mammals Is the Fashion for the 90-minute Play suffocating Dramatists? Elmina’s Kitchen Talking to Terrorists Death of a Salesman Blackbird The Wild Duck 2006 Nights at the Circus Resurrection Blues The Clean House Rock ‘N’ Roll Frost/Nixon A Moon for the Misbegotten Krapp’s Last Tape 2007 The Seagull Black Watch King Lear Macbeth The Crisis in West End Theatre Noughts and Crosses 2008 Tribute to Paul Scofield 1922–2008 Gone With the Wind The English Game The Pitmen Painters Her Naked Skin Hamlet Breaking the Rules: Leading Article on Harold Pinter Tribute to Harold Pinter 2009 Be Near Me Death and the King’s Horseman The Arts in the 1980s: Reflections on Theatre under Margaret Thatcher The Great Game: Afghanistan The Contingency Plan Jerusalem Enron Critic’s Notebook 3. Bright Spots in the Lost Decade: 2010–19 2010 Off the Endz Sweet Nothings Ruined Religion and Theatre The Persians The Game Onassis Men Should Weep 2011 What’s Wrong with Spoilers? The League of Youth The Merchant of Venice truth and reconciliation Othello Tribute to Shelagh Delaney Foxfinder The Animals and Children Took to the Streets 2012 Signs of Second-Rate Plays Julius Caesar Ten Billion Three Sisters This House All That Fall Red Velvet The Effect 2013 The Audience Chimerica A Season in the Congo Handbagged The Scottsboro Boys 50 Years of The National Theatre 2014 Ellen Terry With Eileen Atkins King Charles III Khandan (Family) Wonderland Ballyturk The James Plays Gypsy 2015 Oppenheimer The Hard Problem Nicholas Hytner’s 12-year-reign as Director of the National Lampedusa The Trial Hamlet Hangmen Tribute to Brian Friel Elf the Musical 2016 Escaped Alone Cleansed Hamlet The Flick 246 Sixty Years of the Royal Court Why Shakespeare lives on 400 Years after his Death Father Comes Home from the Wars Oil The Intelligent Homosexual’s Guide to Capitalism and Socialism King Lear 2017 Hamlet Consent The Ferryman An Octoroon Barber Shop Chronicles Donald Trump and Shakespeare Fatherland Girl From The North Country Tribute to Sir Peter Hall Albion Ken Dodd at 90 2018 The Inheritance The Writer Nine Night Red The Jungle The Lehman Trilogy Caryl Churchill at 80 Company The Watsons Sweat 2019 Our Lady of Kibeho Rutherford and Son Betrayal Kunene and the King Small Island Romersholm Ian McKellen The Cheviot, the Stag and the Black, Black Oil Fleabag A Very Expensive Poison Three Sisters Letter to Oliver Dowden in The Guardian Index

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Book SynopsisDiscover the untold stories of rock history from Earl Slick, David Bowie''s legendary guitarist. From working with John Lennon to the New York Dolls, dive into 50 years of rock ''n'' roll adventures.--Every great rock singer needs a great guitarist by their side . . .Earl Slick started with the best: aged 22 he was hired by David Bowie to play guitar on 1974's Diamond Dogs tour. He never looked back.Gracing classic Bowie albums like Young Americans and Station to Station, Slick was also in John Lennon's band at the time of the former Beatle's tragic murder. Other collaborators include Mick Jagger, The Cure, Buddy Guy and Eric Clapton. Through it all, on tour and in the studio, he lived the rock n' roll life to the hilt until it nearly killed him.Guitar puts us in the room and on the stage with rock's greatest stars as Earl Slick reveals how music history was made one lick at a time.Earl is a legendary guitar star. His playing is earth, timeless and never less than stellar' DAVID BOWIE--PRAISE FOR GUITAR''Touching . . . poignant'' Sunday Express''Guitar, gives an unvarnished account of the weird and unpredictable life of a musical mercenary'' Telegraph

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Book SynopsisA definitive retelling of the greatest year for music - 1975 - told fifty years on.

