Simply Stravinsky

Simply Stravinsky PDF Author: Pieter van den Toorn
Publisher: Simply Charly
ISBN: 1943657335
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 172

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Book Description
“This is a short book but a teeming one, boiling over with the insights that have accrued over forty years and more, ever since Pieter van den Toorn set the musicological world on its ear with his revelations about Stravinsky's creative methods, deduced from an unprecedentedly close and fruitful examination of the published scores. Since then he has been at the manuscripts as well, and has made even further-reaching observations about Stravinsky's epochal rhythmic innovations. All of this he now places at the disposal of musicians and general readers, laid out with a chronology of the composer's life and times—a great gift to us all and a fitting crown to a most distinguished scholarly career.” —Richard Taruskin, author of Stravinsky and the Russian Traditions Born and raised in St. Petersburg, Russia, Igor Stravinsky (1882-1971) divided his time between law studies and music until 1906, when, under the tutelage of composer Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, he dedicated himself exclusively to composition. Five years later, he achieved international fame with his ballet scores The Firebird, Petrushka, and The Rite of Spring, the last of which caused a riot at its Paris premiere in 1913. For the next 50 years, both Stravinsky’s music style and his life were characterized by dramatic changes, as he moved from his “Russian period” to neo-classicism to serialism, and from Russia to Switzerland to France to the United States. Yet no matter how much his style changed, his music was always distinctively his, and his compositions remain among the greatest produced in the twentieth century. In Simply Stravinsky, Professor Pieter van den Toorn takes a fresh look at the composer and his legacy, providing a compact, exciting, and accessible introduction to the twentieth century’s most celebrated composer and his timeless music. From Stravinsky’s apprenticeship in St. Petersburg to his life among the émigré community in Southern California, Prof. van den Toorn shows how the composer’s music was tied to his personality and how it came to influence artists from Aaron Copland to Philip Glass. Designed for classical music beginners, as well as those who want to know more about one of the great musical innovators, Simply Stravinsky is an insightful and highly readable portrait of the man who helped define modern music.

Simply Stravinsky

Simply Stravinsky PDF Author: Pieter van den Toorn
Publisher: Simply Charly
ISBN: 1943657335
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 172

Get Book Here

Book Description
“This is a short book but a teeming one, boiling over with the insights that have accrued over forty years and more, ever since Pieter van den Toorn set the musicological world on its ear with his revelations about Stravinsky's creative methods, deduced from an unprecedentedly close and fruitful examination of the published scores. Since then he has been at the manuscripts as well, and has made even further-reaching observations about Stravinsky's epochal rhythmic innovations. All of this he now places at the disposal of musicians and general readers, laid out with a chronology of the composer's life and times—a great gift to us all and a fitting crown to a most distinguished scholarly career.” —Richard Taruskin, author of Stravinsky and the Russian Traditions Born and raised in St. Petersburg, Russia, Igor Stravinsky (1882-1971) divided his time between law studies and music until 1906, when, under the tutelage of composer Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, he dedicated himself exclusively to composition. Five years later, he achieved international fame with his ballet scores The Firebird, Petrushka, and The Rite of Spring, the last of which caused a riot at its Paris premiere in 1913. For the next 50 years, both Stravinsky’s music style and his life were characterized by dramatic changes, as he moved from his “Russian period” to neo-classicism to serialism, and from Russia to Switzerland to France to the United States. Yet no matter how much his style changed, his music was always distinctively his, and his compositions remain among the greatest produced in the twentieth century. In Simply Stravinsky, Professor Pieter van den Toorn takes a fresh look at the composer and his legacy, providing a compact, exciting, and accessible introduction to the twentieth century’s most celebrated composer and his timeless music. From Stravinsky’s apprenticeship in St. Petersburg to his life among the émigré community in Southern California, Prof. van den Toorn shows how the composer’s music was tied to his personality and how it came to influence artists from Aaron Copland to Philip Glass. Designed for classical music beginners, as well as those who want to know more about one of the great musical innovators, Simply Stravinsky is an insightful and highly readable portrait of the man who helped define modern music.

