Other books that might interest you

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  May We Forever Stand - A History...

  Imani Perry

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  The twin acts of singing and fighting for freedom have been inseparable in African American history. May We Forever Stand tells an essential part of that story. With lyrics penned by James Weldon Johnson and music composed by his brother Rosamond, “Lift Every Voice and Sing” was embraced almost immediately as an anthem that captured the story and the aspirations of black Americans. Since the song’s creation, it has been adopted by the NAACP and performed by countless artists in times of both crisis and celebration, cementing its place in African American life up through the present day. 
   
  In this rich, poignant, and readable work, Imani Perry tells the story of the Black National Anthem as it traveled from South to North, from civil rights to black power, and from countless family reunions to Carnegie Hall and the Oval Office. Drawing on a wide array of sources, Perry uses “Lift Every Voice and Sing” as a window on the powerful ways African Americans have used music and culture to organize, mourn, challenge, and celebrate for more than a century.

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  Silent No Longer Collection -...

  The Brickley Bray Project

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  “Let all our voices gather and rise, up to the heavens and fill the sky.” Be Silent No Longer Pop Poetry Fusion These are compelling words, to be certain. They are The Brickley Bray Project’s call to action. As much as we believe we should act, or do, or participate, we all have difficulty taking that first step. The Brickley Bray Project wants that first step to be easy. Just listen. That’s all that’s required. And it is effortless. Diane Bray’s words are simple, rhyming, and straight to the point. Bill Bray has created music amidst inspiration from Diane’s words, allowing the tempo to unfold from the poetic rhythm and the music to evolve from the message. 
   
  The Silent No Longer Collection
   
   began as eight verses of a poem; written to express Diane’s solidarity with and support for the 99%/Occupy movements. It grew to a twenty-one verse call to action. As each day another social or humanitarian issue needed to be addressed, another verse came to life. Bill’s idea was to put the music around the poem becoming their Poetry Fusion, Be Silent No Longer. Thereafter, Diane’s words and Bill’s music became a Poetry Fusion mix of issues and positive messages of solutions. Some are as simple as thinking peace. All you need to do is click a button and listen as you go about your day. Let The Brickley Bray Project inspire you to stay informed, remain focused, and believe in a positive future. Remember, “Together We are One.”

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  The Silk Road - Trade and...

  Jun Liu

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  The origins of the Silk Road trace back more than two thousand years, to a time when empires rose and sought to expand their influence through exploration, diplomacy, and commerce. The foundation of this vast trade network was laid during the Han Dynasty in China, around the 2nd century BCE. Under Emperor Wu of Han, the empire was looking to form alliances and open communication with regions to the west, particularly to counter nomadic threats like the Xiongnu. In pursuit of this goal, the emperor commissioned a young diplomat named Zhang Qian to journey westward, initiating one of the earliest formal missions that would lead to the opening of trade routes between East and West. 
  Zhang Qian’s expeditions proved to be pivotal. Although his initial mission was met with capture and delays, he eventually succeeded in reaching Central Asia and returning with valuable intelligence about distant peoples and lands. His reports detailed the cultures, resources, and military strength of regions far beyond China’s borders, sparking interest in trade and fostering diplomatic relationships. These journeys laid the groundwork for sustained interaction between distant civilizations and demonstrated the strategic and economic potential of linking east to west. 
  As the Han Dynasty expanded its territory and influence, it secured key routes and established military garrisons along the western frontier. These efforts ensured the safety of merchants and travelers, allowing goods to flow more freely across borders. The Silk Road was not a single road, but rather a network of interconnected paths that stretched from China through Central Asia, reaching all the way to the Mediterranean. It connected cities like Chang’an (modern-day Xi’an), Samarkand, and Antioch, forming a bridge between major civilizations of the time.

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  Harmonica Harmony - A...

  Elijah Young

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  For anyone who is keen to learn more about the harmonica, "Harmonica Harmony: A Step-by-Step Guide to Playing the Harmonica" is an extensive and approachable resource. This book presents a methodical approach to harmonica mastery, suitable for both novice and expert musicians. Beginning with fundamental skills like basic note creation and breath control, it leads readers through activities that are both understandable and useful. 
  Additional complex techniques like bending, trills, and warbles are introduced later in the book and are crucial for giving your playing additional depth and expressiveness. A steady and smooth learning process is ensured by the way each chapter builds upon the previous one. The learning process is enhanced by historical insights into the harmonica's development and its use in many musical genres, which offer inspiration and perspective. 
  In "Harmonica Harmony," readers are inspired to hone their own compositional skills and sense of style. Along with teaching you technical abilities, the book helps you develop a better understanding of the cultural significance and versatility of the harmonica. "Harmonica Harmony" is an essential manual for harmonica aficionados of all stripes, as it enables you to explore and master this cherished instrument regardless of your musical preferences, be they blues, folk, jazz, or something else entirely.

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  Music and Technology - A Very...

  Mark Katz

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  This Very Short Introduction takes an expansive and inclusive approach meant to broaden and challenge traditional views of music and technology. In its most common use, "music technology" tends to evoke images of twentieth and twenty-first century electronic devices: synthesizers, recording equipment, music notation software, and the like. This volume, however, treats all tools used to create, store, reproduce, and transmit music—new or old, electronic or not—as technologies worthy of investigation. 
   
   
   
  In this broad view, technology in music encompasses instruments, whether acoustic, electric or electronic; engraving and printing; sound recording and playback; broadcasting; software; and much more. Mark Katz challenges the view that technology is unnatural, something external to music. It was sometimes said in the early twentieth century that so-called mechanical music (especially player pianos and phonographs) was a menace to "real" music; alternatively, technology can be freighted with utopian hopes and desires, as happens today with music streaming platforms like Spotify. Positive or negative, these views assume that technology is something that acts upon music; by contrast, this volume characterizes technology as an integral part of all musical activity and portrays traditional instruments and electronic machines as equally technological.

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  The Playwright's Journey - From...

  Jemma Kennedy

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  A clear, supportive and comprehensive guide to writing a play – based on the author's long-running playwriting masterclasses, as taught at the UK's National Theatre.
  This book leads you through everything you need to know, including:
  -The theatrical tools and techniques you can use to bring your play to life on the stage (and how these differ from writing for film and TV)
  -Discovering and trusting your writing process, with a range of approaches for developing your initial idea into a completed script
  -Understanding your characters, including their goals and central conflicts, and using emotional logic to connect them to your story
  -Finding the dramatic structure and theatrical setting that best suits your play
  -The key elements of constructing a great scene, including how to invoke tension, deepen characterisation and create effective transitions
  -Writing engaging, active dialogue by finding each character's voice, balancing exposition with subtext, and rooting what a character says in their specific context
  Throughout, you'll find examples from classical and modern plays, plus insights from other contemporary playwrights into their own writing journeys. Each chapter provides a set of exercises to help you practise what you've learnt.
  
  There's also advice on what to do once you've finished your script – including redrafting, receiving feedback and taking notes – and how to navigate your play's progress towards production.
  Whether you're an emerging playwright or embarking on your first-ever play, The Playwright's Journey will help you develop your creativity, strengthen your connection to your material, and transform your idea into a fully formed play that feels alive on the page – and the stage.
  'A very, very smart book which left me nodding in sage agreement with every chapter... [Lays] bare the most complex, convoluted ideas with exquisite lucidity, wit and empathy... A substantial and rare aesthetic achievement which every aspiring playwright, producer and director should read and respect' Joe Penhall
  'Kind, good, sane and useable advice, brilliantly written' Blanche McIntyre

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