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Big Bangs: The Story Of Five Discoveries That Changed Musical History
by Howard GoodallThe dramatic story of five key turning points in a thousand years of Western music - discoveries that changed the course of history. Who first invented 'Doh Re Mi...'?What do we mean by "in tune"?Looking back down the corridor of a thousand years, Howard Goodall guides us through the stories of five seismic developments in the history of Western music. His "big bangs" may not be the ones we expect - some are surprising and some are so obvious we overlook them - but all have had an extraordinary impact. Goodall starts with the invention of notation by an 11th-century Italian monk, which removed the creation of music from the hands of the players to the pens of the composers; moves on to the first opera; then to the invention of the piano, and ends with the story of the first recording made in history. Howard Goodall has the gift of making these complicated musical advances both clear and utterly fascinating. Racy and vivid in a narrative full of colourful characters and graphic illustrations of technical processes, he also gives a wonderful sense of the culture of trial and error and competition, be it in 11th-century Italy or 19th-century America, in which all progress takes place. Big Bangs opens a window on the crucial moments in our musical culture - discoveries that made possible everything from Bach to the Beatles - and tells us a riveting story of a millennium of endeavour.
Big Data und Musik: Jahrbuch für Musikwirtschafts- und Musikkulturforschung 1/2018 (Jahrbuch für Musikwirtschafts- und Musikkulturforschung)
by Michael Ahlers Lorenz Grünewald-Schukalla Martin Lücke Matthias RauchBig Data ist nicht nur Sache von Versicherungen und Internetunternehmen. Auch für die global agierende Musikwirtschaft, die in den letzten knapp 20 Jahren bereits zahlreiche Transformationen überstehen musste, werden Sammlung, Analyse und Verwertung großer Datenmengen zu einem immer zentraleren Thema. Das aktuelle Jahrbuch der Gesellschaft für Musikwirtschafts- und Musikkulturforschung versammelt hierzu unterschiedliche Ansätze und Perspektiven auf das Thema Big Data und Musik: Von den Datafication-Algorithmen Spotifys über die rechtlichen Implikationen von Music Data Mining, die Blockchain oder der Nutzung von Big Data im Artist & Repertoire Management werden zentrale Anwendungsfelder von Musik und Big Data in den Blick genommen.
Big Deal: Bob Fosse and Dance in the American Musical (Broadway Legacies)
by Kevin WinklerBob Fosse (1927-1987) is recognized as one of the most significant figures in post-World War II American musical theater. With his first Broadway musical, The Pajama Game in 1954, the "Fosse style" was already fully developed, with its trademark hunched shoulders, turned-in stance, and stuttering, staccato jazz movements. Fosse moved decisively into the role of director with Redhead in 1959 and was a key figure in the rise of the director-choreographer in the Broadway musical. He also became the only star director of musicals of his era--a group that included Jerome Robbins, Gower Champion, Michael Kidd, and Harold Prince--to equal his Broadway success in films. Following his unprecedented triple crown of show business awards in 1973 (an Oscar for Cabaret, Emmy for Liza with a Z, and Tony for Pippin), Fosse assumed complete control of virtually every element of his projects. But when at last he had achieved complete autonomy, his final efforts, the film Star 80 and the musical Big Deal, written and directed by Fosse, were rejected by audiences and critics. A fascinating look at the evolution of Fosse as choreographer and director, Big Deal: Bob Fosse and Dance in the American Musical considers Fosse's career in the context of changes in the Broadway musical theater over four decades. It traces his early dance years and the importance of mentors George Abbott and Jerome Robbins on his work. It examines how each of the important women in his adult life--all dancers--impacted his career and influenced his dance aesthetic. Finally, the book investigates how his evolution as both artist and individual mirrored the social and political climate of his era and allowed him to comfortably ride a wave of cultural changes.
