Product Description
The first performance of the Trilogy Sonata was given by the arranger and pianist Paul Barnes on 19 April 2001. The Sonata consists of transcriptions from the trilogy of 'portrait' operas by Philip Glass. Einstein on the Beach (1976), Satyagraha (1980), and Akhnaten (1984). Suitable for advanced pianists. ... Read more

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Qigong is a traditional Chinese movement practice that is most often done to maintain health or to relieve specific illnesses. Here, Sat Chuen Hon, a master teacher and practitioner of traditional Chinese medicine and Taoist healing arts, presents a system of six gentle yet invigorating exercises, along with complementary meditations and vocalizations, which can improve overall health and increase energy. Hon includes both the physical exercises and the accompanying meditations and vocalizations, which deepen the healing effects of the practices.

Hon is a warm and humorous guide who makes the practice and philosophy of qigong accessible and relevant. The text includes step-by-step illustrations and is sprinkled with stories and anecdotes from the author's twenty-two years of practice. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (17)

Excellent book
Sat is a real master.

The content of this book is EXCELLENT, although the delivery is not the most exciting.

But put the knowledge into actions, there lies the excitement.

I can't help but laugh at the person who gave the book one star.

The sentence "It's not qigong in the strictest sense" is what tickled my funny bone.It reminded me of a Taoist parable.

Student: Master, how long will it take for me to learn qigong?

Master:perhaps 5 years.

Student:But what if I practice really hard!?!?!

Master: in that case, perhaps 10 years.

There is no strict sense of qigong. Otherwise, it wouldn't be qigong.

Jonathan

From Heart To Heart
This book goes deep into the heart. The stories are impressive, I cried many times reading them, somehow they touched my own experience. How wonderful to learn with stories! You learn a lot without even knowing that you're learning.

6 healing sounds
I used to believe that the healing sounds were an adjunct of the more physical components of taoist qigong,and didn't see much use for them.Now that I have begun to regularly use the healing sounds,I realize that it is the other way around. Both the physical and the internal are necessary,but by using the healing sounds and visual techniques,you eventually clear the fields to the point that you have a greater understanding of the physical,and more energy to implement the physical, and your psyche begins to clear of blockages you didn't even know you had. I became stronger and healthier after using the 6 healing sounds, and that was with less of the more physical qigong. In fact,I made much greater progress approaching the art from a more internal perspective.I just felt lighter and healthier.When your yin ( - earth polarity) begins to sink back down towards your huy yin cavity, which has become yang + polarity,it shifts that yang back up to the hundred meetings point where it belongs,your negative and positive body polarities back where they were at birth,causing a complete circulation of energy like a magnet circulating between it's poles (a true kundalini that does not lose energy,but circulates) .True, the more physical qigong provides a good base,but only once you begin to understand biofields and energy dynamics within your body can you begin to make true progress towards happy health,not just strong outer,rotting inner.

Pretty Interesting Stuff
The title may be a bit off, as this is a book on Taoist healing sounds, which can be used to supplement Qi Gong practice. A large chunk of this book is anecdotes relating various incidents pertaining to the author, and his Qi Gong practice, while the instruction in itself is pretty simple, and doesn't take long to explain.

However, the practice is helpful, and will definitely give your regular Qi Gong routine a positive boost.

On the higher branches of the therapeutic qigong tree
... grow the six healing sounds (that was just to get your attention - they might be the roots). This is unique amoung books on qigong. Not only because of the way it is written, but also because the subject matter is one which Master Hon has researched and used more seriously than many others. Here, the practice of qigong is rounded out, so to speak.
The book is written in a way that shows a complete understanding of the nature of qigong: the theory and the intentionally abstruse nature of much traditional writing on Taoist practice is handed to you here in a digestible form without compromising anything. Many contemporary books on Qigong are packed with information and diagrams and photos, but can't be easily used or they haven't been fully understood by the heart-mind of the author. In this book, you see that true understanding.
While the Tao can be expressed in extremely complex and sophisticated ways, it is, as it really is, as simple as the uncarved block -- as dull as the old baby who wrote that famous book.
The stories Master Hon tells of his own experiences both here and in China are both homey and sophisticated. The folk wisdom is checked against Qigong theory and applied to modern living. This is a book in our language and for all times.
Concerning the subject matter, it is a serious study of the qigong branch called the Six Healing Sounds, which forms the body of the book. Master Hon opens the way for us to have a very deep understanding of TCM in general through the particular (the Sounds). He has used, taught and tested the Healing Sounds in clinical practice and provides detailed instruction on their execution.
I URGE those who wrote negatively-critical reviews of this book to just pick one of the healings sounds and learn it. Practice it for a week and see what happens. This qigong is very effective medicine/therapy/love potion or whatever else one needs. This book is out there to help us.

