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Right in time for the Grateful Dead's 40th anniversary, eccentric bass player extraordinaire Phil Lesh has delivered fans a most welcome gift: his autobiography. There are many books out there about the Dead told from the perspective of roadies, journalists, third party observers, and fans. However, with the exceptions of Jerry Garcia's ramblings in Garcia: A Signpost to New Space and Conversations With the Dead, Lesh's Searching for the Sound is the first time a founding member of America's favorite band tells their own story of what it was like inside the Grateful Dead. And what a wonderful, strange tale it is.
Phil Lesh, considered the most academic of the group due to his avant-garde classical composition training, literate mind, and passion for the arts, decided to write his story himself. Written without the crutch of a ghostwriter, Searching for the Sound might be considered disjointed in places, but overall it comes across as conversational, intimate, informative, and candid (particularly regarding topics of drug use and death). If you are familiar with the band and their extended family, their history, the sixties' musical milestones and influences and all the band's famous tales (the Garcia/ Lesh "silent" confrontation, being busted on Bourbon Street, the Wall of Sound), you may be a little disgruntled there is not much new here in the way of content. However, what is "new" and totally satisfying is Phil's warm, optimistic perspective on the many events that helped shape his life. As described by Lesh, his life's journey, much like the Dead's music, is "a [series] of recurring themes, transpositions, repetitions, unexpected developments, all converging to define form that is not necessarily apparent until it's ending has come and gone." For the many fans who enjoyed the fruits of his life pursuit of sonic explorations, Searching for the Sound is a welcome addition to their Dead library. --Rob Bracco
Book Description
Right in time for the Grateful Dead's 40th anniversary, eccentric bass player extraordinaire Phil Lesh has delivered fans a most welcome gift: his autobiography. There are many books out there about the Dead told from the perspective of roadies, journalists, third party observers, and fans.However, with the exceptions of Jerry Garcia's ramblings in Garcia: A Signpost to New Space and Conversations With the Dead, Lesh's Searching for the Sound is the first time a founding member of America's favorite band tells their own story of what it was like inside the Grateful Dead. And what a wonderful, strange tale it is. Phil Lesh, considered the most academic of the group due to his avant-garde classical composition training, literate mind, and passion for the arts, decided to write his story himself. Written without the crutch of a ghostwriter, Searching for the Sound might be considered disjointed in places, but overall it comes across as conversational, intimate, informative, and candid (particularly regarding topics of drug use and death). If you are familiar with the band and their extended family, their history, the sixties' musical milestones and influences and all the band's famous tales (the Garcia/ Lesh "silent" confrontation, being busted on Bourbon Street, the Wall of Sound), you may be a little disgruntled there is not much new here in the way of content. However, what is "new" and totally satisfying is Phil's warm, optimistic perspective on the many events that helped shape his life. As described by Lesh, his life's journey, much like the Dead's music, is "a [series] of recurring themes, transpositions, repetitions, unexpected developments, all converging to define form that is not necessarily apparent until it's ending has come and gone." For the many fans who enjoyed the fruits of his life pursuit of sonic explorations,Searching for the Sound isa welcome addition to their Dead library. --Rob Bracco
Customer Reviews:
Moonlight Rain.......2007-05-31
I FINALLY finished this book. It took two or three false starts (i.e., read up to page fifty and stop; wait a month or two, read up to page 50 and stop) but 6 days in the hospital (nothing life threatening) gave me ample time to finish the book. Fascinating- yes. Filled with interesting facts- yes. Reads more a history text book than the autobiography of a rock star- yes. I kept referring to a dictionary ever time (frequently) Phil used a word that I had never heard before. One cool thing is Phil refers to composers (Stockhausen, Berio, etc.) that most Deadheads would enjoy. (BTW, I've been hip to Stockhausen for several years. If you think the Grateful Dead invented "Space", you are wrong.) The same goes for references to books he has read. Basically, it's a slow read but very interesting. What I want to know is with all of the LSD he took, how he was able to remember tiny details from 1966?
Bass-ically where its at!.......2007-05-14
As a bassist myself, I relate to Lesh's writing and train of thought. He documents being a part of Grateful Dead as more of an ironic string of occurances than a drugged out trip. His book is incredibly personal while he discusses such moments as learning an instrument overnight, attending classical concerts while on tour, loosing friends, and finding the inner peace in chaos. He is funny, sad, and everything in between. Although some of the technical parts get a bit too detailed for those unfamiliar with sound technology, one can understand how dedicated he was to his craft aside from the music and lyrics. I liked how Lesh pointed no fingers, rather pushed towards the positives in everyone. I would recommend reading this book with Rock Scully's Living With the Dead because they follow the same format and share similar situations. Lesh's however comes across more intimately humorous. I strong urge readers to dig into this book!
