Postcolonial Opera
Opera has long been known for its ability to be used as a tool for colonial expression. But it is increasingly used to narrate histories of colonial trauma, oppression, and struggle. What does it mean for a colonial form to represent the experiences of those it used to exclude and undermine? How can opera adapt to meet the challenges of ethical representation and reparation? In response to these questions, Postcolonial Opera: William Kentridge and the Unbounded Work of Art examines the social and political role of opera in the postcolony. Taking the multimedia operatic experiments of William Kentridge, South Africa's most celebrated contemporary visual artist, as a starting point, author Juliana M. Pistorius investigates contemporary opera's potential to process the troubled histories that haunt post- and decolonial societies. Centered around the critical-theoretical themes of return, confession, mourning, time, displacement, and totality, the book considers Kentridge's productions for puppets (Il Ritorno d'Ulisse, 1998; Confessions of Zeno, 2002), his operatic installation for a miniature automated theatre (Black Box/Chambre Noire, 2005), his chamber work for performers and machines (Refuse the Hour, 2012), and his 'processional operas' (Triumphs and Laments, 2016; The Head & the Load, 2018). Pistorius argues that the artist's newly conceived operatic form, built on ideas of unboundedness rather than totality or formlessness, offers opportunities to engage anew with questions of race, coloniality, and cultural belonging in the postcolony. While Kentridge's pieces take the artist's responsibility to deal with the genre's colonial past seriously, she shows how they also offer humor, beauty, and catalytic opportunities to reimagine the form and function of opera in the postcolonial present. Postcolonial Opera intervenes in contemporary debates about opera's relevance and contributes to the growing study of the art form's relationship with race and coloniality. Ultimately, Pistorius argues that Kentridge's multimedia experiments--at once local and global--present compelling perspectives on the contradictions and compromises of the genre's position in the postcolony.
Decade of Dissent
During the 1960s--a juncture in history when music was the meeting place for the ideas of the young and questioning--Bob Dylan stood head and shoulders in influence above all others. In telling the story of his first calendar decade as a recording artist, Decade Of Dissent provides a unique angle on an endlessly fascinating and truly peerless career.Dylan's 60s recordings constitute a dizzying run that includes such landmark albums as The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan, Highway 61 Revisited, Blonde On Blonde, the so-called 'Basement Tapes', and John Wesley Harding, and such classic songs as 'Blowin' In The Wind', 'The Times They Are A-Changin'', 'Mr. Tambourine Man', 'Like A Rolling Stone', 'Just Like A Woman', 'Quinn The Eskimo', 'All Along The Watchtower', and 'Lay Lady Lay'. They set the template for his genius and encompass the bulk of his greatest work. The career arc they collectively describe saw Dylan effortlessly and repeatedly instigate revolution, by turns reinvigorating folk music, turning protest song mainstream, bringing the intellectualism and social conscience of folk to rock and pop, reasserting roots music over the excesses of psychedelia, and making country music respectable.Through each of his new identities, Dylan's dazzling lyrics established him as the poet laureate of the counterculture. All during this time he was engaged in a personal voyage that saw him first embrace the blandishments of fame and then emphatically reject them. His journey during this era from ambitious nobody to cultural icon back to willing background figure makes for one of the most extraordinary narratives in the history of recorded music. It features a fascinating supporting cast of collaborators and peers, from Al Kooper and Mike Bloomfield to The Beatles and The Byrds.Dylan now occupies an unparalleled role as venerated elder statesman of music, but through the twists and turns of his long career he has never quite regained the position he held during his insurrectionary first decade, when he was the most important artist in popular music--and, by extension, one of the most crucial figures in Western society. Drawing on exclusive interviews and packed full of fresh insights, Decade Of Dissent brings to life Dylan and his milieu at the point when he was making music that was not merely aesthetically magnificent but sociologically earthshaking.
