Sleeping in Temples

by Susan Tomes

In several decades as a distinguished classical pianist, Susan Tomes has found that there are some issues which never go away. Here she takes up various topics of perennial interest: how music awakens and even creates memories, what "interpretation" really means, what effect daily practice has on the character, whether playing from memory is a burden or a liberation, and why the piano is the right tool for the job. She pays homage to the influence of remarkable teachers, asks what it takes for long-term chamber groups to survive the strains of professional life, and explores the link between music and health. Once again, her aim is to provide insight into the motives and experiences of classical performers. In this fourth book she also describes some of the challenges facing classical musicians in today's society, and considers why this kind of long-form music means so much to those who love it. SUSAN TOMES has won a number of international awards as a performer and recording artist, and in 2013 was awarded the Cobbett Medal for distinguished services to chamber music. For fifteen years she was the pianist of Domus, and for seventeen years she was the pianist of the Florestan Trio, one of the world's leading piano trios. She is the author of three previous books: Beyond the Notes (2004) and Out of Silence (2010), both published by Boydell, and A Musician's Alphabet (2006). She gives masterclasses, writes and presents radio programmes on music, and sits on international competition juries. Her blog on www.susantomes.com has a loyal following.

Genres: Music

263 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2014

Reviews

[Vanessa Kwiatkowski · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very well written book by pianist and author Susan Tomes. This book inspired me to play a piano concert again and make new experiences as a performer.

[Jeremy Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

In her previous books Susan Tomes already provided the reader with a fascinating perspective into the life of the professional chamber musician. Here her insights extend further into the musical world, and beyond. She uses her own experiences but also those of others to illustrate the challenges and joys of presenting music to the public. I found myself marking bits of text (something I've never felt inclined to do before), as they represented exactly the way I felt. That wasn't always in relation to music - I had been discussing the very danger of practising faults to the point that they become ingrained with my wife on the way back from a dance class just the night before reading about it in the book. Many more examples come to mind.

There are darker moments in the book, depicting the challenges facing the professional musician - I did wonder whether someone considering a career might think twice after reading it - but ultimately the joy of the music shines through the written word, as it does in her playing.