This is an amazing book!! Thank you, Mr. Dubal. This book is permanently on the table next to my favorite easy chair. Whenever I have a few minutes between this or that, I pick up Remembering Horowitz and dip into a different part. I must have read the entire book at least once and many parts several times already, but I will go back again and again and again.

This book is a MUST BUY for anyone who has ever looked at a piano. I have taught piano for twenty years and played it for 35 years. And this book not only talks about Maestro Horowitz, but, in doing so, discusses the essence of the many facets of piano and music in general. Ultimately, the profound, beautiful, and insightful essays touch on all aspects of life and spirit, just as all great performances do.

Notable are Seymour Bernstein's essay, for personal recollection and an essay on emulation and inspiration; Gary Graffman's memoir that is funny and urbane, in the style of his wonderful I SHOULD BE PRACTICING, his own memoir; and as a defense of Horowitz's showy side, Roger Shields, who finishes by saying,"The study of civilization reveals the mysteries of aspiration, the merging of individual passion with a chaste reverence for tradition and the cyclical unfolding of our achievements. Our time will run its course, and one day another horowitz will be possible." Bravo!

I cannot recommend this book strongly enough. Buy this book and you will not only get a superlative compilation of essays from many cultural perspectives and top-notch writing styles (yes, musicians can write!) but also a deep, loving, discussion of what piano playing means to the soul. It is at is best an exploration of the mystery of what it means to make great, otherworldly music, and what it means to play music in this world. It never pretends to explain this mystery, these artists are too wise for that, but it sheds light for audiences and musicians alike to see more clearly the divine nature of genius.

Bravissimo!!

-Robert Murray Diefendorf, author of Release the Butterfly

This is an amazing book!! Thank you, Mr. Dubal. This book is permanently on the table next to my favorite easy chair. Whenever I have a few minutes between this or that, I pick up Remembering Horowitz and dip into a different part. I must have read the entire book at least once and many parts several times already, but i will go back again and again and again.

This book is a must BUY for anyone who has ever looked at a piano. I ahve taught piano for twenty years and played it for 35 years. It is a huge part of my life. And this book not only talks about Maestro Horowitz, but, in doing so, discusses the essence of the many facets of piano and music in general. Ultimately, the profound, beautiful, and insightful essays touch on all aspects of life and spirit, just as all great performances do.

Notable are Seymour Bernstein's essay, for personal recollection and an essay on emulation and inspiration; Gary Graffman's memoir that is funny and urbane, in the style of his wonderful I SHOULD BE PRACTICING, his own memoir; and as a defense of Horowitz's showy side, Roger Shields, who finishes by saying,"The study of civilization reveals the mysteries of aspiration, the merging of individual passion with a chaste reverence for tradition and the cyclical unfolding of our achievements. Our time will run its course, and one day another horowitz will be possible." Bravo!

I cannot recommend this book strongly enough. Buy this book and you will not only get a superlative compilation of essays from many cultural perspectives and top notch writing styles (yes, musicians can write!) but also a deep, loving, discussion of what piano playing means to the soul. It is at is best an exploration of the mystery of what it means to make great, otherworldy music, and what it means to play music in this world. It never pretends to explain this mystery, these artists are too wise for that, but it sheds light for audiences and musicians alike to see more clearly the divine nature of genius.

Bravissimo!!
-Robert Murray Diefendorf, author of Release the Butterfly

I have been checking the first edition of this book out of the library for years and finally decided to get my own copy.
I really enjoy reading about all of the pianists and like the interview method used. However, I was disappointed in the drawings of the pianists and would have preferred the old photographs used in the first edition. The drawing of Glenn Gould was such a let down when compared to the lovely photograph of Glen enjoying his music that was used in the first edition.

These interviews with 45 or so concert pianists, mostly American born and trained, is very insightful for those interested in gathering information on some of the best modern players on the scene today. Though the majority of the interviews are from the early 1980's, the views and opinions expressed by the pianists are still valid today. Most interesting is the honesty of pianist Andre Watts, who admits he is one of the lucky few to have been able to sustain a career in the music business. You will read that the prevailing opinion of most professional pianists is that because of the severe competition, the chances of becoming a concert pianist, even for a talented player, is very, very, very slim, and that they freely admit that they are one of the lucky ones. Also you will read that the life of a concert pianist is difficult, involving alot of traveling, and dealing with instruments that may not always be up to performance standards. Collectors interested in building a superior library of classical CD's will come up with the names of many interesting pianists to investigate further. I owned the first edition of this book when it was released in the 1980's, and have discarded that version and have purchased this new 2nd edition as a replacement.

