Book Description
When Jeff Buckley drowned in Memphis in 1997 at the age of 30, the music world lost one of its most original and promising voices. His 1994 debut LP Grace showcased his soaring eight-octave vocal range and fluid guitar playing, and was hailed as an instant classic, winning him legions of devoted fans the world over. Photographer Merri Cyr was there from the beginning, shooting his album covers and accompanying him on tour, capturing priceless images of Buckley's boundless charisma and many-sided personality. Now she has assembled an unforgettable and poignant collection of recollections from friends and members of his inner circle and photographs, many never before seen, of an artist whose untimely death - and the timeless music he left behind - continue to resonate. Hardcover, 340 full-color photos. Merri Cyr is a photographer and video artist. She lives in Brooklyn. "A tremendous anthology ... ravishing portraits of a singular, much-missed singer." - Rolling Stone Play Jeff Buckley's songs with our Guitar Recorded Versions tab transcription book - 00690451.
Customer Reviews:
The Phenominal Jeff Buckley Caught in Pictures.......2007-06-11
I bought this book when it first came out and I still pull it off the shelf and marvel at not only the care that was expressed when being put together but also the beauty of each photograph. This book wasn't released to exploit the fans of this tragic artist in order to make a quick buck but was a well thought out pictorial of his experiences with Merri Cyr. Although I didn't order this book through Amazon, I still felt the need to comment on it because it is a stirring pictorial of a life cut much too short.
i don't have it yet........2007-01-24
i would love to give u a good review but i do not have the product yet.
A must for any JB fan.............2007-01-10
This book is artfully done--beautiful photographs of JB during his halcyon days in New York and on the road, captioned with interviews from friends/acquaintances who knew him best. Ms. Cyr is to be commended for having captured the spirit of this unique and beautiful person.
Book is in great condition.......2006-07-30
A little wear around the edges of the slip cover, but there were no bends, rips, or folds on or in the book. I am very pleased with the product.
Beautiful Pictures!.......2006-03-13
Definately a must have for any JB fan! The pictures and stories as truly wonderful!
Book Description
Hundreds of thousands have already thrilled to this extraordinary retelling of a life unmatched in human history. Through the story of the Singer, his Song and his battles with the World Hater, Calvin Miller has created a book full of life. Now, in one volume, you can find a powerful tale of incarnation and redemption.
Customer Reviews:
Better than Expected.......2007-07-05
After all the reviews I read regarding this book I had expected something good and, still, it was better than expected. So good, in fact, that I read it a chapter at a time because I wanted to let it sink in.
All in all, well worth it: check it out.
Awesome!.......2007-06-06
This is one of those books I read over and over again. I have read it probably 20 times since my first reading. Calvin Miller puts biblical stories into narrative poems that are so well written they force you to turn the page again and again. This book is the first in the Singer Trilogy, followed by The Song and The Finale. It is a poetic retelling of three biblical books: The Singer parallels the 4 Gospels, The Song retells the story of Acts, and The Finale is Miller's version of the book of Revelation.
Miller writes explicitly Christian fantasy in these books. He is also widely known for his non-fiction AND Christian life application books.
The Singer is a powerful retelling of the life of Christ, where instead of Jesus and The Gospel you have the Singer and his song. His song, if you are open to it, can bring healing and restoration. The World-Hater, wants to destroy both the Singer and his star song. Miller's words moved me to tears the first time I encountered them. The story is so well written, it can be read over and over without losing its freshness. The book is also excellently illustrated by Chicago artist Joe DeVelasco. The drawings done in pen and Ink style add to the power of the story by transporting you into the events.
No matter how many times over I reread this book, it is always fresh and new and draws me into the story of Christ in a different way. It is truly a classic and a treasure for any bookshelf. Each time I pick these up and reread them, I find a deepening of my relationship with Christ, and of my prayer life.
Miller also has a Symphonic Trilogy that retells different stories from the book of Genesis. The two I owned were A Requiem for Love and A Symphony in Sand. As far as I can tell, there are also 2 stand-alone books by Miller in this style that are often compared to Tolkien's Lord of the Rings and Lewis's Narnia. They are The Valiant Papers, an account of a guardian angel's experiences, and The Philippian Fragment, the retelling of the book of Philippians from the New Testament. I have owned most of these and lent them out to not be returned. I now have The Singer Trilogy, Valiant, and Singer Trilogy 3-in-1 hardcover. Over the next few weeks I will review those I still have, but cannot encourage you strongly enough to pick them up if you find them in a used bookstore. They are all great.
Over the next few weeks, I plan on reviewing some of the others that I still have from this author. And if I find the others again, I will review them. (It has just been too long since I lent them out and did not get them back for me to review them from memory.)
Other Miller Books:
The Singer
The Song
The Finale
The Valiant Papers
The Philippian Fragment (Currently OP)
The Singer Trilogy.......2007-05-15
I thought I did a review for this last week but it didn't appear to have gone through. This is a great book and anything Calvin Miller writes is worth the time and expense. I had read "The Singer" before, so when I saw the trilogy was available in one volume, I knew I had to buy it. I can't imagine anyone would be disappointed. It's really a must have!
