Book Description

Malcolm X lived in difficult times - when some thought that black people were inferior to white people. But Malcolm believed that black people should stand up for their rights and he preached this belief everywhere he went. His message became popular because it was one of hope and pride. But it also became dangerous, because some people didn't agree with him. In 1965, one of these people shot and killed him. Even though his life was cut short by hatred, Malcolm X's ideas still affect people of all races. Here is his amazing story.

An ALA Notable Children's Book

Book Description
Arnold's extremely demanding oeuvre, in which he combines orchestral brilliance with his sense of syntactic compositional unity, easily overcomes the prejudicial barriers of serious and light music. Perhaps Arnold's life is portrayed in his works like no other British composer's. Arnold's music is full of energy, but can turn lightness into the deepest melancholy; its musical intensity makes it almost impossible not to be touched by it. His compositions underline the charisma of his personality.Author Raphael Thöne has analysed in depth the symphonic music of Sir Malcolm Arnold (1921-2006), drawing conclusions from available, as well as newly accessible, sources and created a new widerimage of this great British composer. He reveals Arnold's composition aesthetics and identifies possible influences (such as Mahler and Sibelius) by providing clear music-theory-orientated evidence. For the first time, Arnold's oeuvre is here scientifically categorised within the British contemporary classical music-movement of the 20th and 21st centuries. Raphael D. Thöne (* 1980) obtained a degree in Composition (Musikhochschule Düsseldorf, Germany) and Music Theory (Folkwang Hochschule Essen, Germany) and was ascholarship recipient and studiedFilm Scoring and Composition at the Berklee College of Music, Boston (USA). He also received a PhD in Musicology at the University of Music and Performing Arts and the University of Vienna, Austria, writing his PhD thesis on Sir Malcolm's symphonic music. As an active composer, orchestrator and pianist, Thoene received commissions for the Orchesterakademie NRW, the International Contemporary Music Festival Ensemblia in 2005 and the Niederrheinischer Musikherbst in 2006. He orchestrates film and theatre music, is the author of the musical "Culture", and co-author of the chamber-opera "Der Herr Gevater" (staged in Saarbrücken, Düsseldorf and Munich). ... Read more

Book Description
Malcolm Arnold's music encompassed a variety of forms from opera and ballet through orchestral and chamber music to film scores. His most famous film score, for which he won an Oscar award in 1957, is The Bridge on the River Kwai. In 1953 he was commissioned to compose Homage to the Queen, a ballet to celebrate the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. Arnold was knighted by the Queen in 1993 in honor of his contributions to English music. As with the other volumes in the Greenwood Bio-Bibliographies in Music series, this work includes a brief biography, discography, complete list of works and performances, and an annotated bibliography. Music scholars, musicians, and those with an interest in the music of Malcolm Arnold will appreciate the extensive information gathered in this one volume. Since Malcolm Arnold has retired from composing, this book features the most complete list of his compositions, including some of his newly discovered early works. The works are listed alphabetically within genre. The author also provides a chronological listing of the works through which trends and developments in Arnold's compositions may be traced. Sir Malcolm Arnold's input with the project assures the accuracy and completeness of this bio-bibliography. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Time for a revised edtion from an enterprising publisher
May I briefly urge music lovers to search out this book about Malcolm Arnold. The author, Piers Burton-Page, reminds us that as a player Arnold wasBritain's finest young trumpeter. He then developed rapidly as a composer, reaching his widest audiences with many film scores (The Bridge on the River Kwai, Hobson's Choice, and Whistle down the Wind are among the favourites) and brilliant orchestral works.

Burton-Page paints a fascinating portrait of a composer who has worked in many fields, and whose complex personality gives his music a depth and range which are only hinted at in some of his more popular works.

Why is this valuable book no longer available? In late 2001, just when many concerts around the world are celebrating Arnold's 80th birthday, it seems perverse that the book is no longer in print. There must be some enterprising publisher out there who should seize the moment. Get the authoritative Piers Burton-Page to revise the book and bring it up to date. Burton-Page charts the extraordinary ups and downs of a leading musican's life with affection and honesty. Now let's have the revised edition.

The best and only biography of British composer Malcolm Arno
I am biased of course! But I spent 10 years on and off writing about the life and music of Sir Malcolm Arnold - now 75 - and it was a labour of love. He is severely ill with a form of brain damage that has impaired his memory: even so, it was wonderful how he was able to recall incidents from his earliest years in remarkable detail. He was able to help me enormously with the events of his later life too. All this started with a love of his music, and I hope this is reflected in my biography, too. What a shame it is already out of print. Come on some of you publishers out there, how about asking me for an update, and then reprinting ... Read more

Book Description
This digital document is an article from Albion, published by North American Conference on British Studies on June 22, 2004. The length of the article is 853 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: The Life and Music of Sir Malcolm Arnold: The Brilliant and the Dark.(Book Review)
Author: Charles Edward McGuire
Publication: Albion (Refereed)
Date: June 22, 2004
Publisher: North American Conference on British Studies
Volume: 36Issue: 2Page: 371(2)

Article Type: Book Review

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