Stephen Fry's Incomplete and Utter History of Classical Music

Author: Stephen Fry
Publisher: Boxtree
ISBN: 9780752225340
Category : Music
Languages : en
Pages : 304

Book Description
'Hello, I'm Stephen the Fry. Now time for the first outing of a brand, spanking new feature here on The Incomplete and Utter History of Classic Music... putting some unsuspecting figure in music under the spotlight.' In his Incomplete & Utter History of Classical Music, Stephen Fry presents a potted and brilliantly rambling 700-year history of classical music and the world as we know it. Along this musical journey he casually throws in references to pretty much whatever takes his fancy, from the Mongol invasion of Russia and Mr Khan (Genghis to his Friends), the founding of the MCC, the Black Death (which once again became the new black in England) to the heady revolutionary atmosphere of Mozart's Don Giovanni and the deep doo-doo that Louis XVI got into (or 'du-du' as the French would say). It's all here - Ambrose and early-English plainsong, Bach, Mozart (beloved of mobile phones everywhere), Beethoven, Debussy, Wagner (the old romantic), right up to the present day. Entertaining and brilliantly written, this is a pretty reckless romp of a history through classical music and much much more.

The History of Classical Music For Beginners

Author: R. Ryan Endris
Publisher: Red Wheel/Weiser
ISBN: 1939994276
Category : Music
Languages : en
Pages : 176

Book Description
Music history is nearly as old as human civilization itself, and while it has permeated the arts and popular culture for centuries, it still has this mystifying aura surrounding it. But fear not—it’s not as complicated as it seems, and anyone can learn the origins and history of Western art music. In addition to learning how better to understand (and enjoy!) classical music, The History of Classical Music For Beginners will help you will learn of some of the more interesting and sometimes comical stories behind the music and composers. Did you know that Jean-Baptiste Lully actually died from conducting one of his own compositions? You may have heard of Gregorian chant, but did you know there are many forms of chant, including Ambrosian and Byzantine chant? And did you also know that only a small portion of “classical music” is even technically Classical? These interesting, insightful facts and more are yours to discover in The History of Classical Music For Beginners.

Classical Music In America

Author: Joseph Horowitz
Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company
ISBN: 9780393057171
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 664

Book Description
An award-winning scholar and leading authority on American symphonic culture argues that classical music in the United States is peculiarly performance-driven, and he traces a musical trajectory rising to its peak at the close of the 19th century and receding after World War I.

A History of American Classical Music

Author: Barrymore Laurence Scherer
Publisher: Naxos Audiobooks
ISBN:
Category : Music
Languages : en
Pages : 260

Book Description
Barrymore Laurence Scherer, a distinguished American author, leads the reader through an enthralling history, illustrating the importance of not only renowned names, such as Gershwin, Copland, Bernstein, Joplin and Sousa, but also those formally in the shadows, such as William Henry Fry and Alan Hovhaness. And, of course, we even step into Broadway for that most American step-child of opera: the musical. This development, tracked largely by key composers, is set against America's tempestuous history, putting neatly into context the achievements of the time. And with the words come 2 CDs of carefully chosen music to provide a uniquely rounded representation of this field. Furthermore, the purchaser of the book is given access to a dedicated website which offers even more music to listen to, as well as other bonus material.

The Fry Chronicles

Author: Stephen Fry
Publisher: Penguin UK
ISBN: 0141039809
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 499

Book Description
Stephen Fry is an award-winning comedian, actor, presenter and director, and also a bestselling author. He has been in show business for over 30 years and now regularly appears on our screens as the host of the popular panel game 'QI'. This title is the second part of Stephen's autobiography.

English Surnames

Author: Charles Wareing Endell Bardsley
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Names, Personal
Languages : en
Pages : 682

Book Description

Travels of William Bartram

Author: William Bartram
Publisher: Courier Corporation
ISBN: 9780486200132
Category : Nature
Languages : en
Pages : 470

Book Description
Reprint of 1791 ed.

The History of American Classical Music

Author: John Warthen Struble
Publisher: Checkmark Books
ISBN: 9780816034932
Category : Music
Languages : en
Pages : 444

Book Description
Surveys the origin of a distinctly American classical tradition, discusses the work of twentieth-century composers including Ives, Gershwin, and others, and considers the future of American classical music in the United States

The Hippopotamus

Author: Stephen Fry
Publisher: Random House
ISBN: 1409007553
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 416

Book Description
Ted Wallace is a sour, old, cantankerous beast, a womanising and whisky-sodden bounder of a failed poet and drama critic, but he has his faults too. Fired from his newspaper, months behind on his alimony payments and disgusted with a world that undervalues him, Ted seeks a few months' repose and free drink at Swafford Hall, the country mansion of his old friend Lord Logan. But strange things have been going on at Swafford. Miracles. Healings. Phenomena beyond the comprehension of a mud-caked hippopotamus like Ted. 'Clever...witty...not what it seems' The Times 'My goodness what fruity language Fry uses! You can feel his enjoyment, and also the huge force of his desire to please you, as you read this' Daily Mail

The Classical Music Book

Author: DK
Publisher: Dorling Kindersley Ltd
ISBN: 0241373212
Category : Music
Languages : en
Pages : 708

Book Description
Learn about the world's greatest classical compositions and musical traditions in The Classical Music Book. Part of the fascinating Big Ideas series, this book tackles tricky topics and themes in a simple and easy to follow format. Learn about Classic Music in this overview guide to the subject, brilliant for novices looking to find out more and experts wishing to refresh their knowledge alike! The Classical Music Book brings a fresh and vibrant take on the topic through eye-catching graphics and diagrams to immerse yourself in. This captivating book will broaden your understanding of Classical Music, with: - More than 90 pieces of world-famous music - Packed with facts, charts, timelines and graphs to help explain core concepts - A visual approach to big subjects with striking illustrations and graphics throughout - Easy to follow text makes topics accessible for people at any level of understanding The Classical Music Book is a captivating introduction to music theory, crucial composers and the impact of seminal pieces, aimed at adults with an interest in the subject and students wanting to gain more of an overview. Here you'll discover more than 90 works by famous composers from the early period to the modern day, through exciting text and bold graphics. Your Classical Music Questions, Simply Explained From Mozart to Mendelssohn, this fresh new guide goes beyond your typical music books, offering a comprehensive guide to classical music history and biography. If you thought it was difficult to learn about music theory, The Classical Music Book presents key information in a clear layout. Explore the main ideas underpinning the world's greatest compositions and musical traditions, and define their importance to the musical canon and into their wider social, cultural, and historical context. The Big Ideas Series With millions of copies sold worldwide, The Classical Music Book is part of the award-winning Big Ideas series from DK. The series uses striking graphics along with engaging writing, making big topics easy to understand.