Interesting and Illuminating.......2007-03-26
I've never been to a Dead concert, but once had a roommate in college who'd recorded about 100 of them, which he constantly played, so I've certainly heard my share of Live Dead. Everyone w/ a passing knowledge of the Dead knows that their best stuff was live, not studio. Just an observation that has nothing to do with the Lesh book. It's an interesting read and Lesh is an interesting character. Especially funny was how he got out of the army:
Army Doctor: "read the bottom line on the eye chart" Lesh: "I can't see anything" Army Doctor: "You can't see the bottom line of the chart?" Lesh: "What chart?" Army Doctor: "The chart on the wall" Lesh: "What wall?" Lesh certainly is thoughtful and observant. A good journey through the history of the Dead and sometimes quite moving.
Good 'Ol G.D........2007-01-21
My brother got this book signed by Phil himself. Another biography of the Grateful Dead. Written by One of the band members. It's good. Phils good. Check it out.
Searching for a Ghost Writer.......2006-11-23
I was pleasantly surprised by this book. Not by the writing. In fact, some of the prose is quite unnerving, such as "if Mickey had been born Native American, his name would have been `Pushing the Envelope.'" Although he did remember the concept of foreshadowing from High School English, and he makes of point of highlighting all of the ominous signs of the chaos to come. But overall I was surprised, because, unlike many musicians' autobiographies I've read (for example, Miles Davis), Phil Lesh does not come off as a brittle narcissist. He does not use this opportunity as a format for squabbling, for giving his side of the story. He actually comes off as a thoughtful, sincere guy, and someone willing to take the time to reflect on the past.
I was interested to hear his take on the disintegration of the Grateful Dead in the eighties and nineties. His take on it was not unlike my own. He takes some ownership for his role, admitting that the Grateful Dead had become too large of an organization, too much of a money-maker with too many dependents. The band had to keep up an outrageous tour schedule, despite the obvious decline in the quality of the music and the painfully obvious deterioration of Jerry Garcia.
He makes a note-worthy observation about the parallel process between the band and the audience. At first, it was a bunch of guys with different musical backgrounds, but all with open minds, all in the right place at the right time, who used drugs to expand the individual consciousness of each member as well as the group consciousness in step with the counter-cultural revolution happening around them. They pushed boundaries but they also communicated with each other through the music, with novel sounds erupting organically from their collective experiments. But the drugs that fueled their creativity would also eventually isolate each of them from each other and from themselves. As alcoholism and heroin addiction destroyed the sense of community within the band, the dead head scene would suffer as well. By the end, prior to Jerry's death, you had a band on stage pretending they were playing together, pretending to play with even a fraction of their potential. And as an audience, we pretended too. Or at least those of us who still believed we were there for the music pretended, and the frat boys just came for the party. And they continued to sell out stadiums, while shows were marred by police stings, gate crashers, riots, tear gas, and death threats.
When I was catching shows, late eighties early nineties, you would hear two different kinds of fans as you filed out of one of their 2 in 3 mediocre shows. The Pollyanna-heads would be glowing, talking about how Jerry lifted his arm at one point, or almost rocked his shoulders with the beat, "Yeah, he was really into it tonight." The more jaded heads would just be complaining, complaining about the lackluster set-list, complaining the Jerry continued to tune himself down in the mix, that he was quitting on solos, that Bobby was trying to steal the show again. Both types annoyed me. I like to tell people that I quit going to shows because I realized that the fans who supported the Dead were enablers, burying our heads in the sand. But in reality, that's a post-hoc, grandiose explanation. I quit going because I was paying $35 for tickets a mile away from the stage, to see dishearteningly bad performances, while the drunken frat boys all around me didn't even know enough to get quiet during those increasingly rare moments of musical transcendence. The breakdown was complete, and for both band and audience, going to show meant little more than participating in a ritual.
Phil spends the most time on the early years. That's a good thing. That's the most interesting part. When they were actually hippies, living like hippies, and things were just starting to happen. Woodstock and Altamont are recounted not just as events but as contrasting symbols of everything that was good about the hippie scene and everything that was wrong about it. Ultimately it is a commentary on human nature, the capacity to love and experience ecstasy versus the tendency to retreat into hostility and hatred.
Like I said, Phil owns his role in it all, admits to mistakes, and doesn't spend a lot of time defending himself or trying to bolster his reputation. The only part where it felt like he had a little bit of a self-serving agenda was when he talked about the different directions he wanted to push the band, more experimentation with exotic time signatures for example. But even then, he talks about it in terms of lessons learned. He realizes he misread the mood of the band, they were content to play their songs and didn't want Phil as martinet. I think Phil is giving an honest account here. If you listen to the post-Dead music coming from all the living members of the Dead, it is Phil and Friends who continue to be the most exploratory. Though not the most charismatic of a stage presence, he may have been the biggest "believer" of the bunch, the most devout in his quest for the divine through the psychedelic. Along those lines, it's also interesting hearing Phil weave in and out of magical thinking. He's often grounded and very down-to-Earth, but moments later can go off on a tangent about any kind of mystical spirituality that he can tie in to the moment.
