Bach, Beethoven and the Boys chronicles the lives of the great (and not-so-great) composers as you've never read them before - exploring their sex lives, exposing their foibles and expanding our knowledge of these remarkable but also human creatures.

Bach, Beethoven, and the Boys

Humor & Entertainment

Barber, David W.

Humor

Sound And Vision

David W. Barber has delighted readers around the world with Accidentals on Purpose, When the Fat Lady Sings, and other internationally best-selling books of musical humor. His best-selling Bach, Beethoven and the Boys chronicles the lives of the great (and not-so-great) composers as you've never read them before--exploring their sex lives, exposing their foibles and expanding on our understanding of these all-too-human creatures. Filled with information, interesting facts, and trivia, this hilarious history covers music from Gregorian chant to the mess we're in now. From Bach's laundry lists to Beethoven's bowel problems, from Gesualdo's kinky fetishes to Cage's mushroom madness, Barber tells tales out of school that ought to be put back there (think how much more fun it would be if they taught this stuff). As always, Dave Donald had provided witty and clever cartoon illustrations to accompany the text. "My heartiest commendation for an admirable work of scholarship . . . I will not say again that it is funny, since this will compel you to set your jaw and dare Barber to make you laugh." ---Anthony Burgess, on Bach, Beethoven and the Boys.

Bach, Beethoven, and the Boys: Music History As It Ought to Be Taught (Indent Publishing)

Biographies & Memoirs

Arts & Literature

Alfred Music

A hilarious collection of musical definitions by David W. Barber, the internationally best-selling author of Bach, Beethoven and the Boys, When the Fat Lady Sings, and other internationally best-selling books of musical humor. An offbeat and irreverent compendium, from Aida to Zzzz. With a preface by Yehudi Menuhin and with illustrations by Dave Donald.

Accidentals on Purpose: A Musician's Dictionary (Indent Publishing)

David. W. Barber has delighted readers all around the world with the quirky definitions of Accidentals on Purpose, the irreverent history of Bach, Beethoven and the Boys, a hilariously offbeat history of dance and ballet in Tutus, Tights and Tiptoes, and a host of other internationally best-selling books of musical humor and literature. Chances are you've heard Handel's Messiah at least once, if not many times. Maybe you've even performed it, as have countless musicians around the world. After all, it's probably one of the best-loved, and certainly one of the best-known, works in the standard repertoire. But if you think you know all there is to know about the great composer's famous oratorio, think again. For example, it may surprise you to learn that: * Handel's first impulse to compose the work came not from religious or even musical inspiration. It had a whole lot more to do with money. * The very first performance of Messiah took place not in London, but in Dublin---and not with a huge choir and orchestra, but with only a relative handful of musicians. * Although church groups and clergy members now praise Messiah as an example of religious music at its best, Handel had to disguise his oratorio for its first performance in London, in order to sneak it past the prissy church authorities. * The Hallelujah chorus wasn't originally called that at all, but had a different (and much longer!) name. * Although Handel was proud of Messiah, he didn't think it was his best work. His favorite oratorio was one that hardly anyone has ever heard of, much less heard. All these and many more entertaining (and entirely true!) facts await your discovery as internationally best-selling author David W. Barber takes you on another delightful romp through the pages of music history---as it ought to be taught!

Getting a Handel on Messiah (Indent Publishing)

David. W. Barber has delighted readers all around the world with the quirky definitions of Accidentals on Purpose, the irreverent history of Bach, Beethoven and the Boys, a hilariously offbeat history of dance and ballet in Tutus, Tights and Tiptoes, and a host of other internationally best-selling books of musical humor and literature. With When the Fat Lady Sings, the popular author and musical humorist turns his attention to what Dr. Johnson called that "exotic and irrational entertainment," the world of opera. Here are stories of love and lust, jealousy, intrigue, murder, and tragic death---and that's just the stuff happening off stage, in the composers' personal lives. Wait till you read about the opera plots. Informal yet informative, witty yet wise, this book will both enlighten and entertain you. As always, Dave Donald has provided witty and clever cartoons that perfectly complement the text. "This is a very humorous book, but at the same time it tells it like it is, or was. David's not really fabricating anything, he just manages to give you the gist of the history while leaving out all the boring bits." ---Canadian contralto Maureen Forrester, from the Preface. "I must say I still adore opera. I know it is just as silly as Mr. Barber says it is, but I love it." ---Musical humorist Anna Russell, from the Foreword.

When the Fat Lady Sings: Opera History as It Ought to be Taught (Indent Publishing)

Not content with having hilariously skewered the lives of great composers in Bach, Beethoven and the Boys, in If It Ain't Baroque . . . musical humorist David W. Barber takes aim at their works as well. From symphonies to solo songs, from motets to madrigals to masses, Barber wittily yet informatively tells readers everything they need to know (and more!) about the various different genres of classical music (and if you're not sure what a genre is, don't worry---Barber will explain that too). As always, the facts are true and the information is accurate, it's just that Barber has a particularly wicked way of looking at things and a knack for finding out obscure facts and presenting them in a light-hearted way. So if you like to laugh while you learn, you've come to the right place. And again as always, Barber's clever prose is perfectly accompanied by the delightful illustrations of cartoonist Dave Donald.

If It Ain't Baroque: More Music History as It Ought to be Taught (Indent Publishing)

Bach, Beethoven and the Boys: Music History as it Ought to be Taught: 35TH-ANNIVERSARY EDITION (2021)

Indent Publishing

We All Have a Story: High Notes Avante Special Edition of Bach, Beethoven and the Boys

Arts & Photography

Music

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Books by Barber, David W.