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qatsiBook Review: Music, Sense and Nonsense - Collected Essays and Lectures, by Alfred Brendel
It turns out that a substantial majority of the essays here are a repetition from the earlier collection Alfred Brendel on Music, but there is also some new work. It's good, but curiously I am not sure I felt this collection is as successful: the first half of the book is quite concentrated and technical, discussing Mozart (briefly), Beethoven (at more length), and Schubert (very much in depth); then shorter sections on Schumann, Liszt and Busoni. The final third or so of the book is given over to "Performance, Programmes, Recording", and this is where it is most successful, for although it frequently discusses technique, it's free from the technical analysis, and Brendel is quite an engaging writer. It is also where the later essays are to be found, and finally the conversations which also include some new material. The "conversation" between three Brendels is particularly entertaining.
It turns out that a substantial majority of the essays here are a repetition from the earlier collection Alfred Brendel on Music, but there is also some new work. It's good, but curiously I am not sure I felt this collection is as successful: the first half of the book is quite concentrated and technical, discussing Mozart (briefly), Beethoven (at more length), and Schubert (very much in depth); then shorter sections on Schumann, Liszt and Busoni. The final third or so of the book is given over to "Performance, Programmes, Recording", and this is where it is most successful, for although it frequently discusses technique, it's free from the technical analysis, and Brendel is quite an engaging writer. It is also where the later essays are to be found, and finally the conversations which also include some new material. The "conversation" between three Brendels is particularly entertaining.