Piano Highlights Brochure - Books

HAL LEONARD Books

Highlights and New Releases

2012-2013

Click on a publication to order or for more information.

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BOOKS – About Piano Music, Artists and Instruments

Books

About Piano Music, Artists and Instruments 88 Keys: The Making of a Steinway Piano

by Miles Chapin Illustrations by Rodica Prato Amadeus Press

From the selection and aging of wood to the delicate voicing of the finished instrument, this special reissue of 88 Keys relates the story behind the instrument’s intricate formation, as told by Miles Chapin, a fifth-generation descendant of Steinway’s founder, Henry Engelhard Steinway.

00331739 ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������$25.00

The Art of The Piano Its Performers, Literature, and Recordings Revised & Expanded Edition

by David Dubal Amadeus Press

his is the only complete and up-to-date book T containing every major pianist (thousands) and their essential repertoire and recordings. This third edition is completely revised, with hundreds more entries and updated information about existing entries.

The book contains a CD for the first time, featuring rare performances.

“For all those interested in the piano, this book will provide great insight and knowledge. It must be read by everyone who loves the instrument.”

– Vladimir Horowitz “The Art of the Piano is the best companion a piano aficionado could ask for.”

– Baltimore Sun 00331644 Book/CD Pack ���������������������������������������������������������������$37.99

Bach’s Keyboard Music A Listener’s Guide

by Victor Lederer

Unlocking the Masters Series Amadeus Press

Along with Beethoven’s sonatas and the purely idiomatic works for piano of Chopin and Debussy, the solo keyboard music of Johann Sebastian Bach represents the heart of the pianist’s repertory; in the more specialized field of music for the organ, Bach’s primacy seems beyond challenge. This listener’s guide to Bach’s music for the keyboard provides the interested amateur with a close but non-technical look at these two crucial parts of the master’s oeuvre. The composer’s tendency to work exhaustively in tightly structured formats – such as the 48 preludes and fugues of The Well-Tempered Clavier – provides a natural framework for this study; but the power, beauty, high polish, and occasionally the sheer strangeness of Bach’s imagination are carefully examined as well. Includes a CD. 00332830 Book/CD Pack................................................................$22.99

Beethoven’s Piano Music

New

A Listener’s Guide

by Victor Lederer

Unlocking the Masters Series Amadeus Press

Beethoven’s works for solo piano – the sonatas, variations, and bagatelles – and the five concertos for piano and orchestra stand at the heart of the repertory.

Beethoven’s Piano Music includes a movement-bymovement analysis of the 32 sonatas. Lederer also takes the reader through the most significant of the variations, as well as the bagatelles and piano concertos. Includes CD of performances by pianist Jenö Jandó.

00333060 Book/CD Pack ����������������������������������������������������������������$22.99

Chopin

A Listener’s Guide to the Master of the Piano

by Victor Lederer

Unlocking the Masters Series Amadeus Press

In clear, lively prose, author Victor Lederer guides the reader through the life and oeuvre of the sovereign master of the keyboard: his affair with the novelist George Sand, his close friendship with the great painter Eugène Delacroix, his early manifestations of genius. Most of all, he details the bold originality Chopin displayed throughout his tragically short career. Includes a CD. 00331699 Book/CD Pack ���������������������������������������������������������������$22.99

Evenings with Horowitz A Personal Portrait

by David Dubal Amadeus Press

Vladimir Horowitz set unique standards of artistry with the piano. He was the highest paid concert artist in history. Evenings with Horowitz reflects the struggles and triumphs of the maestro, a genius who also was fearful of old age and the loss of his powers.

00331093 Book/CD Pack ����������������������������$24.95

French Pianism: Second Edition A Historical Perspective

by Charles Timbrell Amadeus Press

F irst published to critical acclaim in 1992, this landmark study, now considerably expanded and revised, surveys the historical development, performance practices, and pedagogical philosophies of this vital school.

00331539 �����������������������������������������������������$27.95

The Independent Piano Teacher’s Studio Handbook

Everything You Need to Know for a Successful Teaching Studio

by Beth Gigante Klingenstein Hal Leonard

This handy guide is designed to help independent piano teachers in all aspects of running their own studios. From business practices such as setting rates, payment plans, taxes and marketing, to teaching tips involving technique, composition and sight reading, this unique, all-inclusive manual will be indispensable!

