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The Dears: Lost in the Plot (Bibliophonic #1)
By Lorraine Carpenter. 2011
Over a decade after the release of their first album, The Dears have weathered the indie fringes, the collapse of…
the music industry as we knew it and the near implosion of the band itself, with their creative vision and gang dynamic intact. The Dears: Lost in the Plot looks at how The Dears survived the fallout, and helped launch the acclaimed mid-aughts music scene in their hometown of Montréal. The Dears: Lost in the Plot is the first book in Invisible Publishing’s new Bibliophonic series. The Bibliophonic Series is a catalogue of the ongoing history of contemporary music. Each book is a time capsule, capturing artists and their work as we see them, providing a unique look at some of today’s most exciting musicians.The Deepest Map: The High-Stakes Race to Chart the World's Oceans
By Laura Trethewey. 2023
A Globe and Mail Top 100 SelectionFive oceans cover approximately seventy per cent of the earth, yet we know little…
of what lies beneath them. Now, the race is on to completely map the oceans’ floor. Scientists, investors, militaries, and private explorers are competing in this epic venture to obtain an accurate reading of this vast terrain and understand its contours and environment. In The Deepest Map, Laura Trethewey chronicles this race to the bottom. Following global efforts around the world, she documents Inuit-led crowdsourced mapping in the Arctic as climate change alters the landscape, a Texas millionaire’s efforts to become the first man to dive to the deepest point in each ocean, and the increasingly fraught question of whether and how to mine the deep sea. A true tale of science, nature, technology, and extreme outdoor adventure, The Deepest Map both illuminates why we love — and fear — the earth’s final frontier and contributes to increasingly urgent conversations about climate change.The Probability of Everything
By Sarah Everett. 2023
“One of the best books I have read this year (maybe ever).” —Colby Sharp, Nerdy Book ClubNPR Books We Love…
2023 | Publishers Weekly Best of 2023 | Winner of the Governor General's Literary Awards for Young People's LiteratureA heart-wrenching middle grade debut about Kemi, an aspiring scientist who loves statistics and facts, as she navigates grief and loss at a moment when life as she knows it changes forever.Eleven-year-old Kemi Carter loves scientific facts, specifically probability. It's how she understands the world and her place in it. Kemi knows her odds of being born were 1 in 5.5 trillion and that the odds of her having the best family ever were even lower. Yet somehow, Kemi lucked out.But everything Kemi thought she knew changes when she sees an asteroid hover in the sky, casting a purple haze over her world. Amplus-68 has an 84.7% chance of colliding with earth in four days, and with that collision, Kemi’s life as she knows it will end.But over the course of the four days, even facts don’t feel true to Kemi anymore. The new town she moved to that was supposed to be “better for her family” isn’t very welcoming. And Amplus-68 is taking over her life, but others are still going to school and eating at their favorite diner like nothing has changed. Is Kemi the only one who feels like the world is ending?With the days numbered, Kemi decides to put together a time capsule that will capture her family’s truth: how creative her mother is, how inquisitive her little sister can be, and how much Kemi's whole world revolves around her father. But no time capsule can change the truth behind all of it, that Kemi must face the most inevitable and hardest part of life: saying goodbye."My heart hurt as I raced through the last chapters of this unique book that shines a light on family, friends, grief, and love." —Lisa Yee, author of Maizy Chen's Last ChanceA Year of Living Simply: The joys of a life less complicated (Kate Humble)
By Kate Humble. 2020
'Simply wonderful.' - BEN FOGLE'Kate's book has the warmth and calming effect of a log fire and a glass of…
