Famous Pianists and Their Technique has been a standard in the field since its first publication in 1974. This widely used and acclaimed history of piano technical thought includes insights into the techniques of masters such as C.P.E. Bach, Bartók, Beethoven, Brahms, Chopin, Clementi, Czerny, Debussy, Godowsky, Horowitz, Levinskaya, Leschetizky, the Lhevinnes, Liszt, Mozart, Prokofiev, Ravel, Rubinstein, and Schubert, among others. Called "the bible of piano technique" by Maurice Hinson, this book is a comprehensive resource for the student, teacher, and professional pianist who seek to discover the secrets of how the immortal professional pianists developed and polished their mechanical and musical technique. This expanded edition contains a foreword by Alan Walker, a new preface, and multiple new appendices.
"There is no book like [Famous Pianists and Their Technique] in the English or any other language; it covers the gamut of technical development from Diruta or John Cage. Every important pedagogue is discussed in detail so it is easy to understand their unique contribution to the development of piano technique." -- Maurice Hinson, Senior Professor of Piano, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
"Professor Gerig's amassing in one volume of such a gigantic overview of various schools and approaches to piano technique is awesome. His book has value not only for the scholar as an extremely fascinating historical tracing of various major performers, composers, and pedagogues, but an equally vital use as a reference work for the performer involved in the art of playing the piano." --Joseph Banowetz, Professor of Piano, University of North Texas