"Heinrich Schenker's The Art of Performance shows this great music theorist in a new light. While his theoretical writings helped transform music theory in the twentieth century, this book draws on his experience as a musician and teacher to propose a sharp reevaluation of how m…
Schenker was one of the most influential music theorists of the 20th century. In this essay, he turns his attention to the performer's role, arguing that the cult of the virtuoso has led to an overemphasis on technical display.
"Menahem Pressler was born in 1920s Germany to a Jewish clothing store owner, escaped the Nazi regime, and settled in Palestine, where he studied piano and gave frequent recitals and radio appearances. After winning the Debussy Prize in San Francisco in 1946, Pressler's internat…