Piano Lessons with Claudio Arrau : A Guide to His Philosophy and Techniques

__Piano Lessons with Claudio Arrau__ provides an insider's view of the art of piano performance as exemplified by one of the great artists of the twentieth century. Chilean pianist Claudio Arrau devoted his life to the piano and its music. As a child prodigy, he gained national recognition from government officials in Chile, including President Pedro Montt, who funded Arrau's education in Germany. Arrau studied in Berlin with Martin Krause, a pupil of Franz Liszt, and later immigrated to New York City where he taught and mentored a sizeable group of pupils while at the same time managing an international performing career. Arrau's profound musical insight and unique style of teaching inspired his pupils and motivated them to teach his principles to the next generation of students.This in-depth study of Arrau's principles and philosophy of technique and performance draws on information from published interviews with Arrau, from numerous interviews with Arrau's pupils, and from the author's experience in studying piano with two of them. Transcripts of actual lessons given by Arrau and preserved on tape present in his own words a detailed account of his technical and interpretive ideas about five major works of the piano repertory. References to over one hundred examples from Arrau's filmed recordings enable readers to observe the elements of Arrau's famed technique in action. Piano Lessons With Claudio Arrau Provides An Insider's View Of The Art Of Piano Performance As Exemplified By One Of The Great Artists Of The Twentieth Century. Chilean Pianist Claudio Arrau Devoted His Life To The Piano And Its Music. As A Child Prodigy, He Gained National Recognition From Government Officials In Chile, Including President Pedro Montt, Who Funded Arrau's Education In Germany. Arrau Studied In Berlin With Martin Krause, A Pupil Of Franz Liszt, And Later Immigrated To New York City Where He Taught And Mentored A Sizeable Group Of Pupils While At The Same Time Managing An International Performing Career. Arrau's Profound Musical Insight And Unique Style Of Teaching Inspired His Pupils And Motivated Them To Teach His Principles To The Next Generation Of Students. This In-depth Study Of Arrau's Principles And Philosophy Of Technique And Performance Draws On Information From Published Interviews With Arrau, From Numerous Interviews With Arrau's Pupils, And From The Author's Experience In Studying Piano With Two Of Them. Transcripts Of Actual Lessons Given By Arrau And Preserved On Tape Present In His Own Words A Detailed Account Of His Technical And Interpretive Ideas About Five Major Works Of The Piano Repertory. References To Over One Hundred Examples From Arrau's Filmed Recordings Enable Readers To Observe The Elements Of Arrau's Famed Technique In Action [publisher Description] Introduction -- Arrau's Predecessors. Martin Krause ; Arrau And The Lisztian Legacy ; Rudolf Breithaupt -- Technique. Arrau's Concept Of Technique And Virtuosity ; The Arrau Technique -- Teaching. Arrau's Collaboration With Rafael De Silva : A Community Of Learners ; Conclusion -- Appendix : Lessons. Frederic Chopin : Ballade No. 2 In F Major, Op. 38 ; Ludwig Van Beethoven : Sonata In A-flat Major, Op. 110 ; Maurice Ravel : Gaspard De La Nuit : Scarbo ; Maurice Ravel : Gaspard De La Nuit : Ondine ; Ludwig Van Beethoven : Fifteen Variations With Fugue, Op. 35 : Eroica ; Richard Strauss : Burleske, Trv 145. Victoria A. Von Arx. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. "Claudio Arrau (1903-1991) was a Chilean pianist who devoted his life to an international performing and teaching career. As a child prodigy, he gained national recognition from government officials in Chile, including President Pedro Montt, who later funded Arrau's education in Germany. He completed his studies in Berlin with Martin Krause, a pupil of Franz Liszt, and later immigrated to New York City, where he began his teaching career and mentored a sizeable group of pupils. His unique and magnetic style impassioned his pupils and motivated them to teach his principles to the next generation of students, including author Victoria von Arx. Piano Lessons with Claudio Arrau highlights interviews with Arrau's surviving pupils (from his class in New York City, which he taught from 1945 to the early 1970s) that give readers an in-depth description of Arrau's principles of technique and performance. Quotations and lesson transcripts make Arrau's voice - and those of his former pupils - audible, and detailed references to over one hundred examples from filmed recordings make his famed technique visible. The bulk of the book features edited and previously-unpublished transcriptions of lessons Arrau gave his pupils, lavishly illustrated with musical examples. The author, herself a teacher and performer, draws information from numerous interviews with Arrau's pupils, from her experience studying with two of them, from videos of Arrau's performances, and from the recorded lessons. By culling these disparate sources of information and presenting them systematically in a single book, von Arx provides an insider's view of the art of piano playing as exemplified by one of the great artists of the twentieth century and offers the reader a virtual piano lesson with Claudio Arrau"