Music Books

Aaron Frankel, who has directed more than 100 plays, loves the stage, especially musicals. He brings his genius to Writing the Broadway Musical by formulating an organized book, which is easy to use both as a reference and as a guide.

He fills the text with pertinent examples -- plenty of them --like chocolate chips in cookies. Frankel's book is full of encouragement for the dreamers, while it outlines the practical aspects of taking a musical play from a dream to a full-fledged production.

This book gives a good foundation for basic elements of a musical script. I bought this wanting to write a musical script but not necessarily the lyrics/musical score and am a complete novice - was a bit lost on the different musicals it quoted. However another book that is quite "meaty" in terms of how to write a compelling gripping story/script for theatre is "The Writers Journey" surname is Vogler. What Frankel says is that the book or story needs to be written first before appropriate lyrics/musical score can be created. So I would have gone straight to this book first. Good as reference but can borrow from library, not a must have.

Frankel's concise, clear volume on writing large-scale musicals is a welcome addition to the bookshelf of anyone who wants to understand how this peculiar theatrical genre works-- when it does. By focusing on two artistically successful, well-known pieces in the canon-- "My Fair Lady" as a well-executed classic musical with linear plot, "Company" (my personal favorite) as a well-executed plotless musical whose songs move character forward--, Frankel can support his intelligent teaching points with concrete yet familiar examples. I'm very happy to see this book back in print.

Many of today's top talents in musicals on and off Broadway have studied with Aaron Frankel. Now anyone can learn the ropes from this honored director and instructor in a step-by-step guide that makes for good reading whether you are a writer, composer, or simply an avid theatergoer. I enjoyed the previous edition and found this revised and updated one an even more interesting read.

In only 192 pages, Frankel presents writing for the musical theatre from the perspective of the book writer, lyricist and composer -- and how each contributes to the whole. Enough specifics for each to gain a better appreciation of the others' unique contributions. The book would be an excellent introductory text for a musical theate workshop. Most examples from My Fair Lady are illustrative and excellent; other examples from Company were less helpful (as that show was less successful). Highly recommended for those working on musical to keep near at hand.

this is one of the greatest. sublime had done so much with what little money they had to use. making this cd was one of the best things they could have done. the lyrics, and bass lines, and vocals, and drums, are all absolutly "sublime". we wish bud and eric and the rest of the lbda the best of luck, and rest in peace brad. we love and miss you

This Cd is worth the money! if you like this one try some other ones like robbin the hood and Dog gone blues!

this album totally kicks a** it is one of sublime's best. some of the great songs on this album are... Date Rape, badfish, smoke 2 joints, 40oz, what happened, ebin and that is only a few of them. if you don't have this album get it now!

40oz. To Freedom is one of the best albums I have ever heard. I recomend all SUBLIME fans get this CD. Some great tracks include, Waiting for my Ruca, 40oz, to Freedom, Smoke two Joints, Don't Push, and BadFish to name a few. SUBLIMES unique sound and awsome lyrics are really expressed in this CD. I listen to it every day. Its my fav. CD. Everyone should go out and buy it!

Best sublime every you could want rock, ska, reggae, Funky freash lyrics

Although the title is Acting for Singers, actors and directors will benefit as well from Ostwald's excellent analysis of what makes a believable character on stage. The book is full of helpful exercises and explanations of what works on stage. Acting for Singers should be on the bookshelf of every performer.

I came upon this book while preparing for the North American debut of a 1640's Baroque opera in Washington D.C. The information in it is invaluable and succinct. Great for anyone trying to extract meaning from music and convey it to an audience. Well-written and containing excellent advice and exercises, I recommend it.

I have been a professional opera singer and voice professor for many decades. This book REALLY gets to the heart of the acting delima which singers' face. The index is very thorough, allowing the singer to find exactly the topic they are looking for easily. The book should be read cover to cover many times if the singer is new to the field of acting. (I find it helpful for each singer to ponder this question: Am I a singer who acts or, an actor who sings, or both.) An opera singer MUST learn to create operatic characters with which the audience can identify. Each Mannerism and gesture will change with each new operatic role one intends to interpret. This book should be a great help for the preparation of singers who aspire to act realistically and who wish to conquor this extremely demanding and rewarding field called OPERA.

