Music-Study in Germany: The Classic Memoir of the Romantic Era

by Amy Fay, Frances Dillon (Introduction)

In this series of letters written between November 1869 and May 1875, a young American pianist, Amy Fay, recounts the thrilling experience of studying piano with such great teachers as Liszt, Tausig, and Kullak. Printed 21 times in America, published also in London, and translated into French and German, this book has clearly established its wide appeal to music students.
The author describes the customs and mores, the place of interest, and the people she encountered during her stay in Germany, then the music capital of the world. In a vivid style and with youthful exuberance, she imparts to the reader her impressions of performances by Anton Rubinstein, Clara Schumann, Tausig, Liszt, the great violinist Joachim, Wagner (as conductor), and other notables of music history. Her account of a reception and concert in honor of Wagner is especially fascinating.
But the sections of this entirely engaging work that are of primary importance to music students, particularly to students and teachers of the piano, are the author's detailed accounts of the teaching methods of the great piano virtuosi. Interesting pictures of lessons of Tausig's conservatory, of Kullak's teaching techniques, and, above all, a unique portrait of Liszt the man, the teacher, and the performer emerge from these letters. So valued are Amy Fay's impressions of Liszt, in fact, that these sections alone are regarded as a miniature classic. For this Dover edition, Professor Frances Dillon of the Mannes College of Music contributed an informative introduction.
Because of her position as a student working closely with Liszt, Tausig, Kullak, and Deppe, Amy Fay was able to reveal many little-known facets of their work and their teaching techniques. Her obvious enthusiasm and serious attitude towards her study make this a work of great liveliness and rare insight. Not only students of the piano, but all musicologists will find her comments and descriptions invaluable. And the general reader should enjoy the many anecdotes and personal glimpses of these famous names in music.

Genres: Music, Memoir, Germany, Classical Music, Travel, Nonfiction

368 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1886

Reviews

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a wonderfully detailed journalistic insight into the musical experiences of American pianist, Amy Fay, as she studies music abroad from 1869 to 1875. Amy gives vivid accounts of her lessons with some of the great piano teachers of the 19th century: Theodor Kullak, Carl Tausig, Franz Liszt, and Ludwig Deppe. She also describes in detail her teachers' methods, studies, and techniques which would otherwise have been lost forever. Another exciting addition to the memoir is her concert-going experience where she describes the piano playing of Clara Schumann and Anton Rubenstein, the violin playing of Joseph Joachim, Wagner conducting his Faust Overture and the way the audience reacted to his walking out on stage, and the way he speaks. I highly recommend this book for the classical music enthusiast, scholar, musician, and fans of music history's Romantic Era.

[Steven · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book, an excellent historical artifact! Tells the real life story of an American pianist who studied with the greatest piano masters of piano of the day - Tausig, Deppe, and Liszt, and met with fascinating musical personalities such as Anton Rubinstein, Joseph Joachim, Clara Schumann, even seeing Otto von Bismarck from a distance! Besides descriptions of piano technique, it has reminiscences of great events (Franco Prussian war) and the social milieu of 1880s Germany (she remarked that Germans are mostly irreligious and jealousy is a national character). And if that is not enough, the descriptions are so rich and poetic. It feels like you miss 1880s Germany by the time you finished it.

[Elisabeth Sadler · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book, but you'd probably have to be interested in classical music, learning the piano or Germany in order to appreciate it. It's an easy read and Amy describes her travels freshly and vividly. She meets, hears and studies with the important musical figures of the time (Franz Liszt, Clara Schumann, Joseph Joachim etc) and talks about her life in Germany - what the Germans are like, the atmosphere of the 1870 war etc. It's also interesting from a feminist perspective - seeing how a young American lady tries to 'make it' as an artist in Europe. I looked forward to reading every night and was sad when I'd finished it.

[Sarah Ruth · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is no wonder that Amy Fay inspired many young American artists to polish their musical training abroad! No one can match her for turn of phrase, nor want of detail. I smiled all through this eloquent and motivational anthology of an artist's recollections.

[Sara D · Rating 5 out of 5]

A delightful memoir by a young, rather straight-laced but charming American girl. Piano student Amy Fay traveled to Germany on the eve of the Franco-Prussian war in the hope of studying with the virtuoso Carl Tausig. She met Franz Liszt and other celebrated musicians of the day, and her descriptions of their personalities and playing are delightful. Her observations on German social customs and manners are equally vivid.

[Wendell Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this very interesting. Fay studied piano in Europe and gives a first hand account of Liszt (with whom she studied) Wagner, Clara Schumann, and many others. She has been called by some the first lady of American music. Her brother was involved in starting the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.

[Spitz]

Interesting for lots of reasons.