Philadelphia Chickens

Book Description

What an event! What a show! It's catchy and quirky. Tuneful and toe-tapping. Exuberant, unexpected, and utterly endearing. It's what happens when you take America's beloved illustrator and children's author and combine her buoyant genius with some of the most talented people on the stageâpresenting Philadelphia Chickens!

Created by Sandra Boynton, Philadelphia Chickens is a family musical in a book, bringing together a full-color songbook of 17 1/2 illustrated story-poems with a full-length, fully orchestrated CD of original songs performed by the likes of Patti LuPone, Kevin Kline, Meryl Streep, The Bacon Brothers, and Laura Linney, who pleads "Please, Can I Keep It?"âit followed me home. / What exactly it is/ I don't know. Also joining in are Eric Stoltz, Natasha Richardson, Scott Bakula, and two Boyntons, including daughter Caitlin McEwan, who performs a piece that every little listener will relate toâa love song to the chocolate chip cookies that are just out of reach. With the collaboration of composer Michael Ford (known to Boynton fans from Rhinoceros Tap), Philadelphia Chickens is that rarest of kids' musical discsâone whose inimitable lyrics and music make it as sing-along, dance-along, cluck-along for parents as it is for their children.

Customer Reviews:

good for kids and adults.......2007-10-13

My 3-year-old loves the songs, and her parents enjoy the music as a break from the usual children songs. The lyrics are amusing and we all love them. We have the other Sandra Boynton books (Snuggle Puppy, Pajama Time, Bellybutton book), so it is nice to be able to put the books to music.

AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!.......2007-10-04

My daughter loves music and this is a fun, lively, entertaining album that we listen to all the time. Tunes are catchy and I find myself still listening after she goes to bed and am often still singing/humming the songs after I've turned it off.

Utterly Meaningless Fabricated Music For Obnoxious Children.......2007-09-14

My children love music. Our home is basically an opera house with all four of us singing about everything as we go through the day. As a homeschooling mom, I am looking for beautiful, creative, and meaningful music that will inspire us and bring joy to our day. The many good reviews for this book-album had me all happy about it. When I found it at our library, I was so excited!

My elation fell when I heard the opening number, Cows. "It MUST get better," I told myself as the droning/moaning "we're remarkable cows..." continued for nearly 3 minutes. Sadly the remaining 16.5 songs continued with only slight variations of obnoxiousness.

My almost 4-year-old daughter declared the music to be "Creepy," a word which I can't recall her ascribing to anything else in the world. It was like a bunch of automatons singing soullessly about random animal-related topics. I like silly stuff, I like animals, and I even can get along with pop culture to an extent. However, the lack of feeling in the singers' voices, the similarity of the songs to one another, and the overuse of meaninglessness immediately gave me the impression that the music was fabricated for sales, contrived not for love of music and beauty and art and children, but for success.
...And with me, it failed.

I give it 2 stars simply because the idea is good and it COULD have been well executed if the writers and singers were more creatively and passionately inclined.

But don't take my word for it...
Just borrow it from the library before you make the commitment.

A carload full of fun.......2007-09-10

My daughter borrowed this book from the library and didn't want to give it back. We borrowed it twice and then bought our own copy. She loves to dance and sing the songs...especially the one that the lion sings about being very busy! She almost has it memorized! I hope they make a DVD to go along with the songs!!!

Fun!.......2007-08-27

My kids love this book and CD, mostly the CD. It is fun! You can sing and dance and enjoy it as a child or an adult. It can be fun for the adults to guess the celebrities singing the songs. It is great for either dancing with the kids around the room or the kids singing themselves to sleep listening to it. I bought copies for my 2 nieces to enjoy too.

History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)

Average customer rating:

Calculations are only as good as your numbers
Pants on fire?
Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed.
Very Interesting
History as Science Fiction

History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
Anatoly Fomenko
Manufacturer: Mithec
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Chinese | Ethnic & National | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

Irish | Ethnic & National | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

Japanese | Ethnic & National | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

Women | Specific Groups | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

Doctors & Medicine | Humor | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

Lawyers & Criminals | Humor | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

Love, Sex & Marriage | Humor | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

Assyria, Babylonia & Sumer | Ancient | History | Subjects | Books

Early Civilization | Ancient | History | Subjects | Books

General | Ancient | History | Subjects | Books

Historiography | Historical Study | History | Subjects | Books

General | World | History | Subjects | Books

French | Erotica | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Victorian | Erotica | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Epic | Poetry | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

German | Poetry | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Russian | Poetry | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Spanish | Poetry | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Chinese | Classics | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Conspiracy Theories | Current Events | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

War on Drugs | Crime & Criminals | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

English (All) | Dictionaries & Thesauruses | Reference | Subjects | Books

Science | Dictionaries & Thesauruses | Reference | Subjects | Books

Online Research | Genealogy | Reference | Subjects | Books

Native American | Earth-Based Religions | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

General | Science | Subjects | Books

General | History & Philosophy | Science | Subjects | Books

History of Science | History & Philosophy | Science | Subjects | Books

Magic & Wizards | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

Sailor Moon | Popular Characters | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

Pilates | Exercise & Fitness | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

History | Fashion | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Fiction Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Nonfiction Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Reference Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Religion & Spirituality Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Romance Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Science Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Science Fiction & Fantasy Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 2913621058

Book Description

Recorded history is a finely-woven magic fabric of intricate lies about events predating the sixteenth century. There is not a single piece of evidence that can be reliably and independently traced back earlier than the eleventh century. This book details events that are substantiated by hard facts and logic, and validated by new astronomical research and statistical analysis of ancient sources.

