The American Piano Concerto Compendium

(Hardback, Second Edition)

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Description

The second edition of William Phemisters The American Piano Concerto Compendium reveals to professional and amateurs pianists alike a vast collection of available compositions by American composers. Analysis expands outside mainstream concerto styles to include those considered experimental or popular derivatives. The range of music flows from Pulitzer Prize winners like Samuel Barber, Gail Kubik, and John LaMontaine, to lesser-known multi-ethnic composers such as Tania Len and Samuel Zyman, to old standards like Edward MacDowell and the first piano concerto written by an American-born composer, Otis B. Boise (1875), to the cutting-edge avant-garde of Milton Babbitt and Elliott Carter, just to name a few. These all contribute to the varied narrative that animates American piano music. With forty percent more works described, documented, and reviewed than were listed in the 1985 first edition from the College Music Society, this second edition is a valuable resource not only for pianists and conductors, but also for orchestras, teachers, students, music historians and critics, collectors, and concert attendees.

Reviews

This book. . . will be an invaluable resource for musicians, composers, conductors, music historians, teachers, and orchestras. * American Reference Books Annual *
Phemister has doggedly pursued these many concertos, read them through, and researched critical commentary where such has been available. It is a yeoman effort by a fine pianist, successful teacher, and tireless scholar. One hopes that this book will not only see the light of day, but will cause many of these silent concertos to be heard and appreciated. -- Louis Nagel, Professor Emeritus of Piano, University of Michigan
The American Piano Concerto Compendium is an extremely valuable contribution to several different categories of readers. It is indispensable to pianists, music lovers, and orchestra personnel with any sense of adventure or curiosity toward that vast area beyond the restricted and too-often-performed standard piano concerti. Beautifully organized and researched, with judiciously selected reviews - a wonderful body of information hitherto unexplored. -- Alan Mandel, Professor Emeritus of Music and the Performing Arts, American University, Washington, DC
William Phemisters extensive, meticulously researched compendium is an invaluable resource for the serious conductor, professional soloist, piano teacher, student, and inquisitive listener. Reaching well beyond the canon of familiar repertoire and incorporating fascinating extras such as composer commentaries and contemporary reviews Phemisters catalogue should help stimulate interest in a wide array of unfamiliar, overlooked, or forgotten American piano concertos. An impressive achievement! -- Barbara Schubert, Music Director and Conductor, University of Chicago Symphony, DuPage Symphony Orchestra, and Fine Arts Symphony

Author Bio

William Phemister served as professor of piano at Wheaton College from 1972 to 2007. He has toured as a performer and teacher in over thirty countries and his writing has been published in the American Music Teacher, Keyboard Companion, and SEVEN: Anglo-American Literary Review. He continues to be an active member of the Illinois State Music Teachers Association.