Many Classical music lovers are familiar with George Frideric Handel's famous oratorio, "Messiah," but are not aware his preferred area of composition was Italian opera seria. Biographical books explore his career as an opera composer and the rise of the new pious genre when Italian opera was no longer popular in London, but rarely do we find detailed accounts or discussions on that tempestuous period in the 1730s when this shift in populaity forced Handel to leave the Haymarket theatre and join with John Rich at Covent Garden where he tried to carry on the Royal Academy opera company in competition with the new Opera of the Nobility venture founded by the Prince of Wales before he was finally forced to abandon opera in favour of oratorio. This book explores this rocky transition period and how it affected Handel's work, namely, his inclusion of French elements to his operas and other novel innovations in order to regain his chagrined public. There are discussions exploring the possibility Handel was his own worse enemy with regards to his business decisions as impresario-composer, alienating the Italians of London and his public, which nearly cost him his career. A fascinating study for Handel admirers.

..". There were so many details raised and questions asked which make the reader really excited and interested in the period and what was happening. ... There are many, many details which just suddenly bring home to you, 'My goodness, (opera production) was different in those days ' ... There are many things that jumped out of this book at me ..." - David Adams, 'Into the Evening', Lyric FM Classical Music Radio Ireland

An important new reference source for students of western musical culture, this volume directs the user to all pertinent, substantive, and accessible information concerning the life and works of Sir Michael Tippett, widely recognized as one of this century's most significant composers. The book is divided into four main sections: a biography, an annotated list of works and performances, a discography, and an extensive bibliography. Five appendices provide additional information for the researcher including a chronological list of compositions, a classified list of published compositions, honors and awards won by the composer, ballet and television productions, and resources available. The brief biography which begins the volume provides a convenient source for basic factual information about Tippett's life. The works and performances section presents in one alphabetical sequence all known musical works by Tippett, including early unpublished compositions. Each citation includes information about year of composition, duration, genre, instrumentation, additional statements of responsibility, commissions and dedications, location of existing manuscripts, published editions, and a selected list of performances. The discography contains all known commercial recordings of Tippett's music along with information about performers, date and place of recording, and a chronological listing of all issues of the performance. Divided into three sections, the bibliography covers writings by Tippett, books and articles about Tippett, and reviews of his works culled from the Times (London), the New York Times, and a variety of major and local newspapers around the world. Taken as a whole, this is amasterful contribution to the reference works available on the great composers of the twentieth century.

With a lifelong love of music dating back to his childhood, author Don Tolle dreamed about achieving fame as a recording artist. But it was in 1973, after a tour in Vietnam, that he finally took the leap, picked up the telephone, and called record companies about his songs. It was a fateful day in his career, one that reverberates even today. In For the Record, Tolle shares his career as a music man, beginning in the record business of the wide-open 1970s, when everything seemed possible. The story follows his career from its beginnings in an entry-level position at a record company to his eventual founding of a record company and production of his own hit records, winning multiple awards in the process. Tolle also shares the story of his precipitous fall from the summit of success. For the Record describes his walk through the long shadows of the valley, where he wandered lost and alone before staging a remarkable comeback that ultimately led to his greatest triumph and the realization of the misplaced, but not forgotten, dream of his youth. Filled with the experiences, memories, revelations, and reflections of an amazing career during the golden age of the music business, this memoir offers an insider's view of the music world filled with unique personalities.

This is a collection of personal interviews with colleagues, friends and family members of the director Rainer Werner Fassbinder. He directed films such as The Marriage of Maria Braun, Berlin Alexanderplatz, Querelle, and Veronika Voss.

This astute biography of Chaplin's life and times delves into his childhood, career, and often controversial relationships with four wives and a slew of mistresses to illuminate his elusive genius and cinematic output, as well as his sometimes reprehensible personal behavior. 66 photos.

Fans of classic comedy and Old Time Radio will be enthralled by Fred Allen's autobiographical tale of his early days in radio. From the host of a small comedy-variety show to national fame with Allen's Alley, here is the story of his trials, tribulations, and ultimate successes as one of the great radio comedians -- not to mention one of the great wits -- of the 20th century!

"A composer of delicate and 'otherworldly' music, Catalani demands the re-evaluation that David Chandler herewith provides in a fascinating book which gathers together the earliest biographical writings on Catalani, the composer's earliest surviving letters, and some account of his cultural afterlife in the first age of recorded music. For anyone wanting to know more about Catalani, and the issues surrounding his career, this will be essential reading." -Konrad Dryden Dr. Dryden is Professor of Music at the University of Maryland University College Europe and author of 'Ruggiero Leoncavallo: Life and Works', 'Franco Alfano: Transcending Turandot' and 'Riccardo Zandonai: A Biography.'

