Search results for ""Music Will""

The highly chromatic music of the late 1800s and early 1900s includes some of the best-known works by Gustav Mahler, Richard Strauss, Cesar Franck, and Hugo Wolf. In this book, Daniel Harrison builds on nineteenth-century music theory to provide an original and illuminating method for analyzing chromatic music. Combining theoretical innovations with a sound historical understanding, "Harmonic Function in Chromatic Music" will aid anyone studying this pivotal period of Western music history.

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Eleven-year-old Arn is walking through the countryside in Cambodia. His whole town is walking with him. They’re walking into one of the most tragic moments of history: the Killing Fields.Music will save him. Hope, luck and kindness will save him. This is his story.Based on the true story of Arn Chorn-Pond, this is an achingly raw and powerful novel about a child of war who becomes a man of peace.

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Yorkshire boy Ellis is at a crossroads. Having finished school and been dumped by the girl he thought was the love of his life, he doesn't know what he wants to do next. When he accidentally walks into a volunteer position at a hub for adults with mental illness and learning difficulties, Ellis doesn't expect to stay long. But relationships here go deep, and soon Ellis finds himself caught up in a never-ending swirl of friendships, enmities, sexual awakenings, emotional journeys, and cool new music. Will he survive intact?

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Highlights Puzzle Readers offer an innovative approach to learning that integrates puzzles and stories to develop motivated, confident readers. These Level 1 books are perfect for kids sounding out letters and familiar syllables.Nick and his robot pal Nack love to build things. As they make instruments in this Level 1 Highlights Puzzle Reader, kids can find supplies in Hidden Pictures scenes that double as picture support for the simple story text, which is full of repeated words. With bonus craft directions, Nick and Nack Make Music will appeal to junior makers who are just discovering reading.

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Highlights Puzzle Readers offer an innovative approach to learning that integrates puzzles and stories to develop motivated, confident readers. These Level 1 books are perfect for kids sounding out letters and familiar syllables.Nick and his robot pal Nack love to build things. As they make instruments in this Level 1 Highlights Puzzle Reader, kids can find supplies in Hidden Pictures scenes that double as picture support for the simple story text, which is full of repeated words. With bonus craft directions, Nick and Nack Make Music will appeal to junior makers who are just discovering reading.

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HE STARTED LEARNING to play the piano when he was three years old in Shenyang, China. Today he is one of the world’s most outstanding pianists. In this engrossing life story, adapted by Michael French, Lang Lang not only recounts the difficult, often thrilling, events of his early days, but also shares his perspective on his rapidly changing homeland. He thoughtfully explores the differences between East and West, especially in the realm of classical music and cultural life. Shining through his rags-to-riches story of a child prodigy who came of age as a renowned musician, Lang Lang’s positive spirit, his dynamic personality, and his enduring passion for music will inspire readers of all ages. Includes a 16-page photo insert.

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With Understanding Music and The Aesthetics of Music (1997) Roger Scruton set a new standard of rigour and seriousness in the philosophy of music. This collection of wide-ranging essays covers all aspects of the theory and practice of music, showing the significance of music as an expression of the moral life. The book is split into two parts, the first is devoted to the aesthetics and theory of music and the second consists of critical studies of individual composers, thinkers and works including essays on Mozart, Wagner, Beethoven's Ninth, Janácek & Schoenberg, Szymanowski and Adorno. Understanding Music will appeal to specialists in philosophy and musicology and also to music lovers who wish to find deeper meaning in this mysterious art. The Bloomsbury Revelations edition includes a new preface from the author.

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For twelve-year-old violinist Flora, growing up doesn’t always mean growing apart. But when a Battle of the Bands starts to divide Flora’s friend group, she knows that music will either separate them or bring them back together again.Playing violin makes twelve-year-old Flora feel alive, whether she is playing with her friends in their string quartet or playing fiddle for her Auntie Flora.When a music competition is announced, Flora wants her string quartet to play a classical song like they always do, but her friends want to play something new. Then, Simon, a talented drummer, who is struggling with a recent loss, invites Flora to join his rock trio. Pulled in several directions, Flora must decide if she is willing to risk her friendships by playing in Simon’s band.For Flora, finding harm

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Music and longing collide in this ballad of unrequited love! Nino Arisugawa, a girl who loves to sing, experiences her first heart-wrenching goodbye when her beloved childhood friend, Momo, moves away. And after Nino befriends Yuzu, a music composer, she experiences another sad parting! Luckily, Nino reunites with Momo and Yuzu in high school, but things haven’t played out the way anyone expected… Nino takes the stage at the school festival, ready to deliver the message held fast in her heart. Both Yuzu and Momo have composed songs for her, but which piece of music will be the one to awaken her? Meanwhile, Kuro’s secret feelings seem to have reached a turning point as well… And is In No Hurry finally ready to take things to the next level professionally? The romance manga about music and unrequited love that inspired an anime!

