Showing titles in History & Criticism

In the late 1970s and early to mid 1980s, San Francisco was a creative incubator, bringing forth all manner of new music acts. Ground zero for the scene was the Mabuhay Gardens, home to huge barrels of popcorn, once a week spaghetti nights, colorful emcee Dirk Dirksen, and punk/new wave bands from all over the Bay Area. Concert booker and renegade radio deejay Howie Klein joined with Aquarius Records owner (and fellow deejay) Chris Knab to launch a record label in support of that scene.

Jens Balzer, einer der profiliertesten deutschen Kulturjournalisten, zeichnet ein farbiges Panorama der Siebziger, von der Mondlandung und Woodstock über die Ölkrise und den Deutschen Herbst bis hin zum Nihilismus des Punk. Ein Jahrzehnt, in dem sich so ziemlich alles ändert: Die Hippies erproben unerhörte Lebensweisen, die antiautoritäre Erziehung und die Emanzipationsbewegung ordnen die Familien- und Geschlechterverhältnisse neu, weltumspannender Idealismus trifft auf apokalyptische Weltuntergangsängste, und spätestens als Hacker den ersten "Personal Computer" bauen, wird deutlich: Genau hier beginnt unsere Gegenwart.

Hence this is a story without precedent, a story in which Elton John plays a royal funeral, Mick Jagger gets a knighthood, Bob Dylan picks up the Nobel Prize, the Beatles become, if anything, bigger than the Beatles and it's beginning to look as though all of the above will, thanks to the march of technology, be playing Las Vegas forever.

Discover the cadence of history and the melody of time in "Harmonies and Histories". This in-depth exploration delves into the captivating world of classical music, offering a comprehensive understanding that fascinates both neophytes and veteran aficionados alike. Embark on a rich journey starting with the origins and impact of classical music in Chapter 1, expanding your knowledge about this timeless genre. Unravel the beauty of appreciating classical music in Chapter 2, learning to identify musical elements and interpret gripping narratives. Chapter 3 will then guide you through the ...

Huey Morgan - Fun Lovin' Criminals' frontman and award-winning BBC Radio 2 and BBC Radio 6 Music broadcaster - celebrates the unpredictable personalities and talents of popular music's rebel heroes and explains why we need them more than ever before. The defining sounds of popular music - blues, rock 'n' roll, punk, hip-hop - were shaped and driven by rebel voices: whether that was Robert Johnson and Billie Holiday in the 1920s-40s or the likes of Jimi Hendrix.

It's the songs that take you back. It's the music that celebrates the joys and hopes of the Holiday Season. Welcome to The 25 Songs of Christmas: The Greatest Holiday Songs Ever Made. In this audiobook, we will embark on a musical journey through some of the most beloved and iconic Christmas songs of all time. From the traditional carols that have been sung for centuries to the modern classics that dominate the airwaves, these songs capture the spirit and joy of the holiday season. Join me as we explore the history, lyrics, and enchanting stories behind each of these 25 timeless treasures.

May 1945. A Soviet military patrol searches Hitler’s secret bunker in Berlin. They find bodies, documents, jewelry, paintings—and also an extensive collection of 78 rpm records. It comes as no surprise that this collection includes work by Beethoven, Wagner, and Bruckner. The same goes for a procession of other giants promoted by the Nazi regime: “It seems as if the Nazis put a steel helmet on Mozart, girded Schubert with a saber, and wrapped barbed wire around Johann Strauss’s neck,” composer Robert Stolz once said.

Cello is a group biography that weaves together four narratives of cellists who suffered various forms of persecution, injury, and misfortune. Interwoven with their remarkable and often moving stories are a series of interludes that offer a foil to the group biographies. These examine the themes explored in the narratives from different perspectives, drawing together essay-like musings, historical research, personal experience, and the author’s many interviews and encounters with contemporary cellists.

Since its launch in late 1992, the BBC’s ‘Later….with Jools Holland’ has been widely regarded as the world’s foremost music programme, showcasing a huge variety of bands, singers and musicians in a live performance setting. Now in its 50th series ‘Later…’ has broadcasted over 300 episodes. The book will be a definitive, celebratory oral history of the show—and the last three decades of music more generally—featuring interviews with many of those who have performed over its quarter century.

