Product Description

Famous Pianists and Their Technique has been a standard in the field since its first publication in 1974. This widely used and acclaimed history of piano technical thought includes insights into the techniques of masters such as C.P.E. Bach, Bartók, Beethoven, Brahms, Chopin, Clementi, Czerny, Debussy, Godowsky, Horowitz, Levinskaya, Leschetizky, the Lhevinnes, Liszt, Mozart, Prokofiev, Ravel, Rubinstein, and Schubert, among others.

Called "the bible of piano technique" by Maurice Hinson, this book is a comprehensive resource for the student, teacher, and professional pianist who seek to discover the secrets of how the immortal professional pianists developed and polished their mechanical and musical technique. This expanded edition contains a foreword by Alan Walker, a new preface, and multiple new appendices.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #88577 in Books
• Published on: 2007-04-05
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 640 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9780253348555
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
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Review
"[E]ye-opening... Recommended...[for] libraries that do not own the earlier edition." -- D. L. Patterson, University of Wisconsin--Eau Claire, 2008 June CHOICE.

Review

"This book was eye-opening when the first edition... appeared, and it remains so today.... The new edition is somewhat enhanced with the addition of a short foreword by Alan Walker and a number of appendixes that refer the reader to specific discussion areas such as 'the aesthetic imperative, mental and psychological control, isolated movements, coordinated movements, posture,' and so on.... Recommended...." -- Choice

"... the expanded part of Gerig's book [is] so impressive that this section by itself is worth more than the price of the book. Just one of the cross-referenced ideas would be enough to spur a thesis, dissertation, or lecture-recital.... Scholars will not be disappointed at the array of obscure facts and hard-to-locate bibliography. Pedagogues will relish this text as an indispensable reference for their courses and daily work. Pianists will be able to constantly refer and return to their historical heritage. Gerig's book has not only withstood the test of time, but will continue to do so." -- Piano Journal

"There is no book like [Famous Pianists and Their Technique] in the English or any other language; it covers the gamut of technical development from Diruta or John Cage. Every important pedagogue is discussed in detail so it is easy to understand their unique contribution to the development of piano technique." -- Maurice Hinson, Senior Professor of Piano, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

"Professor Gerig's amassing in one volume of such a gigantic overview of various schools and approaches to piano technique is awesome. His book has value not only for the scholar as an extremely fascinating historical tracing of various major performers, composers, and pedagogues, but an equally vital use as a reference work for the performer involved in the art of playing the piano." -- Joseph Banowetz, Professor of Piano, University of North Texas

From the Publisher
"There is no book like [Famous Pianists and Their Technique] in the English or any other language; it covers the gamut of technical development from Diruta or John Cage. Every important pedagogue is discussed in detail so it is easy to understand their unique contribution to the development of piano technique." -- Maurice Hinson, Senior Professor of Piano, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

"Professor Gerig's amassing in one volume of such a gigantic overview of various schools and approaches to piano technique is awesome. His book has value not only for the scholar as an extremely fascinating historical tracing of various major performers, composers, and pedagogues, but an equally vital use as a reference work for the performer involved in the art of playing the piano." --Joseph Banowetz, Professor of Piano, University of North Texas

Customer Reviews

THE standard reference work
Reginald Gerig has done a huge and wonderful job of amassing a complete history of the development of piano technique. I discovered this book while still in University and still use it today, 20 years later. Gerig doesn't just give you historical facts, but real analysis of the actual technical components of different schools of technique - there is practical information in here! Also, the valuable first section investigates the antecedents of piano technique in harpsichord technique, an aspect of the story too often overlooked.

Gerig gives you the whole picture - a 'must have' for any pianist's library.

Alan Fraser, author of The Craft of Piano Playing

Unique history of piano teaching
Gerig's book on the history of piano teaching is a major work full of valuable information and is indispensable for any class on piano pedagogy. Gerig has done a great service to the piano teaching community by providing background information on the contributions to teaching by all the important figures in recent history, some well known and some lesser known but equally important. His insights into their contributions are well thought out and the bibliography is extensive. Highest recommendation.

Outstanding regarding technique and practice.
I have a lot of material regarding piano pedagogy. This book digs down deep into history and reveals amazing details regarding technique and practice methods that seem to be left out of other books. In addition, it is easy to read but very detailed regarding historical fact.