Art & Music Audiobooks | Non-Fiction

Imagining the Method: Reception, Identity, and American Screen Performance

Only one performance style has dominated the lexicon of the casual moviegoer: 'Method acting.' The first reception-based analysis of film acting, Imagining the Method investigates how popular understandings of the so-called Method-what its author Justin Rawlins calls 'methodness'-created an exclusive brand for white, male actors while associating such actors with rebellion and marginalization. Drawing on extensive archival research, the book maps the forces giving shape to methodness and policing its boundaries. Imagining the Method traces the primordial conditions under which the Method was conceived. It explores John Garfield's tenuous relationship with methodness due to his identity. It considers the links between John Wayne's reliance on 'anti-Method' stardom and Marlon Brando and James Dean's ascribed embodiment of Method features. It dissects contemporary emphases on transformation and considers the implications of methodness in the encoding of AI performers. Altogether, Justin Rawlins offers a revisionist history of the Method that shines a light on the cultural politics of methodness and the still-dominant assumptions about race, gender, and screen actors and acting that inform how we talk about performance and performers.

Justin Owen Rawlins (Author), Malcolm Hillgartner (Narrator)

Audiobook

Song: A History in 12 Parts

From one of our most innovative singers, a vibrant history of song stretching from Hildegard von Bingen and Benjamin Britten to Björk 'Songs can be intensely personal (whether you hear them or sing them) and none of us would choose the same twelve songs as anyone else. My choices are based on decades of performing experience in many different genres, but I hope they will reveal aspects of our common humanity as the story evolves from the Middle Ages to the present.' In this celebratory account, author and singer John Potter tells the European story of song. The form has captivated audiences and excited performers for centuries, from the music of the troubadours and the Christian liturgy through classical composers such as Bach and Schumann up to Britten, Berio, and the rise of popular music. Choosing twelve key works, Potter offers a personal tour through this vital tradition, from John Dowland's 'Flow My Tears' to George Gershwin's 'Summertime.' Throughout, he reveals who wrote and sang these joyful masterpieces-and what they mean to singers and audiences today.

John Potter (Author), Elliot Fitzpatrick (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Remarkable Big Band Era: Just What Is Nostalgia?

Just what is nostalgia? Here are provocative and exciting stories about a great period of popular music. It was a time when the nation was facing desperate days of the Great Depression as well on-going fears of a World War. The still young radio industry was a major force in helping provide a worried nation with a source of entertainment and comfort. The author/narrator had conversation/interviews with many of the major stars and he tells you about their talent and their wonderful music. It’s as though you’re sitting there listening as to one of the most memorable eras in the nation’s history. This turns back the pages of time to when the whole world was invited to dance and sing along. A dictionary tells you nostalgia is a sentimental longing or wistful affection for the past. This is history about “The Golden Days of Big Band Music.”

John Rayburn (Author), John Rayburn (Narrator)

Audiobook

Radio Records Dramatized Production 'A Christmas Carol'

We take great pride to invite you to walk back into the min-nineteenth century and live as never before the life and times of Ebeneezer Scrooge and 'A Christmas Carol'. Come with us to the streets of London to hear and feel the horses and carriages going over the cobble stone streets. Come and imagine in vivid color, sight and sound 'The Christmas Carol' bringing to life 36 characters that will push you imagination to the brink of reality. Come and envision Old jacob Marley appearing before his sinister old partner Scrooge to fortell of the things to happen which fate has set fortold. Feel the presents of the ghosts as they take Scrooge one by one from the past to the future. Feel the warmth and the laughter and even the sorrow of Tiny Tim and the Crachit Family. Come listen and envision as the towns people laugh with out sorrow of the passing of Old Scrooge and the barter with the pawnbroker over the simplest things he left behind. Envision what happened to Scrooge as the last phantom shows him the things of yet to come and the transformation of London's Coldest Old Miser. Truely this is 'A Christmas Carol' with no parts left out. We feel you will enjoy this story for it lives today as much as it did back then.