It's worth a read. Not great writing but good enough, readable, and will certainly be of interest to any fan of the band. The book ends with the recent history, the fall-out from Jerry's death, some of the ugly fighting over who owns the rights to what, and ultimately Phil's hepatitis and liver transplant. He really does end up sounding like a likeable guy, the grinning musical little brother of Jerry, the classically-trained marching band nerd, and the survivor who gets a second chance at the gift of being a father.
Book Description
When Dorothy triumphed over the Wicked Witch of the West in L. Frank Baum's classic tale, we heard only her side of the story. But what about her arch-nemesis, the mysterious Witch? Where did she come from? How did she become so wicked? And what is the true nature of evil?
Gregory Maguire creates a fantasy world so rich and vivid that we will never look at Oz the same way again. Wicked is about a land where animals talk and strive to be treated like first-class citizens, Munchkinlanders seek the comfort of middle-class stability, and the Tin Man becomes a victim of domestic violence. And then there is the little green-skinned girl named Elphaba, who will grow up to become the infamous Wicked Witch of the West, a smart, prickly, and misunderstood creature who challenges all our preconceived notions about the nature of good and evil.
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Packed with e-book extras, including the original classic, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, by L. Frank Baum, and the Reader's Group Guide. When Dorothy triumphed over the Wicked Witch of the West in L. Frank Baum's classic tale, we heard only one side of the story. Meet Elphaba -- a smart, prickly, little green-skinned girl who challenges all our preconceived notions about the nature of good and evil. When Dorothy triumphed over the Wicked Witch of the West in L. Frank Baum's classic tale, we heard only her side of the story. But what about her arch-nemesis, the mysterious witch? Where did she come from? How did she become so wicked? And what is the true nature of evil? Gregory Maguire creates a fantasy world so rich and vivid that we will never look at Oz the same way again. Wicked is about a land where animals talk and strive to be treated like first-class citizens, Munchkinlanders seek the comfort of middle-class stability and the Tin Man becomes a victim of domestic violence. And then there is the little green-skinned girl named Elphaba, who will grow up to be the infamous Wicked Witch of the West, a smart, prickly and misunderstood creature who challenges all our preconceived notions about the nature of good and evil.
Customer Reviews:
Enigmas, akimbo, and snares, Oh My!.......2007-09-28
I liked the book because of its originality.
However, the story would flow and then get stuck in its attempt to confuse and irritate the reader into skipping over big parts of the book.
The journey of the Witch is so convoluted, that I had to back track. Enjoying this book took a lot effort. I like to be entertained when I read fiction, not work myself into a dither trying to understand where the story is going. When it gets bogged down with theories and who is who and where and when,...it is rather boring. BUT.. the parts that tell you about her childhood, schooling...is entertaining.
Horrors! Horrors!.......2007-09-23
This book was painfully disappointing. The plots meanders here and there and never fully develops. The writing is mediocre, and the book left me feeling cheated. The books sums itself up with the only funny line in it - "Horrors! Horrors!" Don't waste your time!
ONe of my favorites.......2007-09-21
For anyone who likes a little fantasy in your life this is a great book. What an interesting tale of an old classic.
Wicked is "wicked".......2007-09-20
I am not sure how this story works into a musical, but I'm sure I will be going to see the stage production of this interesting tale. Narrated to perfection, you won't want to stop listening to this story. This set of 16 CDs will keep you glued to your player. I enjoyed the story on my solo roadtrip and throughout the rest of the summer. You probably won't want to purchase this set for family listening, however, because some of the storyline becomes quite risque and sexually graphic. Great story, well told, enjoy!
Original, witty but very different from the popular musical .......2007-09-10
I saw a stage production of WICKED before reading the book. The musical had surprised me with its unique, clever spin on the classic L. Frank Baum story made into a phenominon by the 1939 movie version, so I was interested to see this source material.
Maguire has done a Herculean task in concocting this detailed story that is so innovative and yet intricately tied to the Baum series. The details and politicizing eventually slow down the storytelling in third quarter of the book, but rejuvenates in time for the climax. But make no mistake, this is a very different & more adult version of Elphaba's life story than bounces across the Broadway stage.
Book Description
Whether giving back through her patriotism and community service, touring with Fleetwood Mac or performing as a solo artist, Stevie Nicks has mesmerized us for over thirty years. Her life story, with all its highs and lows, provides an opportunity to grow from her tremendous strength, persistence and courage while learning from the challenges she has faced. A widely revered singer/songwriter, Stevie is adored by multiple generations.
