The composer-pianists : Hamelin and The Eight / by Robert Rimm ; foreword by Stephen Hough.

Author/creator Rimm, Robert
Format Book
Publication InfoPortland, Or. : Amadeus Press, 2002.
Description340 pages : portraits ; 24 cm
Subjects
Hamelin, Marc-André, 1961---Criticism and interpretation.
Alkan, Charles-Valentin, 1813-1888--Criticism and interpretation.
Sorabji, Kaikhosru Shapurji, 1892-1988--Criticism and interpretation.
Busoni, Ferruccio, 1866-1924--Criticism and interpretation.
Godowsky, Leopold, 1870-1938--Criticism and interpretation.
Feĭnberg, S. (Samuil), 1890-1962--Criticism and interpretation.
Scriabin, Aleksandr Nikolayevich, 1872-1915--Criticism and interpretation.
Medtner, Nikolay Karlovich, 1880-1951--Criticism and interpretation.
Rachmaninoff, Sergei, 1873-1943--Criticism and interpretation.
Pianists--Biography.
Composers--Biography.

Contents Alkan and Sorabji: hermetic genius -- Busoni and Godowsky: revered and reviled -- Feinberg and Scriabin: humanity and mysticism -- Medtner and Rachmaninov: romantic compatriots -- From Alkan to Hamelin -- The pitfalls of music criticism -- The liability of virtuosity -- The erotic muse -- The art of transcription -- Toward the future: the piano, the composer-pianist, and the eight.
Abstract The recordings made by Marc-Andre Hamelin in recent years have cast new light on an extraordinary group of composers - Alkan, Busoni, Feinberg, Godowsky, Medtner, Rachmaninov, Scriabin, and Sorabji - whose works heralded a Golden Age of virtuosic writing for the piano. The Eight, as the author has termed these composer-pianists, have much in common, traits shared in our own age with Marc-Andre Hamelin, their foremost interpreter. For all their evident differences of age, nationality, and philosophy, they each created music of unprecedented ingenuity - often complex and of immense scale - that stretched the limits of the piano's capabilities. And all were genuine virtuosos with the technical resources to play these demanding works in public. The volume includes rare photographs and concludes with an extensive bibliography, listings of the complete solo piano works of The Eight, and discographies of their solo piano recordings. In exploring the art of those who knew their instrument both as composers and as pianists, this book serves, in the words of pianist Stephen Hough, "both as a fascinating, exhaustive study of the riches of the past and as a stimulating inspiration for the future."
General note"Composer-pianists ... collectively referred to Alkan, Sorabji, Busoni, Godowsky, Feinberg, Scriabin, Medtner, and Rachmaninov as The Eight"--Preface.
Bibliography noteIncludes bibliographical references (pages 326-334), discographies (pages 294-312), and index.
LCCN 2001046425
ISBN1574670727

Availability

Library Location Call Number Status Item Actions
Music Music Stacks ML397 .R56 2002 ✔ Available Place Hold