A celebration of Harry Styles - we Adore You! Harry Styles is a global superstar and fashion icon who has broken records, won awards and was the first solo man to grace the cover of Vogue, but he is also grounded, humble and down to earth. He doesn't care what other people think, isn't afraid to be vulnerable and truly loves his fans. We could all do with being a bit more like Harry. With chapters on finding your style, building confidence and supporting charities, The Book of Harry explores Harry's incredible journey to stardom and the lessons we can take from his music, career and wider approach to life. Learning from his example, it will arm readers with tips, tricks and wisdom to empower them to be fearless, be themselves and above all, Treat People With Kindness.

Rainer Werner Fassbiner left behind a literary and cinematic legacy which holds a unique place in the history of European film and in the culture of the twentieth century. It evolved as the expression of an era, between 1966 and 1982, in a country which was then another Germany and which no longer exists.

Love, Please is a memoir of a timeless love story between a man and a woman from opposite sides of the world. They meet in Tokyo when she is there on tour, and each immediately realizes they are soul-mates. Their story unfolds over a period of seventeen years, from the mid seventies to the early nineties, chronicling the extraordinary adventure of their lives together. Satoru Oishi is a architect and sculptor who works with Jasper Johns and Phillip Johnson. Susana Hayman-Chaffey is a soloist with the Merce Cunningham Dance Company. The backdrop is their Manhattan loft, from which they travel around the world making a living any way they can, and learning about life through dramatic, often humorous, ups and downs. It is a voyage of love between two people, their families, friends and children. It encourages and inspires us to keep faith in the midst of what seems to be an impossible life journey, proving that, with courage and determination, anything can be accomplished. It is a human story told simply and honestly about life and love.

Tiberio Fiorilli, also known as Scaramouche, (November 9, 1608 - December 7, 1694) was an Italian actor of commedia dell'arte, popular in France for his role of Scaramouche. He was the director of the troop of the Comediens Italiens, which shared with the troop of his friend Moliere the Theatre of the Petit-Bourbon, and the Theatre of the Palais-Royal. This biography of Fiorilli by his fellow-actor Angelo Constantini was published in Paris in 1695, shortly after the actor's death. The English translation by the dance scholar and historian Cyril W Beaumont, presented here, includes detailed explanatory notes and background information.

SHOWTIME is the follow-up book to Monologues: Dramatic Monologues For Actors. It is contains 16 hilarious comedic scenes for two actors that range from one to ten minutes in length. All of the scenes are original and are taken from selected plays, films, and television pilots from Gregory's body of work. Like Monologues, SHOWTIME was written to fill a much needed void for comedic scenes for black and minority actors; although this book was written for actors of all races. There are the many unique characteristics in this book that separates it from similar books. The characters can be performs by anyone and there are plenty of scenes for males and females, males and males, older males and younger males, and so on. There are scenes that are appropriate for middle school actors all the way to professional actors. It is the perfect book to produce a show consisting of short comedic scenes for two actors. Also, it is the perfect book for directing funny scenes or shows at high school, colleges, or professional level. SHOWTIME was written to be a comedic actor and director's dream. The characters in each scene allow the actors to explore a different character through: researching, exploring, and understanding the motivation and objective necessary to bring the character to life. For the director, it allows him/her to utilize, enhance, broaden, and develop many of their skills necessary for directing full-scale productions. As a literary resource for educators, SHOWTIME includes: a chapter on vernacular, commonly used vernacular terms, a chapter on copyright infringement, a chapter on stage terminology, a chapter on film/television terminology and more. It is an excellent resource to teach: acting, scene study, and character development. SHOWTIME is original, the characters are diverse, very funny and lots of fun for acting, directing, or teaching.

When Esther Schure's mother decided that her daughter would become a violinist, there was no stopping this determined woman. The immigrant family moved from Hamilton, Ontario, to Rochester, New York (Eastman School of Music), and then to New York City-all in the interest of furthering Esther's musical education and subsequent career. From the beginning, as a four-year old, Esther developed her natural talent, and with the help of patrons and outstanding teachers she became a professional violinist. Her career spans most of the twentieth century, from the 1930's to her retirement in 1994. She played under the batons of some of the most renowned conductors of the era, including Leonard Bernstein and Leopold Stokowski. Her memoirs are a rare view from the inside of many professional orchestras. She has a talent for reproducing the personae of players, conductors, and the whole backstage. She recounts studying at the Institute of Musical Art, New York, (which later would become a part of Juilliard School of Music), and with Leopold Auer, teacher of the most famous violinists, including Jascha Heifetz and Mischa Elman. She was concertmaster on tour with the American Ballet Theatre, the British Royal Ballet, the St. Louis Symphony, and finally a thirty-seven year stint as first violinist/assistant concertmaster with the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra. The characters she describes on her journey are funny, temperamental, and talented-but of all the musicians, Esther herself is the personification of a true violinist.

