BIBLIO is the largest independent book marketplace in the world, with over 100 million books.

Skip to content

Piano Roles: A New History of the Piano
Stock photo: cover may vary

Piano Roles: A New History of the Piano Paperback - 2002

by James Parakilas

Add to wish list

This delightfully written book examines every aspect of the history of the piano over the past 300 years. This new edition includes 47 color photos and 14 illustrations.

Reader reviews for Piano Roles: A New History of the Piano

From the publisher

The piano puts whole worlds of musical sound at the fingertips of one player, evoking the singing of a solo voice, the textural richness of an orchestra, and the rhythmic impetus of a dance band. It has been background or center stage in concertgoing, parlor singing, choir rehearsals, theatrical tryouts, and many other activities, forging a common bond among people of very different social spheres. This delightfully written and copiously illustrated book examines the place of the piano in classical and popular musical cultures and the piano's changing cultural roles over the past three centuries.

Eminent authorities discuss the impetus for the invention of the piano; the innovations in its design, manufacturing, and marketing that promoted its growing significance in concert life and domestic life; and the importance of the piano lesson in the upbringing of the young--especially of girls. They explore the relationship between the piano on the public stage and the piano in the parlor; the spread of the piano to all parts of the world; and the images formed around the piano in literature, art, and movies. And they eloquently describe what the piano has meant to different eras, as it evolved from the plaything of European aristocrats to companion of people of all classes and cultures.

First line

In Irving Berlin's Stop! Look! Listen!which opened on Broadway on Christmas Day, 1915the song "I Love a Piano" was staged as a lavish production number: the singer Harry Fox and the chorus girls, accompanied by six pianists on six pianos, strutted in front of a giant keyboard that reached across the stage.

Details

  • Title Piano Roles: A New History of the Piano
  • Author James Parakilas
  • Binding Paperback
  • Edition 1st Thus
  • Pages 448
  • Volumes 1
  • Language ENG
  • Publisher Yale University Press, USA
  • Publication date March 1, 2002
  • Illustrated Yes
  • Features Bibliography, Illustrated, Index, Table of Contents
  • ISBN 9780300093063 / 0300093063
  • Weight 0.75 lbs (0.34 kg)
  • Dimensions 7.7 x 5.08 x 1.13 in (19.56 x 12.90 x 2.87 cm)
  • Category Music/Songbooks
  • Library of Congress Catalogue Number 2001094961
  • Dewey Decimal Code 786.210

About the author

James Parakilas is the James L. Moody, Jr. Family Professor of Performing Arts and chair of the music department at Bates College. He is also a performing pianist.

More Copies for Sale

Piano Roles: A New History of the Piano
Stock photo: cover may vary

Piano Roles: A New History of the Piano

by Parakilas, Professor James,Parakilas, James

  • Used
  • Very good
  • Paperback
Condition
Very good
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780300093063 / 0300093063
Quantity available
1
Seller
Item price
A$6.25
A$7.32 Delivery to USA

Show details

Description:
Yale University Press, 3/1/2002 12:00:01 AM. paperback. Very Good. 1.2205 7.7165 5.0000.
Add to wish list
Item price
A$6.25
A$7.32 Delivery to USA
Piano Roles: A New History of the Piano
Stock photo: cover may vary

Piano Roles: A New History of the Piano

by Parakilas, Professor James, Parakilas, James

  • Used
Condition
Used
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780300093063 / 0300093063
Quantity available
1
Seller
Item price
A$7.32
A$5.86 Delivery to USA

Show details

Description:
Yale University Press. Used - Good. Good condition. A copy that has been read but remains intact. May contain markings such as bookplates, stamps, limited notes and highlighting, or a few light stains. Bundled media such as CDs, DVDs, floppy disks or access codes may not be included.
Add to wish list
Item price
A$7.32
A$5.86 Delivery to USA
Piano Roles : Three Hundred Years of Life with the Piano

Piano Roles : Three Hundred Years of Life with the Piano

by James Parakilas

  • Used
  • Good
  • Paperback
Condition
Good
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780300093063 / 0300093063
Quantity available
3
Seller
Item price
A$9.63
Free Delivery to USA

