Gems of Exquisite Beauty


Book Description

In the decades leading up to the Civil War, most Americans probably encountered European classical music primarily through hymn tunes. Hymnody was the most popular and commercially successful genre of the antebellum period in the United States, and the unquenchable thirst for new tunes to sing led to a phenomenon largely forgotten today: in their search for fresh material, editors lifted hundreds of tunes from the works of major classical composers to use as settings of psalms and hymns. The few that remain popular today millions have sung "Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee" to Beethoven and "Hark, The Herald Angels Sing" to Mendelssohn are vestiges of one of the most distinctive trends in antebellum music-making. Gems of Exquisite Beauty is the first in-depth study of the historical rise and fall of this adaptation practice, its artistic achievements, and its place in nineteenth-century American musical life. It traces the contributions of pioneering figures like Arthur Clifton and the impact of bestsellers like the Handel and Haydn Society Collection, which helped turn Lowell Mason into America's most influential musician. By telling the tales of these hymns and those who brought them into the world, author Peter Mercer-Taylor reveals a central part of the history of how the American public first came to meet and creatively engage with Europe's rich musical practices.




Gems of Exquisite Beauty


Book Description

In the antebellum period, most Americans first encountered European classical music through hundreds of hymn tunes that tapped into classical melodies. This book is the first in-depth study of the rise and fall of these popular, but largely overlooked, adaptations and their place in nineteenth-century American musical life.




Gems of Exquisite Beauty


Book Description

In the decades leading up to the Civil War, most Americans probably encountered European classical music primarily through hymn tunes. Hymnody was the most popular and commercially successful genre of the antebellum period in the United States, and the unquenchable thirst for new tunes to sing led to a phenomenon largely forgotten today: in their search for fresh material, editors lifted hundreds of tunes from the works of major classical composers to use as settings of psalms and hymns. The few that remain popular today millions have sung "Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee" to Beethoven and "Hark, The Herald Angels Sing" to Mendelssohn are vestiges of one of the most distinctive trends in antebellum music-making. Gems of Exquisite Beauty is the first in-depth study of the historical rise and fall of this adaptation practice, its artistic achievements, and its place in nineteenth-century American musical life. It traces the contributions of pioneering figures like Arthur Clifton and the impact of bestsellers like the Handel and Haydn Society Collection, which helped turn Lowell Mason into America's most influential musician. By telling the tales of these hymns and those who brought them into the world, author Peter Mercer-Taylor reveals a central part of the history of how the American public first came to meet and creatively engage with Europe's rich musical practices.




Beautiful Creatures


Book Description

Creatures from the animal kingdom represented in exquisite jewelry by renowned masters Cartier, Bulgari, Tiffany & Co., JAR, Belperron, David Webb, Schlumberger, Boucheron, and many other brilliant jewelers. Many of the most imaginative designs by the world's great jewelry houses and artisans take inspiration from the animal kingdom. From Cartier's iconic panthers to Bulgari's snakes and JAR's butterflies, these spectacular objects dripping with precious stones are akin to wearable art. Beautiful Creatures depicts some of the most spectacular beasts ever transformed into sparkling treasures and accompanies a forthcoming special exhibition in the American Museum of Natural History's Allison and Roberto Mignone Halls of Gems and Minerals. The 120 pieces featured date from the mid-1800s to the present, representing species from the realms of land, air, and water. Gorgeous studio photography of the jewelry is complemented by images of iconic personalities, including Elizabeth Taylor, Twiggy, and the Duchess of Windsor wearing famous animal- inspired jewels. Guest curator Marion Fasel relays the stories behind the individual pieces through entertaining anecdotes and reveals the colorful histories and fascinating symbolism of these remarkable creatures in precious gems and metals that intrigue and delight and that we never tire of wearing.




Gems of Exquisite Beauty


Book Description

"This is not an autobiography. This book's central characters were in their graves decades before the Oklahoma in which I grew up-far from the American Northeast that was home to most of them-even achieved statehood. But the American musical journey I trace in these pages has stronger autobiographical overtones than we might expect"--




Beading with Cabochons


Book Description

With this gloriously photographed and illustrated manual at hand, beaders can create awe-inspiring jewelry. It's the only current, comprehensive guide to working with cabochons--a flat piece of rock or mineral--and it covers all the basics, along with a range of new creative techniques and hot trends. Find out which tools and materials to use, which beads work best, and how to wrap them round the stones. Craft turned, pointed, twisted, brick stitch, ruffled, or scalloped edges, or add decorative fringe. For something dramatic, combine more than one cabochon in a single piece. Or, instead of natural stone, use dichroic glass or other found objects. Make a glittering brooch, funky bracelets, a wearable art necklace, and other showstoppers.




