Showing titles in History & Criticism

Rhythm & blues emerged from the African American community in the late 1940s to become the driving force in American popular music over the next half-century. Although sometimes called "doo-wop", "soul", "funk", "urban contemporary", or "hip-hop", R&B is actually an umbrella category that includes all of these styles and genres. It is in fact a modern-day incarnation of a musical tradition that stretches back to 19th-century America, and even further to African beginnings.

This audiobook profiles the hottest rock 'n roll women, spanning the 1960s to current times - from Janis Joplin, Suzi Quatro and Chrissie Hynde to Courtney Love and Pink. With perceptive biographies and in-depth music critiques, author Alison Stieven-Taylor gives an up-close and personal look at the experiences, adventures, and musical passions of these extraordinary and talented women whose wild vocals and on-stage antics have made them rock 'n roll legends.

The Shortest History of Music takes us on a lively tour through several thousands of years of music history, tracing our relationship with this essential art and allowing us to freshly appreciate and understand music today.

The Shortest History of Music takes us on a lively tour through several thousands of years of music history, tracing our relationship with this essential art and allowing us to freshly appreciate and understand music today.

Johann Sebastian Bach dejó una biblioteca de poco más de ochenta libros entre los que se contaban títulos de teología y espiritualidad—o al menos así lo certifica el inventario efectuado a su muerte—, y que constituyeron, cabe imaginar que junto a otros textos, un espacio de intimidad cotidiana y de reflexión. Contemporáneo de Newton y Leibniz, su música fue creada en un momento crucial del ideario de Occidente, y así lo refleja su inaudita capacidad de absorber las propuestas procedentes de la Razón y el espíritu y transformarlas en un arte de insólita penetración intelectual y humana.

With China’s history unfolding around her, this is the true story of how Frances channeled her unique talents and connections to unite people in our shared humanity.

The Pixies in Boston. Nirvana in Seattle. The Red Hot Chili Peppers in Los Angeles. While these alt-rock bands are world-renowned today, at the dawn of the '90s they were still largely defined by local music scenes. Before the mediation of MTV, VH1, or Apple Music, fans connected directly to alt-rock groups through word of mouth or via small local radio stations.

"В каждой личности есть тьма", – говорит автор книги Кристофер Лоуренс, и великие композиторы и музыканты не исключение. История классической музыки и жизнь знаменитых музыкантов изобилует убийствами, прелюбодеяниями, двоеженством, мошенничеством, богатством, бедностью, обжорством, нервными срывами, странным поведением и ужасным, ужасным туалетным юмором (Моцарт был главным выразителем последнего). Классическая музыка – приятная? Вам только так кажется. Шокирующая музыка документирует всю подноготную великих композиторов, выдавая их самые сокровенные секреты.

Thunderclap Newman stunned the music world in the summer of 1969 with the success of their wonderfully odd debut single "Something In The Air", which ousted none other than the Beatles from the top of the charts. They followed up with an LP described by Nik Cohn as "one of the finest, most truly bizarre albums of the era" before disintegrating just a few months after its release. This is the story of one of the most unlikely combos in popular music history, and of the four disparate characters who formed its core.

He was the King of Rockabilly, and one of rock and roll's true pioneers. A groundbreaking guitarist, singer, and songwriter, Carl Perkins inspired countless musicians in country, rock, and pop music. Now acclaimed music writer Jeff Apter recounts Carl Perkins's remarkable life story—the triumphs, tragedies, and career highlights that include some of the most pivotal moments in music history.

Low-rise jeans, butterfly clips, The Lizzie McGuire Movie, and Paris Hilton’s nights out. The early 2000s were a time of major moments in fashion, media, celebrity culture, and especially music. Artists such as Britney Spears, Avril Lavigne, Taylor Swift, Rihanna, and Beyoncé were leading the charge—their success not only producing a new respect for female artists, but for pop stardom itself. Nora Princiotti examines how these artists redefined the role of the pop star within the music industry and culture more broadly, and ultimately set the stage for the women who top the charts today.