This is a must-read for anyone who has ever been interested in the piano, the virtuosi or even the cult of the personality. Here are all the pianistic legends of the late 20th century revealed. Abbey Simon tells how his 8 year old son was his worst critic, Byron Janis explains how he become Horowitz's student, and Rosalyn Turek (a pianist whom I revere) reveals how discovering her interpretive method for playing Bach (which she does better than anybody) came to her in a fever. Each interview gives a clear and telling picture of the artist. Some are stern, some distant and aloof, some quite full of joie-de-vivre, and Dubal etches these personalities clearly in print. Belongs on every music lover's bookshelf.

Almost full marks to Mr. Dubal for his excellent and ambitious effort. It is a good reference and interesting read - at times. The only drawback it is not very well written from an English literature point of view, it could definately be smoother, although there are lots of interesting descriptions and discussions. The second drawback is that Mr. Dubal is a die hard Horowitz fan, perhaps a little too much. No body can argue against Horowitz qualities, but it needs to be toned down a little in a book of this nature.

It's the best book on pianists I have read. I always consult this book instead of the Penguin Guide or the Gramophone Good CD Guide.

Simply I would put, "Must-own for all piano enthusiasts." It's really interesting to read through this book although it looks like a dictionary, as it contains a lot of gossips that might be taken from his interview with many pianists. Sometimes he put too much importance on his own favorite pianists (i.e., Horowitz), but still fun to read. I hope this book continues to grow its contents as time passes, if possible for him.

I've been looking for a book like this for a long time. David Dubal writes a very readable and very interesting picture of a wide range of composers who those interested in classical music should know. The book includes a biographical sketch of the composer and a list of important works that define the composer's place in history. This book works equally well as classical music textbook and biography, and fills an important niche in the marketplace.

If there is a down side to the book, it is in its desire to do too much. Dubal includes a few select CDs he recommends. As I've learned in my travels, a lot of classical labels make you pay through the nose and that can be discouraging to someone on a budget. The truth is, there are some really good budget lines (like Naxos) out there that can put classical music into the hands of almost anybody who wants a good CD, without sacrificing quality one iota. Don't be bound by his selections--explore! But do read the book. It'll be worth your time.

Dubal is first and foremost a good writer. His biographical sketches of the major composers are short - about 3-5 pages each - but are compelling, elegantly written and packed with really useful information. He details composers' personal lives, historical contexts, relationships between composers and critical views (and popular views) of their works over time. After each biographical sketch he lists composer's major works, with a short discussion of the importance & influence of each piece as well as his critical opinion.

Reading Dubal's book has enriched my appreciation of some really great music. It's also prompted me to try composers I'd barely heard of before. After reading Dubal's chapter on Paganini I immediately got into my car, headed for the music store & picked up a copy of his '24 Caprices for Violin'. And I'm so glad I did. I now have a huge "must-buy" list thanks to this book.

I read this book along with Phil Goulding's "The 50 Greatest Composers and their 1000 Greatest Works". Both are worthwhile. Goulding's book is entertaining, but his ranking system & his concept of a "Starter Kit" for each composer are rather silly. Goulding's book is fun, especially for the absolute beginner. But for me, Dubal wins because of the quality of his writing and because he lists more major works to listen to and goes into detail describing each work. This is a book I'll come back to again and again.

Criticisms: His section on the Baroque is smaller than I would like. I also wish he'd added a discussion of musical forms & went into a bit more technical detail about each musical work. But I suppose that's for another book. Dubal has included a lot of substantial and enjoyable detail into this book , and I'm satisfied with it enough to think it merits five stars.

My college Music Appreciation class became something of a joke when I discovered it was easier to pass the exam by NOT listening to the music at the listening lab. After all, a piano concerto is not the same thing as an operatic duet or a symphony piece. So while I have always enjoyed classical music, I could never really appreciate it in any meaningful way. So David Dubal's "The Essential Canon of Classical Music" is perfect for somebody like me who wants to know more about all those classical CDs in my collection without getting into major and minor keys and other fun stuff. For example, even I recognize "La Mareillaise" representing the French in Tchiakovsky's "Overture 1812," but find it interesting to learn that several folk tales such as "God Preserves Thy People" are used to represent the Russians. True, Dubal talks rather generally about specific works, but that is exactly what I need to advance to the next level.

