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!
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
