Altri libri che potrebbero interessarti

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  Finale - Late Conversations with...

  D. T. Max

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  “Brazenly entertaining. . . . It summons to the page a Broadway voice like no other.”—Los Angeles Times 
  “[An] erudite and affably self-conscious memoir of the creative process.”—Vulture 
  An intimate portrait of a genius: the late Stephen Sondheim in a series of illuminating and deeply personal interviews from the last years of his life—conversations that show the composer-lyricist as he has likely never been seen before. 
  In 2017, New Yorker staff writer D.T. Max began working on a major profile of Stephen Sondheim that would be timed to the eventual premiere of a new musical Sondheim was writing. Sadly , that process – and the years of conversation – was cut short by Sondheim’s own hesitations, then the global pandemic, and finally by the great artist’s death in November 2021. 
  Now, Max has taken the raw version of these conversations and knit them together into an unforgettable work of literature and celebration. Finale reveals Sondheim—a star who disliked the spotlight—at his most relaxed, thoughtful, sardonic, and engaging, as he talks about work, music, movies, family, New York City, aging, the creative process, and much more. 
  Max brings you into the room and gives you a front row seat for their unusual and intimate three-year-long “pas de deux.” The two bond, spar, separate, and reunite, as Max elicits from Sondheim a candor and vulnerability he seldom displayed in public.  
  This is a unique portrait of an artist in his twilight, offering remarkable insight into the mind and heart of a genius whose work changed American musical theater and popular culture forever.

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  Ludwig van Beethoven - A Very...

  Mark Evan Bonds

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  Despite the ups and downs of his personal life and professional career—even in the face of deafness—Beethoven remained remarkably consistent in his most basic convictions about his art. This inner consistency, writes the music historian Mark Evan Bonds, provides the key to understanding the composer's life and works. Beethoven approached music as he approached life, weighing whatever occupied him from a variety of perspectives: a melodic idea, a musical genre, a word or phrase, a friend, a lover, a patron, money, politics, religion. His ability to unlock so many possibilities from each helps explain the emotional breadth and richness of his output as a whole, from the heaven-storming Ninth Symphony to the eccentric Eighth, and from the arcane Great Fugue to the crowd-pleasing Wellington's Victory. Beethoven's works, Bonds argues, are a series of variations on his life. The iconic scowl so familiar from later images of the composer is but one of many attitudes he could assume and project through his music. The supposedly characteristic furrowed brow and frown, moreover, came only after his time. Discarding tired myths about the composer, Bonds proposes a new way of listening to Beethoven by hearing his music as an expression of his entire self, not just his scowling self.

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  Western Han Dynasty - The...

  Rolf Hedger

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  The Western Han Dynasty (206 BCE – 9 CE) emerged following the collapse of the Qin Dynasty, a period marked by harsh legalist rule and widespread rebellion. The fall of the Qin created a power vacuum, leading to years of conflict between rival warlords. Among them was Liu Bang, a peasant-born general who would go on to establish one of China’s most influential dynasties. His leadership, pragmatic policies, and ability to gain the support of both the military and the common people played a crucial role in shaping the early Han state. 
  Liu Bang, later known as Emperor Gaozu, rose to prominence during the rebellion against the Qin. Unlike his rival Xiang Yu, a nobleman known for his military prowess, Liu Bang relied on strategy, diplomacy, and alliances to gain an advantage. In 202 BCE, he decisively defeated Xiang Yu at the Battle of Gaixia, solidifying his control over China and declaring himself the first emperor of the Han Dynasty. His rule marked a shift away from the oppressive policies of the Qin, emphasizing stability, leniency, and bureaucratic governance. 
  One of Gaozu’s first major reforms was the reduction of harsh legalist laws that had caused unrest under the Qin. He abolished extreme punishments, lowered taxes, and granted land to military leaders and allies. However, in order to maintain control, he adopted a semi-feudal system, granting large territories to loyal kings while keeping direct control over the central government. This system helped secure loyalty but later posed challenges as regional rulers sought more autonomy.

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  The Songwriting Magic Formula -...

