Eighteenth-Century Keyboard Music (Studies in Musical Genres and Repertories) [Hardcover]

Robert L. Marshall (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1994 | ISBN-10: 0028713559 | ISBN-13: 978-0028713557

18th-Century Piano Music focuses on the core composers of the 18th century repertoire. The book begins with an overview of the keyboard instruments that were in use during the period, and a chapter on performance practice. Then, the book proceeds through each major composer, beginning with Bach, and then progressing through the French Masters, Scarlatti, C.P.E. and J. C. Bach, Haydn, Mozart, and Early Beethoven. Each chapter is written by a well-known scholar in the field, and includes history, musical examples, and analysis.

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Robert Marshall is Professor Emeritus of Music at Brandeis University. He lives in Boston, Massachusetts. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 384 pages
• Publisher: Shirmer Books (April 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0028713559
• ISBN-13: 978-0028713557
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.4 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,833,781 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good book on an important period of transition, June 20, 2005

By 

Obi "Obi wan liberali" (SLC, UT) - See all my reviews

This review is from: 18th-Century Keyboard Music (Routledge Studies in Musical Genre) (Paperback)

The book does a good job of explaining and surveying the various types of keyboards, composers and styles during the 18th century. From the high baroque works of J.S. Bach and Scarlatti to the early works of Beethoven, this book discusses the evolution of keyboard music during the pivotal 18th Century. Excellent chapters on C.P.E. Bach, on Haydn, and the Italian style I found particularly interesting. Ironic that the leading proponent of the Italian style during the century would be the German Johann Christian Bach whose stylistic influence on Mozart appears to have been profound.

One of the better books I've read on objectively looking at the direct influences, or lack thereof, of J.S. Bach on C.P.E. Bach and C.P.E. Bach on Haydn. The author makes a strong and compelling case for evaluating each composer in their own right because of how much they diverge from each other in so many fundamental ways in how they used the keyboard instruments of their day.

For those music lovers who find the wide variety of keyboard music from the 18th Century fascinating, this book does a good job of putting it all in the context of the times and influences of the period as well as acknowledges the creative genius of so many composers who represent the period.

5.0 out of 5 stars very informative and interesting, June 15, 2010

By 

Marika F. Hoyt "musician" (Madison, WI USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: 18th-Century Keyboard Music (Routledge Studies in Musical Genre) (Paperback)

I was very pleased to have add this book to my library. I perform early music fairly regularly, but as a string player I'm not all that clear about the various types of early keyboard instruments. I will feel a little more knowledgeable for my next rehearsal!