{"id":431155,"date":"2020-04-21T18:22:08","date_gmt":"2020-04-21T16:22:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thomann.de\/blog\/?p=431155"},"modified":"2020-04-16T19:47:11","modified_gmt":"2020-04-16T17:47:11","slug":"fight-boredom-with-these-music-books-and-documentaries","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thomann.de\/blog\/en\/inspire\/fight-boredom-with-these-music-books-and-documentaries\/","title":{"rendered":"Fight boredom with these music books and documentaries"},"content":{"rendered":"

If the creative streak is not pulsating today, we can always find comfort in some music-based book or documentary to fight boredom. The small list below does not represent freshly released products but a collection of precious and impactful evergreens that I hope will enrich your experience in music.<\/strong><\/p>\n

#musicneverstops<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

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Books<\/span><\/h1>\n

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How music works<\/i><\/span><\/h2>\n

Author: David Byrne<\/strong><\/span>
\n<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

From the sharp, ironic and wise mind of the founder of Talking<\/strong> Heads<\/strong>, an essential book is born for any musician or voracious listener: How music works<\/em> is a collection of biographical reflections<\/strong> and anecdotes<\/strong> that accompany the reader on an anthropological<\/strong>, technological and economic journey directed towards the universal heart of music. Why do birds sing? Why do we never understand where the sound of an ambulance comes from? What is the meaning of the musical<\/strong> scenes<\/strong>? What are the differences between analog<\/strong> and digital<\/strong> sound? How do record<\/strong> contracts<\/strong> work? Does self-distribution really make an artist free? But above all: what is music for? In this capital text you will find all the answers you are looking for.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The music producers survival guide. <\/i><\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n

Chaos, Creativity and Career in Independent and Electronic Music<\/i><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Author: Brian M. Jackson<\/strong>
\n<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Producer<\/strong>, sound<\/strong> engineer<\/strong> and philosopher, Brian Jackson takes us by the hand into the world of independent production and home<\/strong> studios<\/strong> taking care of every single aspect of a musician’s life: from practical<\/strong> applications<\/strong> to ethical issues, passing through psychological<\/strong> aspects<\/strong> and issues related to the business. This is a real survival<\/strong> manual<\/strong> dedicated to all independent<\/strong> musicians<\/strong>; divided into eleven chapters, it ranges from the practical side of the job – how to choose between the various DAWs<\/strong> available on the market? What are the tools<\/strong> I will need? – the principles of audio<\/strong> engineering<\/strong>, from the history of music to little-known but necessary topics<\/strong>, such as archiving and back-up. Together with Jackson<\/strong> we learn to turn our passion into a job<\/strong> by writing goals and operational plans to thrive like a pro in today’s music industry. The psychological<\/strong> aspects<\/strong> of this sometimes frustrating profession are not overlooked: our guide suggests strategies for exercising patience and persistence, considerations on lifestyle and in relation to creativity, exercises for relaxation and for generating positive attitudes.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Analog Days: the invention and impact of the moog synthesizer<\/i><\/span><\/h2>\n

Authors: Trevor Pinch<\/strong> & Franc Trocco<\/strong>
\n<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Edited exclusively in English<\/strong>, this text can also be read by those who do not have an excellent command of the foreign language: the simple<\/strong> and conversational<\/strong> writing<\/strong> makes it truly accessible<\/strong> and will allow you to do some exercise<\/strong> at the same time. Although the title brings the history of the famous Moog synthesizers<\/strong> to mind, Analog Days<\/em> deals with the birth of most electronic<\/strong> music<\/strong> technologies<\/strong>, from Theremin<\/strong> to Buchla<\/strong> via EMS<\/strong> and Roland<\/strong>. Far from being a technical manual, the story is marked by anecdotes<\/strong> and memories of the protagonists of the electronic spring of the sixties: here you will not only find “cultured” music but, surprisingly, band names like Jefferson<\/strong> Airplane<\/strong> and bizarre adventures in the Bay Area Acid<\/em> Test<\/em>, mixed with life episodes by famous composers such as John<\/strong> Cage<\/strong> and Karlheinz<\/strong> Stockhausen<\/strong>. Analog<\/em> Days<\/em> is an excellent book to lightly deal with the history of twentieth century music<\/strong> technology<\/strong> and discover the background of numerous genres and realities related to the different brands of the synthesizer<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Experimental Music<\/i><\/span><\/h2>\n

