Pianos and Pianism: Frederic Horace Clark and the Quest for Unity of Mind, Body, and Universe

by Robert Andres

Overview

Pianos and Pianism is an assessment of Clark's work and his place in the history of the development of piano technique. The central part of the book deals with his Harmonie-piano, a 2-part keyboard construction designed to be played while standing. In considerable detail, the author discusses the aspects of this twenty-five year development, the product of Clark's philosophy on technique— that the pianist's musical sensibilities should be impeded as little as possible by the physical demands of playing.

Frederic Horace Clark stands in a quite isolated, but worthy, niche in the history of music and the time has come now to cast away old prejudice and remember his ideas for the benefit of all humanity.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780810840461
Publisher:	Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Publication date:	08/07/2001
Pages:	192
Product dimensions:	5.72(w) x 8.80(h) x 0.69(d)

About the Author

Robert Andres is currently working in the Coordinating Office of Artistic Education, Funchal, Madeira, Portugal.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 List of Figures Chapter 2 Foreword Chapter 3 Preface Chapter 4 Introduction Chapter 5 1 The Life of Frederic Horace Clark Chapter 6 2 Anna Steiniger's Life and Education Chapter 7 3 Clark's Writing's Chapter 8 4 The Religion and the Science of the "Cherubim-Doctrine" and of the Harmonie Chapter 9 5 The New Technique Chapter 10 6 The Harmonie-piano: "Soul-Mirror" Chapter 11 7 The Philosophy's of Pure Pianism and Its Consequences Chapter 12 8 The Three Impromptus Op. 4: A Compendium of the Clark-Steiniger Piano School Chapter 13 9 Clark and His Contemporaries Chapter 14 10 Today's Perspective Chapter 15 11 Conclusion Chapter 16 Appendix A: F. H. Clark's Concert Programs Chapter 17 Appendix B: F.H. Clark's Impromptu Op. 4 No. 3 "Hiawatha" Chapter 18 Appendix C: F. H. Clark's Edition of Six Etudes by Cramer Chapter 19 Bibliography Chapter 20 Index Chapter 21 About the Author

Editorial Reviews

[O]ut of the many versions of Frederic Horace Clark's life, here is a rational and wholly believable account, devoid of the many contradictions to be found in other 'versions.' To read it in all its detail is something of a revelation, but it is also an intense study of all the available details that have been put together so painstakingly and so convincingly.

From the foreword by Dr. Peter Katin

A brilliant revival of the ideas and the pedagogical influence of the enigmatic Frederic Horace Clark. Andres' thorough and sympathetic research convincingly places Clark's original and controversial concepts at the center of the historical development of piano playing. A remarkable addition to the field, it is also engaging reading for anyone interested in the adversities of human life. Highly recommended.

Fernando Laires

A music scholar now working in Portugal, Andres says that the US writer and musician was one of the select few in history who had a real message for humanity, however obscure and incongruous it might have seemed at the time. He argues that Clarke (1860-1917) actually started many of the developments in modern piano technique, study, and interpretation, but was too focused on his work to make his ideas accessible to his age. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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