Internationally recognized American composer Elliott Cook Carter, Jr. has composed over three dozen substantial pieces, ranging from stage and choral works to ballets, symphonies, and chamber music. Even at age 85, he continues to pioneer trails into new territory in modern American music. Carter has been the recipient of two Guggenheim Fellowships, two Pulitzer Prizes for Music, and numerous other awards and honors. This book contains a listing of all compositions by Carter with detailed information on premiere performances, a complete discography, and annotated citations of Carter's writings and writings about Carter and his music.

In Rural Hours, Harriet Baker tells the story of three very different women, each of whom moved to the countryside and was forever changed by it. We encounter them at quiet moments – pausing to look at an insect on the windowsill; jotting down a recipe; or digging for potatoes, dirt beneath their nails. Slowly, we start to see transformations unfold: Virginia Woolf, Sylvia Townsend Warner, and Rosamond Lehmann emerge before us as the passionate, visionary writers we know them to be.

Following long periods of creative uncertainty and private disappointment, each of Baker's subjects is invigorated by new landscapes, and the daily trials and small pleasures of making a home; slowly, they embark on new experiments in form, in feeling and in living that would resonate throughout the rest of their lives. In the country, each woman finds her path: to convalescence and recovery; to sexual and political awakening; and, above all, to personal freedom and creative flourishing.

In graceful, fluid prose, Baker vividly recreates these overlooked episodes, revealing how ‘rural hours’ defined the lives of three pioneering writers. In the end, she shows, their example is an invitation to us all: to recognize the radical and creative potential of rural places, and find new enchantment in the rituals of each day.

From the chaotic world of music journalism comes this collection of unabridged, unexpurgated interviews with four of the brightest, most influential and complex pop and rock musicians alive: Gene Simmons of Kiss, Peter Hook of New Order, Jerry Casale of Devo, and Scott Thunes of Frank Zappa fame. They are all bass players and they are all plainspoken, profane, stressed out, caustic, antagonistic and on occasion so belligerent they are prepared to engage in psychological warfare with their interviewer. Each interview is illustrated with striking, often candid photographs, and includes an introduction and a postscript. ..".the ultimate reason I liked this book was because of the very interesting circumstances of the interviews themselves. These people are almost impossible to get a hold of, let alone interview." - YourFlesh

William Howard Schuman, a celebrated figure in 20th-century music, was a composer and a copious writer on music and music education. Early on, as a composer, he received the attention of several musicians and writers such as Nathan Broder, Elliott Carter, and Leonard Bernstein. He was the recipient of numerous prestigious awards, including the Pulitzer Prize, a Guggenheim Fellowship, and the New York Music Critics Circle Award. After teaching at Sarah Lawrence College from 1935 to 1945 and serving as president of the Juilliard School from 1945 to 1962, Schuman assumed the presidency of Lincoln Center, where he successfully implemented that institution's artistic programs. Schuman, who composed in several genres, is perhaps best known for his orchestral compositions and choral music. This reference work provides a biography and a thorough catalog and guide to Schuman's writings and compositions and to the current research available on this gifted and multi-talented musician. An invaluable resource to music scholars interested in William Schuman's career, five sections provide accessible detailed information: a biography, works and performances, discography, bibliography, and bibliography of writings by Schuman. The biography traces Schuman's life and career with an emphasis on illustrating his compositional activity. The bibliography includes books, dissertations, articles, and reviews that chronicle Schuman's activities from his days as a young composer to his death in 1992. An author index, index of compositions, and general index complete this in-depth reference on William Schuman.

Now in paperback -- from surf music to hot-rod records to the sunny pop of the Beach Boys, Jan & Dean, the Byrds, and the Mama's & the Papa's, Hollywood Eden captures the fresh blossom of a young generation who came together in the epic spring of the 1960s to invent the myth of the California Paradise. Central to the story is a group of sun-kissed teens from the University High School class of 1958 -- a class that included Jan & Dean, Nancy Sinatra, and future members of the Beach Boys -- who came of age in Los Angeles at the dawn of a new golden era when anything seemed possible. These were the people who invented the idea of modern California for the rest of the world. But their own private struggles belied the paradise portrayed in their music. What began as a light-hearted frolic under sunny skies ended up crashing down to earth just a few short but action-packed years later as, one by one, each met their destinies head-on. A rock 'n' roll opera loaded with violence, deceit, intrigue, low comedy, and high drama, Hollywood Eden tells the story of a group of young artists and musicians who bumped heads, crashed cars, and ultimately flew too close to the sun.