Simply Stravinsky

Simply Stravinsky PDF Author: Pieter van den Toorn
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781943657322
Category :
Languages : en
Pages :

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Book Description


Simply Wittgenstein

Simply Wittgenstein PDF Author: James C. Klagge
Publisher: Simply Charly
ISBN: 1943657041
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 114

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Book Description
"There are many introductions to the life and work of Ludwig Wittgenstein, but I think James Klagge has produced the very best. Taking as his premise that his reader may know nothing about Wittgenstein or, for that matter, about philosophy, Klagge gives a lucid, charming, and wholly convincing account of Wittgenstein’s basic ideas, his way of thinking, his views on religion, culture, ethical behavior, and so on. He is especially good at explaining the root concepts like “language game,” "form of life,” and “private language.” But perhaps the highlight of this book is its set of applications: that is, how do Wittgenstein’s concepts and writings help us to understand the events of our time from courtroom cases to the bombing of the Twin Towers on 9/11. Wittgenstein, Klagge shows, literally helps us to live our lives: he is the philosopher par excellence of the twentieth—and now the twenty-first—centuries. Klagge’s own clarity is exemplary: he never condescends to the reader and yet makes Wittgenstein’s thought wonderfully clear." —Marjorie Perloff, Sadie Dernham Patek Emerita Professor of Humanities at Stanford University Born in Vienna into an extremely wealthy and highly cultured family, Ludwig Wittgenstein (1889-1951) grew up surrounded by art, music, and a disturbing amount of dysfunctional behavior. After studying mechanical engineering and developing an interest in aeronautics, he became obsessed with mathematics and logic, which led to his life’s work exploring the relationship between language, philosophy, and reality. In Simply Wittgenstein, James Klagge presents a fascinating portrait of this brilliant and troubled man, while exploring his two extraordinary books—the Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus and Philosophical Investigations—in which he gave concrete form to his singular and perplexing ideas. Drawing on 30 years of teaching about Wittgenstein at both the undergraduate and graduate level, Klagge provides a clear and accessible introduction to these seminal works, helping the reader understand the revolutionary nature of Wittgenstein’s insights and the reason they continue to resonate in our own time. Though Wittgenstein himself was convinced that he would never be properly understood, Simply Wittgenstein shows, with brevity and lucidity, that his ideas have had a profound and enduring effect on how we think about language and life.

Simply Proust

Simply Proust PDF Author: Jack Jordan
Publisher: Simply Charly
ISBN: 1943657440
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 118

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Book Description
“Simply Proust pulls off with ease the arduous task of making Marcel Proust’s masterwork accessible, without sacrificing none of the complexity that makes it one of the most important novels of the 20th Century. To do this, Jack Jordan vividly paints vast the cultural, scientific, and philosophical background that fed In Search of Lost Time. Armed with this knowledge, both new and repeat readers are bound to gain fresh insights into the brilliance of Proust’s novel.” —Hervé G. Picherit, Associate Professor of French, University of Texas at Austin Marcel Proust (1871-1922) was born in Paris during a time of great social and political upheaval, a ferment that is dealt with extensively in his monumental work In Search of Lost Time. He was a sickly child and spent the earlier part of his short life pursuing a variety of sometimes frivolous activities, which led to his not being taken seriously as a writer. It was not until 1909, when he was 38 years old, that he began work on the groundbreaking novel for which he is known, a task that consumed the rest of his life. In Simply Proust, Professor Jack Louis Jordan presents an incisive, yet thoroughly accessible, introduction to Proust’s landmark work, helping the reader to fully appreciate the scope of the author’s achievement, as well as the fascinating process that underlay its creation. Emphasizing the fundamental role of psychology and the unconscious, Jordan shows how Proust’s methodology and our understanding of his novel are connected, and how this makes for a unique and endlessly revealing literary experience. At once philosophical, psychological, and deeply human, Simply Proust offers an invaluable entry point into a masterpiece of world literature and takes the measure of the flawed and brilliant man who transformed the material of his life into a transcendent work of art.

Simply Dickens

Simply Dickens PDF Author: Paul Schlicke
Publisher: Simply Charly
ISBN: 1943657025
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 91

