Books From University Presses
Filter (1)
Gary Stewart
|
University
Of
Chicago
Press
Breakout: Profiles in African Rhythm
$13.90
- Unit price
- / per
Goodreads rating: 4.13
$13.90
- Unit price
- / per
67% off est. retail
If you're interested in the crossroads of culture, history, and music, "Breakout" is an insightful pick. It offers a window into the lives of African musicians navigating the complexities of international success while preserving their artistic authenticity. Their personal stories interweave with the socio-political landscape of Africa, shedding light on broader themes of cultural identity and the global music scene.
Stephen Citron
|
Oxford
University
Press
Noel And Cole - The Sophisticates
Regular price
$7.90
$3.90
51% off
- Unit price
- / per
Goodreads rating: 3.48
Regular price
$7.90
$3.90
51% off
- Unit price
- / per
94% off est. retail
Born an ocean apart--one in Peru, Indiana, to great wealth, the other in Teddington, England, to an itinerant piano salesman--Cole Porter and Noel Coward have come to represent the ultimate in sophistication and urbanity. "You Do Something to Me," Gay Divorce , "I Get a Kick Out of You," "JustOne of Those Things," Anything Goes , "Begin the Beguine," Private Lives , "Night and Day," Blithe Spirit , "Let's Do It," Hay Fever , "It's De-Lovely"--the list of witty and irreverent songs and plays goes on and on. It is a body of work that was tremendously exciting when it first appeared and remainsremarkably popular today.Based on access to previously unpublished manuscripts, lyrics, scores and letters, plus dozens of interviews, Noel and Cole presents a fresh and often surprising portrait of these two geniuses and their work, packed with numerous photographs, some of which have never been published before.Stephen Citron interweaves the biographical strands with consummate skill, providing insight into both men's private lives--including a frank discussion of their homosexuality--while illuminating their musical achievements. Indeed Citron, a composer and lyricist himself, excels at musical analysis,and throughout the volume he sheds considerable light on Porter's and Coward's art. He tells us, for instance, that in composing the melody of "Night and Day," Cole Porter restricted himself to mid-range notes, with hardly any vocal leaps that would betray a breathless dancer, especially as thedancer was Fred Astaire, who had never studied singing seriously, and was just launching his solo career. (Citron also tells us that Astaire wanted "Night and Day" dropped from the show, because he feared that with its long-held notes, especially on the word "day," his voice would crack.) Citronalso shows how fast a worker Noel Coward could Coward wrote Hay Fever in three days, for instance, and his finest play, Private Lives , took him four days (while he was laid low with a bout of influenza in Shanghai).Packed with information, including a quintuple chronology and a fifty-page section devoted to the analysis of selected songs, Noel and Cole will be an essential reference as well as a fascinating dual biography of two men who brought style and dazzle to the art of popular entertainment.
Steven Petkov, Leonard Mustazza |
Oxford
University
Press
The Frank Sinatra Reader
$15.90
- Unit price
- / per
Goodreads rating: 4.06
$15.90
- Unit price
- / per
If you've ever felt captivated by the allure of Ol' Blue Eyes, this collection will let you relive Sinatra's iconic moments and understand why he's so beloved. It's an homage to the man whose voice has become synonymous with an era—and still resonates today. Whether you're a long-time fan or new to his legend, this book pulls back the curtain on Sinatra's enduring legacy.
Barry Seldes
|
University
Of
California
Press
Leonard Bernstein - The Political Life Of An American Musician
Regular price
$11.90
$6.90
42% off
- Unit price
- / per
Goodreads rating: 3.75
Regular price
$11.90
$6.90
42% off
- Unit price
- / per
88% off est. retail
If you're intrigued by the intersections of art and politics, Barry Seldes's biography of Leonard Bernstein presents a compelling portrait that goes beyond his musical achievements. Seldes peels back the layers of Bernstein's public persona to reveal how his compositions and career were inextricably linked with his social and political values. It's an enlightening read that might deepen your appreciation for the man's work and his commitment to social change through music.
Martin T. Williams
|
Oxford
University
Press
Jazz Changes
$12.90
- Unit price
- / per
Goodreads rating: 3.7
$12.90
- Unit price
- / per
If you've ever tapped your foot to a rhythm or been captivated by the soulful storytelling of a saxophone, "Jazz Changes" is your backstage pass to the jazz scene. Martin Williams's vibrant prose will transport you across decades of musical innovation, offering intimate glimpses into the lives of legends. It's more than a book; it's a timeless medley of the moments that have shaped jazz.
