Landowska on Music
by Denise Restout, Robert Hawkins
Book Summary Information
Author: Denise Restout, Robert HawkinsEdition: Paperback
Published: 1969-06
ISBN: 0812812336
Publisher: Stein & Day Pub
Book Reviews of Landowska on Music
Book Review: I'm not sure
Summary: 4 Stars
I am surprised that such a renowned performer would not have more to say, especially in a book this thick. Of the three sections of the book, the second section consists of comments on individual baroque and classical works. These comments consist of little more than poetic images. If you want a technical analysis of the two-part inventions, you would do better with the book by Johnson (0819125830). If you want a technical analysis of the Well-Tempered Clavier, you would do better with the book by Ledbetter (0300097077).
I also take issue with Landowska's cynicism. Throughout the 410 pages of "Landowska on Music," she doesn't say a word of praise for any contemporary performer besides herself.
However, I was relieved to find that someone else shared some pet peeves which I thought might be mere delusions on my part. Such peeves include:
--transcriptions. When I voice disapproval of transcriptions, some wise guy always reminds me that Bach himself wrote transcriptions. Landowska attempts to deal with this argument on page 230.
--monster compositions and monster performances. It seems that some composers hope to write a greater symphony than Beethoven's Ninth just by a symphony which is longer, louder, and heavier in instrumentation.
--Italian markings such as "dolce" and "espressivo." When I see such markings, I suspect the composer of dumping his own responsibility onto the performer.
--glissando shifts on the violin. I have studied violin, but I didn't make glissando shifts except when they were marked.
--damper pedal addiction. For evidence of this, just click on some piano solos on youtube.
--excerpts. Landowska doesn't openly express disapproval of this practice, but she hints at it a couple of times. If I hear "O Fortuna" or "Nessun dorma" one more time, I'll scream.
It is difficult, then, to say how much of Landowska`s negativity is warranted and how much is not. I once met a former student of Landowska's who commented on her cynicism. I commented that I was offended by her quip, "You play Bach your way and I'll play it his." He replied, "Oh, but she said that to someone who really deserved it."
Book Subjects
- Arts & Photography
- Audiobooks on Cassette
- Audiobooks on CD
- Biographies & Memoirs
- Business & Investing
- Children's Books
- Comics & Graphic Novels
- Computers & Internet
- Cooking, Food & Wine
- e-Books
- Engineering
- Entertainment
- Gay & Lesbian
- Health, Mind & Body
- History
- Home & Garden
- Horror
- Law
- Literature & Fiction
- Medicine
- Mystery & Thrillers
- Nonfiction
- Outdoors & Nature
- Parenting & Families
- Professional & Technical
- Reference
- Religion & Spirituality
- Romance
- Science
- Science Fiction & Fantasy
- Sports
- Teens
- Travel
Most talked about in Books and e-Books
Matters of the Heartby Danielle Steel
Delacorte Press; Published: 2009-06-02; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $1.49
Price in other shops:
The 7 Habits Of Highly Effective Teensby Sean Covey
Fireside; Published: 1998-10-09; Paperback; Book
Best price: $4.21
Price in other shops:
The City & The Cityby China Mieville
Del Rey; Published: 2009-05-26; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $14.99
Price in other shops:
Empire of Illusion: The End of Literacy and the Triumph of Spectacleby Chris Hedges
Nation Books; Published: 2009-07-13; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $13.18
Price in other shops:
You Better Not Cry: Stories for Christmasby Augusten Burroughs
St. Martin's Press; Published: 2009-10-27; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $11.87
Price in other shops:
Handle with Care: A Novelby Jodi Picoult
Washington Square Press; Published: 2009-09-15; Paperback; Book
Best price: $9.27
Price in other shops:
Conquer the Crash: You Can Survive and Prosper in a Deflationary Depressionby Robert R. Prechter Jr.
Wiley; Published: 2009-11-09; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $16.49
Price in other shops:
Eating the Dinosaurby Chuck Klosterman
Scribner; Published: 2009-10-20; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $14.15
Price in other shops:
Where the Wild Things Areby Maurice Sendak
HARPER COLLINS PUBLISHERS; Harper Collins; Published: 1988-11-09; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $6.45
Price in other shops:
Under the Dome: A Novelby Stephen King
Scribner; Published: 2009-11-10; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $14.20
Price in other shops:
Similar books summaries and other product reviews
Landowska: Uncommon VisionaryRelease date: 2003-10-21; DVD
Best price: $19.70
Price in other shops: