The Piano Master Classes of Hans Von Beulow: Two Participants' Accounts - Hardcover

Zimdars, Richard L.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0253368693 ISBN 13: 9780253368690

Publisher: Indiana University Press, 1993

Synopsis

The renowned concert pianist and teacher Hans von Bulow gave a series of piano master classes in the summers of 1884-1887. Detailed notes of the lessons by Theodor Pfeiffer, entitled "Studien bei Hans von Bylow", were published around the turn of the century along with a "Nachtrag" (Supplement) by Jose Vianna da Motta. In the classes, students played compositions by Bach, Beethoven, Mozart, Mendelssohn, Chopin, Raff, Liszt, and Brahms, and Bylow pointed out special techniques and effects that apply to specific measures in the pieces. His remarks ranged from the brilliant to the hilarious, including, regrettably, some insulting comments about women. Richard Zimdars has rendered Pfeiffer's and da Motta's often cryptic notes into fully understandable instructions and has transcribed the more than 250 musical examples in the original volume. Particularly valuable is an appendix containing finger exercises from a contemporaneous book by Pfeiffer, now long out of print. Bulow's teaching, which is in the Liszt tradition, is as vital today as it was more than one hundred years ago. Students, performers, and teachers have much to learn from his high standards and artistic insight.

About this title

Review:

"... should prove of interest to pianists seeking insights into the standard repertory, to researchers needing primary source material ... and to those interested in the performing traditions from the great age of Romantic pianism." - Notes " ... useful to pianists at all stages of learning."- Choice "[The book] will certainly ensure that Von Bulow's masterclasses continue to stimulate, educate and entertain pianists, musicians and all those interested in the history of musical interpretation into the next century." - Piano Journal "Because [Bulow's] responses to the full range of piano literature generally exhibit logic, insight, and good taste, present-day pianists will find much of value in his comments." - Notes " ... a very important publication for pianists and piano students." - Liszt Saeculum "A useful contribution to documentary evidence of study with master pedagogues." - Piano and Keyboard

About this edition

• Publisher: Indiana University Press
• Publication date: 1993
• ISBN 10: 0253368693
• ISBN 13: 9780253368690
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 196