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The Jazz of the Southwest
by Jean A. BoydThey may wear cowboy hats and boots and sing about "faded love," but western swing musicians have always played jazz! From Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys to Asleep at the Wheel, western swing performers have played swing jazz on traditional country instruments, with all of the required elements of jazz, and some of the best solo improvisation ever heard. In this book, Jean A. Boyd explores the origins and development of western swing as a vibrant current in the mainstream of jazz. She focuses in particular on the performers who made the music, drawing on personal interviews with some fifty living western swing musicians. From pioneers such as Cliff Bruner and Eldon Shamblin to current performers such as Johnny Gimble, the musicians make important connections between the big band swing jazz they heard on the radio and the western swing they created and played across the Southwest from Texas to California. From this first-hand testimony, Boyd re-creates the world of western swing-the dance halls, recording studios, and live radio shows that broadcast the music to an enthusiastic listening audience. Although the performers typically came from the same rural roots that nurtured country music, their words make it clear that they considered themselves neither "hillbillies" nor "country pickers," but jazz musicians whose performance approach and repertory were no different from those of mainstream jazz. This important aspect of the western swing story has never been told before.
The Jazzmen: How Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, and Count Basie Transformed America
by Larry TyeFrom the New York Times bestselling author of Satchel and Bobby Kennedy, a sweeping and spellbinding portrait of the longtime kings of jazz—Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, and Count Basie—who, born within a few years of one another, overcame racist exclusion and violence to become the most popular entertainers on the planet.This is the story of three revolutionary American musicians, the maestro jazzmen who orchestrated the chords that throb at the soul of twentieth-century America.Duke Ellington, the grandson of slaves who was christened Edward Kennedy Ellington, was a man whose story is as layered and nuanced as his name suggests and whose music transcended category.Louis Daniel Armstrong was born in a New Orleans slum so tough it was called The Battlefield and, at age seven, got his first musical instrument, a ten-cent tin horn that drew buyers to his rag-peddling wagon and set him on the road to elevating jazz into a pulsating force for spontaneity and freedom.William James Basie, too, grew up in a world unfamiliar to white fans—the son of a coachman and laundress who dreamed of escaping every time the traveling carnival swept into town, and who finally engineered his getaway with help from Fats Waller.What is far less known about these groundbreakers is that they were bound not just by their music or even the discrimination that they, like nearly all Black performers of their day, routinely encountered. Each defied and ultimately overcame racial boundaries by opening America’s eyes and souls to the magnificence of their music. In the process they wrote the soundtrack for the civil rights movement.Based on more than 250 interviews, this exhaustively researched book brings alive the history of Black America in the early-to-mid 1900s through the singular lens of the country’s most gifted, engaging, and enduring African-American musicians.
The Jesus Calling Magazine Issue 1: Kristin Chenoweth (The Jesus Calling Magazine)
by Sarah YoungThis edition of The Jesus Calling Magazine features includes a personal interview with Broadway star, Emmy Award-winning actor and author, Kristin Chenoweth, who tells how she finds joy in hard situations; tips from author Annie Downs on five ways to be brave today; author and "America's Pastor" Max Lucado helps readers find joy in journaling; and country music singer Aaron Watson shares how to celebrate Christmas the cowboy way. The Jesus Calling Magazine is a companion resource to Sarah Young's New York Times bestselling devotional, which has impacted the lives of more than 40 million people. These stories of hope will inspire you and equip you with tools to strengthen your relationships with family, friends, and yourself.The Jesus Calling Magazine will encourage you through:Interviews with well-known artists, authors, and entertainers"Doing Good" feature, spotlighting non-profits and everyday heroes serving their community in the name of ChristMusic spotlight showcasing musicians and performers using their gifts for God's gloryPastor's Corner with inspiration words from leading Christian teachersEntertaining puzzles and games for the familyRead additional issues of The Jesus Calling Magazine and look for more life-changing, life-giving books from Sarah Young, including:Jesus Listens Jesus Always Jesus Today
