Genres Books

Hey - it does what the title says. It is not the greatest book on the subject - but I appreciate the writing style, and the journey that the author leads us on. It is a very very broad subject - Louisiana Music - and the book could be 100 times bigger and not cover it all. This is an OK book for the beginner student on Louisiana Music.

Rick Koster's Louisiana Music is the first and only guide to the variety of musicians in this southern American state: others have focused on specific styles (Creole, Cajun, Zydeco) but Louisiana Music considers the past and present of jazz, rock, gospel and other styles of both urban and lesser-known areas, including the Mardi Gras Indian tribes. Louisiana Music is a `must' for avid fans of Louisiana music.

Just finished this book. It is another great effort on the part of this very talented writer. This will make for a wonderful addition to my music collection as a fantastic reference book. This work is HIGHLY recommended! Rick Koster -- keep writing!

This book contains a plethora of very valuable histories
of many well known and (more importantly) lesser known Louisiana bands and artists. Mr. Koster, although from neighboring Texas, has really done his homework on this project. You can also find Mr. Koster's dry humor come into play throughout.

If you like this book, you will also enjoy Mr. Koster's book on the history of Texas music called, you guessed it, "Texas Music".

If this book had consisted just in the reprinting of the great lyrics Ira Gershwin wrote then it already would be a treasure. But it also contains his descriptions of how he wrote the songs, and is filled with stories of his long- song- writing career. He comes across as a decent, family- person somewhat reserved but basically a very , fine human being.
There are many trivial and forgettable lyrics here. But these are cancelled out by being among some of the greatest popular song lyrics ever written.
Perhaps the lyricist is almost absolutely dependent on the quality of the ' melody' in order to have his words become memorable as part of a great song.
Ira Gershwin in this was fortunate enough to work with some of the greatest of all writers of popular song, first of course and above all his brother, George.
As I write this I am humming the melody of the Gershwins' classic " Embraceable you".
How much pleasure and delight did these two great brothers give, and how much do they still give, to the world.

If you know the lyrics, you know George Gershwin's brother was a witty and warm-hearted writer of verses. His prose paints a self-portrait of a somewhat reserved, witty, erudite, unpretentious man who deeply loves (now, loved) his family, his friends, and his profession of lyric-writing. The stories behind the songs sketch a picture of show-biz life of the 1920s, before everybody had stereo systems; when anybody middle class or richer had a piano in the house; and when parties necessitated a piano recital from anybody willing and able to give one, as Ira's virtuoso brother usually was. Brief snapshots of life with his brother are shot through with almost heartbreaking poignancy as one recalls that George died young. The poignancy and his love for his brother shine the brighter as Ira never explicitly calls attention to them -- he shows, he doesn't tell. A beautiful book, with many droll observations & humorous anecdotes wittily told.

Although Ira Gershwin was capable of lyric sloppiness -- you'd have to rate his work a tick lower overall than that of Cole Porter, Johnny Mercer, Yip Harburg, Alan Jay Lerner and Stephen Sondheim -- at his best his lyrics sparkle. In LYRICS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, Ira wittily sets the conditions that lead to some of his best work. For the most part he wisely allows the words to speak for themselves, grouping his lyrics under charmingly appropriate headings and occasionally describing why one works (or doesn't) and what it took to get there. It's both a delightful compendium of Ira's best songs and a crash course in lyric writing that may make you wish the late Mr. Gershwin had conducted classes to aspiring song-writers.

Thank heaven this has finally been re-printed! No other lyricist of Gershwin's magnitiude ever took such a detailed and witty song-by-song look at his life's work. Wonderfully entertaining and informative. If you are interested in the craft of lyric writing or in the history of the musical, this book will be as essential as it is delightful.

100% happy with "Confessions" wall calendar. I have had every one of her calendars for the last 15 yrs. or so and I think she only gets better with time!!

No puedo opinar porque no me lo habeis enviado...a que esperais?????,hace ya como 3 meses,menos mal que no me lo habeis cobrado

Great photos in very special poses of this diva, the must wonderfull woman, of all, an example for young girls to follow.

This is an excellent calendar despite all the photos of a gaunt looking Madonna. The photos do only mount to a slight distraction when trying to operate the calendar. What is amazing about this calendar is how Madonna's merchandizing team have managed to sequence the months in the order as they appear in real life. An excellent job!

