EG Books

Phrygian mode existed long before jazz and pianos did! This book is an excellent introduction to improvisation, but it does require a lot of work. The scales are already written out for you so half of the battle is over. Everything is presented in a methodical and progressive manner. I find the chord suggestions simply brilliant! A must have for any pianist! Any pianist who wants to enter the creative process that is!

Hasui sings to me, whispers to me. I can feel the drizzle on my skin after looking at his work. Dr Brown captures that and a lot more. He has an expert's eye on a subject so often ignored and more than anything else, I appreciate his decision to publish a much needed volume on hasui. I've had the unique pleasure of taking a class under Dr. Brown and his easy demeanour beats the perception his authority on hasui might create. He brings a similar ease to his book. It talks to the experienced hasui collector, the enthusiastic student or just someone plain curious. His insight, although pretty unchallenged, is still quite enlightening and authoritative due to his empathy with the subject and its background and his experience as such. It was about time someone explored Hasui in words and we are lucky to read it in Dr. brown's words.

A pretty awesome book. As the title indicates, the book contains many of Kuniyoshi's warrior prints. Has a nice brief biography of Kuniyoshi, followed by a discussion of some of his favorite subjects used in his woodblock prints. Contains 66 full-page plates, many of which are triptychs. An invaluable complete catalog of Kuniyoshi's work starts the second part of the book. The catalog is divided into two parts - single sheet prints in series, and triptychs and diptychs. Many smaller B&W prints have been reproduced in this section as well. Sample signatures of Kuniyoshi, a respectable bibliography, and a very useful and informative index of characters portrayed in the prints round up this stirring book. The only regret is that the reproduced plates in the first part of the book are not wholly in color. The book gives us two facing pages of color reproductions followed by two facing pages of B&W reproductions, in alternating sequence. How much more powerful and wonderful the book would have been if all the plates were in color!! I would have happily paid for the extra cost of the book necessary to print the additional plates in full color. Still, this is an impressive scholarship on one of Japan's most accomplished woodblock print artists.

This is a beautiful book from Oxford Press, with tons of illustrations of partimento fugues. This is the method by which many Baroque composers taught students composition and improvisation, and these are a set of pieces to do this with. This was the only method that Bach used, according to his sons. The book is expensive, but then it probably doesn't have a huge audience. I am currently working through it and have found it very useful and fun.

This is a wonderful catalogue raisonne of American realist Robert Riggs' lithograpy. His pugilist prints are among the most lyrical, beautiful examples of the boxing tradition in the United States. His socially conscious subjects are sensitive, touching, and magnificently rendered. Ben Bassham has created a perfect record of this W.P.A. era artist.

Schroder writes in a professional and artistic way. She describes the art process in a very informative, educating as well as caring way both for the client as well as the therapist!As I was reading the book I wished it would not end and was eager for more and greater windows. Yet,in the end these windows become large and adequate to look ouside. Thank you.

Lorenz Hart is one of the finest lyricists in the history of American musical theater. He is largely responsible for elevating the process of writing lyrics into an art form. Before Hart, lyrics were usually trite and predictable with simplistic rhymes such as "I am blue, and so are you."

Hart wrote lyrics that are cerebral and sophisticated. His compositions are infused with wit and wisdom. He used complex rhymes. An example from "My Funny Valentine": "Your looks are laughable, unphotographable. Yet you're my favorite work of art. Is your figure less than Greek? Is your mouth a little weak? When you open it to speak, are you smart?"

Another example from "Bewitched": "I'm wild again, beguiled again, a whimpering simpering child again...." And yet another example from "Lady is a Tramp": "She gets too hungry for dinner at eight. She likes the theater but never comes late. She never bothers with people she hates. That's why the lady is a tramp."

Hart could be wistful and romantic as in "My Romance": "My romance doesn't need to have a moon in the sky. My romance doesn't need a blue lagoon standing by. No month of May. No twinkling star. No hideaway. No soft guitar."

Hart's lyrics are consistently observant and very often ingenious. They are the perfect match for the variety and intricacy of Richard Rodgers' superb music.

This biography is quite detailed with a number of amusing anecdotes. It is a must read for those who want to know more about this endearing, erratic, and gifted artist Lorenz Hart. His contributions to musical theater are profound and timeless.

Just like the Mack trucks of old, and what the reputation of the brand was built on, this book is top notch. The legendary E model Mack's lighter end of the scale is examined in detail with excellent photos showing factory fresh and working trucks. Excellent for anyone into modelling, dreaming of owning one or currently restoring a survivor. Some of the supplied model information is pretty basic but the pictures speak thousands of words. A fan of classic trucks will get a real kick out of this and will no doubt want to get the EH-ES photo archive to continue the journey through the E Model.

The photos in the copy I own seem to be printed a bit funny. They are still excellent but seem to have a kind of semi-gloss finish, almost facsimile look, to them. Odd when compared to other Iconografix books in this series but nothing to be too stressed about!

In 1996 I took my first Microsoft Certification Exam, Windows 95. I was shocked, this was the exam from hell. I was among the 70% of first time takers that flunked. The company I worked for would not reimburse the cost of a failed test, so my faiure also took $100.00 out of my pocket. A friend suggested the Sybex study guide to the exam. I not only learned more than I had taking the Microsoft course, I also learned the rationale behind the way a Microsoft test is constructed. I passed the W95 exam on the retake. Since then I have used Sybex study guides for all Microsoft Certifications. In fact, I have passed exams without ever having taken the course just by using these study guides, including this one. If you are an IT professional, and need to build a portfolio of Microsoft certifications, this is the best money you will ever spend.

I think one thing we can pretty much all agree on is what a PIA the Microsoft tests can be, and really, the 2008 update for the MCITP is no different. I got this book directly from the publisher and really enjoyed it. Aside from being a decent read, the book does a fantastic job of covering all the objectives. It really does recognize how odd the test is and serves as an excellent review for the subject. I'd recommend this book to anyone getting ready to take the exam looking for an in depth update on the subject.