Description

Susan Tomes traces the lives of fifty women pianists from across the instrument’s history, showing how they broke convention to play, perform, and compose on their own terms. Covering all genres and styles, and including interviews with women performing today, this is a much-needed corrective to our understanding of the piano-and a timely testament to women’s musical lives.

Publisher Review

“A fascinating and stimulating history of the shamefully ignored field that is female pianism. Susan Tomes writes powerfully and with compelling perception, introducing us to one inspirational figure after another – a real page-turner.”-Dame Imogen Cooper, pianist

“A fascinating, informative, and necessary book which makes us realise how female concert pianists, past and present, classical and jazz, have overcome obstacles and prejudices with sheer determination, talent, and amazing stamina. Brava, Susan!”-Angela Hewitt, pianist

“An impassioned argument against the unjust bias of musical history’s received opinions; a sprightly collection of spellbinding life stories; a deft and immaculately researched explanation of the piano, and how it is played. Page-turningly readable, and surely destined to become a feminist classic.”-Dame Judith Weir, Master of the King’s Music

“Some of these women have been my beloved heroines since childhood; others I’d never even heard of; still others I was delighted to learn more about. This book is a thought-provoking collection of vignettes about women who played and loved the piano.”-Sir Stephen Hough, pianist