Book Description
A hands-on book design students and designers alike will welcome. Elements of Design is a tribute to an exceptional teacher and a study of the abstract visual relationships that were her lifelong pursuit. Rowena Reed Kiostellow taught industrial design at Pratt Institute for more than fifty years and the designers she trained-and the designers they're training today-have changed the face of American design. This succinct, instructive, invaluable book reconstructs the series of exercises that led Kostellow's students from the manipulation of simple forms to the creation of complex solutions to difficult design problems. It includes her exercises and commentary along with selected student solutions, and concludes with examples of work from former students who became leaders in the field, including such well-known figures as Tucker Viemeisater, Ralph Applebaum, Ted Muehling, and many others.
Customer Reviews:
very good seller.......2007-09-28
It was very fast to get the product and I experience a very good seller!
Excellent companion, but missing something important..........2007-03-28
To truly get the most out of this book, you need one of Rowena's dwindling number of students still left at Pratt teaching to stand over your shoulder. The exercises in this book can all produce amazing results in terms of beautiful abstract relationships but to "know" what is right or wrong with an object using this visual language really takes someone showing you what is wrong with a transition or how this proportion is too similar to that one or how this spacial relationship is not quite right. In the end, you need to know what is wrong in order to really be able to see what is right and it takes someone to show these things to you over and over again. The book is an excellent companion and record of Rowena's interesting and effective exercises, but it's difficult to use as a guide for someone not dialogging with one of her former students and even that is challenging because each one delivers her gospel of 3D a little differently.
Form Analysis.......2007-03-19
This book is a nice window into a professional display of techniques and exercises that garner superior forms and shapes. I bought this book for an industrial design class, it was not mandatory, but completley necessary and helpful. i highly recommend it.
visual exercises - for serious designers.......2004-05-04
This is a technical book that is an attempt to teach what RRK developed over a lifetime obsession with visual compositions. She did one thing, over and over, refining it over a long and productive career at Pratt, in Brooklyn. As such, I believe that it would best be used in the classroom, rather than as a simple read for those who want to understand modern design. Being ignorent about issues in studio design - really doing it, rather than observing it like I do - I got a lot out of it. But I will need to refer to it and read through many more times to truly absorb the exercises. For what it is, the book is a masterpiece as an exercise in visual thinking and the method left its imprint on many of the greatest American designers from before WWII to the 1980s.
Recommended, but for designers rather than design critics.
A Good Guide.......2004-04-14
I agree with one of the reviewers in that the rules presented in this text should not be applied loosely and expected to produce "a beautiful design". As far as industrial design goes it still is not even so great. HOWEVER what it does teach is basic 3-dimensional design. There are lessons in here that anyone who works in a 3-d medium (interior, industrial, fashion, sculpture, etc) should be fluent in. I did the exercises and it has allowed me to get such a tighter grasp on my work and understand all the subtle effects I can produce in it. It is also invaluable to me as a reference guide. Study this book in order to help develop your sense of 3 dimensional structure and compositions but not as a base for design education (only because design incorporates much more than "beauty").
Book Description
The Elements of C# Style is for all C# practitioners, especially those working in teams where consistency is critical. Like previous Elements titles, the text furnishes a set of rules for writing clear, comprehensible and easy-to maintain code; this time for C#. The authors offer a collection of standards and guidelines for creating solid C# that can save time, effort and expense. The book provides conventions for:
- formatting
- naming
- documentation
- programming
- packaging
for C# 2.0 and includes discussion of advanced topics such as generics.
Customer Reviews:
All the "elements" of a great book.......2007-01-15
If you are new to C# or are wanting to start writing cleaner, more efficient, more professional, and just plain smarter code, this is a must-read. These guys definitely know their stuff and give some excellent tips. It's light and quick-read, easy to pick up and read a bit during down times, short enough to power through in one sitting, and serves as a great reference. For the money, this is one of the best books I've bought in a long time.
Average customer rating:
- Great book for the new classical hobbyist
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What to Listen for in Beethoven
Robert Harris
Manufacturer: Macfarlane Walter & Ross
ProductGroup: Book
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What to Listen for in Mozart: A Guide for the Curious
ASIN: 1551990210
Release Date: 1997-01-01 |
Book Description
The essential introduction to the world's foremost composer and to the hidden pleasures of classical music.
Beethoven's enduring popularity eclipses all other composers. Over a century and a half has passed since his death, yet his towering accomplishments remain the standard against which all other Western music has been judged. This fascinating and accessible guide to understanding both the man and the musician is also a rewarding exploration of the basics of classical music itself.
