Andras Schiff

Andras Schiff is one of the most important pianists of our time. This stimulating account of his life and work, told in two parts, takes readers on an intimate journey from Schiff's childhood in Hungary through to the present day. In conversationw with Martin Meyer, Schiff discusses a diverse range of topics from his experiences with anti-Semitism and communist rule to his musical training with maestros such as Pál Kadosa and Ferenc Rados, as well as his thoughts on playing techniques and musical interpretation. In a collection of Schiff's writings we are enthralled by a guided tour of Bach's 'Goldberg' Variations, sobered by Schiff's public defiance against nationalistic and racist attitudes - to the extent that he refused to perform in Haider's Austria or Orban's Hungary - and delighted by the playful 'Ten Commandments' for concertgoers. More than a memoir, this is a seminal compilation of the thoughts and experiences of one of the greatest musicians of our time, of his inimitable art of making music out of silence.

Bach: The Art Of Fugue And A Companion To The Art Of Fugue features sheet music for the complete score of J. S. Bach's Die Kunst der Fuge (The Art of Fugue) in this edition prepared by Donald Francis Tovey. Originally published by Oxford University Press in 1931, Tovey's edition presents the fourteen fugues plus the four canons in open score, allowing readers to follow each individual voice. Furthermore, Tovey completed the unfinished final fugue, reintroducing the principal theme of the work's opening fugue to create a quadruple fugue. In addition to the complete score, this edition features Tovey's extended commentary on each of the fugues. Entitled A Companion to "The Art of Fugue," Tovey's commentary was originally published separately from the score; this edition includes the commentary within the same volume as the music. The commentary outlines the contrapuntal devices employed in each of the fugues as well as keen observations on J. S. Bach's technical craftsmanship. In addition, Tovey offers insights into the performance of these fugues and suggestions for their programming. Pianists, organists, and all lovers of chamber and Baroque music will appreciate this inexpensive single-volume edition of one of Bach's finest works and a classic commentary.