The Jesus Calling Magazine Issue 3: Lauren Alaina (The Jesus Calling Magazine)
by Sarah YoungThis edition of The Jesus Calling Magazine features an interview with country music artist Lauren Alaina who shares how living the dream also means enduring the pain of the spotlight; four ways to help kids cultivate one big heart by journalist Linsey Davis; co-founder of Saddleback Church, Kay Warren, helping others redefine joy when tragedy strikes; and the powerful faith story of country music star Craig Morgan who found strength in God when facing the loss of his son.The Jesus Calling Magazine is a companion resource to Sarah Young's New York Times bestselling devotional, which has impacted the lives of more than 40 million people. These stories of hope will inspire you and equip you with tools to strengthen your relationships with family, friends, and yourself.The Jesus Calling Magazine will encourage you through:Interviews with well-known artists, authors, and entertainers"Doing Good" feature, spotlighting non-profits and everyday heroes serving their community in the name of ChristMusic spotlight showcasing musicians and performers using their gifts for God's gloryPastor's Corner with inspiration words from leading Christian teachersEntertaining puzzles and games for the familyRead additional issues of The Jesus Calling Magazine and look for more life-changing, life-giving books from Sarah Young, including:Jesus ListensJesus AlwaysJesus Today
The Jesus Calling Magazine Issue 4: Loretta Lynn (The Jesus Calling Magazine)
by Sarah YoungThis edition of The Jesus Calling Magazine features an interview with GRAMMY award-winning, country music icon Loretta Lynn sharing how prayer has carried her through her life; the secret code that saved veteran and POW Carlyle "Smitty" Harris's life; NFL quarterback Kurt Warner's story of how he found God during the trials on his path to the NFL; and the COVID-19 recovery story of GRAMMY Award-winning artist Sandi Patty.The Jesus Calling Magazine is a companion resource to Sarah Young's New York Times bestselling devotional, which has impacted the lives of more than 40 million people. These stories of hope will inspire you and equip you with tools to strengthen your relationships with family, friends, and yourself.The Jesus Calling Magazine will encourage you through:Interviews with well-known artists, authors, and entertainers"Doing Good" feature, spotlighting non-profits and everyday heroes serving their community in the name of ChristMusic spotlight showcasing musicians and performers using their gifts for God's gloryPastor's Corner with inspiration words from leading Christian teachersEntertaining puzzles and games for the familyRead additional issues of The Jesus Calling Magazine and look for more life-changing, life-giving books from Sarah Young, including:Jesus ListensJesus AlwaysJesus Today
The Jesus Calling Magazine Issue 8: Brett Young (The Jesus Calling Magazine)
by Sarah YoungThis edition of The Jesus Calling Magazine features an interview with country music superstar and author Brett Young sharing how he sees God working in every chapter of his life; assuring words from author Sarah Jakes Roberts on how shame cannot define us--only God can; a close look at how pro skateboarder Ryan Sheckler has found his spiritual footing; and the moving story of how TV news anchor Richard Lui became a committed caretaker of his father when he was diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease.The Jesus Calling Magazine is a companion resource to Sarah Young's New York Times bestselling devotional, which has impacted the lives of more than 40 million people. These stories of hope will inspire you and equip you with tools to strengthen your relationships with family, friends, and yourself.The Jesus Calling Magazine will encourage you through:Interviews with well-known artists, authors, and entertainers"Doing Good" feature, spotlighting non-profits and everyday heroes serving their community in the name of ChristMusic spotlight showcasing musicians and performers using their gifts for God's gloryPastor's Corner with inspiration words from leading Christian teachersEntertaining puzzles and games for the familyRead additional issues of The Jesus Calling Magazine and look for more life-changing, life-giving books from Sarah Young, including:Jesus ListensJesus AlwaysJesus Today
The Jesus Lizard Book