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This reassuring, playful picture book from the brilliant Sophy Henn is the perfect way to get to know all kinds of emotions! Hey! Have you ever stopped to think about all the different kinds of music that make you, you? There are happy tunes and slow beats, a marching stomp and a sleepy swoon. Maybe, some days, you can’t find your rhythm and you feel all out of sorts, and then on other days your music will come together and you’ll march to the beat of your own drum. All this music and more is celebrated here. A rousing rhyming text that’s sure to get those toes tapping is accompanied by Sophy’s signature bold, bright and stylish illustrations.Also by Sophy Henn from Simon & Schuster:The Best Worst Day Ever Pizazz Pizazz vs the New Kid Pizazz vs Perfecto

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This reassuring, playful picture book from the brilliant Sophy Henn is the perfect way to get to know all kinds of emotions! Hey! Have you ever stopped to think about all the different kinds of music that make you, you? There are happy tunes and slow beats, a marching stomp and a sleepy swoon. Maybe, some days, you can’t find your rhythm and you feel all out of sorts, and then on other days your music will come together and you’ll march to the beat of your own drum. All this music and more is celebrated here. A rousing rhyming text that’s sure to get those toes tapping is accompanied by Sophy’s signature bold, bright and stylish illustrations.Also by Sophy Henn from Simon & Schuster:The Best Worst Day Ever Pizazz Pizazz vs the New Kid Pizazz vs Perfecto

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With Clavis Music we embrace the power of reading and the power of listening. We explore a new world: that of books and music. Will you explore it with us? Bobby and his dog, Trix, spend the day at home. Bobby takes a shower, bakes a cake, cleans the house, and does some laundry. What a busy day. Let’s listen! A book filled with cozy things at home and the sounds they make. For little listeners ages 2 and up. At Clavis, our focus is on what’s best for children. We believe that books play an important role in each new phase in life. Our toddler books are tailored for every stage from 0 to 3 and focus on the five most important themes in their life: daily life, skills, emotions, the world, and language development. The age range and theme of every book in our toddler series can be found on the back cover in the form of a colored train.

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With Clavis Music we embrace the power of reading and the power of listening. We explore a new world: that of books and the music. Will you explore it with us? Little White Fish sings a cheerful morning song. All of his friends make music too. Then Little White Fish hears magical sounds. Where are they coming from? A merry music book for little fishes and music lovers ages 2 and up. At Clavis, our focus is on what’s best for children. We believe that books play an important role in each new phase in life. Our toddler books are tailored for every stage from 0 to 3 and focus on the five most important themes in their life: daily life, skills, emotions, the world, and language development. The age range and theme of every book in our toddler series can be found on the back cover in the form of a colored train.

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Have you got what it takes to challenge TV's most notorious quizzer?Take on the infamous Beast in 50 quizzes designed for all the family. Can you rival Mark's knowledge over 20 different subjects... beware even those that you might think aren't his strong suit - such as sport or music - will prove a real challenge. Compare your answers at the back to see if you've tamed the Beast, and which you might have got right that he got wrong. There are extra facts as Mark gives you fascinating bits of trivia associated with many of the answers, and lets you know if you've got a really tricky one correct!Mark also tells stories of his own quizzing adventures and gives you tips and advice for improving your quizzing skills, such as common quiz questions and things you should commit to memory.It all adds up to a fun, interactive, challenging experience for fans of The Chase and its most infamous protagonist.

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___________________6 JULY, 1972David Bowie appears on Top of the Pops for a third time.His quiff is big, bold, and the colour of fire. His make-up is lavish. His jumpsuit is a wild burst of colourful patterns, like a fluorescent fish skin. He carries a brand-new blue acoustic guitar. There's excitement, mixed with incredulity. And then he begins to play.It's a moment that will change the world of music forever.This is Ziggy Stardust, what would become Bowie's most famous persona. It's an instant seismic shift in the zeitgeist. This one performance embeds Ziggy Stardust into the nation's consciousness, and music will never be the same again.In When Ziggy Played Guitar, Dylan Jones looks back at one of the most influential moments in pop history,the birth of an icon, and the myriad unexpected ways that David Bowie reshaped pop culture.

