Author: Michael Downes
Publisher: Faber & Faber
ISBN: 0571372015
Category : Music
Languages : en
Pages : 241
Book Description
A colourful and concise telling of the fascinating story behind Richard Wagner's extraordinary masterpiece, Ring of the Nibelung. The Ring is one of the most epic and compelling stories of the nineteenth century, created by a composer who was, alongside Dickens, Tolstoy and Victor-Hugo, also one of the century's master storytellers. But the story of how Wagner created the work is one full of intrigue and triumphs against unlikely odds - as well as controversy, due to the composer's anti-semitic views and popularity with the Nazi party. In Story of the Century, Michael Downes combines cultural history and biography to offer this accessible and insightful introduction to The Ring and its mythology. He tells the story of how and why this extraordinary masterpiece came into being, why it takes the form it does, why it fascinates and obsesses so many and horrifies others, and why it matters.
Story of the Century
Author: Michael Downes
Publisher: Faber & Faber
ISBN: 0571372015
Category : Music
Languages : en
Pages : 241
Book Description
A colourful and concise telling of the fascinating story behind Richard Wagner's extraordinary masterpiece, Ring of the Nibelung. The Ring is one of the most epic and compelling stories of the nineteenth century, created by a composer who was, alongside Dickens, Tolstoy and Victor-Hugo, also one of the century's master storytellers. But the story of how Wagner created the work is one full of intrigue and triumphs against unlikely odds - as well as controversy, due to the composer's anti-semitic views and popularity with the Nazi party. In Story of the Century, Michael Downes combines cultural history and biography to offer this accessible and insightful introduction to The Ring and its mythology. He tells the story of how and why this extraordinary masterpiece came into being, why it takes the form it does, why it fascinates and obsesses so many and horrifies others, and why it matters.
Publisher: Faber & Faber
ISBN: 0571372015
Category : Music
Languages : en
Pages : 241
Book Description
A colourful and concise telling of the fascinating story behind Richard Wagner's extraordinary masterpiece, Ring of the Nibelung. The Ring is one of the most epic and compelling stories of the nineteenth century, created by a composer who was, alongside Dickens, Tolstoy and Victor-Hugo, also one of the century's master storytellers. But the story of how Wagner created the work is one full of intrigue and triumphs against unlikely odds - as well as controversy, due to the composer's anti-semitic views and popularity with the Nazi party. In Story of the Century, Michael Downes combines cultural history and biography to offer this accessible and insightful introduction to The Ring and its mythology. He tells the story of how and why this extraordinary masterpiece came into being, why it takes the form it does, why it fascinates and obsesses so many and horrifies others, and why it matters.
Stories of Tonality in the Age of François-Joseph Fétis
Author: Thomas Christensen
Publisher: University of Chicago Press
ISBN: 022662692X
Category : Music
Languages : en
Pages : 376
Book Description
Stories of Tonality in the Age of François-Joseph Fétis explores the concept of musical tonality through the writings of the Belgian musicologist François-Joseph Fétis (1784–1867), who was singularly responsible for theorizing and popularizing the term in the nineteenth century. Thomas Christensen weaves a rich story in which tonality emerges as a theoretical construct born of anxiety and alterity for Europeans during this time as they learned more about “other” musics and alternative tonal systems. Tonality became a central vortex in which French musicians thought—and argued—about a variety of musical repertoires, be they contemporary European musics of the stage, concert hall, or church, folk songs from the provinces, microtonal scale systems of Arabic and Indian music, or the medieval and Renaissance music whose notational traces were just beginning to be deciphered by scholars. Fétis’s influential writings offer insight into how tonality ingrained itself within nineteenth-century music discourse, and why it has continued to resonate with uncanny prescience throughout the musical upheavals of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries.
Publisher: University of Chicago Press
ISBN: 022662692X
Category : Music
Languages : en
Pages : 376
Book Description
Stories of Tonality in the Age of François-Joseph Fétis explores the concept of musical tonality through the writings of the Belgian musicologist François-Joseph Fétis (1784–1867), who was singularly responsible for theorizing and popularizing the term in the nineteenth century. Thomas Christensen weaves a rich story in which tonality emerges as a theoretical construct born of anxiety and alterity for Europeans during this time as they learned more about “other” musics and alternative tonal systems. Tonality became a central vortex in which French musicians thought—and argued—about a variety of musical repertoires, be they contemporary European musics of the stage, concert hall, or church, folk songs from the provinces, microtonal scale systems of Arabic and Indian music, or the medieval and Renaissance music whose notational traces were just beginning to be deciphered by scholars. Fétis’s influential writings offer insight into how tonality ingrained itself within nineteenth-century music discourse, and why it has continued to resonate with uncanny prescience throughout the musical upheavals of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries.
