Menahem Pressler

As soloist, master class teacher, and pianist of the world-renownedBeaux Arts Trio, Menahem Pressler can boast of four Grammy nominations, threehonorary doctorates, more than 80 recordings, and lifetime achievement awardspresented by France, Germany, and Israel. Former Pressler student William Browntraces the master's pianistic development through Rudiakov, Kestenberg, Vengerova,Casadesus, Petri, and Steuermann, blending techniques and traditions derived fromBeethoven, Chopin, Liszt, and J. S. Bach.Brown presentsPressler's approach to performance and teaching, including technical exercises,principles of relaxation and total body involvement, and images to guide thepianist's creativity toward expressive interpretation. Insights from the author'sown lessons, interviews with Pressler, and recollections of more than 100 Presslerstudents from the past 50 years are gathered in this text. Measure-by-measurelessons on 23 piano masterworks by, among others, Bach, Bartók, Debussy, and Ravelas well as transcriptions of Pressler's fingerings, hand redistributions, practicingguidelines, musical scores, and master class performances areincluded.