Books & CDs Holiday Haul

Subject: Books & CDs Holiday Haul
From: sian, west wales
Date: 14 Jan 09 - 10:58 AM

It occurred to me while reading some recent "Review" and books threads that many of us might have had some interesting books and CDs for Christmas (Yule/Kwanza/Hanukkah/etc). This doesn't count as 'Review' because I haven't read all the books I've had or listened closely to the CDs, but it might be nice just to hear what people got - music related, this being 'above the line' and all.

My Secret Santa - Animaterra - scored on both counts, having sent me the choir's (brand spanking new?) Seasonal CD which is a proper Corker! She also sent me "Eighty English Folk Songs from the Southern Appalachians: Collected by Cecil J Sharp and Maud Karpeles" which I keep on the sofa to browse through on these long and chilly nights.

Actually, the Animaterra CD was the only CD I had as a gift this season but I did buy myself, in Montreal, a nice CD by "Donat Essiambre" and, if my French doesn't completely fail me, his kids. Again, if I am not mistranslating, this fiddler from the Gaspe region is pushing 80 and has some really nice tunes at his beck and call.

Books-wise I got "This is Your Brain on Music" which I'll get stuck into once I finish Margaret Atwood's "Payback". Then after TIYBPM, I'll move on to the other music-related book under my tree, "Music as Social Life: The Politics of Participation".

So - how did you guys do? Anything else that I should be putting on my Wish List for the future?

sian

Subject: RE: Books & CDs Holiday Haul
From: katlaughing
Date: 14 Jan 09 - 11:06 AM

"This is Your Brain on Music" which I'll get stuck into once I finish Margaret Atwood's "Payback". Then after TIYBPM, I'll move on to the other music-related book under my tree, "Music as Social Life: The Politics of Participation".

Thanks for my new reading list!!

Jed Marum sent me both of his new CDs and they have several earworms which I love! (Posted more about them in his CD thread.)

Subject: RE: Books & CDs Holiday Haul
From: ClaireBear
Date: 14 Jan 09 - 12:38 PM

I bought myself two CD treats: June Tabor's Apples and the Seeger family's Christmas CD set, American Folk Songs for Christmas. Both were exactly what I expected them to be: Tabor's her usual breathtaking collection of vocal masterpieces, with top-notch, interesting accompaniment; the Seeger American collection utterly stark, simple, humble and honest, poignant in its lack of the usual, manipulative Christmas material or orchestration. Exactly what we wanted to listen to on Christmas morning.

Books: there were some, but I can't recall what they were just now. I haven't had a chance to even look inside! But I'll get back to you...

Subject: RE: Books & CDs Holiday Haul
From: Wesley S
Date: 14 Jan 09 - 01:26 PM

I got a DVD collection form the "Hootenanny" TV series of the early 1960's. I can't believe that we were ever that young - or ernest.

As far as books I got "Beetle the Bard" from JK Rowlings and "Inside Inside" by James Lipton - the host of "Inside The Actors Studio". That guy has led a facinating life.

For CD's my order of Sonny Terry and Brownie McGee just arrived. I'll crack it open on the way home tonight.

Subject: RE: Books & CDs Holiday Haul
From: sian, west wales
Date: 14 Jan 09 - 03:58 PM

There's a DVD of Hootenanny? Ummmmm - 'do I want to go there,' I ask myself ...

Yeh, kat, I sort of expect to pick up some new titles here as well, but I have soooo many to read before I buy anything new!

Claire, what sort of thing is on the American Christmas album then?

sian

Subject: RE: Books & CDs Holiday Haul
From: ClaireBear
Date: 14 Jan 09 - 07:46 PM

Sian, could I refer you to the (US) Amazon page for that product, instead of typing all the songs? It's a 2-CD set, so there are rather a lot of them (53!). Samples of all available for hearing, on the product page.

Not sure how long that page will keep working, as they're out of the CD set now, so look soon!

Cheers, Claire

Subject: RE: Books & CDs Holiday Haul
From: Anne Lister
Date: 15 Jan 09 - 02:56 AM

Well, a slight plug here for my godson, but we were given a copy of the brand new CD by the QP and it's great fun. They're a band of younger musicians in the Coventry/Leamington Spa area who play ceilidh music (and, on the album, some songs) and it's great to hear such verve and creativity. My godson is Matt Crum, who plays with Steam Chicken and Peeping Tom from time to time as well as his own jazz band, and his brother Joe is also in the QP. Most of the QP have parents who are also musicians, by the way.

As to books ... have just finished "The Book Thief" and was very moved by it. Also had books by Bill Bryson on Shakespeare and English usage, and "Widdershins" by Charles de Lint which are still to be read.

Anne

Subject: RE: Books & CDs Holiday Haul
From: ClaireBear
Date: 15 Jan 09 - 04:48 PM

Refresh

Subject: RE: Books & CDs Holiday Haul
From: sian, west wales
Date: 15 Jan 09 - 05:16 PM

Thanks for that list, Claire. I've added the collection to my Wish List. (This could prove to be an expensive thread.)

Anne, between parents and godparents, those kids didn't stand a chance, did they!? Mazal tov on the kids' good taste; my godson got a bassoon for Christmas so I can see I'll have a few bullets to dodge in the near future ...

I like Bryson's stuff. I also got Jeremy Paxton's history of the English people but it's very put-downable. I expected much better of him.

sian