Listening for America
Inside the Great American Songbook from Gershwin to Sondheim

First, a recommendation to anyone reading: I found it most useful to listen to the focal song for a chapter at least twice before reading. The first time just to hear it; the second time to actually focus in on what the music was doing in each section. Even as someone with no formal knowledge, havin......more

This was not what I was hoping it was, to be honest. I wanted a survey of the Great American Songbook, not unlike the one that NPR published in "guidebook" form some years ago. Instead this book is a deep dive into the musical mechanics of about a dozen specific songs, with a lot of technical musica......more

A really fascinating look into American history through the golden age (and then some) of the Broadway musical. Kapilow takes fourteen songs, two each from seven prominent composers, and devotes a chapter to each. Every chapter starts with some historical context, including in varying amounts: biogr......more

First I would like to state that I have received this book through goodreads giveaway in exchange for an honest review. I would like to thank the author for giving me this opportunity and honor in being able to read this book. When I received this book I began reading it at once. This book was a ver......more