Performing Brahms: Early Evidence of Performance Style (Musical Performance and Reception) [ハードカバー]

A great deal of evidence survives about how Brahms and his contemporaries performed his music. But much of this evidence - found in letters, autograph scores, treatises, publications, recordings, and more - has been hard to access, both for musicians and for scholars. This book brings the most important evidence together into one volume. It also includes discussions by leading Brahms scholars of the many issues raised by the evidence. The period spanned by the life of Brahms and the following generation saw a crucial transition in performance style. As a result, modern performance practices differ significantly from those of Brahms's time. By exploring the musical styles and habits of Brahms's era, this book will help musicians and scholars understand Brahms's music better and bring fresh ideas to present-day performance. The value of the book is greatly enhanced by the accompanying CD of historic recordings - including a performance by Brahms himself.

Although the music of Brahms is central to the lives of classical performers and listeners, few know how Brahms and his contemporaries performed his music. This study brings most of the available evidence into a single volume, along with commentary by leading Brahms experts. Most importantly, the book contains an unique CD of historic recordings--including an actual performance by Brahms--which provides tangible insight and a greater appreciation of the composer.

Michael Musgrave is Emeritus Professor of Music at Goldsmiths' College, University of London but lives in New York. He is author of The Musical Life of the Crystal Palace, The Music of Brahms, Brahms: A German Requiem and the editor of The Cambridge Companion to Brahms.

Bernard D. Sherman is the author of Inside Early Music (1997) and the essay 'Authenticity in Music' in The Encyclopedia of Aesthetics (1998). He contributes regularly to The New York Times, and his work has appeared in Early Music, Historical Performance, The American Brahms Society Newsletter, and many other publications.