The 50 Most Influential Black Films: A Celebration of African-American Talent, Determination, and Creativity

Customer Reviews:

Excellent Read!.......2003-06-03

Great information presented in an entertaining manner. All about black films -- it answered questions I didn't even know I had.

A Real Conversation Starter.......2002-01-14

This is a great idea for a book. With roughly a century of black film history, it's about time that somebody documented it in terms of quality and relative importance.

The book starts with a discussion of the Jack Johnson vs. Jim Jeffries heavyweight fight film. The U.S. Congress was apparently so threatened by the sight of Johnson beating up a white man, that they banned all film fights from interstate distribution.

This sets the stage so to speak of the book's discussion of fifty films which it deems important. Rather than rank them numerically, the book groups the films by decade (except for silent films which are grouped together). It begins with THE RAILROAD PORTER (1912) and ends with THE BEST MAN (1999). Also included is a special section on influential independent films.

Invariably in a book like this, there will be disagreement about the selection of films (for example, only three films from the 1950s are included as opposed to a whopping eleven in the 1990s). However, for every time that you scratch your head wondering why a certain film was included (or excluded), there'll be another film that you'll totally agree with the selection. This is the real fun of the book.

This book gives the black film fan ample fuel to promote discussions for hours about the merits of a particular film. Also included are interviews with key participants in several of the films. Some are very informative, some are down right amusing. One in particular is director Euzhan Palcy's interview regarding the making of A DRY WHITE SEASON. In it she talks about working with Marlon Brando (who received an Oscar nomination for his performance). You might be quite surprised by what she says about him.

Because it covers partically the entire span of film history, it's a great introduction for those who know little of black film prior to the 1970s. A wide variety of genres are covered from musicals to historical dramas. The book also provides a mix of commercial films and little seen independent ones. For most people, the book will remind you of some films and make you aware of new ones.

At just 312 pages, the book is a quick read. Unless you're a film scholar, you're bound to discover a wealth of information about a number of films. For the serious film buff, the entries might be too brief.

However, the regular movie goer should be right at home with this book. You'll find it written in plain English, free of technical jargon. If you have a party and things are getting a bit dull, put this book on the coffee table and see if things suddenly perk up.

The only way to find out is to get the book.

Product Description

This handy guide has been expanded and adapted to cover all facets of music to meet the changing needs of today's musician. All of the latest musical terms, musical instruments, and performers have been added to this edition.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent portable resource.......2006-08-13

While a pocket dictionary of this sort will never place The Harvard Dictionary of Music, it is the best portable music dictionary that I have found. I recommend it to my private students as something that should accompany them to the practice room.

Pocket Manual of Musical Terms by Baker et al........2003-07-21

Overall, this is a good work. It defines many important terms
in simple english. The work will serve anyone learning a
piece of music for the first time while struggling through
new terms and precise terminology set forth in musical score-
particularly classical music. Try on some of these terms for
size- aufgeweckt,assai,cornon etc. You can see why a
pocket-manual is a necessity. Professional students or those
pursuing a music degree will find this work most valuable.
Performers should utilize this book in official competitions
because judges review the score very carefully and apply
the composer's notations quite literally.

How to destroy a Classic.......2002-03-03

I have been in the field of music education for over 35 years, earning two Ph.D.s and an Ed.D. This wonderful dictionary, originally published as Dr. Theodore Baker's, "Pocket Manual of Musical Terms", (©1933 by Schirmer) was in use by most of my own piano instructors as a valuable tool for both students and teachers alike. And, the subsequent editions up to this one, were able to maintain that same high level of authorship without sacrificing what the book was used for, namely-- a quick "look-up" dictionary. However, Ms. Laura Kuhn, the "new" editor, has managed to destroy through her ignorance of classical music and political correctness, so many of the classical terms and has deleted a great many others using a method I am unable to fathom.
After teaching thousands of piano and music theory students in the private sector and in universities, I can no longer recommend what was a fine work. Please---do yourself a favour--at least purchase the Alfred Pocket Dictionary, small---but at least accurate---or find an older Baker edition (like the 4th edition) but don't waste your money on this !