Big Deal: Bob Fosse and Dance in the American Musical (Broadway Legacies)
by Kevin WinklerBob Fosse (1927-1987) is recognized as one of the most significant figures in post-World War II American musical theater. With his first Broadway musical, The Pajama Game in 1954, the "Fosse style" was already fully developed, with its trademark hunched shoulders, turned-in stance, and stuttering, staccato jazz movements. Fosse moved decisively into the role of director with Redhead in 1959 and was a key figure in the rise of the director-choreographer in the Broadway musical. He also became the only star director of musicals of his era--a group that included Jerome Robbins, Gower Champion, Michael Kidd, and Harold Prince--to equal his Broadway success in films. Following his unprecedented triple crown of show business awards in 1973 (an Oscar for Cabaret, Emmy for Liza with a Z, and Tony for Pippin), Fosse assumed complete control of virtually every element of his projects. But when at last he had achieved complete autonomy, his final efforts, the film Star 80 and the musical Big Deal, written and directed by Fosse, were rejected by audiences and critics. A fascinating look at the evolution of Fosse as choreographer and director, Big Deal: Bob Fosse and Dance in the American Musical considers Fosse's career in the context of changes in the Broadway musical theater over four decades. It traces his early dance years and the importance of mentors George Abbott and Jerome Robbins on his work. It examines how each of the important women in his adult life--all dancers--impacted his career and influenced his dance aesthetic. Finally, the book investigates how his evolution as both artist and individual mirrored the social and political climate of his era and allowed him to comfortably ride a wave of cultural changes.
Big Dreams for the West End Girls (The West End Girls #2)
by Elaine RobertsNothing will stop her – not even the war!1914. Working in a bustling café on London's Shaftesbury Avenue, Joyce Taylor dreams of opening her own restaurant. But when the man she loves enlists in the war, and a surprise request comes through from her dying grandmother, Joyce's life gets turned upside down.Struggling to keep the café afloat with her new-found responsibilities, it's not long before Joyce starts to feel the pressure might be all too much. Luckily, her supportive friends Annie and Rose are on hand to help. Despite all the madness, can Joyce find a way to make her dreams come true? And will her love story have a happy ending?Annie, Rose and Joyce are three girls with very different dreams – but the same great friendship. From the author of the Foyles Bookshop series, Big Dreams for the West End Girls is a charming and uplifting WW1 saga, perfect for fans of Daisy Styles and Rosie Hendry.What readers are saying about Big Dreams for the West End Girls:'Exceptional reading! You will need tissues' 5 stars'Truly inspiring historical fiction. A lovely written piece of work! Readers will not be disappointed with this one! I loved every minute. My heart is with all of the characters' 5 stars'A heartwarming, historical novel with strong characters and lots of plot turns and twists''I highly recommend this book for its fascinating historical details and strong main character''An excellent WWI-era historical fiction saga that I really, truly enjoyed' 5 stars'One does not have to read the previous book to easily follow along and pick up the gem that is this novel' 5 stars'Well Elaine you have done it again! The first book was brilliant and this has just got better. I still feel like I am one of the girls! I can't wait to read the next in the series' 5 stars
Big Man: Real Life & Tall Tales
by Clarence Clemons Don ReoBig Man tells the fascinating story of Clarence Clemons, the larger-than-life saxophone player of the E Street Band. Clarence and his longtime friend, writer/producer Don Reo, take you on a thrilling ride from Clarence's childhood to the present, from beat-up vans to private jets, from boardwalk bars to stadiums and concert halls all over the world. It's a fitting account of a life lived to the full by a man who threw himself wholeheartedly into his music right up until his tragic death in 2011.The book is filled with never-before-told stories about Clarence's life, his friendship with Bruce Springsteen, and his encounters with some of the most famous people in the world. Along the way, Clarence and Don spin their own fictional "legends" that add to the already-mystical lore of E Street.An absolute must for all Springsteen fans, Big Man reveals the heart and soul of the man who brought so much music and love to so many people for so long.
Big Notes: How a Stradivarius makes money and music
by John AxelrodThe business of beating death by becoming a modern day Medici is booming. In today's economy, where investments in stocks, bonds, commodities, real estate and hedge funds have either been severely battered from the Coronavirus crash or from the rollercoaster volatility, investors are increasingly seeking non-correlated alternative investments. How? By investing in a rare instrument and becoming a patron. It is not only a good return on investment. What better way to get rich and write yourself into history books than to be the owner and donor of a Stradivarius violin to a world class soloist or a museum? Tax deductions are indeed a benefit, but immortality is a better blessing. By reading this book, you can learn from the experts in the field who understand that investing in immortality is the best way to have a meaningful and mortal life.