The best thing written since the canon was closed........2006-12-16
I first heard of The Singer Trilogy while working on my Master's degree at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Dr. Calvin Miller, the author of the series, was the speaker for chapel services. The professor in my class before chapel said that Dr. Miller had written The Singer Triology which consists of The Singer, The Song, and The Finale. He said it was the best thing written since the canon was closed. I rightly understood this to mean this was the best thing written since the Bible.
The Singer Triology is a retelling of New Testament events, including the ministry of Jesus and the founding of the early Church. The books are religious historical fiction. They are excellent and an easy read. They are a must for any Christian library. The series is as timeless as the Bible itself.
All three books read and reviewed by Jimmie A. Kepler.
Poetic allegory of God's love.......2006-10-31
It has been said that some read the Bible as a "user's manual" of rules and regulations for the things they should or should not do. In so doing, the law of God becomes a formula that turns God into a vending machine with the Christian dropping in the correct currency to gain what it is he wants. Such reading misses the entire point of scripture. Poetry is, in contrast, the language of love. Love does not look for formulae and doctrinal hair-splitting, love just pours itself out in sacrifice and adoration of its object expecting nothing in return. Calvin Miller reminds us of that underlying message of the gospel in the language of love so we cannot mistake it for something else. If you are a self-appointed doctrinal purity committee member, you will find a lot from this series to dislike; that is a given. But if the Bible to you is more love letter than user's manual, then you will find this series quite enjoyable and thought-provoking. The language itself is inspiring and enlightening. It will be hard for the poet in you to put it down once you begin.
Book Description
This series was designed to supplement traditional vocal instruction and works perfectly as preparatory literature for The First Book of Solos and The First Book of Solos Part II. Each piece is in English and has a limited vocal range as well as a piano accompaniment that is playable by a student pianist. The pieces include art songs, folksongs, humorous songs, and suitable vintage popular songs and are all appropriate for contest solos. The accompanying CD includes professionally-recorded accompaniments.
Mezzo-Soprano Contents: At Parting (Rogers) - Early One Morning (arr. Williams) - Ev'ry Time I Feel the Spirit - The First Primrose (Grieg) - Gently, Johnny, My Jingalo (arr. Sharp) - If No One Ever Marries Me (Lehmann) - It Was a Lover and His Lass (Morley) - Last Night (Kjerulf) - Little Wild Rose (Schubert) - Long, Long Ago (Bayly) - The Lotus Flower (Schumann) - The Maiden's Wish (Chopin) - Mother, Oh Sing Me to Rest (Franz) - Now Is the Month of Maying (Morley) - Oh, Come Again, Beautiful Spring (Weckerlin) - Shepherd, Play a Little Air! (Stickles) - Sing Me to Sleep (Greene) - Snowbells (Schumann) - That's an Irish Lullaby (Shannon) - There Are Plenty of Fish in the Sea (Foster) - Vienna, My City of Dreams (Sieczynski) - Who'll Buy My Lavender? (German) - You Are Free (Jacobi).
Book Description
Published for the first time in hardcover, here is New York Times bestselling author Iris Johansen’s classic novel of unforgettable romance and unrelenting suspense–a ravishing thriller of a woman with a secret irresistibly drawn into the glittering world of a famous man whose past may be murder….
Taking the stage that evening, Daisy Justine had no idea that she was auditioning for her life. Watching from the darkness beyond the footlights was the world-famous composer Jason Hayes. The reclusive genius was seeking a new star to play the tragic heroine in his latest work, an adaptation of Shakespeare’s Othello.
From the moment he heard her sing, Jason knew he’d found the star he’d been searching for his whole life. But coaxing her from Geneva to the bright lights of Broadway wasn’t going to be easy. For she’d made a promise to another man that she couldn’t break–nor disclose to anyone, not even Jason.
Jason has only two weeks to change Daisy’s mind. But the closer he gets to her, the closer danger comes. For there’s more than just artistic temperament behind Jason’s legendary seclusion. He, too, is harboring a secret, stalked by a killer who’s followed him for decades. Now he’ll do anything to protect Daisy from the greatest threat of all–herself. Daisy’s determined to catch the ruthless sociopath who’ll stop at nothing to ruin their lives. And she’s baiting the trap with the one victim the killer can’t resist.
Customer Reviews:
An Unexpected Song.......2007-08-23
Not the usual Johansen tale. It should have been billed as a "Love Story." I'm into the 3rd (out of 4) disc, and no suspense fill activity, yet. And She is one of my favorites, for exciting suspense. Please, leave this style to the romance writers. where, oh where was Eve Duncan and the gang?
Iris Johansen produces yet another great book.......2007-02-09
One of my favorite authors. Love what she does with characters and enjoy all of her work immensely.
Did anyone read the publishing date?.......2006-10-17
I read the other reviews with interest. They all complained about the author's writing style being weak, etc. If they had bothered to check, they would have seen that this was originally published in 1990 as a Loveswept paperback. Loveswepts are not known for their brilliant mysteries, just plenty of brooding romance. This is how Ms. Johansen started her writing career and she's only progressed brilliantly since then. Personally, I'd love to see her return to the Sedikan series in the future, they were some of my favorites of her works.
