music appreciation

An interactive introduction to musical instruments with 50 original compositions to listen to-from the kazoo to the bassoon. What does a double bass or a sitar sound like? What's the difference between bongos and congas? Which instrument has only one note? Which one takes just 30 seconds to learn? This book engagingly presents 50 common and uncommon musical instruments with practical and curious facts that will spark interest in music of all kinds. Each instrument features a piece of music composed by an award-winning musician, accessed via QR code.

Analyzes a selection of musical pieces, highlighting their influence on Western classical music. Offers insight into music composition from the history of musical notation to the building blocks of contemporary music. Includes a glossary, a directory of notable composers throughout history, tables, and color photographs.

An anthology of forty music scores, both full and excerpted, drawn from throughout history from medieval times to the early nineteenth century, including works by Hildegard von Bingen, Josquin des Prez, Monteverdi, Bach, Vivaldi, Beethoven, and others.

An anthology of musical scores from the Middle Ages to the early twenty-first century, featuring selections from musical theater, jazz, and traditional music, with stylistic and contextual commentary for each piece.

[Text and illustrations look at] how spiders, wasps, butterflies, frogs and snakes, have inspired ... composers"--Back cover.

"Jacki's mama has a rare condition. She is slowly losing her hearing. Together, they are learning Sign Language so that they'll always be able to tell each other everything. But as Mama's world becomes quieter, Jacki's remains full of sound, especially on Music Appreciation Fridays. How can Jacki enjoy listening to music when her mama can no longer hear it?"--Provided by publisher.

"A legendary record producer-turned-brain scientist explains why you fall in love with music. [This book] is a journey into the science and soul of music that reveals the secrets of why your favorite songs move you. But it's also a story of a musical trailblazer who began as a humble audio tech in Los Angeles to became Prince's chief engineer for Purple Rain, and then create other No. 1 hits (including Barenaked Ladies' "One Week") as one of the most successful female record producers of all time"--Provided by publisher.

"Nearly all of us have the capacity to enjoy classical music but too often we are put off by not knowing where to look, or what we are actually looking for. We feel the need of a guide to help navigate such vast and varied artistic terrain. With this delightful book, historian Tim Bouverie provides just this. Drawing on his lifelong passion for music, he has created a compilation of 100 classical masterpieces sure to move and be enjoyed by almost anyone. He provides a short introduction to each piece--variously anecdotal, personal, historical and quirky--and a recommended recording to try. Highly accessible and entertaining, Perfect Pitch is filled with engrossing stories and insights that bring to life 300 years of the world's greatest music"--Provided by publisher.

Scientist and musician John Powell explores decades of psychological and sociological studies in order to understand why music affects us so profoundly.