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Refiner's Fire

The Academy of Ancient Music and The Historical Performance Revolution
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Refiner's Fire by Richard Bratby delves into the world of classical music and its cultural significance. The book guides readers through key moments and themes in musical history, exploring how these elements continue to shape our cultural landscape today. With a rich narrative, it offers an enlightening perspective on the transformative power of music.
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Format: Hardback
$5999
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This book may appeal to you if you have a passion for classical music and a curiosity about the life and works of composers within this world. Written by a seasoned critic, it offers an insightful and nuanced exploration of how music has been shaped over time, bringing history to life with engaging narratives and artistic analysis.

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Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Founded in 1973 by conductor Christopher Hogwood with the aim of energising baroque and classical music, the Academy of Ancient Music heralded a revolution in the way orchestral music is performed.

During the 1970s and 80s, the Academy surfed the digital boom in recorded music with unprecedented success, lifting period instrument performance from the fringes of 1960s counterculture and putting baroque music into the pop charts. As the classical record industry faded and 1970s radicals became the 1990s establishment, the AAM faced a new challenge: reinventing itself to meet the artistic, social, and economic conditions of a musical world transformed by its own revolutionary achievement.

Refiner's Fire is the first full-length narrative history of a British period-instrument orchestraβ€”a comprehensive account of how this influential ensemble came into being, achieved global fame, and then remade itself, securing a future and a purpose beyond the retirement of its charismatic founder. Richard Bratby has interviewed many of those who played a role in the Academy’s foundation and progress, using their accounts to tell the orchestra’s story for the very first time.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Refiner’s Fire by Richard Bratby has been praised for its engaging and insightful chronicle of the Academy of Ancient Music's 50-year journey. Critics highlight Bratby's use of rich archival material and interviews, offering a vivid portrayal of the ensemble's influential role in the classical music world. The narrative has been described as both uplifting and filled with anecdotes, providing a detailed look at the achievements and challenges of this pioneering group.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781783967605

Publisher: Elliott & Thompson Limited

Format: Hardback

Date Published: 19 October 2023

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Elliott & Thompson Limited

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Width: 156.0mm

Height: 234.0mm

Weight: 250g

Pages: 256

About the Author

Richard Bratby is a critic for The Spectator, Gramophone, BachtrackΒ and The Birmingham Post, and writes on music for the BBC, the Salzburg Festival and concert promoters around the world. Formerly an orchestral cellist in the now-defunct Sri Lanka Philharmonic, he worked as concerts manager for the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, and later the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, where he founded and managed the CBSO Youth Orchestra. His books include Forward: 100 Years of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra ("a gem": The Oldie)Β and Classical Music: An Illustrated History. Born in Wirral, he now lives in Lichfield with his wife the theatre historian Dr Annette Rubery, as well as their cat Rusty and a collection of miniature steam locomotives.

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