New Publications,
New Music Book Publications - 18th April 2022
Welcome to our latest selection of new music books. Our picks this time round include an examination of various aspects and contexts in the life and work of Benjamin Britten; paperback editions of András Schiff's memoir and Michael Spitzer's exploration of the relationship between music and the human species; a history of stringed keyboard instruments; books for children on musical instruments and music-related science experiments; a collection of lyrics and illustratons by the late Scott Hutchison, vocalist and songwriter of Frightened Rabbit; the story of jazz musician Ornette Coleman; and a guide to the best jobs in the music industry.
Benjamin Britten in Context
Vicki P. Stroeher & Justin Vickers (editors); Cambridge University Press; Hardback
This volume explores the contexts for Benjamin Britten's career and engagement with his contemporaries, as well as his philosophical and ideological tenets. It is structured in five parts: his relationships with Peter Pears, his close friends, mentors, and colleagues; musical life in Britain; his interactions with previous and contemporary generations of composers; his professional work with choreographers, librettists, stage designers, and directors; and his socio-cultural, religious, and political environment.
Available Format: Book
Now available in paperback, this stimulating account of the life and work of András Schiff takes readers on an intimate journey, discussing a range of topics including his musical training and his thoughts on technique and interpretation. More than just a memoir, this is a compilation of the experiences of one of the greatest musicians of our time.
Available Format: Book
How we have created, performed and listened to music throughout history has defined what our species is and how we understand who we are. Yet music is an overlooked part of our origin story. This book, now available in paperback, takes us on an exhilarating journey across the ages to explore the vibrant relationship between music and the human species, looking at music in our everyday lives, music in world history, and music in evolution, from insects to apes, humans to AI.
Available Format: Book
This book explores the history of keyboard instruments from their fourteenth-century origins to the development of the modern piano. It reveals the principles of their design and describes structural and mechanical developments through the medieval and renaissance periods and eighteenth- and nineteenth-centuries, as well as the early music revival, and describes the types of instruments played by composers and virtuosi through the ages, providing detailed instructions on their regulating, stringing, tuning and voicing drawn from historical sources.
Available Format: Book
Around the World in 80 Musical Instruments
Nancy Dickmann & Sue Downing; Welbeck Publishing Group; Hardback
Including a central gatefold that opens out to reveal the family tree of musical instruments, this is a visual celebration of the huge variety of instruments played across the world. Discover traditional instruments from various cultures, such as the gamelan and mbira, as well as the creations of modern artists and musicians, such as the Wintergatan Marble Machine and the eerie-sounding Earth harp.
Available Format: Book
Music and the Queer Body in English Literature at the Fin de Siècle
Fraser Riddell; Cambridge University Press; Hardback
Drawing on a range of material including literature, musical treatises and theoretical texts, this book explores the central place music held for emergent queer identities in the late-nineteenth and early-twentieth centuries. Canonical writers such as E. M. Forster and Virginia Woolf are discussed alongside lesser-known figures to highlight the significance of embodiment in queer musical subcultures, showing how writers associate music with shameful, masochistic and anti-humanist subject positions.
Available Format: Book
This is a book of lyrics and illustrations by the late Scott Hutchison, lyricist, vocalist and songwriter of Frightened Rabbit. This paperback follows the sold-out limited hardback edition and presents the band's complete lyrics (including B-sides and rarities) with handwritten excerpts by Scott, alongside his illustrations. It is meant both as a celebration of and tribute to Scott's unbridled creativity, and aims to fulfil his wishes by being the book that he wanted to create and had spoken of creating before his death.
Available Format: Book
Ornette Coleman's career encompassed the glory years of jazz and the American avant-garde. Born in segregated Fort Worth and steeped in the Texas blues tradition, Ornette and jazz grew up together, as the brassy blare of big band swing gave way to bebop, a faster music for a faster, post-war world. Featuring previously unpublished photographs, this is the compelling story of one of America's most adventurous musicians.
Available Format: Book
The Best Jobs in the Music Industry: Straight Talk from Successful Music Pros
Michael Redman; Rowman & Littlefield; Paperback
This is an essential career guide for those who are exploring different areas of the music industry beyond the obvious performer route. This second edition includes updates and even more interviews, giving a look at how music jobs have changed and the long-term impacts of COVID-19 on the industry. Each description of a job starts with a short summary, followed by stories of the paths to success and the challenges you may confront.
Available Format: Book
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