Show details

Description:
Yale University Press, 2002. Paperback. Good. Pages can have notes/highlighting. Spine may show signs of wear. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed.
Add to wish list
Item price
A$9.63
Free Delivery to USA
Piano Roles : Three Hundred Years of Life with the Piano
Stock photo: cover may vary

Piano Roles : Three Hundred Years of Life with the Piano

by Parakilas, James

  • Used
Condition
Used
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780300093063 / 0300093063
Quantity available
1
Seller
Item price
A$10.87
Free Delivery to USA

Show details

Description:
Yale University Press. Used - Very Good. Former library copy. Pages intact with possible writing/highlighting. Binding strong with minor wear. Dust jackets/supplements may not be included. Includes library markings. Stock photo provided. Product includes identifying sticker. Better World Books: Buy Books. Do Good.
Add to wish list
Item price
A$10.87
Free Delivery to USA
Piano Roles : Three Hundred Years of Life with the Piano
Stock photo: cover may vary

Piano Roles : Three Hundred Years of Life with the Piano

by Parakilas, James

  • Used
Condition
Used
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780300093063 / 0300093063
Quantity available
1
Seller
Item price
A$10.87
Free Delivery to USA

Show details

Description:
Yale University Press. Used - Very Good. Pages intact with possible writing/highlighting. Binding strong with minor wear. Dust jackets/supplements may not be included. Stock photo provided. Product includes identifying sticker. Better World Books: Buy Books. Do Good.
Add to wish list
Item price
A$10.87
Free Delivery to USA
Piano Roles: A New History of the Piano
Stock photo: cover may vary

Piano Roles: A New History of the Piano

by Parakilas, Professor James; Parakilas, James

  • Used
  • Good
  • Paperback
Condition
Good
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780300093063 / 0300093063
Quantity available
1
Seller
Item price
A$17.38
A$19.42 Delivery to USA

Show details

Description:
Yale University Press, 2002. Soft cover. Good. 8x5x1. . Has some light general reading/shelfwear - otherwise, this is a clean, tight copy. Dispatch within 24hrs from the UK.
Add to wish list
Item price
A$17.38
A$19.42 Delivery to USA
Piano Roles: A New History of the Piano
Stock photo: cover may vary

Piano Roles: A New History of the Piano

by James Parakilas

  • Used
  • Paperback
Condition
Used
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780300093063 / 0300093063
Quantity available
1
Seller
Item price
A$13.94
A$7.32 Delivery to USA

Show details

Description:
Yale University Press, March 2002. Trade Paperback. USED Good.
Add to wish list
Item price
A$13.94
A$7.32 Delivery to USA
Piano Roles – A New History of the Piano: Three Hundred Years of Life with the...

Piano Roles – A New History of the Piano: Three Hundred Years of Life with the Piano (Nota Bene)

by Parakilas, James

  • Used
  • Very good
  • Paperback
Condition
Very good
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780300093063 / 0300093063
Quantity available
2
Seller
Item price
A$19.09
A$16.64 Delivery to USA

Show details

Description:
Paperback. Very Good.
Add to wish list
Item price
A$19.09
A$16.64 Delivery to USA
Piano Roles – A New History of the Piano: Three Hundred Years of Life with the...

Piano Roles – A New History of the Piano: Three Hundred Years of Life with the Piano (Nota Bene)

by Parakilas, James

  • Used
  • Paperback
Condition
New
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780300093063 / 0300093063
Quantity available
1
Seller
Item price
A$19.09
A$16.64 Delivery to USA

Show details

Description:
Paperback. Like New.
Add to wish list
Item price
A$19.09
A$16.64 Delivery to USA
Piano Roles: A New History of the Piano
Stock photo: cover may vary

Piano Roles: A New History of the Piano

by Parakilas, Professor James

  • New
  • Paperback
Condition
New
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780300093063 / 0300093063
Quantity available
6
Seller
Item price
A$24.38
Free Delivery to USA

Show details

Description:
Yale University Press, 2002-03-01. paperback. New. 7.70x5.08x1.13. Buy with confidence. Excellent Customer Service & Return policy.
Add to wish list
Item price
A$24.38
Free Delivery to USA