David Ostwald's new book, "Acting for Singers," is an important and helpful guide for singers-in-training, for professionals learning new roles, and for seasoned performers who wish to infuse new dramatic life into their repertory. As a former arts administrator for San Francisco Opera and Affiliate Artists, Inc., I feel that Ostwald's book is equally useful for stage directors, conductors, teachers, and coach/accompanists who strive to make their highly collaborative art form appear as seamless as possible. Ostwald covers a number of pertinent topics including the foundations of believable acting, ways to improve concentration, and how to motivate a character's actions. Having judged many auditions over the years, I found the chapter on "Getting the Part" to be especially helpful to young singers who may not know how to dress for the occasion, speak to the judges, or introduce their selections from the stage. The author's "Ten Maxim's of Believable Singing" provide a concise checklist of wisdom gleaned from his years of teaching and directing. Ostwald's analysis of how directors and teachers can help their singers grow and flourish, including the sage advice of "Always be supportive" and "Never humiliate anyone," presents a pithy list that bosses in any business should read and take to heart. The text is lively, clear and well designed, with headings, bulleted points and enough white space to make the book's insights both accessible and memorable. Each chapter contains helpful exercises, summaries or trouble shooting techniques which will enable singers and their colleagues to create superior performances. "Acting for Singers" will likely become an indispensable, dog-eared companion for any singers who wish to breathe live and artistry into their characters.

Perry-Lynn Moffitt

"Acting for Singers" speaks to the problems that most all of us share in creative situations when we are speaking to a group or preparing an article or script for publication. We do not have to be singers to use the wisdom of Ostwald's mind and experience. These challenges are inevitably concentration, trust, projection, communication, and the self-doubt that most of us sometimes experience.

If you could see David Ostwald in action, you would recognize how his life is a demonstration of his work. When the groups at my seminars would get excited and several voices were talking at once in an exercise, David (upon my request) would clearly enunciate one or two words to the whole group in a tone that instantly shifted everyone's attention to the work at hand. The whole group loved David's wit and wisdom, his power to achieve the intended focus and hold it, plus his demonstration of an open mind, the will to learn and to share knowledge gained through years of a focused mind and experience.

David's whole life is filled with the qualities of concentration, trust, projection, and communication. This is the real power of his written words. I think this book will prove so useful that it will become an essential textbook for teaching acting to singers.

This book is incredibly entertaining. I'm 25 years old, and need constant excitement to keep my attention. While reading this book I was amazed by the by the numerous experiences Buzz Cason has encountered throughout his life. Any individual one of these expeiences could be a highlight in the "average person's" life, and Buzz has had a countless number of them. You can't help but wonder in amazement how one person had the opportunity to do so many exciting things in a lifetime. No matter your age, this book is incredible!

Heroes are found everywhere in the story of a Nashville kid who made good in the brutal business of music, beginning in the late 50s and still going strong in 2004. Autobiographical in its first person telling, this story regails to us tales of "the early days"...before belly piercing and techno grooves, when some of the biggest names in rock and pop music were fledgling acts, just kids. I found myself asking how one person accomplished all these things and met all these people while turning pages as quickly as my eyes could pass the story on to my eager brain. The creativity of Buzz Cason shines brightly from the pages of this delightful story, pictures being proof of the pudding of the rememberances most of us could only imagine in some fantasy life. The photos alone are worth the cost of the book. Every book shelf should sport a copy of this delightful look back down the road over the long, fun trip it's obviously been for the author. I'm getting it for practically everyone on my Christmas list!

This book, written in the first person, actually invites one into the very thoughts that Mr.Cason has as his memory interacts with some of the most well known and famous entertainers in the entire music industry.
The book is just the "right" length of read - not too long - and full of insight and humor! It includes many photographs too!
I would love to go to one of Mr.Cason's book signing's - I know that this first edition will increase in value over time.

