Keyboard Music Before 1700

by Alexander Silbiger (Editor)

Providing comprehensive coverage of the keyboard music, this text surveys the rich diversity of the central keyboard repertory before Bach. It uses representative works to explore the styles, textures, genres, instruments and performance practices which characterize European keyboard music of the period.

Genres: Music

373 pages, Hardcover

First published November 24, 1995

Reviews

[Allen Garvin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Collection of essays, mainly on regional styles (England, France, Germany & Netherlands, Italy, Spain) plus some performance practice notes. The English section was most interesting to me, with a lengthy look at the virginalist repertoire from the early Tudor days until the decline in the mid 17th century. The Italian one was also interesting, as I'm largely unfamiliar with that. I picked a few CDs to order based on the Italian chapter. Recommendations of editions of music are found at the end of each chapter.

[Richard Pohl · Rating 5 out of 5]

This unique series of the keyboard music history definitely deserves a great praise for collecting very well-chosen amount of quite sought-after information... I found especially parts on early German and Italian music illuminating. It includes also detailed indexes, bibliographies, information upon instruments and even performing practices overview - for performers and teachers very valuable sources about editions of those rare works.