Sold out
Douglas Smith
|
Yale
University
Press
The Pearl: A True Tale of Forbidden Love in Catherine the Great's Russia
Regular price
$12.90
$9.90
23% off
- Unit price
- / per
Goodreads rating: 3.69
Regular price
$12.90
$9.90
23% off
- Unit price
- / per
"The Pearl" immerses you into the opulence and rigidity of Catherine the Great's Russia, recounting a poignant love story that defies the era's stringent social hierarchies. If you are drawn to tales where passion and societal norms collide, this book not only satiates with historical detail but also with the timeless turmoil of love's complexities. Douglas Smith's meticulous research offers authenticity that makes the past almost palpable. This isn't just history; it's a testament to the resilience of the human heart.
Sold out
$9.90
- Unit price
- / per
57% off est. retail
If you're drawn to the enigmatic blend of personal narrative and artistic exploration, "Devotion" will resonate with you. Patti Smith doesn't just share a story; she lets you into her mind, showing you the vivid landscapes that inspire her. For anyone who cherishes the gritty and poetic behind-the-scenes of crafting art, Patti's reflections and pilgrimages to the haunts of literary giants offer a mesmerizing glimpse into the soul of a creator.
Sold out
Paul F. Berliner
|
University
Of
Chicago
Press
The Soul of Mbira: Music and Traditions of the Shona People of Zimbabwe
$6.34
- Unit price
- / per
Goodreads rating: 4.0
$6.34
- Unit price
- / per
This book could be a good read for someone who is fascinated by the cultural context of African music and wants a comprehensive understanding of the Shona musical tradition. The author provides an intimate and precise account of the meaning of the mbira instrument and its music, allowing readers to grasp its beauty, subtlety, and virtuosity. It is a landmark in ethnomusicological literature, conveying both the joy of mbira playing and the mystic relationship between the player and the instrument.
Sold out
Steven Botterill, Giulio Cattin |
Cambridge
University
Press
Music of the Middle Ages: Volume 1
$6.34
- Unit price
- / per
Goodreads rating: 4.5
$6.34
- Unit price
- / per
This book is a must-read for anyone who wants a comprehensive understanding of the monophonic music of the Middle Ages. Giulio Cattin provides a detailed exploration of the birth and evolution of Christian chant, as well as the development of secular music in various languages. With the author's authority and accessible writing style, this book brings to life the rich musical traditions that form the basis of Europe's musical heritage. You'll also find intriguing chapters on early instrumental music and the philosophy of ars musica.
Sold out
Gilbert Rouget, A.L. Lloyd, A. L. Lloyd |
Cambridge
University
Press
Problems Of Ethnomusicology
$6.34
- Unit price
- / per
Goodreads rating: 4.0
$6.34
- Unit price
- / per
This book is a treasure trove for music and sociology enthusiasts who want to dive deep into the world of ethnomusicology. Brailoiu's writings, painstakingly translated by A. L. Lloyd, offer valuable insights into the theoretical aspects of the field. What sets this book apart is Brailoiu's open-minded approach, as he seamlessly navigates both musicological and sociological problems. Whether you are an aspiring ethnomusicologist or simply curious about the cultural significance of music, this indispensable collection is a must-read that sheds light on a lesser-known yet vital discipline.
Sold out
Daniel M. Neuman
|
University
Of
Chicago
Press
The Life Of Music In North India - The Organization Of An Artistic Tradition
$6.34
- Unit price
- / per
Goodreads rating: 4.11
$6.34
- Unit price
- / per
This book is a must-read for anyone who is passionate about Indian music and wants to understand its cultural and social significance. Through captivating fieldwork and interviews, Daniel M. Neuman provides a deep dive into the world of North Indian Hindustani music. With a keen focus on the changing landscape of the music industry, the book highlights the resilience and adaptability of musicians in the face of modernization. Whether you're a music enthusiast or a researcher, this book will leave you with a profound appreciation for the rich artistic tradition of India.
Sold out
Andrew Dell'Antonio
|
University
Of
California
Press
Beyond Structural Listening? - Postmodern Modes Of Hearing
$3.88
- Unit price
- / per
Goodreads rating: 2.71
$3.88
- Unit price
- / per
94% off est. retail
This book is a must-read for music lovers who want to expand their understanding of musical meaning. It challenges the traditional approach of 'structural listening' and brings a new perspective to appreciating music. With examples ranging from Beethoven to MTV, the book provides a diverse range of insights into the varying forms of music. The approachable writing style and unique perspectives make this a perfect recommendation for anyone seeking to broaden their understanding of music.
