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  • The Tenth Muse: How Maria Antonia Advanced the Pastoral Opera

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April Lynn James
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The Tenth Muse: How Maria Antonia Advanced the Pastoral Opera Kindle Edition

by April James (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
5.0 out of 5 stars (24)

Her Highness’ music and life are set within the larger sweep of history, showing us a woman whose music gave voice not only to herself, but to other musicians.

If you could travel back in time, which era would you like to explore?

Take a captivating trip to the opulent courts of 18th-century Munich and Dresden, where Maria Antonia Walpurgis Symphorosa was known to be a visionary and extraordinary patron of the arts during her lifetime as “The Tenth Muse” for her accomplishments in multiple areas of the arts. April Lynn James brings this nearly-forgotten figure to life in the first book-length biography in English about the Princess who would become Electress of Saxony. Maria Antonia and her first opera, Il trionfo della fedeltà, were celebrated inside and outside the courts of Europe. The pastoral opera was popular with the female nobility, but Maria Antonia took the genre to new heights, finding it an ideal venue in which to explore themes of love, fidelity and female self-presentation.

In this book, you will learn:

  • Women wrote operas.
  • Maria Antonia made important contributions to the music of her time as both creator and patron.
  • Who Maria Antonia was?
  • Why did she compose her own music?
  • The importance of amateur musicians in society.

Filled with anecdotes, musical illustrations, and quotes from letters by and about Her Highness, this biography is a masterful account of a figure who went beyond the expectations for a woman of her station to become a role model for many. Engagingly written, the story of this fascinating figure brings history to life, taking the reader on a journey to discover Maria Antonia as a composer, poet, woman, and politician. A must-have for your library!

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  1. Print length
    272 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Accessibility
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  4. Publication date
    August 25, 2023
  5. File size
    44.0 MB
  6. Page Flip
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  7. Word Wise
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Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0CGP6S5DG
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Self Publishing
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ August 25, 2023
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 44.0 MB
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 272 pages
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 979-8891090071
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Best Sellers Rank: #5,210,548 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
  • Customer Reviews:
    5.0 out of 5 stars (24)

About the author

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April Lynn James

April Lynn James

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Affectionately known as The PhDiva!!!, Dr. April is a classically trained soprano with a PhD from Harvard best known for her groundbreaking work returning operas composed by women to the world’s stages. She survived her Harvard doctoral studies—aka, “boot camp for book lovers”—by getting away from the computer and engaging in playful activities such as dance, juggling and mime, thereby healing from tendonitis, depression and stress-induced weight gain. She is also mad about Lewis Carroll, "Alice in Wonderland", top hats and tea. Her mission is to bring joy to the world through sharing her talents, creativity and knowledge.

Customer reviews

5 out of 5 stars
24 global ratings
Brilliantly Crafted- Compelling Read!
5 out of 5 stars
Brilliantly Crafted- Compelling Read!
A brilliantly written, well researched documentary-about a fascinating 18th Century Woman-largely unknown in our present time. If you love historical books, then this is a must read! The Tenth Muse takes you on a journey, that is captivating, enlightening and inspirational--all at the same time! Thank you Dr April L. James!
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Mark Burstein
    5.0 out of 5 stars For lovers of early opera
    Reviewed in the United States on September 5, 2023
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Dr. James’s treatise, contrary to much academic scholarship, is delightfully readable. Beginning with a personal history of how this multifaceted author came to write about Maria Antonia, continuing through biographical and musical analyses and her place in the context of her times, and ending with informative appendices, the book is a must for lovers of early opera. Although Dr. James reveals her intention to someday make an audiobook with recordings of Antonia’s music, it might have been nice to inform those of us who cannot read scores about the (very few) available performances on YouTube and Spotify, often under the name of “Maria Antonia Walpurgis.” That aside, the book is a perfect tribute to an unjustly forgotten composer.
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  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Fabulous, Talented Soprano Author!
    Reviewed in the United States on October 4, 2023
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Dr. April Lynn James's doctorate studies and extraordinary research bring to light a powerful book "The Tenth Muse...How Maria Antonia Advnaced the Pastoral Opera" to a whole new level of enrichment and understanding of the biography and great works of Maria Antonia Walpurgis Symphorosa (1724-1780). Dr. April's extensive, comprehensive research vividly describes 18th-century history during the Holy Roman Empire (mid-18th-century). The book is elegantly written with in-depth, interesting research citations extremely suitable for academic studies in women's history, music and arts, poetry, and opera, and many more audiences who want to learn more about this fabulous, unique, individual Maria Antonia. This book is a MUST purchase for your bookshelves!
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  • Becky
    5.0 out of 5 stars This is a book about a great musician by a great musician of our time.
    Reviewed in the United States on August 29, 2023
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    I was amazed to read this book about Maria Antonia. It is a very professionally detailed book about a woman, her musical craft, and the world she navigated through to bring her music alive. This is an interesting story about an incredibly gifted woman of her time written by an equally gifted author who is bringing this story to our generation!
    One person found this helpful
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  • pamela6000
    5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliantly Crafted- Compelling Read!
    Reviewed in the United States on December 10, 2023
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    A brilliantly written, well researched documentary-about a fascinating 18th Century Woman-largely unknown in our present time. If you love historical books, then this is a must read! The Tenth Muse takes you on a journey, that is captivating, enlightening and inspirational--all at the same time! Thank you Dr April L. James!
    Customer image
    pamela6000
    5.0 out of 5 stars
    Brilliantly Crafted- Compelling Read!