Good book, only gripe is that the author goes into too much detail describing the music itself (for example telling what instruments are doing what) I think what I am looking for is more of an analysis of the symphonies. Hope this helps

... and hopefully Mr. Hurwitz's words strenghen the fact that Mahler is one of the greatest composers of all time (and he is my top favorite composer) - not just through vastness and complexity, but also through "representing the world", being universal, escorting humanity through music like Beethoven.

Just reading certain passages which seems to coincide what I exactly thing about Mahler's remarkable musical messages (especially in the triumphant Symphony No. 2 and the apocalyptic Symphony No. 9) put me to tears.

Whether you're obsessed with Mahler, or want to understand his musical words, buy it!!!

David Hurwitz has written a marvelous guide for the classical music listener who wants to get more out of Mahler's symphonies but: a) lacks the ability to follow the music him/herself, or make sense of it; and b) finds that CD and program notes do not provide sufficiently detailed description, or are too technical to be understandable. The author provides lengthy but non-technical descriptions of the music as it progresses, keeping the listener on track and ready for what comes next. Major melodies or tunes are identified by ad hoc names (the "kletzmer," the "Alma," etc.). Major rhythms are identified for the reader-listener in the most basic terms (i.e. "dum dum dadum dum"), but it works! Hurwitz eschews biographical background in favor of discussion of the form and content of the music itself. Even if the author fails to convert you to a Mahlerian (and he certainly seems to be one himself), his book will deepen your appreciation for this formerly "much abused" composer.

My complaints are few. In his enthusiasm the author has a tendency to confuse the words "literal" and "figurative" such that, at one point in the book he describes the orchestra as "literally falling over a cliff" or words to that effect; which, for the sake of the musicians' health and casualty insurance premiums I hope did not happen. I wish that discussions of form and interpretations of meaning had been reserved for the front of each chapter, directly following the introduction, so the chronological description of the music had not been interrupted. Strangely, the author, who is not bashful about expressing his opinions, seems surprisingly hesitant to divulge his extra-musical interpretations of the music. Finally, Hurwitz is a most uncritical critic, defending Mahler from every criticism, even those that, to my ears, are justifiable.

In addition to the book the purchaser receives a CD with one-movement excerpts from four Mahler symphonies (#'s 1, 2, 5 and 7). The guides to these four movements contain exact time references to these CD performances for greater ease in following along.

Buyer beware: you'll find you'll want to acquire CD's of Mahler symphonies you don't presently own (I bought #'s 6 and 7), or purchase other versions if yours don't reveal all the twitters, birdcalls, or cowbells itemized in the book.

Highly recommended.

Hurwitz breaks down Mahler's nine symphonies plus his song cycle "The Song of the Earth" into their parts as these contribute to the whole; and the parts too are broken down for their development, tone, and instruments. Analyses and commentary mingle with frequent metaphoric, near-poetic, evocations of musical passages. In the Fifth Movement of Symphony No. 5, "Horn and woodwinds unfold a series of perky little tunes...." In the Second Movement, "As this climax dies away trailing clouds of strings and horns, the woodwinds slither back in with sinister whirring scales." Hurwitz also gives attention to the spiritual ideas and the emotions embodied in Mahler's music. The author of "Beethoven or Bust: A Practical Guide to Learning About and Listening to Great Music," Hurwitz writes about music in a style that is suitable for readers of all ages from young adults and up.

Included in this Omnibus are three of the first four 'Inspector Maigret' books (more like novellas) that Simenon wrote in 1931. They are both a police procedural as well as a murder mystery. They evoke a time between the two world wars that are seldom written about. You can feel the undercurrents of the French when they speak about the Germans or the Russians and still feel the 'grittiness' that followed the end of WW1.

Maigret is a large man for his times, he never smiles or laughs and sometimes will muse about his time in the 'trenches'. He knows the effect his size has on people and is not afraid to use it to intimidate witnesses or to get what he wants. His pipe is part of his hand and mouth and seldom found in his pocket. He is the kind of man who when he stands in front of you demands respect and attention to what he wants. Even before he announces that he is an 'Inspector of Police' people know that he has authority and will use it.

