Music-History & Criticism

""A Catechism For The Harmonium"" is a comprehensive guidebook written by John Hiles in 1877. The book is designed to provide theoretical and practical information about the different types and sizes of harmoniums, as well as their capabilities. The harmonium is a type of...

Discover the epic origins of Richard Wagner's monumental "Ring Cycle" in this accessible retelling crafted by Anna Alice Chapin. "The Story of the Rhinegold (Der Ring des Nibelungen) told for young people" offers an engaging introduction to one of the most influential works in...

As well as being a virtuoso pianist, Louise Farrenc became the first woman to hold a permanent position as Professor at the Paris Conservatoire while continuing to compose symphonic and chamber music. This handbook introduces readers to Farrenc and her contemporaries with a focus...

This volume assesses Messiaen's position as a creative artist of the twentieth century in the light of the latest research. In the process, it identifies some of the key myths, confusions and exaggerations surrounding the composer which often mask equally remarkable truths. In attempting...

Most of the seventy-one works have been freshly transcribed, and all have been newly engraved for this collection.In choosing the works for inclusion in this collection, many of which have been available in a modern edition, Professor Hoppin ranged widely throughout the gamut of...

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it.This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States,...

Elvis Presley's triumphant return - the album that proved The King was back.In April 1960, Elvis Presley stepped out of his Army uniform and back into the recording studio. The result was Elvis Is Back!, a daring, sophisticated, and electrifying comeback album that showcased...

Bob Leszczak is a longtime radio personality, actor, singer, historian and author. A New Jersey native, The Answer Is: A Guide to the Lost Art of the Answer Record is Leszczak's twelfth pop culture book. "Answer Records" all but disappeared in the mid to...

In 1963, a rock group named the Kingsmen recorded the song "Louie, Louie." The popularity of the song and difficulty in discerning the lyrics led some people to suspect the song was obscene. The FBI was asked to investigate whether or not those involved...

An unflinching look at the rise of one of the most recognizable names in pop music -The Police The Police have sold more than 50 million albums, made Rolling Stone's Greatest Artists of All Time list, and finished a triumphant world reunion tour in...

An engrossing history of the music of twilight and sleep, from the nocturnes of Field and Chopin to Max Richter In an insomniac age, ambient and sleep music have become increasingly popular. But our association between music and sleep is not new: lullabies may...

By 1993, Guns N' Roses had hit practically every benchmark possible for a rock n' roll band. Their eight-year journey included an explosive and game-changing debut record, a self-indulgent but even more successful double album release, a handful of raucous global tours, and various...

It all began in 1977 when Jim Crichton and Michael Sadler, both with a UK heritage, joined forces in their home town of Oakville, Ontario to write a few songs. What transpired was an impressive output of recorded material and one of the genre's...

Vienna and classical music: a magical combination! From Haydn and Mozart to Beethoven and Brahms, even Johann Strauss Jr. and Mahler, and many more, Vienna was the birthplace of some of the most marvelous fine music. This survey covers two dozen Vienna-based composers and...

This book opens up discussion on the liturgical music of medieval Ireland by approaching it from a multidisciplinary, European perspective. In so doing, it challenges received notions of an idiosyncratic 'Celtic Rite', and of the prevailing view that no manuscripts with music notation have...

Over the past 45 years, Keith Polk has been one of the major scholars in the history of musical instruments and their repertories during the period 1300 - 1600. His publications have been extremely helpful in elucidating the development of the instruments, the repertory...

The last word on the movement that shook the world.Punk: The Last Word is a powerful reimagining of punk--not just as a sound or style, but as a radical, DIY philosophy rooted in defiance, truth, and individuality.Cultural insider and Wag Club founder Chris Sullivan...

DISCOVER the BEST places on the planet to buy records--Marcus Barnes's updated guide is a MUST-READ for all vinyl lovers, crate diggers, and music fans. Looking for the best place in Europe to buy electronic music? Want to get lost in the racks of...

In eighteenth-century England, "variety" became a prized aesthetic in musical culture. Not only was variety--of counterpoint, harmony, melody, and orchestration--expected for good composition, but it also manifested in cultural mediums such as songbook anthologies, which compiled miscellaneous songs and styles in single volumes; pasticcio...

Since its release in 1976, ABBA's song "Fernando" has been loved by fans around the globe both for its sing-along chorus and its revolutionary spirit. In Fernando, Kay Dickinson takes readers from Sweden and Chile to Australia and Poland, tracing the complicated ways the...

Exercises in Elementary Counterpoint is a book written by Percy Goetschius in 1910, which aims to provide a comprehensive guide to the principles and techniques of counterpoint. The book is designed for students of music who are interested in developing their skills in the...

The Story of Jazz is a comprehensive account of the origins and evolution of jazz music, written by A.F. Niemoeller. The book traces the history of jazz from its roots in African music and the blues, through its development in New Orleans and its...

Exercises In Elementary Counterpoint is a comprehensive guidebook written by Percy Goetschius and first published in 1910. The book is designed to teach the fundamentals of counterpoint, which is the art of combining multiple melodies to create a harmonious composition. The book is divided...

Ranns and Ballads is a collection of poems written by Seumas O'Kelly and published in 1918. The book contains a variety of traditional Irish ballads and ranns, which are narrative poems that tell a story. The poems cover a range of themes, including love,...

In 'The Choral Tradition', musicologist Percy M. Young offers a comprehensive survey of one of the richest and most enduring traditions in Western music. Drawing on a wealth of historical and analytical research, Young explores the evolution of choral music from the Renaissance to...