Interpretation of her songs gives you a look inside her soul but "not unless she lets you." On "Stand Back" from The Wild Heart, Stevie's second solo album she sings, "No one knows how I feel what I say unless you read between my lines." Her highly personal songwriting tells the story. Stevie's autobiographical songs serve as an outlet for coping with pain and personal sacrifice. Fans have credited her with literally saving their lives!
* Stevie's relationship with Lindsey Buckingham serves as a consistent basis for her songwriting and decisions made along her life journey.
* The book chronicles Stevie's musical accomplishments while highlighting the pain and sacrifice women face leading a rock 'n' roll lifestyle.
Customer Reviews:
Terrible.......2007-09-04
First of all, this author appears to never have even spoken to Stevie Nicks. The book is full of innacuracies and at one point she even gets the title of Stevie and Kenny Loggins duet wrong.
Dont bother read it!
What a Mess!.......2007-08-06
Sandra, I don't know who your contacts were but it's a wonder you spelled Stevie's name correctly. I have never read a biography with more inaccuracies than you log in at. In additon, I can't help but wonder if those postive reviews are from friends of yours. How can anyone with any literary sense call this book a good read? Despite getting the facts wrong --- it bounces around more than a bouncing rubber ball at a dodgeball game in which the participants are blind! There is no chronological order at all. It's as if you just repeated a bunch of quotes you heard over and over -- never bothering to verify the info at all while just kept listing one after another. Like the "Planets of The Universe" - you should "Go Your Own Way" and leave Stevie and her true fans alone. I wish I could give this book negative stars!
The book should be called "Lost in Timespace".......2007-05-22
HI Stevie fans,
Over the years I've been involved in several Stevie e-posters and websites sharing deep info on Stevie Nicks, her life and songwriting. Though I sometimes enjoy reading "independent" writers at times, this book is a fiasco. I was able to read just a couple of pages from this Amazon website and discovered several errors and wrong info on Stevie.
From saying Stevie moved to Arcadia Ca and went to High School there, and knowing fully well she lived in Atherton Ca in Northern Ca, and went to high school there was enough for me. She played in the band Fritz in the Bay Area with Lindsey Buckingham if I'm sure many can attest.....all anyone would have to log on youtube and type in Fritz to see the info gathered there of her early years in the Bay Area. She did go to LA with Lindsey during the Buckingham Nicks years before being "discovered" by Mick, but Sandra's book is scattered like 'dreams" in the "midnight wind"....Bob of CA(of prodigy legend)
Comments on Stevies life........2007-05-13
This book details alot about Stevie, but none of it is directly from her. I would say this book is more a collection of Stevie Nicks interviews and comments from her rock n roll life with comments/story outlines from the author in between, so i found that disappointing from that respect. However overall still some great facts and insight into the rock n roll legend that stevie is.
An "ok" Read.......2007-03-10
As far as biographies go, I found the book to be small, for some one as Great as Stevie Nicks. But all in all was informative. For a beginer reader of anything about Stevie Nicks, and are not sure about getting a great big fat book, and just need quick facts this a a good book for this pupose.
Book Description
Bassist James Jamerson was the embodiment of the Motown spirit and groove - the invisible entity whose playing inspired thousands. His tumultuous life and musical brilliance are explored in depth through hundreds of interviews, 49 transcribed musical scores, two hours of recorded all-star performances, and more than 50 rarely seen photos in this stellar tribute to behind-the-scenes Motown. Features a 120-minute CD! Allan Slutsky's 2002 documentary of the same name is the winner of the New York Film Critics "Best Documentary of the Year" award!
Customer Reviews:
Motown .......2007-08-13
My husband is love with this bass gautairist, and love this book and DVD combo.
An absolute must for any aspiring bassist.......2007-08-01
First off, this book does an excellent job describing his life and sounds, from "he began playing a double bass" to "he would have the bass all the way up, and the treble half way." This book knows you want to sound like Jamerson, and it tells you just how to do that. What makes the book invaluable are the transcriptions. 49 of Jamerson's songs transcribed for you to play, right there and be able to get the idea of what he was thinking and trying to give when he wrote the basslines.
A book for any bassist.
Amazing!!! It's ALL that!!.......2007-05-04
Thorough, well-researched biography of James Jamerson - the man who changed how musicians view the bass. What an amazing life and a tragic end for a musician of immense talent.
Warning - the section of tunes in the back of this book will make you want to burn your bass!! He was THAT good.
Can't really write more - gotta go practice.... That's how much this book will inspire you to go play. A MUST HAVE for your bass library.