... Read more

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A solo organ piece by the innovative North American composer Philip Glass.

... Read more

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Encapsulating 143 exhibitions with illustrations of work by 77 of the over 800 artists who participated, Perspectives@25: A Quarter Century of New Art in Houston celebrates the 25th anniversary of the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston's Perspectives series (one of the first in the U.S. to focus on contemporary art developments). In this beautifully designed and lavishly illustrated book, art lovers learn about an important aspect of the history of the Houston contemporary art scene, while scholars gain insight into the history of the contemporary exhibition through a series of texts: essays, facts, reminiscences, and anecdotes. Also included is a complete list of all artists who have exhibited their work at Perspectives, and an illustrated chronology documenting the series and its exhibitions.Essays by Valerie Cassel Oliver, Chuck Close, Nayland Blake, Cheryl Brutvan, Peter Doroshenko, Lynn Herbert, Marti Mayo, Paola Morsiani,Theresa Papanikolas, Emily Todd, Stephanie Smith and Marilyn A. Zeitlin.Paperback, 6.5 x 9.5 in./208 pgs / 82 color and 72 b&w. ... Read more

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Webster's bibliographic and event-based timelines are comprehensive in scope, covering virtually all topics, geographic locations and people. They do so from a linguistic point of view, and in the case of this book, the focus is on "Philip Glass," including when used in literature (e.g. all authors that might have Philip Glass in their name). As such, this book represents the largest compilation of timeline events associated with Philip Glass when it is used in proper noun form. Webster's timelines cover bibliographic citations, patented inventions, as well as non-conventional and alternative meanings which capture ambiguities in usage. These furthermore cover all parts of speech (possessive, institutional usage, geographic usage) and contexts, including pop culture, the arts, social sciences (linguistics, history, geography, economics, sociology, political science), business, computer science, literature, law, medicine, psychology, mathematics, chemistry, physics, biology and other physical sciences. This "data dump" results in a comprehensive set of entries for a bibliographic and/or event-based timeline on the proper name Philip Glass, since editorial decisions to include or exclude events is purely a linguistic process. The resulting entries are used under license or with permission, used under "fair use" conditions, used in agreement with the original authors, or are in the public domain. ... Read more

Product Description
This book offers the most detailed account so far of the early works of these four minimalist composers, putting extensive discussion of the music into a biographical perspective. The true musical minimalism of the 1960s and early 1970s is placed in the wider context of their music as a whole, and considered within the cultural conditions of the period, which saw not only the rise of minimalism in the fine arts but also crucial changes in the theory and practice of musical composition in the Western cultivated tradition. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

makes you ponder what this was all about
The phenomenon of minimalist music I think is better understood from its initial stages, for after market popularity sets in the theoretical fascinations seem to dissipate, seem to become rationalized away as unimportant and cumbersome. If you take all four praticioners here, to my mind only their early works seem to hold any interest at all,it is only the only works that have a "longevity" factor, where we can still find points of interests. For it was in the early works that carried the weight into what we have now.
Musical minimalism as well is a kind of misnomer in that the term began in the visual arts and if you go there you will find the term and its results and achievments has a much more vigorous base of contemplation and export. There simply is more important things happening there, as Donald Judd,the minimalist shrine of cubes and geometric shapes in an old Army base in Marfa Texas or the flourescent lighting schemes of Dan Flavin, the powerful sculptural plates of Richard Serra,or painters abound as Ellsworth Kelly, Frank Stella and Bridget Riley. There simply is no comparison with the level of conceptual depth and gestural focus, what art is suppose to do, what it did, and how the concept is engaged,and how it responds to its context and art history,or a temporality (how for instance the spirit, ir-religious of course is engaged in Richard Serra, his plates where the human mind simply stands there engaged in peace with his own existence or sense of space and time). Musical minimalism has no equivalent, and it is a shame for it could have had this. La Monte Young's "Well-Tuned Piano", a 9 hour work with just intonation tunings of the piano comes close to the temporal vigours of Judd's shrine I beleive.
With the introduction of opera in the works of Glass well now we are in another dimension, for Glass resorted to traditional classical structures of opera, duets, trios, quartets, (as in Aknathen) this is no longer innovative means. Potter's book draws light on this paradigm here makes you think of these issues what minimalism did and what it is now. Was it simply a fad?, or did it produce sustainable music?, music we can return to once or twice, or was minimalism simply "grist" for the mill of the market, one time, make the cash, take the money and run. Again the importance of minimalism is found in its early repertoire, Reich fascinating threadbare music for four woodblocks was all he needed to write to proclaim a status, or Glass's early music with Farfisa organs and saxophones,"Music in Fifths" or Riley's "In C", or his "Keyboard Studies" are all relevant pieces we can return to unpretenciously.

