Product Description

This is the most spectacular and informative book ever assembled on the history of the piano. Features a collection of 200 stunning photos of more than 150 pianos ranging from the instrumentÕs earliest roots to todayÕs magnificent upright and grand pianos. Includes specifications for each instrument shown, information on the mechanics of pianos, manufacturer profiles, and more. Hardcover.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #304513 in Books
• Published on: 1995-09
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 112 pages

From Library Journal
Here from the publisher of Keyboard magazine are 200 color photos of historic and contemporary pianos, beautifully displayed with informative captions and an accompanying narrative in a sewn binding for a reasonable price. The book serves as a concise history of the piano, a pictorial record of its development (many photos and illustrations reveal design and mechanical details), and a source, through an appendix, for information on specific piano manufacturers. Eight foldout pages may become shabby after heavy use, but even libraries with Domenic Gill's Book of the Piano (Cornell Univ., 1981) and Larry Fine's The Piano Book (Brookside, 1994. 3d ed.) will want to treat themselves to this visually delightful title.?Bonnie Jo Dopp, Long Branch Community Lib., Silver Spring, Md.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Midwest Book Review
This photographic history of the piano presents stunning views of over 150 pianos, using these to trace the evolution and history of the instrument and its manufacturers. Piano players and those absorbing the history of the instrument will find these photographic embellishments fine tools for understanding the piano's changing appearance and purposes.

Customer Reviews

Piano
Excellent book for piano lovers. The seller is also very good. It arrived in time for Christmas, which wasn't expected.

Some assembly required
The book is nice visually, as a gallery of handcrafted wooden marvels, many hundreds of years old, and has a wealth of interesting facts and photos, but, because it is so fragmented, is not a history that can be easily read straight through. For a briefer history, but with descriptions and samples of modern makers, and with maintenance and buying advice, get The Piano by Jean-Paul Williams. Just as nice visually.

Should have ten stars!
If your musical bookshelf has room for only one book about pianos, then it MUST be this one. It is truly gorgeous to look at, lavishly and lusciously illustrated with color photos on every page. Once you get past its pretty face, however, you'll be pleased by the technical content as well. Presented in easy-to-understand fashion and accompanied by 200+ color photos of some 150 keyboard instruments, or paintings that feature keyboards or some other facet of music appreciation, here is the history of these marvelous instruments from the late 1600s right up to the very latest electronic machines, all in one, wonderful-to-look-at volume.

There are four double, double-page fold-outs (four-page centerfolds, if you will, but minus staples) with full-color photos of the best examples of the craftsmanship being explained in easy-to-understand language. The last one is my particular favorite, unveiling modern--even futuristic--examples of art as partner with design and function. On the regular pages, there are diagrams demonstrating the various keyboard instruments and the sometimes subtle differences between them. There is a chronology of piano manufacturers or 'houses' plus an alphabetical description or short history of them; a discography of recordings made on 'notable' (author's term, not mine) pianos and a glossary of terminology used in the book as well as the instruments, plus an index. Truly, everything you always wanted to know about these marvelous instruments--with the bonus of those wonderful, scrumptious photographs.

It's as much an ART book, as it is a MUSIC book, or even a HISTORY book. It's on my shelf, and it should be on yours. I wish I could give it ten stars! At the very least.