The Composer-Pianists: Hamelin and The Eight
A piano teacher and annotator for piano music collections, Rimm here explores the lives and artistic contributions of eight late 19th- to mid-20th-century pianist-composers. He also includes interviews with and commentary on contemporary composer Marc-Andre Hamelin, a gifted interpreter of their works. Rimm deftly weaves together the lives and careers of the composers by discussing them in pairs, while also exploring their influences on each other. The artists range from familiar names (Sergei Rachmaninov) through some known more for writing difficult music than for being performed (Charles Alkan, Kaikhosru Sorabji), to at least one with very little resonance today (Samuel Feinberg). Rimm delves into musical criticism, virtuosity, the erotic muse, the art of transcription, and the future of the piano itself, and the whole work shows evidence of extensive research. Especially welcome are quotes from the artists themselves, contemporary critiques of performances or recordings, and archival photos. Musical examples would have helped to show the complexity of many of these creators' efforts, and a few patches of purple prose distract if only momentarily. A comprehensive list of works for solo piano (including transcriptions), a discography of recordings by the artists of their own or others' compositions, a wide-ranging bibliography, and index (not seen) round out this excellent addition to all music collections serving an informed clientele. Barry Zaslow, Miami Univ. Libs., Oxford, OHCopyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.