The late Morton Feldman is of course not here. He had intense knowledge of the visual arts world and his last works sought to reclaim this paradigm for music (his Second String Quartet, and Triadic Memories, For Chritian Wolff) are works scaling long durational lengths a place where minimalism in music seems to be now a beginning point not an end. Had Feldman lived I think he would have written even longer works. Of course Cage's massive work for organ now being realized in Halberstadt Germany, a work lasting years is also a step in the right direction.

music theory exposition, and history too
Potter's book will be best appreciated by those with a much better understanding of music theory than I.However, I learned something about the personal and musical history of so-called "minimalism."(Potter falls prey to some extent to the problem of reifying an abstraction -- having first grouped some things together into a category, then searching for the true meaning of the category.)Is there a torch passed, so to speak, from Young to Riley to Reich to Glass?Glass is the only one to adamantly deny it, but Potter documents the basis for seeing it just that way (including Reich's influence on Glass).

One aspect I am keen to know more about, but which Potter doesn't stress overly much, is the striking confluence of non-Western influences.Young and Riley are both disciples of the North Indian master singer, Pandit Pran Nath, who died in 1996.Reich studied both African drumming as well as the gamelan music of Bali.Glass studied Indian music, after being immersed in serialism.With the European "classical" tradition at an impasse at the turn of the millennium, it seems only natural that the future would lie in creative fusions and combinationswith other traditions.(Not a very original idea, I realize, as evidenced by the recent emphasis of the Kronos Quartet among others.)Minimalism seems by now to be another style that passed into history and critical assessments -- is there an opening there that is being missed? ... Read more

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According to Buddhism, every human being has the potential to achieve profound and lasting happiness. And according to the tantric teachings of Buddhism, this remarkable transformation can be realized very quickly if we utilize all aspects of our human energy, especially the energy of our desires. Introduction to Tantra is the best available clarification of a subject that is often misunderstood. This new edition of the classic text includes a new foreword by Philip Glass and new cover art, but leaves untouched Lama Yeshe's excellent original text, edited by Jonathan Landaw. Tantra recognizes that the powerful energy aroused by our desire is an indispensable resource for the spiritual path. It is precisely because our lives are so inseparably linked with desire that we must make use of desire's tremendous energy not just for pleasure, but to transform our lives. Lama Yeshe presents tantra as a practice leading to joy and self-discovery, with a vision of reality that is simple, clear, and extremely relevant to 21st-century life. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (20)

Introduction to Tantra
Lama Yeshe explains Tantra practice is his normal light-hearted and informative way.He is able to clearly introduce an otherwise difficult subject.Loved it.Plan to read again and then keep it for a reference.

Wonderful book on Yoga Tantra
The book is very well written. The author is very sincere and the writing shows that it is author's true experience. The book flows very well. A diffcult and complex subject is dealt in a very elegant style with authority. I loved the book.

Outstanding introduction to Buddhist Tantra
Lama Yeshe's book is a straightforward, succinct, and engaging overview of the Tantric Buddhist path and its practice. The author's view is that contemporary Westerners are no less suited to this path than the historic Tibetan Buddhist heroes and heroines of the past.