by The Jesus LizardFeatured as a "This Week's Reading/What We're Loving" pick at The Paris ReviewNamed the Best Music-Related Book of 2014 by Joel Gausten"If you're a Jesus Lizard fan or a David Yow devotee, you're sure all over this. But even if you've never heard of the band, the book stands as one of the best ways to experience being in a tight, cohesive band. You get everything except the sweat, spilled beer, and blood. It's a fun ride, and the closest thing possible to getting in the van with these guys."--Mother Jones"The Jesus Lizard Book is a beautiful document of a band that wasn't afraid to be abrasive, chaotic, brutal, and sometimes, ugly."--The Chicago Tribune/Printers Row"These guys deserve to pat themselves on the back...If the spectacular photography in The Jesus Lizard Book is to be believed, their shows resembled nothing more than that scene in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom where some poor dude has his still-beating heart removed in an elaborate ritual."--The Paris Review"As a reader, you don’t need to hear the songs to appreciate the story--and Book delivers the band right to your coffee table loud and clear."--BoingBoing.net"The gorgeously crafted, 176-page hardcover Book...dives deep and candidly into the Jesus Lizard's first decade and touches a bit on that 2009 coda, too. Through many thousands of words, hundreds of photos, and collected ephemera, it celebrates the sweat, menace, humor, musicianship, lasting power, and genitals of one of the best bands ever coughed up by the rock underground."--The Village Voice"Book is a valuable document that brings us back to the era when artists were conditioned to practice the art of self-defense."--Pitchfork"A series of essays and photos that illuminates the Jesus Lizard--humorous, jolting, sometimes surprisingly moving."--The Chicago Tribune"If there is any recurring theme within the 176 pages of the newly released The Jesus Lizard Book it's this: The Chicago-grown noise rockers will be remembered as one of the greatest live bands to ever grace--or very well desecrate--the stage."--Chicago Sun-Times"Impressively candid, informed and informative history of a remarkable group of musicians. A 'must read' for their legions of appreciative fans...Highly recommended."--Midwest Book Review"Even if you're unfamiliar with or disinterested with the band's music, Book makes for an intriguing exploration of the alternative music scene of the '90s--a short burst in time when a band as gloriously odd as The Jesus Lizard could do whatever they wanted to do and get a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow."--Joel GaustenThe Jesus Lizard Book is a coffee table affair of exclusive photography, art, and other imagery with written pieces by all four members of the seminal indie rock band the Jesus Lizard. The layout is stylish and elegant, particularly in contrast with the harshness of much of the band's music. Included are many Polaroids by David Wm. Sims, a delicious recipe by David Yow, a concise list of every show the Jesus Lizard played, and writings by two producers who recorded the band--Steve Albini and Andy Gill. There is biographical material of each member that covers childhood to the demise of the group. Other contributors include, Mike Watt, Alexander Hacke, Steve Gullick, Rebecca Gates, Jeff Lane, Sasha Frere-Jones, KRK, Bernie Bahrmasel, and many more.
The Jesus Music: A Visual Story of Redemption as Told by Those Who Lived It
by Marshall TerrillA written and visual complement to the documentary film of the same name, The Jesus Music brings the history of a movement to life. Featuring Contemporary Christian Music artists across five decades, readers will experience the story that has united and changed the lives of people around the world. The Jesus Music: A Visual Story of Redemption as Told by Those Who Lived It shares that story: people creating something they wanted, something that never existed before. Written by music and film historian Marshall Terrill, the book accompanies a documentary film by award-winning directors Jon and Andy Erwin; this written and visual narrative of the genre features historic concerts and candid behind-the-scenes photographs throughout. The Jesus Music explores the history, evolution, and redemptive thread of Contemporary Christian music over the last fifty years as it spans the convergence of rock and roll, country, and gospel music. As CCM grows, readers will see California artists as much a part of hippie culture as Christian culture, religious-focused bands and songs denounced by some church leaders of the day, and best-selling artists who rose, and sometimes fell from fame, as they journey through the music and experience the often delicate balances between faith, fame, mission, and humanity as they relate to Christian music. The notable voices of Amy Grant, Michael W. Smith, Kirk Franklin, and TobyMac, as well as the stories of dozens of additional Christian artists, will hit all the right notes and explore: - The roots of the movement, spanning from Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash to Switchfoot, Chris Tomlin, Hillsong United, and beyond. - The stories of pioneers in the genre, including Larry Norman, Lovesong, and Stryper - Insights into how history, culture, and technology shaped the Contemporary Christian music we hear on the radio today. - Examples of God&’s steadfast love as He uses artists despite their human mistakes and shortcomings. - How the message of the music transforms lives and has impact beyond artistic expression. The Jesus Music is perfect for anyone looking to explore the history of the genre and discover how God can use us despite our flaws to impact the world.