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Taken together, these comprehensive volumes offer an authoritative account of the music of Africa. One of the most prominent experts on the subject, Gerhard Kubik draws on his extensive travels and three decades of study in many parts of the continent to compare and contrast a wealth of musical traditions from a range of cultures. In the first volume, Kubik describes and examines xylophone playing in southern Uganda and harp music from the Central African Republic; compares multi-part singing from across the continent; and explores movement and sound in eastern Angola. In the second volume, he turns to the cognitive study of African rhythm, Yoruba chantefables, the musical Kachamba family of Malawi, and African conceptions of space and time. Each volume features an extensive selection of photographs and is accompanied by a compact disc of Kubik's own recordings. Erudite and exhaustive, "Theory of African Music" will be an invaluable reference for years to come.

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As the author, a young Army bandsman lies wounded at the Battle of Corinth, he is shot between the eyes at point blank range. Miraculously he survives but is blinded. In a makeshift hospital a young Greek volunteer saves his life with slices of boiled egg. Captured Allied medics later restore the sight in one eye. In this moving and entertaining memoir Bernard describes daily life in POW camps in Greece and Germany. He established a theatrical group and an orchestra who perform to fellow POWs and their German guards. A superb raconteur, as well as a gifted musician, the author's anecdotes are memorably amusing. Bernard was repatriated via Sweden in late 1943. While blinded in one eye and seriously wounded, the author was told by his New Zealand doctor, fellow POW and musician John Borrie, 'When nothing else will do, music will always lift one up'. Barbed Wire Blues' inspirational, ever optimistic tone will surely have the same effect on its readers.

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With Clavis Music we embrace the power of reading and the power of listening. We explore a new world: that of books and music. Will you explore it with us? PIPPA the puffin is going sailing. Maybe a friend wants to sail along . . . Pippa asks the dolphin, the penguin, the seal . . . But they’re too busy to join her. And you? Will you look and listen too? A sweet and charming music book for little Arctic adventurers ages 2 and up. At Clavis, our focus is on what’s best for children. We believe that books play an important role in each new phase in life. Our toddler books are tailored for every stage from 0 to 3 and focus on the five most important themes in their life: daily life, skills, emotions, the world, and language development. The age range and theme of every book in our toddler series can be found on the back cover in the form of a colored train.

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With Clavis Music we embrace the power of reading and the power of listening. We explore a new world: that of books and music. Will you explore it with us? It’s a brand-new day. All the animal friends wake up and look around. Who is barking, grunting, buzzing, and croaking? Will you search and listen along? A colorful merry music book for little animal lovers ages 2 and up. At Clavis, our focus is on what’s best for children. We believe that books play an important role in each new phase in life. Our toddler books are tailored for every stage from 0 to 3 and focus on the five most important themes in their life: daily life, skills, emotions, the world, and language development. The age range and theme of every book in our toddler series can be found on the back cover in the form of a colored train.

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In Giving Voice to My Music, David Wordsworth's engrossing interviews take us into the world of twenty-four leading composers of choral music, composers for whom writing for choirs is central to their very existence. Here, they give voice to their inspirations, their passions and the challenges they have faced in working through the pandemic of 2020/21. They reveal how their life experiences have influenced their compositions, how they choose and relate to the texts they set, and how they interact with commissioners, singers and conductors alike. Enhanced by an extensive reference section and a revelatory list of the composers' own favourite pieces, readers will discover music that has enriched these composers' lives and encouraged their creativity. Giving Voice to my Music will be relished by singers, composers, conductors and above all audiences, for the new insights it offers into works that are already well-known but also for its introductions to new choral music that deserves to be better known.

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Read by two of the nation's favourite children's TV presenters, this is a delightful collection of favourite nursery rhymes and traditional stories.Climb up the beanstalk with Jack, march with the Duke of York and visit the bears with Goldilocks in Nursery Stories and Rhymes! With an approximate running time of 60 minutes, these popular tales and rhymes read and sung by well-known children's TV presenters Floella Benjamin and Derek Griffiths, with added sound effects and music, will keep children listening again and again, at home or in the car.Stories:Jack and the BeanstalkLittle Red Riding HoodGoldilocks and the Three BearsThe Three Little PigsThe Ugly DucklingChicken LickenThe Enormous TurnipThe Magic Porridge PotRhymes:The Grand old Duke of YorkMary Had a Little LambLittle Miss MuffetHumpty DumptyMary, Mary Quite ContraryHickory Dickory DockOne, Two, Buckle My ShoeHey Diddle DiddleJack & JillPolly Put the Kettle On