wine. Unknit your brow and let go. It's a treat.' - GARETH MALONE'Kate Humble pours her enviable knowledge into attainable goals. It's a winning combination and the prize - a life in balance with nature - is definitely worth claiming.' - LUCY SIEGLE'As ever, where Kate leads, I follow. She has made me reassess and reset.' - DAN SNOW'Kate Humble's new book is a lesson in moving on from a tragedy and finding our place in the world' - WOMAN & HOME'A Year of Living Simply is timely, given that the pandemic has forced most of us, in some way to simplify our lives, whether we planned to or not. Kate wrote it before any of us were aware of the upcoming crisis, but it captures the current moment perfectly... It's not necessarily a "how to" book, more of a "why not try?" approach.' - FRANCESCA BABB, MAIL ON SUNDAY YOU'What I particularly love is her philosophy for happiness, which is the subject of her new book, A Year of Living Simply. The clue is in the title. Remember the basics. Instead of barging through the day on autopilot, really stop to think about the tiniest little things that added a moment of joy. No, of course stopping and smelling the flowers won't cure all our ills and woes. But taking the time to savour the things that bring pleasure, really being in that moment and appreciating it, can remind you that most days have moments that buoy your mood.' - JO ELVIN, MAIL ON SUNDAY YOUIf there is one thing that most of us aspire to, it is, simply, to be happy. And yet attaining happiness has become, it appears, anything but simple. Having stuff - The Latest, The Newest, The Best Yet - is all too often peddled as the sure fire route to happiness. So why then, in our consumer-driven society, is depression, stress and anxiety ever more common, affecting every strata of society and every age, even, worryingly, the very young? Why is it, when we have so much, that many of us still feel we are missing something and the rush of pleasure when we buy something new turns so quickly into a feeling of emptiness, or purposelessness, or guilt?So what is the route to real, deep, long lasting happiness? Could it be that our lives have just become overly crowded, that we've lost sight of the things - the simple things - that give a sense of achievement, a feeling of joy or excitement? That make us happy. Do we need to take a step back, reprioritise? Do we need to make our lives more simple? Kate Humble's fresh and frank exploration of a stripped-back approach to life is uplifting, engaging and inspiring - and will help us all find balance and happiness every day.Too Much Too Young: Rude Boys, Racism and the Soundtrack of a Generation
By Daniel Rachel. 2023
In 1979, 2 Tone exploded into the national conscience as records by The Specials, The Selecter, Madness, The Beat, and…
The Bodysnatchers burst onto the charts and a youth movement was born.2 Tone was black and white: a multi-racial force of British and Caribbean island musicians singing about social issues, racism, class and gender struggles. It spoke of injustices in society and took fight against right wing extremism.The music of 2 Tone was exuberant: white youth learning to dance to the infectious rhythm of ska and reggae; and crossed with a punk attitude to create an original hybrid. The idea of 2 Tone was born in Coventry, masterminded by a middle-class art student raised in the church. Jerry Dammers had a vision of an English Motown. Borrowing £700, the label's first record featured 'Gangsters' by The Specials' backed by an instrumental track by the, as yet, unformed, Selecter. Within two months the single was at number six in the national charts. Dammers signed Madness, The Beat and The Bodysnatchers as a glut of successive hits propelled 2 Tone onto Top of the Pops and into the hearts and minds of a generation. However, soon infighting amongst the bands and the pressures of running a label caused 2 Tone to bow to an inevitable weight of expectation and recrimination. Still under the auspices of Jerry Dammers, 2 Tone entered in a new phase. Perhaps not as commercially successful as its 1979-1981 incarnation the label nevertheless continued to thrive for a further four years releasing a string of fresh signings and a stunning end-piece finale in '(Free) Nelson Mandela'. Told in three parts, Too Much Too Young is the definitive story of a label that for a brief, bright burning moment, shaped British culture.Fly Away Paul: The extraordinary story of how Paul McCartney survived the Beatles and found his Wings
By Lesley-Ann Jones. 2023
The first definitive account of Paul McCartney's time in Wings, to be published on the 50th anniversary of the bestselling…
album Band on the RunNo comprehensive biography of the time Paul McCartney spent with Wings has ever been published. A period often dismissed as McCartney's 'missing' years, in fact the band lasted for a decade: two years longer than the Beatles, and wielded such impact and influence that they at one point achieved the status as the biggest live band in the world. Band on the Run sold over 6 million copies worldwide and became EMI's biggest selling album of the 1970s in the UK.Music biographer Lesley-Ann Jones has met McCartney many times and knew his late wife Linda. Here she shows how crucial Linda was to the evolution of Wings - at great cost to herself given the ridicule she was to encounter. But Linda saw that McCartney needed the band in the wake of the break up of the Beatles.Drawing on extensive interviews and her trademark meticulous research, the author shows how this period in Paul McCartney's career was to become crucial not only to his development as an artist, but to his very survival.(P)2023 Hodder & Stoughton LimitedTaylor Swift: The Platinum Edition