So quit bellyaching and read this as it was meant - a delicious romance to be consumed in one sitting.
Didn't like the writing style at all.......2006-10-15
I have never read one of Johansen's books and after reading this one, I'm not likely to read another. I usually enjoy reading pretty much any type of mystery and am not a literary critic by any means, but I just couldn't get into the story here because of the flowery and cliche-filled writing. Exclamations such as "dear heaven" and "lord" were repeated over and over again by all characters throughout the book, which doesn't seem to fit with the rest of their conversational tone (it would suit my southern grandma, however). As another reviewer said, the big mystery of why Daisy wouldn't leave Geneva wasn't particularly mysterious - if she really wanted Jason to leave she could have just told him. Character development was lacking and I just didn't care that much about them. I would have liked to hear more about Cynthia and her antics. I did finish the book because I was curious to know what happened, but I couldn't wait for it to be over. Sorry, but this was not my cup of tea.
could have been better.......2006-10-08
I usually love Johansen's books, but this one wasn't up to her normal standards in my opinion. The basic story is Daisy, the heroine, is an incredible singer, and is heard by our hero, Jason. Jason decides he must cast her as the lead in his next production, and goes about doing everything he can to sign her. At the same time, he is trying to get her into bed. However, he has a horrible secret from his past that threatens to break up the two.
That is the basic idea, and in my opinion, Jason just wasn't that great of a hero. I have to admit I liked Daisy must more than Jason. Jason was a very alpha male until the treat was revealed and then he turned into a martyr. Daisy was the one who stepped up to the plate and took care of the problem. I like strong heroines, but the hero doesn't have to be a big baby either.
Anyway, my personal opinion is that this book was lacking compared to others written by Johansen. However, it wasn't the worst book I have read.
Average customer rating:
- A Story of Achievement
- Perfectly Written
- Somewhat Disappointing This Time.
- Wagner Redux
- Sacrifice for the sake of Art
|
The Song of the Lark
Willa Cather , and
Doris Grumbach
Manufacturer: Mariner Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
 Cather, Willa
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ASIN: 0395345308 |
Book Description
Perhaps Willa Cather's most autobiographical work, The Song of the Lark charts the story of a young woman's awakening as an artist against the backdrop of the western landscape. Thea Kronborg, an aspiring singer, struggles to escape from the confines her small Colorado town to the world of possibility in the Metropolitan Opera House. In classic Cather style, The Song of the Lark is the beautiful, unforgettable story of American determination and its inextricable connection to the land.
"The time will come when she'll be ranked above Hemingway." -- Leon Edel
Download Description
In this novel Willa Cather presents Thea Kronberg, a minister's daughter, living with her family in Moonstone, Colorado. After enrolling Thea for piano lessons, Mrs. Kronberg is told that her daughter's true talent is in the beauty of her voice when her teacher hears her sing in church. Thea leaves home to study music in Chicago where she is unaware of the city's hurrying crowds, glittering shops, and loitering men, and is drawn to the art museum and concert hall. Her ambition to become an operatic artist is set in motion, and though she is completely preoccupied with the emotional and intellectual demands put on her by the arduous training required to achieve her goal, she withstands the grueling regimen. She finds a guardian and love interest in Fred Ottenburg who sends her to Arizona to become rejuvenated. Once there she learns to submit to the physical experience and, at the same time, to control the reaction. Ten years later the reader meets Thea who has just returned from Germany and is the leading soprano of the Metropolitan Opera. Sometimes she is tempted by marriage, but art always comes before any other attraction. Cather makes it clear that the serious artist must refuse any claim to personal regard and work to fulfill the rewards of creation in solitude. Please Note: This book has been reformatted to be easy to read in true text, not scanned images that can sometimes be difficult to decipher. The Microsoft eBook has a contents page linked to the chapter headings for easy navigation. The Adobe eBook has bookmarks at chapter headings and is printable up to two full copies per year. Both versions are text searchable.
Customer Reviews:
A Story of Achievement.......2007-07-02
This is a brilliant and readable novel about the struggles of an artist and the friends who helped her along the way. To be honest, the first part of the book didn't pull me in. "Friends of Childhood," which takes up the first 150 pages, is a simple story about a girl growing up in a small town, and the trouble and adventure she finds for herself. It's full of great characterizations, but wasn't quite what I thought I had gotten myself into. The story quickly takes a change of pace as Thea goes to study in Chicago, and her true artistic struggle begins.
Like in her short novel "A Lost Lady," Cather refuses to present Thea as a pleasant, likeable woman who fits some aesthetic ideal that the men in the book wish she could fit. She is at times distant, impersonal and mean. Becoming an artist changed her from the quirky, lively child in the beginning of the book to somewhat of a diva, even though the old Thea shines through. This is disappointing to the reader too, since this pushes us further from Thea as a character, but that's the whole point. This is the kind of book that lingers with you. The characters (mainly Thea, Dr. Archie and Fred Ottenburg) are some you will never forget.