Adaptation By: Charles Kapitzky, Charles Dickens (Author), Audio Cast Of 29 Performers (Narrator)

Audiobook

Art History: Ideas, Criticisms, and Summaries

This audiobook is narrated by a digital voice. Exploring the aesthetic facets and visual expressions within historical and stylistic frameworks constitutes the field of study known as art history. Traditionally centered on mediums like painting, drawing, sculpture, architecture, pottery, and decorative arts, art history has evolved to encompass a broader spectrum of visual culture. This expansion involves delving into the diverse visual and intellectual implications arising from the ever-evolving definition of art. The canvas of art history is vast, encompassing creations from various civilizations worldwide, spanning epochs, all unified by a predominant reliance on visual representations to convey meaning, value, or utility. Distinguishing itself from art criticism and art theory (or 'philosophy of art'), art history takes on a unique role. While art criticism evaluates artistic worth and sanctions styles or movements, and art theory delves into the fundamental nature of art, art history utilizes historical methods. It seeks to unravel the mysteries behind artistic creations by addressing questions such as the artist's motivations, patrons, influences, and the socio-political backdrop that shaped both the artist and the creation. These inquiries extend to understanding the artist's impact on artistic, political, and social trajectories. Yet, the distinction between art history and art philosophy often poses challenges to a comprehensive exploration. The current disciplinary divide occasionally impedes the investigation, as many fundamental queries about the nature of art overlap with historical inquiries. The blurred boundaries prompt debates on whether addressing the historical context can effectively answer questions about the intrinsic nature of art.

Kelly Mass (Author), Digital Voice Anya G (Narrator)

Audiobook

Psalms of My People: A Story of Black Liberation as Told through Hip-Hop

If you want to understand the Black experience in the US, you must understand hip-hop, and Psalms of My People is your guide. Treating hip-hop like sacred scripture, lenny duncan traces its history—the artists, their lyrics, and the cultural context—to reveal its role as a conduit to tell the modern story of Black liberation in this country, following the bloody trail from the end of the Civil Rights Era through the day George Floyd was sacrificed on the streets of america. “duncan weaves together hip-hop, scripture, history, and their own experiences with soft tenderness and sharp critique. It’s both delicious and, at times, bitter; full of the contradictions we see reflected in all sacred texts and pregnant with possibilities for transformation.”—Elle Dowd, pastor, activist, and author of Baptized in Tear Gas: From White Moderate to Abolitionist

Lenny Duncan (Author), Lenny Duncan (Narrator)

Audiobook

[German] - Die Hüter der vier Elemente: Die Reise nach Nimoron

Eigentlich hatte Aaron sich auf einen ruhigen Sommer eingestellt. Nach dem Tod seines Vaters war er am liebsten allein. Aber ein mysteriöses Geschenk seiner Großmutter wirft plötzlich Fragen auf. Und so reist Aaron kurzerhand zu ihr nach Schottland. Dort trifft er Moe, Jules und Summer, die ebenfalls ihre Ferien auf dem Hof der Großmutter verbringen. Sie stellen schnell fest, dass sie nicht zufällig zusammen dort sind. Sie sind die neuen Hüter einer Welt, die Aaron bisher nur aus den Geschichten seines Vaters kannte und die nun auch für die vier gefährlich real zu werden scheint.Und so stürzen sie sich schon bald gemeinsam in ein Abenteuer, von dem sie nicht einmal zu träumen gewagt hätten.

Dagmar Winter (Author), Robert Laber (Narrator)

Audiobook

Remission

This is a full recording of Daniel Martin Berkey performing the play Remission, which Backstage magazine called 'mind-blowing' and NYTheater called '90 intense and harrowing minutes of spectacular wordplay.' Written by playwright Kirk Wood Bromley ('Shakespeare on mushrooms' - LA Weekly), produced by NYC's “Best Downtown Theater Company' (NYPress 2001), scored by John Gideon, and originally performed by Berkey himself in the NYC Fringe Festival in 2009 (for which he won Outstanding Solo Show), Remission tells the story of Berkey’s journey into and out of schizophrenia in dramatic verse that one reviewer called 'a terrifying, violent freefall into insanity.' With his symptoms beginning at age six, Berkey experienced a spectrum of challenges, including berating voices and haunting visions, paranoia and catatonia, and addiction to sex, heroin, and alcohol. Then, at the age of 51, homeless and deranged, while walking along a freeway on Long Island, he saw a vision – a giant golden cube suspended in the sky from which emanated 3000 winged humanoid figures beckoning him to join them in the World Self. Awaking from the splendor, he walked home, flushed his medications, and has been symptom-free ever since. And while this journey is central to Remission's narrative, the play is more than a retelling. With each line, we are brought deeper into the experience of actually having schizophrenia, creating a 'one-of-a-kind, undiluted and unforgettable trip into the crazy.' (JustShowsToGoYou).

