While the book is worth owning just for this 322-page interview, it is also full of other material that is equally revealing. Rosenbaum presents a meticulous chronology of Welles's life, closely following his day-to-day activities from his birth in 1915 to his death in 1985. Anyone who thinks that Welles was an essentially lazy and profligate artist will be astonished at how hard he worked and how much he accomplished, even after the completion of Citizen Kane. Another treat found in the book is a detailed description--complete with rare photographic stills--of the original Magnificent Ambersons, Welles's impressive follow-up to Kane, which can now be seen only in a tragically truncated version.
This 1998 reissue of the volume contains a fond new introduction by Bogdanovich and another crucial piece of Welles minutia, excerpts from his 58-page memo to Universal Pictures about the editing of Touch of Evil. Forty years after its composition, the material in this memo has been used to create a restored "director's cut" of the film. With such grand material between two covers, This Is Orson Welles is the most informative and entertaining book available on one of the 20th century's greatest artists. --Raphael Shargel
Contents •Tape One: Citizen Kane and other projects •Tape Two: The Magnificent Ambersons, Chimes at Midnight,and The Other Side of the Wind •Tape Three: Othello, Touch of Evil, The Lady FromShanghai, and The Trial •Tape Four: Radio, Televison, Comics and more
has a very distinct voice. It has the voice of Orson himself.
Perhaps the most intriguing aspect of the book was the voyeuristic personal insight I was able to get from Welles and-despite his relatively passive role of interviewer-Bogdonovich as well. In this sense,
is quite unlike the other required texts, and I do not read too much into the title of "author" that is loftily bestowed upon Bogdonovich and Welles. Through a brief surface comparison between this book and several other texts on Welles, it's clear that there is a great difference between a removed, historical opinion and a defensive individual discussing his own life. Although much could be said about Welles' misleading-albeit thoroughly entertaining-statements, I cannot fault a man for being unable to have sound perspective on his own affairs. I can only read the book as a historical text, but Welles was being asked questions about his life, and I cannot fault him for his oft-grandiose replies. The sheer nature of an interview such as this places an enormous amount of attention on Welles, so I can only smile pleasantly at his recurring ego, wondering if I could be any more impartial or less boastful in his place.
Back to the question of authorship though.
While I readily disregard comparisons between
and, say, Thomson's
due to their drastic differences in intent, tone and content, the strong yet shadowy hand of the omnipotent editor is ever present in all forms of biographical text. Cut this, change that, add this, move that. A book like Thomson's may greatly benefit from such professional revision, but in the cases of
I felt as though the authorship accreditation was misplaced. "Edited by Jonathan Rosenbaum" should have graced the cover, replacing the names of Welles and Bogdonovich. Much like any documentary invariably guides an audience along a certain path, Rosenbaum has reconstructed the interviews amidst other such historical documentation in a very calculated and meticulous fashion. In this sense then there is no author at all, and I find it very difficult to discuss the book as a biography written by anyone.
In truth, this may be one of the worst biography's one could possibly pick up if they wanted to learn more about Welles and his life, and I doubt I would call it a biography at all. As required course reading, I am wholly appreciative that I was given the chance to "hear" the words of Orson Welles as he spoke of his own creations, idly gossiping about other actors and filmmakers. Is it all truth? No, it is laughably biased, but it is the bias of Orson Welles, and definitely a very unique variation on accepted truth. If I can trust that Rosenbaum left the integrity intact, then Welles' half-truths are just as important to understanding the man than commonly accepted "whole-truths" by some biographer.
Whereas
can never stand on its own as an investigative biography of the filmmaker's life, it remains as the text that helped me to understand the man behind the myth above all others.
Rosebud Reigns Supreme in Filmdom.......2003-09-15
As one who had just completed a viewing of Ciitzen Kane on DVD
(featuring the excellent audio commentary on the film by Roger Ebert & Rudy Behlmer) I turned to Frank Brady's excellent biography.This is Orson Welles completes my examination of this giant of film directorship. Over several years and in many locals the Falstaffian Welles shares his thoughts on film, his own movies and life with his devoted student Peter Bogdonovich
(himself a talented director best known for "The Last Picture Show'). If you want to know what Welles really thinks and believes this book is the Rosetta Stone for your investigation!