Over 50 years after his death, Jimi Hendrix (1942-1970) is celebrated as the greatest rock guitarist of all time. But before he was setting guitars and the world aflame, James Marshall Hendrix was a shy kid in Seattle, plucking at a broken ukulele and in fear of a father who would hit him for playing left-handed. Bringing Jimi’s story to vivid life against the backdrop of mid-century rock, and with a wealth of new information, acclaimed music biographer Philip Norman delivers a captivating and definitive portrait of a musical legend.

Was ist noch Musik und was bloß ein Geräusch? Musikwissenschaftlerin Prof. Dr. Melanie Unseld erklärt anschaulich, was eine Oper von Kammermusik unterscheidet und zeigt, wie sich unsere Musikkultur entwickelt hat. Spannende Interviews im Anschluss an jede Lektion mit renommierten Musik-Akteuren geben zudem exklusive Einblicke hinter die Kulissen. Warum klingen dieselben Stücke immer wieder anders? Lernen Sie wie Interpreten arbeiten und wie die Töne in der neuen Musik anders gedacht werden.

Aunque no se trata de un arte plástico en sentido literal, hay que mencionar que este siglo de la Ilustración dio lugar a una gran explosión musical y vió nacer a los mejores maestros de todos los tiempos. En esta breve relación queremos mencionar a algunos de ellos que han quedado esculpidos para siempre en la historia de la música.

"ROCK SCHOOL": Eine Ode an die geilste Musik der Welt: Leidenschaft, Einblicke hinter die Bühne und natürlich "Sex, Drugs and Rock ’n’ Roll". Fans und Freunde des Rocks sind eingeladen, zusammen mit Andy Brings und Stargästen der Branche in der neuen Serie "ROCK SCHOOL" über die einflussreichsten Größen der Musikszene zu philosophieren und zu schwärmen. "ROCK SCHOOL" wäre dabei nicht "ROCK SCHOOL", wenn es nicht mit einem Knall beginnen würde.

“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?

With Stanley Crouch's untimely death in 2020, American literature lost "a critic without peer" (Ta-Nehisi Coates). Born in Los Angeles in 1945, Crouch—a towering stylist, fearless columnist, and without question, one of the finest jazz critics of all time—was Rabelaisian both in stature and in intellectual appetite. Beloved yet cantankerous, Crouch delighted and enflamed the passions of his readers in equal measure, whether writing about race, politics, literature, or music.

Audiobuch über das Leben und Wirken des legendären Sängers und Songwriters. John Denver lebt: zumindest in den Gedanken der immer noch riesigen Fangemeinde des 1997 durch einen Flugzeugabsturz ums Leben gekommenen amerikanischen Sängers und Songwriters. Jetzt ist ein Hörbuch über ihn erschienen, das über das Leben und Wirken des Künstlers informiert. Das Hörbuch enthält dazu Interviewpassagen von einer Pressekonferenz, die John Denver auf seiner letzten Deutschlandtournee im Jahre 1995 gegeben hat.

De parecido modo a como refiere Homero en la odisea al dar noticia del irreprimible deseo que apodérase de Ulises —embriagarse con los cantos de las sirenas—, no es menos cierto que pocos son los que se resisten al embrujador encanto del acervo musical de Cuba; trasunto "afrocañí" de la isla de las sirenas por cuyas entrañas fluyen y concluyen tantas tradiciones musicales de Ultramar.

Un aspecto poco conocido en la historia del rock nacional es el vertiginoso avance técnico que ocurrió durante la década del 80 a la par del alcance masivo de las canciones más emblemáticas, la exportación de artistas hacia otros rincones de Latinoamérica y la llegada al país de figuras internacionales de primera línea. Detrás de escena hubo un puñado de actores que acompañaron el crecimiento del rock local con pasión, entusiasmo desbordante, amor por su profesión y ganas de trascender las fronteras.