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Summary
Rich in detail and written with wit and humor, the book is a useful reference for piano professionals and students, and equally suitable for any beginner interested in the piano who wants to learn about the styles and works of the great pianists—essential reading for anyone new to classical music.
Editor's review
Who it's for
A good fit for
- Classical music lovers, especially readers interested in the history of twentieth-century piano performance
- Jazz fans who want to understand how a classical master delved into the heart of jazz and reshaped its boundaries
- Art students and creators who resonate with the themes of "rebelling against tradition" and "artistic freedom"
- Anyone who enjoys biographies of complex, contradictory, uncompromising geniuses
Not a good fit for
- Readers expecting a standard, step-by-step, richly detailed linear biography
- Readers seeking only light entertainment who lack patience for in-depth musical analysis and philosophical discussion
Reading tips
- Listen first to Gulda's recording of Beethoven's "Moonlight Sonata" alongside his jazz improvisations, then read for a stronger contrast in listening experience
- While reading, pay attention to the keywords "mask," "play," and "improvisation," which are key to understanding Gulda's personality and art
- The discography and work list at the end of the book are highly valuable references and can serve as a guide for further exploration
About the publisher
Shanghai Music Publishing House focuses on music and dance books and textbooks, with a brand identity built around piano literature and music classics. Its catalogue of about 592 titles includes categories such as film and television and theory. Representative works include the Norton series on music history by period—Twentieth-Century Music, Romantic Music, Classical Music and Baroque Music—as well as Feinberg on the Art of Piano Playing, A History of European Music and Beethoven's Symphonies: An Artistic Vision. Its contributors include authors and scholars such as Philip Downs, Leon Plantinga, Robert Morgan and Richard Hoppin, along with translators and scholars Liu Danni, Chen Hongduo, Gan Fangmeng and Liang Qing. The press emphasizes translations of Western music scholarship while also supporting Chinese-language writing on music history and theory, giving its list a core strength in period histories, style histories and performance art; public information on other areas is limited.
Contents
- 版权信息
- 弗里德里希·古尔达
- 西西弗斯式的生活
- 伪巴罗克风格
- 我有两个挚爱
- 巴克豪斯的接班人？
- 三十二首奏鸣曲
- 鹰马兽
- 墓志铭
- 亲爱的法兰西
- 1993年7月31日于蒙彼利埃
- 注释
- 演奏曲目
- 唱片信息与录像资料
- 影视作品索引
- 唱片标签索引
- 艺术家索引
- 乐队索引
- 乐团索引
FAQ
Is this an authoritative biography of Gulda?
Does it require advanced musical knowledge to understand?
What aspects of Gulda does this book mainly cover?
Comments
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About the author
Piero Rattalino is an author known for writing biographies of pianists. Public information about him is limited, and his nationality, dates of birth and death, and educational background are not clearly documented. Thirteen of his works are held in the collection, most notably the twelve-volume series Great Pianists, along with dedicated biographies of Horowitz, Gould, Rachmaninoff, Brendel, Rubinstein, Michelangeli, and Backhaus. These works are generally classified under general biography, with some touching on theory and film and television, reflecting the author's sustained attention to the twentieth-century piano performance tradition. Rattalino's writing focuses on the lives, artistic styles, and recorded legacies of his subjects. Aimed at general music readers, it is plain in language and combines historical sources with anecdotes, offering Chinese readers an accessible and systematic introduction to the history of piano performance.
Yang Keqiang is an author about whom limited public information is available. Only one work by this author is currently included in the collection, namely Gurda. According to the existing classification, this work falls under the category of film and television, suggesting that its content may relate to film and television art, figures in the field, or related cultural topics. Because reliable information is lacking regarding the author's nationality, dates of birth and death, educational background, and creative experience, no speculation is made here. Based on the available clues, Yang Keqiang's writing appears to center on the film and television field, and the author comes to readers' attention through Gurda. Writing in this category usually requires some command of visual texts, figures, and industry contexts, but the specific style and choice of subject matter cannot be judged without further material. Overall, Yang Keqiang remains an author with a small number of works, and their creative profile awaits more public information; readers may learn more about their areas of interest and expressive characteristics through Gurda itself.