Customer Reviews:

Calculations are only as good as your numbers.......2007-08-03

Yes, we can all agree that mainstream history is nearly 100% BS due to politics, economics, ego, problems with dating techniques, and various conspiracies. Agreed. But, I've been researching the distinct possibility that human history (in terms of civilizations) are much more ancient than we've been told, so coming across this book was very interesting to me. I wondered how Fomenko could be wrong (if at all) because he is very persuasive in his presentations. Then it dawned on me. If at previous times in prehistory, due to the various catastrophies that are well documented (comets, asteroids, planetary disruptions, plasma discharge, pole reversals, etc) the Earth was in a different position in relation to the sun, different tilt on its axis, different orbit, different rotation (in terms of velocity and DIRECTION), and the continents were in different positions, then would this not cause the ancients to see the sky (constellations) differently? In other words, is Fomenko making erronious assumptions about the physics of the Earth in pre-history, which then corrupt his data with regards to dating the relevant astrology? The last event to seriously disrupt our planet occured roughly 3500 years ago, according to other good researchers, so is it possible Fomenko has been confused by this? The vastly different physics of our planet in the not so distant past may explain this confusion, which is not to say the "mainstream" version of history is correct; on the contrary. I am not an expert in these fields, but wanted to see if this idea could spark discussion.

Pants on fire?.......2007-07-19

Will people ever read before spamming? Yes, Jesuits could not rewrite world history alone, they had help. Anyway, Dr Prof Acad A.Fomenko does not point to jesuits as the driving force of world wide history manipulation in published volumes 1,2,3;, actually he barely mentions the poor devils. Check it with 'Search inside' feature, please. China is rarely mentioned either, in fact, Dr Fomenko is completely eurocentric. Right, his theory contradicts all mainstream schools of history, because in their actual state they are all built on blatantly erroneus chronology. You don't need a mysterious cabal (conspiracy) to falsify history, the falsification is its modus operandi. It is inherent to history(ians) to falsify (distort) events, as it is inherent to humans to boast as it is inherent to power (authority) to legimize itself by referrring to glorious past made to its own order. Dr Prof Fomenko and team have identified scores of instances of such manipulation in Russian, European, etc.. history, and delivered valid statistical proof thereof. His own 'reconstruction' is completely another story. Forget c14 as a valid method of dating. W.Libby has initially discovered a brilliant method of INDEPENDENT dating. Too bad, c14 method has become a joke after a forced marrige with dendrochronology with consensual chronological scale inbuilt. Radiocarbon method can't stand blind tests, but is so very productive as a rubberstamp.

Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed. .......2007-04-09

There is no doubt that history as most know it is a sham, & institution's version of History both University & Church is fradulent & inaccurate. Everything was established with an agenda, The real "Dark Ages" are now when we have access to incredible amounts of information past authorities & more important 'common folk' didn't have but our institutions & educators are slow to evolve because of what has ignorantly & arrogantly been taught for too long. This is on many subjects not just Chronology.

For anyone to question "Why would a Mathematician have anything credible to say of History?" The answer is from Dr. Fomenko's preface in the book: "It would be worthwhile to remind the reader that in the XVI-XVII century Chronology was considered to be a subdivision of Mathematics." These volumes could possibly be some of the most important works to date & should be read by everyone with an interest in History, especially professors & educators who have a duty to the public. I have read both books & must say that 'Chronology 1' has some very eye opening & revolutionary information. Even if these volumes are part true the implications are profound & opens the doors to further investigations & questions which must be done. I speak several different lanquages & must say the logic Dr. Fomenko uses with "inflection" of words & words being read from left to right in one region & right to left in another then written backwards, the removal of vowels & get down to basics of words, or different cities & locations having the same name etc. is correct. Vowel usage has always been optional & varied, actually complicating linquistics & study. The first thing one has to understand is that words never had a fixed spelling in history like we do now, the spelling of words was mutable & regional, as well as names & titles of people were vast, varied & changed, NOTHING WAS FIXED or understood linear. Matters of Life & Death as well as financial profiteering yesterday & today were & are made with ignorant, illogical & conspiratorial views of history & reality, it's time people get closer to the Truth & society collectively grow up.

Very Interesting.......2007-03-07

It is a good proposal and I believe it will mature into something even better in the future. I think it deserves to be read.