As Truffaut was able to discuss his life and films with Sir Alfred Hitchcock so does Peter B. do the same thing for Welles.
After all the reading and studying of Welles the man emerges as a titanic force of nature whose undisciplined genius is a wonder to behold. Any fan of Welles or Cinema should add this excellent book to your library. Well Recommended!
Orson Welles: The Man and his Movies, Larger Than Life.......2002-08-28
I commend to the book above, an interview with Peter Bogdanovich.
Although I'm not a huge fan of the latter's movies (with the exception of "Paper Moon," which I loved ever since it came out when I was eight, and fell in love with tomboy Tatum O'Neill forthrightly), I have begun reading about half of this book over the past few days, and find it better than my previous favourite, the Hitchcock/Truffaut book. Of course, much favoured above Wilder/Crowe, namely because of Crowe's incessant name dropping of "Jerry Maguire" and "Tom Cruise" every other irritating sentence, which prevented the reader from finding out what
Wilder had on *his* mind.
What impresses me about the Welles/Bogdanovich volume is the raucous sense of humour Welles brings to the conversation, always as lively and as larger-than-life as Welles was. Also, Bogdanovich has laced the book with pertinent interviews, articles, anecdotes that elucidate certain points of the text, as well as Welles' lines cut from "Magnificent Ambersons" and the long memorandum he wrote to Universal studio chiefs and cc'd to Chuck Heston, trying to save what I consider his masterwork,
"Touch of Evil" from falling prey to overzealous editing by indifferent studio hacks.
But most of all, I am touched that when all the world was dumping on Welles, when he was being derided as a has-been and a spendthrift, that up-and-coming director Bogdanovich gave him his friendship and accorded him the respect he was so shamefully denied. Even Pauline Kael couldn't resist savaging Welles, and she wrote a particularly nasty and libelous article that Welles didn't write any of the screenplay to "Citizen Kane."
Of all Hollywood's sins (and I retain in memory a cross-indexed catalogue of them), the fact that even when Welles started getting "lifetime achievement" accolades, he still couldn't get any financing for his movie projects, on which he worked until his last days, leaves the bitterest taste in my mouth. There must be certain people destined to the lowest rungs of hell -- or at least purgatory -- for creating a world in which Orson Welles' last paid acting role was as the voice of the evil planet in a "Transformers" movie.
Book Description
Scoring for film has changed dramatically over the past twenty years. With the advent of MIDI, sequencers and low-cost recording gear, just about any composer anywhere can score a film. Well-known composer Sonny Kompanek teaches this new film scoring process at prestigious New York University and now he shares his secrets within the pages of From Score to Screen. Learn about the cast of professionals you'll work with as a film composer. Find out how to meet people in the business, network, and create a promotional demo. Learn how to compose themes and battle writers' block. Understand how to preview a score with the director and manage requested changes. And know how to make a director happy with your work. With this book, you'll gain practical knowledge that you can put into action immediately. SELLING POINTS: This is the only book that discusses the new film scoring process which utilizes the latest technology. Written by revered film composer, Sonny Kompanek. Ideal for any composer interested in film music, from beginner to advanced.
Customer Reviews:
Overall: good.......2007-01-04
This is a good overview book of film music. I own and have read a variety of these types of books, and this holds pretty well. However, i would suggest the Berklee Press book by Richard Davis as well.
Rock-solid advice from someone whose been there.......2006-06-27
An excellent book that takes it's title quite literally - From Score to Screen. This book DOES NOT teach you how to write a score, rather it assumes that you have a computer-sequenced score written and are now converting that midi mockup into a full orchestral recording in a professional recording studio with a large orchestra and several helper professionals to assist you. As such, this book does a wonderful job in covering, very specifically, the nuts and bolts of part extraction, conducting ,and just what all those helper professionals at the session (copyist, orchestrator, mixer) do. Although, obviously, I have never gone through this process, this certainly seems like rock-solid advice from someone whose been there (repeatedly).