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Book Description
“This is one of the best short introductions to Dickens's life and work that I know. Paul Schlicke integrates the life of this extraordinary man with his fiction, journalism, and public readings in a very engaging and lively narrative. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this to the widest range of readers.” —Malcolm Andrews, Emeritus Professor Victorian & Visual Arts, University of Kent, Editor of The Dickensian Oliver Twist. A Christmas Carol. David Copperfield. Bleak House. A Tale of Two Cities. Great Expectations. The novels of Charles Dickens (1812–1870) read like a “Who’s Who” of canonical works. Yet, less well known is the fact that Dickens himself was something of a created character, a larger-than-life figure who lived through his art and pursued his many passions with a theatrical zeal that could have belonged to one of his famous protagonists. Largely self-taught, with little formal education, Dickens was catapulted to fame at the age of 24 with the publication of The Pickwick Papers in 1836. For the next 30 years, he wrote a prodigious number of novels, short stories, essays, and other works, while simultaneously campaigning for a variety of social reforms. As Simply Dickens colorfully describes, in life and in art, Dickens threw himself into everything he undertook—from taking on the personalities of his characters as he wrote, to pursuing such causes as children’s rights and universal education. While some authors have depicted Dickens as a tormented soul or cruel misogynist who compromised his work by pandering to a wide audience, Simply Dickens convincingly shows him as a purposeful, supremely talented, and versatile personality, whose popular appeal was central to his achievement.

Simply Turing

Simply Turing PDF Author: Michael Olinick
Publisher: Simply Charly
ISBN: 1943657386
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 124

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Book Description
“Michael Olinick has written a vibrant and absorbing biography of Alan Turing. Turing's work as a cryptographer during WW II and his pioneering development of the digital computer helped us win that war and make our technology-driven world of today possible—all this against the backdrop of the homophobic world Turing tried to navigate.” — Joseph Malkevitch, Professor of Mathematics at York College (CUNY) and CUNY Graduate Center Alan Turing (1912-1954) was born in London and showed signs of genius from a very young age. Turing was just 24 when he devised the theory that led to the development of modern computers and he went on to achieve major breakthroughs in probability, number theory, cryptology, and mathematical biology. His codebreaking efforts during World War II allowed the British to decipher secret German communications, effectively shortening the war and saving millions of lives. Yet instead of being celebrated for his accomplishments, Turing was prosecuted for being a homosexual and was forced to undergo hormone treatments designed to reduce his sexual drive. Turing died of cyanide poisoning in 1954 at the age of 41, a tragic end to a brilliant life, and an event that remains mysterious to this day. In Simply Turing, Professor Michael Olinick recounts the life and work of a man who, along with Newton and Darwin, is considered one of the three most influential British scientists of all time. Prof. Olinick provides an accessible explanation of Turing’s monumental achievements, while introducing us to the friends, colleagues, and rivals who shared his life, and exploring the controversy surrounding his death. For anyone interested in the beginnings of our computer-defined age, or anyone who wants a better understanding of why LGBTQ rights are so important, Simply Turing is an indispensable and fascinating introduction to a man who was both ahead of his time and a tragic victim of it.

Simply Napoleon

Simply Napoleon PDF Author: J. David Markham
Publisher: Simply Charly
ISBN: 1943657300
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 156

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Book Description
“What a little gem! If you are looking for a quick biography of Napoleon, look no further. With lively narrative and good mastery of facts, Simply Napoleon will take you on a thrilling journey recounting Napoleon's rise to power from his humble beginnings on the island of Corsica to the emperor of much of Europe. Highly recommended for those wanting a brief refresher on one of the greatest European statesmen. This is both an entertaining and an enlightening read!” —Alexander Mikaberidze, Sybil T. and J. Frederick Patten Professor of History Department of History and Social Sciences at Louisiana State University in Shreveport The first emperor of France and one of the shrewdest military leaders of all time, Napoleon Bonaparte(1769–1821) eventually came to control much of Europe. In Simply Napoleon, authors J. David Markham and Matthew Zarzeczny tell Napoleon’s story, from his birth on the island of Corsica to his eventual imprisonment and death on the island of Saint Helena. They explain how the famed military commander’s unique combination of determination, intellect, and personal charisma allowed him to rise from a provincial village to become a powerful and authoritative ruler. While taking an overall positive view of Napoleon, Markham and Zarzeczny also make it a point to draw attention to his mistakes and their consequences, providing a balanced picture of this complicated figure who was both a product of his times and a man pointing the way to the future. Marked by first-rate scholarship, as well as a highly readable and accessible style, Simply Napoleon is an exceptional introduction to Napoleon and his times—a study that not only illuminates a key personality and period in modern history, but also helps us understand how modern Europe took shape.