History as Science Fiction.......2007-01-10

Anatoly Fomenko has written a very intriguing book, full of pictures, charts, and computer 'proof' of his thesis: backwards of AD900 we don't really know what happened or when. Between AD900 and AD1600 there is more certainty, but there is still a lot of fuzzy ground, and things don't get reliable until we get past the 1600's where the printing press made it very difficult for the perpetrators of this timeline manipulation to change anything that had been committed to print. The Dark Ages did not happen. Books were burned for a reason. One organization has doubled the actual length of its existence by expanding the real chronology. Read why.

I had always wondered why Christ died about AD33 and yet men waited until the 11th century to form the Knights Templar, the Cathars, etc and go after the Holy Land by force. Why the 1000 year gap? Turns out there wasn't more than a 10-12 year gap and he proves it using astronomy. This also implies that the planet is not as old as we have been told, and current Christian and other creationist scientists are already championing that idea without being aware of Fomenko's book. The two groups, creationist scientists and the Russian mathematical analysts corroborate each other. Fascinating.

Of course, all this flies in the face of what we have been told traditionally is the 'proper' chronology of western civilization, and most readers will experience 'cognitive dissonance' in reading this book. It means that our history going backwards from AD1600 becomes progressively more incorrect and unreliable until it cannot be trusted at all... in the space of 700-800 years.

Naturally, the curious, open-minded reader will want to know WHO did this, WHY, and did any of the events we think of as really ancient ever happen?
Dr. Fomenko is a respected scientist/mathematician at Moscow State University who has already answered these questions to the satisfaction of his initially skeptical colleagues. Most of them are now believers, a few still refuse to believe (the usual diehards), and of course the western press has ignored Fomenko's work -- for obvious reasons when you read the book. The ones who perpetrated this chronology ruse have a lot to answer for. They are still with us. That's why this book is a well-kept secret.

I gave the book a 4-star rating because I was unable to check out some of his claims; those I checked were as he said. But if even 1/3 of his claims are true, this punches a big hole in what we think is our history, the meaning of western civilization, our educational process (for repeating the ruse as gospel), and the trustworthiness of the organization that perpetrated this ruse, well-intentioned or not.

This book relates to current research into a Young Earth paradigm, to John Keel's discoveries about our planet, and Fr Malachi Martin's insights (in his now out-of-print books). We are indeed sheep who are manipulated and kept ignorant -- for a reason. While knowing what these men have to say may be the "booby prize" (as in: 'what can you do with this knowledge?'), it will provide interesting reading. Didn't someone say: "...and the Truth will set you free."?? For you to judge if this book contains the truth.

Dog Train: A Wild Ride on the Rock-and-Roll Side (Book & CD)

Average customer rating:

not what I expected
Fun and funny
Dog Train
Hip music for tots to hop to
Love It!

Dog Train: A Wild Ride on the Rock-and-Roll Side (Book & CD)
Sandra Boynton
Manufacturer: Workman Publishing Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0761139664

Book Description

Boynton rocks! So does Blues Traveler, who perform a stomping version of the title song, a moody rock journey that Boynton wrote especially for them. And then there’s Alison Krauss with “Evermore.” And Steve Lawrence & Eydie Gorme—really—who do the “Boring Song.” The Spin Doctors, who channel rock’s rebellious side—with a taste of punk—for “Tantrum”: “No No No, I don’t want to, I don’t want to./No no no, I don’t want to, no no./Leave me alone. Leave me alone./LEAVE ME ALONE.” And the sweetly unexpected pairing of “Weird Al” Yankovic and Kate Winslet (yep, Kate Winslet) as a duet singing “I Need a Nap.”

Full of attitude, full of fun, all lit up with star power, and boasting a variety of Top 40 styles—rock and roll, blues, hip-hop, and power pop— Dog Train is the third book-and-CD production by Sandra Boynton, following the #1 New York Times bestselling, Grammy-nominated Philadelphia Chickens and the recently re-released Rhinoceros Tap. Like Philadelphia Chickens, features all original songs recorded by a mix of big-name acts and great voices, for the pleasure of the parents as much as the kids. Packaged similarly to the previous Boynton & Ford recordings, Dog Train is also a full-color book that features a portion of each song’s lyrics set as a little story, accompanied by Boynton’s irresistible hippos, cows, dogs, and more dogs. Full lyrics appear in the back.

Customer Reviews:

not what I expected.......2007-10-13

I was expecting a book/CD for children. The music is too "rock and roll" for my child. She didn't want to listen to songs with words she couldn't distinguish.

Fun and funny.......2007-10-04

In my opinion, it's not quite as good as Boynton's Philadelphia Chickens... but we still love most of the songs in this book.

Dog Train.......2007-09-06

This is a great musical experience. We got it for our one year old son and ended up buying one for all his friends' first birthday presents. The songs are fun and peppy. They are really understood by parents. As a two year old my son now plays drums and dances to his very favorite song "Pots and Pans." I highly recommend this product.

