History Classical World

Dangerous Melodies vividly evokes a time when classical music stood at the center of American life, occupying a prominent place in the nation’s culture and politics. The work of renowned conductors, instrumentalists, and singers - and the activities of orchestras and opera companies - were intertwined with momentous international events: two world wars, the rise of fascism, and the Cold War.

Unlock the wonders of a bygone era with The Islamic Classical Age: The Pinnacle of Knowledge, Culture, and Innovation in the Muslim World. This captivating book delves into the Golden Age of Islam, a period from the 8th to the 14th centuries when the Muslim world became a beacon of intellectual and cultural achievement. Discover the groundbreaking contributions of legendary scholars like Al-Khwarizmi, Avicenna, and Al-Ghazali, whose works in science, medicine, and philosophy laid the groundwork for modern civilization.

What does classical music mean to the Western world? How has it transformed over the centuries? What relevance does it have today? Julian Johnson inspires readers to explore over 1,000 years of music and examines how music is related to some of the big ideas of Western experience, including spirituality, emotion, the weight of history, and self-identity.

In spring of 1953, newly elected President Eisenhower sat down with his staff to discuss the state of American strategy in the Cold War. America, he insisted, needed a new approach to an urgent situation. From this meeting emerged Eisenhower's teams of "bright young fellows", charged with developing competing policies, each of which would come to shape global politics.