CATALOGUES - Art & Entertainment - Music

John Denver's poignant lyrics of the birth of a dolphin are both a lullaby and a paean to "dolphin kind," as adapted in this gorgeous picture book. Denver embraces the unique, almost mystical quality of a baby dolphin as "giving hope to life as all we must." Hardback edition includes the musical score and a CD of John Denver singing this beautiful song. Age 2 and up

Life of the fiercely independent, courageous singer-songwriter. Ani DiFranco's career as a singer-songwriter, recording artist, and independent recording label 'executive' for Righteous Babe Records has given new inspiration to alternative artists. Since the release of her first album in 1990, she has developed one of the most loyal followings in contemporary music among young feminists, college students, and folk rock fans. With the release of "Educated Guess, she has embarked on a one-woman, two-year North American concert tour, ... read more

Supplying list prices for more than 2,500 currently made piano brands and models, as well as advice on how to estimate actual street prices to help negotiate the lowest possible price, this annual complement to "The Piano Book" offers the information necessary to differentiate between a good deal and a great deal when buying a piano. Anyone in the market for a new or used piano-including teachers, technicians, students, and aficionados-can make a more informed purchase using this definitive and singular guide. Completely updated in... read more

Rightly called the saddest story in rock 'n' roll history, this Creedence biography - newly updated with stories from band members, producers, business associates, close friends, and families - recounts the tragic and triumphant tale of one of America's most beloved bands. Hailed as the great American rock band from 1968 to 1971, Creedence Clearwater Revival captured the imaginations of a generation with classic hits like "Proud Mary,""Down on the Corner,""Green River,""Born on the Bayou," and "Who'll Stop the Rain." Mounting tensi... read more

This question-and-answer, no-holds-barred discussion of the intricacies of making a living as a professional musician gives frank advice regarding professional and personal aspects for a band's success and survival. An extensive range of industry topics are covered, including how to find and hire musicians, lay down gig and rehearsal rules, find booking agents, locate venues, put together press packs, write contracts, record a demo, self promote, and gain industry attention. Potentially taboo interpersonal issues are also addressed... read more

A testament to the continuing legacy of the musical and visual genius of the Beatles, this compendium of Beatlemania reveals untold influences the group exerted on both the music and entertainment world

Boasting never-before-told stories of life on the road with a young Elvis, this comprehensive guide to Elvis' band gives an insider's view of how the band worked with him onstage, in the studio, and in movies, and features the first comprehensive look at their post-Presley lives and careers. Band members Scotty Moore, D J Fontana, and Bill Black created the Sun sound with Elvis, which has influenced such legendary performers as Ringo Starr, George Harrison, John Fogerty, and Charlie Watts. Based on interviews with Moore, Fontana, a... read more

Bossa nova is one of the most popular musical genres in the world. Songs such as "The Girl from Ipanema" (the fifth most frequently played song in the world), "The Waters of March, " and "Desafinado" are known around the world. "Bossa Nova"--a number-one bestseller when originally published in Brazil as "Chega de saudade"--is a definitive history of this seductive music. Based on extensive interviews with Antonio Carlos Jobim, Joao Gilberto, and all the major musicians and their friends, "Bossa Nova" explains how a handful of Rio d... read more

Ideal for amateurs and professionals alike, this innovative, imaginative guide demonstrates how musicians can reach their full potential. Delving deeply into the methodology and inspiration required to energise and enliven music making, this manual offers countless suggestions for creating joy and excitement in performance. A stimulating series of activities and reflections using YouTube video clips clearly illustrates ideas, concepts, and techniques such as breathing, pulse, and movement. This entertaining reference also recounts ... read more

By identifying the separate elements that contribute to a beautiful choral sound, this manual assists directors and singers in achieving beautifully blended performances. Practical exercises and techniques are provided to explore elements such as vowel, resonance, pitch, density, and phrasing. This approach can be applied to a wide variety of musical styles, from barbershop quartets to opera choruses, performing in venues such as theaters and cathedrals. Solo singers will also find techniques to enhance the artistry and professiona... read more