There are two main styles of presenting Dharma. One is `scripture'--a historical text plus commentary by a subsequent teacher or teachers; the other is a compilation of transcribed oral teachings by contemporary Lamas. This volume, like the shorter writings of Tarthang Tulku and the works of Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche, is a collection of the author's teachings, edited by his students.

The presentation is exceptionally warm and clear, unfailingly cheerful and encouraging about the possibility of practice. There are however explicit warnings about the need for the guidance of a qualified Lama.

The best book on Tantra
First, this book is easy to read. Second, it is written with much respect to other religions; tantra is a way of life that will greatly compliment anyone's belief system.

Incredibly insightful book
I've read two and a half chapters in this book and it's given me so much vital information.

I highly suggest it to anyone looking into buddhism. ... Read more

Product Description
Chapters: Philip Glass, Steve Reich, Terry Riley, Louis Andriessen, Luciano Berio, Michael Nyman, John Zorn, Arvo Pärt, La Monte Young, Bradley Joseph, Django Bates, Juan María Solare, Egberto Gismonti, William Susman, Frans Geysen, Meredith Monk, Rhys Chatham, Hans-Jürgen Von Bose, Wim Mertens, Henry Flynt, Anomie Belle, Joe Jones, John Mcguire, Gunther Schuller, Charlemagne Palestine, Craig First, Carlos Stella, Michael Harrison, Jacob Isaacson, Carlo Forlivesi, Scott Johnson, Andrew Poppy, Catherine Christer Hennix, Sylvie Courvoisier, Obsil, László Vidovszky, Ezequiel Viñao, Jocelyn Morlock, Helen Chadwick. Source: Wikipedia. Pages: 272. Not illustrated. Free updates online. Purchase includes a free trial membership in the publisher's book club where you can select from more than a million books without charge. Excerpt: John Zorn (born September 2, 1953 in New York City) is an American avant-garde composer, arranger, record producer, saxophonist and multi-instrumentalist. Zorn's recorded output is prolific with hundreds of album credits as a performer, composer, or producer. His work has touched on a wide range of musical genres, often within a single composition, but he is best-known for his avant-garde, jazz, improvised and contemporary classical music. Zorn has led the punk jazz band Naked City, the klezmer-influenced quartet Masada and composed the associated 'Masada Songbooks', written concert music for classical ensembles, and produced music for film and documentary. Zorn has stated that "I've got an incredibly short attention span. My music is jam-packed with information that is changing very fast... All the various styles are organically connected to one another. I'm an additive person - the entire storehouse of my knowledge informs everything I do. People are so obsessed with the surface that they can't see the connections, but they are there." After releasing albums on several independent US and European labels,...More: http://booksllc.net/?id=86018 ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

turn turn turn
ever since i saw philip glass play a mesmerising solo piano concert at the southbank centre in london, i've been keeping an eye out for any transcriptions of his work.
i have long been a fan of his soundtracks since the first time i saw koyaanasqatsi.
i play all the pieces in this book and i found the best way to deal with the frequent page turning is to memorise them.
it helps to listen to his recording of these works as well.
you don't need a formidable technique to play these pieces but watch out for rsi/oos with all those repetitive hand movements.

Excellent, with a few caveats
For anyone who has wanted to play Philip Glass piano music, this is theonly thing I know of available. The music itself is excellent. Glasscomposed this music in his usual minimalist style, and this music offersthe deceptively simple set of the Metamorphosis series, along with Mad Rushand Wichita Sutra Vortex. Some of the rhythms are reasonably challengingfor many piano students, as is the repetition in the left hand (killer onthe out of shape fingers, though!). My biggest complaint, however, is thebook itself does not lend itself very well to easy page turning. Themultitude of repeats throughout the music makes it necessary to go througha lot of page turning. To make a page stay open is nearly an impossibletask. It's almost necessary to make a copy of the music just to have themusic in a format where the pages can easily be turned. ... Read more

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High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! Philip Morris Glass (born January 31, 1937) is an American music composer. He is considered one of the most influential composers of the late 20th century and is widely acknowledged as a composer who has brought art music to the public (along with precursors such as Richard Strauss, Kurt Weill and Leonard Bernstein). Although his music is often, though controversially, described as minimalist, he distances himself from this label, describing himself instead as a composer of "music with repetitive structures." ... Read more