Play bass? Buy this!.......2007-03-20
Amazing learning tool filled with lots of great info and transcriptions.
Great for bass players and motown fans.......2007-01-05
The book arrived in excellent condition and in a timely fashion.
Customer Reviews:
Sour Grapes.......2006-10-15
While I enjoyed Miss Wilson's book, I think she had a tendency to paint herself in a more positive light while completely trashing Diana Ross. She also never mentions that Ross helped her and Florence Ballard financially at differnt times. Therefore, Wilson wasn't completely honest. I think all three Supremes were victims of Motown/Berry Gordy. They were very young when they became superstars and were ill equipped to handle all that came with it. As a result their behavior at times was childish and immature. Who hasn't made mistakes in their youth? However, Ross was pushed to the forefront long before her romantic relationship with Mr. Gordy began. First and foremost, Mr. Gordy was a business man and he realized Ross had the most "commercial" voice and star power $$$. That's why she became the lead singer. Obviously he was correct. You can love her or hate her, but without Diana Ross, the Supremes would have remained just another girl group.
Very interesting book.......2006-08-21
I found the book to be quite interesting and nostalgic. I visited the Motown Records Museum in 1989 and would recommend the museum (Hitsville USA) to Motown fans.
Jealousy and Bitterness is Obvious.......2005-12-28
Mary and Florence and some of their friends originated a girl group. When their friend, Diana Ross is brought into the group and chosen to become its lead singer, Mary and Florence feel slighted so they become jealous of Diana Ross. Who knows how long this bitterness has been harboring, but it comes to surface when Mary decides to write a tell-all book. She brings attention to herself and garners sympathy from others while tearing Diana down and painting her as the B-----(rhymes with witch) of the group. She disrespectively refers to Diana Ross as Diane when she knows full well that her name is Diana, and that's what she prefers to be called. People have a right to be called by the name that their parents gave to them.
Get over it Mary. Being the lead singer of The Supremes was Diana's calling. Whatever God blesses, no man can tear down.
One day we'll be together (in Heaven).......2005-05-19
This book was written in 1986, and Mary Wilson wrote an updated version (Dreamgirl and Supreme Faith), which has an afterward copyrighted in 1999.
This is an intriguing book, a first person account by Mary, and it can be read almost as a morality tale: the tale of three sisters and the monster (Motown).
The three singers all had roots in the same Detroit neighborhood, and were taken on by Berry Gordy's newly formed Motown. According to Mary, Diana seemed to always want to stand out from the other two, and of course, she eventually got her wish. Diana comes through as an egotistical, self-serving person, who, of course, had the talent to back up her swelled head.
On the other side of the trio, Florence Ballard is the tragic heroine. According to Mary, although the three started as peers, Flo eventually got exasperated having to fight both Diane and her paramour, Berry Gordy. She turned to alcohol, which depressed her further, and she ended in poverty and an early death.
Mary paints herself as the peacemaker and person in the middle. She stands by Flo in her darkest hour, but never follows her path in leaving the group.
Mary had various lovers, and she had so many, from Tom Jones to Steve McQueen to some people I'm sure nobody has ever heard of. Mary, in her honesty, has listed most of them in this book. After all those celebrities, she ends up, by the end of the book, marrying someone I had never heard of (he could be well-known).
Yes, I grew up listening to the Supremes, and I danced to their songs and I popped my fingers to their steady tempos like everyone else in those days.
Today, their music makes me sick, but hey, times have changed.
I think Mary has shown, in this book, that she can adapt and change, whereas Flo could not. Flo had talent, but she maybe didn't have the type of personality to keep coping year after year in the face of quick fame followed by quick decline.
As for Diana, well, no matter how talented she was, wouldn't it be nice if she could be just a little humble? No?
"Blessed are the humble in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven."
Okay, nobody wants to go to Heaven (until they die, of course), but everybody wants to be "important" while still here on Earth.
Diane got her wish, she was, and to a lesser extent, she still is, "important."
But Mary wrote the book. Diximus.
More than entertainment.......2005-01-19
Mary Wilson's book is an interesting and sad look at the greatest girl group of the 20th Century. The Supremes were the image of polish and class. Mary's account of the story is tragic, but I wondered why she didn't stand up for the group. She didn't seem to be afraid for the group when Florence was going through her problems mostly alone--she thought it would pass. It seems obvious that each woman was immensely talented in various ways, but Motown didn't appreciate that. Good examples are the demise of the Marvelettes and Kim Weston (as well as every other group in short order--male or female). It's hard to understand that through all that strife Mary didn't see the end coming. Florence saw it...but why couldn't Mary?