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Book SynopsisFrom bestselling author of Fermat''s Last Theorem, a must-have for number lovers and Simpsons fans''An entertaining picture of the insanely high-minded nature of the Simpsons' writers'' Sunday Times''A valuable, entertaining book that, above all, celebrates a supremely funny, sophisticated show'' Financial TimesYou may have watched hundreds of episodes of The Simpsons (and its sister show Futurama) without ever realising that they contain enough maths to form an entire university course.In The Simpsons and Their Mathematical Secrets, Simon Singh explains how the brilliant writers, some of the mathematicians, have smuggled in mathematical jokes throughout the cartoon's twenty-five year history, exploring everything from to Mersenne primes, from Euler's equation to the unsolved riddle of P vs. NP, from perfect numbers to narcissistic numbers, and muTrade ReviewSingh blows the lid off a decades-long conspiracy to secretly educate cartoon viewers -- David X Cohen, writer for The Simpsons and FuturamaAn entertaining picture of the insanely high-minded nature of the Simpsons’ writers * Sunday Times *Singh shows a knack for gliding seamlessly between abstract mathematical concepts and every day life, always seeking out the most engaging, human and topical examples. Singh’s clean prose, detailed research and enthusiasm for the world of numbers are likely to captivate even those for whom maths normally creates feelings of anxiety rather than mirth * The Times *A valuable, entertaining book that, above all, celebrates a supremely funny, sophisticated show * Financial Times *What have Homer and Bart got to do with Euler's equation, the googolplex or the topology of doughnuts? ... Simon Singh has fun weaving great mathematics stories around our favourite TV characters * New Scientist *Singh shows just how addictive maths can be * BBC Focus *

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Book Synopsis''The truest measure of the man we have thus far'' - Mojo''Affectionate, impeccably researched biography'' - Mail on Sunday''Head and shoulders above the usual rock hagiography'' - Sunday TelegraphThe first biography to be written with the cooperation of the Lynott Estate, Cowboy Song is the definitive authorised account of the extraordinary life and career of Thin Lizzy guiding spirit, Philip Lynott.Leading music writer Graeme Thomson explores the fascinating contradictions between Lynott''s unbridled rock star excesses and the shy, sensitive ''orphan'' raised in working class Dublin. The mixed-race child of a Catholic teenager and a Guyanese stowaway, Lynott rose above daunting obstacles and wounding abandonments to become Ireland''s first rock star. Cowboy Song examines his key musical alliances as well as the unique blend of cultural influences which informed Lynott''s writing, connecting IreTrade ReviewAn affectionate and unflinching book on Lynott ... It's the substantive flesh Thomson puts on the bones of Lynott's personal life, though, that makes Cowboy Song the truest measure of the man we have thus far - and a must-read for anybody ever smitten by Lizzy's fatally-flawed romantic * James McNair, Mojo *Well researched ... poignant ... revealing * RTE Guide *A genuinely sympathetic portrait * Uncut *An admirable book ... there are times when Graeme Thomson's prose reaches astute heights and stirs recognitions -- James O’Connor Irish TimesAffectionate, impeccably researched biography ... an impressively well-rounded story -- Geoff Barton Mail on SundayHead and shoulders above the usual rock hagiography -- Neil Armstrong, Sunday TelegraphOutstanding -- John Spain, Belfast TelegraphEven non-Thin Lizzy fans will find much to fascinate in Cowboy Song. Thomson's account ... is absorbing * Irish Examiner *Packs a real emotional punch * Spectator *An excellent, painstaking life ... Crowther's afterword about her errant bad-boy hubbie and their "beautiful, strong, funny, creative and loving girls ... of whom he would be so very, very proud" brought tears to my eyes -- Barney Hoskyns, GuardianCowboy Song goes further - uncovering how Lynott's race, country, and complex family life fed into his singular poetry and music -- Michael Curle, Irish PostEngrossing ... a candid depiction of a complicated soul -- David Burke, Rock’n’ReelFascinating -- Edel Coffey, Belfast Telegraph

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Book SynopsisThe term ''national treasure'' has seldom been more appropriate. Richard Briers was not only the nation''s favourite next-door neighbour thanks to his work in the iconic BBC sitcom The Good Life, he was an actor you felt like you really knew, despite having only seen him on stage or screen.While his role as Tom Good might be considered the pinnacle of Richard''s sixty-year career, it sits atop a mountain of roles that combined represent one of the most productive and varied careers in British entertainment history. Indeed, Richard''s television work alone makes up a not insignificant portion of our country''s best endeavours on the small screen, from Jackanory and the anarchic Roobarb and Custard through to Dr Who, Inspector Morse, Ever Decreasing Circles, Extras, and the long-running comedy drama, Monarch of the Glen. On the big screen Richard appeared alongside Raquel Welch, Robert De Niro, Denzel Washington, Kathy Bates and MicTrade ReviewA charming biography of Richard Briers, spotlighting the rich diversity of the much-loved actor's career * Choice *This lively biography reveals a modest, self-deprecating and likeable person * Irish Times *Packed with anecdotes * Reader's Digest *

