The Complete Collaborator: The Pianist as Partner

by Martin Katz

Overview

Take more than forty years of partnering celebrated soloists in concerts all over the world, add nearly thirty years of teaching the art of accompanying, and you have the qualifications for such an audacious title as The Complete Collaborator. All the tools for understanding and executing first-class collaborative piano are here, paired with audio recordings of many of the musical examples performed by the author himself, along with two vocalists, on a companion website.

The obvious topics: breathing, languages, flexibility, and creating a collaborative atmosphere are discussed at length, articulated clearly for the curious novice and proving beneficial even for the experienced professional. In addition, two significant chapters deal with orchestral accompaniment, reflecting today's requirements for any professional accompanist. Oft-neglected details such as beginning a piece together, telling stories with piano solos, tuning, and balance between the players are also covered herein.

Dubbed the "Dean of Accompanists" by the Los Angeles Times, this teacher of sold-out masters' classes presents his material clearly and incisively, but always with the humor and wit for which he is known. Whether it be read by the curious novice, the amateur who wants to accompany as best he can, or the experienced professional seeking confirmation or a new look at the role of any partner, Martin Katz's The Complete Collaborator is all one needs.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780195367959
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
Publication date:	06/01/2009
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	304
Product dimensions:	6.40(w) x 9.30(h) x 0.90(d)

About the Author

Martin Katz is an Arthur Schnabel Collegiate Professor of Collaborative Piano at the University of Michigan. He has been dubbed "dean of accompanists" by The Los Angeles Times, was the 1998 recipient of Musical America's "Accompanist of the Year" award. He has given recitals at Carnegie Hall, appearances at the Salzburg Festival, tours in Australia and Japan and performances at La Scala, the Paris Opera and the Edinburgh Festival. His work has been recorded on the RCA, CBS, Cetra, BMG, EMI, Phillips and Decca labels. The Metropolitan, Houston and Ottawa operas have performed his editions of Baroque and bel canto operas of Handel, Vivaldi and Rossini. At Michigan, he instructs ensemble pianists, coaches singers, teaches vocal repertory, and conducts opera productions.

Table of Contents

1. An Introduction: What is Collaboration Anyway? 2. Breathing and Singing3. The Word is the Thing4. The Pianist as Designer5. The Pianist as Director6. Kitchen Tools7. The Bother of Balance8. The Steinway Philharmonic9. More about Orchestral Playing10. Odds and Ends11. Is there Life after Singers? 12. In Conclusion: A Pep-Talk

Editorial Reviews

"A bible for accompanists/ collaborators!"—Marilyn Horne

"This book is exactly like its author: brilliant, witty, passionate, practical, and utterly compelling. Every pianist will want to read it; every singer and instrumentalist who will ever collaborate with a pianist should mine its gems."—Dr. Alan L. Smith, Director of Keyboard Collaborative Arts, University of Southern California, Thornton School of Music

"It comes as no surprise that our beloved Martin Katz has found yet another way to give greatness to the world of music, this time through his most wonderful book, guide, missal, The Complete Collaborator. His is a knowledge that comes from the heart, and this latest work reflects beautifully not just his expertise but the passion behind it, the deep and true love of music and music making that has earned him the prestige, affection and respect of all of his fortunate "Collaboratees!"— Frederica von Stade

"As to be expected, Martin Katz has given us a good and timely book, excellently written and useful in many ways. Highly recommended. " —Vladimir Feltsman

"The book's usefulness is augmented by a correlated website that offers over 100 recorded examples, including some which are performances of entire songs. Katz deftly demonstrates, with the aid of two singers, the skills that earn him accolades as a collaborative pianist...The knowledge will benefit singers in their performances. For voice pedagogues...the information is invaluable, both in accompanying lessons and preparing studenst to work with pianists...HIghly recommended." —Journal of Singing

From the Publisher