Average customer rating:
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History of British Military Bands: Infantry and Irish (History of British Military Bands)
Gordon Turner , and
Alwyn Turner
Manufacturer: Spellmount Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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Military Marches
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ASIN: 1873376286 |
Book Description
This monumental and unique study fills a serious gap in existing literature and traces the history of British military music from its early beginnings to the sophisticated instrumentation of today. This volume, with accompanying CD of their regimental marches, covers the Infantry and disbanded Irish Regiments.
Customer Reviews:
Classic of its Kind.......2007-02-07
This was the 3rd and final volume of this remarkable series. With the demise of so many fine old regimental bands from the British army, Gordon Turner with help from Kneller Hall, the army school of music, attempted to chronicle the fascinating history of these bands. Included are many fine photos, past and present. Extensive band histories are referenced throughout, with listings of bandmasters and directors of music, as well as regimental music played, and just general info. of importance. Many fine, rich stories are to be found here. The emphasis of this volume was on the bands of the Light Division and the Irish Regiments. Many others are included as well. All have colorful histories included with many references to bands and units long gone from the British army list. Included is a special CD played by the Band of the Royal Signals Corps which includes many of the regimental music listed in this work. The cover is a recent picture of the Band of the Light Division, now a single 47 piece band. All that remains of the bands of the Royal Green Jackets and Light Infantry. Soon this band will be changed yet again as the recent cuts will reduce it to a staff band of just 35. The title will be changed to the Band of the Rifles. A bland sounding title for sure! A sad loss for the many fans of this band over the years. This is niche book, highly recommended for those into military music, and British regimental bands in particular.
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- Terrific biography of Glenn Gould
- A Worthy Biography
- The Enduring Fascination of Gould
- Well-balanced biography of a phenominal artist
- the mysteries of a perfect art
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Wondrous Strange: The Life and Art of Glenn Gould
Kevin Bazzana
Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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Glenn Gould: The Ecstasy and Tragedy of Genius
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ASIN: 0195182464 |
Book Description
When Mikhail Baryshnikov defected in Toronto in 1974, he admitted that he knew only three things about Canada: It had great hockey teams, a lot of wheatfields, and Glenn Gould. In Wondrous Strange, Kevin Bazzana vividly recaptures the life of Glenn Gould, one of the most celebrated pianists of our time. Drawing on twenty years of intensive research, including unrestricted access to Gould's private papers and interviews with scores of friends and colleagues, many of them never interviewed before, Bazzana sheds new light on such topics as Gould's family history, his secretive sexual life, and the mysterious problems that afflicted his hands in his later years. The author places Gould's distinctive traits--his eccentric interpretations, his garish onstage demeanor, his resistance to convention--against the backdrop of his religious, upper- middle-class Canadian childhood, illuminating the influence of Gould's mother as well as the lasting impact of the only piano teacher Gould ever had. Bazzana offers a fresh appreciation of Gould's concert career--his high-profile but illness-plagued international tours, his adventurous work for Canadian music festivals, his musical and legal problems with Steinway and Sons. In 1964, Gould made the extraordinary decision to perform only for records, radio, television, and film, a turning point that the author examines with unprecedented thoroughness (discussing, for example, his far-seeing interest in new recording technology). Here, too, are Gould's interests away from the piano, from his ambitious but failed effort to be a composer to his innovative brand of "contrapuntal radio." Richly illustrated with rare photographs, Wondrous Strange is a superbly written account of one of the most memorable and accomplished musicians of our times.
Customer Reviews:
Terrific biography of Glenn Gould.......2007-05-14
This is a wonderful biography on one of the world's finest and beloved musicians. The writing is detailed and articulate but never boring. However, if you do not have a background in music, the writings on classical music could be difficult to decipher for the layman. An excellent read!!
A Worthy Biography.......2007-03-19
I can't exactly put a nail on why I have read so many biographies on Gould, but I dare say the story of his reclusiveness, isolation and his pursuit of his art has always intrigued me. Up to this point my favorite biography on Gould had been the Otto Fredrick "A Life in Variations", so I had a pre-conceived notion that this book may just have been be a re-telling of all the stories and interviews I heard in the past.
Bazzana appears to set himself apart here in that he was not asked to write a biography on Gould as he described in the book. There are many snippits of things I've allready knew about Gould here, but Bazzana also tries to put another angle on some of the eccentricities most have heard or read about prior. He encapsulates many different views of Gould, so much so that I feel that I have a bit more insite here. Also, Bazzana appears to set some of the record straight for other biographical sources such as Andrew Kazdin's work called "Glenn Gould At Work, Creative Lying" which is another book I gained knowledge from and did enjoy. It may not be entirely possible to have a true biographical account of Gould, but I still appreciate this additional account of his life although I am only giving it 4 stars because I feel there will never be a complete biography of an individual due to different sources and views, but this one is generally well researched. It does re-hash some of the other interview material, sources etc, but within the book there does appear to be an attempt here to rationalize his behaviour and give a better look beyond the stereotype.