The Smithsonian National Gem Collection—Unearthed


Book Description

The scandals, mysteries, and human stories behind the world’s greatest gems are brought to life by the curator of the Smithsonian’s National Gem Collection Dr. Jeffrey E. Post, curator of the National Gem Collection for more than 25 years, separates fact from fiction in an all-new and original book, revealing fresh information and regaling the reader with anecdotes and tales of some of the world’s greatest and most famous gemstones. Dr. Post is the author of the now out-of-print book The National Gem Collection (Abrams, 1997), which has sold more than 50,000 copies. In this brand-new book, he tells the stories of the Smithsonian’s most famous gems, including the Hope Diamond, Star of Asia Sapphire, Carmen Lucia Ruby, Hooker Emerald, and Blue Heart Diamond—and also presents the tales, details, and fascinating facts surrounding rarely displayed gems from the Smithsonian vault and additions made to the collection since 1997. Not only a resource for learning about rare and beautiful gems, the book also presents the stories of the people who once owned or were associated with these jewels—from ordinary people to kings, emperors, maharajas, celebrities, and captains of industry.




Wrapped in Gems


Book Description

"Learn to combine precious gemstones and wire-wrapping techniques to create, beautiful, wearable works of art"--From publisher description.




Gems


Book Description




RD Great American Road Trips Hidden Gems


Book Description

First-person accounts and gorgeous landscape photos paired with practical information and tips to help travelers make the most of their journeys through 39 special hidden gems found across the country. Discover the most beautiful places in America that you might never have heard of before. Hidden Gems features: engaging first-hand travel accounts; helpful advice about must-see spots, rest stops, and other ways to get the most out of your trip; and stunning images taken by many of America’s best scenic photographers. Some spots offer activities for the more adventurous, such as rafting or mountain biking; others include suggestions for the more leisurely traveler who wants to stop and take in the views by the roadside. The small towns and people you encounter along the way will certainly be memorable. This book will help you set the agenda for your next getaway. So, get ready to jump in the car or RV and share these experiences with the ones you love! From the Organ Pipe Cactus in Arizona and Sleeping Bear Dunes in Michigan to Gullah Geechee in South Carolina and Litchfield Hills in Connecticut, these lesser-known scenic spots are definitely worth exploring! List of locations: WEST -Chugach National Forest, Alaska -Channel Islands National Park, California -Devils Postpile National Monument, California -Shasta-Trinity National Forest, California -Camas Prairie Centennial Marsh, Idaho -Lost River Range and Lemhi Mountain Range, Idaho -Sawtooth National Recreation Area, Idaho -Valley of the Fire State Park, Nevada -Wallowa Lake State Park, Oregon -Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, Utah -Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, Washington -Bighorn Mountains, Wyoming SOUTHWEST -Chiricahua National Monument, Arizona -Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, Arizona -Verde Valley, Arizona -Northern Rio Grande, New Mexico -Palo Duro Canyon State Park, Texas MIDWEST -Silos & Smokestacks National Heritage Area, Iowa -Flint Hills (Flint Hills Scenic Byway), Kansas -Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, Michigan -Arrowhead Region, Minnesota -Pipestone National Monument, Minnesota -Door County, Wisconsin -Iron and Ashland Counties, Wisconsin SOUTHEAST -Alabama's Coastal Connection Scenic Byway, Alabama -Newton County, Arkansas -Wakulla Springs, Florida -Red River Gorge Geological Area, Kentucky -Atchafalaya Basin, Louisiana -Cataloochee Valley, North Carolina -Linville Gorge Wilderness, North Carolina -Gullah Geechee, South Carolina -Burke's Garden, Virginia -Appalachian Forest National Heritage Area, West Virginia and Maryland NORTHEAST -Litchfield Hills, Connecticut -Birch Hill State Wildlife Area, Massachusetts -Tully Lake Recreation Area, Massachusetts -The Great Swamp, New York -Pine Creek Gorge, Pennsylvania