The Big Parade: Meredith Willson's Musicals from The Music Man to 1491 (Broadway Legacies)
by Dominic McHughIn the 1950s, Meredith Willson's The Music Man became the third longest running musical after My Fair Lady and The Sound of Music: a considerable achievement in a decade that saw the premieres of other popular works by Rodgers and Hammerstein and Lerner and Loewe, not to mention Frank Loesser's Guys and Dolls and Bernstein and Sondheim's West Side Story. The Music Man remains a popular choice for productions and has been parodied or quoted on television shows ranging from Family Guy to Grace and Frankie. Though Willson is best remembered for The Music Man, there is a great deal more to his career as a composer and lyricist. In The Big Parade, author Dominic McHugh uses newly uncovered letters, manuscripts, and production files to reveal Willson's unusual combination of experiences in his pre-Broadway career that led him to compose The Music Man at the age of 55. McHugh also gives an in depth look at the reception of The Music Man and examines the strengths and weaknesses of Willson's other three musicals, with his sustained commitment to innovation and novelty. The Big Parade is packed with new revelations about the processes involved in writing these works, as well as the trials and tribulations of working in the commercial theatre.
The Big Parade: Meredith Willson's Musicals from The Music Man to 1491 (Broadway Legacies)
by Dominic McHughIn the 1950s, Meredith Willson's The Music Man became the third longest running musical after My Fair Lady and The Sound of Music: a considerable achievement in a decade that saw the premieres of other popular works by Rodgers and Hammerstein and Lerner and Loewe, not to mention Frank Loesser's Guys and Dolls and Bernstein and Sondheim's West Side Story. The Music Man remains a popular choice for productions and has been parodied or quoted on television shows ranging from Family Guy to Grace and Frankie. Though Willson is best remembered for The Music Man, there is a great deal more to his career as a composer and lyricist. In The Big Parade, author Dominic McHugh uses newly uncovered letters, manuscripts, and production files to reveal Willson's unusual combination of experiences in his pre-Broadway career that led him to compose The Music Man at the age of 55. McHugh also gives an in depth look at the reception of The Music Man and examines the strengths and weaknesses of Willson's other three musicals, with his sustained commitment to innovation and novelty. The Big Parade is packed with new revelations about the processes involved in writing these works, as well as the trials and tribulations of working in the commercial theatre.
Big Star's Radio City (33 1/3)
by Bruce EatonReleased when ELP and Elton John were plodding from one packed stadium to the next, Radio City was a radical album influenced by records that were already deemed oldies and yet sounding like a lean electrical jolt from the future. Here, Bruce Eaton examines the key ingredients of Radio City's lasting appeal- and through extensive interviews with all of those involved, gets to the heart of the cult of Big Star.
Big Star's Radio City (33 1/3)
by Bruce EatonReleased when ELP and Elton John were plodding from one packed stadium to the next, Radio City was a radical album influenced by records that were already deemed oldies and yet sounding like a lean electrical jolt from the future. Here, Bruce Eaton examines the key ingredients of Radio City's lasting appeal- and through extensive interviews with all of those involved, gets to the heart of the cult of Big Star.
Big Tom: The King of Irish Country
by Tom GilmoreA tribute to Big Tom McBride, ‘the Johnny Cash of Irish country music’. From labourer to music star, the journey of the singer who brought so much joy to fans at home and to emigrants abroad over five decades. Featuring never-before-published interviews with Big Tom and the country stars who loved him, as well as exclusive family photographs, this book is full of the characteristic wit and warmth of Ireland’s greatest country music legend, Big Tom. Big Tom McBride was the original Irish country music star, who paved the way for today’s new wave of artists. His unique voice and sincere delivery earned him the title The King of Irish Country. He was held in huge affection by many thousands of devoted fans, and was greatly loved and respected by his fellow musicians. Throughout Big Tom’s music career, spanning five decades, he packed ballrooms and marquees the length and breadth of Ireland and Britain, with his band The Mainliners and later with The Travellers. His records sold by the tens of thousands, and he had numerous Top Ten hits. Legions of fans were transported by his beautiful singing, evoking an Ireland of a more innocent age. Many made the pilgrimage to the McBrides’ home outside Castleblayney, County Monaghan, where they were greeted with genuine, warm-hearted hospitality. Tom Gilmore has interviewed family, friends and fans, as well as unearthing previously unpublished interviews with Big Tom himself. This book also features tributes to the music legend from luminaries of music, sport and politics.
