New Publications,
New Music Book Publications - 30th October 2023
Welcome to our latest selection of new music publications, including an account of the young Mozart's trips to Italy, the history of the Academy of Ancient Music published to celebrate its fiftieth year, the tales and anecdotes behind twenty-seven favourite Christmas carols, the story of composers who fled Hitler's Germany in the 1930s, the cultural and musical evolution of the soprano from the sixteenth to the twenty-first century, a biography of Cecil Sharp and his rise to become the leading collector of folk song and dance in England in the Edwardian period, a new edition of a guide to how fine musicians can become great teachers, an introduction to popular ballets for very young people, and a handbook to the art of film scoring.
At thirteen years old Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was a child prodigy who had captured the hearts of northern Europe, but his father Leopold was determined to conquer Italy also. Together, they made three visits there, travelling from the theatres and salons of Milan to the church-filled streets of Rome, to Naples, poorer than the prosperous north, and to Venice, the birthplace of public opera. All the while Mozart was absorbing Italian culture, language, style and art, and honing his craft.
Available Format: Book
Refiner's Fire: The Academy of Ancient Music and The Historical Performance Revolution
Richard Bratby; Elliott & Thompson; Hardback
When Christopher Hogwood and Peter Wadland founded the Academy of Ancient Music in 1973, their mission was to create Britain’s first orchestra devoted to recording baroque and classical music on period instruments. They went on to change the musical world. This book tells the story of this trailblazing orchestra and the people who shaped it: fifty years of innovation, exploration and musical adventure, from the pioneering days of the early 1970s to new directions in the twenty-first century.
Available Format: Book
Written with effervescent charm, this book reveals the fascinating musical and social history behind our favourite Christmas carols. From the Annunciation to Epiphany, the episodes of the Christmas story link the tales behind twenty-seven carols from a variety of traditions and places of origin: those that come from folk song; those we owe to Victorian moralists, and those that are, in fact, French. This rich musical treat gives us an unique insight into our Yuletide traditions and customs.
Available Format: Book
Music of Exile: The Untold Story of the Composers who Fled Hitler
Michael Haas; Yale University Press; Hardback
In the 1930s, musicians began to flee Hitler’s Germany to make new lives across the globe. Torn between cultures and traditions, they produced music that synthesised old and new worlds, some becoming core portions of today’s repertoire, some relegated to the desk drawer. This book shows how these musicians shaped the twentieth-century soundscape, and offers a moving record of the incalculable effects of war on culture.
Available Format: Book
This book charts the cultural and musical evolution of the soprano from the sixteenth century to the twenty-first. Through extensive cross-cultural research and detailed musical analysis, it traces the profound effects of social change, religion, philosophy, psychology, socio-economics, fashion, sexuality, race and technology on the soprano as a musical and cultural phenomenon. Referencing hundreds of works of music, literature, theatre, painting, and cinema, it includes multi-disciplinary discussions of everything from the effect of the corset to the politics of body-imagery.
Available Format: Book
Cecil Sharp and the Quest for Folk Song and Dance: A New Biography
David Sutcliffe; The Ballad Partners; Paperback
Cecil Sharp (1859-1924) was the leading collector of folk song and dance in England in the Edwardian period, a major figure in the English Music Renaissance movement of the time, and a key architect of the folk revivals of the following century. His strenuous advocacy of traditional art forms made a real difference to the cultural life of Britain. This is the first biography for over fifty years and offers a far more authoritative and detailed account of his life and times than has been available before.
Available Format: Book
From the Stage to the Studio: How Fine Musicians Become Great Teachers (Second Edition)
Cornelia Watkins & Laurie Scott; Oxford University Press; Paperback
Few musicians depend upon performing for their sole source of income. No matter one's level of technical accomplishment or expressive ability, musicians who distinguish themselves as both skilled performers and teachers will have significant career advantages. This expanded second edition promotes diversity and equity in all aspects of music teaching and performance, addresses the pros and cons of virtual instruction, and offers less-frequently considered financial ideas for the self-employed.
Available Format: Book
The Very Young Person's Guide to Ballet Music
Tim Lihoreau & Philip Noyce; Dorling Kindersley; Hardback
Discover the world's most famous ballets, including Swan Lake, Don Quixote, The Nutcracker, Spartacus, and The Firebird, accompanied by sound clips of child-friendly pieces. Original illustrations capture the beautiful story of the ballet, while the sound buttons bring these dazzling pieces to life. Every spread features fascinating facts about the ballet, performers, the composer, and the music.
Available Format: Book
This book provides a concise and illuminating summary of the process of film scoring. Written in a non-technical style, it begins by presenting a brief history of film music from the last thirty years, covering topics ranging from blockbuster franchises to indie film scores. It explores film music from around the world and in animation. It then offers a guide to the language of film music analysis, the creative process behind composing film music, and the use of current technology.
Available Format: Book
This Is Christmas, Song by Song: The Stories Behind 100 Holiday Hits
Annie Zaleski; Running Press; Hardback
The perfect gift for loved ones at Christmas, this book provides readers with the fascinating history and behind-the-scenes stories of one hundred Christmas songs and their everlasting impact. From artists such as Bing Crosby and Ella Fitzgerald all the way up to Mariah Carey and Ariana Grande, this all-encompassing collection of holiday favourites is sure to warm your heart during the merriest season of the year.
Available Format: Book
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