00296515 ........................................................................................$29.99

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BOOKS – Classical Music Music for Piano A Short History

by F.E. Kirby Amadeus Press

This historical survey focuses on music for piano solo but also includes important compositions for piano duet and two pianos. Scholarly yet readable, it covers the entire repertoire from the Renaissance to the late 20th century and incorporates a bibliography of 1,100 sources for further study.

00331578 �����������������������������������������������������$39.95

Playing the Beethoven Piano Sonatas

by Robert Taub Amadeus Press

Acclaimed pianist Robert Taub offers the insights of a passionate musician who performs all 32 of Beethoven’s well-loved piano sonatas in concert worldwide, bringing a “fresh perspective on Beethoven,” as the New York Times put it. In this book, he shares his intimate understanding of these works with listeners and players alike.

00332809 ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������$19.99

Tipbook Piano The Complete Guide

by Hugo Pinksterboer The Tipbook Company

Choosing a piano becomes a lot easier with the knowledge provided in Tipbook Piano, a guidebook that helps readers gain a better understanding of this complex, expensive instrument without going into “data overload.” How to evaluate an instrument’s timbre, how to judge and compare piano keyboards and pedals, the influence of the instrument’s dimensions, different types of cabinets, the difference between laminated and solid wood soundboards, accessories, hybrid and digital pianos, and why tuning and regulation are so important – everything is covered in this handy guide.

All Tip Books feature online audio examples through Tip Codes. When the corresponding code is entered into the free website (www.tipbook.com) audio examples of topics dicussed in the book come alive; including scales, performances, and terms.

00332777 ........................................................................................$14.99

Books About Classical Music Debussy

The Quiet Revolutionary

by Victor Lederer

Unlocking the Masters Series Amadeus Press

Author Victor Lederer explores the extraordinary sophistication and refinement of Debussy’s music, pointing out subtleties that otherwise could take years of careful listening to fully appreciate. He shows how the composer developed his own unmistakable sound from a variety of musical inspirations. Lederer also illustrates how Debussy’s exquisite music, with its shimmering tonalities and bold harmonies, parallels the impressionist movement in painting. An accompanying fulllength CD includes selections from the composer’s masterworks.

00331743 Book/CD Pack ���������������������������������������������������������������$22.95

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Hey Mom! Listen to This!

A Parent’s Guide to Music Lessons

by Elaine Schmidt Hal Leonard

Hey Mom! Listen to This! is a soup-to-nuts guide for parents as they enrich their child’s life with music. Starting with early-childhood Kindermusik, the book covers everything from strings, winds, and choral music to piano, guitar, drums, and ethnic instruments, presenting parents with information and options for renting or buying an instrument, selecting a private teacher, and finding performing ensembles for their child. The book continues past a child’s high school graduation, with suggestions for continued musical experience for those not pursuing a music degree as well as educational and career options for those interested in making their living in music.

Written in a conversational style and packed with comments from professional musicians and music teachers, the guide presents musical options available to parents and their children at every stage of their education, offering specific information on such topics as keeping children motivated to practice and helping them deal with performance nerves. By giving parents the tools to help their child find success and enjoyment in music, this book gives parents confidence that they are making informed decisions for and with their child for the best possible musical experience.

00332937 ........................................................................................$19.99

Mozart

An Introduction to the Music, the Man, and the Myths

by Roye E. Wates Amadeus Press

Wates explores 20 of Mozart’s major works in the context of his tragically brief life and the turbulent times in which he lived. Includes extensive biographical and historical information along with guided study of compositions representing every genre of 18th century music.

00332826 ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������$24.99

The Parent’s Guide to Effective Practicing

by Nancy O’Neill Breth Hal Leonard

This guide is a tool for parents to help their children build good practice habits. It brings together a variety of widely used practice tips, written in a way that is easy for children to understand. Parents who use this guide regularly, even if they have limited time or little knowledge of music, can greatly improve the quality of their children’s practice sessions. When practicing is interesting and fun, children get good results and want to practice more.

00296683 ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������$6.95

Playing (Less) Hurt

An Injury Prevention Guide for Musicians

by Janet Horvath Hal Leonard

Few books have explored the subtleties and complexities that musicians face in meeting the demands of solitary practice, hectic rehearsal schedules, challenging repertoire, performance pressures, awkward postures, and other physical strains, which have left a trail of injured, hearing-impaired, and frustrated musicians. Playing (Less) Hurt addresses this need with specific tools to avoid and alleviate injury.