Bill Frisell, Beautiful Dreamer: The Guitarist Who Changed the Sound of American Music
by Philip WatsonThe definitive biography of guitar icon and Grammy Award-winning artist Bill Frisell.FEATURING EXCLUSIVE LISTENING SESSIONS WITH: Paul Simon; Justin Vernon of Bon Iver; Gus Van Sant; Rhiannon Giddens; The Bad Plus; Gavin Bryars; Van Dyke Parks; Sam Amidon; Hal Willner; Jim Woodring; Martin Hayes & Dennis Cahill'A beautiful and long overdue portrait of one of America's true living cultural treasures . . . a brilliant book.'JOHN ZORN'Wonderful. It captures exactly the Bill I know.'GAVIN BRYARS'The perfect companion-piece to the music of its subject.'MOJOOver a period of forty-five years, Bill Frisell has established himself as one of the most innovative and influential musicians at work today.Growing up playing clarinet in orchestras and marching bands, Frisell has progressed through a remarkable range of musical personas - from devotee of jazz master Jim Hall to 'house guitarist' of estimable German label ECM, from edgy New York downtown experimentalist to plaintive country and bluegrass picker. He has been a pioneering bandleader and collaborator, a prolific composer and arranger and a celebrated Grammy Award winner.A quietly revolutionary guitar hero who has synthesised many disparate musical elements into one compellingly singular sound, Frisell connects to a diverse range of artists and admirers, including Paul Simon, Elvis Costello, Lucinda Williams, Gus Van Sant, Marianne Faithfull and Justin Vernon, many of whom feature in this book.Through unprecedented access to the guitarist and interviews with his close family, friends and associates, Philip Watson tells Frisell's story for the first time.'A revelatory, roots and branches portrait of one of America's greatest synthesisers of musical ideas.'IAN PATTERSON, ALL ABOUT JAZZ
Billie Eilish: From e-girl to Icon: The Unofficial Biography
by Adrian BesleyWith number one songs all over the world, a Bond theme, an armful of Grammys and over 70 million Instagram followers to her name, Billie Eilish is a global star. She has collaborated with Justin Bieber and Khalid, headlined Glastonbury and Coachella, and appeared in Calvin Klein ad campaigns. In her short career she has become an icon for Generation Z. Her postponed world tour is already sold out, spanning North and South America and Europe. Billie grew up in a close-knit family– her brother Finneas still writes and produces her songs – in Highland Park, a suburb of LA. Home-schooled and encouraged to express herself, she was a promising dancer until musical success came literally overnight in 2015. ‘Ocean Eyes’, a song uploaded to SoundCloud for her dance tutor, received a thousand plays in twenty-four hours. The thirteen-year-old’s ethereal singing voice was intoxicating and the track went viral.But she was no one-hit wonder; over the next year, Billie and Finneas produced a series of eclectic tracks resulting in the Don’t Smile at Me EP which broke the top twenty in over a dozen countries. She followed up with a record-smashing full length album, When We All Fall Asleep Where Do We Go?, featuring the now-iconic ‘Bad Guy’. Her legions of new fans discovered an artist who, undaunted and even emboldened by her youth, had something to say about independence, veganism, mental health, body image, love and the maelstrom of teenage life.This book follows her journey from singing in her bedroom to performing in massive arenas around the globe, winning Grammys and launching her own fashion line. It reveals the story behind the hits and explores what makes Billie Eilish the most extraordinary teenage star in the world.