The Jesus and Mary Chain: Barbed Wire Kisses
by Zoë HoweMusically, culturally and even in terms of sheer attitude, the Jesus and Mary Chain stand alone. Their seminal debut album Psychocandy changed the course of popular music, and their iconic blend of psychotic white noise and darkly surreal lyrics that presaged the shoegaze movement continues to enchant and confound.Zoë Howe's biography is the fierce, frank and funny tale of the Jesus and Mary Chain, told by the band members and their associates for the very first time. The story begins in the faceless town of East Kilbride, near Glasgow, at the dawn of the 1980s with two intense, chronically shy brothers, Jim and William Reid, listening to music in their shared bedroom. What follows charts an unforgettable journey complete with incendiary live performances, their pivotal relationship with Alan McGee's Creation Records and those famous fraternal tensions—with plenty of feedback, fighting, and crafting perfect pop music along the way. It is high time this vastly influential group and sometime public enemy had their say.
The Jewish Cultural Tapestry: International Jewish Folk Traditions
by Steven M. LowensteinFilled with fascinating facts and keen insights, The Jewish Cultural Tapestry is a richly woven fabric that vividly captures the diversity of Jewish life. All traditional Jews are bound together by the common thread of the Torah and the Talmud, notes author Steven Lowenstein, but this thread takes on a different coloration in different parts of the world as Jewish tradition and local non-Jewish customs intertwine. Lowenstein describes these widely varying regional Jewish cultures with needlepoint accuracy, highlighting the often surprising similarities between Jewish and non-Jewish local traditions, and revealing why Jewish customs vary as much as they do from region to region. From Europe to India, Israel to America, The Jewish Cultural Tapestry offers an engaging overview of the customs and folkways of a people united by tradition, yet scattered to the far corners of the earth.
The Jews-Harp in Britain and Ireland (Soas Studies In Music Ser.)
by Michael WrightThe jews-harp is a distinctive musical instrument of international importance, yet it remains one of those musical instruments, like the ocarina, kazoo or even the art of whistling, that travels beneath the established musical radar. The story of the jews-harp is also part of our musical culture, though it has attracted relatively little academic study. Britain and Ireland played a significant role in the instrument�s manufacture and world distribution, particularly during the nineteenth and first half of the twentieth centuries. Drawing upon previously unknown written sources and piecing together thousands of fragments of information spanning hundreds of years, Michael Wright tells the story of the jews-harp�s long history in the Britain and Ireland. Beginning with an introductory chapter describing the instrument, Part One looks at the various theories of its ancient origin, how it came to be in Europe, terminology, and its English name. Part Two explores its commercial exploitation and the importance of the export market in the development of manufacturing. Part Three looks the instrument�s appearance and use in art, literature and the media, finally considering the many players who have used the instrument throughout its long history.
The Jimi Hendrix Experience
by Jerry HopkinsIt'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.
The John Coltrane Reference
by David Wild Lewis Porter Chris DeVito Yasuhiro Fujioka Wolf SchmalerThe BBC's Jazz Book of the Year for 2008. Few jazz musicians have had the lasting influence or attracted as much scholarly study as John Coltrane. Yet, despite dozens of books, hundreds of articles, and his own recorded legacy, the "facts" about Coltrane's life and work have never been definitely established. Well-known Coltrane biographer and jazz educator Lewis Porter has assembled an international team of scholars to write The John Coltrane Reference, an indispensable guide to the life and music of John Coltrane. The John Coltrane Reference features a a day-by-day chronology, which extends from 1926-1967, detailing Coltrane's early years and every live performance given by Coltrane as either a sideman or leader, and a discography offering full session information from the first year of recordings, 1946, to the last, 1967. The appendices list every film and television appearance, as well as every recorded interview. Richly illustrated with over 250 album covers and photos from the collection of Yasuhiro Fujioka, The John Coltrane Reference will find a place in every major library supporting a jazz studies program, as well as John Coltrane enthusiasts.