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Book SynopsisACTRESS. ICON. ACTIVIST. Her story, in her voice, for the first time. In this honest, layered and unforgettable book that alternates between storytelling and her own poetry, Pamela Anderson breaks the mould of the celebrity memoir while taking back the tale that has been crafted about her.Her blond bombshell image was ubiquitous in the 1990s. Discovered in the stands of a football game, she was immediately rocket launched into fame, becoming Playboy''s favourite cover girl and an emblem of Hollywood glamour and sexuality. But what happens when you lose grip on your own life - and the image the notoriety machine creates for you is not who you really are?Growing up on Vancouver Island, the daughter of young, wild, and unprepared parents, Pamela Anderson''s childhood was not easy, but it allowed her to create her own world-surrounded by nature and imaginary friends. When she overcame her deep shyness and grew into herself, she Trade ReviewA revelatory and fascinating dive beyond the usual bimbo clichés -- Alexander Larman * The Spectator *Pamela Anderson tackles her journey from small-town girl to one of the icons of the 90s, terrorised by the LA paparazzi who were obsessed with her personal life . . . this is a chance for her to tell her story in her own way. * Stylist *Reveals the woman behind the iconic image in this intimate and well-written journey of self-discovery, uncovering the layers that make up her complicated past and sharing her lifelong thirst for knowledge. Anderson fully takes control of her own story, addressing the salacious aspects but also sharing inspiring tales of survival, motherhood, and activism. * Library Journal *A page-turner . . . throughout her account of this kooky, messed-up, enviable, and often thrilling life, her humility . . . never fails her. * Kirkus *This pensive and free-spirited narrative reflects both Anderson's naivete and her wild spirit. * Publishers Weekly *The most disappointing thing about Love, Pamela is that it doesn't come in a form that can be injected directly into your viens . . . Dazzling. * The New York Times *The iconic Anderson uses a mixture of poetry and prose to present an impressionistic view of a fascinating life . . . the book paints a picture of a wild spirit, a proud mother, and a seeker that will draw in fans and those who have misunderstood this complicated woman. * Booklist, starred review *Anderson reveals the woman behind the iconic image in this intimate and well-written journey of self-discovery, uncovering the layers that make up her complicated past and sharing her lifelong thirst for knowledge. Anderson fully takes control of her own story, addressing the salacious aspects but also sharing inspiring tales of survival, motherhood, and activism. * Library Journal *

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Book SynopsisThe art of armed and unarmed stage combat thrills actors and audiences alike the world over. This book details many of the foundational techniques used by actors studying stage combat and actor-movement disciplines. A variety of specific training exercises are described that connect the actor's imagination to a cohesive and meaningful actor-training curriculum integrating stage combat with the actor's process of developing a fully embodied awareness of the physical life of the character.Developing physical awareness and dexterity is an essential component of an actor's training and rehearsal processes. Engagement, connection, the ability to listen and respond with authenticity, clarity, flexibility, intentionality, tactical response, variety are all helpful aspects for the actor studying combat movement. With practical exercises and expert advice, Stage Combat Arts allows the actor to further hone their emotional connection and extension, breath and voice, intention and focuTrade ReviewI've had the pleasure of working closely with Chris DuVal as both actor and fight director; his theatrical instincts are unerring, and his intelligence and heart shine through in this useful book * Bill Rauch, Artistic Director, Oregon Shakespeare Festival *. . . I encourage you to add this book to your shelf today. It is an indispensable asset and an invaluable tool for integrating acting, voice, and movement technique in teaching the combat arts. * From the “Foreword” by Paul Dennhardt Professor, Illinois State University M. AmSAT Teacher of the Alexander Technique Society of American Fight Directors - Fight Director/Certified Teacher Dueling Arts International - Master Teacher/Master Fight Director *Chris DuVal is one of the most talented, insightful performers that I know. He combines rigorous discipline with a lighthearted