By Liv Spencer. 2013
Taylor Swift: The Platinum Edition gets to the heart of this superstar with albums and singles that head straight to…
the top of the pop and country music charts, a shelf full of awards, and millions of fans around the world.Fans looking for Taylor’s complete story should look no further than this detailed biography, which chronicles her childhood in Pennsylvania where she was teased and bullied, to her early days trying to land a record deal by personally dropping off demos at Nashville record companies, to the performance that led Taylor to her current label — and international fame. Includes details on her 2012 album Red and coverage of all her recent romances and adventures in the spotlight.A pictorial history of buses in the south west of England and a traveler’s guide to things to see and…
do along the breathtaking South West Coast Path.When one thinks of public transport in the south west over the years, two names tend to dominate; Western National and Devon General. But as this book with a difference shows, there was much more to it. While it features buses past and present from a variety of operators large and small, it does so by following the route of one of the most well-known walks in England.The South West Coast Path stretches for 630 miles from Minehead in Somerset, through Devon and Cornwall along the north coast to Land’s End, and back along the south coast to Poole harbor in Dorset. It boasts some spectacular scenery and regularly appears in lists of the world’s best walks.So this is not just a book about public transport, it is also a travelers’ guide to things to see and do along the length of the Coast Path. Readers can imagine themselves at the front of their own imaginary tour bus, stopping at key points along the way. The photographs of buses date from the 1920s through to the 2010s, and feature over twenty-five different operators. There are brief notes on the way in which the Coast Path connects these places and the availability of modern-day bus services between them, and should any further encouragement be needed to plan a visit to the area, scenic views of some of the most beautiful locations are also included.It is hoped that this unique volume will appeal not just to bus enthusiasts but to anyone interested in visiting this glorious part of the United Kingdom.“Most books are written for a single audience, but this one addresses at least three. The bus enthusiast will find concise histories of over twenty-five operators along the coast from the 1920s to the present day and many unique photographs. The walker is offered details of bus services along the Coast Path enabling a series of linear walks with transport to and from base camp, as well as 1:50,000 Ordnance Survey Landranger maps of each section. The tourist or holiday maker is offered ‘Things to see’ with details and scenic views of some of the most beautiful and fascinating locations in the country. Buses Along the South West Coast Path is thoroughly recommended. It should be in the rucksack or picnic hamper of anyone heading to this lovely corner of England.” —John Ashley, Journal of the Road Transport History AssociationThis book examines the performance strategies used by contemporary Iranian artists and activists to reimagine “Iranian-ness” in the context of…
Iran’s local, regional, and global position. This study identifies the important social and political interventions made by theatrical and performance pieces, visual art, and electronic music that articulate and reformulate Iranian-ness by breaking away from fixed and constructed stereotypes projected on them by both the Islamic regime and Western power. This book explores the reception and context within which artworks become meaningful performative acts. Looking closely at the works of a notable female Iranian photographer, Shadi Ghadirian, in conjunction with the new generation of Iranian nonconformist artists/activists such as Tahmineh Monzavi and Hedieh Ahmadi; the visionary theatre productions of Ali Akbar Alizad; and radically untraditional sound/noise of the electronic music movement in Tehran, this book calls attention to the Iran-based artists who are tirelessly trying to raise awareness regarding the political violence imposed on Iranian identity at the legal (top-down) and everyday (bottom-up) levels. This volume will be of great interest to student and scholars in theatre and performance, photography, art, music, sociology, and politics.Music and Identity in Twenty-First-Century Monasticism (Routledge Research in Music)