Author: Michael Nyman<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

If you are looking for inspiration<\/strong> to subvert your musical<\/strong> productions<\/strong>, this book is for you; the small – but powerful – volume collects scores, verbal instructions<\/strong> and reflections<\/strong> on the methods of composition<\/strong> that will lead you to ask yourself: what else could music be? Music critic and undisputed master of Minimalism<\/strong>, Nyman<\/strong> published this book for the first time in 1974<\/strong>, as an eyewitness on the crest of the last wave of experimental<\/strong> music<\/strong>. Between provocative experiences and radical compositions, Nyman<\/strong> offers us a in-depth analysis of the most striking cases in the history of experimentation<\/strong> to help us understand the revolution<\/strong> of the languages<\/strong> \u200b\u200bof the post-war musical tradition<\/strong>. Experimental<\/em> music<\/em> is an evergreen<\/strong> to be reread several times, it is a theory book and a collection of practices<\/strong> that will allow you to discover through history the hidden meanings and values \u200b\u200bof sound<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Don’t Call it Jazz<\/em><\/h2>\n

Author: Giancarlo Schiaffini<\/strong>
\nAuditorium Edizioni, Milano 2015<\/em>
\n<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Are you wondering what is the role of improvisation<\/strong> in today’s music, from jazz<\/strong> to electronics<\/strong>? Giancarlo<\/strong> Schiaffini<\/strong>, composer, trombonist and tubist active in the field of contemporary music since the sixties<\/strong>, tries to answer this question by telling the reader his personal experiences. Former collaborator of Giacinto<\/strong> Scelsi<\/strong>, Anthony<\/strong> Braxton<\/strong> and John<\/strong> Cage<\/strong> (among others), Schiaffini describes to us, with – obvious – competence and irony, the characteristics, methods and distinctive features of improvisation<\/strong>. The many repertoire images and the in-depth discography<\/strong> are also very interesting, added values \u200b\u200bthat enrich this small volume dedicated to the definition of a mode of playing music that is often subject of misunderstandings.<\/p>\n

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Documentaries<\/span><\/h1>\n

 <\/p>\n

Synth Britannia<\/i><\/span><\/h2>\n

Directed by <\/span>Ben Whalley<\/strong><\/a> for BBC 4, 2009<\/span><\/p>\n

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An exciting journey into the history of English<\/strong> synthesizers<\/strong> and electronic music told by some of the most famous musicians<\/strong> who have used new sound since the late ’70s: from Daniel<\/strong> Miller<\/strong> to Human<\/strong> League<\/strong>, passing through Cabaret Voltaire and Depeche<\/strong> Mode<\/strong> without neglecting the most experimental adventures of English<\/strong> sound<\/strong>. Period videos and interviews contribute to building a broad reflection on the role of technologies in the creation of musical scenes.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Krautrock: The Rebirth of Germany<\/i><\/span><\/h2>\n

Directed by Ben<\/strong> Whalley<\/strong><\/a> for BBC 4, 2012<\/span><\/p>\n

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This documentary is without a doubt a priceless<\/strong> masterpiece<\/strong> that tells, in just over an hour, the story of one of the most significant currents of German<\/strong> contemporary music: Krautrock<\/strong>. Through the voice of its protagonists, the adventures of Neu<\/strong>!, Can<\/strong>, Kraftwerk<\/strong>, Amon<\/strong> D\u00fcll<\/strong> and many others paint on the screen the birth of a new musical<\/strong> identity<\/strong> generated in the ruins of the Second<\/strong> World<\/strong> War<\/strong>. Hypnotic<\/strong> riffs<\/strong>, electronic<\/strong> digressions, fortunes and misfortunes of brilliant musicians holed up in farmhouses in the woods or basements of destroyed<\/strong> cities<\/strong> have built<\/strong> within a decade a musical genre that will have no equal in any other country. Have a nice trip!<\/p>\n