perspective and he's a thoughtful, patient teacher. Read this book, it will make you a better combatant/actor/person. * Ty Burrell, Emmy-award winning actor, “Phil Dunphy” on Modern Family *How exciting to immerse myself in such a thoughtful, innovative, and practical take on using aspects of Fitzmaurice Voicework and other disciplines to enhance stage combat. We need more teachers like Chris—teachers who take the time to delve deeply into multiple disciplines to discover how they can serve each other. His book, when not only understood but also practiced and internalized, is a kind of elixir with the power to bring stage combat to life. * Saul Kotzubei, Director of the Fitzmaurice Institute *This book is an invaluable resource for those who teach voice, stage violence, or acting. Mr. DuVal approaches the integration of voice and violence from a practiced, careful, generous perspective. The methodical, logical progression of concept to video demonstration to application through text examples and exercises is brilliant. Anyone serious about the craft of acting should have this book on their shelf! * Jonathan Cole, Ph.D. Associate Professor, Willamette University, Certified Teacher, Society of American Fight Directors *So often stage combat is just a series of techniques. Chris Duval, a wonderful actor and mover himself, has found a way to communicate a process that explores where the need for violence comes from, how to make it connect seamlessly to the action of the moment, and how to link it to voice and the movement of the character as a whole. This simple, clear process is how he teaches his students and how he works as an actor - with curiosity, imagination, ease, and joy. * Ursula Meyer, Professor in the MFA Graduate Acting Program at UC San Diego, Professional Voice and Text Coach *This is truly a unique book. I know of no other text that assembles so much valuable and varied information about acting, movement and voice as this one. DuVal’s perspective is a practical one informed by his considerable experience as a professional actor and fight director. The refreshing practicality of a practitioner is everywhere apparent in this book: in the concepts, the exercises, the explanations and in the clarity of purpose. I enthusiastically recommend this book to every student and teacher of acting. * John Sipes, Professor, University of Tennessee *In our current academic environment that favors radical specialization, this compendium stands apart, boldly focusing on the integration of craft, and the reunification of a performer's body, mind and spirit. Mr. DuVal has successfully blended the systems he espouses here, and in so doing, he has also brought together Eastern and Western practices, traditions, and philosophies. This is an invaluable resource for any student or teacher delving deeply into their study of performance and the martial arts. * Adam Noble, Associate Professor of Acting & Movement - University of Houston, Fight Director & Southwest Regional Representative, Society of American Fight Directors *Chris DuVal does a fantastic job interweaving safety, technique, and actable exercises together to create easily applicable training moments. This is a must have book for both teachers and students interested in the theatrical combative arts. * DC Wright Professor, Western Illinois University Certified Teacher, Society of American Fight Directors Master Instructor, Dueling Arts International *Chris DuVal's curiosity, warmth, and keen eye for synchronicity are evident on every page. Drawing from a remarkable breadth of concepts, approaches and material, Chris has written a user-friendly resource for students and teachers that reflects his desire for clarity and harmony. His ability to connect the dots is inspirational, and I'm eager to integrate his work into my own. * Kevin Rich, Artistic Director, Illinois Shakespeare Festival Assistant Professor of Acting, Illinois State University, Associate Teacher of Fitzmaurice Voicework *Acting is said to be the physical manifestation of an internal world. Christopher DuVal's innovative approach nudges the actor out the safety of the cerebral and in to the dynamic tangibles of breath, voice, speech and movement. A must-have teaching resource for the 21st century! * Anne James, Associate Professor, California State University, Fullerton, Associate Teacher of Fitzmaurice Voicework *Chris DuVal interweaves principles from foundational pedagogies in Stage Combat Arts. Exercises and reflections are parsed out in precise and patient ways. Drawing on the work of great teachers in the US and the UK, the book serves as a starting point and a compass for teachers and students. * Jack Young, Artistic Director, Houston Shakespeare Festival Head, Professional Actor Training Program, University of Houston *Chris DuVal approaches theatre as an emerging art form, informed by his rich understanding of the actor's drive to interpret, respond to, engage with, and speak about the human experience. Voice and body, shape and space, mind and emotion -- he offers a fresh perspective on an ancient craft that provokes reconsideration of the storytelling possibilities of the stage combat arts. * Kamella