An indispensible little gem.......2001-02-18

If you're looking for the perfect little music reference book, look no further. Not only does it define musical terms, it tells you how to pronounce them properly, too. Handy "Rules for Pronouncing German, French, and Italian" are found the Introduction, and each non-English musical term listed in the manual is followed by a phonetic pronunciation guide. A useful Comparative Table of Tempo Marks and basic music theory information (clefs, the circle of keys, etc.) are also found in the Introduction. As an added bonus, a surprisingly comprehensive Biographical List of Noteworthy Musicians (including dates) appears in the back. Whether you're looking for a small music dictionary to stash in your instrument case or a handy reference to keep on your desk, you can't go wrong with the Schirmer Pronouncing Pocket Manual of Musical Terms.

Average customer rating:

Worth every penny and then more......

Baker's Dictionary of Music
Nicolas Slonimsky
Manufacturer: Schirmer Reference
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0028647912

Amazon.com

It's sad but nonetheless true that Nicolas Slonimsky died in 1995, yet the 1997 Dictionary of Music is thoroughly Slonimsky. It includes all the material written for his Lectionary of Music (that was expunged by editors), and then some. After Slonimsky's death, Schirmer Book editors reconstructed his work (using original manuscripts) and added hundreds of Slonimsky articles for a new, comprehensive, mostly Slonimsky dictionary of music. The result is that most deadly of dictionaries: the text that can't be put down. From Slonimsky's highly entertaining introduction to the A to Z itself--1,171 pages of musical definitions, biographies, and Slonimsky storytelling--this is a rare volume that both instructs and amuses.

Book Description

Baker's Dictionary of Music is an A to Z listing of musicians, famous compositions, musical terms and instruments. Baker's Dictionary of Music covers everything from Bach to rock music. Illustrated with more than 125 photographs and drawings, including in-depth essays on musical topics and an introduction to musical terminology makes this Dictionary essential for all music libraries.

Customer Reviews:

Worth every penny and then more.............2001-06-09

There is no other dictionary of music equal to this one in range, depth, style, and presentation. It presumes music as a whole, not only in its classical cloak. It is a pleasure to read. Individual entries are clear and focused, without the infuriating omissions one has found in various editions of the Oxford or Harvard. Specific topics which in the editors' opinions require greater analysis are given their due in thoroughly inteligent boxed articles, with different background color. To give an idea of the work's scope, here are some samples of regular entries: etiology, major-minor syndrome, Arab music, "A Bicycle Built for Two", Marni Nixon, Picardy third, schnarre, kolo, "Red" Foley, Fluxus, Eduard Steuermann, mescolanza, etc. Of course, all the usually expected items are present, not in dry lexicographic prose but vibrantly and wittily written. Boxed articles include such topics as Music Therapy, Arnold Schoenberg, socialist realism, interval, longevity, Edward MacDowell, Arturo Toscanini, rock, Henry Cowell, César Franck, graphic notation, jazz,etc. The entry on Maria Callas ends by quoting a commentator who said: "If an orgasm could sing, it would sound like Maria Callas." Slonimsky concludes "Pleanostically speaking, she was an incarnation of carnality." The book is printed on sturdy, beautiful paper, standard type, and has numerous photographs throughout, including one of Carmen Miranda. The binding is meant to last and be passed on.

This is a work to cherish. I cannot imagine a music lover who would not treasure it. This edition was edited after Slonimsky's death. There may not be another version coming. I encourage anyone with a serious interest in Music to get it before it goes out of print. Music is here, presented with depth and elegance, in all her infinite variety.