The Songwriting Secrets Of The Beatles
Author: Dominic Pedler
Publisher: Omnibus Press
ISBN: 0857123467
Category : Music
Languages : en
Pages : 713
Book Description
Thirty years after The Beatles split up, the music of Lennon, McCartney, Harrrison and Starkey lives on. What exactly were the magical ingredients of those legendary songs? Why are they still so influential for today's bands? This ground-breaking book sets out to explore The Beatles' songwriting techniques in a clear and readable style. It is aimed not only at musicians but anyone who has ever enjoyed the work of one of the most productive and successful songwriting parterships of the 20th Century. Author Dominic Pedler explores the chord sequences, melodies, harmonies, rhythms and structures of The Beatles' self-penned songs, while challenging readers to enhance their appreciation of the lyrics themselves with reference to the musical context. Throughout the book the printed music and lyrics of The Beatles' songs appear alongside the text, illustrating the author's explanations. The Songwriting Secrets Of The Beatles is an essential addition to Beatles literature - a new and perceptive analysis of both the music and the lyrics written and performed by what Paul McCartney still calls 'a really good, tight little band'.
Publisher: Omnibus Press
ISBN: 0857123467
Category : Music
Languages : en
Pages : 713
Book Description
Thirty years after The Beatles split up, the music of Lennon, McCartney, Harrrison and Starkey lives on. What exactly were the magical ingredients of those legendary songs? Why are they still so influential for today's bands? This ground-breaking book sets out to explore The Beatles' songwriting techniques in a clear and readable style. It is aimed not only at musicians but anyone who has ever enjoyed the work of one of the most productive and successful songwriting parterships of the 20th Century. Author Dominic Pedler explores the chord sequences, melodies, harmonies, rhythms and structures of The Beatles' self-penned songs, while challenging readers to enhance their appreciation of the lyrics themselves with reference to the musical context. Throughout the book the printed music and lyrics of The Beatles' songs appear alongside the text, illustrating the author's explanations. The Songwriting Secrets Of The Beatles is an essential addition to Beatles literature - a new and perceptive analysis of both the music and the lyrics written and performed by what Paul McCartney still calls 'a really good, tight little band'.
West Side Story
Author: Elizabeth A. Wells
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield
ISBN: 0810876663
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 327
Book Description
Wells presents a scholarly study of the American musical West Side Story, viewing the work from cultural, historical, and musical perspectives. --from publisher description.
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield
ISBN: 0810876663
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 327
Book Description
Wells presents a scholarly study of the American musical West Side Story, viewing the work from cultural, historical, and musical perspectives. --from publisher description.
Melodies of the Mind
Author: Julie Jaffee Nagel
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 0415692784
Category : Music
Languages : en
Pages : 157
Book Description
In this book, Nagel invites us to take a journey on an aural and oral road that explores music and emotion, and their links to the unconscious.
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 0415692784
Category : Music
Languages : en
Pages : 157
Book Description
In this book, Nagel invites us to take a journey on an aural and oral road that explores music and emotion, and their links to the unconscious.
The Story of John Nightly
Author: Tot Taylor
Publisher: Unbound Publishing
ISBN: 1783523212
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 506
Book Description
'I loved the creativity, the unpredictability, its dazzling coverage of so many ideas' Rob Cowan 'Superb . . . An original character and an original book' David Quantick, Record Collector Can John Nightly be brought back to life again? John Nightly (b. 1948) finds his dimension in pop music, the art form of his time. His solo album becomes one of 1970's bestselling records – but success turns out to have side effects. Supermaxed in LA after a dazzling career, John renounces his gift, denying music and his very being, until he is rediscovered in Cornwall thirty years later by a teenage saviour dude, who persuades him to restore and complete his quasi-proto-multimedia eco-Mass, the Mink Bungalow Requiem. This epic novel mixes real and imagined lives in the tale of a young singer-songwriter, to tell a story about creativity at the highest level – the level of genius.