Tate, MFA, EdD Owner-Principal KTA/LLC *Few texts about stage combat seamlessly bridge physical technique and "actor technique". This book is one of them. There is a simplicity and directness in Chris' approach that is so amazingly refreshing and encouraging. In the same manner that he uses to reconnect us to the most natural of functions (breathing), Chris' approach and encouragement to "explore with curiosity" removes for the student any sense of apprehension about the seeming complexity that so often accompanies stage combat or other movement training. This book is indispensable for anyone who values true integration of the physical instrument in the art over simply acquiring another ‘skill’ * John J. O'Hagan, Associate Professor, Theatre Creative Arts and Communication Unit Head, Principia College *I’ve been teaching Voice, Speech and Shakespeare for 25 years, but never had any formal stage combat experience. Chris’ book has helped me understand the vocabulary of stage combat as a performer, and has given me invaluable tools to share with my students. He has added a whole dimension to my teaching. * David Kelly, Actor at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Teacher and Director at Southern Oregon University *This book is a holistic approach to the skill of acting - calling upon the actor to approach their craft like an athlete in training. Each structurally consistent chapter gently invites the reader to develop a curiosity for their often unconscious physical and mental habits that limit their abilities on the stage. There is then a strong motivation to apply the subsequent exercises which effectively raise awareness, release tension and re-direct focus for optimal connection on stage and off. Chris DuVal’s thorough, disciplined and gentle approach to the skill of acting is a rare and welcome teaching agent for acting students at any level. * Nancy Lee-Painter, Professor of Theatre, National Playwriting Program Chair Region VII, Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival, Lewis-Clark State College *What a gem of a book! Chris has written an educators dream book that clearly links acting, movement and voice like no other. Superbly outlined examples, discussion prompts, video links, drawings, teaching tips and further reading suggestions...this book is a must have for any educator looking to integrate the art of stage combat into the teaching of their acting process. * Jason Spelbring, Assistant Professor, Utah State University *With comprehensive, specific, and easy to follow exercises, Chris Duval has created a user friendly teaching guide for the melding of acting, voice, and stage combat. * Michael Polak, Dueling Arts International, Associate Instructor AEA, SAG-AFTRA Actor *In his book, Chris deftly ties training in the skill of Stage Combat with the necessary mindset and attitude of creating believable, open characters onstage. Students will certainly benefit in their pursuit of greater proficiency and knowledge of Stage Combat, but will ultimately be better actors if this book is applied to their growth as artists. * Michael Harding, Associate Professor of Theatre, Dixie State University, Actor / Director / Playwright *Stage Combat Arts' focus on the integration of voice, intention and technique toward generating safe and effective moments of staged violence is truly remarkable. The specificity Chris provides in combination with visual aids offers a unique paradigm shift in the study of staged violence. This is a must read/have for any practitioner, teacher, and/or scholar of theatre, performance, acting, voice, and stage combat. * Michael Mueller, Certified Teacher, Society of American Fight Directors Associate Editor, The Fight Master *Simple and genuine, Professor DuVal has crafted such a useful manual, guiding all levels of the combat artist for creative and careful use in the classroom, tv/film and the stage. Having had the pleasure of working with him, Chris is a profoundly gifted and experienced teaching artist. * Kelly Quinnett, Professor, University of Idaho *This is a book for anyone interested in the mysteries of integrating stage combat with text, voice, and ultimately good acting. Those who participate in the theatre at any level will find Christopher DuVal’s book an insider’s guide par excellence. * Michael Elich, Regional Theatre Actor *Chris DuVal has carefully, and clearly, crafted an ideal manual for integrating voice, movement, martial arts, and stage combat into a unified course of study for actors. His heart-felt and generous approach to the work makes the book readable and so useful for actors – and teachers – at all levels – a must read! * David Lee-Painter, Professor, University of Idaho *Chris DuVal’s book is the ultimate guide to incorporating voice and stage combat techniques into the art of great acting. His clear concise approach and his deep knowledge and experience in the field makes it a "must have” for every actor, teacher and theatre enthusiast. * Robin Goodrin Nordli, Actress at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival *At last: a book that synthesizes physical and vocal work for actors by providing a series of imaginative exercises that