Available again - a memoir by the esteemed American pianist Earl Wild who died in January of 2010 at the age of 94. He began working on this memoir in the 1970s. This release is the soft bound edition of the book that was first released in 2011 as a hard bound version. Now reedited to 720 pages, it includes 19 interesting chapters and a complete recorded discography.  This is an informative book that covers the beginning of early radio from the 1920s and 30s and the beginning of early television which began in the late 1930s by someone who was there and experienced it.

It also covers almost all of the major musicians and composers in the 20th century. There is an in-depth master class chapter which lays out the proper performing technique as well as chapters that deal with the art of improvisation, performing, composing (including piano transcriptions) and music criticism. The book is a major addition to the study of classical music along with personal anecdotes and amusing stories about the colorful and famous names of the 20th century told by one of the great pianists and wits of the century - Earl Wild. This book is a who's who of most of the important individuals and artists who lived in the 20th century. A must read by both musicians and non-musicians alike!

Accolades

“Earl Wild is without peer.” The Boston Globe

“Earl Wild is surely one of our national treasures.” Stereo Review

“Earl Wild is a latter-day resurrection of Lhevinne, Rosenthal and Rachmaninoff rolled into one.” Musical Opinion

“The white-maned lion of the keyboard.” The Wall Street Journal

Cheers rang to the rafters as Earl Wild concluded what was surely one of the most stunning piano recitals in the entire history of the Wigmore Hall.” London Daily Telegraph

“The piano simply cannot be played more beautifully or expressively. Elliot Ravetz, TIME magazine

“It is not only super virtuosity but also sheer pianistic elegance. One of today’s phenomenal techniques—aristocratic playing— Romanticism came alive.” Harold C. Schonberg, The New York Times

“Earl Wild is one of the greatest pianists of our age at the height of his technical and interpretive genius.” The London Times

“The Atlas of the piano.” The New York Times

“An echo of Rachmaninoff’s tone and style could be discerned in Mr. Wild’s playing, giving it distinction.” The Washington Post

“Earl Wild’s technique must be the envy of pianists everywhere.”  The Chicago Tribune

“Earl Wild really is a marvel.” Gramophone

“A glittering, powerful technique, second to none.” Los Angeles Times