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Music

Music speaks directly to your feelings and comes in many forms. For that reason Tales have selected some of the finest music books just for you. You can for example find a biography of your favorite music idol, but you can also find music theory books that will help you become your own musician. Whether you like rock, pop, musicals or classical music we have the books for you. Find your inner melody with a music book from Tales.
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  • by Johann Sebastian Bach
    £9.49

    Die 15 Inventionen, die nach wie vor zum grundlegenden Repertoire eines jeden Klavierunterrichts gehören, werden hier nach aktuellem Forschungsstand in modernem Notenstich vorgelegt. Auf der Grundlage von Bachs Autograph und seinem selbst verfassten Vorwort, bereinigt von Fingersätzen und Zusätzen aus Quellen zweiter Hand.

  • Save 16%
    by Edvard Grieg
    £15.99

    Die drei Violinsonaten von Edward Grieg nehmen eine wichtige Stellung im Schaffen des Komponisten ein. Zusammen mit seinen anderen Kammermusikwerken zeugen diese bemerkenswert originellen Sonaten von Griegs Fähigkeit, die klassisch-romantische Form wirkungsvoll durch norwegisches Nationalkolorit zu bereichern.

  • Save 20%
    by Ludwig van Beethoven
    £22.49

    Contents: Nos.16-32 Opp.31-111

  • Save 13%
    by Georg Friedrich Händel
    £12.99

    George Frideric Handel's most famous work, The Messiah in English. Comprises 11 versions, 1742-1754 (main text 1752) with keyboard reduction by Kurt Soldan and revised by Donald Burrows. The work is divided into three sections based on biblical texts. The first section deals with Old Testament prophecies of the birth of Christ, the second deals with the life of Jesus and the third part deals with redemption and resurrection.Messiah (Der Messias) HWV 56 (Klavierauszug)Georg Friedrich Händels berühmtestes Werk Der Messias, engl. Messiah, wurde 1742 in Dublin zu einer Wohltätigkeitsveranstaltung uraufgeführt und erfreut sich dank ihrer prachtvollen Gestaltung bis heute größter Beliebtheit. Das Werk teilt sich auf in drei Abschnitte, die auf biblischen Texten basieren. Der erste Abschnitt befasst sich mit alttestamentarischen Prophezeiungen der Geburt Christi, der zweite handelt vom Leben Jesu und der dritte Teil von Erlösung Auferstehung.

  • Save 10%
    by Johann Sebastian Bach
    £12.49

    The complete Flute Sonatas of J.S. Bach in two volumes. This first volume contains the Sonatas BWV 1030, 1031 and 1032 in an Urtext edition by Konrad Hampe. Cembalo (piano score) and separate flute part included. With a preface in English and German and critical report, the edition contains a convincing completion of the missing section from the A major Sonata BWV 1032.Flötensonaten, Band 1: BWV 1030-1032 für Flöte und Cembalo (Klavier)Bd.1 Sonaten h-Moll BWV 1030, Es-Dur BWV1031, A-Dur BWV 1032, Flöte und Klavier.

  • Save 23%
    by Olivier Roubin & Romuald Ollivier
    £34.49

    This first-of-its-kind catalog of Elton John's decades-long career tells the story of one of rock's all-time greatest artists, album-by-album and track-by-track.Organized chronologically and covering every album and song that Sir Elton Hercules John has ever released, Elton John All the Songs draws upon years of research to tell the behind-the-scenes stories of how each song was written, composed, and recorded, down to the instruments used and the people who played them. Spanning more than fifty-years of work from Elton and his longtime collaborator, Bernie Taupin, this book details the creative processes that resulted in seminal albums like Goodbye Yellowbrick Road, Madman Across the Water, and Tumbleweed Connection, as well as Academy Award wins for 1995's Lion King and 2020's Rocketman. Newer work like The Lockdown Sessions, which released in 2021, is also featured alongside Billboard stats, tour dates, producing and mixing credits, and other insider details that will keep fans turning pages. Starting with the artist's early days working as a studio musician in London, and featuring interviews with actors, musicians, collaborators, and confidantes, Elton John All the Songs offers readers the most detailed portrait of the artist and his creative process that has ever been produced. Featuring hundreds of vivid photographs that celebrate one of music's most visually arresting performers, Elton John All the Songs is the authoritative guide to one of rock'n'roll's greatest stars.

