Marking the 250th anniversary of the composer's birth, this volume presents twenty-one completely new essays on aspects of Beethoven's personal life, his composing process, his manuscripts, and his greatest works. Beethoven's music stands as a universal symbol of personal and artistic achievement. As we reach and then surpass the 250th anniversary of the composer's birth, Jeremy Yudkin has commissioned a collection of new essays from some of the most insightful writers on Beethoven's accomplishments and brought them together in this remarkable volume. Filled with careful explanations, this book gives us completely new insights into music known and loved by people around the world. Ordinary music lovers as well as scholars will find countless new discoveries about Beethoven and his music. Listeners will hear his compositions afresh, and scholars will find new results of research and analysis and new avenues for discovery. Topics include Beethoven's cultural milieu, his personal life, his friends, his publishers, his instruments, his working methods, his own handwritten scores, and, of course, his music. Many works are carefully discussed and explained in ways that reveal fascinating and previously unknown aspects of compositions that we thought we knew well. A landmark publication for all who admire some of the greatest music of our civilization.

The Musical Matrix Reloaded proposes a striking new scenario for the music of Beethoven and Schubert in the contemporary world. It draws on the theory of Multiple Worlds in physics, and on sci-fi and movies, as powerful contemporary models of alternative realities to explain radical features of interpolation, dislocation, and ultimately of return. Confronting familiar assumptions about Beethoven's and Schubert's music as long-range consonance, the book proposes instead that musical action is predicated on an underlying disruptive energy, Nietzsche's Dionysian disruptive background re-interpreted in the contemporary world. When it breaks through the musical surface, it dislocates continuity and re-routes tonal narrative into new, unforeseen directions. These unforeseen paths enable us to glimpse in Beethoven's and Schubert's music the beautiful, and often haunting, reality of another world.

Historical fiction: Go along with ten-year-old George as he visits his sea captain grandfather on Mount Desert island, Maine in 1908. Even with his tendency to exaggerate he couldn't have imagined what amazing stories and adventures he would find, and what he would discover about himself. An engaging chapter book enjoyed by young listeners or independent readers - and grownups too.

Historical fiction: Go along with ten-year-old George as he visits his sea captain grandfather on Mount Desert island, Maine in 1908. Even with his tendency to exaggerate he couldn't have imagined what amazing stories and adventures he would find, and what he would discover about himself. An engaging chapter book enjoyed by young listeners or independent readers - and grownups too.

Deep beneath the Fortress's grim twin towers, dramatic conflict over the beautiful, destructive Firestone jewel intensifies between the ruthless Depostor, and D'nescha, a disguised elf-lord. Through setbacks and confrontation, the real, if reluctant hero is D'nescha's puffing friend Fatty.

A remarkably candid and informative first-person account of surviving colon cancer and living after a colostomy. A helpful guide for anyone facing this life-altering surgery.

Every year 70,000 people in the United States and Canada undergo colostomies. In 1994, Barbara Barrie became one of them. When the successful actress received the diagnosis of colorectal cancer, she knew that this was the greatest crisis she and her family would face. But it also became an adventure that, through courage and humor, brought new joys and a greater appreciation to her life.

More than just a memoir, Don't Die of Embarrassment provides valuable information about the ostomy experience. She gives essential information about the occurrence of colon cancer, its symptoms, and treatment options. A valuable guide for people learning to adjust to an altered lifestyle after surgery.

Includes a new afterword, written by Dr. Otis W. Brawley.