James Rhodes ist ein britischer klassischer Pianist, dessen Darbietungen von einer tiefen emotionalen Resonanz geprägt sind. Seine Interpretationen sind von einer Intensität und einem Gefühl durchdrungen, die aus seinen persönlichen Erfahrungen schöpfen. Rhodes bemüht sich, die klassische Musik einem breiteren Publikum zugänglich zu machen, indem er an unkonventionellen Orten auftritt und die Grenzen traditioneller Konzertsäle aufbricht. Sein musischer Ansatz ist nicht nur technisch brillant, sondern zutiefst menschlich und transformativ.
James Rhodes ist ein weltweit erfolgreicher Konzertpianist. Er ist ein leidenschaftlicher und jungenhaft cooler Musiker. Aber der Weg, der hinter ihm liegt, führte durch die Hölle. Über den Missbrauch in seiner Kindheit kann der aus England stammende Rhodes jahrzehntelang nicht sprechen. Er rettet sich in die Musik, lernt Klavier spielen – das hilft eine Weile, dann braucht er Drogen, Exzesse, das Gefühl von Schmerz. Die Erinnerung aber bleibt. Nach einem Suizidversuch landet er in der Psychiatrie und lernt dort zu erzählen. Er kehrt ans Klavier zurück, und diesmal bleibt er dran, wird süchtig nach der Musik. Seine Geschichte ist intensiv, rückhaltlos offen und ein Plädoyer für die klassische Musik.
James Rhodes' passion for music has been his absolute lifeline. It has been the thread that has held him together through a life that has encompassed abuse, breakdown and addiction. Listening to Rachmaninov on a loop as a traumatised teenager or discovering an Adagio by Bach while in a psychiatric ward - such exquisite miracles of musical genius have helped him survive his demons, and, along with a chance encounter with a stranger, inspired him to become the renowned concert pianist he is today. This is a memoir like no other: unapologetically candid, boldly outspoken and surprisingly funny - James' prose is shot through with an unexpectedly mordant wit, even at the darkest of moments. An impassioned tribute to the therapeutic powers of music, Instrumental also weaves in fascinating facts about how classical music actually works and about the extraordinary lives of some of the great composers. It explains why and how music has the potential to transform all of our lives.
1917 Pulitzer Prize?winner is widely regarded as one of the most outstanding studies ? and first unbiased history ? of the Civil War. "...very attractive volume." ? American Historical Review. Notes. 2 maps. Introduction.
"An accessible and inspiring guide by the pianist and international bestselling writer James Rhodes, who promises that this book gives anyone with two hands, a piano or an electric keyboard and just 45 minutes a day the tools they need to learn to play Bach's Prelude No. 1 in C Major in 6 weeks, even if they know nothing about music and have never even touched a piano before. How often do we convince ourselves that it's just too late - too late to learn how to ride a bike, too late to know how to meditate, too late to travel the world ... As we get older and time slips through our fingers like water, we become resigned, almost defeatist, about abandoning our dreams. For James Rhodes, after the inevitable "How many hours a day do you practice?" and "Show me your hands", the most common thing people say to him when they hear he's a pianist is "I used to play the piano as a kid. I really regret giving it up". Where does this mourned and misplaced creativity go? For Rhodes, it's still there to be tapped into by all of us, at any point. This inspirational book gives us the means to do this, by breaking up Bach's seminal Prelude No. 1 from the Well-Tempered Clavier into manageable segments, teaching us the basics of piano playing - how to read music, the difference between the treble and the bass clef, sharp and flat notes, how to practice etc.. - and encouraging personal interpretation in a way that is guaranteed to soothe the mind, feed the soul and unleash creative powers we didn't know we still had. All of this will culminate in an ability to perform one of Bach's masterpieces."--Publisher description
In a stunning and innovative performance, piano maestro James Rhodes introduces today’s readers to seven of the greatest composers of all time. Bach. Mozart. Beethoven. Old guys with curly wigs, right? But trust me: those composers were the original rock stars. Open your mind to some of the most breathtaking and magnificent pieces of music ever created, and find out why the rebels and revolutionaries who wrote them are responsible for every track on your phone today. Discover their backstories and how each one shaped and defined classical music. Learn about the structure of an orchestra, the language of music, and the history of musical periods. With jaw-dropping artwork and avant-garde design, this visually exquisite celebration of classical music is a surefire hit for both first-time listeners and longtime fans. Budding aficionados will appreciate the online playlist featuring James Rhodes’s favorite selections.
Discover seven of the world's greatest composers in this stunning introduction
to classical music by piano maestro and bestselling author James Rhodes.
Life is messy and imperfect for us all, and when your mind is on fire and you
feel like you're trapped in a terrifying blaze with no way out, sometimes the
only way is to embrace the fragility of the human condition.
Made in Spain es un testimonio sincero, unas veces agridulce y otras lleno de humor, que nos recuerda el poder de las segundas oportunidades. ¿Alguna vez has querido volver a empezar? Un nuevo comienzo, un nuevo hogar, una nueva familia. Una nueva vida... El pianista James Rhodes recrea en este libro el largo camino que hizo cuando decidió dejar atrás el drama que vivió en el Reino Unido y por fin logró encontrar su verdadero lugar en el mundo. Desde su llegada a España hasta su historia de amor (tanto por un país como por una mujer), pasando por su fascinación gastronómica ( nada que ver con la paella de Jamie Oliver ), las batallas políticas, la pena, el choque cultural y su descubrimiento de la lengua española, Rhodes nos lleva, página tras página, a través de un relato que es un auténtico canto a lo mejor de la vida. Necesitaba escribir este libro. Un viaje de la angustia a la felicidad. Una carta de amor al país que me ha regalado un hogar