Publisher: Unbound Publishing
ISBN: 1783523212
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 506
Book Description
'I loved the creativity, the unpredictability, its dazzling coverage of so many ideas' Rob Cowan 'Superb . . . An original character and an original book' David Quantick, Record Collector Can John Nightly be brought back to life again? John Nightly (b. 1948) finds his dimension in pop music, the art form of his time. His solo album becomes one of 1970's bestselling records – but success turns out to have side effects. Supermaxed in LA after a dazzling career, John renounces his gift, denying music and his very being, until he is rediscovered in Cornwall thirty years later by a teenage saviour dude, who persuades him to restore and complete his quasi-proto-multimedia eco-Mass, the Mink Bungalow Requiem. This epic novel mixes real and imagined lives in the tale of a young singer-songwriter, to tell a story about creativity at the highest level – the level of genius.
Sensation and Perception
Author: Bennett L. Schwartz
Publisher: SAGE Publications
ISBN: 1506383904
Category : Psychology
Languages : en
Pages : 734
Book Description
The highly accessible Sensation and Perception presents a current and accurate account of modern sensation and perception from both a cognitive and neurocognitive perspective. To show students the relevance of the material to their everyday lives and future careers, authors Bennett L. Schwartz and John H. Krantz connect concepts to real-world applications, such as driving cars, playing sports, and evaluating risk in the military. Interactive Sensation Laboratory Exercises (ISLE) provide simulations of experiments and neurological processes to engage readers with the phenomena covered in the text and give them a deeper understanding of key concepts. The Second Edition includes a revamped version of the In Depth feature from the previous edition in new Exploration sections that invite readers to learn more about exciting developments in the field. Additionally, new Ponder Further sections prompt students to practice their critical thinking skills with chapter topics.
Publisher: SAGE Publications
ISBN: 1506383904
Category : Psychology
Languages : en
Pages : 734
Book Description
The highly accessible Sensation and Perception presents a current and accurate account of modern sensation and perception from both a cognitive and neurocognitive perspective. To show students the relevance of the material to their everyday lives and future careers, authors Bennett L. Schwartz and John H. Krantz connect concepts to real-world applications, such as driving cars, playing sports, and evaluating risk in the military. Interactive Sensation Laboratory Exercises (ISLE) provide simulations of experiments and neurological processes to engage readers with the phenomena covered in the text and give them a deeper understanding of key concepts. The Second Edition includes a revamped version of the In Depth feature from the previous edition in new Exploration sections that invite readers to learn more about exciting developments in the field. Additionally, new Ponder Further sections prompt students to practice their critical thinking skills with chapter topics.
From Music to Mathematics
Author: Gareth E. Roberts
Publisher: JHU Press
ISBN: 1421419181
Category : Mathematics
Languages : en
Pages : 320
Book Description
A guided tour of the mathematical principles inherent in music. Taking a "music first" approach, Gareth E. Roberts's From Music to Mathematics will inspire students to learn important, interesting, and at times advanced mathematics. Ranging from a discussion of the geometric sequences and series found in the rhythmic structure of music to the phase-shifting techniques of composer Steve Reich, the musical concepts and examples in the book motivate a deeper study of mathematics. Comprehensive and clearly written, From Music to Mathematics is designed to appeal to readers without specialized knowledge of mathematics or music. Students are taught the relevant concepts from music theory (notation, scales, intervals, the circle of fifths, tonality, etc.), with the pertinent mathematics developed alongside the related musical topic. The mathematics advances in level of difficulty from calculating with fractions, to manipulating trigonometric formulas, to constructing group multiplication tables and proving a number is irrational. Topics discussed in the book include • Rhythm • Introductory music theory • The science of sound • Tuning and temperament • Symmetry in music • The Bartók controversy • Change ringing • Twelve-tone music • Mathematical modern music • The Hemachandra–Fibonacci numbers and the golden ratio • Magic squares • Phase shifting Featuring numerous musical excerpts, including several from jazz and popular music, each topic is presented in a clear and in-depth fashion. Sample problems are included as part of the exposition, with carefully written solutions provided to assist the reader. The book also contains more than 200 exercises designed to help develop students' analytical skills and reinforce the material in the text. From the first chapter through the last, readers eager to learn more about the connections between mathematics and music will find a comprehensive textbook designed to satisfy their natural curiosity.
