Book description
The moving story of Rachmaninoff's years in exile and the composition of his last great work, against a cataclysmic backdrop of two world wars and personal tragedy.In 1940 Sergei Rachmaninoff, living in exile in America, broke his creative silence and composed a swan song to his Russian homeland. What happened in those final haunted years and how did he come to write his farewell masterpiece, the Symphonic Dances?Rachmaninoff left Petrograd in the throes of the Russian Revolution in 1917. He was 44 years old, at the peak of his powers as composer-conductor-performer, moving in elite Tsarist circles and running the family estate, his refuge and solace. He had already written the music which, today, has made him one of the most popular composers of all time: the second and third Piano Concertos and two symphonies. Reeling from the trauma of a life in upheaval, he wrote almost no music and quickly had to reinvent himself as a fêted virtuoso pianist, building up untold wealth and meeting the stars, from Walt Disney and Charlie Chaplin to his Russian contemporaries and polar opposites, Prokofiev and Stravinsky. Still, the melancholy of leaving his homeland never lifted.Using a wide range of sources, including important newly translated texts, Maddocks' immensely readable book conjures impressions of this enigmatic figure, his friends and the world he encountered. It explores his life as an emigré artist and how he clung to an Old Russia which no longer existed. That forging of past and present meets in his Symphonic Dances (1940), his last composition, written on Long Island shortly before his death in Beverly Hills, surrounded by a close-knit circle of Russian exiles.
RiddleRover
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Knight Light
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Risen
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Insane SweepKick
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Accidental Genius
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MicroStar
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Scuffs
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Demolition Queen
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Eight Patrol
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Lumberyard
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PixelPilgrim
Library organization has never been this easy. My audiobook collection is finally tidy. Sharing audiobooks through AirDrop is a wonderful way to share stories and connect with friends. Apple Watch compatibility enhances my audiobook experience. It's a convenient way to control playback.
ReiGnZ
I'm amazed at how this app has brought back the joy of reading into my daily routine – thank you! With this app, my audiobook library is organized and accessible, making my reading journey effortless. 🚗 Long road trips? No problem – this app keeps me entertained mile after mile! 🚙📚 My audiobook collection has never been more organized. Library management is a breeze. AirDrop sharing is a very convenient feature. Thanks, ListenBook!
Captain Peroxide
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AirportHobo XD
Audiobooks on this app have made my morning rituals something to look forward to. ListenBook's controls for looping and shuffling playback have made studying and revisiting content a breeze. Navigating through chapters is a breeze. It's like having a personal reading guide. ListenBook Pro's noise reduction feature has made my recordings sound clearer than ever. Good for background listening. I didn’t get fully immersed, but it was pleasant enough to have on while doing chores. The narrator’s voice was easy to listen to, even if the delivery lacked some energy.
DreamDasher
Audiobooks on demand – this app's functionality is a true technological gem. Finally, an app that supports all my audiobook formats! ListenBook is a game-changer.
Dark Burn
Sharing audiobooks with friends through AirDrop and Sharing on ListenBook Pro is a fantastic way to spread the joy of audiobooks. The audiobook player's silky-smooth playback is like music to my ears. Flawless performance! Automatic metadata retrieval adds a professional touch to my audiobook collection. ListenBook Pro's noise reduction feature enhances the audio quality to an impressive degree.
Feral Cookie
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Playing a wide variety of audio formats
Works on all devices with iOS 13 and newer
Huge amount of features for a small price
Frequent updates to add new features and improve existing ones
Advanced playback controls
Live sound processing
Changing the timbre of the reader's voice and noise reduction
Translated into more than 20 languages
If you love listening to fiction audiobooks, ListenBook has features to make the process easier.
Edit book data: title, author, cover
Use equalizer to make the sound comfortable for you
Adjust the playback speed
Enjoy dark and light app themes
Supported formats: MP3, M4B, AWB, FLAC, OGG audio files and many more (must be DRM free)
Auto-Bookmarks make it easy to find your place
AirPlay support allows redirection of audio output.
VoiceOver support
Dark mode for night owls
Convenient bookmarking system helps you mark the most important places.
Unlimited bookmarks for each audiobook
Put your own cover on the wager
Share your audiobook with friends
Lock-screen control
Customise app with extensive options
Sleep timer with shake to reset, set custom notification sounds, and a few unique options
Auto rewind depending on paused time, customize rewind times to your liking
Removing background noise from recordings made in classrooms and meetings
Changing the timbre of the reader's voice for a better listening experience