By Amanda J. Haste. 2023
Twenty-first-century monastic communities represent unique social environments in which music plays an integral part. This book examines the role of…
music in Catholic, Anglican/Episcopalian and neo-monastic communities in Britain and North America, engaging closely with communities of practice to provide a penetrating insight into the role of music in self-care and as a vector for identity construction on both individual and community levels. The author explores the essential role of music in community dynamics, the rationale for using instruments, the implications of both chant-based and freestyle composition, gender-related differences in musical activity, the role of dance (‘music made visible’) in community life, the commodification of monastic music, the ‘Singing Nun’ phenomenon and the role of music in established and emerging neo-monastic communities. The result is a comprehensive and compelling study of the agency of music in the construction and expression of personal and community identity.This illustrated WWI battlefield guide explores the heroic acts honored with Victoria Crosses—and the sites where they took place—in 1918…
France. Historian and battlefield tour guide Paul Oldenfield spent years researching the Victoria Cross actions of the First World War and accurately locating where each event took place. He now shares his remarkable findings with battlefield visitors and armchair historians in this fascinating series of guidebooks. This volume in the Victoria Crosses on the Western Front series covers the first Battles of the Somme in 1918, the Battle of the Lys, and other combat operation in western France. A thorough account of each VC action is set within the wider strategic and tactical context. Detailed maps show the area today, together with the battle-lines and movements of the combatants, while photographs of the battle sites richly illustrate the accounts. Oldfield also includes a comprehensive biography for each recipient, covering their families, education, civilian employment, military career, death, and commemoration. A host of other information, much of it published for the first time, reveals some fascinating characters, with numerous links to many famous people and events.Sticking It Out: From Juilliard to the Orchestra Pit: A Percussionists's Memoir
By Patti Niemi. 2016
&“By turns reflective and dramatic, poignant and hilarious, Sticking It Out offers an irresistible portrait of the artist as a…
young percussionist&” (San Francisco Chronicle). When Patti Niemi was ten years old, all the children in her school music class lined up to choose their instruments. Boy after boy chose drums, and girl after girl chose flute—that is, until it was Patti&’s turn. From that point onward, Patti devoted her life to mastering the percussive arts. Cymbals, snare drum, marimba, timpani, chimes: she practiced them all, and in 1983, she entered Juilliard, the most prestigious music conservatory in in the world. Set against the backdrop of a rapidly changing New York City in the 1980s, Sticking It Out recounts Patti&’s years mastering her craft and struggling to make it in a cutthroat race to a coveted job in an orchestra. Along the way, she has to compete with friends, face her own crippling anxiety, and confront the delicate, and sometimes perilous, balance of power between teachers and their students. Bringing us inside a world that most of us never get to see, Patti&’s vivid memoir is &“an eye-opening tale of demanding teachers, grueling practice schedules, severe performance anxiety and bias against &‘girl drummers&’—a funny, poignant first-person account of the fierce commitment it takes to succeed in classical music&” (San Jose Mercury News). &“One of the funniest-ever classical-music books . . . and certainly among the best written.&” —The Philadelphia Inquirer &“A shattered-mirror insight into the bizarre world of hitting things with sticks.&” —Neil Peart, bestselling author, lyricist, and drummer for RushNorwich and Norfolk: Stone Age to the Great War (Visitors' Historic Britain)
By Stephen Browning, Daniel Tink. 2020
A traveler’s guide to the history of Norwich and Norfolk, from the Stone Age to the dawn of World War…
