Genres Books

"Beethoven" by Barry Cooper is much more than I had hoped when I ordered the book. I have been a lover of Beethoven's music for years. I always liked the movie "Immortal Beloved" and wondered how true to life the story was. As it turns out, the movie is only loosely based on Beethoven's life. There are many ficticious episodes in the movie (the writers raked his name through the mud!) and it perpetuates many ill-conceived rumors and stories. As is often the case, reality is even better than fiction. This book reveals Beethoven a the upstanding, devout and charitable personality one who is familiar with his music would expect to find.

Beethoven's life makes for an amazing and entertaining story - especially in juxtuposition to the music that he lived to create. This book super-analyzes the significant pieces from his career - almost to a fault. If you are very learned in musical and compositional theory, this analysis will be a strong point. If, however, you have less knowledge of musical form, this book can get a little difficult at times. This did not reduce my enjoyment by much (I still rated it 5-stars) because the book is so strong in every aspect. This is THE book to read if you want to learn about Beethoven.

As a Beethoven fan I was initially attracted to the cover of this book, until I discovered its contents. The amount and quality of information is outstanding and Barry Cooper doesn't spare any words to guide us through the life, creative process and personality of this incredible composer. In a nutshell, a book not to be missed by any classical music enthusiast.

This surprisingly engaging and informative biography of Beethoven is written as a continuous narrative history, and is certainly a work that any Beethoven enthusiast would wish to have in the library. At some 400 pages of small text, the work is a carefully researched and highly detailed piece which presents a comprehensive portrait of this musical genius. Beethoven "comes alive" in the work, and one forgets that the work is describing a person who passed away some two centuries ago.

The work integrates Beethoven's personal life with a critical look at his musical work. This approach allows us to not only understand the entire opus of collected works, but to place individual pieces into the unfolding context of Beethoven's life. There is no sparing of details, but the book is nevertheless able to convey these details in a manner that doesn't require us to be musical experts to understand the descriptions. We also find in the text some eminently interesting details, such Beethoven's estimation of George Frederic Handel as the greatest of composers, a preference for Streicher pianos, and Beethoven's wrestling with the "finale problem" that kept his "Symphony in C," now sometimes nicknamed "Symphony 0," permanently unfinished. But these are just interesting notes in a symphony of words which Cooper has put together for us: the entire work is an immense musical play which we observe with great interest and pleasure.

The book also provides some very helpful informational addenda which serve as continuing reference for our Beethoven studies. These include a comprehensive "calendar" of Beethoven's life from 1770 to 1827 (including for each entry the year, Beethoven's current age, the event, and contemporary musicians and musical events), a comprehensive listing of Beethoven's works (including WoO, Hess, and opus numbers as appropriate), and a small personality glossary describing key people in Beethoven's life.

The book is an easy recommend to the Beethoven enthusiast, the music student, or the Beethoven scholar. The work easily stands on its own as a solid piece of historical scholarship, but when coupled with a good collection of Beethoven recordings (say, the Deutsche Grammophon "Complete Beethoven Edition" CD-ROM series), the work serves as a continuing reference for anyone wishing to know more about Beethoven's music.

The work of great artists is inexhaustible. In Beethoven's case, his music remains a stunning achievement. His achievement as a composer, together with the nature of his character, his deafness, his thwarted love affairs, and his relationships to his musical predecessors and successors, has led to a fascination with him and to a literature that is likely to be written and rewritten as long as people listen to his music. As is Beethoven's music, and is is history, Beethoven's life and character, and the means by which one is to understand them, are open to a multitude of approaches.

In his Preface, Cooper writes (at x) that "surprisingly little is known for certain about Beethoven." He points out that some studies, such as Maynard Solomon's fine biography that appeared shortly before Cooper's own, featured a psychoanalytical approach to Beethoven that attempted a fuller explanation of Beethoven's character than those that had been attempted by other writers at the cost of questionable psychological theory and speculation in the face of a scarcity of evidence. Cooper endeavors to write a biography that holds closer to the known facts about Beethoven's life and to emphasize those facts that may shed life on his activities as a composer.

