Good Books & Videos

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All the books and videos in this section are in my personal library. These are some of the best out there for information, pictures and instruction. Unfortunately, a lot of these are published by small publishers. The best advise I can give if you are interested in a specific title is go to books-in-print at a local book store with the title, author and ISBN # where available. Hopefully they can order it for you.

Books

Free Play -- Stephen Nachmanovitch
Improvisation in Life and Art.  Liberate your creativity.   An excellent book on improvisation, not only music but ingenuity and creativity in general. Tarcher/Putnam, ISBN 0 87477 631 7


The Secret Power of Music --David Tame
The transformation of self and society through musical energy. Drawing upon the wisdom of ancient civilizations as well as contemporary scientific data, David Tame offers a challenging and timely alternative view to the widely-held modern notion that music is an intangible art form of little practical significance. Destiny Books, ISBN 0 89281 056 4


The Mysticism of Sound --Hazrat Inayat Khan
Contains brilliant essays on the power of sound and music by the Sufi teacher who moved to the West from India.


The Natural Classical Guitar --Lee F. Ryan
Presents a holistic approach with ten principles that will help you develop yourself as well as your playing. The basic principle is to let nature support you in every way so that your playing is as effortless as possible. Prentice-Hall, ISBN 0 13 610071 6


The Third Ear --Joachim-Ernst Berendt
Berendt has lived in cultures all over the world, and has studied their attitudes toward listening. At the core of almost every spiritual tradition lies the knowledge that the world is made of sound and that the way to wisdom lies through the ear. "Difficult reading, but well worth the effort."
Owl Books, ISBN 0 8050 2007 1


Nada Brahma: The World is Sound --Joachim-Ernst Berendt
Music and landscape of consciousness. Berendt embarked on a path that took him throughout America, Europe and Asia, Africa and Latin America, exploring diverse traditions and revealing the universal importance of sound in shaping cultural and spiritual life. "Challenging reading, but excellent."
Destiny Books, ISBN 0 89281 168 4


Improvisation-Its Nature and Practice in Music --Derek Bailey
This is the first book to deal with the nature of improvisation and all its forms. Bailey offers a clear eyed view of the breathtaking spectrum of possibilities inherent in improvisational practice, while underpinning its importance as the basis for all music-making. Da Capo Press, ISBN 0 306 80528 6


The Life of Music in North India --Daniel M. Neuman
Drawing primarily from field work performed in Delhi in 1969-71 - from interviewing musicians, learning and performing on the Indian Sarangi, and speaking with music connoisseurs - Neuman examines the cultural and social matrix of Hindustani music. University of Chicago Press, ISBN 0 226 57516 0


Ragopedia: Vol. One -- Batish

An exhaustive encyclopedia of the rags (scales) of North India.  Notated in Western staff and Indian sargam.  Also contains a good overview of Indian music theory. Batish Records, 1-800-724-6252


My Music, My Life --Ravi Shankar
More than the story of this legendary Indian musician's remarkable life, this book embraces the history and theory of Indian music and the lives of its greatest exponents. Contains a manual on sitar with photographs and drawings, and a glossary of Indian music terms.
Southasiabooks.com, ISBN 0 7069 8753 5


The Music of the Arabs --Habib Hassan Touma
This book presents an overview of the musical life of the Arabs throughout their cultural history and examines the artistic output of musicians involved in performing and nurturing Arabian art music today."Contains lots of photos and musical examples." Amadeus Press, ISBN 0 931340 88 8


The Art of Persian Music --Jean During
This book provides the keys and definitions essential for understanding Persian music: it's history, instruments, repertory, organization, rhythms and modes (or dastgahs). Through quotes and anecdotes by and about masters passed and present, the reader can grasp the spirit and philosophy of Persian music."Contains fantastic photography plus a CD. This is as good as it gets."
Mage Publishers, ISBN 0 934211 22 1


Musical Instruments of the World
An illustrated encyclopedia with more than 4,000 original drawings.
Sterling Publishing Co., ISBN 0 8069 9847 4


Eye Witness Books: Music
"Though this is a children's book, it contains excellent close-up photography of many rare, beautiful, ancient and exotic instruments." Alfred A. Knopf, ISBN 0 394 82259 5




Videos

"Raga" --Ravi Shankar
"Raga" is a journey to Ravi Shankar's musical, cultural and spiritual roots. This portrait is saturated with music as it follows Shankar rehearsing, teaching and performing in concert.
Mystic Fire Video, ISBN 1 56176 239 3, 1-800-727-8433


"Exotic Percussion of the World" --featuring: Robin Adnan Anders
Taught to you by some of the top musicians in their field, along with a brief history of the instrument itself, this video features percussion from many different countries.
Music Video Products, 1-800-637-3555


"The Fantastic World of Frame Drums" --Glen Velez
Contains insightful, comprehensive instructions and demonstrations along with inspiring, virtuosic performances. With Layne Redmond
Interworld Music Associates, 1-(802)-257-5519








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