Descriptive Analyses of Piano Works (eBook)

Edward Baxter Perry (1855-1924) was an accomplished American pianist, composer, and music educator renowned for his lecture-recitals—a format which he helped popularize in the United States. Born in Massachusetts, Perry was blinded by an illness in infancy, which, however, did not impede his musical prowess. He studied under the tutelage of prominent instructors, including Joseph Giebner, Bernard Ziehn, and Julius Eichberg, which enabled him to cultivate a deep understanding of music that transcended visual barriers. As a widely traveled artist, he gave over 6000 lecture-recitals globally, whereby he combined performance with insightful exegesis of the pieces. His seminal work, 'Descriptive Analyses of Piano Works' (1902), underlines his pedagogical and analytical expertise, embodying his didactic approach to music education. In this treatise, Perry illuminates the essence of various piano masterpieces, offering performers and students a window into the interpretive depths of pieces beyond technical execution. With a literary style that is both erudite and accessible, Perry's writings reflect his conviction in the interconnectedness of music with other arts and life experiences. Through his contributions as an author and lecturer, Perry significantly influenced piano pedagogy and the appreciation of classical music in America during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.