EXTREMELY INFORMATIVE & A CONFIDENCE BUILDER.......2006-04-01
This book offers a great start to anyone who has questions about film scoring - whether you're just curious or taking things quite seriously this book provides some very good insight. I currently don;t have the luxury of taking classes for Film Scoring and it is clear that Sonny Kompanek is a great teacher. Realistic, straightforward yet positive & hopeful - he provides some words of encouragement to those aspiring to break into this field as well as "cold hard facts."
Great Book!
Informative, practical, and thoughtful........2005-04-28
Having just started in the business of writing music for film and television, I needed a new book to walk me through the practical aspects of film scoring. This book accomplishes that, and more. It goes through the step by step process by which a contemporary film composer can get work, interact with a director, creatively write a score, edit and tweak it, and record it in a studio environment. It's well written, very communicative, and has already helped me figure out where to go to drum up business, and how to write music for film quickly and confidently. I recommend this book for anyone who wants to write music for film and T.V.
Extremely useful real world advice........2004-10-29
This is a wonderful book for anyone who is interested in the art of film scoring. "From Score to Screen" contains an abundance of great advice for beginning film scorers as well as composers who are more established. Topics include: score preparation and how to make the live orchestra session run smoothly, as well as advice and tips on converting a midi mockup to a full orchestra recording. Great insight from an expert.
Average customer rating:
- Pure Inspriration
- Entertaining and Informative
- A long gone girlfriend
- A Fascinating Look At Early Hollywood
- Excellent!
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Without Lying Down: Frances Marion and the Powerful Women of Early Hollywood
Cari Beauchamp
Manufacturer: University of California Press
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The Parade's Gone By
ASIN: 0520214927 |
Amazon.com
Screenwriter Frances Marion (1888-1973) is the central subject of this excellent book, but mega-star Mary Pickford, journalist Adela Rogers St. Johns, bit-player-turned-gossip-columnist Hedda Hopper, and other high-powered female friends get nearly equal time. The author's skillful mix of biography with Hollywood history results in a densely textured portrait of an industry in formation and the intelligent, ambitious women who seized the opportunities it offered them for creative expression and financial independence. The text also instills new appreciation for the artistry of silent movies.
Book Description
Cari Beauchamp masterfully combines biography with social and cultural history to examine the lives of Frances Marion and her many female colleagues who shaped filmmaking from 1912 through the 1940s. Frances Marion was Hollywood's highest paid screenwriter--male or female--or almost three decades, wrote almost 200 produced films and won Academy Awards for writing "The Big House" and "The Champ."
Customer Reviews:
Pure Inspriration.......2005-09-14
This is a must have for any aspiring artist in this industry. Male or Female. It truly does her story justice. I learned so much about the ins and outs of such a remarkable era. Must Read!
"Follow you dream, because the person who cares the most wins!"
Entertaining and Informative.......2005-04-27
With great appreciation, Without Lying Down tells the story of how women influenced the movie industry in its infancy. The author clearly admires the women she writes about without appearing to compromise her objectivity. The book is well-researched and rich with entertaining details about the world of Frances Marion. The story moves along at a nice pace and the book is well written. It was easy to imagine the challenges and adventures Frances encountered in the days when Hollywood was still taking shape. It is difficult to read the book and not feel a little sad that women don't enough influence in the stories Hollywood tells today.
A long gone girlfriend.......2001-09-19
After reading Ms. Beauchamp's biography of Frances Marion, I felt that I knew Frances...and felt a bit sad that we would no longer "hang out" within these pages.
Frances was not only an intelligent and witty screenwriter but a woman with principles and a giving heart.
The lack of respect afforded to Ms. Marion by modern cinephiles as a pioneer in film-making is a true travesty.
These pages made me wish that I could have been friends with Frances Marion...and in another life, I think I would.