Living The Rock 'n Roll Dream: The Adventures Of Buzz Cason is the autobiography of musician and award-winning hit songwriter Buzz Cason, founder of the Casuals, the first rock band in Nashville. A dazzling true story about the popular music trade Cason embraced for fifty years, shedding light on his career and offering an inside peek at the early days of rock 'n roll. A treasure for rock 'n roll fans looking to experience a primary account of the origins of their wildly popular music, and especially for those who have thrilled to Cason's outstanding talent.

Over the years, I've read dozens of music industry books. This book has to go to the top of the list for history and entertainment, that covers a time like no other on the planet.

My five stars are for the performance and the book. All opera recordings should come in this format. But the cd copies are bad and will be short-lived, they easily loose their coating.

I bought this as my first piece from the Black Dog Library in preparation for seeing the Vancouver BC Operas production in 2002. Black Dog Library is a must for everyone going to see an opera. Get this, listen to it, fall in love with the music and then see this opera live if you ever get the chance. This is opera at its best. After seeing the production live, I can't wait to see it again. And by listening to the cd's I can bring it right back to my mind and my heart.

Bravo Giuseppe, Bravo......

Wow!! Wow!! O my God! I just heard this album and my jaw dropped. Why it so many critic snub this recording ? It's the best Aida on record. I think it has to do with the fact it's very rare and more of a collector's piece as well overshadowed by more popular editions- i.e. Placido Domingo/Leontine Price, Jon Vickers..Pavoratti..Montserrat Caballe etc. But the cast in this album can not be more perfect. Birgit Nilsson was a grand lady of the opera- with a voice that cut through great orchestras, with dramatic integrity in her stage performances (she was as much as an actress as she was a singer and in this way she was like Maria Callas). It is true that she is far more recognized for her Wagner heroines- she is the best Isolde and Brunhilde, but her Wagnerian voice, so high, so powerful, is perfect for such diva roles as Aida. Verdi wrote the role for soprano di forzas which Birgit Nillson delivers with electrifying prowess. She was trained in Italian as well, which people seem to forget. Her Italian voice is rich, powerful, with a high top and generous bottom. She gets into characters with passionate intensity as well. Has anyone ever heard Turandot ? It's the best! So intense and powerful. And her Tosca is breathtaking. She also sang in Mozart's Don Giovanni starred opposite Leontine Price and the famous bass Cesare Siepi in that one. She can do the Italian roles as good as the rest of them!! There is also her powerful interpretation of Turandot and Tosca. So there you have it. Her Italian was as dynamic as her German. Franco Corelli is an awesome Radames, with hot-blooded, masculine energy and lyrical moments of love and grief. He can be a tough guy and a sensitive lover. "Celeste Aida" is superbly done, even if not sung as written. His Tomb Scene at the end is incredible. Grace Bumbry is the best Amneris, and she sang the role numerous times which made her an expert on it. She has a dignity of her own in the role and she is not as scary or bitchy as Rita Gorr's interpretation. Bumbry's perfect. You can also hear her as Amneris in the Leontine Price/Placido Domingo version conducted by Erich Leinsdorf. This is truly a great recording and will have you wanting to get other recordings of its amazing lead singers. Certainly Franco Corelli is a magnet of opera lovers with his excellent artistry. He sang with Birgit Nilsson in the greatest operas of their careers- Puccini's Turandot and Tosca which are also available at Amazon.com and I strongly urge you seek them out. Their Aida is mind-blowing.

The sound to this recording been digitally remastered from the old LP and sound fresh, powerful and moving. The Black Dog Opera Library series offers the best in opera to a beginner who takes interest in the world of opera or to fans who are already converted. It does more for the novice, however. My first of these "cd-books" was Verdi's La Traviata starring Beverly Sills and Nicolai Gedda. This was indeed a perfect performance. This was followed by Bizet's Carmen starring Jon Vickers and Grace Bumbry..another winner! Then came Mozart's Magic Flute starring Peter Schreir, Anneliese Rothenberger, Kurt Moll, Walter Berry and Edda Moser. This is the best Magic Flute out there. Indeed, all the recordings on this series are of the highest calibre. This book comes with the libretto, pictures of Aidas in the past, and bios on Corelli, Nilsson and Bumbry. Go out and get it today!!!

The historical account and the story help the person new to opera appreciate the opera. The sound is of high quality. I only wish Amazon carried the full series of The Black Dog Opera Library.