The Canon is divided into five ages: (I) The Medieval, Renaissance, and Elizabethan; (II) Baroque; (III) Classicism; (IV) Romantic and (V) Modern. For each Dubal first presents the defining composers of the age: Handel, Bach and Scarlatti for Baroque; Gluck, Hayden, Mozart and Beethoven for Classicism. For the last two ages things get more complex, but what the division between the main composers and the "others" is a question of degree: pages detailing specific works versus a paragraph or two. Again, this is quite useful for someone like me who is interested in not only learning more about what I already have but who is also open to suggestions as to what composer and/or works I should track down next. "The Essential Canon of Classical Music" is both informative and engaging. It sits on the shelf next to my classical musical collection and I do not grab something to listen to without taking it along to see what new things I can learn from Dubal.

The late maestro is at his best when he speaks of that which he knows, music and in particular, the violin. When encouraged to expound on the state of the world in the grandly named section "On the Human Condition," he is full of airy, utopian pronouncements. Dubal's remarks (questions?) in that section often verge on the bizarre, and reveal his own strangely bleak and tortured mental landscape.

Absolutely fascinating book of conversation between two first class thinkers! Yehudi Menuhin, still alive today, still youthful in his 80's, and musician/writer David Dubal explore a panoramic range of topics. Perhaps nothing is more instructive, certainly nothing more constructive, than Menuhin's ample exploration of his thoughts on the human condition, on the nature of art and life. One is compelled to listen to this man, so clear and meaningful his questions, so rational his conclusions! Dubal leads Menuhin into all the right areas, and the result is spellbinding reading. The only disappointment is the brevity of the book- one wishes it could go on and on! Is it not a comfort to us all that this remarkable human genius continues to survey the world with such enlightening clarity, sharing his rich understanding with his fellow man? Kudos to both these artists for an endlessly interesting book of brilliant conversation - revealing and fulfilling!

I ordered a copy of this paperback version and mailed the coupon, but the coupon was returned to me as undeliverable! In order to get the interview CD, you have to get a HARDCOVER copy, where you can find the CD attached inside the front cover.

Yes! Dubal loves to impress the reading public of how knowledgable he is. When you get around this, however, here is an interesting side of Horowitz that allows you to see the excentricities and warmth of one of the greatest pianists of this century. After listening to one of Horowitz's students about his lessons and meetings over three years with the Maestro, I have to say that Dubal has captured the real personality and intellect of Horowitz. The stories are fascinating and for any piano student, like me, this is an absorbing read. Not a great book....but one for travel and vacation that is easy to read, without the voluminous footnotes.

This entertaining book gives a small glimpse into the thoughts and habits of Horowitz in the last few years of his life. The conversations about composers and musicians are fascinating and Mr. Dubal has captured Horowitz's enthusiasm for and knowledge of composers and music admirably. Equally fascinating are the descriptions of the Horowitzes at home or dining out. This is a book to be dipped into and enjoyed.

A quick word about the author. Unfortunately, I do think that he inadvertently reveals himself as being rather unlikeable. Furthermore, his literary ability is questionable: I found the book to be poorly structured and written. Yes, he sometimes comes across as self-important and yes, if it weren't for Horowitz no one would ever have heard of Dubal, but the book is enormous fun and I have read and re-read it so many times that I may need to buy a new copy!

Other reviewers fault Dubal's self-absorption, and while I realize he is quite pleased with himself, I think the book is excellent - delightful to read, full of interesting stories about life with the monster maestro, and displaying the author's considerable musical erudition. There is much to be learned here. As for the ethical question -- when you have been a guest in a famous man's home for a period of years, do you then write a book exposing the flaws of your host? It is easy to look askance. But if Dubal had not written this book, we piano lovers would all be the poorer. I keep Evenings with Horowitz on a central bookshelf in my library, where I often refer to it -- not least for the valuable discography and insightful comments on Horowitz' recordings. I only wish Dubal had been a guest of Franz Liszt in the 19th century -- what a book that would have been!