Average customer rating:

A very useful and extremely fun book to have if you love classical music

Incredibly useful

I Use This For Academic Music

helpful reference tool

Baker's biographical dictionary of musicians
Nicolas Slonimsky
Manufacturer: Collier Macmillan
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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The Harvard Dictionary of Music: Fourth Edition (Harvard University Press Reference Library)

The Oxford Dictionary of Music

ASIN: 0028702700

Amazon.com

The splendid Biographical Dictionary of Musicians was begun in 1900 by Theodore Baker. Nicolas Slonimsky undertook the fifth through eighth editions, infusing them with inimitable, irrepressible Slonimsky style. This edition contains more than 3.5 million words, all of them delightful, all penned by Slonimsky, making it one of the world's known treasures. From Aaltonen, Erkki (Finnish composer, born 1910) to Zylis-Gara, Teresa (Polish soprano, born 1935), the work exudes factual accuracy, critical (and opinionated) insights, fine humor, and a human touch. Though associated with classical music, Slonimsky has always embraced the new, and in this edition, hundreds of popular musicians (jazz, rock, blues, and more) join the traditional ranks.

Customer Reviews:

A very useful and extremely fun book to have if you love classical music.......2005-11-15

This book is really indispensable for anyone who cares deeply about classical music. It is a fabulous reference for almost all the composers you can think of and many you have never heard of, many historically important performers, musicologists, theorists, and lots of other great information. Since it is a single volume handy reference the articles tend to be concise and very informative. You learn not only biographical information, but important works in that person's life (whether composing or performing them).

There are several specialized versions of Baker's this or that. For example, there is one for twentieth century musicians and another for popular music. However, this is the bedrock main version.

While this volume is presently out of print, it can be had on the used market relatively affordably. A ninth edition is planned for 2007, or so I hear. However, it is going to be something like $300! Of course it is worth it, because of the wealth of information, but you can get this version for about a quarter of that price or less.

This is a book that is simply fun to flip around in and read things you never even suspected to exist. Make sure and read Slonimsky's article on himself. It is a hoot.

Incredibly useful.......2005-10-02

My first copy of this book was the 1958 version, the fifth edition of this text, which represented a major increase in the text (from fourth to fifth, there were some 2300 additional biographies, which can give one a sense of the scope of this text even then). It is now an impressive tome that covers not only the 'classical' world but also the pop, rock, jazz, country and other more modern areas of music to a significant degree.

The research methodology for this book has continued to be developed over time. The first edition, in 1900, relied extensively on musician biographies and autobiographies, but this has since been supplemented a great deal with outside research, musicologist and historian contributions, and innovative methods by Nicolas Slonimsky (for example, Slonimsky contacted the Palais de Justice in Paris to verify the dates of Wagner's imprisonment for debt, something Wagner omitted from his official life story; he contacted the Vienna Bureau of Meteorology for a weather report on the day Beethoven died to confirm the story of the thunderstorm).

This is a dictionary of musicians, but it includes many other peope connected to music - Slonimsky suggested once that the title should be 'Baker's Biographical Dictionary of Musicians, Librettists, Publishers, Impresarios, and Sundry Other Men, Women, and Children Who Have to Do with Music.' The entries go back to the Middle Ages and Renaissance, but as Slonimsky states, the biographical details of music figures from those periods is rather scant, even if their importance was major. There is a major section at the beginning that discusses the standards of the dictionary, the spelling and naming conventions used, the preservation of details in different ways, and the free use of qualifying descriptions (neither Baker nor Slonimsky were shy at giving their opinions about the quality or talent of the figures involved).

This is an incredibly useful dictionary, from Aaron, abbot of St. Martin and St. Pantaleon in Cologne (circa 1050) to Alberich Zwyssig, a Swiss composer of the 1800s. I find it one of my most frequently used reference books, both the older fifth edition and the new eighth edition. It is a valuable book in any edition.

I Use This For Academic Music.......2001-10-29

I do not believe I can say enough to extol the virtue of this book. I am finishing my Music Composition degree and Baker's has been an indespensible tool for my research. Concise and informative, this book even includes the opinions of the musical scholars. To say that this is just a dictionary would be like saying that the sun is dull.
Baker's Biographical Dictionary of Musicians could be used like a "Who's Who" if the musical world. While the Harvard Dictionary of Music is the reigning authority, written differently from Bakers, which is easier to follow.
Specifically, I wanted information on J.S. Bach. Baker's has a particularly well-detailed, extensive section on Bach: everything I needed.
I strongly recommend this book for anyone who wants to understand the finer facts of music history.

helpful reference tool.......1999-03-31

While I don't actually own this book, I have used it a great deal for a college music class. The definitions are helpful, well-written, and present helpful, relevant information in a concise form. The biographies are good for a quick reference, but they also lead to further, more complex research questions.