Drawing upon a wealth of historical research and primary source documents, this fascinating study explores the reception and influence of Richard Wagner's prose works in two key European cities. William Ashton Ellis provides a richly detailed look at Wagner's life and times, as well...

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it.This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States,...

Christopher Wilkinson uncovers a fascinating and unexplored side of American musical and social history in this richly detailed account of Don Albert's musical career and the multicultural forces that influenced it. Albert was born Albert Dominque in New Orleans in 1908. Wilkinson discusses his...

The original purpose of Professor Backus's book was to collect and organize the scattered results of research, past and present, in the areas of scientific knowledge that are relevant to music: the physiological properties of sounds; the effect of acoustical environment; the acoustical behavior...

Alfred Schnittke (1934-1998) was arguably the most important Russian composer since Shostakovich, and his music has generated a great deal of academic interest in the years since his death. Schnittke Studies provides a variety of perspectives on the composer and his music. Author: Gavin...

Through archival material, experience the 140BPM beating heartbeat of grime as told by a pioneer of the scene - not just as a music genre, but as a living, breathing culture that continues to thrive, inspire, and boldly challenge the status quo. 'There are...

Author: Barry WaltersISBN-13: 9798217059829Publisher: VikingLanguage: EnglishPublished: 05/12/2026Pages: 480Format: HardcoverWeight: 1.46lbsSize: 9.00h x 6.00w x 1.19d

The "Dictionary of Music and Musicians, American Supplement" is an invaluable historical resource for anyone interested in the development of music in America. Compiled in the early 20th century, this dictionary offers a snapshot of the musical landscape of the time, documenting composers, performers,...

The definitive biography of the life and career of one of music history's most beloved, versatile, unforgettable icons--the singer-songwriter of legendary hits including "Only the Lonely," "Crying," and "Oh, Pretty Woman"-- from his chart-topping highs and tragic lows to his momentous comeback. He didn't...

“A Century of Russian Song, From Glinka to Rachmaninoff” presents a carefully curated collection of fifty songs, spanning a pivotal era in Russian musical history. Edited by Kurt Schindler, this volume offers a comprehensive overview of the evolution of Russian vocal music, showcasing the...

"The Philosophy of Music" by William Pole, originally delivered as a series of lectures at the Royal Institution, delves into the fundamental principles underlying musical art. This treatise explores the nature of music, its relationship to other arts, and its profound impact on human...

OVER THE LAST SEVEN DECADES, some of rock 'n' roll's most celebrated musicians have flirted with the imagery and theater of the Third Reich. From Keith Moon and Vivian Stanshall donning Nazi uniforms and terrorizing Jewish neighborhoods to Siouxsie Sioux and Sid Vicious brandishing...

THE CURE released thirteen studio albums between the years 1979 and 2008. As of October 2022, it has been a period of 14 years without a new one. This project simply pairs the alphabet with 26 corresponding songs from the era of late 1982...

The Album That Transformed Pop into Art - An Intimate, Track-by-Track Journey Through Rubber SoulIn 1965, The Beatles didn't just evolve-they reinvented everything. Gone were the mop tops and innocent love songs. In their place came introspection, innovation, and an entirely new sonic world....

Step into the Fire: The Untold Story of Waiting for the SunBy 1968, The Doors were no longer just a rock band-they were a cultural force, a symbol of rebellion, sensuality, and sonic experimentation. Waiting for the Sun, their third album, marked a turning...

With a focus on 50 defining artists, songs, and albums, Listen to Hip Hop! Exploring a Musical Genre provides an overview of hip-hop music for scholars and fans of the genre.This title explores non-rap hip hop music, and as such it serves as a...

Listen to Soul! Exploring a Musical Genre provides an overview of soul music for fans of the genre, with a focus on 50 must-hear singers, songs, and albums that define it.This book provides both an overview and a critical analysis of what makes soul...

The Voice: Its Production, Care and Preservation, stands as a beacon in the world of books, bridging the gap between past and present. Once considered among the old books, this classic work-like so many forgotten and ancient books-has shaped our understanding of culture and...

Music Talks with Children, a classical book, has been considered important throughout the human history, and so that this work is never forgotten we at Alpha Editions have made efforts in its preservation by republishing this book in a modern format for present and...

Until now, scholars have had an inadequate picture of the scope and transmission of the oeuvre of Ludwig Senfl (c.1490-1543), one of the most important Renaissance composers of the German-speaking lands. The current publication presents an extraordinary and exceptionally comprehensive catalogue raisonne for this...

The important contribution of Heinrich Isaac (ca. 1455-1517) to polyphonic settings of the proper of the mass has long been recognised. The monumental posthumously published collection of his work in the genre, the Choralis Constantinus, was considered as a landmark even in the sixteenth...

With the exception of the new form, Opera, the previous two centuries of musicology have tended to present the Baroque Period, 1600-1750, as a period of functional, even mechanical, music. The contemporary discussion in this volume will help the reader understand that nothing could...

Originally published in 1838, Frédéric Berr's The Need to Reconstitute the School of Military Music on a New Basis to Improve Regimental Music is a treatise on the structure and administration of military bands in 19th-century France. A distinguished clarinetist, composer, and pedagogue, Berr...

With the exception of the new form, Opera, the previous two centuries of musicology have tended to present the Baroque Period, 1600-1750, as a period of functional, even mechanical, music. The contemporary discussion in this volume will help the reader understand that nothing could...

This volume consists of essays which present the reader with Renaissance views on their philosophy of music. The contemporary opinions here cover the general new view of man himself in the 14th century, a variety of views on the new values of the Renaissance...