Reinventing Bach
FINALIST FOR THE NATIONAL BOOK CRITICS CIRCLE AWARD FOR CRITICISM One of the greatest musicians of all time, Johann Sebastian Bach was also a genius in the search for new sounds through technology--a pursuit as lively in his moment as it is in ours. A master of the pipe organ (the high-tech device of his era), Bach was constantly coming up with fresh and flexible approaches to keyboards, string instruments, and sacred choirs, such that his work is ceaselessly alive and adaptable three centuries later. In Reinventing Bach, the composer's life and work are the inspiration for a gripping contemporary story about the power of technology to sustain (rather than undermine) the arts. Like his classic The Life You Save May Be Your Own, Paul Elie's second book is a vivid and intricate group portrait, a work of "epic sweep, like a novel made up of multiple strands" (The Economist). It is the story both of Bach's practice of music as sacred invention, and of the amazing reinvigoration of the music by gifted artists using some of the most familiar inventions of our time: those of recording technology. We meet Albert Schweitzer making midnight recordings at the organ of aLondon church via a mobile rig, Pablo Casals alone with a cello and a microphone at Abbey Road Studios on the eve of world war, and Leopold Stokowski persuading Walt Disney to feature the conductor's own grand orchestrations of Bach in the animated film Fantasia. With the savant Glenn Gould hunkered over a piano in a state-of-the-art studio, the postwar reinvention of Bach is in full swing--and barrels onward with the Beatles, Switched-on Bach, and G繹del, Escher, Bach, right up to Yo-Yo Ma, the cellist who has cleared space for Bach in the digital realm. With a new preface, Reinventing Bach conveys the music's enduring influence and beauty--and evokes the ways recordings enable us to transcend time and space and enter a realm where an immortal composer, his master interpreters, and twenty-first-century listeners are brought together in a spiritualized encounter.
The Routledge Research Companion to Modernism in Music
Modernism in music still arouses passions and is riven by controversies. Taking root in the early decades of the twentieth century, it achieved ideological dominance for almost three decades following the Second World War, before becoming the object of widespread critique in the last two decades of the century, both from critics and composers of a postmodern persuasion and from prominent scholars associated with the 'new musicology'. Yet these critiques have failed to dampen its ongoing resilience. The picture of modernism has considerably broadened and diversified, and has remained a pivotal focus of debate well into the twenty-first century. This Research Companion does not seek to limit what musical modernism might be. At the same time, it resists any dilution of the term that would see its indiscriminate application to practically any and all music of a certain period.In addition to addressing issues already well established in modernist studies such as aesthetics, history, institutions, place, diaspora, cosmopolitanism, production and performance, communication technologies and the interface with postmodernism, this volume also explores topics that are less established; among them: modernism and affect, modernism and comedy, modernism versus the 'contemporary', and the crucial distinction between modernism in popular culture and a 'popular modernism', a modernism of the people. In doing so, this text seeks to define modernism in music by probing its margins as much as by restating its supposed essence.
Hungarian ”Gypsy-Band” Music in Vienna, 1850-1914
A detailed investigation, based on extensive study of press reports and early recordings, of the popular Hungarian bands in Vienna who influenced Brahms and other composers. It has long been recognized that Viennese composers, especially Brahms, were profoundly influenced by Hungarian "Gypsy bands." Furthermore, the style hongrois repertory and style in which these bands specialized has been identified as important in its own right. The bands themselves, however, are generally relegated to the status of being part of an unknowable oral tradition, of which nothing remains apart from some highly exoticized literary hyperbole.Jon Banks's pathbreaking Hungarian "Gypsy-Band" Music in Vienna, 1850-1914 redresses this imbalance by presenting a detailed account of these "other" musicians and their interactions with the mainstream of Western classical music. To do so, it analyzes thousands of advertisements, news reports, and anecdotes in the Viennese press relating to "Gypsy bands" (whose members were often but not always Romani) and builds a detailed picture of who the musicians were, where they played, and how the conditions of their employment affected their lives and their music-making. The press notices are collated with evidence from contemporaneous Hungarian sources as well as an analysis of the hundreds of recordings that these bands made in the first decade of the twentieth century. In undertaking this first systematic examination of these different kinds of materials, Jon Banks's book provides a reanimation of some extraordinary personalities and careers in the light of their own achievements as well as their influence on others.
Edward Macdowell, His Work And Ideals
Unlock the soul-stirring legacy of a musical genius with "Edward MacDowell, His Work and Ideals" by Elizabeth Fry Page. This captivating biography, once lost to time, is now beautifully restored and republished by Alpha Editions, offering a rare glimpse into the life and artistry of one of America's most celebrated composers. Dive into the pages of this cultural treasure, where MacDowell's passion and creativity come alive through Page's eloquent narrative. Discover the timeless ideals and profound influences that shaped his work, making this book a must-have for both casual readers and collectors of classic literature. This edition is not just a reprint; it's a collector's item, meticulously restored for today's and future generations. Experience the emotional depth and artistic brilliance of MacDowell's legacy, preserved in a volume that promises to inspire and captivate. Don't miss the chance to own a piece of history that celebrates the enduring power of music and the indomitable spirit of a true artist.