From the Hardcover edition.
Customer Reviews:
Great book for the new classical hobbyist.......2005-03-16
Robert Harris has a reputation for writing in a way that those new to classical music can easily comprehend. Yet, it isn't a basic book either that you can get in a couple hours either. Harris intersperses his quite engaging story telling of Beethoven's life and times along with the major musical works and their significance. In fact, his narrative on Beethoven's life is so much more interesting and readable than the more standard texts. In particular, his treatment of Beethoven's deeply personal struggle with his worsening deafness is detailed and fascinating. His writing has the mark of a great educator in that you can understand without struggle (unlike other books). There is little music jargon so the beginner need not fear this book. He also highlights (as in his Mozart edition), the "Top 40" major works and says a little about each to place them in context.
Last, he gives a little less "note-by-note" analysis of major works here than in his earlier Mozart book which seems to work just fine as it can be too much for some and bogs down in the Mozart book in my opinion. Summary: an unintimidating, really rewarding and thoroughly enjoyable book that will give you a deeper respect and appreciation of Beethoven and his monumental music.
Book Description
The Craft of Tonal Counterpoint is an introductory text to the analysis and composition of tonal counterpoint. Using examples from the music of J.S. Bach - the master of this style - the author takes students through a series of carefully graded, cumulative exercises that stress both analysis and writing. Benjamin covers chromaticism and fugal writing in exceptional detail. The exercises cover a wide range of formats, including error detection, linear pitch reduction, analysis and composition. The book also incorporates a 100-page anthology of scores, effective for analysis, in-class performance, and compositional models.
Customer Reviews:
Great, but difficult for self-study.......2006-05-26
I just want to warn people who want this book as a self-study course. Think twice.
I especially have a hard time understanding the graphical analyzes, - it is poorly explained. Trying to work with this book, you really miss a teacher to present a clear structure which this book doesn't have. Or at least you can't see it!
But still, as a reference book it's great, there is so much in it!
One more thing, this book deals more or less only with the instrumental music of Bach - it hardly covers choral harmonisation. This is strange as it is said that Bach himself gave his students 4-voice choral harmonisation assignments in the beginning - he wrote the bass-line and sometimes even the melody line - then they filled in the other voices.
One last thing,
I do miss the general species approach which is so great for structure in self-study.
I feel that either I would have to find a teacher to take me through this book or buy another book, which is so sad, because you get the feeling that this author knows what he is talking about! - the main reason for the 4 stars.
So think twice, and if you are short on money and want to study by yourself - buy another book!!!
good one.......2006-02-18
OH i LOVE THIS BOOK IT RUES, MUCH BETTER THEN THE 'mODAL' ONE. THAT ONE WAS A RIPPY RIPTOFF. Tommy B. I love youre early work!!!
Great text for 18th Century Counterpoint.......2005-02-27
The Benjamin has a composers' viewpoint more than other counterpoint texts I've used. He speaks (well) to aspects such as rhythm and shape of line in each chapter, never sacrificing the other musical parameters to the all-too-common primacy of pitch. There is a useful balance of prose to musical examples.
Benjamin includes linear analyses of several examples. This provides a solid introduction to Schenkarian concepts for lower-division students, and yet they can easily be skipped by those who prefer.
This text has a satisfactory anthology of JS Bach pieces at the back. This is important at schools where textbook budgets for most students are slim.
I have yet to use the last few chapters in my one-semester course, but in a year-long sequence, they would be welcome.
Customer Reviews:
Very sensible style guide.......2000-02-20
I have used it as my style guide, in concert with with my own style notes, for several years. Sensible recommendations, easy to read, and some good insights to help write better code.
A good reference on clean programming style.......1997-04-22
Ever read someone else's code and wondered what the heck they were doing? (Or had someone look at your own and wonder the same thing?) Then you should be reading this book, it covers all those questions you've been wanting to ask someone, but didn't.
The author is not just technically compentent, but is one of those rare programmers who can write as well.
Book Description
Malcolm Boyd's lucid text investigates how often various chords and progressions occur, in what contexts and (where possible) for what reasons. Following methods known to have been adopted by Bach himself, the exercises are graded in such a way as to encourage the student to develop both technique and imagination within a closely defined framework.