Publisher: JHU Press
ISBN: 1421419181
Category : Mathematics
Languages : en
Pages : 320
Book Description
A guided tour of the mathematical principles inherent in music. Taking a "music first" approach, Gareth E. Roberts's From Music to Mathematics will inspire students to learn important, interesting, and at times advanced mathematics. Ranging from a discussion of the geometric sequences and series found in the rhythmic structure of music to the phase-shifting techniques of composer Steve Reich, the musical concepts and examples in the book motivate a deeper study of mathematics. Comprehensive and clearly written, From Music to Mathematics is designed to appeal to readers without specialized knowledge of mathematics or music. Students are taught the relevant concepts from music theory (notation, scales, intervals, the circle of fifths, tonality, etc.), with the pertinent mathematics developed alongside the related musical topic. The mathematics advances in level of difficulty from calculating with fractions, to manipulating trigonometric formulas, to constructing group multiplication tables and proving a number is irrational. Topics discussed in the book include • Rhythm • Introductory music theory • The science of sound • Tuning and temperament • Symmetry in music • The Bartók controversy • Change ringing • Twelve-tone music • Mathematical modern music • The Hemachandra–Fibonacci numbers and the golden ratio • Magic squares • Phase shifting Featuring numerous musical excerpts, including several from jazz and popular music, each topic is presented in a clear and in-depth fashion. Sample problems are included as part of the exposition, with carefully written solutions provided to assist the reader. The book also contains more than 200 exercises designed to help develop students' analytical skills and reinforce the material in the text. From the first chapter through the last, readers eager to learn more about the connections between mathematics and music will find a comprehensive textbook designed to satisfy their natural curiosity.
Something's Coming, Something Good
Author: Misha Berson
Publisher: Applause Theatre & Cinema
ISBN: 155783766X
Category : Performing Arts
Languages : en
Pages : 299
Book Description
A critical and comprehensive exploration of the influential Broadway musical analyzes West Side Story against a backdrop of its cultural period while considering its reflection of both classical Shakespeare conflicts and modern youth issues. Original.
Publisher: Applause Theatre & Cinema
ISBN: 155783766X
Category : Performing Arts
Languages : en
Pages : 299
Book Description
A critical and comprehensive exploration of the influential Broadway musical analyzes West Side Story against a backdrop of its cultural period while considering its reflection of both classical Shakespeare conflicts and modern youth issues. Original.
West Side Story, Gypsy, and the Art of Broadway Orchestration
Author: Paul Laird
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 0429662734
Category : Music
Languages : en
Pages : 184
Book Description
In this ground-breaking study, Paul Laird examines the process and effect of orchestration in West Side Story and Gypsy, two musicals that were among the most significant Broadway shows of the 1950s, and remain important in the modern repertory. Drawing on extensive archival research with original manuscripts, Laird provides a detailed account of the process of orchestration for these musicals, and their context in the history of Broadway orchestration. He argues that the orchestration plays a vital role in the characterization and plot development in each major musical number, opening a new avenue for analysis that deepens our understanding of the musical as an art form. The orchestration of the score in Broadway musicals deeply shapes their final soundscapes, but only recently has it begun to receive real attention. Linked by a shared orchestrator, in other ways West Side Story and Gypsy offer a study in contrasts. Breaking down how the two composers, Leonard Bernstein and Jules Styne, collaborated with orchestrators Sid Ramin, Irwin Kostal, and Robert Ginzler, Laird’s study enables us to better understand both of these two iconic shows, and the importance of orchestration within musical theatre in general.
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 0429662734
Category : Music
Languages : en
Pages : 184
Book Description
In this ground-breaking study, Paul Laird examines the process and effect of orchestration in West Side Story and Gypsy, two musicals that were among the most significant Broadway shows of the 1950s, and remain important in the modern repertory. Drawing on extensive archival research with original manuscripts, Laird provides a detailed account of the process of orchestration for these musicals, and their context in the history of Broadway orchestration. He argues that the orchestration plays a vital role in the characterization and plot development in each major musical number, opening a new avenue for analysis that deepens our understanding of the musical as an art form. The orchestration of the score in Broadway musicals deeply shapes their final soundscapes, but only recently has it begun to receive real attention. Linked by a shared orchestrator, in other ways West Side Story and Gypsy offer a study in contrasts. Breaking down how the two composers, Leonard Bernstein and Jules Styne, collaborated with orchestrators Sid Ramin, Irwin Kostal, and Robert Ginzler, Laird’s study enables us to better understand both of these two iconic shows, and the importance of orchestration within musical theatre in general.