Perfectly Written.......2006-10-04
I love Cather's work, and The Song of the Lark may be the best one of her books I've read yet...Death Come for the Archbishop has been my favorite of her books for so long that I may not be able to supplant it, but SoL is excellent.
The story revolves around the growth of Thea Kronberg into the artist that she is. We begin with her as a child around the age of 10. Her friends are adults and misfits in the town. We don't hear about her interactions with kids her own age nor really about her being a child at all. What we learn about Thea in the beginning of this book is that it is evident to everyone who knows her that she's gifted, but no one can agree about what. She knows, but she keeps her secret carefully guarded.
She begins to blossom when she is sent to Chicago to take lessons from a renowned piano instructor. It isn't until she mentions, almost on accident, that she sings at funerals that her piano teacher discovers her true musical gift--she has a phenomenal "instrument" (as it is often referred). She then switches teachers to a voice instructor and has to play accompaniment to his other lessons in order to pay for her own lessons. She is discovered by a rich cad-about who falls in love with her and worries that she is suffering under the pressures of being an accompanist to her rigid instructor. He sends her to his ranch in Arizona where she "nests" and comes into her art and her self.
The section in Panther Canyon is so well done that I could read it again and again. I finished it feeling the anticipation of what was going to happen to Thea when I turned the next page--was she going to become the artist she was destined to become or would she fail because of some poor decision or accident or simple poverty? Would she be able to accept her gift and learn to live with it, or would she reject it because it could never meet her ideal.
The last section of the book has Thea returning to New York after spending years in Germany discovering her art. She is singing in opera after opera--a different one every night it seems. She is different characters in different voice ranges and truly shows her artistic abilities both in acting and singing. The critics and public are impressed with her, and her old friends are as well. We finally get her reunion with her early friends, and they sit back and watch as the Artist Becomes.
SoL is such a beautiful book. There were passages that I want to keep in my mind forever. Sections of such perfectly written prose evoking such perfectly poignant thoughts that it drives home the images and reality that Cather was trying to create. I wish I knew more about opera so I could understand more of the symbolism of Thea's different characters, but even so I can "get it" that she's done something amazing in the end.
Somewhat Disappointing This Time........2006-09-14
I love O Pioneers and My Antonia. What happened here? Willa Cather is a wonderful storyteller with so much vitality and so many interesting people in wonderfully pictorial settings. This time, the story, herione, and supporting characters fail to win one over, and the only interesting thing about the book is being able to understand Thea's frustration with less-than-talented people being lauded at a craft she cares more about than breathing and is far more superior at. I'm pretty disappointed on this outing, but two out of three is good, so I'll be back for more Willa. So far, she is my idea of a consummate author.
Wagner Redux.......2005-10-08
The Penguin Classic Edition is well-documented almost to a flaw; however, if one is not familiar with Wagnerian
Romanticism nor the cultural history of the immigrant experience in the Western plains, the notes strengthen comprehension. Cather's prose often reaches operatic heights although a modern reader may tire of the descriptive "arias", particularly in the latter third of the book. A warning: some of the ethnic attitudes appropriate to a late nineteenth and early twentieth century American piece may offend contemporary readers.
Sacrifice for the sake of Art.......2005-08-03
To read Cather is to see life stripped bare of all but the essentials, then to recognize its beauty anew, and finally learn something original and profound. This is certainly the case with Song of the Lark.
I won't detail the novel in full. Instead I'll try to offer a few pithy observations.
SOTL is epic in scope. The first "act" taking place in Moonstone is so well developed it is a complete story unto itself. As a result, I am glad I read the book tabula rasa. This allowed me read unencumbered by expectations of plot development and to find each new turn in the novel a surprise.
This novel speaks to anyone who has ever wondered if they must reject their home and leave a life behind in order to achieve greatness. This theme is echoed often in modern literature. The Fountainhead by Rand may seem like a strange comparison but in fact, the concept of giving everything to art is fundamental to both author's works, however divergent their style and tone may be.
Regarding the style, I don't seem to recall as much noteworthy prose as Cather's other novels. That said there certainly is much to admire here. I vividly recall the final pages (spoiler ahead) with Thea's theater exit and a friend left among the waiting throng of admirer's. This scene combined with the narration, evokes the loneliness and separation Thea's pursuit of art has created.
I am surprised to find this novel among my favorite Cather books. After reading My Antonia, this novel provides greater diversion from the homogenous world of the prairie. As wonderful as the aforementioned novel is, it's nice to see Cather explore other places with her eye towards the simple, unrefined beauty that is found everywhere.
