Marguerite Long: A Life in French Music, 1874-1966

by Cecilia Dunoyer

"Cecilia Dunoyer has written a thoughtful and carefully researched work. Not only is her book crammed with information on French music, performers, and composers, it also is highly readable." --Piano & Keyboard

"Cecilia Dunoyer's new book presents an engaging portrait of the woman once esteemed as the grande dame of French music." --Notes

"It is a fascinating story from beginning to end... " --American Music Teacher

"Dunoyer's thorough, accurate, well-written biography is the first of this important artist and, as such, worthy of many a music library's attention." --Booklist

Marguerite Long, the most important French woman pianist of our century, left her stamp on a whole epoch of musical life in Paris. Long was a virtuoso performer--working closely with Debussy, Faure, and Ravel--and a tireless and demanding pedagogue. With violinist Jacques Thibaud, she founded a prestigious international competition that continues to launch the careers of young musicians. Illustrated.

Genres: Music

260 pages, Hardcover

First published November 1, 1993

Reviews

[Carol · Rating 3 out of 5]

This short biography covers the life of Marguerite Long, one of the most important pianists of the first half of the twentieth century. Her career coincided with that of the major French composers of the time: Faure, Debussy, and Ravel. She had close friendships with each of them, which allowed her to become their foremost interpreters. The only real flaw in this book is that Dunoyer sticks mainly to reportage, with very little analysis. She concentrates on the events of Long's life without probing deeper. Nonetheless, the book is a very interesting look at the interactions between performers and composers and at the French music world of the early 20th century.