English And Scottish Ballads, Volume I
Unlock the timeless allure of "English and Scottish Ballads, Volume I" by Francis James Child, a masterpiece that has captivated hearts for generations. Once out of print for decades, this enchanting collection is now beautifully restored and republished by Alpha Editions, offering a rare glimpse into the rich tapestry of folklore and history. This edition is not just a reprint it's a collector's item and a cultural treasure, meticulously preserved for today's and future generations. Dive into a world where love, adventure, and mystery intertwine through lyrical narratives that have shaped the literary landscape. Each ballad is a window into the past, echoing the voices of ancient storytellers and capturing the essence of human experience. Whether you're a casual reader or a devoted collector of classic literature, this volume promises to inspire and delight with its evocative themes and timeless beauty. Experience the magic of these legendary tales, now accessible in a stunning edition that honors their enduring legacy. Don't miss the chance to own a piece of literary history immerse yourself in the captivating world of "English and Scottish Ballads, Volume I" today.
The Counterpoint Guitar Method
Master Counterpoint on Guitar and Unlock a New World of Melodic PossibilitiesWhy do Baroque composers like Bach sound so rich and sophisticated?How did the great classical musicians create interweaving melodies that feel both structured and expressive? The answer lies in counterpoint - the art of crafting independent melodic lines that harmonise seamlessly.For centuries, counterpoint has been a core principle of composition, yet it remains largely untouched in modern guitar education. The Counterpoint Guitar Method bridges the gap, giving guitarists a clear, practical path to mastering counterpoint and voice leading techniques. Through step-by-step exercises, real-world examples, and insights drawn from figured bass, cadences, and Baroque sequences, you will develop the skills to create beautiful, harmonically rich music on your instrument.Inside, You'll Discover: - First and Second Species Counterpoint. Learn the foundational rules of counterpoint and how to create independent melodic lines that work together- Figured Bass and Harmonic Thinking. Understand the Baroque system of harmonisation and how it applies to modern music- Suspensions, Cadences, and Modulation. Add expressive tension and smooth harmonic movement to your playing.- Sequences and Patterns for Melodic Flow. Master essential Baroque sequences like the Romanesca and Prinner to expand your phrasing- Diminution and Ornamentation. Transform simple harmonic frameworks into expressive, flowing melodies- Imitation and Polyphony. Develop counter-melodies and apply techniques from Bach's inventions to guitarThis book is designed for guitarists who want to explore melody/harmony on guitar and go beyond chord shapes and scale patterns. Whether you play classical guitar, jazz, or fingerstyle, understanding counterpoint will deepen your musicianship and refine your approach to harmony and melody. By studying the techniques of Bach, Handel, and Corelli, you will develop greater control over voice leading and learn to craft expressive, independent melodic lines.This book isn't just theoretical, it's highly practical, offering exercises and real musical examples that will immediately enhance your composition, arrangement and improvisation skills.
Neu Klang
"Revelatory and propulsively arranged." - The New York Times The first ever oral-history of Krautrock, the sound that changed modern music. West Germany, 1968. Like everywhere else in the Western world, the young generation is pushing for radical change, still suffering the after-effects of the Second World War. Many stream out of the lecture halls and onto the streets. Some into the underground. And some into the practice basements, in search of the soundtrack of the movement. The unique and adventurous sounds that German bands like Can, Neu!, Amon D羹羹l, Popul Vuh, Tangerine Dream, Faust, Cluster or Kraftwerk produced back then, now known as Krautrock, are considered a blueprint for modern rock music. And the stream of their creative admirers and continuators has been constantly widening since the first fans like David Bowie and Iggy Pop: whether Blur, Aphex Twin, Sonic Youth, Radiohead or the Red Hot Chilli Peppers. In Neu Klang, Christoph Dallach interviews its pioneers, including Irmin Schmidt, Jaki Liebezeit and Holger Czukay of CAN; Neu!'s Michael Rother; Dieter Moebius of Cluster; Klaus Schulze of Tangerine Dream; Karl Bartos of Kraftwerk, Brian Eno and many others. Their answers combine to form an oral history that points far beyond the individual band histories: on the one hand, into the past, to Nazi teachers, post-war parental homes, free jazz, terrorism, LSD and extremely long hair; but just as much into the future, to global recognition, myth-making, techno or post-rock.