Cooper also spends a great deal of his book analysing the music itself. There are lengthy accounts of the origins of the symphonies, concertos, quartets, sonatas,songs, masses, of Fidelio, of the folksongs and other parts of Beethoven's output. There are generous musical analyses and quotations. I was particularly impressed with Cooper's attention to some of Beethoven's work that is not as well known as it deserves to be, such as the Opus 7 piano sonata, the Creatures of Prometheus Ballet, and the oratorio, Christ on the Mount of Olives. These works are analyzed insightfully and lovingly.

As Cooper acknowledges, his study is perhaps less detailed than is Solomon's on Beethoven's life. His book does, however, offer its own perspective on Beethoven. Broadly speaking, Cooper is more sympathetic to certain aspects of Beethoven's actions than has been the case with many other writers. Unlike Solomon, Cooper takes Beethoven's side, for the most, part, in his dispute with his sister-in-law over the custody of Karl, Beethoven's nephew. Also, he disputes Solomon's account that Beethoven frequented prostitutes. In both these matters, I am not sure that Cooper has the better of the evidence. The portrayal endeavors to see Beethoven favorably without making him something different than a human being with fallibilities.

I also found interesting Cooper's discussion of Beethoven's religious views. Beethoven's views on such matters, as is the case with the views of any thinking person on these matters, were highly personal and difficult for a third party, such as a biographer writing 250 years after the fact, to ascertain and expound. Cooper acknowledges that Beethoven was not for most of his life a practicing Christian but finds him a devout believer in God as the source of human morality. Solomon's account emphasizes more Beethoven's predilection towards the Enlightenment. A difficult question, and I suspect that Beethoven had components of both views in him.

Too many recent biographers feel a need to deprecate their subjects. This is definitely not Cooper's approach to Beethoven. (For that matter, it was not Solomon's approach either.) Cooper writes of Beethoven that "despite much sniping from twentieth-century critics, his reputation as a giant among composers remains intact as we enter the twenty-first century." (Preface x)

This book is not hero-worship but it presents an inspiring and historically plausible account of a composer and a man who is worthy to be revered for his vision, attainments and character. This book will be treasured by those who love Beethoven's music. May it encourage the reader to become acquainted or reaquainted with these works of the human spirit.

I started buying this series for my 6 year old one year ago. She received "Mr Bach comes to Call" for her seventh birthday. She has spent hours listening to it and then to other Bach CDs. The music is well selected and the historical content is described quite well. Her imagination has really been excited. As we live in Germany for the moment she has expressed a wish to visit Liepzig to see Bach's grave. We have four in this series now and think they are brilliant. All of us enjoy listening especially on long car journeys. Great entertainment with educational value.

my children are 6 and 7. they love this touching story of beethoven. we have taken many a long car ride and this cd is always our companion. it would be a good idea to also get a background book of beethoven for your children as they may become so intested, as mine did, that they simply had to know more about him. i bought the teachers notes that go with this. i would have done better to get a more thorough book, but it has served us well. this cd is highly recommended

Beethoven Lives Upstairs CD is an intriguing imaginary story told by a child who lives in the apartment below the elderly, deaf Beethoven, whom the child believes to be a mad man. The story of Beethoven's life and his greatness as a musician, even after becoming deaf, is woven through a series of letters the child writes to a relative who teaches the appreciation of Beethoven and his music. It is a beautifully written story of the great and tragic composer's life, interwoven with marvelous renditions of his most beloved music. This is one of the Symphony of Stories for all ages collection of Classical Kids CD's from Children's Group. You and your children will want to own all of them and listen to them again and again!

Excellent story for the entire family to enjoy. Music and information is blended together to make the audio version of this story enjoyable for a wide range of ages. Great way to introduce kids to famous composers in a format that is interesting and fun. And, the listeners don't Have to sit still while the story is being read.

An amazing biography. A work such as this will most likely appeal to only 1 out of 100,000 Amazon customers, but those who read it will never forget it, and once having read it will listen to Berlioz's music with a knowing insider's grin.