Sold out
John A. Rice
|
Cambridge
University
Press
Mozart on the Stage
$6.80
- Unit price
- / per
Goodreads rating: 3.0
$6.80
- Unit price
- / per
Presenting a fresh approach to Mozart's achievements as a composer for the stage, John A. Rice outlines the composer's place in the operatic culture of his time. The book tells the story of how Mozart's operas came into existence, following the processes that Mozart went through as he brought his operas from commission to performance. Chapters trace the fascinating series of interactions that took place between Mozart and librettists, singers, stage designers, orchestras, and audiences. In linking the operas by topic, Rice emphasizes what Mozart's operas have in common, regardless of when he wrote them and the genres to which they belong. Overall, the book demonstrates how Mozart's entire operatic oeuvre is the product of a single extraordinary mind and a single pan-European operatic culture.
Sold out
Carolyn Abbate
|
Princeton
University
Press
Unsung Voices - Opera And Musical Narrative In The Nineteenth Century
$7.77
- Unit price
- / per
Goodreads rating: 4.0
$7.77
- Unit price
- / per
Who "speaks" to us in The Sorcerer's Apprentice, in Wagner's operas, in a Mahler symphony? In asking this question, Carolyn Abbate opens nineteenth-century operas and instrumental works to new interpretations as she explores the voices projected by music. The nineteenth-century metaphor of music that "sings" is thus reanimated in a new context, and Abbate proposes interpretive strategies that "de-center" music criticism, that seek the polyphony and dialogism of music, and that celebrate musical gestures often marginalized by conventional music analysis.
Sold out
Peter Williams
|
Cambridge
University
Press
Bach: The Goldberg Variations
$12.48
- Unit price
- / per
Goodreads rating: 3.76
$12.48
- Unit price
- / per
Bach's spectacular Goldberg Variations represent a high point in the repertory of keyboard music, particularly for the harpsichord. This book takes a detailed look at how these variations originated, especially in relation to all Bach's ClavierÜbung volumes and late keyboard works, what their exceptionally intricate plan is, what kind of impact they have had, and how their mysterious beauty has been created. This guide to what was at the time the largest and most carefully conceived single work of keyboard music will appeal to students, performers and listeners.
Sold out
William Drabkin
|
Cambridge
University
Press
Beethoven: Missa Solemnis
$10.16
- Unit price
- / per
Goodreads rating: 4.3
$10.16
- Unit price
- / per
The Missa Solemnis is a document of extraordinary richness from the last decades of Beethoven's creative life. In this accessible guide, William Drabkin considers the work as an expression of the most celebrated text of the Roman Catholic faith and as an example from a tradition of Mass settings in eighteenth and early nineteenth-century Austria. The opening chapters present various critical perspectives on the Missa Solemnis and chart the history of its composition, first performances, and publication. But, above all, the work itself is considered in detail, including the overall design, connections between the movements, the orchestration, word painting, and programmatic elements.
Sold out
Robert Martin, Robert Winter |
University
Of
California
Press
The Beethoven Quartet Companion
$11.65
- Unit price
- / per
Goodreads rating: 4.04
$11.65
- Unit price
- / per
While the Beethoven string quartets are to chamber music what the plays of Shakespeare are to drama, even seasoned concertgoers will welcome guidance with these personal and sometimes enigmatic works.This collection offers Beethoven lovers both detailed notes on the listening experience of each quartet and a stimulating range of more general Who has the quartets' audience been? How were the quartets performed before the era of sound recordings? What is the relationship between "classical" and "romantic" in the quartets? How was their reception affected by social and economic history? What sorts of interpretive decisions are made by performers today?The Companion brings together a matchless group of Beethoven experts. Joseph Kerman is perhaps the world's most renowned Beethoven scholar. Robert Winter, an authority on sketches for the late quartets, has created interactive programs regarded as milestones in multimedia publishing. Maynard Solomon has written an acclaimed biography of Beethoven. Leon Botstein is the conductor of the American Symphony Orchestra as well as a distinguished social historian and college president. Robert Martin writes from his experience as cellist of the Sequoia Quartet. And the book is anchored by the program notes of Michael Steinberg, who has served as Artistic Advisor of the San Francisco Symphony and the Minnesota Orchestra.
