Stuart Isacoff is a pianist, composer, and critic; he was the founding editor of Piano Today magazine. A winner of the ASCAP Deems Taylor Award for excellence in writing about music, he is a regular contributor to The Wall Street Journal and other publications. Isacoff gives lectures and performances at numerous venues, which have included the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. He currently teaches at the SUNY at Purchase.
Praise for Stuart Isacoff's A Natural History of the Piano
"Isacoff's heartfelt history of the piano will make you want to
Stop! Read! and then go Listen! . . . Like listening to a
fascinating raconteur who informs and entertains and really knows
his stuff . . . Passion and unstoppable enthusiasm are palpable
throughout this beautifully written and illustrated book."
--Eugenia Zukerman, The Washington Post "A generous,
welcoming book, full of oddities and insights. . . . A history
written by a pianist and historian with a lively touch and a reach
that spans octaves of science, culture and politics."
--The Dallas Morning News "Anybody who cares about the
piano--past, present and future--will find this book irresistible
reading."
--Tim Page "Wonderful. . . . The perfect gift book . . . So layered
with anecdote that it reads like a novel or a good biography."
--Hudson Valley News
"Isacoff follows the piano into the honkytonk, the drawing room,
the middle-class home and the jazz club, tracking the evolution of
the physical instrument itself as well as the composers and
performers who made the piano an emblem of cultural variety and a
laboratory for musical form."
--The Wall Street Journal "That rarest of treats: a
substantial book about music that's actually easy to read. . . . As
a primer on the piano and music history . . . it executes the job
with distinction."
--The Plain Dealer "A big slice of heaven for piano
lovers."
--Booklist "An exhaustive and entertaining cultural history
of the piano . . . 'Sparkling discourse' is his aim, and he
succeeds . . . An enjoyable read."
--The Star-Ledger "Fascinating. . . . A rare journey of
discovery and delight. . . . Every detail is conveyed with a vivid
sense of 'you are there, ' and on every page we sense Mr. Isacoff's
enthusiasm and lifelong dedication to the art of the piano. . . .
This is no obvious retelling of the piano's development. . . . It
contains a wealth of information, lavish illustrations,
thought-provoking comments, and, most of all, it is a pleasure to
read."
--Clavier Companion "Deft . . . In A Natural History of
the Piano, Isacoff proves as fleet-fingered as any
virtuoso."
--The Chronicle of Higher Education
"It's almost like listening to the music as you read Isacoff's
relaxed, compelling prose."
--Huffington Post "[A] historical tribute to the piano."
--NPR "A lively, virtually all-inclusive survey of all things
pianistic . . . Isacoff's ability to convey his formidable
erudition in the most engaging terms, coupled with his infectious
enthusiasm for music of all kinds, make this a charming and highly
readable potpourri. Informative fun for every variety of music
lover."
--Kirkus Reviews "Engrossing . . . Witty . . . Pianists at
all levels, music history buffs, and academics will appreciate
Isacoff's insights and clever way with words; this is an enjoyable
and informative book."
--Library Journal "An encyclopedic and argumentative
overview of all things piano. . . . Readers will be impressed . . .
by the depth and diversity of Isacoff's research and
references."
--Publishers Weekly "Entertaining . . . Crammed with great
anecdotes and mini-essays."
--The Seattle Times "Informative, comprehensive, and
conversational . . . Refreshing . . . A deft rendering."
--Choice "Never before have I learned and enjoyed so much
about the instrument and its most distinctive
practitioners--transcending so many categories of music. Whether
the subject is jazz or classical music, the writing is unfailingly
engaging and revealing."
--Nat Hentoff "A dazzling structural juxtaposition from Mozart,
Liszt and Horowitz to Joplin, Tatum and Jerry Lee Lewis, written
with verve and sensitivity. Piano lovers will eat it up!"
--David Dubal, author of The Art of the Piano
"Every page of this book is filled with the poetry of Isacoff's
writing as he outlines the fascinating development of the piano and
its effect on music tradition throughout the centuries. The
research is of great depth: how Isacoff weaves what he has
discovered into a gripping and entertaining narrative is sheer
magic. Essential reading for anyone who embraces not only the
piano, but music, history, and culture. Bravo, Maestro
Isacoff!"
--Frank Brady, author of Endgame
"I loved this book. Isacoff tells the story of the piano through
every conceivable device and viewpoint. . . . And he never forgets
that piano lore includes the highest of high culture as well as the
pop-est of pop. It's a terrifically enjoyable read."
--Sara Fishko, Producer/Host, WNYC "Supremely informative as well
as fascinating and entertaining--highly recommended."
--Vladimir Ashkenazy "A delight, both informative and entertaining.
To borrow the author's categories, I find the writing both melodic
and combustible."
--Dick Hyman "Irresistible! Stuart Isacoff charts the three-century
evolution of the world's most popular instrument with insight,
love, and wit, garnished with the wisdom of today's foremost
masters of classical and jazz."
--Sedgwick Clark, editor, Musical America International
Directory of the Performing Arts The title only serves as a
mere hint at the breadth of information covered in the book; the
work bears a distinct parallel to Isacoff's own considerable and
multifaceted career as a pianist, critic, teacher, award-winning
writer, and editor. . . . The book is a great read. . . . Any
reader will part with A Natural History of the Piano having
a renewed appreciation for the complexity and magic of the piano,
its music and development, as well as an array of musically
sophisticated dinner party anecdotes.
--Music Reference Services Quarterly
This beautifully presented survey of all things keyboard . . . is
accurately and articulately mapped out by a writer who is hugely
knowledgeable and, vitally, passionate about his subject.
--International Piano (UK), CHOICE selection Stuart
Isacoff's new book can make you fall in love with the three-legged
marvel all over again. Wise, warm, witty, and always erudite,
Isacoff's engaging style brings out a lifetime of love for the
instrument and those who make music with it. . . . Humour and
anecdote pepper the discourse, alongside vital information and an
eclectic range of extra-musical references. . . . This is a treat
for all pianists and pianophiles alike, one that leaves behind a
rare glow of warmth.
--BBC Music Magazine
So appealing. . . . A remarkable book that captures the
interactions between craftsmen, composers, performers and the
public in a style that is informative and entertaining. . . .
Stuart Isacoff has achieved something significant in presenting a
rich history of the piano in such an engaging form.
--Literary Review (UK) Stuart Isacoff, pianist, critic and
academic, leads readers on a journey of discovery in A Natural
History of the Piano . . . the music, the musicians and 'the
wondrous box' itself: a volume to inspire and delight.
--The Independent (UK), An Independent Best Book of
2012
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