Overview

America has a rich musical heritage, but it is in danger of falling into an undeserved oblivion. Classical music, jazz, film scores, and the masterpieces of musical theater are an essential part of our history. ""Our Musical Heritage"" by Mark Evans explores America's musical past, provides a link to our musical present, and distills the essence of our nation's musical spirit from the music itself. From unsung heroes to the musical giants of the modern age, meet the composers, conductors, performers, and teachers who gave us an incredible legacy. ""Our Musical Heritage"" guides you on an exciting journey of discovery that can make music a part of your daily life. ""This book introduces musical Founding Fathers, Francis Hopkinson, the composer who signed the Declaration of Independence, Francis Scott Key who wrote the words to ""The Star Spangled Banner,"" John Philip Sousa, the March King, and the pioneering composers who created American symphonies and operas. Jazz has been called America's classical music. From the early days of pioneering African American musicians in New Orleans through the masters of stride piano in Harlem, from the swing era of big bands through the age of bebop, jazz evolved as a unique art form. Jazz is defined by two elements, improvisation (simultaneous composition and performance) and swing. The finest jazz musicians created a legacy that has traveled around the world. American musical theater was created by a remarkable group of composers, lyricists and playwrights who fashioned a musical genre and a Great American Songbook quite unique with skill, technique, imagination, and a touch of magic. Music in the movies comes from the pens of the talented composers who have written the scores that give life, energy, and emotion to motion pictures, that have captivated audiences everywhere. This book introduces your children or grandchildren to our musical heritage. They may not discover it on their own; it will be their loss, but also ours. Whether you are an experienced musical traveler or a first-time explorer, ""Our Musical Heritage"" may inspire you to take many more musical journeys every day.

Full Product Details

9798989951727

Table of Contents

Reviews

Author Information

Mark Evans, Ph.D. is a composer, conductor, pianist, and organist with a multifaceted background in music, writing, broadcasting, and education. Dr. Evans literally grew up in the world of film music in Hollywood and his book, ""Soundtrack: The Music of the Movies"" has been recognized as the definitive book on the history of film scoring. As a writer and lyricist he is the author of numerous books for adults and children and has collaborated on books with such varied personalities as Robert Stack and Xavier Cugat. His most recent books include ""Mark! My Words: How to Discover the Joy of Music, the Delight of Language, and the Pride of Achievement in the Age of Trash Talk and Cultural Chaos,"" and ""Playboy at the Piano: Profiles and Reflections from a Life in Music, Books, and Broadcasting."" Audiences and readers have been ""marking his words"" on radio and television and in his newspaper column in The New York City Tribune. Dr. Evans is widely in demand as a speaker. He saw the need to create Cultural Conservation, a foundation ""dedicated to the principles that society should preserve its cultural resources with the same care and devotion that a nation devotes to its natural resources.""

Tab Content 6

Countries Available