The John Lennon Letters
by Hunter Davies John LennonA lifetime of letters, collected for the first time, from the legendary musician and songwriter. John Lennon was one of the greatest songwriters the world has ever known, creator of "Help!", "Come Together", "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds", "Strawberry Fields Forever", "Imagine", and dozens more. But it was in his correspondences that he let his personality and poetry flow unguarded. Now, gathered for the first time in book form, are his letters to family, friends, strangers, and lovers from every point in his life. Funny, informative, wise, poetic, and sometimes heartbreaking, his letters illuminate a never-before-seen intimate side of the private genius.This groundbreaking collection of almost 300 letters and postcards has been edited and annotated by Hunter Davies, whose authorized biography The Beatles (1968) was published to great acclaim. With unparalleled knowledge of Lennon and his contemporaries, Davies reads between the lines of the artist's words, contextualizing them in Lennon's life and using them to reveal the man himself.
The John Lennon Letters: Edited and with an Introduction by Hunter Davies
by Hunter Davies John LennonJohn Lennon was a writer as well as a musician. It was entirely natural for him to put pen to paper whenever he had an idea, a thought, a reaction or a desire to communicate. He lived - and died - in an age before emails and texts. Pen and ink was what he turned to. John wrote letters and postcards all of his life; to his friends, family, strangers, newspapers, organisations, lawyers and the laundry - most of which were funny, informative, campaigning, wise, mad, poetic, anguished and sometimes heartbreaking. For the first time, John's widow, Yoko Ono, has given permission to publish a collection of his letters. The Editor is the Beatles' official biographer, Hunter Davies, who knew John well. John's letters are in a way something of a mystery - where are they all? Over the years many have come up at auction, then sold to dealers and collectors. Or they have been kept by the recipients, locked up safely. It has been a wonderful piece of detective work tracing many of these 250 letters, postcards and notes, which are arranged in chronological order, so that a narrative builds up, reflecting John's life. It will be visual - in a sense that many of the letters are reproduced as they were, in his handwriting or typing, plus the odd cartoon or doodle. THE JOHN LENNON LETTERS is fundamentally a book to read and study, providing a unique insight into the mind of one of the great figures of our times.John's letters are read by Christopher Eccleston. Christopher Eccleston is an English actor who has had a hugely successful career in film, TV and on stage. His regular appearance on the TV series, Cracker, in 1993 brought him recognition and he went on to star along side such actresses as Nicole Kidman and Cate Blanchett. He won the 2011 International Emmy Award for his performance in Jimmy McGovern's Accused. He played John Lennon in the 2010 TV movie in and has twice been nominated in the Best Actor category of the BAFTA TV Awards.Hunter's editorial materials are read by Allan Corduner. Allan Corduner trained at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School and has appeared on stage in PASSION at the Donmar Warehouse, SERIOUS MONEY in the West End and TITANIC on Broadway, and on screen in YENTL and TOPSY-TURVY, amonst many other roles. He is a highly experience voice actor and memorably narrated the voice of Death when reading THE BOOK THIEF. He has read Elspeth Coopers' WILD HUNT novels for Orion.Includes a foreword read by Yoko Ono(p) 2012 Orion Publishing Group
The Jonas Brothers: Issue #4 (Scoop! The Unauthorized Biography #4)
by Jennifer PouxIntroducing a new series of unauthorized biographies on the world's biggest names and rising stars in entertainment, sports, and pop culture! Complete with quizzes, listicles, trivia, and a full-color pull-out poster of the star, this is the definitive collection to get the full Scoop! and more on your favorite celebrities.Nick, Joe, and Kevin. Can you name a more iconic trio? From their early singing days with their mop-top haircuts, to their meteoric rise to superstar status, and then an abrupt breakup in 2013, the Jonas bros are back...and this time they're clean-cut and wifed up. But what's next for the Jonas bros and J sisters? Get the full Scoop! and more on pop's most iconic trio.
