Questa serie si addentra nel ricco arazzo del mondo musicale, offrendo esplorazioni approfondite di compositori rinomati, strumenti e temi musicali cruciali. Ogni volume presenta una raccolta meticolosamente curata di saggi scritti dalle massime autorità, pensata per essere accessibile a studenti, esecutori e appassionati. Offre una copertura completa e materiale di riferimento indispensabile, garantendo un'esperienza di lettura coinvolgente e arricchente.
The music of George Gershwin was shaped by American political, intellectual, cultural and business interests. As a composer and performer, he embraced technological advances and broke new ground in music business practices. This Companion describes the making of George Gershwin's 'American' identity and its legacy after his death.
This practical guide is an essential and stimulating reference book for all clarinet enthusiasts.
Written by many working conductors, this book considers all facets of musical conducting.
The vibrant world of jazz may be viewed from many angles, from social and cultural history to music analysis, from economics to ethnography. This challenging and exciting book takes the reader through the essentials from locating and defining jazz to jazz in performance, its audiences, its markets, and its enjoyment. schovat popis
From Robert Johnson to Aretha Franklin, Mahalia Jackson to John Lee Hooker, blues and gospel artists figure heavily in the mythology of twentieth-century culture. The styles in which they sang have proved hugely influential to generations of popular singers, from the wholesale adoptions of singers like Robert Cray or James Brown, to the subtler vocal appropriations of Mariah Carey. Their own music, and how it operates, is not, however, always seen as valid in its own right. This book provides an overview of both these genres, which worked together to provide an expression of twentieth-century black US experience. Their histories are unfolded and questioned; representative songs and lyrical imagery are analysed; perspectives are offered from the standpoint of the voice, the guitar, the piano, and also that of the working musician. The book concludes with a discussion of the impact the genres have had on mainstream musical culture.
An essential Companion for those both familiar and unfamiliar with Der Ring des Nibelungen. It provides a concise introduction to both the composer and the work. Subsequent chapters focus on musical topics such as 'leitmotif' and 'structure', as well as popular culture, Nazism, notable stage productions and critical analysis of the work.
Acclaimed Beatles historian Kenneth Womack offers the most definitive account yet of the writing, recording, mixing, and reception of Abbey Road.In February 1969, the Beatles began working on what became their final album together. Abbey Road introduced a number of new techniques and technologies to the Beatles' sound, and included Come...
This Companion provides a biographical, theatrical, and social-cultural background for Verdi's operas, examines in detail important general aspects of its style and method of composing, and synthesizes stylistic themes in discussions of representative works. Aspects of Verdi's milieu, style, creative process, and critical reception are explored in essays by highly reputed specialists. Like others in the series this Companion is aimed primarily at students and opera lovers.
This guide to the orchestra and orchestral life is unique in its breadth of coverage. schovat popis
This collection of specially commissioned essays offers an accessible introduction to the history of the piano, performance styles, and its vast repertoire. The Companion also contains a glossary of important terms and will be a valuable source for the piano performer, student and enthusiast.
Perfect for students of this key topic, this Companion is a practical guide to the music of the Middle Ages.
Exploring Chopin's enduring influence, this Companion delves into the unique blend of accessibility and sophistication in his music. It traces the social history of early nineteenth-century piano music and examines the works of Chopin's predecessors, leading to his stylistic maturity. The book analyzes his epic and epigrammatic compositions, connections to Polish folk music, and his innovative approach to the sonata. Additionally, it discusses the reception of his music through performance, criticism, and its impact on later musical movements, highlighting his lasting legacy.
In the years approaching the centenary of Mahler's death, this book offers the only comprehensive, single-volume study in English of his music and musical activities. Contributions from a collection of distinguished Mahler scholars discuss works in all genres and from all periods, and investigate his lifelong career as conductor.
France has a long and rich music history that has had a far-reaching impact upon music and cultures around the world. This accessible Companion provides a comprehensive introduction to the music of France. With chapters on a range of music genres, internationally renowned authors survey music-making from the early middle ages to the present day. The first part provides a complete chronological history structured around key historical events. The second part considers opera and ballet and their institutions and works, and the third part explores traditional and popular music. In the final part, contributors analyse five themes and topics, including the early church and its institutions, manuscript sources, the musical aesthetics of the Siècle des Lumières, and music at the court during the ancien régime. Illustrated with photographs and music examples, this book will be essential reading for both students and music lovers.
Often considered the father of twentieth-century music, Debussy was a visionary whose influence is still felt. This book offers a wide-ranging series of essays on Debussy the man, the musician and composer. It contains insights into his character, his relationship to his Parisian environment and his musical works across all genres, with challenging views on the roles of nature and eroticism in his life and music. His music is considered through the characteristic themes of sonority, rhythm, tonality and form, with closing chapters considering the performance and reception of his music in the first years of the new century and our view of Debussy today as a major force in Western culture. This comprehensive view of Debussy is written by a team of specialists for students and informed music lovers.
A comprehensive guide to the historical, analytical and interpretative issues surrounding one of the major genres of Western music.
