Description
Book SynopsisThis volume is an introduction to cello playing by an outstanding recitalist, soloist and teacher of international repute whose natural wish - as a teacher - would be to sing, play and demonstrate what he means. Devoted pupil, Nona Pyron, herself a figure of some authority in the world of the cello, has guided and marshalled William Pleeth's brilliantly perceptive advice - based on his lifetime's playing and teaching - into the confines of this valuable book.
Trade Review'Within these pages, William Pleeth deals with the complex relationships between player and instrument, and the ‘architecture’ of the music that provides the structure to guide the musician’s imagination. He also shares insights into letting the cello speak for itself at the composer’s bidding, in a voice appropriate to its musical context. A tutorial chapter is also included, as well as a personal account of the wide repertoire of the cello. This remains a comprehensive guide to the instrument for players and non-players alike.' - The Strad
Table of ContentsIntroduction by Yehudi Menuhin; Foreword by Jacqueline de Pré; Part One: The Philosophy of Playing the Cello; 1. Techniques in Perspective; 2. Completeness in Practising; 3. Right Attitudes towards the Study Book; 4. On the Life of the Left Hand; 5. The Marriage between the Left and Right Hands; 6. The Craft of the Bow; 7. The Limitation of technique through the Comfort of Habit; 8. Bowings and Musical shape; 9.The Architecture of Music; 10. The Ingredients of Architecture; 11. The Unbroken Circle of Imagination and Receiving; 12. Ensemble Playing; 13. Playing with Piano; 14. Some Thoughts on the Performance of Seventeenth- and Eighteenth-Century Music; Part Two: The Basic Techniques of the Cello; 1. Holding the Cello; 2. Bow Command; 3. The Playing Position of the Left Hand; Part Three: Teachers and Parents; 1. Attitudes towards Teaching; 2. Developing Naturalness from the Start; 3. Teaching the Basics of Technique; 4. Practising in the Early Stages; 5. Assessing and Guiding Talent; 6. Parents Beware!; Part Four: The History and Repertoire of the Cello; 1. An Introduction to the History of the Cello by Nona Pyron; 2. The Repertoire of the Cello; 3. List of Lesser Known Works; Index