The Development Of Certain Tendencies In Modern Opera; Thesis For The Degree Of Bachelor Of Music
Unlock the captivating world of modern opera with "The Development of Certain Tendencies in Modern Opera" by Kathryn Eleanor Browne, a masterpiece that lay dormant for decades and is now reborn through Alpha Editions. This timeless thesis, once out of print, has been meticulously restored, offering a rare glimpse into the evolution of opera that will enchant both casual readers and classic literature collectors alike. Dive into Browne's insightful exploration of opera's transformative journey, where she masterfully dissects the artistic and cultural shifts that have shaped this beloved art form. Her eloquent analysis and passionate narrative breathe life into the pages, making this edition not just a reprint, but a collector's item and a cultural treasure. Whether you're a seasoned opera aficionado or a curious newcomer, this book promises to inspire and educate, bridging the past with the present. Experience the revival of a forgotten gem, now available for today's and future generations to cherish. Don't miss your chance to own a piece of literary history that celebrates the enduring allure of modern opera.
Deems Taylor
Unlock the captivating world of "Deems Taylor" by John Tasker Howard, a timeless masterpiece that has been out of print for decades and is now beautifully restored by Alpha Editions. This collector's item is not just a reprint; it's a cultural treasure brought back to life for today's and future generations. Dive into the fascinating life of Deems Taylor, a luminary in American music and a voice of the early 20th century. Howard's compelling narrative weaves together Taylor's artistic journey, his profound influence on music, and his enduring legacy. This edition offers readers a unique glimpse into the vibrant world of a man who shaped the soundscape of his era. Whether you're a casual reader or a classic literature aficionado, this book promises to engage and inspire. Its rich storytelling and historical significance make it a must-have for any collection. Experience the revival of a literary gem that celebrates the intersection of music and biography, and let it resonate with your love for timeless stories.
Genre Beyond Borders
This book offers an innovative approach to understanding operetta, drawing attention to its malleability and resistance to boundaries. The chapters on an international range of topics serve as summary of the current state of the field, showcasing the many possible pathways for future scholars who wish to explore it.
Ethnomusicology and its Intimacies
Ethnomusicology and its Intimacies situates intimacy, a concept that encompasses a wide range of often informal social practices and processes for building closeness and relationality, within the ethnomusicological study of music and sound. These scholarly essays reflect on a range of interactions between individuals and communities that deepen connections and associations, and which may be played out relatively briefly or nurtured over time.Three major sections on Performance, Auto/biographical Strategies, and Film are each prefaced by an interview with a scholar or practitioner with close knowledge of the subject that links the chapters in that section. Often drawing directly on fieldwork experience in a variety of contexts, authors consider how concepts of intimacy can illuminate the ethnographic study of music, addressing questions such as: how can we understand ethnomusicological and ethnographic research and performance as processes of musically mediated intimacy? How are the longstanding relationships we develop with others particularly intimated by and through musicking? How do we understand the musically intimate relationships of others and how do these inflect our own musical intimacies? How does music represent, inscribe, constrain, or provoke social or personal intimacies in particular contexts?The volume will appeal to all scholars with interests in music and how it is used to construct relationships in different contexts around the world.
An Anarchy of Demons (Hardback)
'An Anarchy of Demons' is the long anticipated autobiography by U.K. Subs' legendary leader Charlie Harper. Charlie's fascinating story is told in his own unique style, taking the reader through his early years as a 'war baby', his time at boarding schools for misfit boys, his adventurous youth, his struggles and escapades as a bass player, his turbulent personal life as well as his incredible journey with the U.K. Subs, as a solo artist and with his many side-project bands. Illustrated throughout with many unseen photos from his own collection, this will be without doubt, the most talked about punk rock book of the year.The book boasts a wonderful Foreword written by Rancid's Lars Frederiksen with the book's stunning cover artwork being supplied by Steve Dann (Magpie Art), of which the original hangs in Charlie's house.'An Anarchy of Demons' will be available to buy as a paperback, a limited edition hardback as well as an e-Book. Charlie Harper's 'An Anarchy of Demons' contains 478 full-colour pages providing a unique insight into what made him the punk icon he is today.This is the limited edition hardback version.