Hey you! Do you have wildly eclectic taste in rock and pop music? Do you like to sing? Dance? Maybe learn some no-bullshit techniques for communicating with the deity of your choice--and getting a response? Then you, my friend, may be interested in joining the First Church of David Bowie, Phonomancer. Is the FCDB an elaborate prank? An alternative reality game? The world's first start-up religion? Who's to say! STGHTFCDB is the astounding true story of the weirdest four years of my life.

“What are the greatest rock albums of all-time?” Perhaps one of the more common questions examined between music-loving chums that has led to many a good-natured debate. But if you really dig deeper into the question...is it from the standpoint of the album’s importance in rock history? A classic release that proved significant to an artist’s career? Or perhaps merely a personal favorite, that you just can’t get enough of?

Decoding "Despacito" tracks the stories behind the biggest Latin hits of the past 50 years. From the salsa born and bred in the streets of New York City, to Puerto Rican reggaetón and bilingual chart-toppers, this rich oral history is a veritable treasure trove of never-before heard anecdotes and insight from a who's who of Latin music artists, executives, observers, and players. Their stories, told in their own words, take you inside the hits, to the inner sanctum of the creative minds behind the tracks that have defined eras and become hallmarks of history.

Since 2001, the US Department of State has been sending hip hop artists abroad to perform and teach as goodwill ambassadors. There are good reasons for this: Hip hop is known and loved across the globe, acknowledged and appreciated as a product of American culture. Hip hop has from its beginning been a means of creating community through artistic collaboration, fostering what hip hop artists call building.

Many people will recognise the famous zebra crossing. Some visitors may have graffitied their name on its hallowed outer walls. Others might even have managed to penetrate the iron gates. But what draws in these thousands of fans here, year after year? What is it that really happens behind the doors of the most celebrated recording studio in the world? It may have begun life as an affluent suburban house, but it soon became a creative hub renowned around the world as a place where great music, ground-breaking sounds and unforgettable tunes were forged.

Discover the cosmic roots of Egyptian musical, vocal, and dancing rhythmic forms. Learn the fundamentals (theory and practice) of music in the typical Egyptian way: simple, coherent, and comprehensive. Review a detailed description of the major Egyptian musical instruments, playing techniques, functions, etc. Discover the Egyptian rhythmic practices in all aspects of their lives.

Born in a small town near Warsaw, Frédéric Chopin (1810-1849) was a musical prodigy who began giving public concerts and composed his first piano pieces at the age of seven. Following studies at the Warsaw Conservatory, he left his native Poland in 1830, eventually settling in Paris, where he lived for the rest of his life. There he cultivated friendships with prominent musicians and intellectuals of the period and quickly achieved renown as a virtuoso performer and pioneering composer.

Country music has long been a marker of American identity; from our popular culture to our politics, it has provided a soundtrack to our national life. While traditionally associated with the working class, country's appeal is far broader than any other popular music style. While this music rose from the people, it is also a product of the popular music industry, and the way the music has been marketed to its audience is a key part of its story.

"Wonderful compilation" -- Henry Fogel, Dean, Chicago College of Performing Arts, Roosevelt University; former president, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, American Symphony Orchestra League "An enjoyable read, and a great conversation starter." -- James McCarthy, Limelight magazine, Australia "...for those seeking to shake up their listening habits and explore musical rarities -- Opera America Focus on obscure composers from 19th century Romantic Period, drawn from Obscure Composers series, volumes 1, 2, and 3.

Wolfgang Kos erzählt das 20. Jahrhundert in 99 besonderen Liedern. Der historische Scheinwerfer richtet sich auf Zeitstimmungen, Lebensbedingungen und Moden ebenso wie auf kollektive Sehnsüchte, Ängste und neue Ideen, die mittels Songs unter die Leute kamen. In den Songs spiegeln sich Armut und Wohlstand, Konsum­träume und Weltschmerz, gesellschaftliche oder Generationskonflikte. Songs "wirken", weil sie emotionale Identifikation bieten und unmittelbarer als andere Kulturmedien ihre Zeit und ihre Welt auf den Punkt bringen.

The first book of its kind, A Quick Ting on Afrobeats chronicles the social and cultural development of the eponymous music genre, tracing its rich history from the African continent all the way to the musical centre of the Western world.