Customer Reviews

Essay on the True Art of Playing Keyboard Instruments

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The previous reviewer is referring to "part two" of this text, the portion which deals with counterpoint, etc. However, players of J. S. Bach will especially appreciate the first part of the text, which has a large chapter explaining the various embellishments which one finds in J. S. Bach's works; it is a fine reference for anyone playing music with Baroque markings for trills, turns, mordents, etc.

Interesting to see how J.S. Bach's perhaps most important composer son, who had a large influence on Mozart, viewed the art of figured bass and counterpoint. Apparently the Bachs were aware of Rameau's theory of harmony and root progressions, but preferred the contrapuntal approach to harmonization. This book bears serious study by those interested in music theory and composition.

I'm a mexican piano student, and my teacher told me about this book. Now I'm reading it and I think it's a really nice book. If you want to develop your interpretation, ask to Emanuels Bach and all your answers will be in this great book!

If you are interested in exploring contrapuntal music at the piano... this is the book.

I had knowledge of this book via with my guitar teacher Ted Greene who always had this somewhere in sight. I browsed through it a few times over the years noticing all his hand written notes and pages annotations... it was a beyond my scope at the time, but after spending 10 years in studying Bach on classical guitar and the last 7 years immersed in the piano and contrapuntal music... I finally purchased. I wish I would have purchased this 15 years ago. Not only is there abundant technical information on practice and application of the correct way to physically play the instrument... but CPE Bach's suggestions and gems of insight into his philosophies of playing music in general are abundant & poignant. He speaks in great detail about being musical... not just technically proficiency. What a concept? This is not some 'hey yes you too can play the piano without reading a note in just two short decades' type of book... it's the real deal and worth the time necessary to navigate to fully absorb. Music books are extra special in my opinion... the more time you spend with them, internalizing conceptual ideas, even if it's content & concepts light years above where you are at... the concepts will eventually sink in bit by bit generating deeper understanding and enjoyment in playing & creating music.

Cheers.

This an historically significant work worthwhile for a number of reasons--of course--, but I am particularly interested in its treatment of figured bass. Why? Although it was composed after Rameau published his revolutionary theory of root progression, C.P.E. Bach repudiated Rameau's theory, and this work remains untouched by it. Consequently, reading this is the easist way to get a feel for how things stood before Rameau and (ironically for C.P.E. Bach) to appreciate truly Rameau's achievement.

Also recommended: PENTATONIC SCALES FOR THE JAZZ-ROCK KEYBOARDIST by Jeff Burns.