Annotated Bibliography - Essay Example

The book is necessary for novices in rock music or those searching to understand the richness of rock music from drumming, playing guitars, music composition and performance, based on the 12 highlighted bands. By examining the various rock artists, the writer takes the reader through different rock compositions and examines how they vary from one artist to the other, which portrays the varying styles in progressive rock. Riley, Glenn (2004) Progressive Rock Guitar. Van Nuys, CA: Alfred Publishing.

The author is an experienced guitarist, having started playing at the age of twelve, and since 1991, Riley was a teacher and a performer of rock. The author is also renowned for authoring other books published by the National Guitar Workshop; as a teacher and a performer, Riley offers a concise examination of guitar techniques in rock. The author opens up music and various guitar techniques in covering a comprehensive approach in progressive rock guitar. However, the author assumes the reader is aware of music notations, the major scale and its modes, theories such as diatonic harmony and overall construction of codes.

Riley offers a concise insight into guitar playing and its variations across the rock music genre. The book is an important guide to understanding guitar techniques in progressive rock from an experienced rock performer and academician. Macan, Edward (1996) Rocking the Classics: English Progressive Rock and the Counterculture: English Progressive Rock and the Counterculture. NY: Oxford University Press. Macan delves deep in examining the reasons behind the vibrancy of rock shows today, the fantasied literature associated with rock, the growing fascination in rock considered to have relations with science fiction.

This is because most rock artists use science fiction –inspired images and sonic landscapes in most of their rock albums. In this approach, Macan goes into details in covering a wide range of aspects including the visual art elements portrayed in rock album covers and rock’s conceptual themes and lyrics. Importantly, the author goes back to the bohemian English culture in tracing the history of progressive rock and how rock gained popularity in Europe and North America. The broad approach makes the book a worthy text in understanding the history of progressive rock.

Holm-Hudson, Kevin (2002) Progressive Rock Reconsidered, London: Routledge. The author offers a concise collection of various essays in inquiring into the history of progressive rock. The edited essays offer an understanding of the manner in which fans and critics view it. Though the author accounts for the manner in which critics have faulted progressive rock, he confirms that most rock stars have successfully integrated elements of classical style in most of their performances. The book is too technical in using rock terminologies, making it a true reference for researchers in rock music.

Hagarty, Paul and Halliwell, Martin (2011) Beyond and Before: Progressive Rock Since the 1960s, London: Continuum International Publishing. The book details the roots of progressive rock in linking its development to fusion of styles such as the earlier rhythm and blues and the 1970 genres. The authors offer a comprehensive account of all aspects of progressive rock, which include politics, theatre, music and words. The authors in this approach shed more light on a misunderstood phase in the history of