The Concise Baker's Biographical Dictionary of Musicians

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The Concise Baker's

The Concise Baker's Biographical Dictionary of Musicians
Nicolas Slonimsky
Manufacturer: Schirmer Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Customer Reviews:

The Concise Baker's.......2000-02-28

For those of us who can't afford the complete Baker'sBiographical Dictionary of Musicians, the Concise version is still agreat buy We have owned the 8th ed. for some years and use it very frequently. This dictionary has good clear information on not just the well known composers and performers, but many minor composers and performers as well. Like the complete ed., this dictionary includes jazz musicians. One of the best features of this book is that it not only has the biographical article, but has the composer's works divided up into the various types of composition, such as piano music, giving both titles and dates of compositon. A great reference tool, particularly for anyone wanting to find more pieces by a favorite composer, or a date for a piece already known. .

Baker's Biographical Dictionary of Twentieth-Century Classical Musicians

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(Almost) all you wanted to know about contemporary musicians

Baker's Biographical Dictionary of Twentieth-Century Classical Musicians
Nicolas Slonimsky , Laura Diane Kuhn , and Dennis McIntire
Manufacturer: Schirmer Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0028712714

Customer Reviews:

(Almost) all you wanted to know about contemporary musicians.......2000-03-27

This is a good reference book, although it falls short of the intentions of its compilers. Roughly the same size as the Concise Baker's, it certainly could have benefited with the inclusion of more thorough work lists. Many entries should have been updated.

I had bought this book mostly on account of what Laura Kuhn says openly in the Preface: "Entries contained in these pages are restricted to contemporary, classical musicians only, with complete work lists and carefully selected bibliographies" "Pop and jazz artists, idiosyncratically covered at best in previous editions of the Baker's, have been excised". In view of such statement of principles, I felt somewhat short-changed. In comparison with the Concise, there are many new articles - e.g. I had never found elsewhere entries for Kriukov or Pizzini, but conversely, there is no mention of composers perhaps better known than them, such as Glenn Branca or Peggy Coolidge. In addition, I was surprised and outraged when I found that some contemporary composers appearing in the Concise had been deleted! Examples: Frederick Cowen, Alberic Magnard, Mikolajus Ciurlionis. I could not found one valid reason for their exclusion.

The coverage of film music composers is quite irregular. While there are plenty of entries for film-only composers such as Elmer Bernstein or Alfred Newman, there is no mention of some of the most well known names such as Goldsmith, Barry, or Delerue.

In relation to the amount of information, too many of the entries are identical to the Concise Baker's, not having been revised, corrected or expanded. And about the pretence of "complete work lists", check for instance Roslavetz or Ivanovs, whose lists of works are far from exhaustive. Ivanovs is said to have written 20 symphonies rather than 21 and only two of his five symphonic poems are mentioned. The "selected bibliography" consists, in this case, of two books, the most recent being over 30 years old.

As to the excision of pop and jazz artists, a cursory check shows the presence of entries for Charles Aznavour, Jacques Brel, George Brassens, Miles Davis, Frederick Loewe, Alan Jay Lerner, Michel Legrand, Bobby McFerrin, none of whom is credited with any "classical music" accomplishment.

The articles are sometimes idiosyncratic. For example, reading about Penderecki, there is no mention whatsoever of his Post-modernist about face in 1977, although perhaps this suggests that the article has not been revised after that fact.