A Fascinating Look At Early Hollywood.......2001-02-17
Cari Beauchamp has written a fascinating biography of early Hollywood through the life of Frances Marion, one of its most powerful and highly paid screenwriters, Without Lying Down, Frances Marion and the Powerful Women of Early Hollywood. The working life of Frances Marion has the advantage of coinciding with the birth of movies as Marion began working on scripts for silent movies in the teens and continued into the sound era and the advent of World War II. This biography also has the joy of highlighting many of the other unique women of Hollywood as Frances Marion traveled in a powerful Hollywood clique. It is a wonderful look at Hollywood between the wars from the vantage point of Frances Marion. Occasionally, it would have been helpful if the author could have expanded the view a little to give a larger context outside of Frances Marion's own sphere of influence and given a broader perspective of the film industry. But what is seen in both entertaining and informative. There was for me real sadness at the end of this book as all these great women pass away but, now at least, one of them is captured lovingly and brilliantly in this fine biography.
Excellent!.......2001-02-06
Unlike other reviewers, I felt I knew Frances very well after finishing this book. Her generosity, her sense of artistry, and her passion (and sometimes hatred) for her profession really come through. This is one of the few books, biography or silent film history, that is actually well-written in addition to being informative. It's rare to find an historian who can write well, or a biographer who pays attention to history. And as for rah-rah feminism, Beauchamp merely points out a fact--that women were highly involved in every phase of early film-making. If you are interested in silent film history, women's history, or just want to read an entertaining biography, you won't be disappointed.
Average customer rating:
- Fantastic variety
- Great compilation
|
100 Great Songs from Hollywood, Broadway and Television
Manufacturer: Alfred Publishing Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 0769266630 |
Book Description
Songs include: Aquarius * Because You Loved Me * For You I Will * How Do I Live * I Will Always Love You * I Believe I Can Fly * I'll Be There for You * Kiss from a Rose * Linus and Lucy * Ragtime * The Rose * Searchin' My Soul * Theme from The Simpsons * Star Wars (Main Theme) * Sunrise, Sunset * Theme from New York, New York * Up Where We Belong * X-Files Theme and many, many, many more songs from Hollywood, Broadway, and television.
Customer Reviews:
Fantastic variety.......2007-03-08
This book contains wide variety of music from the past. Great for those interested in music of the 60's & 70's. Easy read.
Great compilation.......2002-09-19
This book is so much fun to play. The music is a bit challenging for a hack like me, but the variety of songs is great. This is a great addition to anyone's music library.
Book Description
The first-ever collection from the archives of the legendary Chairman of the Board, filled with never-before-seen photos, letters, mementos, and more.
What is a legend? A legend is a man who, more than 65 years after stepping on stage for the first time, is still larger than life. A man who changed the way we wear our hats. A man possessed not of a voice, but The Voice. Frank Sinatra is a legend.
Created in conjunction with the Frank Sinatra Estate, THE SINATRA TREASURES tells the story of Sinatras life with rare and never-before-published quotes from those he loved and those he worked with--and from the Chairman of the Board himself. More than 200 black-and-white and full-color images from several Sinatra archives, as well as 30 removable facsimile reproductions of items, such as a script from one of his radio shows and a Sinatra family photo album, provide a behind-the-scenes glimpse into Sinatras world and talent. Also included is a new compilation CD of rare interviews, early radio appearances, and songs.
This celebration of the many elements of Frank Sinatra--as singer, as actor, as humanitarian, as friend--brings to life as never before the man who made the standards standard.
Customer Reviews:
Long time Sinatra Fan.......2007-08-11
This is probably one of the most complete selections I have ever seen. Having been a Sinatra fan since the late 1940s, I have a lot of very fond memories of seeing him in person, first with the TD band, personal concerts, Old Gold Radio Show, and Your Hit Parade Radio show, plus many personal appearances in the Los Angeles area and Las Vegas. This book complements my own collection of Sinatra memorabelia. It's nice to read an authorized book about the kind of person he really was.