Cairns has done what is extremely difficult: he has created an easy-to-read, engaging, yet methodical and thorough modern biography in English of a composer who was born 200 years ago and whose paper trail was written entirely in French. The book has good humor but is not fawning or hagiographic.

A little note (pun intended): this is about Berlioz the man, and not about Berlioz as an ethnomusicologist's project. In other words, this is the study of a young man and how he came to know and create music, but not about that music per se.

Bonne lecture!

This is a wonderful book both for the lay reader and for the musically knowledgeable. It says a great deal about how well written this book is that someone like me who knows nothing about music could still enjoy the book so much. Mr. Cairns takes the tale from the birth of Berlioz in 1803 up until 1832, when he was in his late 20's. You learn about his relationship with his parents, who were opposed to his choice of composer for a career, and his sisters. We are very fortunate that this was a great age for letter writing. Mr. Cairns makes judicious use of the correspondence between Berlioz and his family and friends to the point where you almost feel yourself to be a friend or family member. You get inside the young composer's mind as he tries to convince his parents that his desire to write music is not just a "whim", but something that he is absolutely passionate about and must do. Berlioz was also extremely sensitive and romantic. After seeing the English actress Harriet Smithson perform on stage in several works by Shakespeare he developed an obsessive love for her, even though he had never met her. He had an apartment across the street from where she lived and would longingly watch her comings and goings. He eventually wrote her several notes expressing his feelings but she rebuffed him, quite understandably one would think! (She had also heard a rumor, which was untrue, that he was an epileptic.) Shortly after coming to the realization that Smithson was unattainable Berlioz met the virtuoso pianist Camille Moke and they fell in love with each other and eventually got engaged. Alas, when poor Hector had to go to Rome to live in order to receive grant money from winning the Prix de Rome, Camille dumped him and opted for security by marrying a wealthy man. This soured Hector on women for awhile but did not diminish his love for music, nature and life. Mr. Cairns has been a professional music critic and is also a scholar, so he understands and ably explains the technical aspects of Berlioz's music. I was totally lost in these sections but my ignorance did not diminish my enjoyment of this sympathetic and wonderfully written book.

David Cairns is a great Berlioz scholar. Like to meet him someday. His translation of "Memoirs" is much superior to Newmans.I bought the 1st volume of the biography some years ago when it first came out and the second a couple of years ago when it was first published. I revisit these volumes frequently. Berlioz was one of the really great romantics. At least 50 years before his time. Glad to see SF opera is planning on staging Cellini & B & B over the next few years. Sixtus Beckmesser

This really is one of the best biographies of any subject to come my way.I didn't know a lot of Berlioz's music before approaching this but it didn't actually matter.All the elements of a gripping novel are here only for they're true!-fighting paternal disapproval,living in poverty in Paris,eloping with a virtuoso pianist-it's all here and Cairns paints such an intimate picture that you can't but fail to admire Berlioz and his dogged determination to be a composer and write HIS music only to be continually rebuked in his native homeland.The efforts that the man had to go to just to hear his own music is truly heartbreaking.Biography doesn't get much better than this-especially if you're only even remotely interested in music or art.

Best of Def Leppard (Guitar Recorded Versions)

If you want to play as Def Leppard, you must have this book

regarding the other comment about a cd or whatever this book doesnt come with that..its just a book...
after looking thru this one it looks well done...clean and organized..

Now you can learn some of your favorite Def Leppard guitar riffs and licks from these note-for-note transcriptions and TAB. The CD has full-band demos at slow and normal speed to help you practice. Includes 'Love Bites,' and 'Pour Some Sugar On Me.'

This is the 16 song version of this book. I do believe their is a 21 or 22 song version available. This one contains all of the classics, music and tabed. If you like 80's rock, this book is the pinacle, and a great piece for leppard fans. 16 song are:
Animal
Armageddon It
Bringin' on the Heartbreak
Foolin'
High 'N' Dry
Hysteria
Let's Get Rocked
Love Bites
Photograph
Pour Some Sugar On Me
Rock Brigade
Rock Of Ages
Rock! Rock!
Rocket
To Late For Love
Women
Great price new here at amazon, hard to beat this in any retail store. Check it out.