Kuhn explains in the Preface how a biographical dictionary is a means to invent history: "Giving some room to some, more room to others, ignoring the rest - displaying in both what is included and what is not both the ignorance and the prescience of its compilers". She mentions length of the entries as the first in the list of compiler's resources. Using this as a measure of importance in Kuhn's view, we can see what are the most important composers of the 20th century. What is your guess for No.1? Debussy? Schoenberg? Stravinsky? Bartók? Webern? Wrong. By a wide margin, her choice is Cage, to whose description by Slonismky she added "much beloved". Here is the ranking by the number of lines that she devoted to the most outstanding composers (excluding their list of works): 1. - Cage (426 lines) 2. - Stravinsky (293) 3. - Schoenberg (286) 4. - R. Strauss (187) 5. - Shostakovich (186). 6. - Debussy (184) 7. - Bernstein (167) Other composers that deserve more than 100 lines are Scriabin, Varèse, Vaughan Williams, Prokofiev, Ives, Sibelius and Barber. Bartók, at 99, does not quite make it. The length of Stockhausen's article equals David Raksin's.

Customer Reviews:

Re the foregoing reviewer's remarks:.......2007-06-14

Actually, when it comes to "primary" references, there are only two "musts" for opera fans (ASSUMING said fans want a single, TRULY COMPREHENSIVE encyclopedia of operas and opera composers):

(1) One would be either the (1993 hardcover edition) "Viking Opera Guide" or its more recent (renamed) softcover incarnation, the (2001 edition) "NEW Penguin Opera Guide." [Ignore all earlier or "concise" opera guides bearing the word "Penguin" but not also the word "New" in their titles!]

(2) The other would be the huge, four-volume "New Grove Dictionary of Opera."

The four-volume "New Grove" is the ultimate, but it also costs a small fortune. The "Viking/New Penguin" is a highly respectable "second-best." By the way, all in all, I like the "1993 Viking" somewhat better than the "2001 New Penguin," even though their textual content is MOSTLY identical (textually, there are OCCASIONAL deletions and additions with EITHER version, with the overall advantage going to the "Viking"). The old "Viking" edition has MANY more (and entirely different) illustrations than the "New Penguin" edition. Still, on balance, the "New Penguin" is "close enough," and it can generally be found at a much lower price than the old "Viking."

As for this big "Baker's Dictionary of Opera" book, it's an impressive "SUPPLEMENT" to either of the above references (and, as such, it's something that, generally, only public or institutional libraries would purchase); but it's by no means the best choice for anybody's "primary" reference on operas and opera composers.

A "must" for opera fans........2000-03-03

This encyclopedic reference offers over 1,00 entries covering the scope of opera, from its well-known personalities to modern artists such as Andrea Bocelli. Also included are synopses of operas, a history timeline, a glossary and a reference to opera companies, productions and the world's leading opera houses. Black and white photos enhance a well-rounded coverage which will prove a 'must' for opera fans.

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The New Rock 'N' Roll
Stuart Coupe , and Glenn A. Baker
Manufacturer: St Martins Pr
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0312572107

Baker's Biographical Dictionary of Popular Musicians Since 1990 Edition 1.

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Baker's Biographical Dictionary of Popular Musicians Since 1990 Edition 1.

Manufacturer: Schirmer Reference
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Board book

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ASIN: 0028657993

Book Description

A valuable addition to the Baker's Biographical Dictionary family, this A-Z biographical reference includes more than 550 entries focusing on artists active from 1990-the present. Individual artists and groups in all popular styles are covered, including those in rock, rhythm and blues, rap, country, electronica, jazz, vocal and classical. Some of the artists featured include:

Blink-182
Creed
Destiny's Child
Dixie Chicks
Moby
Dolly Parton
Mandy Patinkin
Phish
Radiohead
Shakira
Bruce Springsteen
Tool

Features include select discographies, bibliographies, a glossary of musical terms, a genre index and more. Appendix essays include:

"Grunge: A Brief History of a Hard Rock Genre"
"Rap's Emergence into the Mainstream"
"The Transformation of Commercial Radio"
"The Music Industry: Economics, Marketing, and New Artist Development"

The Baker's Concise: A Biographical Dictionary of Composers and Musicians

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The Baker's Concise: A Biographical Dictionary of Composers and Musicians
Nicolas Slominsky
Manufacturer: Simon & Schuster (Trade Division)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: 0671698966

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A Dictionary Of Musical Terms
Th. Baker
Manufacturer: Baker Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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