Book Description
This series was designed to supplement traditional vocal instruction and works perfectly as preparatory literature for The First Book of Solos and The First Book of Solos Part II. Each piece is in English and has a limited vocal range as well as a piano accompaniment that is playable by a student pianist. The pieces include art songs, folksongs, humorous songs, and suitable vintage popular songs and are all appropriate for contest solos. The accompanying CD includes professionally-recorded accompaniments. Soprano Contents: Alice Blue Gown * April Showers * Butterflies (Schulz) * Cradle Song (Brahms) * Evening Prayer from Hansel and Gretel (Humperdinck) * The False Prophet (Scott) * Florian's Song (Godard) * Golden Slumbers (English folksong) * It Was a Lover and His Lass (Austin) * Ladybird (Schumann) * The Lilac Tree (Gartlin) * The Little Sandman (arr. Brahms) * My Little Heart (Weckerlin) * The Nightingale (Alabieff) * Oh! Dear, What Can the Matter Be? (16th Century) * Oh, Pretty Birds (Rigel) * The Rosebush (Himmel) * The Sweetest Flower that Blows (Hawley) * Two Marionettes (Cooke) * The Willow Song (16th Century) * The Willow Tree (arr. Reimann) * The Winter It Is Past (arr. Hopekirk).
Customer Reviews:
Good for younger beginners.......2007-01-03
This is a nice book and it is very nice to have the accompaniment CD. I recommend using this for grades 9 and lower, as high school students with exposure to more advanced musical literature may find the songs too simple.
Average customer rating:
- Enjoyable, fun fantasy read
- Spetacular
- Captivating!
- Calwyn rocks!!
- I couldn't put it down.
|
The Singer of All Songs (Chanters of Tremaris Trilogy, Book 1)
Kate Constable
Manufacturer: Scholastic Paperbacks
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Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 0439554799 |
Amazon.com
Aussie author Kate Constable has brought a music inspired fantasy to the States that is on a par with celebrated works like Edith Pattou's East, and The Golden Compass, by Philip Pullman. In The Singer of All Songs, young Calwyn is a Daughter of Tarsis, an order of priestesses who have mastered the ice call--a singing power over cold and frost. She lives with her sisters behind an enormous wall of ice that separates their small valley from hostile neighbors in the tensely divided lands of Tremaris. This seemingly impervious barrier is breached by a wounded "Outlander" named Darrow, who comes to the priestesses with a wild tale about an evil Sorcerer named Samis who has sworn to learn the Nine Chantments of the separate lands of Tremaris so that he can rule them as the powerful Singer of All Songs. When the elder priestesses dismiss his rantings and ord! er his sacrifice to the Goddess, Calwyn becomes determined to save his life and join his quest. Together, the two new friends travel into dangerous territories, assembling a rag tag crew of comrades along the way who agree to help prevent Samis from mastering the Nine Chantments. Constable has bewitchingly reinterpreted pagan lore for a new generation, and Singer will easily find an appreciative audience amongst devotees of Tamora Pierce and Garth Nix. Although the pacing of the novel is decidedly measured in places, it only helps the reader appreciate the author's rich characterizations and imaginative settings. Young fantasy fans will find much to sing about in this first installment of a planned trilogy. --Jennifer Hubert
Book Description
Calwyn has never been beyond the high ice-wall that guards the sisters of Antaris from the world of Tremaris. She knows only the rounds of her life as a novice ice priestess, tending her bees, singing her ice chantments, and dreaming. But then Calwyn befriends Darrow, a mysterious Outlander who appears inside the Wall and warns of an approaching danger. To help Darrow, to see the world, and perhaps to save it, Calwyn will leave the safety of the Wall for a journey with a man she barely knows--and an adventure as beautiful and dangerous as the music of chantment itself.
Customer Reviews:
Enjoyable, fun fantasy read.......2007-06-03
I enjoyed this book. Kate Constable gave some great thought into the world that she placed her characters into, and I found myself wishing that I could see more of some of the worlds she took me to (especially Antaris). I liked the characterization of Calwyn, and I found that she was realistic to me. I guess my only complaint about this book is that it leaves you wanting more... the author wrote it in such a way that there wasn't as much depth to the universe as there could have been. However, I am not a big fan of JR Tolkein or other authors who go into great, intricate detail about every thing in their world, since I like more plot-driven books that move quickly. This book was satisfying in that regard. I would like to see the author write more books in this same world.
Spetacular.......2007-05-01
The singer of all songs is an amazing love story for girls around the age of 13. It is an enthralling book that leaves you wanting more. And thankfully unlike other authors she gives you all the information you want and keeps the magic alive in her books. kate Constable is one of my favorite authors.
Captivating!.......2007-04-12
The Singer of All songs was amazing. Kate Constable is now my favorite author, and I have read the two other books in the trilogy. If you have not yet read it, pick it up now and you won't regret it. Constable takes you on a delightful journey through Tremaris with a girl of sixteen who can sing chantments. I couldn't put this book down! If you like this story, I reccomend the two other books in the trilogy, The Waterless Sea and the Tenth Power. This story was superb, as Kate Constable's writing style is terriffic.
Calwyn rocks!!.......2007-01-05
This is a story of a girl who is an enchantress, Calwyn. She runs away from the ice palce with a enchater called Darrow and together they travle the world Termaris and fight their evil enemy, Samis, who is hungrey for power. Can they save Termaris for evil Samis?? Well, read the book to find out!!
I couldn't put it down........2006-11-10
I enjoyed the first one so much, that I went out and got the second in the trilogy as soon as I was finished.