Impressively researched, the book is invaluable not only to musicians, but also to the coaches and medical professionals who work with them.

00332931 ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������$29.99

BOOKS ABOUT CLASSICAL MUSIC Schubert’s Instrumental Music A Listener’s Guide

by John Bell Young

Unlocking the Masters Series Amadeus Press

John Bell Young explores some of the richest and most memorable instrumental music ever written. How did this prolific musician compose more than a thousand masterpieces in a career that spanned less than two decades? Young’s colorful analysis of Schubert’s greatest orchestral, piano and chamber works deftly illuminates these issues.

The accompanying CD features superb performances by Claudio Arrau.

00332766 Book/CD Pack................................................................$22.99

Schumann – A Chorus of Voices

by John C. Tibbetts Amadeus Press

Schumann – A Chorus of Voices is a significant contribution to Schumann’s 200th-birthday year, 2010. In these hitherto unpublished interviews and conversations, more than thirty biographers, musicians, critics, and commentators offer their own unique perspectives on Schumann’s life, work, controversies, and place in the history of Romantic music. Gathered by Schumann scholar John C. Tibbetts during more than thirty years of travel and research, these intimate and informal talks take the reader “backstage” to the rehearsal hall, scholar’s study, archive, and music festival.

Included are musicians Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Erich Leinsdorf, Jörg Demus, Emanuel Ax, Elly Ameling, Thomas Hampson, Steven Isserlis, Marin Alsop; scholars and biographers Jacques Barzun, Nancy B. Reich, Peter Ostwald, Leon Plantinga, and Larry Todd; critics and commentators Martin Bookspan, Eugenia Zuckerman, and Maurice Sendak; and archivists Gerd Nauhaus, Ute Baer, and Joachim Draheim. The accompanying disc features Van Cliburn Gold Medalist Jose Feghali performing and discussing Schumann’s Carnaval, Opus 9, and pianist Ronald Brautigam performing the complete Noveletten, Opus 21 – not available anywhere else!

00332936 Book/CD Pack................................................................$34.99

The Secret Life of Musical Notation Defying Interpretive Traditions

by Roberto Poli Amadeus Press

Roberto Poli presents original discoveries that have generated ground breaking insights based on years of research and performance: long-standing interpretations of commonly encountered musical signs and symbols, from as early as the 1770s, may fail to reveal the composers’ intended meanings. These misconstrued readings are due precisely to traditions themselves – traditions that have rested largely upon received knowledge rather than historical accuracy.

Restoring the original connotation of signs and symbols in the scores can bring us closer to practices that have not gained access to our vocabulary because of decades of misinformed playing and fallacious scholarship. By bringing us closer to intended practices, the restoration of these meanings can give us greater interpretive insight and freedom.

00332939 ........................................................................................$24.99

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Thesaurus of Scales and Melodic Patterns

by Nicolas Slonimsky Music Sales America

A comprehensive reference book of scales and melodic patterns, arranged in the form of piano scales and melodic studies, but adaptable for all instruments. Since its publication in 1947, great musicians and composers of all genres – from Arnold Schoenberg and Virgil Thomson to John Coltrane and Freddie Hubbard – have sworn by this legendary volume and its comprehensive vocabulary of melodic patterns for composition and improvisation.

14033441 ........................................................................................$29.99

Unlocking the Masters Deluxe Set

Bach’s Keyboard Music, Beethoven’s Symphonies, and Brahms, A Listener’s Guide With CDs of Performances Amadeus Press

he big three – Bach, Beethoven and Brahms – all T together in one deluxe set! Each volume presents an in-depth exploration of the composer’s world of musical intimacies in an easy-to-read, nuts-and-bolts manner.