If you play Guitar (Or even If you don't ) This is worth it!

A lot of favorites made it easy to find the songs my sons were requesting. Easy to read and follow.

This is a great Garth Brooks book to gat if you play the guitar and absolutly love Garth Brooks, like I do. It features some of Garth's greatest hits like The Dance, Friends In Low Places, and The Tunder Rolls. It is such a great book, Don't pass it up you can't live with out it. Well, I hope you liked my review, thanks for reading it. Bye.

This is a must for any fan of Garth Brooks or any player of the guitar. "The Best of Garth Brooks" contains some of my favorite songs and offers many hours of playing enjoyment.

I have been reading (and writing for) the online journal Novel Advice for several years. It is always full of helpful, practical advice for writers--whether you are experienced or just starting out. Now this anthology distills the best of the suggestions for improving your writing in a handy format. You will be helped, inspired, and motivated by the essays in this book. Highly recommended for all authors and would-be authors!

One might accuse me of prejudice since I have a number of pieces in this book, but in a sense, that authorship gives me a unique perspective that is worthy of expression here.

Most books on writing address only one phase of the subject -- how to write a mystery, for example, or using fiction techniques in magazine articles or developing characters. This one is far more ranging in subject matter. Here a variety of published authors speak out with authority on an equally varied number of aspects of writing.

Eileen Workman's "Ten Commandments For Successful Plotting" includes the "Cardinal Sin of Plotting" and presents solutions to the problem of plot development in a succinct and useful nutshell. "Five Mistakes Beginning Writers Make and How To Avoid Them" by Gwenneth Barnes addresses several concerns that often surprise the novice. Marcia Kiser's example of how to map a mystery takes the ouch out of outlining and John Moir describes the importance of narrative arcs in nonfiction. Books used in researching pieces are listed in a "further reading" section at the end of the article.

Pieces on Genre Writing: Memoirs, Historical Novels, Mysteries, the Short Story, Creative Nonfiction are examples of the range of advice and short cuts covered in these articles.

The inquisitive writer, even the most experienced one, will undoubtedly find surprises and new insights here. From taking the slack out of your writing to the use of setting to indicate character, and from addressing writer's block to "I Is Not Me," I challenge anyone to read this book and, when finished, to tell me he or she has not encountered some new concept.

THE BEST OF NOVEL ADVICE is novel (meaning unique) and contains some of the finest advice for writers that you'll find between two covers. I'm proud to be part of it.

There are snippets of valuable advice here for every writer, from the novice to the published. As I turned each page, I kept finding a new spin on the craft of writing that I had not thought about before, and I have been a professional writer for more than 50 years. Others will be similarly rewarded, I am sure. As the title suggests, the 78 pithy articles lean in favor of fiction rather than non-fiction, which is my own cup of tea, but then most writers are novelists at heart, aren't they?

Pete

From Sunnye Tiedemann's "How to Write an Anecdote" and "How to Create a Villain" to "Where to Start" by Caro Clark, this volume has a wealth of treats for the writer. If you are doing any kind of creative writing, this book is like a toolbox, filled with helpful devices to improve your work. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

This is the best value for money I've ever got on a guitar book, at only $15.61 from Amazon!
Great music, accurate transcription.
I just keep on playing the cd, and reading and working at the book.
If you are interested in improving your playing, this is a must!


NEW UPDATE 11-oct-2007
1 year later I'm still enjoying this book and cd!
Slowly progressing through Missile Blues and Sundown.
I can play the heads for both songs, now moving into the solos.
Trying to speed up my reading of notes.
Still using both tabs and notes, as I reckon tab is still essential because the guitar sounds so different depending on the frets used.

Wolf tears it up in this one. I now have three of his books: 101 jazz licks, Wes Montgomery, and Charlie Christian. This one is by far my favorite of the three.