I, featuring guided tours, photos, and more.Whether you’re traveling alone, with friends, or with your family, this guide has something for everyone wishing to explore the host of fascinating places on offer in what the Norfolk-born authors believe to be the most unspoiled and mysterious county in England. Norwich has its own section along with three possible walks taking in many of the recommended sites. The vast coast is presented next and finally the book travels to central Norfolk: places of interest are grouped as much as possible so that travelers can make the most of the time available. Everywhere, legends and stories relating to an area are woven into the narrative. A final chapter considers Norwich and Norfolk through time using rare archive and archaeological material to give a taste of life in days gone by. Top Norfolk photographer Daniel Tink has taken 100 photographs especially for the book and presents these where appropriate alongside some wonderful contrasting old prints and etchings. The book concludes with a comprehensive index and bibliography designed to facilitate further study. Throughout, telephone numbers and websites of attractions are given, providing readers with a “toolkit” to unlock the secrets, history, sites, and stories of this vast county.“A magical journey through the streets of Norwich and around the countryside and coastline of Norfolk. There’s even a tale about a ghost in the ruined priory . . . . Superb stories . . .full of information and very readable indeed.” —Books Monthly (UK)Warum Musik in unseren Genen liegt
By Jörn Bullerdiek, Christine Süßmuth. 2023
Wussten Sie, warum Johann Sebastian Bach ganz legal lange Finger machte? Und was Sie alles mit einer Haarlocke Mozarts anfangen…
könnten, wenn Sie sie besäßen? Beides könnte Sie auf die Spur eines uralten Geheimnisses bringen, nämlich warum Menschen Freude am „Hervorbringen musikalischer Töne“ haben, wie Darwin es formulierte. Liegt das wortwörtlich in unserer DNA und was hat es dort zu suchen? Die Autoren sind in gefährlicher Nähe am Felsen der Sirenen vorbei gesegelt und haben Orpheus in die Unterwelt begleitet. Sie haben den Weg von Schallwellen von ihrer Quelle bis zum Gehirn der Hörenden verfolgt und ebenso den Stammbaum der Familie Bach wie den Gesang von Zebrafinken analysiert. Schließlich sind sie nicht nur in den Sonderzug nach Pankow gestiegen, sondern haben auch noch die Caprifischer in ihrer Heimat aufgesucht. Alles in allem ist eine unterhaltsame und informative Analyse dessen entstanden, was vom alten Ägypten bis in heutige Zeit die Faszination von Musik im Spiegel unserer Gene ausmacht.Waterloo Battlefield Guide
By David Buttery. 2013
A British military historian offers an expert introduction to The Battle of Waterloo in this essential companion for battlefield visitors.…
In Belgium on June 18th, 1915, the Battle of Waterloo marked the climax of the Napoleonic Wars—and a major turning point in world history. The combined forces of the Duke of Wellington and Field Marshal von Blücher delivered a devastating defeat to Napoleon. Though the outcome would have a major influence on the shape of Europe for more than a century, the battle itself cannot be properly understood without a detailed study of the landscape in which it was fought. Using eyewitness accounts and an intimate knowledge of the terrain, historian David Buttery vividly reconstructs the events of Waterloo as he takes readers across the battleground as it exists today. He provides essential context for understanding pivotal episodes in combat, including the day-long struggle for the chateau at Hougoumont, the massive French infantry assaults, repeated cavalry charges, the fall of La Haye Sainte, the violent clashes in the village of Plancenoit, the repulse of the Imperial Guard and rout of the French army.Walking Gallipoli (Battleground Gallipoli)
By Stephen Chambers. 2019
A walking tour guidebook for travelers and armchair historians interested in visiting the sites of the World War I campaign…
in Turkey. Gallipoli was a First World War tragedy, a side show that had ambitious hopes to end the war early. Despite the immense gallantry displayed by those fighting, from the beginning, this grand scale 1915 operation was plagued with mismanagement. Failure in high places betrayed the heroism in the field, resulting in casualties of over half a million. Those who visit the area today owe to those who served and died a conscious effort to see beyond the heartbreak and futility, to appreciate the what, the how, and the why. There is no better way to do this today than walking the battlefields with this invaluable guide. From the beaches and fields of Helles to the precipitous heights of Anzac and the plains of Suvla, this book guides the walker to the key points of the campaign. Infamous names that are synonymous with the fighting are covered: Sedd-el Bahr, Krithia, Achi Baba, the Vineyard, Gully Ravine, Kereviz Dere, Lone Pine, the Nek, Chunuk Bair, Lala Baba, Chocolate Hill, Kidney Hill and Kiretch Tepe. All of these features are set in a scene of beauty and tragedy that still pervades this eastern Mediterranean peninsula. In total there are ten walks, some challenging, others not, with a narrative that helps make sense of it all. &“Whether you are looking for a guidebook or a concise introduction to the campaign, Chambers&’s offering is well worth your attention.&” —WW1 GeekPieces of Tradition: An Analysis of Contemporary Tonal Music
