Originally published Sunday, December 2, 2007 at 12:00 AM
Gift Books '07
Classical | Adventures and musical intrigue
Classical music
By Melinda Bargreen, Seattle Times music critic
"Musicophilia" by Oliver Sacks (Alfred A. Knopf, $26). The physician and author of "Awakenings" has produced an enthralling book about some of the lesser-known effects of music on the brain, written from the standpoint of both medicine and aesthetics. His amazing case studies include those of a disabled man who committed 2,000 operas to memory; a man who was struck by lightning and suddenly became a pianist at age 42; and children born with Williams Syndrome (who have IQs of under 60 but are extremely musical from birth). Along the way, we learn about the surprising relationship between perfect pitch and speaking Mandarin. Sacks' book is colorful, factual, compassionate and consistently thought-provoking.
"The Rest is Noise" by Alex Ross (Farrar Strauss & Giroux, $30). The New Yorker music critic and prominent blogger tells the story of the chaotic 20th century in music by linking composers and works to their social history. Ross details a vast canvas of events that shaped musical history, leading to new developments of all kinds: serialism, neoclassicism, surrealism, minimalism, and many other isms that jockeyed for supremacy during the last century, as classical and popular streams more widely diverged. He may be a bit too sanguine about the lasting influence of twelve-tone composers, whose net effect has mainly been to send audiences running in the opposite direction, but Ross has a brilliant command of his dauntingly complex subject matter, and he is always engaging to read.
"The Adventures of a Cello" by Carlos Pietro (University of Texas Press, $24.95). From the cellist Carlos Prieto comes this affectionate and intriguing history of his beloved 1720 cello, a Stradivarius nicknamed the Piatti, and its adventures over three centuries. "The Red Violin" has nothing on this saga, which details the cello's travels from Italy to Spain, Ireland, England, Italy, Germany, the US and Mexico. The instrument's narrow escapes (it was once left lying in the street all night) are accompanied by a wealth of information about the cello world — the instruments, players, repertoire and performances that will be of interest to any music lover. The bonus: a CD of Prieto playing the Piatti, which he has owned since 1978 as his musical soul mate.
"The Penguin Guide to Recorded Classical Music, 2008" (Penguin, $30, paperbound). Now clocking in at a staggering 1,588 pages, the hefty new Penguin Guide cataloges and rates the major classical discs and DVDs issued (and reissued) over the past five decades, from Adam to Zwilich. A vital tool for aficionados and collectors, and also useful as a self-defense device if hurled at intruders.
Copyright © 2007 The Seattle Times Company
Lit Life: National recognition for Seattle's readergirlz online book community
The Ultimate Holiday Cookbook Social at Palace Ballroom
Journalist and author Amy Goodman in Seattle
Book review: "Molly Ivins: A Rebel Life:" Fearless, funny and opinionated
Book review: 'Changing My Mind': Zadie Smith ponders the mad, mad world

Real Salt Lake wins MLS Cup
Real Salt Lake defeated the Los Angeles Galaxy with penalty kicks after 120 minutes of play at Qwest Field in Seattle.
nwautos
Local riders say they've seen a surge in scooter interest in recent years, mostly from people wanting another commuting option. Seattle now ranks as o...
Post a comment
nwjobs
Post a comment
Michelle Goodman blogs about work/life balance.
Do you suffer from "sitting disease"?
Post a comment
- 'The Road' takes Viggo Mortensen to Mount St. Helens and Astoria, Ore.
- Tugboat sinks at Seattle waterfront pier
- Illegal workers quietly let go
- Child-support error costs nearly $21,000
- Vikings easily beat the Seahawks
- Craigslist adoption ad: A plea by young mother-to-be? A scam?
- Chase shrugs off loss of CD investors
- Woman stabbed by stranger in North Seattle
- Snow piles up on Cascade slopes
- Denny Triangle gains skyline, but tenants slow to come
- Illegal workers quietly let go
366 - Climate change speeds up since 1997 Kyoto accord
209 - Vikings easily beat the Seahawks
171 - Metro won't cut bus service after all
149 - Historic health care bill clears Senate hurdle
95 - New Husky recruit: Enes Kanter
94 - Tattoos at Mill Creek Church pierce skin, soul
83 - Middleton says Huskies "plan on scoring at least 50 points'' Saturday
78 - Jerry Brewer: Seahawks can't lean on the Hutch Crutch now
73 - UW, WSU once again meet to see who's worse
66
- Sprouts, raw fish on attorney's 'do not eat' list
- Tattoos at Mill Creek church pierce skin, soul
- Illegal workers quietly let go
- Food-safety lawyer's wish: Put me out of business
- Architects, chefs find 'kid' within to build Gingerbread Village
- Rediscovering Moab, 'the most beautiful place on Earth'
- It's possible to recover a life lost to hoarding
- Child-support error costs nearly $21,000
- 'The Road' takes Viggo Mortensen to Mount St. Helens and Astoria, Ore.
- Taste | The Great Pie Bake-off pits friends and fruit