  Paul Wright

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  The Songwriting Magic Formula 
  The shortcut to melody creation 
  The songwriting tips and tricks no one ever told you about. 
  Instantly compose HIT vocal melodies with the backing chords at the same time. 
  This audio book dispels the myths of songwriting and destroys the negatives that hold songwriters back 
  and ends songwriters block in melody. 
  Short extract from book 
  Let’s get rid of a few myths. There’s no set way to create a melody. 
  This is True and at the same time Not true. But only in the minds of those people that know everything ? 
  Pupil says to mentor, “I know you’re going to teach me how to write better songs, but how do I come up with the actual melody?” 
  The mentor turns to the pupil and says. “Well, that’s the million dollar question. I wish I could just say, ‘sit there with your guitar do this, and out will pop a melody’. But unfortunately, there’s no such thing as a magic formula”. 
  This isn’t true. Let’s blow the other myth out of the water. The one where they say composing cannot be taught. Well, I’ve just learned you how to create 2 HIT vocal melodies in examples 1 and 2 another vocal melody in less than 15 seconds in example three and 2 more in the challenge. Usually it only takes a few seconds to hear the new melody being born. Now you can teach your friends and family how to compose a melody in less than 10 minutes. Even if they’ve never composed a melody before.  
  And not just any melodies but catchy hit melodies.

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  V For Vendetta - The Ultimate...

  Film Trivia Metaverse

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  V FOR VENDETTA 
  THE ULTIMATE TRIVIA COLLECTION 
    
  FROM THE MOVIE DIRECTED BY JAMES MCTEIGUE 
    
  CREATED BY FILM TRIVIA METAVERSE 
    
  ABOUT THE FILM 
  V for Vendetta is a dystopian political thriller set in a future totalitarian Britain, where a fascist regime controls the population. The story follows V, a masked anarchist vigilante seeking revenge against those who tortured him. With the help of Evey, a young woman he rescues, V orchestrates a campaign of resistance against the government. The film explores themes of oppression, freedom, and the power of the individual against authoritarian control. It delves into the ethical dilemmas of revolution and the cost of freedom, blending action with philosophical reflections on political tyranny and personal identity. 
    
  TRIVIA SAMPLES: 
    
  “In Valerie's (Natasha Wightman’s) flashback, there is a brief scene when she talks about meeting her lover while filming her movie. The movie crew that appeared in this scene was composed nearly entirely of the crew members for this movie.” 
    
  “In the comic, illustrator David Lloyd often subtly changed V’s Guy Fawkes mask to suit the mood or tone of a particular scene. The filmmakers considered designing several subtly different masks but decided to alter the shadows and lighting in post-production instead.” 
    
  “The scenes in the abandoned London Underground station were filmed at Aldwych, a Piccadilly line station that closed in 1994. The branch still has tracks and electricity, meaning trains can still operate.”

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  Three and a Half Minutes of Fame

  Alex Boucher

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  Signing a record deal at the age of 17 is something Alex didn’t plan for, but it sets him on a path that will bring him tantalisingly close to fame, not once, but three and a half times over the next 7 years. 
  Things don't always go as planned as he ditches school and jumps from US record deals to UK TV appearances, even joining a boy band in his epic quest for fame. 
  Alex encounters neo-nazis and gangsta rappers up close, and experiences tragedy, mental health challenges and sexual abuse, all during the cultural shift of the 90s meeting the likes of The Fall, Suede, Blur, Patti Boyd, Mansun and PJ & Duncan on the way. 
  Three And A Half Minutes of Fame is an authentic look back at the 90s, the last decade before social media, seen from the experiences of an Essex boy with a dream. 
  Book reviews:  
  “Fun, nostalgic and painfully honest. A brilliant ride through the ups, downs, hopes and dreams of gigging in the 90s.” 
  Lucy Nichol, Author, The 27 Club and Parklife 
  "Alex was there at one of the most pivotal times in British rock music, relentlessly observing while playing his drums all over the country. He’s lovingly and unflinchingly captured it all in this cool book- a great read" 
  Tim Thornton, author, The Alternative Hero & drummer, Fink

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