Billie Eilish: Rebel Teen to Alt-Pop Queen
by Mr Kevin PettmanThe must-have celebration of Billie Eilish, the most talked about teen on the planet.This book takes fans up close and personal with the teenage icon, charting Billie’s rise to superstardom, taking an in-depth look at her creativity, her unique musical, visual and fashion style, and exploring the causes – such as climate change and animal rights – that are close to her heart. It looks at her triumphs and her challenges, her attitudes and her ethos. Filled with brilliant photos and inspiring quotes, this is the ultimate book for Billie’s fans.
Billie Eilish: 100% Unofficial – A Must-Have Guide to the Most Talked-About Teen on the Planet
by Amy WillsBillie Eilish is the most talked-about teen on the planet! With a number one debut album, a sold-out tour and a growing Instagram following, Billie is taking the world by storm. Now learn all about the modern music sensation in this ultimate guide.
Billie Holiday: Wishing On The Moon
by Donald ClarkeCertainly no singer has been more mythologized and more misunderstood than Billie Holiday, who helped to create much of the mystique herself with her autobiography, Lady Sings the Blues. "Now, finally, we have a definitive biography," said Booklist of Donald Clarke's Billie Holiday, "by a deeply compassionate, respectful, and open-minded biographer [whose] portrait embraces every facet of Holiday's paradoxical nature, from her fierceness to her vulnerability, her childlikeness to her innate elegance and amazing strength." Clarke was given unrivaled access to a treasure trove of interviews from the 1970s-interviews with those who knew Lady Day from her childhood in the streets and good-time houses of Baltimore through the early days of success in New York and into the years of fame, right up to her tragic decline and death at the age of forty-four. Clarke uses these interviews to separate fact from fiction and, in the words of the Seattle Times, "finally sets us straight. . .evoking her world in all its anguish, triumph, force and irony." Newsday called this "a thoroughly riveting account of Holiday and her milieu." The New York Times raved that it "may be the most thoroughly valuable of the many books on Holiday," and Helen Oakley Dance in JazzTimes said, "We should probably have to wait a long time for another life of Billie Holiday to supersede Donald Clarke's achievement."
Billie Holiday: Wishing On The Moon
by Donald ClarkeCertainly no singer has been more mythologized and more misunderstood than Billie Holiday, who helped to create much of the mystique herself with her autobiography, Lady Sings the Blues. "Now, finally, we have a definitive biography," said Booklist of Donald Clarke's Billie Holiday, "by a deeply compassionate, respectful, and open-minded biographer [whose] portrait embraces every facet of Holiday's paradoxical nature, from her fierceness to her vulnerability, her childlikeness to her innate elegance and amazing strength." Clarke was given unrivaled access to a treasure trove of interviews from the 1970s-interviews with those who knew Lady Day from her childhood in the streets and good-time houses of Baltimore through the early days of success in New York and into the years of fame, right up to her tragic decline and death at the age of forty-four. Clarke uses these interviews to separate fact from fiction and, in the words of the Seattle Times, "finally sets us straight. . .evoking her world in all its anguish, triumph, force and irony." Newsday called this "a thoroughly riveting account of Holiday and her milieu." The New York Times raved that it "may be the most thoroughly valuable of the many books on Holiday," and Helen Oakley Dance in JazzTimes said, "We should probably have to wait a long time for another life of Billie Holiday to supersede Donald Clarke's achievement."
Billie Holiday: The Musician And The Myth
by John SzwedToday, Billie Holiday is an icon – an artist whose voice has weathered countless shifts in public taste, and whose impact on contemporary music is unquestionable. But when eighteen-year-old Billie Holiday stepped into Columbia studios in November of 1933 to record ‘Riffin’ the Scotch’ and ‘Your Mother’s Son-in-Law’, no one could predict the sensation that was about to emerge; marking the beginning of what is arguably the most remarkable and important career in twentieth-century popular music. Drawing on revelatory new material, including unpublished memoirs and interviews, Billie Holiday is the first account to consider the singer as an artist, her influences, her uncanny voice and rhythmic genius, a number of her signature songs, and her legacy.