Tearing Down the Orange Curtain
***A ROLLING STONE BEST MUSIC BOOK OF 2025*** The untold story of OC punk--the loud, rebellious force behind the '90s explosion of the Orange County music scene, featuring stories about legendary bands. When it comes to punk communities across the world, the Orange County punk scene stands out as an undeniable trendsetter that helped define the sound and style of the rapidly evolving genre. From hard luck storytellers Social Distortion and multi-platinum sellers like The Offspring to cult heroes like The Adolescents and T.S.O.L., there's much insight to gain from the story of this popular though often misunderstood music scene. In Tearing Down the Orange Curtain, journalists Nate Jackson and Daniel Kohn explore the trajectory of punk and ska from their humble beginnings to their peak popularity years, where their cultural impact could be felt in music around the world. Delving deep into the personal and professional lives of bands like Social Distortion, The Adolescents, The Offspring, and their ska counterparts No Doubt, Sublime, Reel Big Fish, Save Ferris, and more, this book gives readers a deeper look into the very human stories of these musicians, many of whom struggled with acceptance, addiction, and brutal teenage years in suburbia. Through exclusive first-hand interviews, Tearing Down the Orange Curtain brings the 20-year period of OC punk and third-wave ska (1978-2000) to life, focusing specifically on the historical and musical roots of this creative explosion. Thought-provoking, meticulously researched, and refreshingly candid, this book presents a compelling narrative of how a suburban wasteland turned into a hub for rock-n roll culture, just over 30 miles away from the bright lights of LA.
A New Philosophy of Opera
Known as opera's "disrupter-in-residence," director Yuval Sharon has never adhered to the art form's conventions. In his many productions in both the United States and Europe, he constantly challenges the perception of opera as aloof by urging, among other things: performing operas in "non-places," such as parking lots; encouraging the use of amplification; and shuffling the traditional structure of classic works, like performing Puccini's La boh癡me in reverse order, ending not with the tubercular heroine Mimi's death but with her first falling in love. With A New Philosophy of Opera, Sharon has crafted a radical and refreshing book that can act as an introduction to the art form for the culturally curious, or as a manifesto for his fellow artists. In an engaging style that ranges from the provocative to the personal, Sharon offers a 360-degree view of the art form, from the audience experience to the artist's process; from its socially conscious potential to its economic reality; and from its practical to its emotional and spiritual dimensions. Surveying the role of opera in the United States and drawing on his experiences from Berlin to Los Angeles, Sharon lays out his vision for an "anti-elite opera" that celebrates the imagination and challenges the status quo. With an illustrated and unconventional history of the art form (not following a straight line but tracing a fantastical "time-curve") weaving throughout the book, Sharon resists the notion of the opera as "dying" and instead portrays it as a glorious chaos constantly being reborn and reshaped. With its advocacy of opera as an "enchanted space" and its revolutionary message, A New Philosophy of Opera is itself a work of art--a living book with profound philosophical implications--that will stand the test of time.
Hardcore Punk in the Age of Reagan
Few politicians produced the musical reaction that Ronald Reagan did. His California-branded conservatism inspired countless young people to pick up guitars and thrash out their political angst. Punk bands across the United States took aim at the man, his presidency, and the idea of America he was selling to voters nationwide. Small yet vibrant scenes across the country emerged to challenge the communal norms and social values projected on them by the popular media and consumer culture. Punk enthusiast Robert Fitzgerald argues that these songs' lyrics aren't just catchy and fun to scream along with; they also reveal the thoughts and feelings of artists reacting to their political environment in real, forthright, and uncensored time.In candid detail, Fitzgerald shows how these lyrics illustrated what young adults felt and how they reacted to one of the most influential and divisive leaders of the era. Punk lyrics are seemingly simple, the author argues, but they sketch out a complex, musically inspired countermovement that is as canonical in the American songbook as the folk and rock protest music that came before.