  • by Alexander Joseph Alexander & Brooks Chris Brooks
    £15.99

  • by Terumi Narushima
    £40.99 - 132.99

  • Save 10%
    by Jennifer Lucy Allan
    £8.99

  • Save 23%
    by Bob Stanley
    £15.49 - 18.99

  • Save 23%
    by Igor Levit
    £15.49

    Igor Levit ranks among the greatest pianists of his generation, described by The New York Times as 'one of the essential artists of our time'. But his influence reaches far beyond music: he uses his public platform to speak out against racism, antisemitism and all forms of intolerance and prejudice. Convinced of the duty of the musician to remain an engaged citizen, he is recognized and admired for his willingness to take a stand on some of the great issues of our day, even though it has come at considerable personal cost.When the pandemic broke out and Levit was unable to give live concerts, he switched his piano recitals from concert halls to his living room and gained a huge international following. This book opens a window onto Levit's life during the 2019-2020 concert season, charting the transition from his whirlwind life of back-to-back live concerts in packed concert halls to the eerie stillness of lockdown and the innovative series of house concerts livestreamed over Twitter. A year in which Levit spoke out against hate and received death threats in response. A year in which he found his voice and found himself - as an artist and as a person.

  • Save 24%
    by Alan Stutz
    £18.99

    This book encapsulates the excitement of the ultimate Quo line-up in all its glory and will help bring back some of the excitement and memories that every Quo fan who witnessed the classic band will have. This is a beautiful memento of moments in Quo history that sadly are now truly over and done.

  •  
    £48.99

    This project collects the most significant historical inventions, artists, and movements that have contributed to the development of Live Visuals

  • Save 15%
    by Chris Gill & Brad Tolinski
    £14.49 - 20.49

  • by Angela Marshall & Joseph Alexander
    £15.99

    Learn Essential Piano Chords for Pop, Rock, Blues and more!· Do you want to master the basics of piano & keyboard in one simple method? · Ready to get down to the brass tacks of playing simple piano chords? The First 100 Piano Chords for Beginners is a complete guide that teaches you to play and combine piano chords to make meaningful music.You don't even need to read music - the clear diagrams show you exactly where to place your fingers, and examples include the note names, so you always know exactly what to play. Discover how to play every essential chord on pianoCombine chords into sequences and songsLearn beautiful accompaniment patterns to play with other musiciansMaster chord theory and construction in simple stepsThe First 100 Piano Chords for BeginnersThis book is powerful because not only does it teach you every chord you'll need to become a great keyboard player... it teaches you to move from chords to sequences to actual music immediately - all while teaching you the basics of perfect piano technique.For every set of chords, you'll be directed to hit songs that use the same sequence, so not only will you start playing along to your favourite songs, you'll learn to get creative and write your own music too. A Piano and Keyboard Chord Method That Grows With You This ground-breaking method is carefully structured to help you grow as a musician, and by the end of The First 100 Piano Chords for Beginners you'll be amazed at your progress.Here's what's you get...Easy tuition of every chord you'll ever needA complete guide to the most popular chord progressions that are the basis of thousands of hit recordsA simple path to master left-hand and right-hand independence - learn to play chords in both hands, then add basslines and accompaniment patterns to make stunning musicDiscover how to use these progressions to create your own songs

  • by Dwight E. (Zayad University Brooks
    £10.49

    Dwight E. Brooks deep dives into Earth, Wind & Fire's That's The Way of the World. Alongside interview material from members Phillip Bailey and Verdine White, he analyses how this album shattered musical barriers, transcended genres, and paid homage to African and American traditions.Understanding TTWOTW requires appreciating EWF founder Maurice White's multifaceted vision for his band. White created a band that performed various styles of music that sought to uplift humanity. His musicians personified a new form of Black masculinity rooted in dignity that embraced diverse spiritualities and healthy living. A complete understanding of TTWOTW also necessitates an awareness of American racial dynamics and changes in the popular music industry in the 1960s and '70s.EWF's landmark album TTWOTW presented hopeful messages about the world that were sorely needed at the time. TTWOTW did not tell listeners exactly how to live, but instead how they can live in a quest for self-actualization. The songs encourage us to yearn, learn, love, see, listen, and feel happy. If art can help mold a better future, than EWF's musical legacy of positivity and self-empowerment will continue to contribute to personal growth and social change even as their melodies linger.