All of Wolf's books are dead accurate. I have played his cds and origional recordings side by side and the match is identical. He and his band have got every note, every cymbol crash, every lick, everything down identically. The tabs are also right on. Wolf is the only one I've found who gets tabbing correct.

Buy ALL of his books. Not only is he an amazing guitarist, he is also a totally humble man. He even gave me some pointers that have helped me considerably when I first met him at a John Pissano/Henry Johnson gig at Spazios in Sherman Oaks.

First of all, Wolf Marshall is an awesome guitarist. To be able to mimic the syles of so many legendary guitar heroes is nothing short of unbelievable. This book gave me insight into Wes songs I already knew and helped me correct some of the mistakes I was making, after learning them by ear. Mi Cosa, for example, uses the original Riverside version, I learned the Verve version, which was done with strings. I suggest, whenever possible, listen to actual Wes recordings. Wolf is good, but he definitely ain't Wes. There is a difference in the exact nuances, phrasing and touch that Wes gets. I've been playing for 30+ years and am impressed with the knowledge I've been able to gain from Wolf's books. The transcriptions are first-rate and accurate. I also recommend his George Benson and Pat Martino books. This is more than worth the money, it's a real bargain. Buy and enjoy.

This is a really well done transcription of these Wes Mongomery tunes. The tablature is very accurate and easy to work with. The accompanying CD is also good help for working on these solos.

Alison J. Waldman crafts a very detailed and comprehensive review of Bette's career until the point the book was written. The best section is the vivid details of the films Bette has made although box office data should have been procured. For fast facts on Bette, there are many and it is nice that a review was included for both the film and music section. To see how a critic felt about Bette's performance whether musically or cinematically is refreshing because it is difficult to find very old reviews from the 80s let alone the 70s. Another interesting section is the details of Bette's possible and still potential projects: to only imagine the various roads Bette career could have taken had she taken some of these projects. A very pleasing book though not as good and comprehensive as Waldman's BARBRA STREISAND SCRAPBOOK. Look for Bette's upcoming tour, her tribute CD to Rosemary Clooney with Barry Manilow and a 2004 film release of STEPFORD WIVES with Nicole Kidman, Matthew Broderick and Glenn Close. Maybe another of these scrapbooks should be crafted because Bette is getting busy again like she was in the late 90s and 2000.

I thought this book was the most incredible book I've ever read! This is a book for any REAL Bette Midler fan!

After seeing this book on the self, I knew that I had to buy it! The cover alone will grab you in and won't let go. After reading her biography, seeing her life in photographs makes it even more meaningful and special. The Divine Miss M shines through with style and carisma, even through the hard times. This is a classic that cannot be ignored by the "true" Bette Midler fan.

Just so you know I am the hugest ~*Bette Midler*~ fan in the whole solar system and this book just reinforces how incredible she is. She's such an amazing woman and if you don't think so before, you definitly will when you're done reading. Even though I'm just sixteen she's my idol and this book is a must for any real Bette fan!!! :)

Billboard has been computing the top songs each week for decades and is the industry standard. As such, the 5th edition of "Billboard Top Country" is a welcome addition to the library of any country music fan. This reference book lists alphabetically all artists who have hit the country charts from 1944 to early 2002 - from Jerry Abbott to Gayle Zeiler. For each artist, basic biographical information is cataloged. In addition, all their charted hits are listed in chronological order along with peak country position, weeks on the chart, and the peak pop position (if it charted). The formatting is immaculate, and the text is easy to read despite the incredible amount of information it packs into its 591 pages.

Several informative sections make up the remainder of this book. A comprehensive Song Title section includes all charted songs listed in alphabetical order, including remakes. The Top Artists section lists the 400 top country artists (1944-2002) and top artists by decade. In addition, artist achievements are described, such as the artists with the most top 40 hits, most #1 hits, and streaks of hits. Next, a Chart Facts and Feats section lists the top country records of all time and by decade, as well as winners of the major categories of the Country Music Association (CMA) Awards and inductees in the Country Music Hall of Fame. Finally, all #1 hits are listed by year - from "Pistol Packin' Mama" by Bing Crosby & the Andrews Sisters (1944) to "I'm Gonna Miss Her (The Fishin' Song)" by Brad Paisley (2002).