Book Description
Presented in the striking format of Ken Bloom’s successful
Broadway Musicals, this rich visual history of popular song covers all of the prominent figures behind the music, in front of the bandstand, and on top of the piano. “The Singers” includes Louis Armstrong, Tony Bennett, Barbara Cook, Bing Crosby, Rosemary Clooney, Ella Fitzgerald, and dozens more; “ The Songwriters” features Harold Arlen, Hoagy Carmichael, Dorothy Fields, Stephen Foster, Richard Rodgers, Duke Ellington, Cole Porter, Jerome Kern, and a host of others; a lively section discusses the Big Bands; and a decade-by-decade insert puts the entire history of popular music in perspective through words and pictures.
Each one of the more than 200 listings in the book features the artist’s personal and professional history, great songs, and important contributions, plus photos (many rare), record covers, anecdotes, quotes, and more. Sidebars and features throughout cover topics of interest—everything from Arrangers, Vocal Groups, and Keepers of the Flame to Tin Pan Alley, Parodists, and Classical Crossovers—making this the most thorough survey of its kind. Throughout, all of the great songs are discussed—literally hundreds of songs, from “Stardust” to “My Funny Valentine” to “White Christmas.” Illustrated biographies, discographies, chronologies, and indices make
The American Songbook a full-fledged reference as well as a pictorial feast.
Customer Reviews:
The secret on page 51.......2007-09-04
I loved the book, especially when I noticed the review of Darlene and Jonathan Edwards' work, on page 51.
They are in my fairly extensive LP library and I thought I was one of a very few who had ever heard of them---and knew their secret. The owner of a radio station I worked for years ago wasn't acquainted with them, and when he listened he was, to say the least, astonished.
Obviously (I hope) Ken Bloom does know all about them. If he does not, my opinion of his book may take a change for the worse.
Buy the book! It's great!
Pretty good, but uneven.......2007-08-30
This book is a good addition to the literature of American traditional popular music in the 1930s, `40s, and `50s. (Although it goes back to the 19th century and forward to the 1960s, the emphasis is on the 1940s and `50s, with pretty good coverage of the 1930s.) Since my musical interest is primarily in the late 1940s and early `50s, this book is a welcome addition to my library.
The biggest deficiency of the book is that some artists which deserve inclusion are not well covered, or not covered at all. Patti Page, for example, was a major vocalist in the genre, but there is not an article, or even an index entry. (There is at least one picture of her, however.) She was certainly more important than, say, Connee Boswell, who was covered in an article.
One of the best things about the book is its biographical coverage of songwriters who are not as well-known as they should be. Anyone who is interested in this kind of music knows "Secret Love" and "Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing," for example, but few of us are familiar with the name of Paul Francis Webster, who wrote the lyrics for both songs and a host of others. This book has biographical articles on Webster and many other songwriters who deserve to be better known.
The book does not get more than 4 stars because of its omissions; it gets 4 stars because what it does, I like. I'm glad I have the book but I think it could have been better if the author had done a better job of deciding who should be included.
wonderful.......2007-01-10
Another great book to have in your collection if you are a fan of great American songwriters....such talent.
Time To Remember the Songwriters Behind the Music........2006-09-02
This is the definitive book for the major songwriters from the Twenties to the Fifties on Broadway and in the movies made from these shows. There may be nothing like the first night and performance, but the movies with a bit of esthic changes usually the female stars are just as lovely and exciting the first time you see and hear them. Frank Loesser wrote the music for 'Guys and Dolls' and Rodgers and Hammerstein did the other major musicals. Livingston and Evans, Burton Lane, Hugh Martin, Jule Styne Jerome Kern, and Johnny Mercer followed in their footsteps, or as the case may be, led the gang in some ways. There was the enigmatic "Bewitched" in 'Pal Joey, which was done in the movie by Rita Hayworth, unless Charles Southcott can prove me wrong. The best song in a play or movie was the "Soliloquy" in 'Carousel.' It means something to every parent, whether the child is a boy or a girl. Cole Porter. Harold Arlen and Harry Warren contributed their vast talents, as did Irving Berlin and the Gershwins.
Some singers of note were Howard Keel, Helen Morgan, Gordon MacRae, Eddie Fisher, Shirley Jones, John Raitt, Bea Wayne, Sonny Bono and Cher, Tony Martin, and Don Cornell. Gene Kelly and Fred Astaire were the best dancers in both venues. Michael Feinstein appeared in a Broadway show when he was just a young man in the musical starring Tommy Tune; he wrote about his favorite songwriting team, Ira and George, in the 'Foreword." He has CDs recorded with such notables as Jerry Herman, Richard Rodgers, Harold Arlen, Jerome Kern, Harry Warren and Johnny Mercer. Ken Bloom is president of Harbingre Records in New York City and a radio host (when did they stop calling them deejays?)
The American Songbook by Ken Bloom .......2006-03-19
This is a superb "dipper-inner"! If you are into the songs that have become American standards, you will find in this book a wealth of entertainment. The photos are chosen for interest and the anecdotal material--gossipy, behind-the-scenes stories about singers and songwriters--is fascinating. The book is pretty darn comprehensive with short pieces on the more obsucre songwriters and singers and in depth pieces on the greatest American singers and songwriters of the 20s,30s,40s and 50s. The index is thorough and very useful.