Brilliant voices of Birgit Nilsson, Franco Corelli with Orchestra e Coro Del Teatro dell' Opera di Roma under Zubin Mehta. A marvelous studio recording without audience noises. A number of stage photos of major performances and introduction of Verdi and the writing of AIDA. Two CD's with the complete opera with complete libretto in Italian and English. A great value. A must-have.

Alabaster's Song is a story that you should own, even if you don't have a child. It is warm and sweet, and brings you back to the place where the child inside each one of us still lives.

As always, Max Lucado has the gift of reaching down into the depths of your heart and soul, and touching you, drawing you closer to God.

Make this book part of your library, part of your Christmas traditions. I read it each year to my "babies", who are now 19, 17, and 13. It is a tradition I will carry on with my grandchildren.

This is a fabulous book that brings to mind the wonder of Christmas through a child's eyes. The illustrations are beautiful and the story is timeless and unforgettable! I read this story to my children, ages 11, 8, and 4, each year around Christmas. I even read it to my MOPS group as a Christmas reading last year. Thank you, Max Lucado, for another wonderful children's book!

Very cute story about a little boy whose Christmas Tree angel comes to life to sing sweet songs to him. Gorgeous artwork brings the story to life with brilliance. I loved that the story repeated itself once the little boy grew up and had a son of his own who hears the angels music.

This is one of the most beautifully illustrated, delightful stories I have had the good fortune to encouter. Alabaster, the spirited little angel, touches the life a boy with positive results. The message in this gentle story is that when good is done, pass it on. It is so lovely, so moving that it might make one misty eyed. This book is a real treasure. Max Lucado and the illustrator have used their talents to enrich the lives of others.

As a Preschool Teacher of 4 and 5 year olds, I have read many books about the Christmas Story. This book is by far, the childrens' favorite. It is both touching and exciting. I have never read one of Max Lucado's books that I was not absolutely thrilled with.

Steve Turner has done a great service to Christians everywhere. In the first part of his carefully researched book, Turner gives us an excellent account of the life of John Newton, the author of the famous hymn "Amazing Grace." Here he covers much that is familiar, and at the same time corrects some common misconceptions.

The second half of the book traces the history of "Amazing Grace." It is fascinating to learn how the song's tune has developed and changed, how the verses of the song have evolved over time, and how the hymn has grown in popularity over the years. Not as enjoyable was learning how "Amazing Grace" has been reinterpreted since the 1970's to support the views of whatever unsaved person or group using it at the time. I am sure ol' John Newton would be spinning in his grave if he knew what our postmodern society has done with his marvelous hymn. Still, Turner's book should do nothing for the Christian but endear even more to "Amazing Grace" the song, and amazing grace the message.

I'm not sure why,but this book has a lot more to it than first meets the eye.Often books of this nature are of the 'edited 'type with very little effort put into them and while the concept is good ;usually filled with a bunch of fluff.But not this one.A great effort has gone into it and as a result we have an excellent work.
While he never gets away from his topic,Turner gives us an awful lot about the history of Newton and everyone associated with him,a thorough understanding of the slave trade,a good understanding of the various Protestant churches of the18th and 19th centuries .If that isn't enough, he has covered in minute detail the evolution of the hymn,it's meaning word by word,it's associated music and how it spread ,and by whom ,throughout it's 225 year history.
He has beautifully shown the deep religious and theological meaning the hymn has for those who understand it and have a faith in God.He has just as well explained how and why so many people love and get inspiration from the hymn even though they may have little in the way of faith or religious involvement.He does this without being judgemental in any way.
As to how Newton could be involved in the slave trade.."Slavery was as acceptable as abortion is today-it was legal,it had immediate and tangible benefits,and people predicted widespread calamity should it ever be banned.There was no social pressure for him to feel shame.Cities had been built on the fruits of slavery and the great merchants of slaves were celebrated,giving their names to buildings and streets.It was those who were opposed to slavery who were regarded as irritants-ememies of social stability,troublemakers,idealists with no concern for progress."
There is one thing I would like to add and that is..If there ever was a book that would have benefited from an included CD,this would have been it.