The ultimate Sinatra book.......2007-06-10
Frank Sinatra was, in my opinion, the greatest entertainer of all time. I collect Sinatra recordings and books, and "The Sinatra Treasures" is probably the best Sinatra compilation I've ever seen. In addition to numerous interviews, Sinatra quotes and hundreds of rare photos, it also contains a collection of various Sinatra memorabilia pocketed throughout the book. There's a photo album of pictures from Sinatra early in his career, ticket stubs, a radio script, reproductions of programs from two presidential inaugurations that Sinatra performed at, and much more. There's also an audio CD containing clips from Sinatra interviews, radio appearances, monologues and a few rare recordings, including the version of "High Hopes" used to promote John Kennedy's presidential campaign.
This wonderful collection of Sinatra material sheds light on the numerous aspects of Frank's life as a performer, father and friend. All Sinatra fans should own a copy of this book. (When it was first released, the book retailed for about $75, so the current price is a real bargain. Snatch up your copies while you can!)
Essential for every Sinatra fan.......2007-03-19
I couldn't believe when I stumbled upon this page that nobody had written a review yet! So I thought I would just add a few words of encouragement for anyone debating whether or not to order this book.
First of all, this book is more than a book. It contains a cd with some never before released songs and promos, pull-out dupicates of hand written letters, duplicates of photos from the Sinatra family albums, album covers of albums that were never produced, and so much more.
I purchased this book the week that it was released, for almost $50, and even at that price it was worth it. I see now that amazon is offering it for only $20! If I were you, I'd swoop up two! One to keep unopened, and one to open. It's that good of a book. If I had to recommend just one Sinatra book, I think this would be it. I like some others, like Nancy Sinatra's book, Tina Sinatra's book, and the DK book Sinatra, but this one is tops, especially because it contains so many rare items.
If you are a Sinatra fan, I whole heartedly recommend this book! Get one for you, and every other Sinatra lover in your family!
SINATRA TREASURES - A PERSONAL SCRAPBOOK.......2007-03-10
I bought this book as a gift for my husband, who is an avid lifelong fan of Frank. He loves it, and so do I. It makes one feel like part of the family.
A Joyful Afternoon with Frank Sinatra.......2006-09-01
Even if you are NOT a Sinatra fan you will truly enjoy "The Sinatra Treasures" written by Charles Pignone. The book is beautifully put together with page savers. When looking through the book, the cellophane envelopes holding the Sinatra mementos, make one feel as though one is going through a "family album", with fond memories of the various events throughout Mr. Sinatra's life. A marvelous "coffee table book", too, but you will pick it up and glance through the book and find yourself stopping to read the stories. This book was highly recommended to me and I pass that recommendation on to you.
Amazon.com
Who could forget the decade that brought us AIDS, Milli Vannilli, teen slasher movies, and a sitting U.S. president with an advanced case of Alzheimer's disease? Well, I guess that question answers itself, but for those who wish to remember, no finer source can be found than Totally Awesome 80s, by Matthew Rettenmund, the man who brought us Encyclopedia Madonnica. This loving but ironic catalog of the most important cultural events of the 80s is fittingly slim, flashy, and shallow, covering mostly the poppiest movies, songs, and political actions of the era that told us "greed is good."
Book Description
The 80s revival starts here!The 80s ended only a few years ago, but already the days of Dynasty, skinny ties, and Valley Girls beckon. In Totally Awesome 80s, Matthew Rettenmund drops the touchy-feely 90s and dredges up the garish, glorious 80s. He's captured it all, from Culture Club to Men at Work, parachute pants to Members Only jackets, E.T. to Porky's, Moonlighting to The Cosby Show, and much more.Deliciously wicked and unnervingly hip, Totally Awesome 80s holds a mirror up to that indulgent decade and lets us laugh at the all-too-familiar reflection.
Customer Reviews:
It wasn't exactly what I expected, but not bad.......2005-02-13
It was funny enough, and decently representative of the pop-culture scene that I recall living through.
However there were numerous mentions of homosexual issues and quite a few political comments that I could have done without. I find it tiring when an author grinds his axe about personal issues as much as this one has done. A chapter would have been fine and totally understandale, but the consistent focus on the emerging gay culture wasn't what I was looking for.