The Journals and Letters of Susan Burney: Music and Society in Late Eighteenth-Century England
by Philip OllesonSusan Burney (1755-1800) was the third daughter of the music historian Charles Burney and the younger sister of the novelist Frances (Fanny) Burney. She grew up in London, where she was able to observe at close quarters the musical life of the capital and to meet the many musicians, men of letters, and artists who visited the family home. After her marriage in 1782 to Molesworth Phillips, a Royal Marines officer who served with Captain Cook on his last voyage, she lived in Surrey and later in rural Ireland. Burney was a knowledgeable enthusiast for music, and particularly for opera, with discriminating tastes and the ability to capture vividly musical life and the personalities involved in it. Her extensive journals and letters, a selection from which is presented here, provide a striking portrait of social, domestic and cultural life in London, the Home Counties and in Ireland in the late eighteenth century. They are of the greatest importance and interest to music and theatre historians, and also contain much that will be of significance and interest for Burney scholars, social historians of England and Ireland, women's historians and historians of the family.
The Journey from Music Student to Teacher: A Professional Approach
by Michael Raiber David TeachoutFrom Music Student to Teacher: A Professional Approach helps prospective music educators begin their transition from music student to professional music teacher. The text uniquely works to build upon the individual's personal experience to enhance their approach to the profession. The authors help students first recognize their personal perspectives of the profession, and uncover the assumptions they have concerning learning and teaching. They are then prepared to make mindful informed decisions about their professional education. The topics and activities are deliberately organized to help the reader think as a professional rather than a student. Divided into three parts: (a) discovery of self, (b) discovery of teaching, and (c) discovery of learners; The three parts address the primary stages of teacher development. Within each part readers are connected to the theoretical foundations of the text and the process of becoming an insider to the profession.From Music Student to Teacher: A Professional Approach incorporates online resources and tools that are already familiar to students in their world of networking through social media Features include: Social networking activities to aid self-reflection and discussion 'Connecting to the Profession' sections that provide resources which help to bridge the gap between theory and practice. Discussion and glossary that provide a solid base in professional terminology An integrated companion website, including videos of teaching practice and further activities for self-reflection, plus instructor material. Michael A. Raiber is Professor of Music Education at Oklahoma City University David J. Teachout is Associate Professor and Department Head of Music Education at the University of North Carolina Greensboro.
The Journey from Music Student to Teacher: A Professional Approach
by Michael Raiber David TeachoutThe Journey from Music Student to Teacher: A Professional Approach, Second Edition helps prospective educators transition from music student to professional music teacher. This textbook acknowledges that students must first reconcile their assumptions about learning and teaching before they can make thoughtful, informed decisions about their own professional education. Building upon personal experience is essential to an enhanced approach to the profession, and the topics and activities presented here guide readers to think not as students but as professionals, addressing the primary stages of teacher development. In three parts—Discovery of Self, Discovery of Teaching, and Discovery of Student Learning—the authors connect readers to theoretical foundations and the processes of becoming an insider to the profession. This updated Second Edition includes: Integration of the 2014 National Core Arts Standards Discussion of NAfMEs Model Cornerstone Assessments Explorations of issues of equity, access, and inclusion for marginalized populations and new examples of culturally responsive pedagogy Added coverage of innovative practices including popular music, technology for autonomous music-making, songwriting, and composition Streamlined discussion of learning theory, focusing on the basic foundations of behaviorism, cognitivism, and constructivism The accompanying companion website at www.routledge.com/cw/raiber provides revised and updated "Connecting to the Profession" features that help enhance students’ understanding of the ideas presented in the text, links to videos of K-12 music teaching and interviews with teachers, and additional resources for instructors. Featuring networking activities to aid in self-reflection, a glossary of terms, and a wealth of online resources and tools, The Journey from Music Student to Teacher is the culmination of more than 25 years of experience in secondary music classrooms, providing a framework for establishing professional role identity among preservice music educators during their introduction to the field.
The Joy of Classical Music: A Guide for You and Your Family
by Joan KennedyDiscover how easy it is to make music a part of the family with this non-intimidating guide to enjoying classical music. Joan Kennedy outlines the surprisingly easy and inexpensive steps readers can take to appreciate classical music, and gives a delightful introduction to orchestral and chamber music, dance, opera, and more. Foreword by John Williams. Photos.