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The future is unwritten. Joe Strummer<\/i><\/span><\/h2>\n

Directed by Julien Temple<\/strong><\/a>, 2007<\/span><\/p>\n

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It’s always nice to see this bittersweet memory of the life of the guitarist<\/strong> and singer<\/strong> of The Clash<\/strong>; if you haven’t seen it yet, I suggest you to let yourself get carried away by the stories of his friends<\/strong> or those who drew inspiration and teaching from this extraordinary protagonist<\/strong> of punk<\/strong> (among others: Steve<\/strong> Buscemi<\/strong>, Jim<\/strong> Jarmusch<\/strong> and Martin<\/strong> Scorsese<\/strong>). Between home<\/strong> videos<\/strong>, archived footage and old photographs, this documentary opens a window on emotions: from the first adventures in Strummer’s<\/strong> music to the rise and fall of the Clash<\/strong>, without forgetting the social<\/strong> and political<\/strong> struggles that pushed Strummer to become an explosive voice representing the victims of injustice.<\/p>\n

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Sound City<\/i><\/span><\/h2>\n

Directed by Dave<\/strong> Grohl<\/strong><\/a>, 2013<\/span><\/p>\n

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Dave<\/strong> Grohl<\/strong> debuts in the world of cinema with the documentary Sound City<\/em> focused on the famous Los<\/strong> Angeles<\/strong> recording<\/strong> studio<\/strong> of the same name. From 1969 to 2011, Sound<\/strong> City<\/strong> gave birth to masterpieces such as Nevermind<\/strong><\/em>, welcoming the creative flashes of artists such as Neil<\/strong> Young<\/strong>, Kyuss<\/strong> and Red<\/strong> Hot<\/strong> Chili<\/strong> Peppers<\/strong>. Thanks to Grohl’s work, we learn, from several sacred monsters of music, the secrets hidden behind their most famous<\/strong> recordings<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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Daft Punk Unchained<\/i><\/span><\/h2>\n

Directed by Herv\u00e9<\/strong> Martin<\/strong>–Delpierre<\/strong><\/a>, 2015<\/span><\/p>\n

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Everything you wanted to know about Daft<\/strong> Punk<\/strong> and you never dared to ask: from the first steps of the duo – still free from helmets<\/strong> and droid<\/strong>-resemblance – to the wildest raves<\/strong> and the design of their famous logo, passing through the grandiose stage set-ups like that of Coachella<\/strong>, the documentary traces the history of the greatest contribution to French<\/strong> electro<\/strong><\/em> music<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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What are the books or documentaries that have particularly influenced your musical education? Let us know with a comment!<\/strong><\/p>\n

Article originally written by\u00a0Johan Merrich<\/strong>\u00a0in Italian<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

5 books and 5 documentaries to stay entertained during these difficult times. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":25,"featured_media":431317,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"tblog_post_audio_url":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[10706,10676],"tags":[13185,13191,13193,13197,13195,8929,13203,8362,4855,7643,13187,13189,13205,13199,13201],"class_list":["post-431155","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-entertain","category-inspire","tag-books","tag-doc","tag-docs","tag-documentaries","tag-documentary","tag-educate","tag-educate-yourself","tag-education","tag-history","tag-learn","tag-read","tag-reading","tag-study","tag-text","tag-textbook"],"category_colors":{"color_key":"entertain","css_classes":{"text":"cat-entertain","text_light":"cat-entertain-light","bg":"cat-bg-entertain","bg_light":"cat-bg-entertain-light","border":"cat-border-entertain","text_on_bg":"cat-text-on-entertain"}},"reading_time":{"minutes":7,"formatted":"7 min"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thomann.de\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/431155","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thomann.de\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thomann.de\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thomann.de\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/25"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thomann.de\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=431155"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.thomann.de\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/431155\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thomann.de\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/431317"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thomann.de\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=431155"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thomann.de\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=431155"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thomann.de\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=431155"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}