Hi all, PLEASE be careful what piano history books you rely on. Some of those in the list kindly offered are full of old errors, propagated for the last hundred years now. Even a book being relatively recent is no guarantee. I am now reading a second new edition of a book published inthe 70's on famous performers and their technique and am finding it full of the same old white washings, romanticizing, and just plain errors propagated from times where scholarship was not what it is today. This book's errors relate to both the players and their instruments. In particular, I CANNOT recommend Oscar Bie. A few of the others I am unfamiliar with, which is not a good sign. It likely means I dismissed them after scanning them. John-Paul Williams' book Piano, is quite good, as is the Crombie, and how could you all forget Edwin Good's Giraffes, Black Dragons, and other Pianos? Loesser's book is fascinating. I can't remember if the piano information is accurate, as I read it far too long ago. ah, and of course, Dolge's book! Best, Anne Anne Acker Historic Keyboard Specialist Anne Acker Early Keyboards http://www.anneackerkeyboards.com http://www.pianogrands.com mobile 912-704-3048
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