I love Steve Turner books, and I love the song Amazing Grace. What a combination!...a work of history that reads like a good mystery novel! I couldn't put it down until I'd read it from cover to cover. This book has everything...a great redemption story, both for the man, Newton--and his song, which didn't really take off until someone put the perfect tune with it a hundred years later. Turner manages to present the context of Newton's theology in a scholarly way that will be informative, but not off-putting to those who are not into reformed theology. The secular life of the song is fascinating...to see how this song was popularized, and now touches millions. To me this song has what we wan't all music to have...something that touches our insides in a way we can't describe, but we know that it makes our lives more complete. And the biggest surprise of the book?...Newton became a slave-trader AFTER his conversion, and only opposed slavery much later in life. Considering how slowly America has repented of it's historic racism, there may be a lesson for us all as we see the sanctification that occurred over time in Newton's life.

I sing and Amazing Grace is one of my favorite hymns. I'm also a nontheist. I'm pretty comfortable with those two seemingly incongruous facts, but I thought I'd read Steve Turner's book Amazing Grace to see if other folks like me had made it into the text. I'm also an Arlo Guthrie fan and I figured I'd do some fact checking on the version of John Newton's story Arlo tells when singing Amazing Grace in concert. Folks like me show up towards the end of the second part of the book and Turner indicates that Arlo is aware that his version is condensed and inaccurate.

The first part of Amazing Grace is the story of John Newton and how he came to write the words to what is now America's favorite hymn. I learned a lot of history, especially of the slave trade in the 1700's, while getting the non-Arlo, complicated version of Mr. Newton's life. The second part of the book follows the history of the hymn post-Newton. Turner has done his homework and I especially enjoyed learning about the history of the hymn in the 1800's, including how Amazing Grace picked up the tune we now sing it to.

I highly recommend Amazing Grace to fans of history, music, and, of course, the hymn Amazing Grace.

I just led a church service about "Amazing Grace," and Steve Turner's book served as my main resource. I read it cover to cover during the process, and found it highly intelligent and interesting, with far too many "tidbits" that I wanted to include in the service and couldn't! I encourage the reading of this book AS a "pleasure read," not just as research material.

I particularly appreciated the section on contemporary versions of "Amazing Grace" and its impact on the secular community. As a Unitarian Universalist, I was greatly cheered to find one of our ministers quoted on the impact of the hymn on those who don't necessarily believe in a divine presence.

The discography of AG recordings included as an appendix was also hugely valuable, as I compiled a CD of recorded versions as a "party favor" for my (small) congregation. Turner's correct when he says it's a "select" discography, but he got most of the really good ones!

This is a great book if you are a huge American Idol fan and you want to know behind-the-scenes stuff. There's a lot of info. about each of the contestants as well, from their favorite color to their birthday. My favorite AI% was Jessica Sierra.

But, I have one question: Where's the Season 5 book? :)

WHEN you read this book it will let you know what happend
behind the scencs of american idol! and you will also learn
more about the top 12.MY favorite idols are CARRIE UNDERWOOD
and LINDSEY CARDINLE they are fantastic singers.IF only
lindsey wasnt voted off so quickly! BUY THIS BOOK its AWESOME!

This book is pretty good. There are some bad things like since it was published and released before Carrie Underwood won, they don't show the winner like screaming, crying, being happy, blah, blah, blah. I watch the show every night and never missed an episode. The top 12 finalists are Lindsey Cardinale, Mikalah Gordon, Jessica Sierra, Nikko Smith, Nadia Turner, Anwar Robinson best!, Constantine Maroulis, Scott Savol, Anthony Federov, Vonzell Soloman, Bo Bice, and Carrie Underwood. They are in order in which they were eliminated from AI. The best is Anwar Robinson because he just sings great, looks great, never nervous, and so on. I think he should have been voted off near the end. Overall this book is awesome.

This book is a great book to get to know the Top 12 a little better. It has quick facts, pictures, and a bio of each of them. Plus some behind the scences stuff, never- before seen pics, and them shopping, etc. When I met the Top Ten (but not Bo), I had them sign their page, and it worked out great. I love it!