  • Save 14%
    by Neil Fraser
    £9.49

  • by James Shipway
    £15.49 - 22.49

  • Save 13%
    by S. W. Lauden
    £12.99

    Whether they're self-taught bashers or technical wizards, drummers are the thrashing, crashing heart of our favorite punk bands. In Forbidden Beat, some of today's most respected writers and musicians explore the history of punk percussion with personal essays, interviews and lists featuring their favorite players and biggest influences. From 60s garage rock and proto-punk to 70s New York and London, 80s hardcore and D-beat to 90s pop punk and beyond, Forbidden Beat is an uptempo ode to six decades of punk rock drumming. Featuring Ira Elliot, Curt Weiss, John Robb, Hudley Flipside, Bon Von Wheelie, Joey Shithead, Matt Diehl, D.H. Peligro, Mike Watt, Lynn Perko-Truell, Pete Finestone, Laura Bethita Neptuna, Jan Radder, Jim Ruland, Eric Beetner, Jon Wurster, Lori Barbero, Joey Cape, Marko DeSantis, Mindy Abovitz, Steven McDonald, Kye Smith, Ian Winwood, Phanie Diaz, Benny Horowitz, Shari Page, Urian Hackney, and Rat Scabies.

  • Save 10%
    by Melanie C
    £8.99 - 15.49

  • Save 20%
    by The Secret DJ
    £11.99

    The Secret DJ's first two books lifted the lid on what really happens behind the decks in the sometimes hilarious, sometimes harrowing world of the superstar DJ. Now they've reached out to dozens of DJs from around the world - and from every scene and genre - for their own true stories of the DJ life Tales From the Booth raises the BPM, rounding up an all-star cast of Secret DJs to tell their anonymous stories of what it's really like to rock dancefloors for a living. From strange encounters on tour, to side-splitting debauchery and afterparty excess, to the seamy and even dangerous side of the industry, this is your access-all-areas backstage pass. You'll never look at a DJ quite the same again.

  • Save 20%
    by Harold Heath
    £11.99

    Written by former DJ/producer Harold Heath, 'Long Relationships: My Incredible Journey From Unknown DJ to Small-time DJ' is a biographical account of a DJ career defined by a deep love of music and a shallow amount of success. From the days of vinyl, when DJs were often also glass-collectors, to the era of megastar stadium EDM, it's a journey of 30 odd years on a low-level, economy class rollercoaster through the ups and downs of an ever-changing music industry. Long Relationships is a love letter to DJing and to every small-town DJ who never made it to the big time but whose life was enriched and improved by DJing anyway. It's packed with tales of gigs, clubs, raves, warehouses, music, record production and record deals, low-rent international travel, shady promoters, dodgy club security, magical dance floor moments and much more. If you ever DJed, if you ever lost yourself on a dance floor, or if you ever simply fell in love with the potential contained within a dark basement, a str

  • Save 22%
    by Rikky Rooksby
    £13.99

    Write better songs with the help of the third edition of The Songwriting Sourcebook.