00333065 Boxed Set, Book/CD Packs ��������������������������������������������$55.00

Working with Bernstein

by Jack Gottlieb Amadeus Press

As they engage with one of the 20th century’s most provocative musical personalities, studies of the multifaceted Leonard Bernstein will always proffer new insights into the human condition. But this is the first book on Bernstein to be written by a composer, and the first by a colleague and friend who worked intimately with the maestro for more than three decades. Jack Gottlieb has been described as Bernstein’s amanuensis and as the preeminent Bernstein scholar. This memoir presents fresh, sensitive, and revealing information about the everyday life of the maestro in Part One, featuring reminiscences peppered with anecdotes, humor, and stories by others. Part Two includes Gottlieb’s commentaries and analysis of Bernstein’s works, which have appeared in program notes for concerts by many of the world’s orchestras, as jacket notes for recordings, and as articles in journals and elsewhere, beginning with the New York Philharmonic tribute “A Valentine for Leonard Bernstein” on February 13, 1961. Preceded by updated remarks, this collection allows those seeking firsthand information on Bernstein’s compositions to find all of Gottlieb’s valuable scholarship in one place.

00332923 ........................................................................................$24.99

order today!

Order all the titles in this catalog and more from your favorite music retailer or visit halleonard.com

BOOKS ABOUT Musical Theatre The Worlds of Johann Sebastian Bach

What Music Means to Me

by Raymond Erickson Amadeus Press

The Worlds of J.S. Bach offers both traditional and new perspectives on the life and work of the man who is arguably the central figure in the Western musical tradition. It appears at a time when, because of the fall of the Iron Curtain, extraordinary new discoveries are being made about Bach and his family at an increasing rate – thus this book is able to incorporate important information and images not available even in the recent anniversary year of 2000.

After making the case for the universality of Bach’s art as an epitome of Western civilization, The Worlds of J.S. Bach considers in broad terms the composer’s social, political, and artistic environment, its influence on him, and his interaction with it. Renowned specialists in history, religion, architecture, literature, theater, and dance offer the perspectives of these disciplines as they relate to Bach’s milieu, while leading Bach specialists from both the U.S. and Germany focus on the man himself. The book is an outgrowth of the “celebrated” (Boston Globe) multidisciplinary Academies sponsored by the Aston Magna Foundation for Music and the Humanities with support from the National Endowment for the Humanities.

00331943 Hardcover.......................................................................$34.99

The Perfect Wrong Note

Learning to Trust Your Musical Self

by William Westney Amadeus Press

In this groundbreaking book, prize-winning pianist and noted educator William Westney helps readers discover their own path to the natural, transcendent fulfillment of making music. Drawing on experience, psychological insight, and wisdom ancient and modern, Westney shows how to trust yourself and set your own musicality free. He offers healthy alternatives for lifelong learning and suggests significant change in the way music is taught. For example, playing a wrong note can be constructive, useful, even enlightening.

Practicing, in Westney’s view, is a lively, honest, adventurous, and spiritually rewarding enterprise, and it can (and should) meet with daily success, which empowers us to grow even more. Teachers, professionals, and students of any instrument will benefit from this unique guide, which brings artistic vitality, freedom, and confidence within everyone’s reach.

00331733 ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������$19.99

Photography by Richard Rejino Hal Leonard

If you have ever questioned the power of music to influence individuals’ lives and to shape our society as a whole, your doubts will be erased upon reading this book.

Each story is unique and personal, but the over-arching truth is that the pursuit of excellence in music makes a profound difference in people’s lives. Through the exquisite photographs, you can see into each person’s soul. Through the intimate and revealing personal statements, you can feel the pulse of each subject’s heart. After just a short encounter you will know what makes that person who he or she is. As the fine arts continue to struggle for recognition in our educational system, the material contained within these pages is a timely testament to the importance and validity of music to make a positive and profound difference in the world we inhabit.

00333113 Hardcover/DVD Pack �����������������������������������������������������$29.99 00333112 Softcover/DVD Pack ������������������������������������������������������$14.99

Your Musical Child Inspiring Kids to Play and Sing for Keeps

by Jessica Baron Turner, M.A. String Letter Publishing

What makes a child fall in love with learning to play music? How does talent develop? When is the right time to start lessons? Which instrument is the best fit? Why is practice so challenging and what can parents do to keep kids musically motivated? Where can a parent learn about music programs, camps, books, recordings, and other important resources?

This groundbreaking book answers these questions and many others, serving up healthy portions of insight, humor, research, practical advice, fresh ideas and heartfelt encouragement for making the most of musical development from pregnancy through the elementary years. It provides everything parents need to nurture children so they may begin to discover their own unique voices. If one book can keep kids from quitting, this is it!

00330789 ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������$14.95

Visit www.halleonard.com for complete contents lists and selected audio files of recorded selections.

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