Allen Johsnon, Jr. - Kid's writer and jazz guitarist
Customer Reviews:
THE LAST HONEST MAN.......2006-12-29
PETE SEEGER WAS MY FIRST POLITICAL HERO. HIS MUSIC RAISED MY CONSCIOUSNESS AND THAT OF MANY OTHERS OF MY GENERATION. MY UNCLE SANG WITH HIM AT FUNDRAISERS AND I MET HIM SEVERAL TIMES. AS AN ADOLESCENT I TOLD HIM ONCE I HAD ALL HIS RECORDS AND HE FROWNED AND SAID, "DON'T BUY THE RECORDS, LEARN THE SONGS, SING THEM, TEACH THEM TO YOUR FRIENDS". THAT WAS ALL HE SAID, AND I DID AND KEPT DOING IT UNTIL ARTHRITIS AND THE LOSS OF MY VOICE STOPPED ME.
I CAN'T SAY ANYTHING BAD ABOUT PETE ALTHOUGH I DISAGREE WITH MANY OF HIS VIEWS, WITH SOME EXCEPTIONS. I CANNOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES FATHOM HIS CONTINUAL BELIEF IN COMMUNISM, BUT I ALSO HAVE TO ADMIRE, GREATLY, HIS HONESTY, INTEGRITY AND ABILITY TO ALWAYS MAINTAIN HIS VALUES. IS HE A GREAT MAN? YES, WITHOUT A DOUBT, PERHAPS ONE OF OUR GREATEST EVER AND SOME OF HIS VISIONS FOR AN AMERICA OF PEACE, HARMONY AND EQUALITY SHOULD BE HONORED, NOT RIDICULED. THE BOOK IS VERY EVEN IN IT'S TREATMENT OF PETE, BOTH THE POSITIVE AND THE NEGATIVE. IT ALSO GIVES A VERY IMPORTANT IF NOT HORRIFYING LOOK AT THE HATRED, BIGOTRY AND VIOLENCE OF AMERICA THAT PETE BATTLED ALL HIS LIFE. PETE WOULD BE HORRIFIED I'M SURE TO KNOW THAT HE WAS AS MUCH AN HISTORIAN AS HE WAS ORGANIZER, AGITATOR AND PROPHET. BUT LIKE IT OR NOT HE WAS AND IS. THE BOOK SHOULD BE READ BY EVERYONE, ESPECIALLY IF ALL YOU KNOW ABOUT PETE SEEGER ARE THE RIDICULOUS STORIES PUT OUT IN THE 40'S, 50'S AND 60'S BY THOSE WHO HATED HIM.
"Make your own music,write your own books,if you want to keep your soul.".......2006-11-01
"Tell a man what he may not sing,and he is still half free, even all free,. But tell him what he MUST sing if he never wanted to sing, take up his time with it so that his true voice cannot sound even in secret--there,I have seen, is slavery."
Pete was born in 1919,started Harvard in 1936,and because it could not hold his interest,he began a lifetime of Folk Music.
There was nothing more important in his life than making music and singing his songs with other people. With his wife Toshi ,the unsung hero,always by his side and his home and family a foundation of support;Pete and his music could always be found supporting one cause or another.
This book does a marvelous job of showing that Pete fought injustice all his life;no matter whether he found it in a union hall,freedom marches in the south,cotton fields or even the government of the country he so loved.
Pete's whole life can be summed up in one song that is now known and sung all over the world and is a war cry against injustice and in support of freedom.
"If I had a hammer
I'd hammer in the morning,
I'd hammer in the evening,
All over this land.
I'd hammer out a danger,
I'd hammer out a warning,
I'd hammer out of love and between
All of my brothers
All over this land.
If I had a bell...
If I had a song...
Now I have a hammer
And I have a bell
And I have a song to sing
All over this land.
It's the hammer of justice,
It's the bell of freedom,
And a song about love between
All of my brothers
All over this land"
Dunaway writes in an easy flowing style and has done an amazing amount of research to make sense of a life that has been central to the whole Folk Music scene that took off in the 1930's and reached its peak in the 50's and 60's and in one way or another continues till today. All one has to do is to think of,hum or hear "We Shall Overcome", "This Land Is Your Land" ,"Deportees" or any of the hundreds of other songs that Pete and his fellow travellers made so popular;and you know what an impact they made on the music scene in North America and many other parts of the world.
In this book ,if you have been a fan of Pete,Woody Guthrie,Josh White,Allan Lomax,Doc Watson,Burl Ives,Bob Dylan,Mother Maybell ,The Alamacs,The Weavers,The Kingston Trio,and numerous others ;you are going to find all kinds of things that will surprise you and bring back many memories.
The book has many wonderful photos as well as the words to many songs and information behind those songs.Extensive notes on each chapter will provide sources of information that is hard to believe exists.A complete Discography lists all the Pete's recordings ,arranged chronologically and each almum lists each song therein contained.
