The Great American Symphony Orchestra A Behind-the-Scenes Look at its Artistry, Passion, and Heartache Meredith Music Publications |
![]() | By Anthony J. Cirone Price: $19.95Type: Resource Item #: HL00317209 |
THIS BOOK IS FOR EVERYONE!
- GAIN a behind-the-scenes look at the orchestra as a family; its artistry, discipline, and devotion, the overwhelming audition process, and the good and bad about a career as a professional musician.
- LEARN about the love-hate relationship between musicians and conductors as the author shares his experiences, performing under the baton of such eminent conductors as Josef Krips, Seiji Ozawa, Edo de Waart, Herbert Blomstedt, Michael Tilson Thomas, Eugene Ormandy, Igor Stravinsky, Aaron Copland, and Arthur Fiedler.
- DISCOVER the conductor's dictatorial control, interpretative power, and technical skill as revealed by quotes from James Levine, John Barbirolli, Gustav Mahler, Daniel Barenboim, and Herbert von Karajan.
- EXAMINE comments from Leonard Bernstein, Arturo Toscanini, Carl Nielsen, and Lou Harrison, composers and conductors who bring a unique awareness to avant-garde music in the chapter titled, Cruel and Unmusical!
- UNDERSTAND the difference between conducting talent and composing talent and how rare it is for a person to possess both of them.
Cirone's Pocket Dictionary of Foreign Musical Terms Meredith Music Publications |
![]() | By Anthony J. Cirone Price: $9.95Type: Resource Item #: HL00317185 |
During his 36-year career with the San Francisco Symphony, Cirone encountered thousands of foreign musical terms used by composers in scores and parts that inspired him to compile this extensive collection. This unique 232-page dictionary contains over 4 thousand foreign entries in three languages: Italian, French, and German with more than 160 musical examples of specialized terms. Also included are comprehensive sections for percussion and string instruments. In addition, the book contains:
- A "slow-to-fast" listing of foreign tempo markings
- Translated German musical phrases
- Composers' instructions for string instruments with musical examples in Italian, French, and German
- Two sections on percussion instruments and terms in all three languages—not found in other musical dictionaries
- A valuable resource for performers, composers, educators, and conductors.
The Logic of it All Meredith Music Publications |
![]() | By Anthony J. Cirone & Joe Sinai Price: $24.95Type: Resource Level: Intermediate/Advanced Item #: HL00317181 |
The Logic of it All is a timeless treatise on the professional secrets of percussion performance, written by two outstanding orchestral percussionists. This book provides a level of information that can only be gained by years of public performance. Learn the many "tricks of the trade" and subtle nuances for artistic percussion performance (supported by text and photos).
On Musical Interpretation in Percussion Performance Meredith Music Publications |
![]() | By Anthony J. Cirone Price: $24.95Type: Resource Item #: HL00317186 |
This exploration of interpretation examines excerpts from 14 major works for band and orchestra and includes: proper execution of composers' articulations, translations of foreign musical terms, an examination of percussion notation, when to muffle and when to sustain, mallet selection, dynamics and phrasing, and choosing the correct instrument.
Command Performances for Percussion Alfred Music Publishing Co. |
![]() | By Anthony J. Cirone Price: $15.95Type: Resource for Snare Drum, Marimba, and Timpani Literature Level: Intermediate/Advanced Item #: 0354B |
This perfect sourcebook for recital and performance requirements is written by Anthony J. Cirone, a leading educational percussion writer and editor. It contains exciting and challenging contemporary percussion solos for today's students.
Signature Snare Drum Sticks TCSD Malletech Corporation |
![]() | Designed by Anthony J. Cirone Price: $36.99 |
Made from top-of-the-line rosewood, Malletech has crafted this unique stick from rosewood, trimmed in the production of their marimba bars. With the high density of rosewood, the added weight produces a fuller sound on the snare drum. Another unique characteristic features a counter-bored butt end to create a top-heavy stick.
Legacy E-Book by Anthony J. Cirone |
![]() | On the Interpretation and Performance of Music to Transform an Accomplished Drummer into a Classical, Symphonic Percussionist Its purpose—TO WIN AUDITIONSPrice: $9.95 |
There’s A Gong In My Fishbowl AuthorHouse |
![]() | By Anthony J. Cirone, Marie Colligan & Illustrated by Daniel Evans Price: $19.99Type: Resource |


The idea of creating There’s A Gong In My Fishbowl as a children’s book came from an actual event during the 1970s when the San Francisco Symphony was performing a concert of Avant-Garde music. One of the works involved a percussionist striking a Gong and placing it in and out of a tub of water to produce and unusual modulation of the Gong sound.
The tub of water had to be brought on and off stage by the Stage Crew for each rehearsal and concert. They were not too happy about this and decided to put a goldfish into the water right before the first performance.
As the concert was soon to start, my colleague from the Percussion Section went to the front of the stage where the tub of water was placed a few minutes before the downbeat was to occur. Seeing the goldfish in the tub, he looked back at the percussion section, smiling as he pointed to the tub of water. We had no idea what he was smiling about.
The concert began, and at the proper moment he struck the Gong and slowly placed it into the water. As he told us after the performance, the goldfish began swimming rapidly in the water and jumping up and down when the vibrations occurred. Meanwhile the Stage Crew were offstage watching this event and getting a good laugh of the expressions on the percussionist’s face.
By the end of the performance the goldfish died.
My cousin Marie Colligan read about this event in my book titled: The Great American Symphony Orchestra. Being a writer herself, she told me this story would make a great children’s book. That began the process of There’s a Gong in my Fishbowl. But, please don’t be alarmed, the goldfish does not die in OUR story!
Since this entire book is set to music, please click on the QR Square on the Introduction of the book to hear the Mini Operetta as you follow along in the book. The music link is also available here - Musical Link for "There's a Gong in my Fishbowl"
The tub of water had to be brought on and off stage by the Stage Crew for each rehearsal and concert. They were not too happy about this and decided to put a goldfish into the water right before the first performance.
As the concert was soon to start, my colleague from the Percussion Section went to the front of the stage where the tub of water was placed a few minutes before the downbeat was to occur. Seeing the goldfish in the tub, he looked back at the percussion section, smiling as he pointed to the tub of water. We had no idea what he was smiling about.
The concert began, and at the proper moment he struck the Gong and slowly placed it into the water. As he told us after the performance, the goldfish began swimming rapidly in the water and jumping up and down when the vibrations occurred. Meanwhile the Stage Crew were offstage watching this event and getting a good laugh of the expressions on the percussionist’s face.
By the end of the performance the goldfish died.
My cousin Marie Colligan read about this event in my book titled: The Great American Symphony Orchestra. Being a writer herself, she told me this story would make a great children’s book. That began the process of There’s a Gong in my Fishbowl. But, please don’t be alarmed, the goldfish does not die in OUR story!
Since this entire book is set to music, please click on the QR Square on the Introduction of the book to hear the Mini Operetta as you follow along in the book. The music link is also available here - Musical Link for "There's a Gong in my Fishbowl"
The book has been receiving great feedback. But don't take our word for it. Click here to see what people are saying about the book!
- Anthony J. Cirone