Amazing Composers

Discover little-known stories from music history—including murder, riots, and heartbreak—in this entertaining tour through the fascinating (and surprising) lives of classical music masters With outrageous anecdotes about everyone from Gioachino Rossini (draft-dodging womanizer) to Johann Sebastian Bach (jailbird) to Richard Wagner (alleged cross-dresser), Secret Lives of Great Composers recounts the seamy, steamy, and gritty history behind the great masters of international music. Here, you’ll learn that Edward Elgar dabbled with explosives; that John Cage was obsessed with fungus; that Berlioz plotted murder; and that Giacomo Puccini stole his church’s organ pipes and sold them as scrap metal so he could buy cigarettes. This is one music history lesson you’ll never forget!

Contains information on 17 composers who range from the Baroque period to the Contemporary period. Book contains a picture with relevant facts and suggested listening, a brief biography, a study of his music (or time he lived) and a question and answer page for each composer. The accompanying CD includes the suggested listening for each composer; the activity sheets contain the picture with facts and question and answer page for each composer in a reproducible format.

This is a compelling and inspiring look at spiritual beliefs that influenced some of the world's greatest composers, now revised and expanded with eight additional composers.

The inspiring stories of 6 people who changed history.

Biographies of the important composers from Monteverdi and Bach to Bartok and Webern are designed to show the history of music.

Grades 3-6 * What are Beethoven, Bach and other famous composers doing in the 21st century? They're taking students and audience members on a lively musical guessing game, featuring some of their best-known melodies and snappy, fun dialogue. Students sing melodies from Eine kleine Nachtmusik, The Hallelujah Chorus, Beethoven's Fifth Symphony, and much more - each presented with lyrics that offer musical clues as to the identity of the composer of each piece. In addition, teachers can use reproducible activities to reinforce composer facts and musical concepts. An optional script - lively and entertaining - is also provided that ties each unit into a fun musical for students to perform. It's a combination game show, history lesson and fast-paced musical experience! Performance/Accompaniment CD included.

Bud Powell was not only one of the greatest bebop pianists of all time, he stands as one of the twentieth century’s most dynamic and fiercely adventurous musical minds. His expansive musicianship, riveting performances, and inventive compositions expanded the bebop idiom and pushed jazz musicians of all stripes to higher standards of performance. Yet Powell remains one of American music’s most misunderstood figures, and the story of his exceptional talent is often overshadowed by his history of alcohol abuse, mental instability, and brutalization at the hands of white authorities. In this first extended study of the social significance of Powell’s place in the American musical landscape, Guthrie P. Ramsey, Jr. shows how the pianist expanded his own artistic horizons and moved his chosen idiom into new realms. Illuminating and multi-layered, The Amazing Bud Powell centralizes Powell’s contributions as it details the collision of two vibrant political economies: the discourses of art and the practice of blackness.

The inspiring stories of 6 people who changed history.

A catalogue of 40 Women in Jazz and Blues

It is often said that music is a universal language, and our greatest musicians have succeeded in reaching the stars. Do you dream of following in their footsteps? Take a fascinating trip through the lives of some of the world's most celebrated musicians, and find out what it takes to touch the hearts of millions through music. In this unique collection of inspirational stories from The Amazing People Club, discover the sacrifices John Lennon had to make to realise his dream. Read the story of a poor Jewish boy from the Russian Empire called Asa Yoelson defied prejudice to become Al Jolson, 'The World's Greatest Entertainer'. Find out whether Edith Piaf truly had "No Regrets"! Every successful musician has an incredible story to tell. Join Callas, Piaf, Lennon, Jolson, Sinatra and a host of other influential and talented musicians as they share with you their secrets and invite you on an unforgettable journey through their fascinating musical lives. What is a BioView®? A BioView® is a short biographical story, similar to an interview, about an amazing person. These stories offer an inspirational way of learning about people who made major contributions to our world. The unique format and flow enables each person's story to come alive, as if it is being personally told to you, and reflects their interests, emotions and passions.