The Enduring Fascination of Gould.......2007-02-18
What is it about Glenn Gould? He's been the subject of books, dvds, and one odd movie made up of a mosaic of short films. Gould's life and music has captured the attention and imagination of people who otherwise would not venture anywhere near classical performers.
"Wondrous Strange" doesn't delve deeply into opinions, or really attempt to explain why people were (and are) so affected by Gould--it simply lays out Gould's life in block-like sections, marking his attitudes and approaches to both music and life. The result is a thick book full of Gouldian lore, with many fascinating passages, that doesn't cohere quite as well as it could have. Bazzana develops themes, drops them, and then revisits them a few chapters on. Pages could have been trimmed where Bazzana is busy repeating himself. It's as if the book were trying to envelope Gould, like an octopus settling on a lobster.
Does it succeed? Mostly, yes. With repeated gleanings, Gould emerges to the reader as something of a "mutant"--a person slightly ahead of his time. He was a reclusive person, who came to hate concert limelight, and found great comfort in the controlled technology of the studio. He (probably correctly) discerned that an artist usually communicates better, and certainly more intimately, through recordings than through concerts.
Gould's belief in the classical music performer's right to interpret and reimagine great works of music put him at odds with many critics, as did his tendency to "sing" wordlessly as he played. These things only served to reinforce Gould's singularity, and mark him as a modernist. Like James Dean, or the Beatles, Gould transcended his time. He was a dreamer who continues to captivate and to inspire dreams in his legion of followers.
Well-balanced biography of a phenominal artist.......2006-09-27
This is a very well-balanced, thorough biography of the Canadian pianist/musician/composer Glenn Gould. Very well written, a joy to read (and a lot easier to read then most of the stuff Glenn wrote himself...)
Having read this book I feel I understand more about Glenn Gould the artist and the person.
A first-choice-must-buy for all interested to know more about Glenn Gould.
the mysteries of a perfect art.......2005-04-05
This unstoppably heartrending biography of Canadian pianist Glenn Gould unveils the mysteries of a perfect art more cogently and beautifully than has any other artist's biography I've ever come across. Kevin Bazzana has opened up Gould's eccentricities and placed them where finally they must sleep - merely deep in the natural whole of one of the inescapable musicians of the 20th century. Those lucky enough to know the meaning of the art of Glenn Gould will always be grateful for that achievement.
This is a tremendous book. The moments when Bazzana's utterly secure love for Gould's art shines through are the most extraordinary aspect of a completely worthy biography. With deep and glistening writing Bazzana evokes every aspect of looking-at-Gould with the same sound character found in Gould's playing - it's an amazing experience! This is biographical literature extensive and schooled, and even wise; reading is like gliding on glass, so perfect is the author's determination, and Gould lives on every page. What could be better?
Was ever a pianist's art more wonderful? Gould's playing is always extraordinary by every standard, and beyond. And not only the playing, of course; his mind, his understanding of music, his humor - these form the scaffolding of a remarkable artistic vision. For all his reclusion, his is the most giving human art, reaching to infinity. Art of the gods obtains dimensions the proof of which can be heard in everything he played. It's a consuming art, yet so freeing. The wondrous thing about it is how Gould kept so much of himself even as he spent lavishly on Bach and Byrd and Schoenberg. Music never overtook Gould - that task inevitably fell to Gould himself.
By literature of this kind, the sadness that still lingers around Gould's death seems entirely transformed. This is a great book that ends too quickly and lingers too pervasively. Afford yourself the wealth.
Book Description
Techniques on how to gain greater fluidity of movement while playing to improve the quality of the experience are offered in this manual for serious piano players. This book encourages musicians to develop a broader understanding of the involvement of the entire body in playing-and the strains playing places on the body-by focusing on body mapping to increase awareness of the body's function, size, and structure. Ways in which piano, organ, harpsichord, clavichord, and digital keyboard players can eliminate or prevent carpal tunnel syndrome and other debilitating conditions without traditional medical treatments are also explored.
Customer Reviews:
Very Good, but Not a Turnkey Solution.......2007-06-30
I'm seeking a way to return safely to piano after recovering from bi-lateral tendonitis. Several approaches stand out: Taubman Institute, Feldenkrais, Alexander Technique, and body mapping. I want an approach that is safe and effective, specific to piano, and economical (everything else being equal). Mark's book is my first purchase: the book is piano-specific, exceedingly cheap relative to the full $800.00 Taubman 10 DVD set, and sufficiently packed with accurate anatomy to impress my occupational therapist (hand specialist w/ Ph.D.). So far, so good . . .