Hip music for tots to hop to.......2007-09-04

We too, were new to Boynton albums. Both of my children were raised on the books, but the album was stumbled upon in a used book sale. It was a huge hit with both my 5 and 9 year olds. I'm so glad that Ms. Boynton has used artists with recognizable styles to do some children's songs. The lyrics are catchy and the songs are grown-up without being boring ('cept the "Boring Song" - Grandma loved THAT!)

Spin Doctors, Five for Fighting, and Weird Al are some of my favorite artists, anyway!

It's family fun for all.

Love It!.......2007-08-28

The music on this cd is great for both parents and kids! Great lyrics. Both my 3 year old and 1 year old sway to the music. My 3 year old picks the book for bedtime and we have to sing the songs to him. A hit in our house!

Rhinoceros Tap: 15 Seriously Silly Songs (Book & CD)

Average customer rating:

Good but...
Rhinoceros Tap
disappointed with this one
Fun for adults, too!
Wholesome family entertainment we can ALL sing along to!

Rhinoceros Tap: 15 Seriously Silly Songs (Book & CD)
Sandra Boynton
Manufacturer: Workman Publishing Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Songbooks | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

Board Books | Baby-3 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Performing Arts | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0761133232

Book Description

Redesigned. Reformatted. Remastered. Resequenced. Ready for Re-release. And it was already great to begin with!

Before there was Philadelphia Chickens, the #1 New York Times and Publishers Weekly children's bestseller with 319,000 copies in print, there was Rhinoceros Tap, the collection of seriously silly songs. Now Rhinoceros Tap returns in an all-new package to mirror Philadephia Chickens, with a spiffy audio CD. Written and illustrated by Sandra Boynton and with music by Boynton and Michael Ford, the same team that created Philadelphia Chickens, it's a read-along, sing-along, dance-along, oink-along collection of truly delightful children's music. There's "O, Lonely Peas," to appeal to the finicky young eater. The five-year-old's lament, "Bad Babies" ("They whine and they bite, they chew on your toys/And oh, do they make the most terrible noise"). "Tickle Time." "The Crabby Song." A mouse's impassioned ballad to his beloved, "I Love You More Than Cheese." And "Barnyard Dance," the song that was launched by the board book dear to the hearts of more than a million young readers.

Customer Reviews:

Good but..........2007-07-25

This Boynton compilation is good but not as good as Philadelphia Chickens. My 5-year-old son has asked for this one repeatedly and we all know who should be the true reviewer here. It is, however, better than Dog Train which we have only listened to once.

Rhinoceros Tap.......2007-01-18

Great fun! Cute songs for the whole family. Kids like them because they're silly. Adults have fun with them, too, but the music is "real music", not kiddy stuff. Our two girls and their friends have fun making up dances to go with the songs - creative play at its finest!!

disappointed with this one.......2007-01-06

We bought this CD for our 7-year-old son (he already has "Philadelphia Chickens" and "Dog Train" by the same artist), but "Rhinoceros Tap" just doesn't have the charisma as the other ones by Sandra Boynton. The tunes just aren't catchy. Some of them remind me of old jazz/blues music, which I enjoy and appreciate, but the melodies are more on the somber side and it's hard to work in words that are suitable for children. As a result, my son loses interest after about the third or fourth number. The other CDs by Boynton are wonderful and we've just about worn them out, but somehow "Rhinoceros Tap" doesn't quite make the cut.

Fun for adults, too!.......2006-06-03

We received this CD for a gift a year ago and my kids(4 1/2 and 13mo) and I still BOTH enjoy hearing it! Fun, catchy tunes, with a bit of humor for adults, and silliness for kids.

Wholesome family entertainment we can ALL sing along to!.......2006-03-09

Despite some unevenness , this album and its accompanying book are a drive-time hit in our household - amazing considering my kids are 10 and 11 - oh, and a baby, who probably doesn't get all the subtleties, but enjoys the music nonetheless.

Our favourites include:
~Bad Babies
~The Crabby Song
~Tropical Sand
~O, Lonely Peas... which my daughter and I enjoy belting out together!

Others are not as popular, and we sometimes find ourselves fast forwarding through them... such as:
~Rhinoceros tap (particularly the instrumental version)
~Dinosaur round

We are mixed on songs like Bad Babies and Turkey Love Song - I like them, but the kids don't quite "get" the jazzy vocals, I think.

Our "greatest hit" from this album has got to be So Long Doggies, which is just the cleverest, funniest, well-sung thing I have heard for children in all my years of being a parent. Little kids won't catch all the references, but my big kids LOVE them! ("BONE voyage...")

Despite these unevennesses, this album makes a great change from all the commercialized kiddie schlock out there.

If you want something you can all sing along to and not have to worry about what kinds of influences your kids are being exposed to, grab this delightfully innocent album and be prepared to sing your heart out!

