Chopin: Pianist and Teacher

As Seen by his Pupils

Jean-Jacques Eigeldinger, Naomi Shohet,Krysia Osostowicz,Roy Howat

• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Year: 1988
• ISBN:
  9781316097359
• Topic: Media & Performing Arts
• Subtopic: Music

The first English paperback edition of the unique collection of documents which reveal Chopin as teacher and interpreter of his own music. From the accounts of his pupils, acquaintances and contemporaries, together with his own writing, we gain valuable insight into Chopin's pianistic and stylistic practice, his teaching methods and his aesthetic beliefs. The documents are divided into two categories: those concerning technique and style, two notions inseparable in Chopin's mind, and those concerning the interpretation of Chopin's works. Extensive appendix material presents Chopin's essay 'Sketch for a method', as well as annotated scores belonging to Chopin's pupils and acquaintances, and personal accounts of Chopin's playing as experienced by his contemporaries: composers and pianists, pupils and friends, writers and critics. The statements of Chopin's own students in diaries, letters and reminiscences, written, dictated or conveyed by word of mouth, provide the bulk of these accounts. Throughout the book detailed annotations add a valuable scholary dimension, creating an indispensable guide to the authentic performance of Chopin's piano works.

Table of contents

• Cover
• Half Title
• Title Page
• Copyright
• Contents
• List of illustrations
• Acknowledgements
• Explanation of references
• Editor's note
• Abbreviations
• Introduction
• Part 1: Technique and style
• Part 2: Interpretation of Chopin's works
• Notes
• List of Chopin's pupils whose recollections are quoted in this book
• Appendix I: Translated transcript of Chopin's 'Sketch for a method' (Projet de méthode)
• Appendix II: Annotated scores belonging to pupils and associates of Chopin
• Appendix III: Fingerings and annotations in the scores of pupils and associates
• Appendix IV: Chopin's playing described by his contemporaries
• Bibliography
• Index of persons
• Index of musical works