The Accordion in the Americas by
An invention of the Industrial Revolution, the accordion provided the less affluent with an inexpensive, loud, portable, and durable "one-man-orchestra" capable of producing melody, harmony, and bass all at once. This rich collection considers the accordion and its myriad forms, from the concertina, button accordion, and piano accordion familiar in European and North American music to the exotic-sounding South American bandoneón and the sanfoninha.
Before Elvis: The Prehistory of Rock 'n' Roll by
An essential work for rock fans and scholars, Birnbaum surveys the origins of rock 'n' roll from the minstrel era to the emergence of Bill Haley and Elvis Presley. Unlike other histories of rock, this book offers a far broader and deeper analysis of the influences on rock music and presents a bold argument about rock's origins.
The Complete Classical Music Guide by
Packed with photographs, composer biographies, analyses of major works, and essential information on every musical genre, style, form, instrument, and ensemble, this book is a portable encyclopedic guide to more than one thousand years of Western classical music.
The Guitar and the New World: A Fugitive History by
The American guitar, that lightweight wooden box with a long neck, hourglass figure, and six metal strings, has evolved over five hundred years of social turmoil to become a nearly magical object—the most popular musical instrument in the world. The guitar in its many forms has cheered humanity through centuries of upheaval. This book offers a new account of this old friend, as well as a transformative look at a hidden chapter of American history.
How Music Works by
In this work Byrne explores how profoundly music is shaped by its time and place. He explains how the advent of recording technology in the twentieth century forever changed our relationship to playing, performing, and listening to music. Touching on the joy, the physics, and even the business of making music, How Music Works is a brainy, irresistible adventure and an impassioned argument about music's liberating, life-affirming power.
The Life and Times of the Great Composers by
A grand and panoramic biographical history of the giants of Western classical music. Each chapter distills the life of one or more composers, set against the social, political, musical, and cultural background of the time. Great Composers paints in broad brushstrokes the culture of a continent far wider than music.
Music Copyright Law by
Covering a topic that is vital to the success of anyone in or entering the music industry, from songwriters and performers to managers, producers, and agents, this book explores the world of copyright law and how it applies to music.
Music in the Twentieth and Twenty-First Centuries by
Auner's work explores the sense of possibility unleashed by the era's destabilizing military conflicts, social upheavals, and technological advances. He shows how the multiplicity of musical styles has called into question traditional assumptions about compositional practice, the boundaries of music and noise, and the relationship among composer, performer, and listener.
Music in Theory and Practice, V. 1 by
This best-seller gives music majors and minors a solid foundation in the theory of music. It strengthens their musical intuition, builds technical skills, and helps them gain interpretive insights. Volume I serves as a general introduction to music theory.
Music in Theory and Practice, V. 2 by
Volume II offers a survey of the theoretical underpinnings of musical styles and forms from Gregorian Chant through the present day.
The Violin: A Social History of the World's Most Versatile Instrument by
Nothing matched the violin for universal and varied expression, Jean-Jacques Rousseau declared in 1768. Affordable, portable, and equally adaptable to Bach, Beethoven, jazz, klezmer, reels, ragas, gypsy fiddlers, and indie rock, it is still unmatched as an icon of globalization.
What Makes It Great? by
A guide to classical music from Rob Kapilow, the creator of NPR's "What Makes It Great"(tm). In this book, Kapilow focuses on short masterpieces by major composers to help you understand the essence of each composer's genius and how each piece—which can be heard on the book's web site—transformed the musical language of its time.