Kirk Wood Bromley (Author), Daniel Martin Berkey (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Do-Re-Mi of Singing: The Ultimate Beginner to Intermediate Singing Guide

This audiobook is narrated by a digital voice. Teach Yourself to Sing! Discover everything you need to start your singing journey with this two-part singing lessons book. Whether you're just starting out or a seasoned singer that wants to learn new techniques for different genres, this guide will help. Learn about all the singing skills you need, as well as the best techniques to practice them. Start improving your singing today, because this is designed for singers of all genres and capabilities. Get it now. Part One : Singing Lessons for Beginners - Learn the singing fundamentals that every artist needs - Explore various genres and find the best one for you - Discover your own sound - Find the the best tools and practices depending on your chosen genre Part Two : Intermediate Singing Lessons - Advanced singing exercises - Discussions and explanations of specific singing techniques - Practical ways of keeping up with trends and techniques - In-depth practices and tools - Learn about singers' anxiety and how to best treat it - Includes a glossary to explain industry specific wording Reach new heights no matter your skill level, because this book contains the most effective vocal exercises around... and more. Get it now.

Aventuras De Viaje (Author), Digital Voice Mary G (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Fundamentals of Music Composition: Learn Music Composition Step by Step

This audiobook is narrated by a digital voice. Teach Yourself to Compose Music! Learning music theory and writing sheet music will allow you to better hone your skills as a singer and a composer. This guide offers both beginners and more advanced singers and songwriters the skills and information to learn how to read, write and compose music. Start delving deeper into music theory today, because this is the ultimate guide to use when learning how to create music. Get it now. Discover all the Elements of Music Composition - How to read and write music notation - Ear training - How to read any composition in 4 simple steps - Note transposing - 7 steps to creating your own arrangement - Where to find the technology and other resources to help you on your musical journey - Informative images and tables for easy reference - Interactive exercises for faster learning … and much more! Acquire all the essential music knowledge and skills you need, because this will help you create and improve your own music compositions, no matter what your skill level. Get it now.

Aventuras De Viaje (Author), Digital Voice Mary G (Narrator)

Audiobook

2PAC in the Studio: The Stories Behind the Greatest Hits

Authorized personally by Afeni Shakur and the estate, 2PAC in the Studio features exclusive interviews with Johnny J (his final print interview before his tragic passing), Big Syke, Outlawz member Napolian, 2Pac’s brother Mopreme Shakur, Scarface, Easy Mo Bee, Doug Rasheed, DJ Akshun, Mike Mosley, Frank Macek, Big Hutch, Lance Pierre, Battle Cat, Rick Clifford, and Mike Dean, among others. Fans for the first time are taken behind the console and inside the studio for the story behind every one of 2Pac’s greatest and most controversial hits from his living and posthumous catalog, including smashes like “How Do U Want It?,” “Hail Mary,” “Life Goes On,” and on and on throughout his legendary legacy on record!

Jake Brown (Author), Jake Brown (Narrator)

Audiobook

Scientists of Sound, Vol. 2: The 80s!

From the Bangles’ “Manic Monday” to the Rocky theme “Eye of the Tiger,” this is by far the most comprehensive collection of interviews with the record producers who made the decade’s biggest hits ever gathered around the console together, recalling the making of everyone from Huey Lewis and the News’ to Billy Idol’s biggest hits, soundtrack classics like “Don’t You Forget about Me” and Flashdance’s theme “What a Feeling,” the Police’s “Every Breath You Take” to even “We Are the World.” They’re all here, 100s of hits, sure to keep fans listening for hours!

Jake Brown (Author), Jake Brown (Narrator)

Audiobook

Art & Music Audiobooks in Non-Fiction