Book Description
This book provides the most comprehensive analytical approach to 20th-Century Music available -- from Impressionism to recent trends. It covers music from the early 1900s through such movements as Minimalism and the Neoromanticism of the 1990's, and includes chapters on rhythm, form, electronic and computer music, and the roles of chance and choice in Twentieth-Century music. Explores an exceptionally broad range of styles and techniques --including electronic music and MIDI, chance music, and quotation music. Stresses analysis and composition rather than historical aspects. Organizes content by compositional technique. Covers all facets of materials and techniques -- from microtonal scale to melodic organization, chord structures, and serialism. Contains over 100 examples from music literature -- ranging from the beginning of the 20th-Century to the 1990's -- and representing a broad range of styles -- from Impressionism to Serialism to Minimalism and beyond. Includes exercises involving drills, analysis, composition, and listening. For anyone interested in music theory and harmony, analysis of 20th-Century music, or history of 20th-Century music.
Customer Reviews:
If you're a twenty-first century composer, get this book!.......2001-04-26
Was searching for the longest time for a good, in-depth reference book over twentieth century music, and I've found it in Mr. Kostka's publication. Thank God for Mr. Kostka!
Twentieth-century music books tend to be a little heavy on the beginning of the century and leave out all the recent developments like Minimalism, and electronic music. This book was published in 1998 and covers those sections beautifully.
Also, the way the material is organized is much more helpful than if it went chapter by chapter by composer or historically.
Other merits include the summaries at the end of each chapter, the numerous musical examples, exercises, and references to other books over twentieth century music.
One word of warning, however.
Although the book is excellently written, it is a book for advanced music theory students. If you don't have all your musical terminology down from previous study, you're going to get lost very quickly.
But what a breath of fresh air not to be talked down to anymore!
While reading, I kept thinking how Mr. Kostka uncoveres the mystical/mathematical qualities of this music; so well, in fact, that this book would make even Pythagoras proud.
Book Description
This book is designed to be the primary text for the first two years of college music theory. It covers all the basics of composition including harmony, melody, and musical form.
Customer Reviews:
Clear and to the point.......2004-05-15
My theory pedagogy class reviewed about a dozen theory textbooks and the general consensus was that the Benjamin and the Kostka/Payne books were the only two that were worth using.
The Benjamin book is the best book for serious teachers. It provides the most complete description of tonal music of any text, and is always accurate, efficient, and very clear. In the hands of a good teacher it is the ideal tool. For students who have already studied theory, it is the perfect reference guide.
However, it is not a good "self-programmed guide" for students who wish study music theory on their own. Neither is it a good book for inexperienced theory teachers. For both of these cases, I would recommend the Kostka/Payne book.
[Full Disclosure: I was a student of Dr. Benjamin at the Peabody Conservatory for several years, studying composition and music theory, where we used his books]
Not a good book for a Theory student........2000-09-21
I'm rather surprised at the positive reviews of this book. It is, in my opinion, the poorest excuse for a Theory book I have ever seen. It is nothing more than a skeletal outline. The language is extremely dense with new terms. For example, the paragraph describing V7-I chord resolution uses the terms "leading" and "tendency" tones, having never introduced them before.
I have an Engineering degree, and am studying for a degree in music composition. This book is more difficult to read, and more poorly written, than most of the books I used in engineering school.
The thought of using this book for three semesters is excruciating. The authors were clearly more interested in showing off their knowledge, instead of teaching it.
Can you tell I hate this book?
Everyone in the class is utterly baffled, and some have just stopped coming to class, thinking that they are not smart enough to get music theory. This book has broken the spirit of young musicians. Way to go.
Outstanding Text on Music Theory.......1998-09-05
This text is an outstanding book on music theory. Complete with exercises, concise examples and reference materials packed into the 282 pages of this text. While not the complete reference manual for theory, it is a great general tool/text for education in music theory and the fundamentals of music notation, musical structure and musical form. Fat paced book covers all the details, and includes a reference section which details and demonstrates the handling of many musical techniques and analysis in a concise, direct way.
Highly recommended!
Book Description
Designed to serve as a primary text for the first two years of college music theory, TECHNIQUES AND MATERIALS OF MUSIC covers all the basics of composition-including harmony, melody, and musical form. The authors present essential materials of common-practice music and an overview of 20th century techniques. Numerous hands-on exercises promote students' memorization and retention of key concepts. And the text's concise outline format, which has been enhanced for this edition, allows instructors maximum flexibility in choosing which materials, concepts, and techniques to emphasize in their course. An e-Workbook in PDF format provides more than 200 pages of exercises to complement TECHNIQUES AND MATERIALS OF MUSIC, 7th Edition.
