Ethnic & International

Lili Marlene: The Soldiers' Song of World War II

The dramatic story of an iconic love song, its three creators, and their lives under the Nazis.

"Lili Marlene," the unlikely anthem of World War II, cut across front lines and ideological divides, uniting soldiers across the globe. This love song, telling the story of a young woman waiting for her lover to return from the battlefield, began as a poem written by a German soldier during World War I. The soldier-poet's words found their way to Berlin's decadent cabaret scene in the 1930s, where they were set to music by one of Hitler's favored composers. The song's singer, however, soon found herself torn between her desire for fame and a personal hatred of the Nazi regime. In a gripping and suspenseful narrative, the three artists' remarkable stories of arrests and close calls intertwine with the recollections of soldiers on all sides who fought their way through deserts and towns, seeking solace and finding hope in "Lili Marlene."

The Definitive Christmas Collection 3rd Edition

Over 110 classics: An Old Fashioned Christmas · Away in a Manger · Blue Christmas · The Chipmunk Song · Christmas Is · The Christmas Waltz · Do They Know It's Christmas · Feliz Navidad · The First Noel · The Greatest Gift of All · Happy Holiday · A Holly Jolly Christmas · Jingle-Bell Rock · Mister Santa · My Favorite Things · O Holy Night · Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer · Santa, Bring My Baby Back (To Me) · Silent Night · We Need a Little Christmas · more.

The higher price gets you a very large selection of holiday music (over 100 numbers) and a frustration-sparing spiral binding. The selection of music is pop oriented, with songs by George Michael, Neil Diamond, and Garth Brooks included. The exciting wild card here is a charming Percy Faith instrumental, "Brazilian Sleighbells." You also get the overlooked "Go Tell It on the Mountain." Skill level is generally moderate, with few of the key signatures going past one flat or sharp. Some guitar chord fingerings are offered; other songs have just the chord names, but most are quite simple. --William R. Braun

Set Your Voice Free: How To Get The Singing Or Speaking Voice You Want

For anyone who wants to turn his dreams of singing into reality, for anyone who is self-conscious about speaking or singing in public, for anyone who hates the sound of her own voice on the answering machines - SET YOUR VOICE FREE offers the solution. With innovative techniques and enjoyable exercises that have worked wonders with his professional clients, the internationally acclaimed vocal coach, Roger Love, demonstrates how to carry a tune, expand vocal range, and speak with ease, confidence, and effectiveness.The accompanying CD takes the reader step-by-step through essential breathing exercises and vocal routines.

Christmas Carols: Complete Verses (Dover Thrift Editions)

How to Play Djembe (Book/CD set)

This book is a complete, step-by-step, user friendly course on how to play djembe. Right from the start, in addition to learning how to make all the basic strokes, you'll be learning interlocking parts for some of the most popular West African rhythms; Kuku, Djole, Kassa, Madan, Suku, Sunguru Bani and Thiba. After working through only a few lessons, you'll be able to put the parts together and start playing these irresistible rhythms with your friends. The rhythms are written in simple charts, so no music reading is required. The CD that comes with the book gives you a chance to hear how each part sounds separately and how the parts for each rhythm fit together. It was recorded by John Camara, a master drummer from Bamako, Mali. Each rhythm lasts at least five minutes, so you'll have plenty of time to play along. And when John solos during the final three minutes of each track, you'll feel the thrill of playing your part along with an ensemble and lead drummer.

Flamenco Guitar Method Volume 1: Book/CD/DVD Pack

Gerhard Graf-Martinez is a passionate flamenco guitarist and teacher. The wealth of his knowledge is captured in this two-volume work, which also reflects valuable experience gained from his activities as a tutor at national and international seminars and workshops. The CD included with volume 1 contains all the pieces and musical examples for Volumes 1 and 2. Besides being a pure pleasure to listen to "Flamenco puro," it also conveys the authentic sound and the pulsating "compas" of this music. This is the only way to learn to play the music properly yourself. The DVD will take you to the passionate world of Flamenco, and you will quickly immerse yourself in this Spanish musical phenomenon.

Music as Medicine

Like a master calligrapher, Tibetan flutist Nawang Khechog deploys his flute with an economy of line and texture. Music as Medicine is the latest offering from Khechog, who has recorded with synthesist Kitaro and Native American flutist R. Carlos Nakai and last year cocomposed the score to the acclaimed documentary Tibet: Cry of the Snow Lion. On this album, he sets his flute up in gentle duets with Nakai and violinist Sandra Wong. Nawang and Nakai have been working together for years and their rapport is a study in nuance as they intertwine lines and play with space on "Harmony in Balance" and "Zen Blues." Music as Medicine is destined for your neighborhood yoga and massage studios, but listen a little deeper. Even though Khechog succumbs to pedestrian synthesizer pads on a few tracks like "Meditation," there's more here than soothing sounds and gentle ministrations. In a more innocent manner, Khechog is sculpting a profound psychological landscape similar to those of Stephan Micus and Meredith Monk. Like those artists, he has a sound that cuts directly to the source. --John Diliberto

Play the Songs That Inspired Mamma MIA!

Based on the music from the ever-popular Swedish pop group ABBA, this show tells three wonderful love stories of family and friends on a mythical Gree k island. Our folio features eight pages of color photos. Titles include: D ancing Queen * Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! * Mamma Mia * Honey, Honey * Money, Mon ey, Money * The Name of the Game * Super Trouper * Thank You for the Music * I Have a Dream * S.O.S. * Under Attack * The Winner Takes It All and many more.

Practical Method of Italian Singing: For Soprano or Tenor

American Routes: Songs and Stories From the Road

In his weekly radio program heard on NPR, folklorist Spitzer leads listeners on a lively journey through American music and the evolution of its many styles from A (avant-garde) to Z (zydeco).

Even in divisive times, there’s one thing about America everyone loves: its music. Produced in New Orleans, American Routes embraces and explores all kinds of American music: blues and jazz, gospel and soul, old-time country and rockabilly, Cajun and zydeco, Tejano and Latin, roots rock and pop, avant-garde and classical.

Each week, program host and creator Nick Spitzer talks with well-known artists, lesser-known studio musicians, and little-known buskers. Songs, stories, interviews, and conversations reveal the origins of American music, musicians, and cultures (the roots) and the many directions they have taken over time (the routes). The show pays tribute to historic heroes, celebrates great musicians of today, and hits the road, traveling from street parades to juke joints, bayous to beltways.

Featured segments include Dave Brubeck, Tom Waits, Dolly Parton, the Antique Radio Museum, Feufollet, and Jerry Garcia—a unique and vivid soundtrack to American life.