Classical Music Research Guide

Pianists--their lives, performances, and recordings--are detailed in this two-volume set. Each biographical essay emphasizes musical background and training, special influences on development, significant performances, and more. Performance is analyzed and emphasis given to style and repertoire. For those pianists who recorded, there are selective discographies and reviews of outstanding recordings. The authors attended many performances and often supply a personal dimension to the discussions. This readable work, containing extensive documented coverage of 100 artists, will be appreciated by scholar, student, and music buff alike. As a sourcebook, this work contains biographical data; style analyses (culled from reviews, recordings, articles, and essays); pedagogical history and methods, when applicable; lists of selected references and reviews; and a representative discography. The result is an objective, thorough presentation of the lives and performances of 100 notable pianists. The list initially derived from correspondence with pianists and pedagogues in music conservatories and colleges throughout the United States and after eight years of research in both libraries and concert halls. The text reads easily (and is fascinating), but the vast amount of information and the careful scientific analysis make it a scholarly work of the highest order, useful to graduate students as well as the general public.

(Amadeus). This is the only complete and up-to-date book profiling every major pianist (thousands) and their essential repertoire and recordings. This third edition is completely revised (second edition: 1995 Harvest Books, ISBN# 0-15-600019-9), with hundreds more entries and updated information about existing entries. The book contains a CD for the first time featuring rare performances. "For all those interested in the piano, this book will provide great insight and knowledge. It must be read by everyone who loves the instrument." Vladimir Horowitz " The Art of the Piano is the best companion a piano aficionado could ask for." Baltimore Sun