There are three stories included in this collections: 'Crime at Lock 14' which was the story in which he was introduced. It is a story of love, hurt and abandonment, and the ending is quite unexpected. 'Maigret and the 100 Gibbets' presents a problem to Maigret that comes from his constant need to understand why things happen. It is very much influenced by Edgar Allen Poe and the ending is 'Poe-ish' in style. 'The Strange Case of Pietr the Lett' hinges on finding out how one man can be in so many places at the same time, but never really there. The criminal is from that part of Europe that has undergone huge upheavals because of the end of WW1, and the break-up of the Russian Empire.

You have to keep in mind, the 'times' these stories are written in, they are post-WW1 Europe, that has been two years into the "Great Depression". Life is hard and most people see no future, just day to day drudgery and maybe starvation or life on the streets. At the same time, 'The Rich' are so far above the average person or worker to make them almost invisible. Money is power and people fear those who have it and know how to use its' power.

Read this book is a like a journey in the past (the firties) in the sailor's world and in the passion.

The atmosphere is splendid, the characters are interesting. The story is superb.

Read it you will not waste your time.

One of the very best Maigrets, in my opinion, and I've read most of them. This one is particularly memorable for its brilliantly evocative atmosphere.

This title is an English invention, unhappily signalling a facetiousness absent from a sombre Simenon story about double murder, decdence, broken lives and betrayal. A literal translation from the French is 'The Carter Of The 'Providence'', but perhaps that was seen as too leading, even if it was Simenon's choice; another alternative, 'The Crime At Lock 14' is the most satisfying, centring on the important aspect of the novel: place. 'Milord' is set in that strange, marginal, now obsolete inter-war world of canal barges, perhaps most familiar from contemporary films of the period, such as 'Boudu Saved From Drowning' or 'L'Atalante'. Indeed, the star of those films, Michel Simon, would have been an obvious choice to play the main non-Migret character in any film of this book, the carter Jean, a taciturn giant whose face and tattooed body are buried in a mass of hirsute overgrowth, a man who sleeps in dumb animal warmth with his horses in the barge stable, and into whose eyes Maigret can't decide whether to read imbecility or the keenest intelligence.

A beautiful, rich, well-dressed woman is found strangled between two sleeping carters in the tavern stable at Dizy, Lock 14. She is the wife of an elderly English aristocrat, disgraced Colonel Lampson, who is sailing along the canal tribuatry of the Marne on his luxury yacht The Southern Cross with his sleazy but charming companion Willy Marco, and his fat Chilean mistress. Despite his bearing and stiff-upper-lip, the Colonel conducts regular drunken orgies on board his yacht, and tolerated his wife's affair with Marco. The other principal boat in the story is the huge barge The Providence, run by a small, timid skipper, his garrulous, kindly wife and the carter Jean.

Simenon characterises barge-life as a kind of shadow-world adjacent to, but unknown to, normal life around it, with its own codes, customs and language. Although these are floating homes, not tied to any one place and potentially unstable, their slow, regular movements up and down the river, and the rules they must abide by are as rigid, claustrophobic and monotonous as any settler's. But Simenon brilliantly captures the sense of a shifting communal life, competitive (the dense traffic on a small stretch of water means much jostling for pole position), but full of cameraderie and good humour, helping out friends in trouble, carrying messages from relatives, tipping canal-side officials.

For a rooted outsider like Maigret, this world seems enchanted, his inability to crack the case matched by a terrible sense of suspension hanging over the twilit realm - it is only by breaking out of it, asserting his mobility by bicycle, that he can regain his detective prowess. Before that, he learns many fascinating facts about the mechanics of barge life, as well as its drabness and colour, its hierarchies of boats and petty bendings of the law, the land men, women and buildings who service it (lock-keepers, tavern- and shop-owners); a group world of work and routine in which transgressive individual desire can have the direst consequences.

The way Simenon himself, like a narrative elastic band, suspends the tension, allowing us to soak in the character and atmosphere, before accelerating the suspense and action, is so gripping, this must count as an exceptional early Maigret.

Excellent book on the life and times of the great legend Bob Marley. Absolutely a must have for all Bob Marley fans. I couldn't put the book down until I had finished it. I highly recommend this book, it definitely deserves a five star rating.