Customer Reviews:
Finally a clear theory book.......2006-04-28
This is a perfect textbook for college students in their first two years. Part of the beauty of the book is that instructors have a great deal of flexibility in how to organize their beginning music theory classes. One can add more composition projects or less depending on the class. In my opinion, which differs from the first reviewer, music theory is intrinsically not a subject for people to study independently. Music is too complicated with too many chances for misunderstanding. Most people know that they need an instructor to study piano. Why would theory be different? The examples provided in the book are clear, very clear, and can easily be expanded with more complex musical examples and assignments.
This textbook adds other musical textures apart from the often mistaught four part chorale textures with the parallel fifth and octave rules. No one in Bach's day (Bach is the model for this afterall) ever wrote chorales as vertical chord structures despite Walter Piston's strange misportrayal of this texture. Four part chorales are countrapuntal and that's how they're written.
We now have generations of music students teaching who continue this myth to the detriment of their students who pass the nonsense along when they start teaching. Benjamin, Horvit, and Nelson along with Leo Kraft and his excellent books have helped correct this.
This textbook is understandable, putting it far ahead of most of the others. I read Ottman and Piston and they are certainly pedantic and confusing. Both wax on with such lofty nonsense in their efforts to explain some of the most simple things. Why not just be clear?
The students finally have a chance to understand the real stuff with Benjamin, Horvit, and Nelson. I urge you to get a desk copy and decide for yourself.
Bad theory textbook.......2004-04-19
This book was used for my Harmony I and II class at Fullerton Community College which was the second and third course in music theory for music majors. I find this book to be very poorly written. IT does not go into to much detail in explaining concepts. The chapter in the book are very short although the reference back section is handy. It is written in a skeletal outline format and does a terrible job at defining new terms. The book is also worthless for self study. Students need the guidance of a professor or music pro to help them learn from the book unless the student is very bright. Most of the examples are written for keyboard which could be burdensome for non keyboard playing people even though I play the keyboard. Also the examples in the book are not good enough and not all of the examples are in four part choral style which is learnt in most college thoery classes.
Best Basic Music theory Text.......2003-08-09
After years of buying and perusing basic music theory texts, I was discouraged with the main ones for their denseness and tedious nature, such as Piston and Hindemith. For the amatuer wanting a well-designed guide to develop an understanding of how classical music works, this is by far the best. The steps are clear and logical, the exercises just what the learner needs, and the accompanying book of music examples a highly advisable purchase. You could do this on your own without a guide, given the fact that the materials have been tested in the classroom. The bibliography is also useful, if for nothing else than to show you why this vademecum is the most user-friendly and helpful.
Book Description
The approach of Techniques of Twentieth Century Music is appropriate for composers exploring contemporary idioms, for performers learning to cope with the innovations of modern music, and for teachers developing their understanding and appreciation of the music of our time. All three categories are served by this text. It is designed to provide essential knowledge of the techniques and materials of twentieth-century music and to bridge the gulf between traditional academic training and current practice.
Customer Reviews:
Expanding the Musical Language.......2000-01-13
I consider this book to be valuable for beginning composition students because its examples constitute a useful and varied sampling of early to middle 20th century composers and techniques. Its explanations are readable and focus on musical values.
Dallin offers the student numerous pathways to depart from or expand upon common practice theory while maintaining coherence and expressivity. The important issues of developing ideas and creating cohesive forms are addressed in later chapters.
Along with a steady diet of score study and compositional exercises, this book can be a valuable tool for the student composer.
Helpful book.......1998-07-16
For students that are looking for having a general view on the techniques employed by composers from the beginning of our century this book will represent a good guide. However, its brief explanations and examples about each procedure/technique is just an appetizer for future depth analysis of the mentioned composers/works.
Average customer rating:
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Self-Help Books: Why Americans Keep Reading Them
Sandra K. Dolby
Manufacturer: University of Illinois Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
 Popular Culture
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General
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| Health, Mind & Body
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ASIN: 0252075188 |
Book Description
Based on a reading of more than three hundred self-help books, Sandra K. Dolby examines this remarkably popular genre to define "self-help" in a way that's compelling to academics and lay readers alike. Self-Help Books also offers an interpretation of why these books are so popular, arguing that they continue the well-established American penchant for self-education, articulate problems of daily life and supposed solutions for them, and present their content in an accessible rather than arcane form and style.