The Joy of Music
by Leonard BernsteinComposer Leonard Bernstein (1918-1990) explores the meaning and wonder of music. In a series of "Imaginary Conversations," he addresses such topics as the greatness of Beethoven and the importance of the symphony in America. The book also contains seven transcripts from Bernstein's Omnibus television show as well as assorted b&w photographs from his performances. This reprint of a volume originally published in 1959 features a new foreword from Washington Post music critic Tim Page. Annotation ©2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
The Joy of Playing, the Joy of Thinking: Conversations About Art And Performance
by Charles Rosen Catherine TemersonBrilliant, practical, and humorous conversations with one of the twentieth-century’s greatest musicologists on art, culture, and the physical pain of playing a difficult passage until one attains its rewards.Throughout his life, Charles Rosen combined formidable intelligence with immense skill as a concert pianist. He began studying at Juilliard at age seven and went on to inspire a generation of scholars to combine history, aesthetics, and score analysis in what became known as “new musicology.”The Joy of Playing, the Joy of Thinking presents a masterclass for music lovers. In interviews originally conducted and published in French, Rosen’s friend Catherine Temerson asks carefully crafted questions to elicit his insights on the evolution of music—not to mention painting, theater, science, and modernism. Rosen touches on the usefulness of aesthetic reflection, the pleasure of overcoming stage fright, and the drama of conquering a technically difficult passage. He tells vivid stories on composers from Chopin and Wagner to Stravinsky and Elliott Carter. In Temerson’s questions and Rosen’s responses arise conundrums both practical and metaphysical. Is it possible to understand a work without analyzing it? Does music exist if it isn’t played?Throughout, Rosen returns to the theme of sensuality, arguing that if one does not possess a physical craving to play an instrument, then one should choose another pursuit. Rosen takes readers to the heart of the musical matter. “Music is a way of instructing the soul, making it more sensitive,” he says, “but it is useful only insofar as it is pleasurable. This pleasure is manifest to anyone who experiences music as an inexorable need of body and mind.”
The Jukebox Musical: An Interpretive History
by Kevin Byrne Emily FuchsThis is a comprehensive guide to the unique genre of the jukebox musical, delving into its history to explain why these musicals have quickly become beloved for multiple generations of theatergoers and practitioners. Providing a concise exploration of the three main categories of the jukebox musical—biographical, genre-specific, and artist catalog—this text is perfect for those wishing to learn more about this relatively recent and unique genre of theater. It identifies the dramaturgical needs that arise in these productions and explains how certain works become critical darlings or fan favorites. How much information needs to be conveyed through song and how much can be left up to interpretation by the audience? What kinds of changes occur when a repertoire of songs is reimagined for the stage? In addition to these insightful explorations, it also reveals how creative teams tackle the unique challenge of weaving together plot and song in order to convey meaning, emotion, excitement, and beauty in these increasingly popular forms of theater. The Jukebox Musical: An Interpretive History is written for students, performers, and musical theater enthusiasts alike: this is the ideal introduction to one of the twnty-first century's most popular and successful stage genres.
The KISS Letter: An Encounter with Elvis
by Marcie Cohen FerrisThe last time I kissed him he only had on half a shirt. He has a wonderful chest. I am really crazy about him now+have the funniest feeling in me, all over."After she saw the King in concert and met him backstage, she wrote this letter to her friends at camp. Here's the original spicy note from the teenage girl who kissed--and kissed--Elvis Presley. This article appears in the 2011 Music issue of Southern Cultures.Southern Cultures is published quarterly (spring, summer, fall, winter) by the University of North Carolina Press. The journal is sponsored by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's Center for the Study of the American South.
The KLF: Chaos, Magic and the Band who Burned a Million Pounds
by John Higgs'By far the best book this year, brilliant, discursive and wise' BEN GOLDACRE. The strange tale of the death, life and legacy of the hugely successful band.They were the bestselling singles band in the world. They had awards, credibility, commercial success and creative freedom. Then they deleted their records, erased themselves from musical history and burnt their last million pounds in a boathouse on the Isle of Jura. And they couldn't say why.This is not just the story of The KLF. It is a book about Carl Jung, Alan Moore, Robert Anton Wilson, Ken Campbell, Dada, Situationism, Discordianism, magic, chaos, punk, rave, the alchemical symbolism of Doctor Who and the special power of the number 23.Wildly unauthorised and unlike any other music biography, THE KLF is a trawl through chaos on the trail of a beautiful, accidental mythology.