The Sesame Street Songbook: 64 Favorite Songs

Average customer rating:

Great piano (guitar/vocal) songbook

The Sesame Street Songbook: 64 Favorite Songs
Ctw
Manufacturer: Scribner
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

General | Television | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0025251414

Customer Reviews:

Great piano (guitar/vocal) songbook.......2006-10-31

Although the back cover states "Easy-to-play arrangements for piano, guitar and voice" this is not at all a beginners book.
Some songs are pretty easy, but overall the level is moderate to pretty advanced. There is quite a variety of "genre" as well I think. Some nice mellow almost ballad like songs, some bluesy tunes, some jazz, a little rock.
I will scan the back cover of the book and upload the image ( if I can ) so everyone can see what songs are included.

24 Italian Songs and Arias - Medium High Voice (Book/CD): Medium High Voice - Book/CD

Average customer rating:

Excellent For Beginner Sopranos
If you are a true Singer, this book is a MUST
Classic Beginner Repertoire...
Don't do it!
An absolute essential for the serious voice student

24 Italian Songs and Arias - Medium High Voice (Book/CD): Medium High Voice - Book/CD

Manufacturer: G. Schirmer, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Songbooks | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

General | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0793515130

Book Description

For well over a century, the G. Schirmer edition of 24 Italian Songs and Arias of the 17th and 18th Centuries has introduced millions of beginning singers to serious Italian vocal literature. Offered in two accessible keys suitable for all singers, it is likely to be the first publication a voice teacher will ask a first-time student to purchase. The classic Parisotti realizations result in rich, satisfying accompaniments which allow singers pure musical enjoyment. For ease of practice, carefully prepared accompaniments are also recorded on CD by John Keene, a New York-based concert accompanist and vocal coach who has performed throughout the United States for radio and television. Educated at the University of Southern California, Keene has taught accompanying at the university level and collaborated with Gian Carlo Menotti and Thea Musgrave on productions of their operas.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent For Beginner Sopranos.......2007-08-08

I think all sopranos know this is the first book! Ofcourse it's great, these are the songs that build our voices and charater to become better sopranos and performers!

If you are a true Singer, this book is a MUST.......2007-04-10

Apply this and bring it to all of your voice lessons. Singing Arias assists in your singing of ANY song and ANY Genre. If your teacher is unable to get you to reach this point, I suggest a new teacher.

Classic Beginner Repertoire..........2004-04-07

Affectionately known as "Old Yeller" (so-called because of the yellow Schirmer cover), the Schirmer edition of these songs has been a staple at voice studios in the United States and the U.K. Similar editions of this repertoire have appeared by various companies, though this one continues to be the best seller. The reason for this is simple - these songs are immediately accessable to the beginning student, not only for their beauty, but the simple and modern arrangements.

There is something for every aspect of technique in this book. One can spend many years, in fact, just digesting and singing from this book alone. They range from moderate in difficulty, to difficult, to quite advanced. I would advise the beginner to start with a less advanced piece, such as "Nel Cor piu non mi sento" or "Sebben Crudele", then build the voice with something like "Per la gloria", "Caro mio ben", and "Gia il sole", and them attempt the harder works like "O del mio dolce ardor" and "Il mio bel foco (Quella fiamma)." One sees beginning students dismiss all the pieces as "beginner repertoire" and go straight to the harder ones first. Unless a singer can hit all notes with proper technique, has near perfect pronunciation, and has emoting the meaning of the song down to an art (and truly, this is an art) he or she should not even attempt to approach the more difficult pieces. So often are these pieces performed badly and too early in a singer's progress.

Contrary to popular opinion, the original versions of many of these songs (including some of the Scarlatti works) have been lost or cannot be duplicated faithfully with a piano. Granted, the Paton edition contains more songs, additional lyrics to several songs, and more accurate translations, but try getting a timid voice student enthusiastic about singing what sounds like a Bach cantata on a respirator? I find the arrangements on that compilation a poor attempt to make the Baroque melodies sounds more "authentic" by affixing cliché chords of the era and bizzarre ornamentation. The result: a bland and often overbearing arrangement. (I use that edition solely as a reference book, for which it is excellent - not for performing.) The arrangements on this version take the melodies and let them sit organically with the arrangement - ornamentation is left for the singer to execute (where it should be), and the result is indeed inviting.

We currently have a few recording of different voice types singing these works. Cecilia Bartoli (either a soprano or mezzo-soprano depending on the day and who you ask) recorded a selection of these pieces and other melodies of the period for EMI a decade ago called "Se Tu M'ami". That recording used these arrangements, and I highly recomend it as an example of what these pieces can truly be. She plays with the works, making them sound fresh and poignant: a good study for those using this book. Equally satisfying is "Aria Antiche" by the great Verdi baritone Renato Bruson, though not for his interpretation. It's the voice itself that excites on that recording. A welcome example of what these songs can do for a student. The tenor Richard Tucker, on his "Taste of Italy", includes many of these pieces, though I feel they deserve a more intimate approach (almost akin to the German lieder) than Tucker affords. Bartoli gets it just right in this respect. All of these recordings are available through Amazon.

