Bartsk for Piano: A Survey of His Solo Literature [Hardcover]

David Yeomans (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1988

This chronological listing of more than 400 separate pieces and movement presents in practical and convenient form essential information about each of Bartok's piano works: the year of publication, the various editions in which it has been published, its timing, the level of difficulty from both a technical and an interpretative standpoint, and bibliographical references to it. To this basic material David Yeomans adds pertinent quotations from Bartok and other authorities, a discussion of the original folk material when applicable, a musical analysis, suggestions for performance, and comments on Bartok's own recordings of the work. An introductory chapter traces Bartok's career as a concert pianist and a piano teacher and includes his own performance directives for the interpretation of his piano music. Appendixes contain listings of Bartok's solo piano works in order of technical and musical difficulty, the major publishers of his works, editions and transcription by Bartok of other composers' works, and teaching editions and collections of Bartok's piano music. Teachers, students, and professional performers will find "Bartok for Piano" invaluable in planning courses of study and concerts.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

This work collects in one place an enormous number of "facts" about the piano music of Bartok. Each of nearly 400 pieces is timed; its difficulty, both technical and musical, assessed; its text, if based on folksong, translated; and its key, structure, and style, briefly analyzed. In addition to programming suggestions, there are fascinating remarks on Bartok's recordings of his works. No mere compendium of information can convey the immense musicality of Bartok's work, but for planning concerts and student repertoire, and as a survey of an important body of 20th-century music, this listing is valuable. Steven J. Squires, Univ. of North Carolina Lib., Chapel Hill
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"... detailed and thorough ... a wealth of information ... David Yeomans deserves our thanks for a job exceedingly well done." --American Music Teacher" " ... a must for pianists ... " --American Reference Book Annual "David Yeomans's study is certainly to be recommended for all good music libraries, pianists and students of Bart-k." --The Music Review "Although there are currently more than 15 books in print about composer Bela Bartok, this short volume is unique in its focus on his complete oeuvre for solo piano... Recommended for pianists, piano teachers, and students from lower-division undergraduate level and above." -Choice " ... the entire book is indispensable for any of us before we play another Bartok piece." -Clavier "This work collects in one place an enormous number of 'facts' about the piano music of Bartok ... for planning concerts and student repertoire, and as a survey of an important body of 20th-century music, this listing is valuable." --Library Journal. "... the entire book is indispensable for any of us before we play another Bartok piece." --Clavier

Product Details

• Hardcover: 176 pages
• Publisher: Indiana University Press (August 1988)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0253310067
• ISBN-13: 978-0253310064
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,429,439 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Essential for Bartok Lovers, March 24, 2001

By 

Michael A. Brooks (Lexington, KY USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: Bartók for Piano: A Survey of His Solo Literature (Paperback)

This book is a complete survey of all of Bela Bartok's solo piano literature. For each piece (including every piece in Mikrokosmos), it includes detailed notes on the music and its background, playing tips, and ratings of technical and musical difficulty. The book also includes information about Bartok's musical notation and style. Not only are we told which music publishers have each piece in print, but it also includes complete descriptions of the available anthologies of Bartok's music.

The information provided by pianist David Yeomans is of very high quality, and I found his difficulty ratings, in particular, extremely accurate and helpful when selecting works for practice. This book is a must for anyone who loves to play Bartok's music, no matter what your level of playing ability.

Only the information on the recordings is out of date, but this is rendered moot by the fact that all of Bartok's solo piano works are available on CD in the excellent renditions by Gyorgy Sandor.