Why Handel Waggled His Wig

Why Handel Waggled His Wig PDF

Author: Steven Isserlis

Publisher: Faber & Faber

Published: 2010-12-22

Total Pages: 268

ISBN-13: 0571268684

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The eagerly awaited follow-up to the best-selling Why Beethoven Threw the Stew. What did Haydn's wife use for curling-paper for her hair? What did Schubert do with his old spectacles case? Why was Dvorák given a butcher's apron when he was a little boy? Why did Tchaikovsky spit on a map of Europe? Why did Fauré find a plate of spinach on his face? And why did Handel waggle his wig? In Why Beethoven Threw the Stew, renowned cellist Steven Isserlis set out to pass on to children a wonderful gift given to him by his own cello teacher - the chance to people his own world with the great composers by getting to know them as friends. In his new book he draws us irresistibly into the world of six more favourite composers, bringing them alive in a manner that cannot fail to catch the imagination of children encountering classical music for the first time. Once again the text is packed with facts, dates and anecdotes, interspersed with lively black-and-white line illustrations, making this an attractive and accessible read for children to enjoy on their own or share with an adult. 'If Why Beethoven Threw the Stew does not turn your child into a music lover, the chances are nothing will.' Daily Mail

Why Beethoven Threw the Stew

Why Beethoven Threw the Stew PDF

Author: Steven Isserlis

Publisher: Faber & Faber

Published: 2012-11-15

Total Pages: 166

ISBN-13: 0571268676

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In Why Beethoven Threw the Stew, renowned cellist Steven Isserlis sets out to pass on to children a wonderful gift given to him by his own cello teacher - the chance to people his own world with the great composers by getting to know them as friends. Witty and informative at the same time, Isserlis introduces us to six of his favourite composers: the sublime genius Bach, the quicksilver Mozart, Beethoven with his gruff humour, the shy Schumann, the prickly Brahms and that extraordinary split personality, Stravinsky. Isserlis brings the composers alive in an irresistible manner that can't fail to catch the attention of any child whose ear has been caught by any of the music described, or anyone entering the world of classical music for the first time. The lively black and white line illustrations provide a perfect accompaniment to the text, and make this book attractive and accessible for children to enjoy on their own or share with an adult.

Performing Music History

Performing Music History PDF

Author: John C. Tibbetts

Publisher: Springer

Published: 2018-09-29

Total Pages: 362

ISBN-13: 3319924710

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Performing Music History offers a unique perspective on music history and performance through a series of conversations with women and men intimately associated with music performance, history, and practice: the musicians themselves. Fifty-five celebrated artists—singers, pianists, violinists, cellists, flutists, horn players, oboists, composers, conductors, and jazz greats—provide interviews that encompass most of Western music history, from the Middle Ages to contemporary classical music, avant-garde innovations, and Broadway musicals. The book covers music history through lenses that include “authentic” performance, original instrumentation, and social context. Moreover, the musicians interviewed all bring to bear upon their respective subjects three outstanding qualities: 1) their high esteem in the music world as immediately recognizable names among musicians and public alike; 2) their energy and devotion to scholarship and the recovery of endangered musical heritages; and 3) their considerable skills, media savvy, and showmanship as communicators. Introductory essays to each chapter provide brief synopses of historical eras and topics. Combining careful scholarship and lively conversation, Performing Music History explores historical contexts for a host of fascinating issues.

Gabriel Fauré: The Songs and their Poets

Gabriel Fauré: The Songs and their Poets PDF

Author: Graham Johnson

Publisher: Routledge

Published: 2017-07-05

Total Pages: 488

ISBN-13: 1351566113

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The career of Gabriel Faur‘s a composer of songs for voice and piano traverses six decades (1862-1921); almost the whole history of French m die is contained within these parameters. In the 1860s Faur the lifelong prot of Camille Saint-Sa was a suavely precocious student; he was part of Pauline Viardot's circle in the 1870s and he nearly married her daughter. Pointed in the direction of symbolist poetry by Robert de Montesquiou in 1886, Faur as the favoured composer from the early 1890s of Winnarretta Singer, later Princesse de Polignac, and his songs were revered by Marcel Proust. In 1905 he became director of the Paris Conservatoire, and he composed his most profound music in old age. His existence, steadily productive and outwardly imperturbable, was undermined by self-doubt, an unhappy marriage and a tragic loss of hearing. In this detailed study Graham Johnson places the vocal music within twin contexts: Faur own life story, and the parallel lives of his many poets. We encounter such giants as Charles Baudelaire and Paul Verlaine, the patrician Leconte de Lisle, the forgotten Armand Silvestre and the Belgian symbolist Charles Van Lerberghe. The chronological range of the narrative encompasses Faur first poet, Victor Hugo, who railed against Napoleon III in the 1850s, and the last, Jean de La Ville de Mirmont, killed in action in the First World War. In this comprehensive and richly illustrated study each of Faur 109 songs receives a separate commentary. Additional chapters for the student singer and serious music lover discuss interpretation and performance in both aesthetical and practical terms. Richard Stokes provides parallel English translations of the original French texts. In the twenty-first century musical modernity is evaluated differently from the way it was assessed thirty years ago. Faur‘s no longer merely a 'Master of Charms' circumscribed by the belleque. His status as a great composer of timeless