Customer Reviews:
Makes some helpful observations.......2006-07-11
As a music student who was looking for a good resource to better understand Bach's style, I decided to pick up this book. I found it made many helpful observations that aided in my understanding of Bach's style in his chorales and instrumental music (i.e. favored progressions, voice leading). It is designed for students who have already studied Harmony (and Counterpoint for the second half of the book) and who require more detail on what Bach would or would not have done in different situations. Exercises are also provided, starting with an existing soprano and bass part where the student adds the alto and tenor, followed by many more where only the soprano is provided and the student adds the three other voices. As there are so many different ways to harmonize a melody, answers are not provided, and a teacher will be required to correct the work.
The quibble that prevents this book from getting 4 or 5 stars in this review is that there is no included Bach Anthology. I had hoped for the price that there would at least be some chorales and some Bach keyboard pieces for harmonic and countrapuntal analysis. In fact the book makes the point that the reader should analyse several Bach chorales before even attempting the given exercises, yet there are none included in the book. Also several examples say things like "see chorale no 19 measure 10 for an example of this". Therefore, in order for this book to be of use, you'll need to also purchase Bach's 371 chorales for the first half and his 2-part inventions and 3-part sinfonias for the second half.
Average customer rating:
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Mensuration and Proportion Signs: Origins and Evolution (Oxford Monographs on Music)
Anna Maria Busse Berger
Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 0198162308 |
Book Description
In the fourteenth century composers and theorists invented mensuration and proportion signs that allowed them increased flexibility and precision in notating a very wide range of rhythmic and metric relationships. The origin and interpretation of these signs is one of the least understood and most complex issues in music history. This study represents the first attempt to see the origin of musical mensuration and proportion signs in the context of other measuring systems of the fourteenth century. The author also traces the evolution of the mensural notational system to the threshold of the modern system of notation. In the process, the exact meaning of everyday mensuration and proportion sign encountered in music and theory from the fourteenth to the sixteenth century is analysed and elucidated. The investigation results in a revision of many currently held views concerning the significance and development of early time signatures and will be indispensable to scholars and performers of late medieval and Renaissance music.
Average customer rating:
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Fantasy Pieces: Metrical Dissonance in the Music of Robert Schumann
Harald Krebs
Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Schumann, Robert
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ASIN: 0195169468 |
Book Description
Fantasy Pieces examines from several vantage points a vital life-force of Robert Schumann's music, namely metrical conflict. Harald Krebs's imaginative yet rigorous study makes use of Schumann's fascinating projections of his own personality--the characters Florestan and Eusebius--as one means of addressing the biographical and aesthetic context of the music. In counterpoint with the remarks of these personae, Krebs develops an original theory of metrical conflict by adapting the concepts of consonance and dissonance to metrical analysis. He investigates how states of metrical dissonance arise, and shows how they are manipulated and resolved in the course of compositions. He offers new methods for understanding the metrical progressions of entire works or movements, and studies the interaction of metrical conflict with form, with pitch structure, and with the texts of Schumann's vocal works. Krebs includes a wealth of illustrations from the whole range of Schumann's work and offers numerous insights important for performance. In the final chapter, he provides richly detailed studies of pieces by Schumann in various genres, interspersing them with shorter discussions of music by Berlioz, Chopin, Clara Schumann, Ives, and Schoenberg. This is a book that will appeal not only to students and scholars of music theory, but to all musicians interested in the life, work, and unique personality of Robert Schumann.
Average customer rating:
- Nice tribute to a master of residential architecture
- An astounding visual and descriptive tour
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David Adler, Architect: The Elements of Style
Manufacturer: Yale University Press
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The Country Houses of David Adler
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The Architecture of Delano & Aldrich
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American Classicist: The Architecture of Philip Trammell Shutze
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New Classicism: The Rebirth of Traditional Architecture
ASIN: 0300097026 |
Book Description
David Adler (1882-1949) was one of the most important architects designing homes and estates in the United States during a period known as that of the "great American house." Adler's works-which range in date from 1911 to 1949-were truly American, offering an enormous range of stylistic expression on the exteriors and a simpler definition of interiors than traditional European models allowed.
This important book features seventeen homes and one private club designed by Adler, all of which are beautifully reproduced in full-color with newly commissioned photographs by the firm of Hedrich Blessing. Highlights of this volume include the Stuart-style country house in the manner of Sir Christopher Wren, built for Mr. and Mrs. Richard T. Crane in Ipswich, Massachusetts; the Celia Tobin Clark residence, in Hillsborough, California, in which Adler used English half-timber construction; and the William McCormick Blair House, built in Lake Bluff, Illinois, a Colonial New England farm house that constituted a new experiment for Adler.
The book also presents examples of Adler's interior designs, which respond to the demands of modern life by featuring both the use of new materials and historical elements or furniture acquired during his European travels.
