Musikk

Mapping Canadas Music is a selection of writings by the late Canadian music librarian and historian Helmut Kallmann (19222012). Most of the essays deal with aspects of Canadian music, but some are also autobiographical, including one written during retirement in which Kallmann recalls growing up in a middle-class Jewish family in 1930s Berlin under the spectre of Nazism. Of the seventeen selected writings by Kallmann, five have never before been published; many of the others are from difficult-to-locate sources. They include critical and research essays, reports, reflections, and memoirs. Each chapter is prefaced with an introduction by the editors. Two initial chapters offer a biography of Kallmann and an assessment of his contributions to Canadian music. The variety, breadth, and scope of these writings confirm Kallmanns pioneering role in Canadian music research and the importance of his legacy to the cultural life of his adopted country. In the current climate of cuts to archival collections and services, the publication of these essays by and about a pre-eminent collector and historian serves as a timely reminder of the importance of cultural memory.

Look Wot I Dun is the story of Slade told through the eyes of drummer Don Powell whose life was shattered when, in 1973 at the height of the group's fame, he was involved in a horrific car crash. Unflinching in his honesty, Powell deals frankly with the aftermath of the accident that took the life of his girlfriend and left him with injuries that affect him to this day. Leader of the glam rock movement, Slade was the UK's biggest singles band from 1971 to 1974. Their many hits have become rock standards, not least of which was Merry Christmas Everybody, arguably Britain's all-time favorite Christmas song. This previously published book is now brought up to date in paperback format with an additional chapter from Don, detailing his touring activity over the last seven years, since the original release of his book in hardback.