    Reviewed in the United States on December 10, 2023
    A brilliantly written, well researched documentary-about a fascinating 18th Century Woman-largely unknown in our present time. If you love historical books, then this is a must read! The Tenth Muse takes you on a journey, that is captivating, enlightening and inspirational--all at the same time! Thank you Dr April L. James!
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    One person found this helpful
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  • Molly Schaeren
    5.0 out of 5 stars delightful and engaging!
    Reviewed in the United States on November 24, 2023
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    A delightful read for musicians and non-musicians alike! This book not only recounts the impressive musical journey of Maria Antonia, but is also a fascinating introduction to Baroque pastoral opera. What's more, Dr. James puts it all in historical and cultural context, meticulously researched, in a very engaging and approachable fashion.
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  • David Anderson, Managing Partner, AriaReady LLC
    5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating reading. History from a unique and artistic perspective.
    Reviewed in the United States on December 1, 2023
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    A strong thread of music and politics woven through time told from a point of view rarely shared. Fascinating and a good read. Both educational and satisfying, it is the perfect gift for a follower of the art of opera or history.
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  • JRF
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent!
    Reviewed in the United States on September 2, 2023
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    A fascinating account filled with real musical examples and scholarly documentation, this will be an important resource for dedicated musicians interested in learning more about the lives and historical context of female musicians.
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  • Steve
    5.0 out of 5 stars Adventurous Read
    Reviewed in the United States on February 19, 2024
    Format: Kindle
    "The Tenth Muse" takes readers on a different adventure, and it is definitely worth the trip. April Lynn James begins with a letter to readers, in which she describes with integrity and clarity her personal background and what led her to writing this book.
    Dr. James then describes the context of Maria Antonia’s musical productivity, which sets readers up to dive into erudite analysis of the pastoral opera of Her Highness. Readers not adept in such close commentary will in any event appreciate the author’s guidance. Furthermore, James’ scholarly investigation of both Maria Antonia’s poetry, and letters et al, provide convincing support for the author's assertion that the 18th Century musician was masterful enough to indeed be the sole composer of Il trionfo della fedeltà.
    Musicologists will benefit from the Appendices. And all readers can muse with the author about the questions she raises about the arts, even for us in the 20th Century.
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Paul James
    5.0 out of 5 stars A Fascinating Account of an Accomplished Woman
    Reviewed in Canada on August 31, 2023
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    I love history so to find a new historical figure from the formative years of modern Europe’s cultural story, as opposed to all the war stories, is a delight. Maria Antonia’s story is worth hearing if only to encourage all of us to use our talents, despite the restrictions we see around us. This is a book for those who enjoy learning about the past and how people lived then. Heartily recommended!
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  • Kindle-Kunde
    5.0 out of 5 stars An absolute delight
    Reviewed in Germany on September 12, 2023
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    I am not a musician but I enjoy music. This book added another dimension to it further. I always wondered how the mind of a musician functioned and here I was reading The Tenth Muse, enjoying every bit of it.
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