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Taken together, these comprehensive volumes offer an authoritative account of the music of Africa. One of the most prominent experts on the subject, Gerhard Kubik draws on his extensive travels and three decades of study in many parts of the continent to compare and contrast a wealth of musical traditions from a range of cultures. In the first volume, Kubik describes and examines xylophone playing in southern Uganda and harp music from the Central African Republic; compares multi-part singing from across the continent; and explores movement and sound in eastern Angola. In the second volume, he turns to the cognitive study of African rhythm, Yoruba chantefables, the musical Kachamba family of Malawi, and African conceptions of space and time. Each volume features an extensive selection of photographs and is accompanied by a compact disc of Kubik's own recordings. Erudite and exhaustive, "Theory of African Music" will be an invaluable reference for years to come.

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Taken together, these comprehensive volumes offer an authoritative account of the music of Africa. One of the most prominent experts on the subject, Gerhard Kubik draws on his extensive travels and three decades of study in many parts of the continent to compare and contrast a wealth of musical traditions from a range of cultures. In the first volume, Kubik describes and examines xylophone playing in southern Uganda and harp music from the Central African Republic; compares multi-part singing from across the continent; and explores movement and sound in eastern Angola. In the second volume, he turns to the cognitive study of African rhythm, Yoruba chantefables, the musical Kachamba family of Malawi, and African conceptions of space and time. Each volume features an extensive selection of photographs and is accompanied by a compact disc of Kubik's own recordings. Erudite and exhaustive, "Theory of African Music" will be an invaluable reference for years to come.

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Did you know that . . .carrying a musical instrument makes you more attractive?music can cure insomnia?music can change the taste of wine?the Mozart effect has nothing to do with Mozart?Barry Manilow songs can be used for crowd control?Why does music affect you so profoundly? It impacts the way you think, talk, feel, behave and even spend money. With his conversational style, humour, and endless knowledge, scientist and musician John Powell showcases fascinating studies - for example that shoppers spend more money in stores that play classical music and, even more astounding, they are more likely to buy German wine in stores playing German music. With chapters on music and emotions, music as medicine, music and intelligence, and much more, Why We Love Music will entertain through to the very last page. A delightful journey through the psychology and science of music, Why We Love Music is the perfect book for anyone who loves a tune.

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Music Will Never Sound the Same Again. No longer will music theory be an intimidating notion! Whether you’re new to music and want to know the fundamentals to succeed, or whether you already play, sing and write and need a refresher on the basics, multi-instrumentalist Adrian Valia has you covered. From melody and rhythm all the way to the most essential elements of harmony, you’ll learn—or relearn!—everything you need to know in order to understand and make profound and beautiful tunes. Using the same colorful graphics and illustrations made popular in his beloved “Music Visually Explained” series on TikTok, Adrian breaks down concepts like polyrhythm, scales, power chords and the puzzling Circle of Fifths into easily digestible forms. What’s more, tools that spin and move on the page demonstrate melody and rhythm in real-time for a fun, interactive flair, as do quizzes and QR codes that lead to video demonstrations. With this book in hand, you’ll soon be on your way to making the songs you’ve always dreamed of.

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It’s been over forty years since the tragic death of Jimi Hendrix, yet his popularity is undiminished and his place as the preeminent electric guitarist of the ages is still unrivaled. In The Jimi Hendrix Experience, bestselling author and rock aficionado Jerry Hopkins delves into the legendary life and career of the greatest man to ever pick up a guitar. With a consistent mix of greatness and madness, learn why the man who only released three studio albums during his life could forever transform not only music, but also a generation. While he’ll always be remembered for his incredible performance at Woodstock in 1969, Hopkins shows the true side of Hendrix: from his early childhood and the beginning of his career to his early death and the controversial battle of control over his estate that still wages on. With incredible photographs depicting Hendrix’s rise to the top, The Jimi Hendrix Experience is the ultimate biography of the “Voodoo Chile.” Hendrix’s legacy and music will live on for generations to be enjoyed by and to live on with fans of all ages. And now, thanks to Hopkins, his life can be relived through this incredible biography.

