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April features
the sound of Music |
Music … can name the unnamable and communicate the
unknowable.
---Leonard Bernstein
Our
Band Could Be Your Life: Scenes from the American Underground,
1981-1991
by Michael Azerrad
781.66 Aze
Vividly traces the arc of the American indie
underground in the 80s, from the obscure beginnings to the point a
decade later when the mainstream sat up and took notice.
Beginning with the pioneering, notorious punk band Black Flag, the
story continues with the Minutemen, Mission of Burma, Minor Threat,
Hüsker Dü, the Replacements, Sonic Youth, Butthole Surfers, Big
Black, Dinosaur Jr., Fugazi, Mudhoney, and Beat Happening, among
others. Without major label support, these bands depended on
resourcefulness, creativity, and an all-powerful sense of community to
survive.
Kind
of Blue: the Making of the Miles Davis Masterpiece
by Ashley Kahn
781.655 Kah
Offering the first take-by-take account of the sessions and analysis
of never-released fragmentary takes, drawn from extremely rare access
to the complete master tapes, Kahn takes is behind scenes through
countless interviews and newly discovered documents from Columbia
Record's archives. Weaving his meticulous research into a
thrilling narrative, he traces Miles' progress from bop to modal jazz,
and follows the album from its release to its transformation into a
cultural touchstone. Reggae
Explosion: the Story of Jamaican Music
by Chris Salewicz and Adrian Boot
781.646 Sal
From the earliest emergence in the 1950s of the fiercely competitive
sound systems, fighting sonic battles in downtown Kingston, the story
of Jamaican music is traced through ska, the birth of reggae, dub,
roots reggae and the impact of Bob Marley to the new harder edged
developments that have emerged in the last twenty years, including
dancehall, ragga and jungle. Listen:
Second Brief Edition
by Joseph Kerman
781.17 Ker
A good overview of music including the elements of music, the
structure of music, musical form and style, and chapter on musical
periods from early music of the middle ages to the Twentieth century. The
Art of Writing Great Lyrics
by Pamela Phillips Oland
782.42164 Ola
Presents the dozens of processes involved in writing unique,
successful lyrics as well as creative exercises and a handy A to Z
checklist for reviewing new songs. Includes information for
songwriters such as how to: communicate through song; understand the
craft of songwriting; define your style; manage a successful
collaboration; study the market and competition; rewrite and fine-tune
a song; make a great demo; and start a career. The
Big Book of Blues: a Biographical Encyclopedia
by Robert Santelli
781.643 San
Contains more than 650 entries that profile important blues
artists. Each biographical sketch is concise and informative,
going beyond the basic biographical data and discographies to include
a short discussion of the artist's style, musical contribution, and
essential listening. Felix
Mendelssohn: a Life in Letters
edited by Rudolph Elvers
780.92 Fel
The letters contained in this volume, many of which have never before
been published in English, span the composer's lifetime beginning when
he was twelve years of age. They are filled with details about
his musical life, evocative descriptions of travel, and of his many
meetings with the musical, literary, and artistic luminaries of his
age. Accompanying these entertaining letters are some of his
watercolors and drawings of places he visited. Maria
Callas: Sacred Monster
by Stelio Galaopoulos
782.1092 Gal
As a portrait of one of the great artists of the Twentieth century,
this book explores Callas, recognizing her flaws, her temperament, and
the signs of premature vocal deterioration. It recreates the
triumph of intelligence, hard-work, musical talent, grit and
fierceness that enabled Callas to rise to superstar status. It
recounts her stormy relationship with the conductors, managers, fellow
stars, and with her family, husband, and lover. It also shows
Callas in her retirement, every bit as forceful and engaged as she was
on stage.
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