The (Well) Informed Piano: Artistry and Knowledge

by Miguel G. Henriques

Overview

The (Well) Informed Piano addresses the technical, musical, artistic, ethical, and philosophical issues in piano methodology. Adding a new perspective and approach criteria to piano methodology, this book is essential reading for musicians, teachers, scholars, and music students. This text maintains continuity with the major contributions of Ludwig Deppe, Tobias Matthay, Grigory Kogan, Heinrich Neuhaus and George Kochevitsky.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780761860952
Publisher:	University Press of America
Publication date:	03/18/2014
Pages:	226
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.70(d)

About the Author

Miguel Henriques, music scholar, enjoys a successful professional career both as a concert pianist and as conductor. He studied at the Tchaikovsky Conservatory in Moscow and earned a Master’s degree in piano performance at the University of Kansas. He has been a professor of piano at the Escola Superior de Música de Lisboa since 1990.

Table of Contents

Preface
Operative Thoughts
Units and Wholeness
Issues on Music Interpretation’s Ethics
The Approach to a Musical Piece
The Performance Project
A Performance Study Syllabus
Form, Aesthetic and Style
Repertoires
Pianistic Technical Learnings
Questioning
Sound and Concept: A Complicity
Study of Components
The Mind
Piano Practice Work
Daily Routine
Diversified Finger Exercises
Rapid Passages
Rhythm
Sound Quality
Other Specific Practice Work
Piano Actions Heavy and Light
The Consciousness of Love
The Spheres in The Loser
The 24 Preludes by Lopes Graça
A View on António Fragoso’s Music
Piano Performance Pedagogy
An Individual Relationship
Bibliography
Illustrations Index
Musical Examples Index
Index
About the Author

Editorial Reviews

"A fascinating, thought-provoking book which could benefit not only pianists, but also all musicians and music lovers — a worthy contribution."

Vladimir Feltsman

"I gladly recommend the attentive reading of The (Well) Informed Piano to the young (and not-so-young) pianist, and to take advantage from what the wide picture of the book offers.
I find this publication to be timely and helpful."

Dmitry Paperno

"This book offers readers not only a European based approach to piano interpretation and teaching, but also presents some philosophical matters that connect the organic growth of learning (or re-learning) work to the process of the pianist's own human development. Author-pianist-pedagogue Miguel Henriques does not lose sight of the technical issues either. Serious-minded pianists may enjoy the challenge of this thought-provoking tome."

Nancy Lee Harper

"Mr. Henriques book is a brave attempt to coordinate all aspects — mental, neurological, physiological and anatomical — and the result is a work containing much wisdom, whilst being commendably objective. His discussion of teaching, in particular, is relevant to all musicians. It is undoubtedly an important contribution to the literature of piano playing, teaching and learning."

Richard Beauchamp