Few music lovers realize that the arrangement of notes ontoday’s pianos was once regarded as a crime against God and nature,or that such legendary thinkers as Pythagoras, Plato, da Vinci,Galileo, Kepler, Descartes, Newton and Rousseau played a role inthe controversy. Indeed, from the time of the Ancient Greeksthrough the eras of Renaissance scientists and Enlightenmentphilosophers, the relationship between the notes of the musicalscale was seen as a key to the very nature of the universe. In this engaging and accessible account, Stuart Isacoff leads usthrough the battles over that scale, placing them in the context ofquarrels in the worlds of art, philosophy, religion, politics andscience. The contentious adoption of the modern tuning system knownas equal temperament called into question beliefs that hadlasted nearly two millenia–and also made possible the music ofBeethoven, Schubert, Chopin, Debussy, and all who followed. Filledwith original insights, fascinating anecdotes, and portraits ofsome of th

FROM COMIC-BOOK LEGENDS TO SILVER-SCREEN SUPER HEROES! Marvel presents an insider's look into the making of its cinematic universe - assembling three Avengers in one stylish slipcase. Featuring exclusive production artwork, behind-the-scenes photography, and in-depth cast-and-crew interviews, this four-book collection is a must have for any fan of Mighty Marvel movies! Includes IRON MAN: THE ART OF IRON MAN THE MOVIE HC, IRON MAN: THE ART OF IRON MAN 2 HC, THOR: THE ART OF THOR THE MOVIE HC and CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE ART OF CAPTAIN AMERICA - THE FIRST AVENGER HC.

Just as its title indicates, "National Geographic SimplyBeautiful Photographs" plumbs the depth of National Geographic'srenowned Image Collection to highlight the loveliest and mostappealing photographs from this impressive archive. The result isan experience of visual delight, whether from stunning landscapes,magnificent wildlife, fascinating people, or quaint locales.Award-winning National Geographic photographer Annie Griffiths Belthas chosen remarkable images from all of the Society's core missionareas: exploration, wildlife, cultures, science, nature. Eachchapter showcases a specific aspect of what creates beauty in aphotograph, whether light or color, or motion, and illuminates thatquality in a splash of large-format images --most of which readerswill be able to purchase as prints. Musings on visual beauty fromscholars and poets enhance the experience, making this gorgeouscollection a pleasure to look at again and again.

GET READY TO ROCK! In ten easy lessons, PLAY GREAT ROCK GUITAR will take you fromcloseted air guitarist to real-life rocker. Each lesson is linkedto audio files on the included CD, so you can hear exactly whatyou’re learning. Play along with the CD to get just what thosechords, riffs, and melodies are supposed to sound like. Soon you’llbe playing your favorite songs along with your favorite bands—or inyour own rock band! Including the basics of harmony and melody, riffs and solos, andthe fundamentals of blues, rock ‘n roll, classic rock, heavy metal,rhythm guitar, and alternative, PLAY GREAT ROCK GUITAR is foranyone who’s ever dreamed of playing popular music’s most supremelycool instrument—or who’s caught the “Guitar Hero” bug. With thehelpful CD, clear illustrations, and examples from the rock godsyou worship, PLAY GREAT ROCK GUITAR creates the world’s next mastershredder—you!

Situated between Western Europe and the civilizations ofByzantium and the Islamic world, Renaissance Venice was uniquelypositioned at the crossroads of East and West. In the beautifulAdriatic city, ideas and aesthetics were exchanged and developed ina remarkable age of cultural fusion. Venice’s distinctivearchitecture is already well known for integrating divergentcultural influences, but the impact of this synthesis on Venetianpainting has not been fully explored. This gorgeous book focuses onthe work of the remarkable Bellini family of painters—Jacopo andhis sons Gentile and Giovanni—who transformed Venetianpainting in the fifteenth and early sixteenth centuries. The authors examine the influence of Venetian trade with the Easton Bellini paintings; the Byzantine influence on Venetian art; theimpact of a visit to Mehmed II’s court in 1479 on Gentile Bellini,as well as his effect on Eastern-trained artists there; and muchmore. The book is abundantly illustrated with the Bellini family’

From acclaimed filmmaker Guillermo del Toro comes Warner Bros.Pictures' and Legendary Pictures' epic sci-fi action adventurePacific Rim. When legions of monstrous creatures, known as Kaiju, startedrising from the sea, a war began that would take millions of livesand consume humanity's resources for years. To combat the giantKaiju, a special weapon was devised: massive robots, calledJaegers, which are piloted by an international crew of soldiers inthe Pan Pacific Defense Corps. But even the Jaegers are provingnearly defenseless in the face of the relentless Kaiju. On theverge of defeat, two unlikely heroes—a washed up former pilot andan untested trainee—team up to pilot a legendary but seeminglyobsolete Jaeger on a mission to halt the mounting apocalypse. Pacific Rim: Man, Machines Monsters chronicles theproduction of the film with stunning concept art, captivatingphotography, and cast and crew de*ions of the shoot.