By Daniel Harrison. 2016
This book is about how music "in a key" is composed. Further, it is about how such music was composed…
when it was no longer compulsory to do so, starting a few years before the First World War. In an eclectic journey through the history of compositional technique, Daniel Harrison contends that the tonal system did not simply die out with the dawn of the twentieth century, but continued to supplement newer techniques as a compelling means of musical organization, even into current times. Well-known art music composers such as Bartok, Hindemith, Prokofiev, and Messiaen are represented alongside composers whose work moves outside the standard boundaries of art music: Leonard Bernstein, Murice Durufle, Frank Martin, Xiaoyong Chen. Along the way, the book attends to military bugle calls, a trailer before a movie feature, a recomposition of a famous piece by Arnold Schoenberg, and the music of Neil Diamond, David Shire, and Brian Wilson. A celebration of the awesome variety of musical expressions encompassed in what is called tonal music, Pieces of Tradition is a book for composers seeking ideas and effects, music theorists interested in its innovations, and all those who practice the analysis of composition in all its modern and traditional variations.Masters of Tonewood: The Hidden Art of Fine Stringed-Instrument Making
By Jeffrey Greene. 2022
The wood used by master craftsmen to create many of the world’s legendary stringed instruments—violins and cellos, mandolins and guitars—comes…
from seven near-mythic European forests. In his latest book, Jeffrey Greene takes the reader into those woodlands and into luthiers’ workshops to show us how the world’s finest instruments not only contribute to great musical art but are prized works of art in themselves.Masters of Tonewood describes the "hidden life" of stringed instruments, beginning with the unique wood, expertly chosen and sometimes cured for decades, that gives them voices that rivet audiences. Greene takes us to forests in Italy, France, Switzerland, Austria, Romania, Poland, and the Czech Republic. We are introduced to the acoustical and aesthetic properties of the spruce that Stradivari treasured, and the mystery of why just one in a thousand maple trees contains decorative figuring worthy of the highest-quality instruments. Greene visits the greatest traditional centers of this craft, from Spain to the United States. He recounts the ideas and experiences of tonewood millers, luthiers, and musicians and discusses their concerns about environmental issues associated with a tradition dependent on ancient woodlands in a modern world.Fifty Sides of the Beach Boys: The Songs That Tell Their Story
By Mark Dillon. 2012
&“A vivid account . . . Young and old fans alike will enjoy&” (Publishers Weekly). This book offer a unique journey through…
The Beach Boys&’ long, fascinating history by telling the stories behind fifty of the band&’s greatest songs from the perspective of group members, collaborators, fellow musicians, and notable fans. Filled with new interviews with music legends such as Brian Wilson, Mike Love, Alan Jardine, Bruce Johnston, David Marks, Blondie Chaplin, Randy Bachman, Roger McGuinn, John Sebastian, Lyle Lovett, Alice Cooper, and Al Kooper, and commentary from a younger generation such as Matthew Sweet, Carnie Wilson, Daniel Lanois, Cameron Crowe, and Zooey Deschanel, this story of pop culture history both explores the darkness and difficulties with which the band struggled, and reminds us how their songs could make life feel like an endless summer.The Battles of Arras: Bullecourt, Monchy-le-Preux, Wancourt and the Valley of the Scarpe (A Visitor's Guide)
By Jon Cooksey, Jerry Murland. 2020
An illustrated and informative guide to the WWI battlefields south of Arras, France, including some of the most significant battles…
of 1917.Some of the most famous and frequently visited battlefields on the Western Front are just to the south of the Arras. These sites include Battery Valley and Observation Ridge, Telegraph Hill, Monchy-le-Preux, Wancourt, and Bullecourt. And this clearly written, highly illustrated guide is the ideal introduction to them.Expert guides Jon Cooksey and Jerry Murland have devised a series of routes that can be walked, biked or driven, explaining the fighting that occurred at each place in vivid detail. They record what happened, where it happened and why, pointing out the sights that remain for the visitor to see. The featured itineraries allow visitors to trace the course of each battle across the modern landscape, gaining visceral insight into the nature of combat throughout the war.