Some time ago ,I found several copies of "Sing Out" magazine,so often mentioned in this book. These are from the 60's and a treasure trove of photos,articles,words and music to songs,and unbelievable information about and playing Folk Music.I checked and found that it is still being published and copies of old issues can still be purchased.
"Where Have All The Flowers Gone?"
Well,there are many who have left us;but many are still around;including Pete himself now 87. The music was well recorded and we are fortunate to have it ;even though it's seldom on Radio or TV. Folk Festivals still exist and mank Folk singers are still appearing at them .One of my favorites,Jackie Washington,continues to play at various venues in Hamilton,Canada.
While I'm at it,and just for the benefit of anyone who is looking for something wonderful in the Folk Music area;I would highly recommend,"The Folk Songs of North America" by Alan Lomax. It has the words,music and background to hundreds of Folk Songs. Then again, you might want to find some of the Asch recordings.I have the 4-CD set of Woody Guthrie,an absolute treasure of Folk Songs.
Thanks David,you did a wonderful job with this book.
Mr. Dunaway's Book.......2003-09-24
This biography of Pete Seeger's life is an important read in these times. It documents the way the U.S. government can treat an American citizen without regard to our Constitution's promise of freedom of thought and expression. This book is a tale of a folk singer who was imprisoned and blacklisted because of his political beliefs.
Two gifted storytellers.......2001-06-16
Mr. Dunaway's writing is giving me a feel for the 1920s, '30s, 40s, and the parts of the '50s that I don't have my own clear memories of. By telling me the story of Pete Seeger, he's also told me parts of the story of my parents' childhood. I'm half-way through my first reading of this (library) book and have decided to get my very own copy.
Book Description
In the 1970’s, the Swedish musical phenomenon known as ABBA—Agnetha Fältskog, Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus, and Anni-Frid Lyngstad—succeeded in reinventing the world’s perception of pop. They produced hit after catchy hit, each one instantly recognizable, infectious, and irresistible. Nearly a quarter of a century later, these beloved songs gave birth to the blockbuster musical MAMMA MIA!, which became a legend in its own right. It opened in 85 cities and has since been seen by more than 20 million people throughout the world. This officially sanctioned book tells the double story of the band and the play—and it’s told by those know it best: two of the group’s singer/songwriters and MAMMA MIA! producer Judy Craymer. It’s colorful literally and figuratively, and jam-packed with illustrations from the group’s own archives. Through first-person recollections from ABBA members, intertwined with commentary from the MAMMA MIA! team, Thank You for the Music cuts through the thicket of myths and misconceptions that have grown up around ABBA to reveal what actually happened.
Customer Reviews:
Mamma Mia!!! What a book!!!.......2007-07-13
After reading the 1994 book "ABBA-The Complete Recording Sessions" by Carl Magnus Palm, I thought I read all I ever would about how ABBA recorded some of their best known songs. However, this coffee table size book delves into greater detail on the origins of the 22 ABBA songs in the worldwide smash musical "Mamma Mia!" as well as great detail on the origins of the musical itself. It also goes into great detail on the foreign language versions of the musical. Any dismissive critics of ABBA (and you know who you are) would have to admit that Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus (the two "B"s of ABBA) really knew what they were doing when they recorded all of those songs, based on all of the comments the 2 former ABBA members made regarding the ABBA recordings in this book. Hopefully it will be updated to include more info on the Russian language version that opened in Moscow in the fall of 2006.
And yes, the book contains plenty of photos of ABBA and the Mamma Mia! musical!!!
I also hope they update the book for the summer 2008 release of the film version. Meryl Streep and Pierce Brosnin will star!!!
Mamma Mia, I LOVE this book........2007-07-06
I admit it. I love Mamma Mia! Nothing makes me happier than watching the show. Reading this informative and loving book about the show, its beginings and its ongoing success takes you right back to your seat in a theater where you first saw Mamma Mia! on stage.
The photos are lush, colorful and interesting. The text is easy to read and gives a thorough account of how the show came to be and how it remains a constant night after night success around the globe.
It isn't often that something so dear to me personally gets such a loving treatment in book form. This is one of those rare times and it allows the reader to enjoy the celebration that IS Mamma Mia! over and over at their fingertips.
The large book is very reasonably priced considering its quality and the fine color photos throughout.
If you love Mamma Mia! you'll enjoy reading and owning this wonderfully adoring companion piece.
Yes, I can resist you!.......2007-01-10
Initially I was excited to find out that a book on the long running musical Mamma Mia would be coming out. After purchasing and reading the book I personally did not find it interesting nor did I feel there were much material to offer the reader.
If one is a collector of theater coffee table books you may want to purchase this just to add to your library.
Books:
- World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War
- A New Approach to Sight Singing, Fourth Edition
- American Corrections (with InfoTrac )
- American Girls About Town: They're Not Just the Girls Next Door....
- Anatomy of the Orchestra
- Andy Goldsworthy: A Collaboration with Nature
- Angry Blonde
- Art of Technique, The: An Aesthetic Approach to Film and Video Production
- Bad Boy of Music.
- Beethoven`s Piano Sonatas: A Short Companion
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