Investigating the fascinating worlds and memorable work of Gilbert and Sullivan, this Companion provides a fresh approach to their musical legacy and enduring popularity. Written by an international team of specialists, and featuring a personal account by film director Mike Leigh, the book is perfect for enthusiasts and students alike.
This Companion explores the historical and theoretical contexts of the singer- songwriter tradition, and includes case studies of singer-songwriters from Thomas d'Urfey through to Kanye West.
A rare volume dedicated entirely to scholarship on the genre of the concerto.
This volume explores Richard Wagner's complex legacy in music and theatre, addressing his controversial views and the appropriation of his work by the Nazis. Contributions from various fields examine his enduring impact on opera, cultural representation, and political discourse, making it a valuable resource for scholars and enthusiasts alike.
The Cambridge Companion to Bach, first published in 1997, provides a late twentieth-century perspective on J. S. Bach, the man and the composer. It examines the society, the beliefs and the world-view of his age as well as the compositional style, performance and reception of his work.
A comprehensive introduction to the life, music and compositional aesthetic of Maurice Ravel. schovat popis
Long beloved by audiences, Richard Strauss inspired little scholarly activity until the mid 1980s, when there was a resurgence of interest on both sides of the Atlantic. This Companion reflects the latest research, showing Strauss's artistic personality to be richer and more complicated than has been previously acknowledged.
Thanks to the ambiguities of Soviet cultural life, Shostakovich was regarded in the West with a mixture of admiration and suspicion. This study is a guide for all who wish to probe more deeply into this complex, important composer and his place in the history of music.
An expanded and updated edition of this acclaimed, wide-ranging survey of musical theatre in New York, London, and elsewhere.
A contributory volume, first published in 2007, providing extensive treatment of Monteverdi, his music and his life.
A comprehensive view which bridges the gap between scholarly and popular images of Mozart.
A comprehensive reassessment of this towering figure of twentieth-century music, examining works, cultural context and reception in Britain and beyond.
Musicians are always quick to adopt and explore new technologies. The fast-paced changes wrought by electrification, from the microphone via the analogue synthesiser to the laptop computer, have led to a wide diversity of new musical styles and techniques. Electronic music has grown to a broad field of investigation, taking in historical movements such as musique concrète and elektronische musik, and contemporary trends such as electronic dance music and electronica. A fascinating array of composers and inventors have contributed to a diverse set of technologies, practices and music. This book brings together some novel threads through this scene, from the viewpoint of researchers at the forefront of the sonic explorations empowered by electronic technology. The chapters provide accessible and insightful overviews of core topic areas and uncover some hitherto less publicised corners of worldwide movements. Recent areas of intense activity such as audiovisuals, live electronic music, interactivity and network music are actively promoted.
The first comprehensive attempt to map the current field of opera studies by leading scholars in the discipline.
A 1999 Companion to the saxophone, containing essays by the finest performers and experts on the instrument.
Tiff Proulx leads a double life in post-Hurricane Katrina New Orleans, embodying both the Statue of Liberty by day and the vigilante Angel of Mercy by night. During the day, she attracts tourists while representing hope amidst devastation, and at night, she fights against the violence threatening the storm refugees, showcasing her commitment to justice and protection in a city struggling to heal. Her unique duality highlights themes of resilience and the fight for safety in a chaotic environment.
Duke Ellington is widely held to be the greatest jazz composer and one of the most significant cultural icons of the twentieth century. This comprehensive and accessible Companion is the first collection of essays to survey, in depth, Ellington's career, music, and place in popular culture. An international cast of authors includes renowned scholars, critics, composers, and jazz musicians. Organized in three parts, the Companion first sets Ellington's life and work in context, providing new information about his formative years, method of composing, interactions with other musicians, and activities abroad; its second part gives a complete artistic biography of Ellington; and the final section is a series of specific musical studies, including chapters on Ellington and song-writing, the jazz piano, descriptive music, and the blues. Featuring a chronology of the composer's life and major recordings, this book is essential reading for anyone with an interest in Ellington's enduring artistic legacy.
Presents an authoritative overview and up-to-date Liszt scholarship in an accessible fashion.
This Companion covers the hip-hop elements, methods of studying hip-hop, and case studies from Nerdcore to Turkish-German and Japanese hip-hop.
A global history of Jewish music from the biblical era to the present day, with chapters by leading international scholars.
This Companion offers an accessible introduction to Schumann, exploring his life, style, and key works. Scholars examine his cultural context and influence, including his famous lieder and orchestral pieces. With illustrations, a chronology, and reading suggestions, it serves as an informative resource for students and music lovers alike.
A compact and authoritative survey of the cello, examining its history, repertory, teaching methods, technical developments and distinguished cellists.
This Companion will enrich readers' understanding of the history of the genre, the context and significance of quartets as cultural phenomena, and the musical, technical and interpretative problems of chamber music performance. It will also enhance their experience of listening to quartets in live performances and on recordings. schovat popis
The first collection of academic essays devoted to the Rolling Stones. Designed for use by students, rock scholars, and serious fans, it discusses the Stones' music and history from a wide range of interpretive perspectives, and covers the entire span of the group's career.
A fascinating and accessible exploration of the world of grand opera, first published in 2003. schovat popis
An essential Companion to all aspects of the organ and its music.