I thought it was a good book, had lots of good quality pictures in there. The only complaint I have with it is it came out too early. It should have come out after the season was done so they could have the last final weeks in there and the winner showing her happiness. That's the only complaint I have is it should have been published after the season was over with. Otherwise it was a good book.

I found that "Anatomy of Success" plots a very exacting formula that, unlike anything else I've ever read, gets to the heart of most all areas about which we think and act, in an extremely organized fashion. This helps with regard to empowering our beliefs, managing our time, building self-confidence and self-awareness, etc. These are especially useful in helping us to turn our dreams into realities; the foundation on which my business is based.

Mr. Kaufman's focus on the mental processes that occur within the human psyche concerning attitutes,values and self limiting beliefs is the powerful backbone of this "anatomy" of success book. His book is the first book I've read that concentrated on why my mind circulates information in its present myotic pattern. By examining the goal oriented questions that center on the very words my conscience instructs my body to perform, I have changed the negative, self defeating verbage that narrowed my ability to prosper into a stronger, decisively positive thought process that motivates me to strive for a lifestyle that is uplifting and satisfying.
I have gained fantastic insight through this book and I recommend it to those who wish a more positive outlook.

This book is the author's masterpiece. It contains more information in 300 pages than any other book in the area of personal development. Extracting from various fields and disciplines and following through with great detail, examples and learning techniques, this book is the greatest success manual for anyone.

Have you ever wished that you could find one source that would provide you with the tools and the ability to gain focus and clarity, make the right decisions, save time and energy, eliminate stress and take control of your personal life and professional life? Finally, it's here! In Anatomy of Success, Ronald A. Kaufman gives you unique techniques and step-by-step methods to help you turn your dreams into realities.
An important concept dealt with in the book is that a person's beliefs are essential keys to success. Mr. Kaufman demonstrates how beliefs are formed and explains how your subconscious beliefs determine your behavior and the quality of your life. He shows you how to manage your beliefs, communicate them effectively to achieve your goals and positively change your own and others' lives. You'll learn how to resolve negative emotions from past experiences to rid yourself of excess baggage, and you'll obtain the formula to motivate yourself consistently, ending procrastination forever.
Mr. Kaufman includes special sections to help you control your time, select the right job, build an effective organization and ensure success in your romantic relationship. Throughout the book, he provides the tools, identifies the processes and gives you instructions on how to apply them. Because it is both comprehensive and specific, Anatomy of Success truly is "The Ultimate System for Achieving Your Personal and Professional Goals" and a terrific, self-coaching guide.

After spending thousands of dollars and hours in countless seminars, books, tapes, and videos, on goal setting and success, at last, I found the ultimate guide to building dreams into reality - ANATOMY OF SUCCESS. This is not just another book on motivation or pop psychology like so many out there. This is a comprehensive, research-supported, no-nonsense guide to what one needs to achieve goals that are aligned with one's beliefs and values. It is great for procrastinators and anyone suffering from either fear of failure or fear of success. I am recommending this book to all educators and students that I come in contact with - as a trainer. If you want to really build your dreams and not just talk about them - get this book today and you will understand why I speak of it with such enthusiam and high regard.

As someone new to the singing scene, I find this volume to be my "go to" resource for my voice lessons. Purchased on the recommendation of my voice teacher, it has all the tenor arias you need--wherever you are on the singer's journey...The major repetoire is represented; all the major langugages. From "Amor ti Vieta" to the more recognizable arias, I expect this volume to be with me for years to come.

The book is a great collection. The book was in excellent condition, priced aptly, and delivered promptly. I can trust Amazon.com...

I use this book constantly in my teaching. I love it.

"Arias for Tenor", a G. Schirmer Antholgy(opera), is a plended collection of originally keyed scores of tenor arias from some of the most famous works of all time. Layouts of "Don Giovanni" and "Rigoletto" are just a couple of classics sung by the greats of opera that are obtained by purchasing this book. Whether you are a professional vocalist or an aspiring opera singer, this is definitly a valuable and sound investment.

Sylvester Allen
Greensboro College, NC

As far as i am concerned it's the best book that is just made-written for tenors and people who are students at the conservatories-music schools as me ,should truly benefit from it,