Piano, the Instrument

Entries are organized into six sections by topic: the first section lists works containing general information, including but not limited to, books and articles covering a wide range of topics, introductory materials, and serial titles. The second section covers the history on piano and is arranged by country. The section on builders and manufacturers is arranged by name of builder or manufacturer. The sections on construction and maintenance are arranged by parts of the piano. The section on miscellaneous subjects includes catalogs for collections of instruments, works about pedal pianos, pianos associated with composers, selection and purchase, works intended for younger readers, and works about other miscellaneous topics not included above. Readers are referred to the subject index for further cross-referencing. Referencing literature on every aspect of the piano, this annotated bibliography will cut down on research time for scholars and students, directing them to the most relevant and useful sources. No music library should be without it.

A comprehensive, highly organized music research aid that belongs in every music library, Wolcott's book is a huge, detailed compilation offering 822 entries about the piano., This bibliography, with its more than 800 citations, is a welcome addition to the reference literature about the piano. Wolcott has carefully defined the parameters of her project and has produced a useful resource...This resource certainly belongs in any collection that serves people who have interest in the piano as an instrument., A welcome addition to reference collections, this carefully selected and annotated bibliography about the piano as an instrument cites books, dissertations and theses, articles within books, journal articles, descriptive catalogs and exhibition catalogs...Wolcott's work will have broad general appeal and can be used at many levels and afforded by most collections. For pianists, dealers, piano technicians, researchers, and historians.

Michiko Ishiama Wolcott, winner of many awards and honors, including the prestigious Presser Scholarship, has performed with the Alabama Symphony Orchestra and the Florida State University Symphony, as a soloist and a chamber musician.