Customer Reviews

Ornamentation According to C.P.E. Bach and J.J. Quantz

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Dr. Palmer has exhaustively researched ornamentation from the classical era, synthesizing the works of Quantz and Bach and contributing a considerable amount of original scholarship. The many graphical examples of ornamentation in the book make the narrative very easy to follow. You'll want to keep your flute nearby as you read this book, so that you can experiment with the affects recommended by Dr. Palmer.

This book has much useful information. However, the title implies that it is a general discussion of ornamentation when, in fact, it mostly deals with the ornamentation found in CPE Bach's A Minor Flute Concerto. There is only a short discussion of ornamentation not found in this concerto. Also, many of the musical examples do NOT include the original score, only how the author would realize the ornamentation. This is not helpful if you don't own the 'A Minor Concerto' or if you want to apply what is discussed in the book to other music. So, while the information is generally interesting, a more apt title would be something like: "Realizing the Ornamentation in CPE Bach's A Minor Flute Concerto: Comparing the views of CPE Bach and JJ Quantz."