link breath, sound, movement, and action. Stage Combat Arts readers will undoubtedly find that this book offers a background and rationale for integrating acting skills and working wholistically. This is a must have for any theatre teacher or student. * Jillian Campana, Ph.D. Professor – Head of Performance and Practice, University of Montana *Stage Combat Arts provides an innovative yet practical approach to the integration of acting, voice work and stage combat. While the integration of these approaches is essential for any actor, getting there can be difficult. Guiding others through this process can be tricky - at best. Whether you are a performer, a teacher of performers or both, this book provides a clear, effective guide on how to achieve greater specificity, flexibility, and artistry when engaging in stage violence. * Anne Marie Nest, Associate Teacher of Fitzmaurice Voicework, Assistant Professor of Voice and Speech at University of Iowa *Chris DuVal has managed a rare feat in writing a manual that is clear, enlightening, creative and ultimately, immensely useful, that can, and will, be used extensively by teachers of Stage Combat, Acting, Movement and Voice alike. There is much in this book to recommend. It deserves a place front and center on every theatre artist’s bookshelf and desk. * Robin McFarquhar, Ph.D. Professor and Chair of Acting, University of Illinois, Urbana - Champaign. Fight Director / Teacher, Society of American Fight Directors Alexander Teacher, AmSAT *DuVal (Univ. of Utah)…goes beyond the simple teaching of stage violence techniques and supplements the volume with a number of videos. … Strengths of the volume include the author's discussion of safety and his effective integration of stage violence into the larger context of performance. The volume is further enhanced by consistent formatting across chapters and the inclusion of boxed teaching tips, advice from numerous teachers of stage violence, and the video supplement. --K. J. Wetmore Jr., Loyola Marymount University Summing Up: Recommended. * CHOICE *This book is a wonderful curricular resource. There are dozens of exercises, covering a whole range of breathing, movement, and vocal work that acting teachers would find very useful to add to their repertoires. The exercises promise to be richly productive in rehearsal … From the standpoint of actor training, integrating stage combat as a training tool for other skills is an experimental move that seems likely to bear fruit. Stage Combat Arts is a worthwhile first step in that experiment. * Methods: A Journal of Acting Pedagogy *Table of ContentsAcknowledgments Introduction Chapter 1: Breath and Connection Chapter 2: Intention and Focus Chapter 3: Stage Combat Arts and Voice Chapter 4: Acting the Fight Appendix: Additional Resources Bibliography

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Book Synopsis''Piercingly honest witty wonderful'' - The Observer''My favourite way to learn is when a funny, clever, honest person is teaching me that''s why I love Rosie Wilby!'' - Sara Pascoe''Funny, sweet, entertaining, insightful, life-affirming...'' Viv Groskop''Hilarious, honest and brilliant'' Helen Thorne''Rosie Wilby unearths the hope and hilarity that can come from heartbreak'' Abigail TarttelinIn 2011, comedian and podcaster Rosie Wilby was dumped by email... though she did feel a little better about it after correcting her ex's spelling and punctuation. Obsessing about breakups ever since, she embarked on a quest to investigate, understand and conquer the psychology of heartbreak. This book is a love letter to her breakups, a celebration of what they have taught her peppered with anecdotes from illustrious friends and interviews with relationship therapists, scientists and sociologists about separating in the modTrade ReviewWe all know about the joys of love and relationships, but there's so much more to discover about the glorious benefits of breakups. Rosie reassures and entertains you through brilliant stories and fabulous facts, about what can be gained from the end of a relationship. This is a hilarious, honest and brilliant book! * Helen Thorn, Scummy Mummies podcaster *Piercingly honest… witty… wonderful * The Observer *For anyone who has ever been disenchanted by idealised romantic fairytales, this book will make you feel less alone. Rosie Wilby unearths the hope and hilarity that can come from heartbreak. * Abigail Tarttelin *My favourite way to learn is when a funny, clever, honest person is teaching me - that's why I love Rosie Wilby! * Sara Pascoe *Funny, sweet, entertaining, insightful, life-affirming... this book is all the things a breakup is not. Rosie’s wisdom is balm for the soul for anyone who has ever been in love. * Viv Groskop *[A] gem of a book * Red Magazine *Comedian Rosie Wilby deftly blends her own experiences with insights from therapists, sociologists and scientists to explore why heartbreak can be so devastating. -- Therapy TodayIf you’ve ever been heartbroken, this will help you heal. Plus it’s FUNNY -- Nichi Hodgsonwise, funny and clever -- Lucy-Anne HolmesI unexpectedly found this really brilliant. It’s about how heartbreak can be a real turning point and the creativity that comes with the depths of depression. It’s a really new take on it. -- Lorraine CandyThe smartest and most thought-provoking book about breakups in recent memory… expertly blends comedy, personal memoir and science to create the most essential book of the season * The Maritime Edit *The Breakup Monologues is a book to go back to, again and again. It’s smart, funny, and wise. Buy it for all your friends, single, coupled, or otherwise. * Liza Delfouli, Arts Hub *The perfect blend of humour, memoir and science * Diva *