Simply Gödel

Simply Gödel PDF Author: Richard Tieszen
Publisher: Simply Charly
ISBN: 1943657149
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 143

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Book Description
"Tieszen’s Simply Gödel is a remarkable achievement—a handy guide with the impact of a philosophical tome. It’s all here: elegantly lucid discussions of Kurt Gödel’s epochal discoveries, a sympathetic account of the eccentric genius’s life, focused discussions of his encounters with his astonished peers, and a visionary peek into the future of mathematics, philosophy, and the on-rushing specter of robots with minds. A compact masterpiece, brimming with fresh revelations." —Rudy Rucker, author of Infinity and the Mind Kurt Gödel (1906–1978) was born in Austria-Hungary (now the Czech Republic) and grew up in an ethnic German family. As a student, he excelled in languages and mathematics, mastering university-level math while still in high school. He received his doctorate from the University of Vienna at the age of 24 and, a year later, published the pioneering theorems on which his fame rests. In 1939, with the rise of Nazism, Gödel and his wife settled in the U.S., where he continued his groundbreaking work at the Institute for Advanced Study (IAS) in Princeton and became a close friend of Albert Einstein’s. In Simply Gödel, Richard Tieszen traces Gödel’s life and career, from his early years in tumultuous, culturally rich Vienna to his many brilliant achievements as a member of IAS, as well as his repeated battles with mental illness. In discussing Gödel’s ideas, Tieszen not only provides an accessible explanation of the incompleteness theorems, but explores some of his lesser-known writings, including his thoughts on time travel and his proof of the existence of God. With clarity and sympathy, Simply Gödel brings to life Gödel’s fascinating personal and intellectual journey and conveys the lasting impact of his work on our modern world.

Simply Chinggis

Simply Chinggis PDF Author: Timothy May
Publisher: Simply Charly
ISBN: 1943657637
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 130

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Book Description
The man we know as Chinggis Khan (c. 1162-1227) began as a young boy named Temüjin, who was born in obscurity in the steppes of Asia. Far from immediately setting out to conquer the world, Temüjin had to overcome numerous hardships and setbacks, allowing him to gradually rise from a minor figure to one of increasing importance. Following an initial alliance with his father’s blood brother Toghril, Temüjin went on to lead a series of wars that unified the Mongolian tribes, and made him the ruler of a vast empire. In this role, he not only built Mongolia into a great power, but introduced revolutionary reforms that changed steppe society forever. In Simply Chinggis, Professor Timothy May offers an engaging and authoritative chronicle of the numerous battles and conquests that transformed an unknown boy into the legendary Mongol leader whose legacy continues to reverberate in our own day. At the same time, Professor May makes clear that there is much more to the story of Chinggis Khan than just conquest and empire making—he was a complex man with a large network of family and friends, and his wit and wisdom belie his reputation as simply a warrior. Few figures loom as large in the imagination of the world as Chinggis Khan. Simply Chinggis helps us understand not only why this is so, but also how our changing views of this legendary figure say as much about society and popular culture as they do about the man.

Simply Austen

Simply Austen PDF Author: Joan Klingel Ray
Publisher: Simply Charly
ISBN: 1943657130
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 241

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Book Description
“Simply Austen is simply a must for anyone just starting off their Janeite journey or for those wanting a quick refresher course. Jam-packed with biographical facts and contexts, this smart pocket tutorial offers a fast-paced and accessible distillation of what scholars and biographers have pieced together about an enigmatic author so beloved that many readers refer to her solely by her first name—as if a close personal friend.” —Janine Barchas, Professor of English at the University of Texas, Austin One of the most beloved novelists of all time, Jane Austen (1775-1817) is also one of the most scrutinized. Since the early 20th century, she has been a favorite topic of academic researchers and scholars; at the same time, the popularity of her books has continued to grow. Why are Austen’s novels the subject of scholarly tomes and doctoral dissertations, and also the inspiration for a virtual cottage industry of popular adaptations? And how did this English country parson’s daughter with little formal education become a major literary figure? In Simply Austen, author Joan Klingel Ray paints a carefully researched, comprehensive, and highly entertaining portrait of the phenomenon that is Jane Austen—an author whose works have been translated into dozens of languages and who critic Harold Bloom placed among the greatest writers of all time. In exploring Austen’s life and books, Ray not only helps us understand the forces that shaped this talented writer, but also offers a wealth of insightful clues that help explain her lasting popularity and continuing relevance for a 21st-century audience. In Pride and Prejudice, the satirical character Mr. Collins announces, “Oh, I never read novels.” For those of us who do—and especially for confirmed or aspiring Janeites—Simply Austen is an invaluable resource and a great way to discover the author who helped refine the art of novel writing.