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One of America’s great rock and roll pioneers, Richie Furay played alongside Neil Young and Stephen Stills in Buffalo Springfield, producing some of the signature sounds of American folk rock. He went on to form Poco, one of the bands that founded California country rock, and then Souther-Hillman-Furay. After declaring himself a Christian in 1974, Furay released four solo albums before taking up the ministry in 1983. He began recording again in 1997, and over the next twenty-five years he released two Christian and five secular albums.In this biography of Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Richie Furay, Thomas Kitts provides an intimate look at Furay’s life and music. Kitts chronicles the musician’s upbringing, his musical career, and his Christianity, drawing on interviews with Furay and others close to him. In documenting Furay’s extraordinary talent as a songwriter, vocalist, and guitarist, Kitts argues that although he never attained the level of stardom of many of his bandmates, Furay is a pivotal figure in American popular music.Fans of Buffalo Springfield, Poco, and country-rock music will enjoy this quintessentially American story of a young man on a quest to fulfill his rock-and-roll dreams.

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In this groundbreaking union of art and science, rocker-turned-neuroscientist Daniel J. Levitin explores the connection between music—its performance, its composition, how we listen to it, why we enjoy it—and the human brain. Taking on prominent thinkers who argue that music is nothing more than an evolutionary accident, Levitin poses that music is fundamental to our species, perhaps even more so than language. Drawing on the latest research and on musical examples ranging from Mozart to Duke Ellington to Van Halen, he reveals:• How composers produce some of the most pleasurable effects of listening to music by exploiting the way our brains make sense of the world• Why we are so emotionally attached to the music we listened to as teenagers, whether it was Fleetwood Mac, U2, or Dr. Dre• That practice, rather than talent, is the driving force behind musical expertise• How those insidious little jingles (called earworms) get stuck in our headA Los Angeles Times Book Award finalist, This Is Your Brain on Music will attract readers of Oliver Sacks and David Byrne, as it is an unprecedented, eye-opening investigation into an obsession at the heart of human nature.

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Ben Johnston is an American composer internationally known for his work with extended just intonation. This is a critical-analytical study of his early compositions, his studies with Harry Partch and John Cage, and his experiments with just intonation, serialism, indeterminacy, jazz, and finally, extended just intonation. Pieces are analyzed and biographical material is included. The main emphasis of the text, however, is on examining Johnston's research about tuning and scalar theory as it relates to just intonation. For a long time Johnston worked in isolation; few people understood why someone would want to change the standard pitch system. But gradually, as his music began to be heard, especially his string quartets, performers and audiences experienced for themselves the kind of clarity and beauty that is possible with just intonation. This book is written for readers of varying musical backgrounds. Thos interested in studying and performing Johnston's music will find the book helpful in understanding his notational system and learning how to listen for just intervals. Many examples and figures document the musical analyses, which explain his compositional techniques. With a foreword by John Cage, a catalog and discography of Johnston's music, and a bibliography of the composer's writings.

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Discover the magic of classical guitar with this fun and easy guide The perfect starting point to learning classical guitar, Classical Guitar For Dummies, walks you through the steps, techniques, and styles you’ll need to finger-pick your way around some of the most beautiful songs ever written. Whether you’re a first timer looking to add your very first classical guitar to your collection or you’ve already made the jump to the classical style want to pick up some priceless tips, this book is the easy-to-read companion you’ll want at your side. You can even play along with audio and video examples at dummies.com that will help you on your journey toward classical guitar mastery. In Classical Guitar For Dummies, you’ll find: Foundational and advanced techniques, from adapting your playing posture to coloring your tone with vibrato Tips and tricks on playing classical guitar favorites, like Cavatina by Stanley Myers Explorations of classical scales, up and down the guitar neck Classical Guitar For Dummies is an essential aid for new and aspiring classical guitarists just beginning to learn their craft. More experienced guitarists seeking to improve their fundamentals and learn some new strategies for creating amazing music will also find a ton of useful info inside.

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"In this book, Barbara Owen has created a rich resource of historical information coupled with strategies for interpreting that information on today's instruments." —Journal of the American Musical Instrument Society". . . Barbara Owen has succeeded admirably in distilling three centuries of organ registration practice into a volume less than three hundred pages long. . . . Anyone with an interest in the history of the organ and its music . . . will not want to ignore this book." —Sixteenth Century Journal"It is rare to find a book that combines such careful scholarship with a practical focus that makes it accessible to performing musicians as well as research specialists." —Notes"An excellent volume from historical, musical style and interpretive standpoints. Highly recommended for all large academic and professional music collections." Choice" . . . recommend this book to all serious organists." —The American Organist MagazineBarbara Owen has prepared the first work to present in a single book the registrational practices of organists from c.1550 to 1800. The four parts of the book move from the Renaissance through the Early, High, and Late Baroque. Each part starts with a brief description of the political and religious climate of the period and the way such factors affected the compositions and the organ-building of the time.