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis

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Book SynopsisBeginning with Casino Royale (2006) and ending with No Time to Die (2021), the Daniel Craig era of James Bond films coincides with the rise of various justice movements challenging deeply entrenched systems of inequality and oppression, ranging from sexism, racism, and immigration to 2SLGBTQIA+ rights, reproductive justice and climate change. While focus is often placed on individual actions and institutional policies and practices, it is important to recognize the role that culture plays within these systems. Mainstream film is not simply ''mindless'' entertainment but a key part of a global cultural industry that naturalizes and normalizes power structures.Engaging with these issues, Resisting James Bond is a multidisciplinary collection that explores inequality and oppression in the world of 007 through a range of critical and theoretical approaches. The chapters explore the embodiment and disembodiment of power and privilege across the formal, narrative, culturTrade ReviewAn interrogative, urgent edition to the expanding field of Bond scholarship, Lisa Funnell and Christoph Lindner's Resisting James Bond takes the Daniel Craig oeuvre as a whole and offers an overarching yet thoroughly comprehensive take on the actor's five-film tenure vis a vis a number of original and inventive chapter topics. A rare scholarly treat. * Ian Kinane, General Editor, International Journal of James Bond Studies, University of Roehampton, UK *This is a thought-provoking collection which, in challenging the identification of mainstream cinema with mindless entertainment, delves deep into the problematic representation of social injustice and oppression within the longest franchise in film history. Re-assessing James Bond’s Craig era against the global rise of social and political unrest of the first two decades of the twenty-first century, the collection’s interdisciplinary essays interrogate the power structures embodied by the world’s most iconic fictional secret agent at a crucial moment in the 007 series. * Monica Germanà, Reader in Gothic and Contemporary Studies at the University of Westminster, UK *Table of ContentsList of Figures Foreword: Bond is Dead. Long Live 007. Marwan M. Kraidy (Northwestern University Qatar) Acknowledgements Introduction: Resisting James Bond in the Daniel Craig Era Lisa Funnell (Mohawk College, Canada) and Christoph Lindner (University College London, UK) Part 1: Embodiment 1. James Bond, Environmental Injustice, and “Slow Violence” in the Craig Era Tatiana Konrad (University of Vienna, Austria) 2. “Do You Expect Me to Talk?”: Bond the Torture Critic Ron E. Hassner (University of California, Berkeley, USA) 3. The Thrusting Tip of the Spy Business: Discovering Resistance in the Modern Moneypennys Colin Burnett (Washington University in St. Louis, USA) 4. Highland Rape: Scotland’s Traumatic Past in Skyfall Mary M. Burke (University of Connecticut, USA) 5. “Do You Consider Your Employment to be Psychologically Stressful?”: Gender, Trauma, and Resilience in Daniel Craig’s James Bond Bridget E. Keown (University of Pittsburgh, USA) Part 2: Disembodiment 6. For Your Servers Only: Surveillance and Infonationalism in Craig-era Bond Kathryn Hendrickson (University of Michigan, USA) and John Brick (Marquette University, USA) 7. Specters of Capitalism: Globalization in the Craig-Era Bond Films Milo Sweedler (Wilfrid Laurier University, Canada) 8. Bond, Race and Coloniality: No Time to Die(versify)… Harshad Keval (Canterbury Christ Church University, UK) 9. License to Urbicide: Defusing Bond’s Acts of Terrorism for a New Era Fernando Gabriel Pagnoni Berns (Universidad de Buenos Aires, Argentina) Afterword: 007 and Ableism Dr Lisa Funnell (Mohawk College, Canada) Contributor List Index

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Book SynopsisLaurent Cantet is of one France’s leading contemporary directors. In a series of important films, including Human Resources, Time Out, Heading South, The Class and Foxfire, he takes stock of the modern world from the workplace, through the schoolroom and the oppressive small town to the world of international sex tourism. His films drive the hidden forces that weigh on individuals and groups into view but also show characters who are capable of reflection and reaction. If the films make their protagonists rethink their place in the world, they also challenge the positions of the viewer and the director. This is what makes them so worthy of study. Combining a fine eye for detail with broad contextual awareness, this book gives an account of all Cantet’s works, from the early short films to the major works. Martin O’Shaughnessy is a leading international writer on French cinema, especially in film and politics.Trade Review‘O’Shaughnessy’s book is nuanced, insightful and an important contribution to the study of contemporary political cinema.’Jessica Livingston, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, H-France Review Vol. 17, March 2017 -- .Table of ContentsIntroduction1. A director and his methods2. Early applications3. The work diptych4. Going global, heading south5. Between republican walls6. Before and after the politicalConclusionIndex

