The Great Pianists is a seminal work of music history written by Harold C. Schonberg, the former senior music critic for The New York Times . First published in 1963 and revised in 1987, the book is widely considered the definitive popular history of piano playing. Unlike technical academic treatises, Schonberg’s work is a lively, witty, and accessible biography of the instrument's most legendary practitioners, tracing the evolution of piano virtuosity from the early 19th century to the modern era.
Analysis of Sergei Rachmaninoff, Josef Hofmann, and Vladimir Horowitz. 📥 How to Access "The Great Pianists" Legally
Major platforms like Amazon Kindle, Google Play Books, and Apple Books offer fully formatted digital versions of the revised edition for purchase.
Schonberg brings historical figures to life through historical reviews, letters, and personal accounts. Readers learn about Muzio Clementi’s business shrewdness, Frédéric Chopin’s dislike of large concert halls, Louis Moreau Gottschalk’s rock-star status in 19th-century America, and Vladimir Horowitz's demoniacal intensity. Key Chapters and Figures Covered Harold Schonberg The Great Pianists Pdf
The Great Pianists is not merely a collection of dry biographies. It is a narrative history of performance style, tracking how the physical evolution of the piano directly influenced the artistic evolution of the musicians who played it.
: Revised editions include updated material on giants like Vladimir Horowitz, Van Cliburn, Glenn Gould, and Alicia de Larrocha. Key Figures Profiled Notable Pianists Covered
The Great Pianists was the culmination of his obsession with the keyboard. It was followed by companion volumes, The Great Conductors and The Lives of the Great Composers , forming a trilogy that defined classical music literature for generations. Mapping the Evolution of Piano Playing The Great Pianists is a seminal work of
If you are a student or researcher, institutional libraries often provide access to digitized versions or excerpts through databases like JSTOR or ProQuest. Final Thoughts
This revised edition includes detailed portraits of more recent masters, such as Alicia de Larrocha, Vladimir Ashkenazy, Emil Gilels, Glenn Gould, and Van Cliburn. The book's thirty-eight chapters use colorful titles like "String-Snapper, Hands on High," "Thunder, Lightning, Mesmerism, Sex," and "The Man Who Invented Beethoven" to guide readers through different schools and styles of playing.
: Schonberg tracks the shift from early "fixed-hand" positions to modern techniques emphasizing weight and relaxation. Unlike technical academic treatises, Schonberg’s work is a
The heart of the book lies in the 19th century, an era dominated by and Frédéric Chopin . Schonberg details how Liszt invented the modern piano recital, turned the instrument sideways to show his profile, and pushed technical boundaries to their absolute limits. Conversely, he captures Chopin’s intimate, poetic, and nuanced approach to the salon. 3. The Golden Age of Virtuosity
The book is available in both hardcover and digital formats on platforms like Amazon .
: Unlike many modern historians who strive for neutrality, Schonberg is unafraid to have favorites. His deep respect for the "Golden Age" of Romantic pianism (pre-WWI) is evident, providing a clear—if sometimes biased—aesthetic framework. Legacy and Impact
If you prefer reading on a tablet, e-reader, or computer, there are several legal avenues:
Schonberg’s work is not merely a list of names; it is a narrative about the changing aesthetic of performance. He makes a compelling case that technique was not always paramount, but rather that musical individuality has always been the hallmark of "greatness".