The book came very fast and was in brand new conditions. I would recommend purchasing from this seller and would buy from them again.

When this was opened at X-mas, brought the recipient to tears. All the goodies packed into the book are amazing & worth every penny!

This is a nicely packaged (and slipcased) celebration of a reggae icon with beautiful pictures and interesting tidbits...the gatefolds and pockets with little surprises might become tiresome after a few browsings but Bob Marley is one those performers whose legend only grows with time and he is entirely deserving of this elaborate book. It's not too deep but then there are plenty of good books to choose from...in the end, it's all about the music.

this book is amazing for anyone who wants to see what it was like for maroon5 to tour for 4 years. a great book for any fan!

The book delightfully displayed wonderful memories through photographs of the bands musical tour. I enjoyed the message each member of the band wrote, not wordy which I prefer but insightful. The photography is very good and the pictures are a treasure in itself. You will be very pleased with this book.

this book is a must have for every m5 fan. it chronicles, in photography, the band's three year tour from small venues to soldout arenas. the book measures 6.5' by 9', and each picture is a full-sized page. it's a behind the scenes, in front of the scenes, at breakfast and long after midnight ~america to europe & back~ photo-diary of their lives for the last 3 years. also included is a page or two that each of the guys wrote for us.

I had the Pleasure of Meeting all 5 members of Maroon 5 at a Book Signing here in California last week and they could not have been nicer! They were Very Friendly, were on Time(unheard of for a band this big) and happily chatted and posed for photos with fans! These Guys Really appreciate their fans! The Book is Beautiful, packed with HUNDREDS of Photos from their last concert tour which lasted 3 years in support of their cd songs about jane. What is fascinating about the book and the band itself is that before songs about jane came out, these guys were just a struggling band playing in small clubs and colleges(hard to beleive but true). So the book actually gives you a rare glimpse of a band right before they became huge and you the reader get to witness this and view how fame and fortune changes the band and judging from the Book signing, fame and fortune hasnt changed these guys at all. When songs about jane became a huge seller, many people in the media called maroon 5 an "overnight sensation", The guys must laugh at this because the overnight sensations was like 10 years in the making! These guys worked their butts off to achieve the success that they now have and its nice and refreshing to see that they are still down to earth and they havent forgotten who got them to this point. The book in alot of ways is a tribute to their fans so GO BUY IT!

The Marriage Bargain by Susan Fox
Harlequin Romance #3606 - May 2000

Hallie Corbett couldn't believe what her dying grandfather was taunting her with. He'd will her the ranch, if she married before he died. Wes Lansing could remember only a handful of times that he'd actually seen his neighbour up close. He's intrigued when she comes to his home with a proposition. There's a parcel of land that has been disputed in their familes for four generations, and Hallie's willing to part with it if Wes is willing to help her meet her grandfather's conditions. After putting in place the legal agreements needed to guarantee their personal interests, they fly to Vegas to marry. Hallie's never known a man like Wes and she's overwhelmed by the emotions he brings out in her. She's not used to kindness and concern and she finds herself longing for the possibility of a real love with Wes. Wes knows that Hallie was treated very badly by her grandfather and her cousin and that she grew up a recluse with little affection from anyone. When he asks her why she doesn't feel there might be something growing between them, she answers quietly, "There are some gambles, I won't take." Deep in Hallie the hunger to be loved by Wes is almost overwhelming. If only she could free herself of her fears.

Another intensely emotional story by Ms. Fox. Hallie's had so little warmth shown to her that she doesn't recognize Wes' sincereity in wanting to make a future with her. Wes is her perfect match, strong and stern when needed but with a heart of gold. Their love story is very moving.