Piano Lessons is Noah Adams's delightful and movingchronicle of his fifty-second year--a year already filled withlong, fast workdays and too little spare time--as he answers atlast a lifelong call: to learn to play the piano. The twelvemonthly chapters span from January--when after decades of growingaffection for keyboard artists and artisans he finally plunges inand buys a piano--through December, when as a surprise Christmaspresent for his wife he dresses in a tuxedo and, in flickeringcandlelight, snow falling outside the windows, he attempts theirfavorite piece of music, a difficult third-year composition he'sbeen struggling with in secret to get to this very moment. Among the up-tempo triumphs and unexpected setbacks, Noah Adamsinterweaves the rich history and folklore that surround the piano.And along the way, set between the ragtime rhythms andboogie-woogie beats, there are encounters with--and insightsfrom--masters of the keyboard, from Glenn Gould and Leon Fleisher("I was a bit embarrassed," he wr

An invaluable guide for both casual opera fans and afficionados,this volume contains act-by-act de*ions of operatic worksranging from the early seventeenth century masterworks ofMonteverdi and Purcell to the modern classics of Menotti andBritten. Written in a lively anecdotal style, entries includecharacter de*ions, historical background, and much more.

Includes eight full-length, award-winning plays: * Streamers by David Rabe * Marco Polo Sings a Solo by John Guare * Wings by Arthur Kopit * Sister Mary Ignatius Explains It All for You by ChristopherDurang * Crimes of the Heart by Beth Henley * The Dining Room by A.R. Gurney * Painting Churches by Tina Howe * Ma Rainey's Black Bottom byAugust Wilson Edited and with an introduction by Brooks McNamara.

What do you getwhen you cross a snail with the Indianapolis 500? If you’reDreamWorks, then the result is Turbo, an uplifting—andgear-shifting—story about the ultimate underdog, delivered with thedigital mastery, storytelling skill, and spellbinding imagery we’vecome to expect from the studio behind the Shrek and Madagascar.

A tribute to the Pacific Northwest's grunge genre draws on theobservations of individuals at the forefront of the movement fromSoundgarden and the Melvins to Nirvana and Pearl Jam, citing theinfluences of such factors as the rise of Seattle's Sub Pop recordlabel and the death of Kurt Cobain.

Whether they listen to Mozart or Duke Ellington, Aaron Coplandinvites readers to ask two basic questions: Are they hearingeverything that is going on? Are they really being sensitive to it?With his provocative suggestions, Aaron Copland guides readersthrough a deeper appreciation of the most rewarding of all artforms. Show More Show Less

Breaking up is hard to do - and when a relationship turnssour, nothing provides more comfort than the cheesy pop hits of the'70s and '80s. Just as Quirk's I Can't Fight This Feeling was ananthology of classic love poetry, You Give Love a Bad Name featurespoetic writings on breaking up - and moving on - from The Bee Gees,Michael Bolton, Pat Benatar, Hall and Oates, and many others.Packaged in an elegant hardcover volume with a deluxe ribbonmarker, it's the perfect gift for anyone seeking to mend a brokenheart. Includes these timeless classics: - Is She Really Going Out with Him? - Joe Jackson - She's Gone - Hall and Oates - Cold Hearted - Paula Abdul - Alone - Heart - Goodbye to You - Scandal

Asian Resorts is conceived to be the most comprehensivecollection on Asian resorts. Written and shot by the region'sbest known Asian architecture specialist, TanHock Beng, who has already put together five books on the designand aesthetics of tropical architecture, Asian Resorts promises toshow its readers the biggest variety of Asian resorts that no otherbook has ever shown. With its beautifully' shot images and relevantinformation, this book will certainly serve and entertain youbeyond just the coffee table. In fact, it is a must-have for everyarchitectural office and every home.

One of Victorian Englands most charismatic characters, DanteGabriel Rossetti painted and wrote with equal passion. He wassimilarly passionate in his personal life: his etherealartist-wife, his earthy blond mistress, and the ravishing JaneMorris are al