Using methods associated with folklore studies, Dolby then examines how the genre makes use of stories, aphorisms, and a worldview that is at once traditional and contemporary. The overarching premise of the study is that self-help books, much like fairy tales, take traditional materials, especially stories and ideas, and recast them into extended essays that people happily read, think about, try to apply, and then set aside when a new embodiment of the genre comes along.
Book Description
Understanding how commercials are made is the key to doing it right. This descriptive book is a step-by-step guide on the mechanics of creating a commercial from a production perspective. Making commercials on all types of budgets is addressed. There is material describing the roles and dynamics of the key players: the producer/director, agency, and client. This book outlines the requirements of each group so that everyone can understand and appreciate each other's needs.
* Learn to make more effective commercials on any budget
* A comprehensive guide to production techniques for making commercials
* Explains dynamics between client, agency, and producer
Customer Reviews:
Decent overview..........2007-07-25
The author talks extensively about who is responsible for which tasks and who else (agency, producer, etc.) will be involved in each part of a production. Some detail is provided about different techniques used when shooting commercials, but certainly not exhaustive. If you plan to make commercials for a career, this book is a good read. If you are just making a commercial, it's still somewhat helpful in spite of the abundance of advice on managing the producer/director/client/agency relationships.
Written as an own experience.......2007-05-10
This book would be recommended for begginers, people who have no idea about pre-production, production and post production of commercial making. However, if you are not a beginner and got more experience and understanding in the filmmaking terminology, perhaps you would prefer more advanced books.
Greate Book for AD agency producers........2006-03-14
This book give a comprhensive view to productions from the view point of an Ad agency producer, very usefull for any one who in ad agency or thinking of getting in to same.
Author has nothing useful to offer.......2005-02-23
I have scoured the planet for useful books on directing commercials and have found them surprisingly scarce. When I saw this book on the shelf at DV Expo in LA, I bought it - absolutely thrilled. It became a complete disapointment as the author begins with apologies about the difficulty in writing a book on the subject, and then follows through with... nothing. I have never actually read a book of this length so devoid of informational content before... Like trying to fill the pages in a mid-term paper, this author just stretches each chapter out, deffering information, shying away from assertions or concrete facts and rules... it all amounts to rambling common sense from someone who had a lucky break directing Men's Warehouse commercials for years and knows nothing else about what it's like trying to break into the industry. Craig Worsham has a book coming out soon which should be much more useful, and the only other book I'd recomend is Cutting Edge Commercials.
Product Description
Experience learning made easy - and quickly teach yourself how to use the built-in networking features in Microsoft Windows XP. With Step by Step, you drive the instruction. Work at your own pace through the clear, step-by-step directions. From installing
Customer Reviews:
Step by Step Home Networking Win XP book order.......2003-07-24
Book in excellent condition, order received very timely, thanks
Not the best available.......2003-07-19
Since "Windows XP networking Inside Out" is available there is no reason to buy this book any longer..too simple too little info....if you get it cheap you may want to buy, but I would always prefer the above mentioned new book.
Useless.......2002-05-15
This book is useless because it assumes that everthing just works they way it is supposed to work - but alas it never does and then the book doesn't give you any clue what to do - SIMPLY DO NOT BUY IT - the XP help is more usefull.
M.Sc. IT Consultant.......2001-12-06
For advance Network Professionals this might not your book.
For novice Networking and Windows XP users this is a rock solid
book and explains XP networking in plain english and uses technical jargons very easy to understand.
The book is task-orientated with lots of examples and scenarios
to help you install and configure XP networking at home and good
advices. But again for for novices and intermediate users this
is highly recommended. Trainers might also find this book useful.
My one upset was the book does not include a CD.
scam.......2001-12-01
this book is poorly informative copy of the help text that can be found in windows xp. there is no trouble shooting context worth noting.
Books:
- Materials and Techniques of Twentieth-Century Music (2nd Edition)
- Mel Bay Singing In Irish Gaelic
- Mickey Baker's Jazz Guitar (Guitar Books)
- Modal and Tonal Counterpoint: From Josquin to Stravinsky
- Mozart in Vienna, 1781-1791
- Music in East Africa: Experiencing Music, Expressing Culture (Global Music Series)
- Music Matters: A New Philosophy of Music Education
- Music Tree Time to Begin Activities
- Narcocorrido: A Journey into the Music of Drugs, Guns, and Guerrillas
- Notes from the Pianist's Bench
Books Index
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Techniques of the Contemporary Composer
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Twentieth-Century Harmony: Creative Aspects and Practice
Anthology for Musical Analysis
Norton Anthology of Western Music: Volume 1: Ancient to Baroque
