The Pianist's Dictionary

The Pianist’s Dictionary is a handy and practical reference dictionary aimed specifically at pianists, teachers, students, and concertgoers. Prepared by Maurice Hinson, the best-selling author of Guide to the Pianist’s Repertoire, the work explains pianistic terms and performance directions clearly and concisely, with illustrations and brief musical examples. Hinson includes succinct entries concerning famous piano pieces and composers, leading performers and teachers, and piano makers—making The Pianist’s Dictionary the perfect reference for compiling program and liner notes. The volume collects many of Hinson’s most useful ideas that have appeared in his popular lectures and masterclasses over the years and have not been published elsewhere.

A handy and practical reference dictionary aimed specifically at pianists, teachers, students, and concertgoers. The work explains pianistic terms and performance directions clearly and concisely, with illustrations and brief musical examples. It also includes succinct entries concerning famous piano pieces and composers, leading performers and teachers, and piano makers.

Library Journal

In this music dictionary, piano teacher Hinson (emeritus, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary; Guide to the Pianist's Repertoire) relies on his 60 years of experience to provide practical information about the piano. Arranged alphabetically, the nearly 2000 entries provide definitions of musical terms, thumbnail sketches of important composers and compositions, piano manufacturers, and even names of some teachers. Accompanied by illustrations and brief musical examples, the entries cover the subject from around 1700 to the present day. Although the discussions of composers and their works seem highly opinionated, much of the writing is simple, if not simpleminded, and contrary to the aim of both the author and the publisher will not be helpful to university-level pianists. Although the book covers a wide range of subject matter, which makes it nearly comprehensive in scope, the definitions it provides are quite rudimentary and do not address complicated issues. Bottom Line For sophisticated discussions, advanced pianists should consult either The New Harvard Dictionary of Music or The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians. Large public libraries may consider Hinson's work, given its affordable price and elementary level of discussion suitable for beginners.-Timothy J. McGee, Hastings, Ont. Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.