Don't put down the tissues. Halona (Hallie) Corbett has never had anyone to love her. Hallie has always worked along side the men on her granfather ranch. When her grandfather Hank tells her to act like a woman & find a husband or when he dies ( he is in the hospital ICU), he won't leave her a cent.
Candace her cousin hates her, and if Candace gets the ranch, both the Hank and Hallie know, Candace will sell it.
Wes Lansing their next door neighbor, has had a fued with the Corbetts over some land for ages.
Hallie goes to Wes and offers him the land he has wanted if he will marry her.
Wes has been secertly interest in Hallie for as long as she has been an adult.
Wes goes to Hank and makes a deal, only the same land Wes wanted is to go to Hallie.
This impresses Hank so much he changes his will to give Hallie everything.
But before he dies, Candace tells Hallie to leave and take her horses with her. Hallie gets Candace's permission to use the horse trailers. Only as soon as Hallie hits the open road, Candace calls the cops, and has Hallie arrested for stealing the trailers.
Wes gets Hallie out of jail, and He admonishes her for trusting Candace.
But Wes treats Hallie with tenderness and kindness only.
Soon Wes finds he is in love with Hallie just as Hallie closes up to him when Candace burns down the house that is to be Hallies.
Wes waits and watches, then when Hallie turns to him he is there with his arms open wide. Wes loves her as only a hero can.

Back cover reads:
A husband in name only?
Hallie had never even been in love--now she must marry to save her home! She just needed a wedding certificate--well, first she had to find a bridegroom...
Wes Lansing was her neighbor and the ideal candidate. Only what could a shy virgin like Hallie offer this dynamic man? Wes was intrigued and the marriage deal was struck. But could Hallie handle her new husband?

Hallie is a tortured soul -- the family scapegoat. She's stayed on because of her love of the ranch, not her love of the people on it. Her grandfather's dying and left her the ranch . . . only if she marries before he's dead. Hallie goes to Wes Lansing, a man her grandfather hates, and offers him an irresistible proposal, marry her and she'll deed him the land her family stole from his family. Wes agrees. But is it the land, or the woman who entices him?

Rather than a traditional tortured hero, Hallie is a tortured heroine. And it's Wes's love that begins to show her that she can chose to end her pain and seize a happiness beyond anything she ever imagined.

Fox writes a very traditional romance, with a twist that leaves it feeling quite untraditional. An Alpha male with a Beta soul, and a heroine who's strong enough to survive her life and find something better. I found her books last year and can't get enough of them.

All Marvin Gaye Fans Should Have This Book. Alicia Keys Turn Me On To This Book, Thank You Alicia

I've read all of the books written about Marvin and picked this up to add to the collection, expecting it to be little more than expanded liner notes for the album. Wow. Very wrong. The book ends up encompassing Marvin's entire life through the scope of his most acclaimed work. It's beautifully written, unfolding more like a novel than you'd ever expect. It's a genuinely moving look at a true artist taking the boldest step of his...and arguably any other musician's...life. I can't recommend this highly enough, both as an admirer of Marvin's and as someone who just likes to read a great book.

This book is wonderful! It gives a full account of the concept behind this wonderful album, which stood the test of time! To get the full effect, order the "What's Going On" Deluxe Edition!

should be more like it.what can you say about the Album "what's Going On"?Mind Blowing to this day.solid all the way around.the kind of Album that is timeless&moves you especially now in light of recent events.Marvin Gaye is one of those Artists in His League&this Book showcases that.also Madd Props to all the Great minds that Contributed to this Classic Album&it reflected then as it does now.War,Sex,Race,Religion,Class,&The World&it's Surroundings.Read the Book&Listen to the album they both will grab your full attention.

The books arrived earlier than expected (just in time for Christmas) and we're a big hit. Thanx!!!

This is a great book to get ideas for Jazz licks. Excellent, not just for the saxophone, but other instruments in the same register can benefit from the instruction in this book. For me, coming from a classical music background, I'm using it with my violin to learn Jazz Violin and improvisation skills. This is quite a challenge, to say the least! These licks are very easy to learn, and not ridiculously difficult, which is what beginners to Jazz music really need.

I really like the book and always have it on my music stand.

The exercise in this book are commonly heard phrases that can be played over standard chord sequences. As practice material they are great and the explanations are simple and enlightening. This is a good book for developing dexterity and a feel for the keys and scales. Improvising is much more than repeated practiced licks but working through this book will give a player some chops to fall back on as well as a wider understaning of what is possible.

All of Arnie Berle's books present the info in a clear, concise and logical way. I recommend you get your hands on as many of them as you can, while you can, especially if you're learning on your own. Any aspiring jazz musician can't have too many pattern books, and this one is a gem. 'Improvisation For The Contemporary Musician' and 'Encyclopedia of Scales, Modes and Melodic Patterns' also by Arnie are also highly recommended.