A few more notes: all of these songs may be performed by a male or female singer without alterations to the lyrics. Some people have tried to differentiate which are the "male songs" and which are the "female songs." The only factor in this is what sounds best. "Per la goria", though written for a female character, I prefer for males. "Se tu m'ami" I prefer for females. Both these songs could go either way, however. A second note, if you can play piano and have access to one during practice, I would suggest you stay away from the accompaniment CD. The tempi are almost always much too fast (I would break out in uncontrolable laughter listening to someone attempt to keep up with the piano during "O cessate di piagarmi"), and the dynamics are non existent.

I highly reccomend both this edition, for singing from, and the Paton edition, for reference. Pick either the medium high or medium low version (low if you can hit up to an E above middle-C; high if you can go as as far as the A above middle-C), and be happy with the feeling that you made a good investment for you vocal future.

Don't do it!.......2003-10-11

Please don't buy this book. The editions are awful and completely out of date. I'm a full-time teacher of singing & I cringe when singers bring this in. Try "28 Italian Songs" edited by John Glen Paton. It has the same songs, but the editions are much better! Good luck.

An absolute essential for the serious voice student.......2001-08-21

My voice teacher insisted I purchase this book and I am glad I did. We use it each week for development work, vocalizing, and learning new pieces. These songs are incredibly useful for working out the kinks you may have with other pieces, as well as just being a pleasure to sing for their natural beauty. I have a second copy of the book with the CD; I agree with the other reviewers that the CD accompaniment is way too fast. I have Cecilia Bartoli's CD, referenced by another reviewer, also and I have used it to help learn or refine some of these songs. Even so, the accompaniment CD has been useful for me in practice since I can't accompany myself. If you have a choice, I would get the version with the accompaniment CD. If you don't like the CD, you're not out more than a couple of extra dollars over what you pay for just the book.

The Ultimate Guitar Chord Big Book: Over 100,00 Chords

Average customer rating:

Guitar cord book
A Total Waste of Time and Money
The Ultimate Guitar Chord Big Book
Going Back...
5 STARS: In agreement with last 2 reviews!!!!!

The Ultimate Guitar Chord Big Book: Over 100,00 Chords
Don Latarski , and Aaron Stang
Manufacturer: Alfred Publishing Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Plastic Comb

General | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0769232752

Book Description

The Ultimate Guitar Chord Big Book, Over 100,000 Chords! by Don Latarski Even Guitar George dont know all these chords! The Ultimate Guitar Chord Big Book is the absolute best, easy-to-use chord reference book. Every chord form youll every need is presented in simple, dictionary-style sequence. This book has none of the redundancy of typical chord dictionaries. Each chord is presented in simple moveable fingerings - learn one fingering, then slide it up and down the neck for each of the 12 keys.

Customer Reviews:

Guitar cord book.......2007-10-10

My teenager is really happy w/ the product.He loves playing guitar as a hobby and this book is a great help.Keeps him busy and away from drugs.

A Total Waste of Time and Money.......2007-01-17

This chord book is for music theorists and serious guitarists who have received formal training. I have been playing guitar for 35 years, including flamenco and rock guitar, and I am completely irritated at the mislabeling of this book - it actually dares to say "easy to use"!! I just wanted buy a regular, everyday chord book, one where you could actually go find the "A" chord on a page in some logical and normal way and it would show a normal array of variations (please pardon me for living). Instead this displays a confusing listing, such as Major 6 - 3rd in bass (1st inversion). Just what is that supposed to mean to an everyday guitar player and why doesn't the sales pitch explalin how different this is? I am returning this book immediately.

The Ultimate Guitar Chord Big Book.......2007-01-05

I found this book extremely difficult to find chords quickly. I guess it is for guitar players more advanced than me, but I think it is not very user friendly for players at my huble level.

Going Back..........2006-12-31

This book has a lot of information, but not for a beginner. The chords are not labeled for someone with not much experience in chord reading to understand.

5 STARS: In agreement with last 2 reviews!!!!!.......2005-12-06

I don't understand how anyone could have giving this book a 1 star rating! I hope anybody reading these reviews will take this and the last 2 reviews to heart, and overlook the first one.
In Don Latarski's and Aaron Stang's "Big Book" we find a thorough and extensive example of every possible chord voicing, everywhere on the fretboard. This book is a jazz players dream come true! If you just want a quick reference to basic chords, you don't want this book. However, if you want to disect each chord and extension that you already know, this will be a priceless tool to use with your studies. It is worth 5 times the MSRP! Thank you Don and Aaron for doing the research for us!