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Book SynopsisThis volume looks at a range of texts and practices that address race and its relationship with television. The chapters explore television policy and the management of race, how transnationalism can diminish racial diversity, historical questions of representation, the myth of a multicultural England and more. They also provide analyses of programmes such as Doctor Who, Shoot the Messenger, Desi DNA, Survivors and Top Boy, all of which are considered in the context of the broadcast environments that helped to create them. While efforts have been made to put diverse portrayals on screen, there are still significant problems with the stories being told.Trade Review‘Adjusting the Contrast makes a meaningful intervention into the whiteness that historically characterises much of UK television studies […]with this rigorous, engaging and eclectic collection, Malik, Newton and their contributors play an important part in the ongoing project to decolonise British television studies.’Hannah Hamad, Critical Studies in Television: The International Journal of Television Studies, Vol. 13, No. 4 (2018) -- .Table of ContentsIntroduction – Sarita Malik and Darrell M. Newton1 A little Brit different? BBC America and transnational constructs of Britishness – Darrell M. Newton2 Scheduling race – Anamik Saha3 Reframing the 1950s: race and representation in recent British television – James Burton4 Black British drama, losses and gains: the case of Shoot the Messenger – Sarita Malik5 The iconic ghetto on British television: Black representation and Top Boy – Kehinde Andrews6 Whiteness, normativity and the ongoing racial Other: imperial fictions: Doctor Who, post-racial slavery and other liberal humanist fantasies – Susana Loza7 Myth of a multicultural England in BBC’s Luther – Nicole M. Jackson8 Framing The Fosters: jokes, racism and Black and Asian voices in British comedy television – Gavin SchafferIndex

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Book Synopsis______________________THE #MERKY STORY SO FAR Edited and co-written by Jude YawsonContributions by Team #MerkyImages by Kaylum Dennis‘It’s been a long time coming, I swear...’ In four years Stormzy has risen from one of the most promising musicians of his generation to a spokesperson for a generation. Rise Up is the story of how he got there. It’s a story about faith and the ideas worth fighting for. It’s about knowing where you’re from, and where you’re going. It’s about following your dreams without compromising who you are.Featuring never-before-seen photographs, annotated lyrics and contributions from those closest to him, Rise Up is the #Merky story, and the record of a journey unlike any other.______________________'A very important book. The voices we hear from - young, gifted and largely black - are all too rarely heard. These are people who typically have to listen to a daily diet of media negativity about their communities without the opportunities to respond. ... It is truly inspiring to read about the accomplishments of Team Stormzy, realised largely without money or expertise, but with bucketloads of intelligence and hard work.' BBC (WILL GOMPERTZ)Trade ReviewPart inspirational self-help manual, part business guide, part exploration of how its author - aided by the team around him, given equal voice in the oral history format - transformed himself into the scene's biggest star. -- Alexis Petridis * Guardian, 'Books of the Year' *Charts the ascent of the grime MC... through a panoply of voices. Stormzy is adored. -- Kitty Empire * Observer, 'Books of the Year' *In first-person interviews, the MC's friends and colleagues give their insight on an extraordinary journey so far... In doing so, it shines a light on voices that are often overlooked, in keeping with Stormzy's ethos for his #Merky publishing imprint. -- Rhian Daly * NME, 'Books of the Year' *A very important book... It is truly inspiring to read about the accomplishments of Team Stormzy, realised largely without money or expertise, but with bucketloads of intelligence and hard work. -- Will Gompertz * BBC *An inspirational must-read... Throughout he demonstrates an ambition beyond telling his life story. The book is part of a wider plan to elevate black British culture to where he believes it should be. It's a manual demonstrating how big plans can become realities... Like Stormzy himself, it's a different kind of success. -- David Smyth * Evening Standard *

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