Dawning of American Keyboard Music

This work concerns the rapid growth of keyboard composition in the United States from its beginnings in the 1760s until 1830. Nearly all of the more artistic compositions are described, focusing on those available in moderns editions and reprints; for the rest, there are over 200 examples from music extant only in their original sheet-music copies. The first part of the book is organized by genre, with chapters on the sonata, the rondo, variations, the medley, and battle music. Later chapters are devoted to organ music and to a detailed account of English and American pianoforte tutors, including the varying realizations of ornament signs. The work's formal chapter treats the Bohemian immigrant Anthony Philip Heinrich (1871-1861), whose avant garde compositions are still incomprehensible to many people. The volume concludes with a bibliography of literature on the subject and music editions and with indexes of names, titles, and subjects. The specialized focus of this account supplements the more general histories of early American music. Citations are made to the standard bibliographies of early printed music; complete bibliographical descriptions, including library locations, are furnished for the rest. This volume will appeal to historians of American music and keyborad music and to keyboard performers.Clark, J. Bunker is the author of 'Dawning of American Keyboard Music' with ISBN 9780313255816 and ISBN 0313255814.