This informative book contains tons of information and is a great deal of fun to peruse or to use as a reference. I find myself unable to listen to CDs without it by my side. Whether you like Hank Williams, Shania Twain, George Jones, or Alan Jackson - they're included here. Whether you want to see if George Strait ever won a CMA for best male vocalist (he has 5), what artist was the #1 in the 1950s (Webb Pierce) or who accumulated the most consecutive #1 hits (Alabama - 21), you'll find it all here. Most highly recommended for country music fans.

Buy this rather than the 2006 edition, which omits key information such as Hot 100 chart data, B-sides, catalog numbers, picture sleeve availability, and other interesting facts.

I have very positive things to say about this Whitburn collection. It is my third book by Whitburn, and my favorite yet. I am one of those dorks with an entirely unnecessary, vast knowledge of country music trivia. And I have not found a single mistake in this collection. And I looked.

Whitburn is an incredible asset to Billboard, because he presents their material in the most accessable, user-friendly form possible. I work in radio, and I use this book every single day.

Thank you, Mr. Whitburn, for presenting a resource this useful to me and my colleagues.

For decades, Billboard has been computing the top country songs each week and is the industry standard. As such, the 5th edition of "Billboard Top Country" is a welcome addition to the library of any country music fan. This reference book lists alphabetically all artists who have hit the country charts from 1944 to early 2002 - from Jerry Abbott to Gayle Zeiler. For each artist, basic biographical information is cataloged. In addition, all their charted hits are listed in chronological order along with peak country position, weeks on the chart, and the peak pop position (if it charted). The formatting is immaculate, and the text is easy to read despite the incredible amount of information it packs into its 591 pages.

Several informative sections make up the remainder of this book. A comprehensive "Song Title" section includes all charted songs listed in alphabetical order. The "Top Artists" lists the 400 top country artists based on chart hits as well as top artists by decade. In addition, artist achievements are described, such as the artists with the most top 40 hits, most #1 hits, and streaks of hits. Next, a "Chart Facts and Feats" section lists the top country records of each decade and of all time, as well as winners of the major categories of the Country Music Association (CMA) Awards and inductees in the Country Music Hall of Fame. Finally, all #1 hits are listed by year - from "Pistol Packin' Mama" by Bing Crosby & the Andrews Sisters (1944) to "I'm Gonna Miss Her (The Fishin' Song)" by Brad Paisley (2002).

This informative book contains loads of information and is a great deal of fun to peruse or to use as a reference. I find myself unable to listen to my country CDs without this book by my side. Whether you like Hank Williams, Shania Twain, George Jones, or Alan Jackson - they're included here. Whether you want to see if George Strait won a CMA for best male vocalist (he has 5) or which artist was #1 in the 1950s (Webb Pierce) or who accumulated the most consecutive #1 hits (Alabama - 21), you'll find it all here. Most highly recommended for country music fans.

This is the only book that I have read about Parker. So I can't compare it to other works. BUT it is a very enjoyable read. As the cover states there are extensive interviews with people who knew him best, including various ex-wives. Various incidents that are in the movie are described here, so I assume Eastwood, or whoever wrote the script, probably consulted this book. But, what is interesting is that the Book states that Chan and 'Bird' were never legally married. Don't think that fact was in the Movie.

This book is less acclaimed than Ross Russell's book, but is far better than the latter. Reisner knew Bird well and he interviewed most of his associates. It's Bird in the words of those who knew him. A great piece of work!

this book was about an epic struggle of a jazz musician in a New York city life.Im 16 and i play a lot of jazz and parker was a geat influence on me and my playin i worship him as a mucican and a jazz ico

This book shows the life of Parker through the eyes of many of his collegues, friends, and family. Robert Riesner should be commmended for his work on this material because it's informitive and gives views of Parker through people that were in his life. This book is a must read for all "true" Bird fans.