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Books & Recordings

Books

The Philosophy of Religion

By Edward Wierenga

Wiley-Blackwell, 2016

Wierenga, a professor of religion and philosophy at Rochester, offers a contemporary introduction to core questions in the study of philosophy and religious belief.

The Cambridge Guide to the Worlds of Shakespeare

Edited by Bruce Smith ’73 (PhD)

Cambridge University Press, 2016

Smith presents a two-volume collection of commentaries from contributors around the world, published to coincide with the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death. Smith is the Dean’s Professor of English and Theater at the University of Southern California.

Contesting the Borderlands: Interviews on the Early Southwest

By Deborah Lawrence and Jon Lawrence ’76 (PhD)

University of Oklahoma Press, 2016

Through interviews with multiple experts in archaeology, anthropology, and history, the Lawrences explore the themes of conflict and cooperation among the diverse ethnic groups that shaped the early American Southwest.

Lela and Her Magic Bank of Dreams

By Nicole Smith ’12

CreateSpace, 2016

Smith presents a children’s story featuring Lela, an African-American girl who dreams big, saves diligently, and travels the world.

Filipino Studies: Palimpsests of Nation and Diaspora

Edited by Martin Manalansan IV ’97 (PhD) and Augusto Espiritu

New York University Press, 2016

Manalansan coedits a multidisciplinary series of essays serving as a framework for the developing field of Filipino studies. Manalansan is an associate professor of anthropology and Asian-American studies and Conrad Professorial Humanities Scholar at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.

Tuscany, Italy: Small-Town Itineraries for the Foodie Traveler

By Zeneba Bowers ’94E, ’96E (MM) and Matt Walker

Little Roads Europe, 2016

The married team of Bowers and Walker introduce “foodie travelers” to out-of-the-way highlights of Tuscan cuisine. The couple, founders of the travel consultancy Little Roads Europe, has also published Emilia-Romagna, Italy: A Personal Guide to Little-Known Places Foodies Will Love. Bowers is a violinist, and Walker, a cellist, in the Nashville Symphony Orchestra as well as the Alias Chamber Ensemble.

Sticking It Out: From Juilliard to the Orchestra Pit, a Percussionist’s Memoir

By Patti Niemi

ECW Press, 2016

Niemi, a female percussionist in an overwhelmingly male field, offers her perspective on the elite and cutthroat world of classical music performance. A percussionist with the San Francisco Opera Orchestra, Niemi grew up in Rochester and graduated from the Eastman School of Music Preparatory Department in 1983.

Is There a Surgeon in the House?

By Walter Pories ’55M (MD), ’62M (Res)

American College of Surgeons, 2016

Physician and cartoonist Pories offers a collection of his cartoons poking fun at multiple aspects of the modern practice of medicine. Pories is a specialist in nutrition and pediatric and bariatric surgery, and the director of the Metabolic Surgery Research Group at East Carolina University.

Dream Job: Wacky Adventures of an HR Manager

By Janet Garber ’72 (MA)

Lulu, 2016

Garber, a freelance journalist and longtime human resources professional, presents her debut novel, a comedic exploration of life as an HR manager.

Memorial Day

By Alan Hilfiker ’60

CreateSpace, 2015

Hilfiker, an attorney, University trustee, and published author of short stories and poetry, offers a story poem in which a widow and a caretaker keep a long Memorial Day vigil among graves of the fallen.

Built to Last

By Aurora Rey

Bold Strokes Books, 2016

Dawn Roy ’99, writing under her pen name, tells the story of two women, a debutante and the heiress of a construction business, who forge an unlikely romance while renovating a rundown farmhouse. Roy is also the author, as Aurora Rey, of Winter’s Harbor (Bold Strokes Books).

Stories, Images, and Magic from the Piano Literature

By Neil Rutman ’77E (MM)

Torchflame Books, 2015

In a collection of stories and other archival materials related to key works by more than 30 composers, Rutman aims “to stimulate the imagination of pianists as they study and perform the great works” of the classical piano literature. Rutman is the Klipsch Arist in Residence and head of the piano division at the University of Central Arkansas.