  • Save 30%
    by Gillian G. Gaar
    £41.99

    Seattle, WA

  • by Alderman Scott Alderman
    £11.49 - 15.99

  • by Simon Doonan
    £16.49

    In this funny and poignant memoir and cultural history, the television personality, columnist, and author of Drag pays homage to Lou Reed’s groundbreaking album Transformer on its fiftieth anniversary and recalls its influence on his coming of age and coming out through glam rock.In November 1972, Lou Reed released his album, Transformer because he thought it was “dreary for gay people to have to listen to straight people’s love songs.” That groundbreaking idea echoed with the times. That same year, Sweden was the first country to legalize gender-affirming surgery, and San Francisco struck down employment discrimination based on sexual orientation.Sometimes an artistic creation perfectly aligns with a broader social and political history, and Transformer—with the songs “Walk on the Wild Side,” “Perfect Day,” and “Vicious”—perfectly captured its time. “Walk on the Wild Side” was banned on radio across the country but became a massive hit when young people threatened to boycott stations that would not play it. The album''s cover featured a high-contrast image of Lou, flaunting a new mascara''d glamrock incarnation, shot by legend Mick Rock, thereby underscoring his intention to create "a gay album."In Transformer, Doonan tells the story of how Lou Reed came to make the album with the help of David Bowie, and places its creation within the course of Reed’s life. Doonan offers first-hand testimony of the album’s impact on the LGBTQ+ community, recalling how it transformed his own life as a 20-year-old working class kid from Reading, England, who had just discovered the joys of London Glam Rock and was sparked by the artistic freedom of Warhol’s The Factory. Transformer was a revelation—hearing Reed’s songs, Doonan understood how the world was changing for him and his friends.A poignant, personal addition to modern music and LGBTQ+ history, Transformer captures a pivotal moment when those long silenced were finally given a voice. As transgender icon Candy Darling, highlighted in his lyrics, told Reed, “It’s so nice to hear ourselves.”Transformer includes approximatively 16 pages of black-and-white and color photos.

  • by Jette Finn
    £11.49

  • - + Sounds Online
    by Reynhard Boegl & Bettina Schipp
    £17.49

  • Save 27%

Music
Music has that special connection with our feelings. It can both make us happy and sad, help through a crisis and through all the difficult feelings we need to acknowledge. Life is not just about being happy, and music can take you on a journey through all those different feelings. In that way music can function as a form of therapy. Music can comfort you and the lyrics can make you feel embraced and recognized. Some of the songs we love most are those, which have that universal feeling and message in them. Those songs that cover all the different and conflicting feelings of life in a verse. You can learn the secrets behind some of the biggest hits or most beautiful ballads in our selection of music books. 
You could also get to know your biggest idol in our icon books. Some of the music icons have lived an inspiring and sometimes hard life, and you can learn a lot from there stories. We have biographic music books with musicians from different genres, all with their own fascinating story. We have multiple music books about the extremely talented singer Freddie Mercury - the frontman, pianist and songwriter in the legendary band Queen. Freddie Mercury had an amazing career and a magnificent voice, and he was at the same time a huge inspiration for homosexuals and generally everyone, who felt different. The singer must tragically lost his life to AIDS and the world lost one of its biggest stars to date, but you can revisit Freddie Mercury’s amazing talent and read his story in the music books Bohemian Rhapsody - The Definitive Biography of Freddie Mercury, Freddie Mercury - the Biography, Somebody to Love - The Life, Death and Legacy of Freddie Mercury, and many more.

Music books for students
If you are studying the wonderful world of music or just wants to improve your performance you should look at our music theory books. They will help you with all the different techniques no matter the instrument. At Tales you find music books for piano, music books for keyboard and music books for guitar. They will all help you in your musicology study or on your journey to becoming an amazing musician yourself. 
We also have music history books that will take you on a journey with all the greatest from Beethoven and Mozart to Tjajkovskij and Stravinskij. When you travel through the history of music you will also visit different music periods and get a better understanding of why the music sounds so differently throughout history. The music is formed by its time and the historical events of that time. If you are interested in the history of music we will recommend the music history book by Cecil Gray called History of Music. The music book moves in the crossfield between the elementary, educational and tries to give answers to some of the things we do not yet understand. It starts with the Gregorian Chant and moves through investigations of both French, Italian, English, and Russian music. 

Musical
If you like to visit the theatre for a musical you can take some of that magic with you home by finding the books, scripts and lyrics of all the biggest hit shows on Broadway and West End. Experiencing a live performance is something unique, but it is over too fast. That is why we recommend you to dive deeper into your favorite musicals with the music books on Tales. You find the lyrics and story behind the world’s nr. 1 hit musical Hamilton that changed the world. The show won The Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 2016 and tells the story of one of America’s Founding Fathers Alexander Hamilton. The musical contains an amazing Grammy award winning soundtrack with the most brilliant lyrics telling the story of the American civil war. The man behind it all is the extremely talented Lin Manuel Miranda, who tells the story of American then, but with the sounds and faces of modern times. You can dive into the fascinating story of Alexander Hamilton and the musical in the book Hamilton: The Revolution or you can learn how to perform the amazing songs yourself with the music books Hamilton - Vocal Selections & Piano or Hamilton - Easy Piano Selections

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