In this book of original interviews, some of country music's greatest stars share personal moments of redemption, inspiration, and heartache related to the music that shaped their lives. Brenda Lee explains how her childhood singing gift raised her entire family out of dire poverty, and Pat Boone speaks about the spiritual influence of his father-in-law, Red Foley. Barbara Pittman talks about her childhood friendship with Elvis Presley, while Little Jimmy Dickens divulges how Hank Williams came to write a song for him and why he ne... read more

This entertaining history of Cuba and its music begins with the collision of Spain and Africa and continues through the era of Miguelito Valdes, Arsenio Rodriguez, Benny More, and Perez Prado. It offers a behind-the-scenes examination of music from a Cuban point of view, unearthing surprising, provocative connections and making the case that Cuba was fundamental to the evolution of music in the New World. The ways in which the music of black slaves transformed 16th-century Europe, how the claves appeared, and how Cuban music influe... read more

For disgruntled music fans wondering why music played on the radio is not only worse now than in the past but also not nearly as revelatory as it once was, this book presents a detailed discussion of how the record business fouled its own livelihood. This insightful dissection covers numerous aspects of the industry's failures and shortcomings, including why stockholders play an important role, how radio went from an art to a science and what was lost in that change, how the record companies alienated their core audience, why file ... read more

First authoritative look at the life and music of this seminal artist. From her early collaborations with country rock legend Gram Parsons, through her work with Linda Ronstadt and Dolly Parton, to her current reign as the queen of alternative country music, Emmylou Harris has lived a remarkable life on the culling edge of contemporary music. She debuted as a folk artist in Greenwich Village, playing alongside Jerry Jeff Walker and David Bromberg, before collaborating with Gram Parsons, forging the country rock sound. Her acclaimed... read more

A selective survey of the major pioneering composers of the 20th century, this resource focuses on the development of the new emphases in music creation, including tone color and density—elements which prior to 1900 had been subordinated in their treatment and given secondary importance compared to melody and harmony. In addition to presenting general biographies and a list of each of the 123 featured composer’s most prominent works, this sourcebook examines the philosophies and the aesthetic considerations behind the new... read more

With this consumer's guide, buyers of home theatre systems will be taken through the technology and components of home entertainment and learn how they suit their individual needs. Consumers will discover the best components, how to be a savvy shopper, how to avoid buying the wrong technology, and how to set up and fine-tune a system. In addition, all the technologies behind home theatre are explained. These technologies include DVD players, audio/video receivers, multi-channel speaker systems, high-definition television (HDTV), an... read more

Earthy, sexy, and vivacious, the life of beloved country singer, Patsy Cline, who soared from obscurity to international fame to tragic death in just thirty short years, is explored in colourful and poignant detail. An innovator - and even a hell-raiser - Cline broke all the boys' club barriers of Nashville's music business in the 1950s and brought a new Nashville sound to the nation with her pop hits and torch ballads like "Walking After Midnight", "I Fall to Pieces", and "Crazy". She is the subject of a major Hollywood movie and ... read more

Examining the dynamics of hip-hop from every region and in every form - mainstream and underground, current and classic - this compelling how-to discusses everything from content and flow to rhythm and delivery in relation to the art and craft of rap. Compiled from the most extensive research on rapping to date, this first-of-its-kind guide delivers countless candid and exclusive insights from more than 100 of the most critically acclaimed artists in hip-hop - including Clipse, Cypress Hill, Nelly, Public Enemy, Remy Ma, Schoolly D... read more

British writer Sean Egan examines in close detail one of the most important rock & roll albums of the 1960s in his well-researched study, JIMI HENDRIX AND THE MAKING OF ARE YOU EXPERIENCED. The Jimi Hendrix Experience's first album, ARE YOU EXPERIENCED, was recorded in multiple sessions between the punishing British club dates that were the band's bread and butter. Almost all the album's songs were composed in the studio, which gave the musicians the freedom to experiment with sounds and effects impossible to reproduce in a live se... read more