Hardcore Punk in the Age of Reagan
Few politicians produced the musical reaction that Ronald Reagan did. His California-branded conservatism inspired countless young people to pick up guitars and thrash out their political angst. Punk bands across the United States took aim at the man, his presidency, and the idea of America he was selling to voters nationwide. Small yet vibrant scenes across the country emerged to challenge the communal norms and social values projected on them by the popular media and consumer culture. Punk enthusiast Robert Fitzgerald argues that these songs' lyrics aren't just catchy and fun to scream along with; they also reveal the thoughts and feelings of artists reacting to their political environment in real, forthright, and uncensored time.In candid detail, Fitzgerald shows how these lyrics illustrated what young adults felt and how they reacted to one of the most influential and divisive leaders of the era. Punk lyrics are seemingly simple, the author argues, but they sketch out a complex, musically inspired countermovement that is as canonical in the American songbook as the folk and rock protest music that came before.
Sabrina Carpenter
A "Short n' Sweet" biography of Sabrina Carpenter, featuring dozens of full-color photographs Sabrina Carpenter is making her mark as a modern icon of pop music, celebrating three simultaneous Billboard Top Ten hits, touring in support of her latest album, "Short n' Sweet," and claiming the first No. 1 song of her recording career with the summer single, "Please Please Please." But her stardom is anything but sudden. Sabrina is a Hollywood veteran who's been professionally entertaining since the age of 10. Through illuminating writing and full-color photographs, readers will explore those early years and her big break with Disney as a principal in Girl Meets World, Carpenter's film and stage career, her current status as a red carpet and social media darling, an extensive record of charitable work, and her evolution as a musical artist.
Defying Gravity
The image of Jordan in her white shards of beehive and Mondrian make-up remains one of the most iconic in pop history. Yet few truly understood what was happening behind those watchful eyes when anarchy hit the UK.How did a ballet-obsessed girl from sleepy Sussex journey through the clandestine gay clubs of Brighton and London to arrive at 430 King's Road, the epicenter of punk? How did she help shape a cultural revolution, navigate the harsh glare of the spotlight at such a young age, and share wild adventures with the likes of McLaren and Westwood, The Sex Pistols, Adam and the Ants, Derek Jarman, and Andy Warhol--before vanishing from view?This Remastered edition, published in the wake of Jordan's passing in 2022, celebrates her extraordinary legacy. Featuring commentary from key players including Vivienne Westwood, Paul Cook, Marco Pirroni, Holly Johnson, and her partner behind the SEX/Seditionaries counter, Michael Collins, it offers unparalleled insight into Jordan's life. Enhanced with images by Simon Barker, Sheila Rock, and Harri Peccinotti, Defying Gravity cements Jordan's place as one of punk's true trailblazers.
An Anarchy of Demons
'An Anarchy of Demons' is the long anticipated autobiography by U.K. Subs' legendary leader Charlie Harper. Charlie's fascinating story is told in his own unique style, taking the reader through his early years as a 'war baby', his time at boarding schools for misfit boys, his adventurous youth, his struggles and escapades as a bass player, his turbulent personal life as well as his incredible journey with the U.K. Subs, as a solo artist and with his many side-project bands. Illustrated throughout with many unseen photos from his own collection, this will be without doubt, the most talked about punk rock book of the year.The book boasts a wonderful Foreword written by Rancid's Lars Frederiksen with the book's stunning cover artwork being supplied by Steve Dann (Magpie Art), of which the original hangs in Charlie's house. Charlie Harper's 'An Anarchy of Demons' contains 478 full-colour pages that provide a unique insight into what made him the punk icon he is today. The U.K. Subs are the soundtrack for so many of us. Charlie's voice is one of a kind. He's our voice of the voiceless.He's our elder statesman. He's our King of Punk. Long live the king." Lars Frederiksen (Rancid)
Close Up
On 632 pages, Ioan Holender, former director of the Vienna State Opera, recollects all 118 premieres of his term, which lasted from 1991 to 2010, relating his impressions in a very personal and intimate way. During numerous meetings with editor Lois Lammerhuber, Ioan Holender described the turbulent and moving, sometimes dramatic and sometimes joyful, course of these productions. The stories reflect Ioan Holender's deep passion for opera and its protagonists. Axel Zeininger's photographs provide a great variety of insights into 19 years of opera, with the stars of generations of singers, from Placido Domingo to Anna Netrebko. Facsimile prints of the original playbills make this book an extraordinary document. The volume is rounded off with analyzes by arts journalists Gert Korentschnig, Karl-Heinz Roschitz, Heinz Sichrovsky and Wilhem Sinkovicz. Text in English & German.
