The Art of Quartet Playing: The Guarneri Quartet in Conversation with David Blum (Cornell Paperbacks)

This is a great and fun read for any string player. There are numerous subjects from articulations, interpretative issues, intonation, practice techniques, ensemble dynamics and much more. It's really a rare treat to get such a clear picture into the workings of such a renowned group, as well as getting a sense for every individual in the quartet. As a bassist, I took a lot from this book and feel almost all of it is directly applicable to my work as an orchestral player.If you're looking for a little inspiration, new ideas, or just curious about the string quartet genre, this is a must.

I have Arnold Steinhardt's two books on the Guarneri, and love them. Each of the three books is complementary but slightly different. This one is far and away more technical than the others, but if you have ambitions of playing string quartets, it really gives you a clear picture of what you will want to know about approaching the genre. It's not an easy read, though--more of a reference, although there are a lot of ways to approach it.

Well, I am really enjoying this book, but I have to warn you, if you are not a fairly nerdy violin, viola, or cello player, it's probably not for you. It's fairly hard-core into the details of playing these instruments (and, of course, playing as a quartet ensemble), but if you like that kind of thing, then this author and these four performers are offering a continuous stream of valuable insight.

Fabulous information for the chamber music lover! I have used many of the technics discussed in "The Art of Quartet Playing" with my own violin and viola students. There are many subjects covered that I never had in my own music education, so it feels like inside information. I would think this would be a difficult read if the reader knows nothing about string instruments, but for those who do, it's a treasure trove!

A great read full of wonderful insights for the aspiring professional but also for the good amateur who can manage to play the notes and has at least part of his or her brain available for interpretation

Well, at least if you're doing any sort of serious quartet stuff, or other ensemble playing. It's a very interesting read, with lots of good insights into the mechanics of quartet playing. They also point out a lot of useless traditions and myths that handicap some other quartets, such as the first violinist's disease of always needing to give the cue. :-)

I bought this for my daughter prior to a chamber music festival that she was going to attend. She enjoys it and has indicated that what she gleaned from it was useful for the music festival.

Special book!

Thorough information on quartet playing. Many good points of view and insights on common problems.

David Blum's 'Art Of The String Quartet' is a fantastic work. Its interviews with the experienced musicians of the Guarneri Quartet allow the reader to learn about the elementary aspects of the string quartet and beyond - both concerning the musical form itself as well as the ensemble that performs it. In addition to the clear and vivid statements of the players and their interviewer, the book contains many notations of musical examples that allow the reader to understand also in a visual way what is talked about. A small dictionary with the most used musical terms is a helpful addition. Highly recommendable for everyone who shares a love for the string quartet and is interested in how it is done!

All sorts of wonderful insights for the amateur musician who plays too. When you have fully digested Mrs Norton's excellent book, have this on your shelf ready; it will help you become a better chamber music player.

Este libro es, en mi opinión, simplemente el mejor libro escrito sobre música de cámara. Es una gran ayuda para cualquier interprete, profesor o alumno.Dimitri van Halderen