history and criticism

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history and criticism

Rock 'n' roll

then and now
2024
"This title explores the ways rock 'n' roll was established, how it evolved and expanded, and how rock 'n' roll became part of the nation's identity. The text provides historical context and explores the social, economic, political, and technological frameworks that influenced or defined the popularity, growth, and modern advancements of rock 'n' roll"--Amazon.

Memphis mayhem

a story of the music that shook up the world
2020
"The definitive tale of the birthplace of rock and roll Memphis Mayhem weaves the tale of the racial collision that led to a cultural, sociological, and musical revolution. Beginning with the 1870s yellow fever epidemics that created racial imbalance as wealthy whites fled his hometown, David Less moves beyond W.C. Handy's codification of the blues in 1909 to the mid-century advent of interracial music, the birth of punk, and finally to the growth of a music tourism industry"--Provided by publisher.

Children's book of music

2023
Introduces children to music history, profiling the musical instruments, styles, and traditions of cultures around the world.

Bach's Goldberg Variations

2016
Seventeenth-century composer Johann Sebastian Bach helps young organist Johann Gottlieb Goldberg by giving him lessons and by presenting him with a composition which came to be called the Goldberg Variations. Includes historical notes.

Hip-hop

the beat of America
2024
Follows Aaliyah, a hip-hop superfan, as she gets a lesson in all things "old school" when she takes a day trip to the Bronx, where her dad shows her all the heroes who helped create the foundations of this musical and cultural revolution.

The come up

an oral history of the rise of hip-hop
"The essential oral history of hip-hop, from its origins on the playgrounds of the Bronx to its reign as the most powerful force in pop culture-from the award-winning journalist behind All the Pieces Matter, the New York Times bestselling oral history of The Wire. The music that we would later know as hip-hop was born at a party in the Bronx in the summer of 1973. Now, fifty years later, it's the most popular genre in America and its electric impact on contemporary music is likened to that of jazz on the first half of the twentieth century. And yet, despite its tremendous influence, the voices of many of hip-hop's pioneers have never been thoroughly catalogued-and some are at risk of being lost forever. Now, in The Come Up, Jonathan Abrams offers the most comprehensive account so far of hip-hop's rise, told in the voices of the people who made it happen. Abrams traces how the genre grew out of the resourcefulness of an overlooked population amid the decay of the South Bronx, and from there how it overflowed into the other boroughs and then across the nation-from parks onto vinyl, below to the Mason-Dixon line, to the West Coast through gangster rap and G-funk, and then across generations. In more than 300 interviews conducted over three years, Abrams has captured the stories of the DJs, label executives, producers, and artists who both witnessed and made the history of hip-hop. He has on record Grandmaster Caz detailing hip-hop's infancy, Edward "Duke Bootee" Fletcher describing the origins of "The Message," DMC narrating his introduction of hip-hop to the mainstream, Ice Cube recounting N.W.A's breakthrough and breakup, Kool Moe Dee elaborating on his Grammys boycott, and many more key players. And he has conveyed with singular vividness the drive, the stakes, and the relentless creativity that ignited one of the greatest revolutions in modern music. The Come Up is an important contribution to the historical record and an exhilarating behind-the-scenes account of how hip-hop came to rule the world"--.

This is the canon

decolonize your bookshelf in 50 books
"These are the books you should read. This is the canon. Joan Anim-Addo, Deirdre Osborne and Kadija Sesay have curated a decolonised reading list that celebrates the wide and diverse experiences of people from around the world, of all backgrounds and all races. It disrupts the all-too-often white-dominated 'required reading' collections that have become the accepted norm and highlights powerful voices and cultural perspectives that demand a place on our shelves. From literary giants such as Toni Morrison and Chinua Achebe to less well known (but equally vital) writers such as Caribbean novelist Earl Lovelace or Indigenous Australian author Tony Birch, the novels recommended here are in turn haunting and lyrical; innovative and inspiring; edgy and poignant. The power of great fiction is that readers have the opportunity to discover new worlds and encounter other beliefs and opinions. This is the Canon offers a rich and multifaceted perspective on our past, present and future which deserves to be read by all bibliophiles - whether they are book club members or solitary readers, self-educators or teachers. These are the books you should read. This is the canon"--Publisher's description.

Studio Ghibli

the films of Hayao Miyazaki & Isao Takahata
2019
The animations of Japan's Studio Ghibli are amongst the highest regarded in the movie industry. This book examines all their major works and explores the cultural and thematic threads that bind these films together.

Songs of America

patriotism, protest, and the music that made a nation
2023
"A young readers adaptation explores the music of important times in our history--the stirring pro- and anti-war music of the Revolutionary and Civil Wars, World Wars I and II, and the Vietnam War; the folk songs and popular music of the Great Depression, the fight for women's rights, and the Civil Rights movement; and the music of both beloved and lesser-known poets, musicians, and songwriters from Colonial times to the twenty-first century. Author Jon Meacham and . . . artist Tim McGraw present the songs of patriotism and protest that gave voice to the politicians and activists who moved the country forward, seeking to fulfill America's destiny as the land of liberty and justice for all"--Provided by publisher.
Cover image of Songs of America

The American canon

literary genius from Emerson to Pynchon
2019
Contains writings that reflect on the ways American authors have influenced each other across more than two centuries.
Cover image of The American canon

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