Find It Fast: Extracting Information from Social Networks, Big Data, Tweets, and More (Sixth Edition)

By Robert Berkman

CyberAge Publishing, 2016

Berkman, a business outreach librarian at Rush Rhees Library, surveys techniques for online research in an age of social media, real-time information, and big data.

Barrett’s Esophagus: Emerging Evidence for Improved Clinical Practice

Edited by Tolga Erim and Douglas Pleskow ’78

Elvesier, 2016

Pleskow coedits a comprehensive reference on the treatment of Barrett’s esophagus for researchers, clinicians, and scholars. Pleskow is chief of clinical gastroenterology at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and an associate clinical professor of medicine at Harvard.

Freak Show of the Gods and Other Tales of the Bizarre

By Bob Bly ’79

Quill Driver Books, 2016

In 33 short stories, Bly explores “encounters with the bizarre that uncover unsettling strangeness in the midst of everyday life.”

Recordings

Modernists

By Alarm Will Sound

Cantaloupe Music, 2016

The 20-piece contemporary chamber orchestra formed at the Eastman School in 2001 aims to “test the limits of the modern classical canon” in a collection of tracks bookended by new interpretations of the Beatles’ “Revolution 9” and Edgar Varèse’s Poème Électronique. The orchestra, conducted by Alan Pierson ’06E (DMA), includes Miles Brown ’00E, ’12E (DMA), Caleb Burhans ’03E, Gavin Chuck ’04E (PhD), Michael Clayville ’00E, Stefan Freund ’02E (DMA), Michael Harley ’11E (DMA), Bill Kalinkos ’03E, Matt Marks ’02E, John Orfe ’99, ’99E, Courtney Orlando ’03E (DMA), Jason Price ’05E (DMA), Christa Robinson ’00E, and Elisabeth Stimpert ’99E (MM), ’01E (MM).

Eye to Eye

By After Hours

University of Rochester After Hours, 2016

The University coed a cappella group performs on its seventh studio release, a five-track recording tracing a relationship through various stages of turmoil.

Solace

By Seunghee Lee ’90E

Musica Solis, 2016

Clarinetist Lee presents her fourth CD, a project in musical healing. Accompanied by pianist Evan Solomon, Lee performs 17 tracks “to bring comfort and healing to those silently suffering.”

Monuments: Music for Wind Symphony

By the Illinois State University Wind Symphony

Naxos, 2015

Martin Seggelke ’06E (DMA) conducts the Illinois State University Wind Symphony in the performance of premieres by composers including Sydney Hodkinson ’57E, ’58E (MM).

Amorisms: Music of Paul Moravec

By the Alias Chamber Ensemble

Delos Records, 2016

The Nashville-based ensemble led by violinist Zeneba Bowers ’94E, ’96E (MM) performs music of Pulitzer Prize–winning composer Paul Moravec. The recording includes two works written for the ensemble.

Playback

By Matthew Wozniak ’94E, ’97E (MA), ’97E (MM) and Lois Hicks-Wozniak

Self-Published, 2015

The married duo of trombonist Wozniak and saxophonist Hicks-Wozniak presents a selection of chamber music featuring several original compositions as well as transcriptions. Nadine Shank accompanies on piano.

The Lost Lady

By Donna Coleman ’86E (DMA)

OutBach, 2015

In 21 solo tracks ranging from Bach and Chopin to Joplin and Bolcom, Coleman offers a “journey of exploration into the roots and branches of ragtime.”

Sunshine and Sorrow

By Chesley Kahmann ’52

Orbiting Clef Productions, 2016

Kahmann introduces 12 new compositions for piano, voice, and trumpet. The recording includes Kahmann on piano and vocals, the singing group the Interludes, and her son, Ames Parsons, on trumpet.


Books & Recordings is a compilation of recent work by University alumni, faculty, and staff. For inclusion in an upcoming issue, send the work’s title, publisher, author or performer, a brief description, and a high-resolution cover image, to Books & Recordings, Rochester Review, 22 Wallis Hall, P. O. Box 270044, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14627-0044; or by e-mail to rochrev@rochester.edu.