Publisher's Synopsis
This is a compilation of university and public lectures by an enduring artist appreciated, still, for his musical intelligence and artistry. As a performer, he can be counted among a select few. As a highly intelligent and discerning commentator on the music world...well, he is a little less on solid ground. The trick to appreciating the genuine value in his comments is for the reader to set aside his/her current cultural attitudes as well as Schnabel's. Sometimes he sounds as though he is merely reflecting the Haut bourgeoise prejudices he learned in the masterclasses and salons of fin de siecle Vienna and a burgeoning Berlin.
This unique book, also containing never before published the 1949 Harvard Lectures, is Schnabel's last foray into public discourse and represents his most mature view of music and its function in society at large. It highlights the importance of understanding tradition and highlights the profound impact Artur Schnabel had, both as a performer and teacher upon the future.