Other Adler homes featured in this book include:
Mrs. C. Morse Ely House (1915), Lake Bluff, Illinois;
Mr. and Mrs. Richard T. Crane House (1925-28), Ipswich, Massachusetts;
Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Field House (1925-27), Sarasota, Florida;
Mrs. Celia Tobin Clark House (1929-31), Hillsborough, California;
Mrs. Kersey Coates Reed House (1931-32), Lake Forest, Illinois
This lavishly illustrated book is the catalogue for a major exhibition on the work of David Adler, which will be held at The Art Institute of Chicago from December 6, 2002 to May 18, 2003.
Customer Reviews:
Nice tribute to a master of residential architecture.......2005-01-30
This book does do a commendable job of disecting Adler's major works and the research is quite good, though it could have used more photos. I must stipulate that the photos used are quite good. Note to publisher the cover photo, with Adler's name vertically imbosed cheapened the look of the book, although the back photo was excellent. If you are fan of Adler I recommend this book, but with slight reservations, look at my other reviews to find truely great books on American Master Architects. I'm a tenacious reviewer, but if I say a book is great, I'll bet you will agree. I really do try to write reviews that will help people, not just give them a positive synopsis, these books are expensive and some are great, some are good, like this one, and some are just plain disappointing. Anyway, I really hope this helps you in some way, if not...well this is a minute of your life you will never get back.
An astounding visual and descriptive tour.......2002-11-14
Knowledgeably edited by Martha Thorne, featuring essays by Richard Guy Wilson, Pauline C. Metcalf, and Ghenete Zelleke, and enhanced with color photography by Bob Harr and Hedrich Blessing, David Adler, Architect: The Elements Of Style is an astounding visual and descriptive tour of the unique and influential architecture of David Adler (1882-1949) famous for designing homes and estates in America during the period of the "great American house." His elegant style, blending classical inspiration with a uniquely modern finish that shows through the test of time, is presented through memorable color and black-and-white photographs as well as diagrams and extensively detailed text (beginning with an informative foreword by Robert A. M. Stern) and offers enriched background information as to the creation of David Adler's most well-known masterpieces. David Adler, Architect: The Elements Of Style is very highly recommended for connoisseurs of grand architecture and a core acquisition for professional and academic Architectural Studies reference collections and American Architectural History supplemental reading lists.
Amazon.com
The Elements of C Programming Style can serve as a foundation for producing C code that is readable (by humans), computationally efficient, and bug-free. This book offers the reader a large set of rules that cover every facet of C programming from flow control to "visual organization." While most programmers will not agree with every rule, they will still find value in these suggestions.
Book Description
Write lean, mean C code that screams. Give yourself a competitive edge with over 100 tested rules of thumb for producing clear, concise, elegantly coded C programs. In The Elements of C Programming Style, by Jay Ranade and Alan Nash, you get savvy insider programming techniques and shortcuts seasoned pros use to unify coding practices, enforce high-quality standards and keep development teams focused. Regardless of your experience, you'll see how to exploit: little-known coding tricks to save days of programming time; powerful C Libary features to help you work more effectively; key design rules even the most experienced programmers overlook; often neglected testing routines that catch bugs before they hatch; foolproof debugging methods; master-programmer techniques for optimizing speed, memory and readability; best ways to utilize comments, data objects, numbers and I/O; expert guidelines for maximizing expressions, statements, functions, parameters, arrays, pointers and the preprocessor; much more.
Customer Reviews:
Essential guidance for C/C++/Java programming.......1998-08-26
Many of the short articles in this book could form the basis for C programming standards of a project team or a whole organization. 95% of the authors' recommended techniques are beyond controversy. The perceptive reader will notice a few, however, that conflict with modern practice in C++ and Java (e.g. mixing boolean and integer expressions).
Every programmer using C, C++, or Java should be acquainted with everything in this book and either comply with it or have a good reason for not doing so.
I really liked this book..........1998-02-21
This book was very readable and concise. It gave small sample code throughout the book and included helpful macros for debugging. I recommend this book to anyone who understands C code but is unsatisfied with how readable thier code is. This book is like a grammar book for those who want to write more concise and clear code.
Well written, balanced look at the topic. Excellent tips........1998-02-19
This book goes beyond simple rules and gives sound reasons (and drawbacks) for each element of style it show.
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Books Index
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Geometry of Design: Studies in Proportion and Composition
Why a Painting Is Like a Pizza: A Guide to Understanding and Enjoying Modern Art
Design Through Discovery: An Introduction
Architectural Drawing: A Visual Compendium of Types and Methods
Visual Grammar (Design Briefs)