Hearing Death at the Movies
The Dies Irae is a melody that composers of film music have employed in hundreds of films, ranging from Metropolis to The Shining, and Star Wars. It is a product of more than 800 years of musical transformation, finding purchase in a variety of musical environments, including the church, the concert hall, and the cinema. Based on a corpus of nearly 300 films, Hearing Death At the Movies models two new ways of thinking about the Dies Irae. First, it identifies three different versions of the melody, each of which signifies a different function of film music. Second, it traces the semantic shift of the Dies Irae from its religious roots to its secular perception as a symbol of death. This study of the most widely-used theme in film music history will change how you listen to movies.
Prokofieff, Arr. Macleod: Five Melodies Op. 35bis for Flute and Piano
Macmillan: Violin Concerto No. 2 Violin and Piano
(Boosey & Hawkes Chamber Music). Composed in 2021 and dedicated to the soloist Nicola Benedetti, this work was written as a memorial tribute to the Polish composer Krzysztof Penderecki, who died the previous year and was a major musical influence on the composer, particularly during his formative creative years. MacMillan writes, "One of the co-commissioners for Violin Concerto no 2 was Polish and I was keen that there be some acknowledgment of the late Penderecki in some way in the new work. I was happy to oblige with a dedication to a composer I have greatly admired from an early age." He describes creating a new work for Nicola Benedetti: "I've worked with Nicola on her recording of the Mendelssohn concerto and on tour with her on the Mozart G Major concerto, and have absorbed a lot from these experiences. I composed From Ayrshire for her some years ago which is a short piece that can be performed with either piano or small orchestral accompaniment. I also wrote a short work for her and some singers of The Sixteen for the very first Cumnock Tryst festival in 2014. All this has been important in the way I have built my relationship with Nicola, and in my approach for this concerto." Adopting a more compact format than MacMillan's first violin concerto from 2009, the second employs a medium-sized orchestra and plays continuously in a single through-composed movement of 25 minutes' duration.
Entangled Histories
Through a wealth of archival documents and printed materials, Entangled Histories shows how, over the first half of the nineteenth century, opera helped redefine questions of collective identity in the Austrian empire, serving as a testing ground for, among others, theories of language and education, notions of fatherland and citizenship, artistic expressions of cultural hybridity, new forms of managing economic and cultural capital, and practices of collective memory. By emphasizing the entanglements between opera's aesthetics, its social function, and the ideology underpinning its system of production in different institutional and urban contexts, this book places opera at the intersection of a broad set of political and cultural relationships that for several decades connected Vienna and prominent Italian operatic centers, contributing to a transnational historiography of the art form in the nineteenth century. It also argues that new modes of production and dissemination of opera between Vienna and the Italian states contributed to official cultural policies promoting a supranational identity of the Austrian empire-one that acknowledged, but ultimately transcended cultural differences. As the state emerged victoriously yet completely transformed from over two decades of wars against revolutionary and Napoleonic France, opera-with its long tradition of impresarios, composers, librettists, and performers on the move-became a key tool for bringing some of the different cultural traditions of the Austrian empire into a fruitful mutual dialogue.
Symphonic Spectacles
Symphonic music of the early twentieth century reflects the complex, cosmopolitan world it inhabited. In a time of waning empire, rising nationalism, and heightened sexual politics, composers in Germany, Britain, and America drew upon the compositional resources of tradition to create intensely personal symphonic spectacles. The hybrid symphonic works that flourished in this period mixed musical forms and genres freely, adapting compositional procedures for their rhetorical potential. Symphonic Spectacles investigates large-scale formal mixture in six case studies that juxtapose works of the Austro-German symphonic canon with lesser-studied pieces by a diverse array of composers, including Strauss, Beach, Ellington, and Mahler. Sam Reenan proposes a creative analytical framework rooted in the analogy between formal hybridity and intersectional identity, which affords new interpretive possibilities that integrate formal analysis with critical consideration of compositional design, reception history, and subjectivity. Considering influential scholarship from the new Formenlehre, literary genre studies, and theories of race, gender, and sexuality, Reenan's analytical approach favors playfully creating new stories over gatekeeping bygone ones. This book combines manuscript evidence, composer commentary, historical and biographical details, and published music criticism, all factors which contribute to comprehensive formal interpretations. Symphonic Spectacles represents not only a collection of studies in hybrid symphonic form, but also a model for countercanonic means of knowledge production in the field of music analysis.
