Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
Pages: 322
•
Trim: 8¾ x 11½
978-1-5381-1233-5 • Hardback • June 2018 • $117.00 • (£90.00)
978-1-5381-1234-2 • eBook • June 2018 • $111.00 • (£85.00)
William Phemister served as professor of piano at Wheaton College from 1972 to 2007. He has toured as a performer and teacher in over thirty countries and his writing has been published in the American Music Teacher, Keyboard Companion, and SEVEN: Anglo-American Literary Review. He continues to be an active member of the Illinois State Music Teachers Association.
Acknowledgments
Introduction
Guide to Entries
American Piano Concertos: A to Z
Timeline: a cross-section of American Piano Concertos from 1869 to the present
Indexes:
Concertos for One, Three, and Four Hands at One Piano
Concertos for Two or More Pianos
Concertos with Band or Wind Ensemble
Concertos with Chamber Orchestra
Concertos with String Orchestra
Concertos with Other Solo Instruments
Concertos with Alternative Media
Concertos with Jazz, Improvisation, and Popular Styles
Concertos for Student Pianists
Concertos by Immigrant Americans
Concertos by WPA (Works Progress Administration) Composers
Withdrawn Concertos
Pianists in First Performances and Recordings
Music Publishers and Music Organizations
Bibliography
This book. . . will be an invaluable resource for musicians, composers, conductors, music historians, teachers, and orchestras.
— American Reference Books Annual
Phemister has doggedly pursued these many concertos, read them through, and researched critical commentary where such has been available. It is a yeoman effort by a fine pianist, successful teacher, and tireless scholar. One hopes that this book will not only see the light of day, but will cause many of these silent concertos to be heard and appreciated.
— Louis Nagel, Professor Emeritus of Piano, University of Michigan
The American Piano Concerto Compendium is an extremely valuable contribution to several different categories of readers. It is indispensable to pianists, music lovers, and orchestra personnel with any sense of adventure or curiosity toward that vast area beyond the restricted and too-often-performed standard piano concerti. Beautifully organized and researched, with judiciously selected reviews - a wonderful body of information hitherto unexplored.
— Alan Mandel, Professor Emeritus of Music and the Performing Arts, American University, Washington, DC
William Phemister’s extensive, meticulously researched compendium is an invaluable resource for the serious conductor, professional soloist, piano teacher, student, and inquisitive listener. Reaching well beyond the canon of familiar repertoire – and incorporating fascinating “extras” such as composer commentaries and contemporary reviews – Phemister’s catalogue should help stimulate interest in a wide array of unfamiliar, overlooked, or forgotten American piano concertos. An impressive achievement!
— Barbara Schubert, Music Director and Conductor, University of Chicago Symphony, DuPage Symphony Orchestra, and Fine Arts Symphony
1634 concertos are listed here, by 1056 composers. That seems more than we need to know, but there's nothing like completeness. All the information we need about any concerto is given. Naturally the date of a premiere performance (if known) is given, and if there were reviews in major newspapers, they are summarized.
— American Record Guide