Encyclopedia of American Classical Pianists - by Richard Masters (Hardcover)

About the Book

This volume celebrates the lives, careers, and contributions of over one hundred American pianists, including collaborative pianists and pedagogues. In addition to household names, it also spotlights historical women, people of color, and LGBTQ+ pianists who were top-notch per...

Book Synopsis

This volume celebrates the lives, careers, and contributions of over one hundred American pianists, including collaborative pianists and pedagogues. In addition to household names, it also spotlights historical women, people of color, and LGBTQ+ pianists who were top-notch performers or had important careers but were soon forgotten.

Review Quotes

Encyclopedia of American Classical Pianists: 1800s to the Presentfocuses on some 150 pianists who fit the author's inclusion criteria: those who were born in the US or arrived in the US before their 18th birthdays and eventually became citizens. The introduction sets the stage for the historical context of this work. Each entry includes a brief biographical sketch with suggested recordings and some options for further reading. Examples of well-known and not-so-well-known individuals include Oscar Levant, Abbey Simon, Charles Rosen, and Mary Louise Boehm. Entries were researched using a variety of methods, including interviews with the pianists or their students or friends; consulting newspapers and periodical articles; and even using Ancestry.com to confirm birth and death dates. Appendixes include chronological and demographic listings of pianists. The latter listing will be an aid to researchers looking for female pianists, LGBTQ+ pianists, or pianists of color. The encyclopedia also includes an extensive bibliography and index. Recommended. Lower-division undergraduates through faculty; professionals.

Richard Masters has compiled an anthology that is unparalleled. The beautifully synthesized combination of biographical detail, contemporary concert reviews, and recording recommendations make this book an invaluable reference for generations to come.

With this volume, Richard Masters has made a major contribution to our knowledge of American pianistic history. His impressive research has produced much information not readily available elsewhere. This is an invaluable source for scholars and practicing pianists alike.

About the Author

Richard Masters is an associate professor of piano and collaborative piano at Virginia Tech. Before joining the faculty in Virginia, he taught at the University of Texas at Austin as principal opera coach in the Butler Opera Center. His articles and reviews have appeared in American Music Teacher, MTNA E-Journal, Studies in Musical Theatre Journal, Directors and Choreographers Journal, Association for Recorded Sound Collections Journal, Piano Magazine, and The Record Collector. He holds degrees from the Eastman School, the Juilliard School, and the University of Colorado at Boulder.