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Forging our identities, setting our moods and impacting our culture, any music admirer understands there's a sheer breadth of musical tastes. From the classical era to modern day, here you will discover a curation of lines from composers, musicians and writers. You will find out what music means to those who love it most, the classical musicians, composers and the music devotees around the world.Illuminating, accessible and wholly delightful, this will remind you of the might of music and the importance music holds in our lives.Whether you're looking to be inspired to play, listen or simply to explore new music, A Little Book About Music will hit all the right notes and rock your world.Sample Quotes: 'I would rather write 10,000 notes than a single letter of the alphabet.' - Ludwig Van Beethoven'Music is enough for a lifetime, but a lifetime is not enough for music.' - Sergei Rachmaninoff'Music was my refuge. I could crawl into the space between the notes and curl my back to loneliness.' - Maya Angelou'If you have to ask what jazz is, you'll never know.' - Louis Armstrong'One good thing about music, when it hits you, you feel no pain.' - Bob Marley

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Big Band music instantly reminds us of America on the homefront during World War II, lavish Hollywood musicals, and the jitterbug. Fans of big band music will enjoy Back Beats and Rim Shots, which vividly describes the life of jazz drummer Johnny Blowers (1911-2006) and the atmosphere of America during the time when the big band sound reigned supreme. Blowers's career typified the enchantment of the big band era and illuminates the fierce competition between the musicians as they struggled for success. Author Warren Vaché follows the life of the musician from his boyhood in a small southern town to the mean streets of New York, where he gambled on his future in music without friends or connections, until the almost unbelievable lucky break that put him on the road to success. Back Beats and Rim Shots chronicles the time Blowers spent recording for Vocalion with Bobby Hackett's first band at "Nick's," the famous jazz spot in Greenwich Village, as well as later recordings with industry titans such as Louis Armstrong, Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, and Billie Holliday. Vaché skillfully intersperses Blowers's recollections with a straightforward narrative. Including a discography, Back Beats and Rim Shots is a must for the music aficionado.

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From the bestselling author of DAISY JONES & THE SIX and THE SEVEN HUSBANDS OF EVELYN HUGO'Thank you Taylor Jenkins Reid for the escapism we all need- a sex-on-the-beach cocktail (quite literally) of a book' PANDORA SYKES'I LOVE it . . . I can't remember the last time I read a book that was so fun' DOLLY ALDERTON'It's 365 pages of pure exhilaration' THE TIMESAugust,1983, it is the day of Nina Riva's annual end-of-summer party, and anticipation is at a fever pitch. Everyone who is anyone wants to be around the famous Rivas: surfer and supermodel Nina, brothers Jay and Hud, and their adored baby sister Kit. Together, the siblings are a source of fascination in Malibu and the world over - especially as the children of the legendary singer Mick Riva.By midnight the party will be completely out of control.By morning, the Riva mansion will have gone up in flames.But before that first spark in the early hours of dawn, the alcohol will flow, the music will play, and the loves and secrets that shaped this family will all come bubbling to the surface.'The perfect, literal, beach read, with the emotional depth of the ocean' HOLLY BOURNE'It's a full on escapist delight' STYLIST'This summer's must-read novel' RED

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Now available in paperback to coincide with the 50th anniversary of his death, this biography corrects many of the myths surrounding the often controversial Thomas Beecham. Thomas Beecham was one of Britain's greatest conductors of orchestral music and opera as well as an entrepreneur and impresario of exceptional energy and brilliant wit. This acclaimed biography places him - musically, politicallyand socially - in the troubled times in which he lived and corrects the stories and myths, many of them Beecham's own making, that have grown up around this uniquely gifted and controversial figure. Drawing upon extensive research, Lucas presents new material on his early years, his complicated private life, his father's catastrophic attempt to buy a large part of Covent Garden - which brought the family to its knees financially - and the orchestras andopera companies that Beecham founded. New light is shed on his visits to Nazi Germany and his view of its leaders, as well as the much misunderstood and previously unchronicled years of the Second World War, which he spent in Australia and America. Thomas Beecham: An Obsession with Music will remain the standard biography for years to come. JOHN LUCAS was on the staff of the Observer for 25 years, completed Peter Heyworth's monumentalbiography of Otto Klemperer, wrote Genius of Valhalla, the biography of Reginald Goodall, and is responsible for the current entries on Beecham and Klemperer in the New Grove .

