Book Review
Mar. 18th, 2014 10:33 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
Marguerite Long: A Life in French Music, 1874-1966
by Cecilia Dunoyer
This short biography covers the life of Marguerite Long, one of the most important pianists of the first half of the twentieth century. Her career coincided with that of the major French composers of the time: Faure, Debussy, and Ravel. She had close friendships with each of them, which allowed her to become their foremost interpreters. The only real flaw in this book is that Dunoyer sticks mainly to reportage, with very little analysis. She concentrates on the events of Long's life without probing deeper. Nonetheless, the book is a very interesting look at the interactions between performers and composers and at the French music world of the early 20th century.
by Cecilia Dunoyer
This short biography covers the life of Marguerite Long, one of the most important pianists of the first half of the twentieth century. Her career coincided with that of the major French composers of the time: Faure, Debussy, and Ravel. She had close friendships with each of them, which allowed her to become their foremost interpreters. The only real flaw in this book is that Dunoyer sticks mainly to reportage, with very little analysis. She concentrates on the events of Long's life without probing deeper. Nonetheless, the book is a very interesting look at the interactions between performers and composers and at the French music world of the early 20th century.