Now for the fine print: the book is 90% anatomy, not piano playing. There are isolated pointers based on anatomical facts, but the emphasis is, "Musician, heal thyself." The methodology is for the musician to learn their body, listen to their body, trust their body, obey their body. I'm looking for a recipe book (it is safe and effective to play scales like this, arpeggios like this, reach with your thumb like this, . . .), not a book about how to grow my own ingredients.
This book has merit and value, and I'm glad I bought it, but it is not enough by itself to get me back in the saddle. Looks like I have some Taubman videos in my future.
This book floated down from heaven.......2007-01-09
This guy should receive an award for finally taking all the current knowledge of the body, and using it to correct piano technique. I've seen alot of technique books that are aimed at certain goals (scales, fast leaps, etc), but this book is more like a general baseline that everything else follows from. Great illustrations, which are crucial for actually internalizing this knowledge about the body and transferring it to the keyboard. Some topics covered: bench height, arm positioning, finger usage, spine and posture, sitting correctly, standing correctly. It will change your playing!
Valuable information, well presented.......2006-03-21
Nice one!
I got interested in this book because an acquaintance of mine has been traveling to Portland for lessons and workshops with Mr. Mark, and the resulting improvement in my friend's piano playing has been striking.
I was able to make several improvements in my own approach to the piano almost immediately, based only on Mr. Mark's presentation in this book, which is both clear and detailed (the book is also attractively bound and well laid out.). I also learned a bit about the Alexander approach.
This is not a book on piano technique, but there is valuable technical information here, and the anatomical information Mark provides is directly relevant to technique. I expect it will help one learn any technique that is soundly based on anatomy. I followed this book with Barbara Lister-Sink's video on piano technique, Freeing the Caged Bird, and I found that the two approaches go together beautifully (Lister-Sink apparently also has an background in Alexander work).
What Every Pianist Needs to Know About the Body.......2005-09-26
Very nice book. Excellent condition.
This was exactly what I needed........2005-09-24
I am immensely grateful for this book. It was exactly what I needed to overcome various painful problems I was having at the keyboard, and I imagine would be similarly helpful to all the people who believe they have carpal tunnel syndrome or arthritis at their computer keyboards as well. Besides making the book available to my fellow music-lovers and students, I also make a point of telling my doctors about it. Have seldom underlined, dog-eared and added stars to a book as much as this one.
Better than medicine or surgery, if, like me, it happens to be exactly what you need, too.
Average customer rating:
|
Pitch: Neural Coding and Perception (Springer Handbook of Auditory Research)
Manufacturer: Springer
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Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 0387234721 |
Book Description
Although pitch has been considered an important area of auditory research since the birth of modern acoustics in the 19th century, some of the most significant developments in our understanding of this phenomenon have occurred comparatively recently. In auditory physiology, researchers are now identifying cells in the brainstem and cortex that may be involved in the derivation of pitch. In auditory psychophysics, dramatic developments over the last few years have changed our understanding of temporal pitch mechanisms, and of the roles of resolved and unresolved harmonics. Computational modeling has provided new insights into the biological algorithms that may underlie pitch perception. Modern brain imaging techniques have suggested possible cortical locations for pitch mechanisms.
This timely volume brings together the more recent findings, while emphasizing their relation to the discoveries of the past. It brings together insights from several different methodological areas: physiology, psychophysics, comparative, imaging, etc., in addressing a single scientific problem. Pitch perception can be regarded as one of the main problems of hearing, and the multidisciplinary approach of the book provides a valuable reference source for graduate students and academics.
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- Fine History of British Military Bands
|
The History of British Military Bands (History of British Military Bands Vol. 1)
Gordon Turner , and
Alwyn Turner
Manufacturer: Spellmount Publishers Ltd
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 1873376014 |
Book Description
This monumental, magnificently illustrated history documents the development of British military music from its simple beginnings more than three centuries ago to the sophisticated instrumentation of today. 32 color plates, 100 b&w illustrations, with CD.
Customer Reviews:
Fine History of British Military Bands.......2007-01-18
This was part of a comprehensive 3 vol. history of British military bands. The purpose was to document the history and pictures of these bands before many were downsized and amalgamated in the early 1990s. The book succeeds very well in accomplishing this goal. Lovers of military music will be saddened by how many of these bands are no more. Still, there is a lot here to enjoy. This volume covered mostly cavalry bands and staff bands. The color photos are great. Each band has its history, showing regimental music played, noteable events, famous bandmasters, etc. Considering how sketchy much of this history is, the author has done a fine job collecting what info. is available. Since these are out of print now the price tends to be high, but they are well worth collecting. The accompanying audio CD played by the band of the Royal Signals provides some of the appropriate regimental music for many of the bands listed. A true gem for the military music buff. The cover shows the massed bands of the Royal Armored Corps at one of their last occasions together during the Royal Tournament of 1991.
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