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"Olaniyan has given us a profound and beautifully integrated book which culminates in a persuasive interpretation of the relationship between Fela’s apparently incompatible presentational selves.... The book’s accessible and evocative prose is in itself a kind of homage to Fela’s continual ability to seduce and astonish.... This is such an attractive book you feel like... ransacking your collection for Fela tapes." —Karin Barber"... an indispensable companion to Fela’s music and a rich source of information for studies in modern African popular music." —Akin EubaArrest the Music! is a lively musical study of Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, one of Africa’s most recognizable, popular, and controversial musicians. The flamboyant originator of the "Afrobeat" sound and self-proclaimed voice of the voiceless, Fela used music, sharp-tongued lyrics, and derisive humor to challenge the shortcomings of Nigerian and postcolonial African states. Looking at the social context, instrumentation, lyrics, visual art, people, and organizations through which Fela produced his music, Tejumola Olaniyan offers a wider, more suggestive perspective on Fela and his impact on listeners in all parts of the world. Placing Fela front and center, Olaniyan underscores important social issues such as authenticity, racial and cultural identity, the relationship of popular culture to radical politics, and the meaning of postcolonialism, nationalism, and globalism in contemporary Africa. Readers interested in music, culture, society, and politics, whether or not they know Fela and his music, will find this work invaluable for understanding the career of an African superstar and the politics of popular culture in contemporary Africa.African Expressive Cultures—Patrick McNaughton, general editor

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Have you ever been carried away by a piece of classical music? In this funny, evocative, personal book, previously published as ‘Music for the People: The Pleasures and Pitfalls of Classical Music’, Gareth takes us on a journey of musical discovery that explains and entertains in equal measure. Have you ever been carried away by a piece of classical music? The sad song of a single violin might make us cry, but the idea of finding out more about classical music can often be intimidating. There are musical terms we don't recognise, dead composers we can't connect with, and a feeling that we were never given the right tools to appreciate, understand, and most importantly, enjoy classical music. So who better to cut through the misconceptions and the jargon than the star of BBC2's Bafta award-winning series The Choir, Gareth Malone. Over the course of three series, Gareth has unearthed a passion for classical music in schoolchildren, reluctant teenage boys, and even a whole town. With his infectious enthusiasm and gift for explanation, Gareth's very personal narrative will provide a foundation of classical music understanding and give the reader the tools to appreciate a whole new world of music – from Bach to Beethoven and beyond. So whether you want to learn more about the great composers, introduce an almost infinite variety into your iPod playlist, or are just curious about what you might be missing out on, Gareth Malone’s Guide to Classical Music will leave you entertained, informed and completely inspired.

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“This brilliant little book is clear, lucid, and easy to read. It is packed with fascinating information that I didn't know... I shall give it to lots of friends." —Jonathan Lynn, comedy legendA fascinating field guide from neuroscientist and opera singer Indre Viskontas that investigates what music is and how it can change us for the better—from deep in our neurons to across our entire society. Learn how certain songs carry us through a tough workout, comfort us after a breakup, or unite 50,000 diverse fans. A vibrant and smart gift for any audiophile—hip-hop fans, classically trained pianists, or vinyl collectors—readers will think about their favorite songs in a whole new way by the end of this book. • Find out how your mind transforms sounds into human experiences• Discover how music connects us, heals us, and changes us for the better • Learn from renowned musicians, neuroscientists, and authors“Indre Viskontas, combining her deep knowledge of neuroscience and music, has lifted the veil on the mysterious effects of music to move us, showing us not only how the human brain creates the magical patterns of music but also why music has the power to affect us like no other form of communication. An extremely important and inspiring book." —Robert Greene, best-selling author of The 48 Laws of PowerReaders of How Poetry Can Change Your Heartor The Psychology of Music will love this book • Music lovers and audiophiles• Musicians • Anyone interested in neuroscience

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The music of the medieval, Renaissance, and baroque periods have been repeatedly discarded and rediscovered ever since they were new. An interest in music of the past has been characteristic of a part of the musical world since the early 19th century. The revival of Gregorian chant in the early 19th century; the "Cecilian movement" in later 19th-century Germany seeking to immortalize Palestrina's music as a sound-ideal; Mendelssohn's revival of Bach: these are some of the efforts made in the past to restore still earlier music. In recent years this interest has taken on particular meaning, representing two specific trends: first, a rediscovery of little-known underappreciated repertories, and second, an effort to recover lost performing styles, with the conviction that such music will come to life anew with the right performance. Much has been gained in the 20th century from the study and revival of instruments, playing techniques, and repertories. In this VSI, Thomas Forrest Kelly frames chapters on the forms, techniques, and repertories practices of the medieval, Renaissance, and baroque periods with discussion of why old music has been and should be revived, as well as a short history of early music revivals. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.