The Bach Cello Suites

The Bach Cello Suites PDF

Author: Steven Isserlis

Publisher: Faber & Faber

Published: 2021-10-05

Total Pages: 163

ISBN-13: 0571366260

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A unique Companion to J S Bach's iconic Cello Suites from internationally-renowned cellist Steven Isserlis. 'Isserlis is the master of the material, yet always able to make it accessible . . . It is an absolute treat to be led to this sublime music by such an ethusiastic expert.' MICHAEL PALIN 'The book I've always wanted: an accessible, eloquent guide to the world's greatest - and maybe most elusive - pieces of music. And written by the man I'd want to tell me about it. This is such a delight.' DERREN BROWN 'Illuminating.' OBSERVER 'Striking.' THE SPECTATOR Bach's six Cello Suites are among the most cherished of all the works in the classical music literature. Shrouded in mystery - they were largely unknown for some two hundred years after their composition - they have acquired a magical aura which continues to attract and fascinate audiences the world over. To cellists they represent a musical bible, to listeners, scarcely less. Through what are on the surface simple dance suites, Bach takes us on a spiritual journey like no other, leading us from joy to tragedy, concluding in jubilation, even triumph. Award-winning international cellist Steven Isserlis, whose recent recording of the Suites met with the highest critical acclaim, goes deep into that emotional journey, bringing to bear all his many years' experience of performing the Suites. His book is intended as a rewarding companion for all music lovers, ranging from the casual listener to the performing musician. By offering his own very personal observations of the music, Isserlis's aim is to take the reader further into the world of the Suites in order to enhance the experience of hearing some of the greatest works ever composed. Praise for Steven Isserlis' BACH: THE CELLO SUITES 'The most wonderful cello-playing, surely among the most consistently beautiful to have been heard in this demanding music.' GRAMOPHONE 'Isserlis has done the impossible. He has given the listener something new, and indeed something outstandingly good . . . This recording can sit proudly on the shelf alongside the great recordings of Casals and Rostropovich. In fact, I may find myself picking it up as the favourite.' BBC RADIO 3

Bach and Baroque Music

Bach and Baroque Music PDF

Author: Stefano Catucci

Publisher:

Published: 1998

Total Pages: 68

ISBN-13: 9780764151309

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Explains the characteristics of Baroque music and points out how Bach's music stands among the greatest.

Robert Schumann's Advice to Young Musicians

Robert Schumann's Advice to Young Musicians PDF

Author: Robert Schumann

Publisher: University of Chicago Press

Published: 2017-10-23

Total Pages: 113

ISBN-13: 022648274X

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Introduction -- On being a musician -- Playing -- Practising -- Composing -- My own bits of advice (for what they're worth) -- On being a musician -- Playing -- Practising -- Composing

Robert Schumann's Advice to Young Musicians

Robert Schumann's Advice to Young Musicians PDF

Author: Steven Isserlis

Publisher: Faber & Faber

Published: 2016-08-30

Total Pages: 104

ISBN-13: 0571330924

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Robert Schumann was far ahead of his time, not least in his attitude to children and young people; his 'Advice for Young Musicians', originally created to accompany his famous 'Album for the Young', remains as relevant today as when it was written.Celebrated cellist Steven Isserlis adds his own extensive commentary to Schumann's words of wisdom. The advice is by turns practical, humorous, and profound, making this volume a must for all aspiring musicians of all ages and standards.

Here And Hereafter

Here And Hereafter PDF

Author: Barry Pain

Publisher: BoD – Books on Demand

Published: 2024-01-02

Total Pages: 176

ISBN-13: 936115091X

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"Here and Hereafter" by Barry Pain is a thought-scary collection of brief testimonies that delves into the nation-states of the supernatural, exploring topics of life, demise, and the mysteries that lie beyond. Written with a mix of humor, irony, and a hint of the macabre, Pain weaves tales that undertaking conventional perceptions of truth. In this series, the author invitations readers to ponder the unknown, imparting glimpses into the afterlife and supernatural occurrences. Each story is crafted with a keen sense of wit and a subtle exploration of the human situation, upsetting both entertainment and reflection. Pain's narrative fashion showcases his capability to traverse the bounds among the mundane and the mystical, developing an engaging and eclectic assortment of tales that entertain whilst prompting deeper contemplation. "Here and Hereafter" stands as a testomony to Barry Pain's literary versatility, as he navigates among genres, seamlessly mixing factors of delusion and satire to create a group that lingers within the reader's thoughts, inviting them to ponder the mysteries of existence.