Billy Bragg: Still Suitable for Miners
by Andrew Collins'Love me or hate me. It's a great read’ - Billy Bragg He was a punk. He was a soldier. He was a flag-waver for the Labour Party and the miners. He is Billy Bragg, passionate protest folk singer and tireless promoter of political and humanitarian causes around the world. His life encapsulates so much about his generation: born in the late ’50s, passions forged by punk, politics shaped by Thatcherism, career inspired by engagement, hope provided by the end of the Cold War and ideology galvanised by what he sees as a ‘post-ideological’ twenty-first century. He adapts to survive: serious about compassion and accountability, he likes a laugh too, and has never forgotten where he comes from.Still Suitable for Miners is the official Billy Bragg story, tracing his life, family and career at close range from Barking to the present day. This 20th anniversary edition has been updated to include the rise of Corbyn, the unfolding of Brexit, Billy’s reclamation of skiffle and his overtures into Americana.
Bing: Make Music (Bing Ser.)
by Ted DewanAn exciting new relaunch of Ted Dewan’s Bing books – resized and beautifully produced for the next generation of toddlers. Bing makes his TV debut in 2014!
Bing Crosby: A Pocketful of Dreams - The Early Years 1903 - 1940
by Gary GiddinsFrom Bing Crosby's early days in college minstrel shows and vaudeville, to his first hit recordings, from his 11 year triumph as star of America's most popular radio show, to his first success in Hollywood, Gary Giddins provides a detailed study of the rise of this American star.
Bing Crosby: Swinging on a Star: The War Years, 1940-1946
by Gary Giddins"The best thing to happen to Bing Crosby since Bob Hope," (WSJ) Gary Giddins presents the second volume of his masterful multi-part biography. Bing Crosby dominated American popular culture in a way that few artists ever have. From the dizzy era of Prohibition through the dark days of the Second World War, he was a desperate nation's most beloved entertainer. But he was more than just a charismatic crooner: Bing Crosby redefined the very foundations of modern music, from the way it was recorded to the way it was orchestrated and performed. In this much-anticipated follow-up to the universally acclaimed first volume, NBCC Winner and preeminent cultural critic Gary Giddins now focuses on Crosby's most memorable period, the war years and the origin story of White Christmas. Set against the backdrop of a Europe on the brink of collapse, this groundbreaking work traces Crosby's skyrocketing career as he fully inhabits a new era of American entertainment and culture. While he would go on to reshape both popular music and cinema more comprehensively than any other artist, Crosby's legacy would be forever intertwined with his impact on the home front, a unifying voice for a nation at war. Over a decade in the making and drawing on hundreds of interviews and unprecedented access to numerous archives, Giddins brings Bing Crosby, his work, and his world to vivid life -- firmly reclaiming Crosby's central role in American cultural history.
A Biographical Dictionary of English Court Musicians, 1485-1714, Volumes I and II
by David LasockiCompiled by scholars with unrivalled knowledge of the sources, this dictionary provides biographies of all musicians and instrument makers employed by the English court from 1485-1714. A number of the musicians featured here have never previously received a dictionary entry. Coverage of these minor figures helps to flesh out the picture of musical life in the court in a way which individual studies of more major composers cannot. In addition to basic biographical details, entries feature information on: appointments; probate material; family background; heraldry; signatures and holograph documents; subscriptions to books; bibliographic references. A finding-list of variant names, details of the succession of court places assumed by musicians and an index of subjects and place names completes this comprehensive reference work.
A Biographical Dictionary of English Court Musicians, 1485-1714, Volumes I and II
by David LasockiCompiled by scholars with unrivalled knowledge of the sources, this dictionary provides biographies of all musicians and instrument makers employed by the English court from 1485-1714. A number of the musicians featured here have never previously received a dictionary entry. Coverage of these minor figures helps to flesh out the picture of musical life in the court in a way which individual studies of more major composers cannot. In addition to basic biographical details, entries feature information on: appointments; probate material; family background; heraldry; signatures and holograph documents; subscriptions to books; bibliographic references. A finding-list of variant names, details of the succession of court places assumed by musicians and an index of subjects and place names completes this comprehensive reference work.