I came across an early 20th-century relic—"The Piano-teacher's Guide: A Graded and Classified List of Piano Music" (public domain and freely downloadable)—recently; I posted about it yesterday in the Pianist Corner (the thread titled Schirmer) hoping that my own nostalgic fondness for G. Schirmer and respect for that publisher's historical significance might be shared, but maybe there's greater relevance in this forum instead.

I don't know if this archaic volume still has practical value for present-day teachers, but anyone concerned with the history of piano music or the development of piano pedagogy should find it interesting. I thought the introductory essay, "A Study of Piano Studies," was excellent.

Steven

The Wieck below it is far more interesting.

I didn't think so, but there's no accounting for taste. The purpose of Wieck's book is completely different, though, so it's apples and oranges in any event.

Steven

Wieck? Where? Below? Below what?

It's a beautifully written book by Clara Schumann's dad. It just happens to appear under Steven's book on the page. If you go to: www.archiv.org and search for 'Piano and Song: How to Teach, How to Learn, and How to Form a Judgment of Musical Performances ' you can download it. He was obviously heavily influenced by the early German educationalists. He teaches practical theory long before notation to beginners. Clara was in the top 5 pianists of the 19th century. Hans von Bulow being another student of his.

“And now, I commend my little book to the public, trusting that it will instruct the willing, correct the erring, incite the indolent, and chastise those who willfully persist in the wrong.”

From: Piano and Song: How to Teach, How to Learn, and How to Form a Judgment of Musical Performances"
The Project Gutenberg EBook of Piano and Song
By Friedrich Wieck

http://www.archive.org/stream/pianoandsong16658gut/16658-8.txt

Thank you kbk! I did not have any luck in that archive site, but I googled the title of the book, and the second entry was the one that I copied. I have listed that site just above this paragraph.

I read several pages and found the above author's quote and had to share it with you. I am finding the book delightfully written and I'm not even into the "meat" of it yet, just the introductions and prefaces.

I am looking forward to reading this very much!

Thank you sotto voce!

Betty

Thanks for this :-) Very interesting stuff!

Written in 1903! Wow!

What's interesting to me is the number of composers referenced who have fallen into complete obscurity. Most I recognize from my studies, but some are completely new to me. And the prices!!!