The Russian Piano School

Hi, I have been reading this book "The Russian Piano School" ... Moscow consertavoire professors on the art of the piano - translated by C. Barnes. On one of the chapters Konstantin Igumnov makes the following statement: "But the two Rubinstein brothers Anton and Nikolai had the hand position they learned from Villoing with the joint between the tip and middle phalanx of the finger pressed in." One of the footnotes on this chapter states: Alexander Ivanovich Villoing (1804-78) Moscow based pianist and teacher, of French descent, famed principally as teacher of brothers Anton and Nikolai Rubinstein. Could Alan clarify what "the joint between the tip and middle phalanx of the finger pressed in" means to him? Never a dull moment!

It probably means what I call "splayed" where the bottom of the finger (the nail phalange) is bent backwards instead of curved. It's the hyper-extended nail joint (I think). Thanks for this interesting bit of info! AFF

Hi Miguel What's the book like? Is it heavy going or very readable? I wondered how useful you found the commentary and lessons from the various conservatoire teachers? I read the following from a summary of what is in the book: Part One offers a series of writings that illustrate the philosophy and methods of the school: The Road to Artistry, Samuil Feinberg Advice from a Pianist and Teacher, Alexander Goldenweiser Some Principles of Pianoforte Technique, Lev Oborin Some Remarks on Technique, Konstantin Igumnov Notes on Mastery of the Piano, Grigorii Ginzburg Part Two gives a privileged insight into the classroom methods of various teachers as they work with students on that repertoire in which Russian artists have always particularly excelled – Beethoven, Chopin, Liszt, Rachmaninov and Prokofiev: Beethoven’s Appassionata: A Performer’s Commentary, Samuil Feinberg Three Answers to Questions about Beethoven’s Sonata Appassionata, Sviatoslav Richter Work on Beethoven’s Sonata in A major Opus 101, Heinrich Neuhaus Chopin Etudes (based on classes with Samuil Feinberg), Maria Eshchenko Reflections on Chopin’s Fourth Ballade, Yakov Flier Notes on Chopin’s Ballade in F minor, Alexander Goldenweiser Chopin’s Fourth Ballade in F minor, Konstantin Igumnov Lessons with Yakov Flier (on Liszt’s Mephisto Waltz No 1 and Prokofiev’s Sonata No 3), Nina Lelchuk Lelchuk Yakov Zak as Teacher (on Liszt’s B-minor Sonata, Schumann’s Etudes Symphoniques, and Rachmaninov’s Paganini Rhapsody), Olga Stupakova

Sounds fascinating - I myself would read it!

Another book I've seen today which I thought looked interesting is the book by Anna Goldsworthy on her memoirs of Eleanora Sivan. Has anyone read this?

Well I just put in an order from amazon for both these books now piano lessons anna goldsworthy russian school c barnes