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A Natural History of the Piano: The Instrument, the Music, the Musicians--from Mozart to Modern Jazz and Everything in Between
A Natural History of the Piano The Instrument the Music the Musiciansfrom Mozart to Modern Jazz and Everything in Between Author:Stuart Isacoff In this splendidly engrossing and vividly descriptive book, Stuart Isacoff?performer,critic, teacher?celebrates the piano, and the composers and performers who have made it their own. Here is the instruent in all its complexity and beauty?one of the great accomplishments of the Western musical tradition. — Isacoff describes the ongoing evolution ... more »of the piano and how its sound gives rise to emotion and individual artistry. He illuminates the groundbreaking music of Mozart, Beethoven, and Liszt. He analyzes the breathtaking techniques of Vladimir Horowitz, Glenn Gould, Oscar Peterson, and many other pianists, and he gives musicians including Alfred Brendel and Murray Perahia the opportunity to discuss their techniques. Isacoff delineates how classical music influenced jazz as it progressed from ragtime and stride to Fats Waller, Duke Ellington, Herbie Hancock, and Cecil Taylor.
With this wide-ranging, beautifully illustrated volume, Isacoff has given us a must-have for music lovers, pianists, and the armchair musician.« less