A comprehensive lexicon of the best decade ever!.......2005-01-03
The 1980's are my pop culture reference point, and what better way to go back and reflect time and again with Matthew Rettenmund's reference book, Totally Awesome 80's? Because they were awesome. He covers pop music, movies, TV shows, and trends in my decade.
Yes, the 80's were the Reagan years, the year AIDS entered our vocabulary, MTV, back when it was good, VCRs and thus the video rental boom, the War on Drugs, Yuppies, and given her longevity and legendary status, Madonna. Love or hate her, you gotta admit she was the biggest star of the 80's-sorry Michael Jackson and Prince. But we lost a lot of people who made it big back then. John Lennon, Orson Welles, Mae West, and Alfred Hitchcock, to name a few. And games and pastimes such as Trivial Pursuit, Rubik's Cube, classic arcade hits like Pacman, Frogger, and Q*bert.
The list of 80speak, inspired by valley girl talk, stuff from TV shows, "
-o-rama," "have a cow," "space cadet," or "rad," takes me back as well.
In the music section, included are special text sections on Michael Jackson, Duran Duran, Culture Club, Wham!, Madonna, Prince, and others who were essentially 80's figures. The Billboard chart figures for them are also included. However, the section on We Are The World, which lists the reasons for why the artists sang, is a bit jokey, making me wonder if the event's impact isn't as big as it is now.
The list of the top music videos, hit songs, and movies of the decade.
I'll list the Top Five of each:
Music videos:
1. Eurythmics: "Sweet Dreams"
2. Buggles, "Video Killed the Radio Star"
3. `til tuesday "Voices Carry"
4. Duran Duran, "Hungry Like The Wolf"
5. Madonna, "Material Girl."
Quintessentially 80s songs:
1. Prince and the Revolution: "Let's Go Crazy"
2. Kajagoogoo: "Too Shy"
3. Animotion: "Obsession"
4. Asia: "Heat of the Moment"
5. Simple Minds: "Don't You (Forget About Me)"
Quintessentially 80s movies
Ultimate: The Breakfast Club
1. Risky Business
2. Airplane!
3. Raiders of the Lost Ark
4. Flashdance
5. Purple Rain
I'm not sure about the top two entries, but of the ones I really liked, Dirty Dancing came in at #10, Fast Times at Ridgemont High at #19, Ghostbusters right behind it, Back to the Future at #38, insultingly way behind at #62 instead of being in the Top Five, both Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi-like, I'm so sure-and Gremlins at #70. There are sublists of funny movies, hottest movies, horror, action, camp, overrated and underrated movies. And things aren't complete without a small section on the Brat Pack, i.e. the stars of the Breakfast Club. But yes, the 80's were also a decade where the teen market was exploited in a major way, via comedies and horror flicks. The same market is being mined right now, but the output today makes the 80's oeuvre like Oscar winners. And movies that were PG got an extra edge with that PG-13 rating, where there was more violence and other stuff in non-R movies.
Of the TV shows I watched regularly, The A-Team came in at #11, Diff'rent Strokes at #34, my brother watched Knight Rider religiously (#54). And come to think of it, I don't think I ever watched any of the so-called "Disease of the Week TV movies."
The appendix in the back lists the top Academy Award, Golden Globe, Grammy, and MTV winners, as well as a list of who sang in Live Aid, in order.
I find myself in somewhat of a midlife crisis, as much of the music I'm trying to get is stuff from that era that I'm still missing. Hey, I had to undergo the transition from cassettes to CDs unlike many Gen Y whippersnappers out there!
Overall rating: Even though I wasn't cool with the movie stuff, I found it like, totally tubular, in a major way. Done with this review, now it's off to play Pacman, or maybe listen to some Cyndi Lauper or watch some Gremlins or Ghostbusters.
A Total Time Warp Into the Greatest Decade In History!!!.......2004-07-01
I wasn't even born in the '80s and I truly love everything about that era. The fashion the trends, and the music was great! I know more about the '80s then my parents do, and they grew up in the decade! Well this book says it all. It covers everything about the decade and more!!! The kids in my school don't even know what A-track tapes are!!! I think that it is a great thing to know about the '80s even though I was born in 1990. Well get the book! It will teach you loads of stuff!