From Mark John Sternal
Author of "GUITAR: Total Scales Techniques and Applications"
"GUITAR: Probable Chords"
"Complete Guitar By Ear"
and, "The Twelve Notes Of Music"

Revelation's Rhapsody: Listening to the Lyrics of the Lamb: How to Read the Book of Revelation

Average customer rating:

Revelation's Rhapsody
Sweet Music

Revelation's Rhapsody: Listening to the Lyrics of the Lamb: How to Read the Book of Revelation
Robert Lowery
Manufacturer: College Press Publishing Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Look Inside Religion & Spirituality Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0899009468

Customer Reviews:

Revelation's Rhapsody.......2007-03-09

Dr. Lowery did an excellent job in shedding true light on a very difficult subject. Too many people today don't take into consideration that Revelations applied mainly to the people of John's time - First Century AD. This is a must read for everyone interested in the true meaning of Revelation.
You can tell that a lot of study and thought has gone into this book.

Sweet Music.......2006-11-30

A highly readable and instructive book. Lowery writes his book from the perspective of pastor, preacher, and professor. His book is not a commentary, but as stated in the title, it's a book on "how to read the book of Revelation." The reader is not directed so much as what to believe, but how to arrive at an understanding of the book in a "fair and balanced" manner.

There is an appendix of numerous Old Testament allusions in Revelation, which is most useful. Another appendix is "A Key to Select Symbols In Revelation."

Lowery also includes a glossary of terms, a list of recommended commentaries (graded for three levels of biblical knowledge), and a bibliography. There is no index.

I believe clergy, biblical higher education students, and lay persons alike will enjoy and benefit from Lowery's book.

Although the book is small (222 p.) be prepared to spend extra time to lookup numerous scripture references included. It is time well spent. The book provides an excellent launching pad for further serious study of a New Testament book which is much misunderstood and under appreciated.

The Songwriters Idea Book: 40 Strategies to Excite Your Imagination, Help You Design Distinctive Songs, and Keep Your Creative Flow

Average customer rating:

Good for the money
The cure for writer's block
Title is misleading
Excellent for identifying your mind as well as song ideas
An Utter Waste of TIme and Money

The Songwriters Idea Book: 40 Strategies to Excite Your Imagination, Help You Design Distinctive Songs, and Keep Your Creative Flow
Sheila Davis
Manufacturer: Writer's Digest Books / F & W Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Business | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

General | Genealogy | Reference | Subjects | Books

Rhetoric | Words & Language | Reference | Subjects | Books

Writing Skills | Writing | Reference | Subjects | Books

General | Reference | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Fiction Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Nonfiction Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Reference Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0898795192

Book Description

This book reveals the inherent relationship between personality type, brain function and writing style. Includes 40 proven songwriting strategies - guaranteed to spark songwriters' imaginations. 240 pages. 6x9.

Customer Reviews:

Good for the money.......2004-03-21

I hear this book is some kind of industry standard book for other musicians, and I enjoyed it.

Like the other reviews said though, the 40 strategies are really 40 different types of songs you could write.

i.e. "the childrens song" "breaking up" "the christmas song"

The first couple of chapters describe what she calls "whole brain writing", and is actually very clever.

This book helped me immensly, I just knocked a star off b/c of the bad title and I think it's too short.

For the money though, you absolutely cannot go wrong!

The cure for writer's block.......2003-09-30

Ever had writer's block? This book is the cure! Along with Davis' THE CRAFT OF LYRIC WRITING and SUCCESSFUL LYRIC WRITING, THE SONGWRITERS IDEA BOOK forms a brilliant trilogy that is essential for the person who wants to write lyrics. I'm rather surprised by reading some of the negative comments below. My guess is that those people merely leafed through the book without actually reading it. This book is NOT an easy read. It is not something that can be scanned. It must be read and studied very carefully. It is very important to understand part 2 of the book (pages 15 through 34) before moving ahead. This is the section wherein Davis analyzes the different types of the creative mind. In only a few short pages Davis introduces a lot of important concepts that need to be understood. The reader must take her tests and figure out which type he is. Then and only then is the book of value. I had to read part two several times before I really understood it. But once I had a firm grasp of those ideas, I found the book to be extremely valuable. Davis basically says that when one is blocked, that he needs to come at it from the other side of the brain. She then proceeds to give exercises that make it easy to access the unused part of the brain. While ostensibly for the lyricist, I think the principles can be adapted for any kind of writing. I think this is a great book and I am grateful to Sheila Davis for writing it.

Title is misleading.......2003-08-13

Pro: Excellent catalog of types of lyrics. Also good coverage of different elements that make hit songs.
Con: The title is misleading. The "40 strategies" is really no more than a catalog of 40 general types of lyrics, i.e. people get hit songs from: a holiday, a place, a town, a love lost, love gained, etc. Some useful ideas, but I was hoping for something more like writing or brainstorming exercise to open the imagination. This book was not at all useful for me.

Excellent for identifying your mind as well as song ideas.......2001-06-14

I refer to this book weekly and have owned it for 4 years. I spoke the author in 1997 and thanked her for her contribution to this subject. Her 3 books are 3 volumes of my songwriting bible. It is her books that finally gave me the ability to be happy with my own songwriting for the first time in my timespan of over ten years of not liking my lyrics. In this book, the author helps you identify your style of work and how it affects your first drafts. This info also has helped me in other parts of my thinking process. No other author, so far, has been as complete and detailed in their presentation of the songwriting process as Sheila Davis. Brilliant.

