Einem Traume gleich

"The invention of solo cadenzas for classical concertos continues to offer a delightful challenge: their form displays the individual signature of the performer and his or her individual perspective on the piece being performed. This manual, intended not only for pianists but also for wind and string players, seeks to outline different methodological approaches to the invention of a classical cadenza: in the context of practice-based and integrative music theory, the author interweaves practical guidance to improvisation, structural tuition, a reading of source materials, analytical reflections, and thoughts on the history of interpretation. To broaden the historical perspective the last chapter is devoted to some examples of contemporary composition in the form of cadenzas by composers such as Alfred Schnittke, Karlheinz Stockhausen or Salvatore Sciarrino as a commentary on the classical repertoire. If a successful cadenza was once primarily a measure of "good taste", the fermata via a six-four chord just before the end of a concert piece can be understood as a challenge to us to comment on a piece of old music from a completely different perspective. The CD which accompanies the book brings together historical recordings, original cadenzas, and sample solutions for flutes, violins and keyboard instruments"--