A new understanding of the post World War II era, showing what occurred when the British Empire wouldn’t step aside for the rising American superpower—with global insights for today. An enduring myth of the twentieth century is that the United States rapidly became a superpower in the years after World War II, when the British Empire—the greatest in history—was too wounded to maintain a global presence. In fact, Derek Leebaert argues in Grand Improvisation, the idea that a traditionally insular United States suddenly transformed itself into the leader of the free world is illusory, as is the notion that the British colossus was compelled to retreat. The United States and the U.K. had a dozen abrasive years until Washington issued a “declaration of independence” from British influence. Only then did America explicitly assume leadership of the world order just taking shape. Leebaert’s character-driven narrative shows such figures as Churchill, Truman, Eisenhower, and Kennan in an entirely new light, while unveiling players of at least equal weight on pivotal events. Little unfolded as historians believe: the Truman Doctrine and the Marshall Plan; the Korean War; America’s descent into Vietnam. Instead, we see nonstop U.S. improvisation until America finally lost all caution and embraced obligations worldwide, a burden we bear today. Understanding all of this properly is vital to understanding the rise and fall of superpowers, why we’re now skeptical of commitments overseas, how the Middle East plunged into disorder, why Europe is fracturing, what China intends—and the ongoing perils to the U.S. world role.
In this dazzling work of history, a Pulitzer Prize-winning author follows Benjamin Franklin to France for the crowning achievement of his career In December of 1776 a small boat delivered an old man to France.
Abt Vogler's Choral-System (Copenhagen: Christensen, 1800), 104– 105. 9. Program given in Grave, In Praise of Harmony, 229–30. For further details about his organ programs and concerts, as well as the political tension with north German ...
By placing key theoretical and classic texts in conversation with cutting-edge research and artists’ statements, this book answers the urgent questions facing improvising artists and theorists in the mediatized Twenty-First Century.
Continuing the trend-watching of Technology 2001, which discussed the technologies that could well define the computing and communications environment that lies ahead, The Future of Software assembles the observations of leading computer ...
... coauthor of (Re)Positioning Site-Dance (Intellect, forthcoming 2019) with Melanie Kloetzel (Canada) and Karen Barbour (New Zealand). Dimitris Karalis studied music at the Ateneum Conservatory (flute class of Stella Gadedi) and Nakas ...
In The Triumph of Improvisation, James Graham Wilson takes a long view of the end of the Cold War, from the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in December 1979 to Operation Desert Storm in January 1991.
The contributors to this volume are prime movers in major industries that are remaking themselves in order to shape the global marketplace.
Grand Rapids and Cambridge: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1999.Durant, Alan. “Improvisation in the Political Economy of Music.” In Music and the Politics of Culture. Christopher Norris, ed. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1989. 252–281.
This book delves into the "collective genius" of Grand Union and explores their process of deep play. Drawing on hours of archival videotapes, Wendy Perron seeks to understand the ebb and flow of the performances. Includes 65 photographs.
( For more on the practical side of gigging , check out The Pro Keyboardist's Handbook by Jon Dryden , published by Workshop Arts / Alfred Publishing . ) The main point is that performing in front of an audience can be both gratifying ...