An Utter Waste of TIme and Money.......2000-03-25

I bought this book with great expectations from it, having heard just wonderful things about the author regarding her earlier work. Needless to say, I could not find anything of use in it whatsoever. It was an extremely hard read, besides (like a physics text). The only thing I got out of it was "alliteration." I think you should consider buying her earlier book, "The Craft of Lyric Writing".

Average customer rating:

Great Music!
Love the artwork
Good songs, but book is not very user-friendly
Nice to have, but not a must.
Song with this book better than on "No"

Bed, Bed, Bed (They Might Be Giants)
They Might Be Giants
Manufacturer: Simon & Schuster
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0743250249

Amazon.com

Parents and kids looking for a break from the ordinary will appreciate this imaginative collection of stories and songs from quirk-rock kings They Might Be Giants. Fresh on the heels of their highly successful children's record No!, Bed, Bed, Bed features four brief stories written by the Giants and illustrated with surreal panache by Marcel Dzama along with a CD featuring all four stories in song version. "Impossible" explores the possibility of turning into fantastical animals like Octofish and Octofee or growing violet hair that flows down the stairs. Kids will find the silly animals and warped reality delightful and will love singer John Linnell's spacey conspiratorial tone. "Happy Doesn't Have to Have an Ending" tells the story of a hippie kitten "on a secret mission to make a valentine for everyone on earth," who wants everyone to dance and be happy. "Idlewild" slows things down with a softer, sleepier beat and a story about a dreamy trip to the carnival. But the Giants save the best story for last; "Bed Bed Bed Bed Bed" is a well-reasoned and catchy argument for slumber. "I did so many things today, there's nothing left to do", sings guest vocalist Kimya Dawson (in a slower, different version than the one on "No!"). While the story features familiar bedtime milestones, Dzama's illustrations lend the proceedings a compellingly skewed vision in which kids eat three meals in the company of bears and go to bed accompanied by their pet octopus and a tuxedoed rabbit. While the lyrics flow nicely in the songs, they can sometimes be a bit clunky on the page. But even then, the stories and Dzama's illustrations are more imaginative and memorable than most children's books today. --John Moe

Book Description

Four stories to read in the book!

Four new songs to sing on the CD inside the book!

You can enjoy Bed, Bed, Bed anytime and anywhere but it is especially good for bedtime, especially good to read out loud, and it's especially good to share.

Customer Reviews:

Great Music!.......2007-02-22

This is wonderful way to wind down the day with your little ones. The music is quite enjoyable and touching.

Love the artwork.......2007-01-09

a fun and creative book and catchy music. I play the music a lot for my baby so we can "sing along" but the book is too delicate for her (9 months old) we'll use it later when she is older.

Good songs, but book is not very user-friendly.......2006-04-22

I've been a They Might Be Giants fan for several years and I am about to become a teacher, so I have been perusing many children's books lately and decided to check out Bed Bed Bed.

I listened to the book with the CD and the thing that stuck out at me the most about this book was the pacing. "Impossible" is the longest song, but all its lyrics are crammed into two spreads. While listening, I found myself becoming bored looking at those pages so long. At that point, the book just seemed like a decorated lyrics page.

"Happy Doesn't Have to Have an Ending", though only 3 spreads (including the title page), was much better paced because of its fast tempo.

"Idlewild"'s three spreads were perfect, since it was a short song with few words.

However, "Bed Bed Bed" was a whopping 11 spreads long, even though its time length was just a bit shorter than "Impossible". I know it's the title song and should probably have more emphasis, but in this case, it meant that I had to flip through one line pages so quickly that I didn't even have time to glimpse at the pictures if I wanted to keep up with the song! I would have much rather had more images of the shape-shifting imaginary creatures in "Impossible" than individual pictures of kids doing things like brushing their teeth and sitting around.

I got this book thinking that it would potentially make a unique addition for a listening center in my classroom, but if I had such a hard time keeping up with the book, I imagine my students would be even more frustrated.

If only a few changes were made, this book would be much better, but for now, if I want a visual representation of They Might Be Giant's kid songs, I'll stick to Here Come the ABC's.

Nice to have, but not a must........2006-01-01

This book makes awkward reading, especially to a 4-year old who doesn't know TMBG. It's just song lyrics, which don't have much meaning to a child, and don't flow very well for reading. The CD makes it a little easier, because at least my son can look at the pictures, but it's still not ideal. I love TMBG, and I have for many years, so this book/CD is a nice addition to my collection. However, I bought it for my son, who listened to it for the first few weeks, but after that hasn't picked it up again.

Song with this book better than on "No".......2005-11-09

We liked this version of the Going to Bed song better than on the original "No" album. The illustrations were more adult-friendly than child-friendly.

Books:

Books Index

Books Home

Recommended Books