: Schonberg highlights the 1781 "competition" between Mozart’s "oil-like" legato and Clementi’s technical "thirds and sixths".
Simon & Schuster publishes a revised edition (ISBN: 978-0671838375). You can buy it new for $15–25. Used copies on AbeBooks or ThriftBooks often cost less than a pizza. For that price, you get an artifact you can mark up, drop, and keep for a lifetime. Harold Schonberg The Great Pianists Pdf
Now, why do people search for “Harold Schonberg The Great Pianists Pdf”? Because the book, while still in print, has become a talisman. Piano students, unable to afford the latest edition or living in countries without access, hunt for a scanned copy like pilgrims seeking a map. The irony is that Schonberg himself—a journalist who fought for the livelihood of writers and critics—would likely have smiled wryly at the piracy. He wrote in the preface: “This book is meant to be read with a record player nearby.” Used copies on AbeBooks or ThriftBooks often cost
The narrative continues into the 20th century, covering the transition to the "modern" style of playing. Schonberg profiles giants such as Sergei Rachmaninoff, Josef Hofmann, Artur Rubinstein, and the eccentric Glenn Gould. He concludes with the generation of pianists rising to prominence in the mid-20th century, such as Vladimir Horowitz and Sviatoslav Richter. Because the book, while still in print, has
Harold Schonberg once wrote that “the piano is the most personal of instruments.” The same can be said of his book. Treat it with respect, and it will change how you hear every note. Hunt for a free PDF, and you might only find silence.
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Muzio Clementi, Ludwig van Beethoven