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This book is the first-ever study of Malta's major eighteenth-century composer, Benigno Zerafa (1726 - 1804), a specialist in sacred music composition. This book is the first-ever study of Malta's major eighteenth-century composer, Benigno Zerafa (1726-1804), a specialist in sacred music composition. Zerafa's large-scale and small-scale vocal and choral works, mostly written during his long service as musical director at the Cathedral of Mdina, have been winning increased recognition in recent years. In addition to describing and analysing this extensive corpus, the book gives an account of Zerafa's sometimes eventful career against the wider background of the rich musical and cultural life in Malta, especial attention being paid to its strong links with Italy, and particularly Naples, where Zerafa was a student for six years. Itexamines in detail the complex relationship of music to Catholic liturgy and investigates the distinctive characteristics of the musical style, intermediate between baroque and classical, in which Zerafa was trained and always composed: one that today is commonly labelled "galant". Well stocked with music examples, the book makes copious reference to Italian and Maltese composers from Zerafa's time and to modern analytical studies of Italian music from the middle decades of the eighteenth century, thereby offering a useful general commentary on the galant period. Its central aim, however, is to stimulate further interest in, and revival of, Zerafa's music. To this end the book contains a complete work-list with supplementary indexes. Scholars and students of eighteenth-century music, in particular sacred music, the galant style and Italian music, will find it invaluable. FREDERICK AQUILINAis Senior Lecturer in Music Studies at the University of Malta.

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Fleeing the Nazis, Theodor W. Adorno lived in New York City as a refugee from 1938 until 1941. During these years, he was intensively involved in a study of how the recently developed techniques for the nation-wide transmission of music over radio were transforming the perception of music itself. This broad ranging radio research was conceived as nothing less than an investigation, partly empirical, of Walter Benjamin's speculative claims for the emancipatory potential of art in the age of its mechanical reproduction. The results of Adorno's project set him decisively at odds with Benjamin's theses and at the same time became the body of thinking that formed the basis for Adornos own aesthetics in his Philosophy of New Music. Current of Music is the title that Adorno himself gave to this research project. For complex reasons, however, Adorno was not able to bring the several thousands of pages of this massive study, most of it written in English, to a final form prior to leaving New York for California, where he would immediately begin work with Max Horkheimer on the Dialectic of Enlightenment. Robert Hullot-Kentor, the distinguished Adorno scholar, reconstructed Adorno's project for the Adorno Archive in Germany and provides a lengthy and informative introduction to the fragmentary texts collected in this volume. Current of Music will be widely discussed for the light it throws on the development of Adorno's thought, on his complex relationship with Walter Benjamin, but most of all for the important perspectives it provides on questions of popular culture, the music of industrial entertainment, the history of radio and the social dimensions of the reproduction of art.

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More perhaps than any other composer, Edward Elgar (1857-1934) has gained the status of an 'icon of locality', his music seemingly inextricably linked to the English landscape in which he worked. This, the first full-length study of Elgar's complex interaction with his physical environment, explores how it is that such associations are formed and whether it is any sense true that Elgar alchemized landscape into music. It argues that Elgar stands at the apex of an English tradition, going back to Blake, in which creative artists in all media have identified and warned against the self-harm of environmental degradation and that, following a period in which these ideas were swept away by the swift but shallow tide of Modernism in the decades after the First World War, they have since resurfaced with a new relevance and urgency for twenty-first century society. Written with the non-specialist in mind, yet drawing on the rich resources of post-millennial scholarship on Elgar, as well as geographical studies of place, the book also includes many new insights relating to such aspects of Elgar's output as his use of landscape typology in The Apostles, and his encounter with Modernism in the late chamber music. It also calls on the resources of contemporary social commentary, poetry and, especially, English landscape art to place Elgar and his thought in the broader cultural milieu of his time. A survey of recent recordings is included, in the hope that listeners, both familiar and unfamiliar with Elgar's music, will feel inspired to embark on a voyage of (re)discovery of its endlessly rewarding treasures.

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