Totally awesome!.......2004-05-23
This book is hysterically funny and has EVERYTHING you'd want re the '80s! I can't recommend it highly enough.
Calling All Children of the 80's.......2004-01-15
Do you love the 80's like I do? This will bring it all back to you in one book. The topics covered are current events, fashion, music, TV, and movies. Special attention is paid to the last three especially. I think fans of 80's music will love this the most. It covers everything from Lionele Richie, to Madonna, to Depehe Mode. As for movies, don't forget E.T., The Breakfast Club, and Back to the Future. In the realm of TV, The A Team comes on strong, the Dukes of Hazard wreck their car, and Arnold says "Whatchootalkinabout Willis?"
This will be a great gift for anyone who was a TV child in the 80's. If you're a child of the 80's, you should get it for yourself.
Book Description
This folio features piano solo arrangements of 11 beautiful Philip Glass compositions from this highly acclaimed, Oscar-nominated film score: Choosing Life * Dead Things * Escape! * The Hours * I'm Going to Make a Cake * Morning Passages * The Poet Acts * Something She Has to Do * Tearing Herself Away * An Unwelcome Friend * Why Does Someone Have to Die?
Customer Reviews:
Just about as good as it gets.......2005-12-15
The Amazon description doesn't say much, so here's the deal: This piano solo songbook contains 11 of the 14 tracks from the CD, "The Hours: Music from the Motion Picture Composed by Philip Glass." It leaves out two short tracks "'For your own benefit,'" "Vanessa and the Changelings," and regrettably "The Kiss", as the latter is one of the best tracks from the soundtrack.) Despite these omissions, however, the songbook is pretty awesome, a dream come true for those who love the movie "The Hours" and Glass' haunting score. Stephen Daldry's 2002 film entrances you, yes, and so does listening to Glass' score. Michael Cunningham's novel, on which the film is based, seduces you, too, into a portrait of the suffering of women, the modern and timeless female psyche, the powerful connection between life and art.
But playing the songs yourself allows you to immerse yourself to an even higher level of connectedness with the themes of the whole "Hours" enterprise, and specifically, relive the film and music of the film. The piano solo arrangements, by Michael Riesman, range from easy to moderately difficult. They are all in C-major, but have lots of flats and sharps. Those with two to three years of piano lessons/experience could pull it off, and many of the pieces are simple enough to sight read.
But the songs also lean toward moderately difficult to advanced. You'll frequently run into right-hand triplets to be played on top of left-hand eighth notes. A few are more on the advanced side -- "The Poet Acts" and "The Hours" -- as they require tricky fingering, large hands, and probably a lot of practice. Timing is mostly 3/4 and 4/4 measure time. A great thing is that each song tells you exactly how fast to play so you can set your metronome to it (i.e. a quarter note = 96 in "Dead Things"). The songs do not tell you when to pedal or fingering, which would've been helpful on some of the more difficult pieces.
This book would be great for piano students/teachers. The pieces are arranged so that it is possible to learn casually, yet beautiful and challenging enough to really take your time with and perfect.
As an added bonus, for sale separately, there is Michael Riesman's piano solo CD of "The Hours." And what you hear on that CD is exactly the same as the arrangements in this book! This book gives you the ENTIRE arrangements of the ENTIRE tracks. They do not cut the songs short! Pair up the CD with the songbook, and you have a piano student's dream. On top of that, you can sample the piano solo CD on Amazon: check in the Free Downloads section of Music. You can download three entire tracks from Riesman's solo album.
For $12.95, the book is a steal. On Amazon or Overstock, it's even cheaper! A great buy, as a lot of today's songbooks of this caliber, size, etc are 19.99$. The arrangement of "Morning Passages" is worth getting it alone. I would've rated the book 5 stars if not for the omission of "The Kiss," and if pedaling and fingering were in the book.
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