Sold out
Bernard Williams, Michael Tanner |
Yale
University
Press
On Opera
$3.52
- Unit price
- / per
Goodreads rating: 3.94
$3.52
- Unit price
- / per
Bernard Williams, who died in 2003, was one of the most influential moral philosophers of his generation. A lifelong opera lover, his articles and essays, talks for the BBC, contributions to the Grove Dictionary of Opera , and program notes for the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, and the English National Opera, generated a devoted following. This elegant volume brings together these widely scattered and largely unobtainable pieces, including two that have not been previously published. It covers an engaging range of topics from Mozart to Wagner, including sparkling essays on specific operas by those composers as well as Verdi, Puccini, Strauss, Debussy, Janacek, and Tippett. Reflecting Williams’s brilliance, passion, and clarity of mind, these essays engage with, and illustrate, the enduring appeal of opera as an art form.
Sold out
Bernard D. Sherman
|
Oxford
University
Press
Inside Early Music - Conversations With Performers
$4.54
- Unit price
- / per
Goodreads rating: 3.78
$4.54
- Unit price
- / per
The attempt to play music with the styles and instruments of its era--commonly referred to as the early music movement--has become immensely popular in recent years. For instance, Billboard's "Top Classical Albums" of 1993 and 1994 featured Anonymous 4, who sing medieval music, and the best-selling Beethoven recording of 1995 was a period-instruments symphony cycle led by John Eliot Gardiner, who is Deutsche Grammophon's top-selling living conductor. But the movement has generated as much controversy as it has best-selling records, not only about the merits of its results, but also about the validity of its approach. To what degree can we recreate long-lost performing styles? How important are historical period instruments for the performance of a piece? Why should musicians bother with historical information? Are they sacrificing art to scholarship?Now, in Inside Early Music , Bernard D. Sherman has invited many of the leading practitioners to speak out about their passion for early music--why they are attracted to this movement and how it shapes their work. Readers listen in on conversations with conductors Gardiner, William Christie, and Roger Norrington, Peter Phillips of the Tallis Scholars, vocalists Susan Hellauer of Anonymous 4, forte pianist Robert Levin, cellist Anner Bylsma, and many other leading artists. The book is divided into musical eras--Medieval, Renaissance, Baroque, and Classic and Romantic--with each interview focusing on particular composers or styles, touching on heated topics such as the debate over what is "authentic," the value of playing on period instruments, and how to interpret the composer's intentions. Whether debating how to perform Monteverdi's madrigals or comparing Andrew Lawrence-King's Renaissance harp playing to jazz, the performers convey not only a devotion to the spirit of periodperformance, but the joy of discovery as they struggle to bring the music most truthfully to life. Spurred on by Sherman's probing questions and immense knowledge of the subject, these conversations movingly document the aspirations, growing pains, and emerging maturity of the most exciting movement in contemporary classical performance, allowing each artist's personality and love for his or her craft to shine through.From medieval plainchant to Brahms' orchestral works, Inside Early Music takes readers-whether enthusiasts or detractors-behind the scenes to provide a masterful portrait of early music's controversies, challenges, and rewards.
Sold out
$16.50
- Unit price
- / per
Celebrating its 100th anniversary, this extraordinary series continues to amaze and captivate its readers with detailed insight into the lives and work of music's geniuses. Unlike other composer biographies that focus narrowly on the music, this series explores the personal history of each composer and the social context surrounding the music. In a precise, engaging, and authoritative manner, each volume combines a vivid portrait of the master musicians' inspirations, influences, life experiences, even their weaknesses, with an accessible discussion of their work-all in roughly 300 pages. Further, each volume offers superb reference material, including a detailed life and times chronology, a complete list of works, a personalia glossary highlighting the important people in the composer's life, and a select bibliography. Under the supervision of music expert and series general editor Stanley Sadie, Master Musicians will certainly proceed to delight music scholars, seriousmusicians, and all music lovers for another hundred years.In this edition, Edward Garden assesses the operas, ballets, and other works against the background of Tchaikovsky's eventful life; his ill-judged marriage, his curious pen-friendship with his patron Nadezhda von Meck, and his relationship with Balakirev and other Russian composers. Garden also examines the conflicting theories on the manner of Tchaikovsky's death and has updated the bibliography and other appendices.
You're viewing 1-20 of 20 products