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Summary: Review quote from Charles Michener in NEW YORK OBSERVER
Review: "Arnold Steinhardt gave up a promising solo career to help form the Guarneri String Quartet in 1963. In this deftly written account of a long career as the quartet's first violinist, he manages to find more amusement than one might have thought possible in the less glamorous, less ego-driven world of chamber music. Mr. Steinhardt's book bristles with the endless squabbling that goes into trying to make music out of the "interlocking disparities in temperament, style, and artistic impulse" among four highly accomplished, determined and different musicians. I have never read a more exhilarating account of the mysterious business of making chamber music that the one with which Mr. Steinhardt closes his book.
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Summary: Goes to the core of the art of music in a quartet.
Review: A fabulous journey into the world of the quartet. Steinhardt beautifully shows the incredible "marriage" among four members of a string quartet. His viewpoint of personal experience allows the reader to relate to all the stories of humor, hardship, and growth.
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Summary: Life in a Famous String Quartet
Review: Ah, leading the glamorous life! Many thanks to Arnold Steinhardt for sharing his fascinating experiences as a member of the Guarneri Quartet. His book is full of marvelous memories and thoughtful insights into a classical musician's art as practiced at the highest levels. Steinhardt is always interesting, often eloquent. This book has given me a renewed appreciation of the string quartet literature, and a deeper understanding of the collaborative art of chamber music.
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Summary: A Very Inspiring Read!... From An Amateur
Review: Arnold Steinhardt has created a masterpiece with his book. It caught and kept my interest at every turn- with humor, applicable information for musicians, and details of his personal life. I read it at every opportunity (in the car mostly:)- I felt guilty if I was using free time to do something other than practice after sensing his devotion) and wished he would go on at the end. I wish the other members of the Guarneri would take his advice in the Acknowledgements and write more volumes! Also, as a Christian, the fact that there was no dirty humor and maybe three four-letter words was a plus. For any musician or classical enthusiast, this book is a must-read.
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Summary: entertaining and illuminating account of life in a quartet
Review: Arnold Steinhardt, first violinist in what is arguably the finest string quartet performing today, has given us an entertaining and illuminating account of life in the Guaneri Quartet. Writing with unabashed affection for his colleagues of over thirty years, Steinhardt describes their initial meeting, their formal coming together as a quartet, their experiences with their mentors, some of the outstanding luminaries of their generation: (Rudolph Serkin at Marlboro, Arthur Rubenstein, Sascha and Mischa Schneider, etc.) Steindhardt proves himself to be quite the raconteur as well as gentle psychologist as he describes the Guarneri's journey from hyper-testosterone young quartet to one of the most seasoned groups performing today. His personal and professional portrayal of his colleagues is intimate and respectful, and lends valuable insight for the lay person who has always wondered 1. what goes into string quartet playing 2. what the life of a touring musician is like 3. what it takes for four completely different and powerful peersonalities to forge a successful career. I believe this book offers humor, insight and inspiration for those who are professional musicians as well as afficionados of chamber music and even those who are peripherally interested in classical music. It compares with other memoirs offered by Arthur Rubenstein, Gary Graffman and Gregor Piatigorsky, although definitely with more verisimilitude, especially in terms of the latter book. Enjoy!
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Summary: Very Interesting Book
Review: As a violin student, I find this book to be an incredibly valuable and entertaining look at the history and techniques of the Guarneri Quartet. I would also recommend their other book, "The Art of Quartet Playing," which is a series of interviews with the quartet.
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Summary: An Insider's View -- Written for Everyone
Review: I had the pleasure of working with the Guarneri Quartet for two years while a Graduate Fellow at the University of Maryland, where the Quartet has a residency. I had the rare chance of working with four distinct, wonderful musical and human personalities. When this book came to my attention, I jumped to purchase it right away. I was not disappointed. It really reflects Mr. Steinhardt's easygoing nature. The prose is relaxed, the stories are genuine, and usually humorous in some way. Coachings with Mr. Steinhardt were always rewarding experiences, with flashes of brilliant insight into the work we were examining that week, and also with moments of humor and a sense of discovering the work together, as if for the first time -- though he'd played the piece hundreds of times! This book made me most thankful for having had the opportunity to work with these four wonderful musicians and human beings, and most thankful of all that they ever got together in the first place, to bless the classical music world with their enduring spirit and with their unique qualities of music-making -- the best of the old and new schools of string playing. Cheers, Mr. Steinhardt -- a wonderful book, worthy of your musical journeys!
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Summary: For everyone who loves music as an art.
Review: I have enjoyed the music playing of the Guarneri Quartet as long as I have known about classical music. This book is a treat. Mr. Steinhardt writes a delightful and truthful book about his own life and teaches what quartet playing is really about. He shares its challenges and delights and why he chose the path of chamber music over a career as a solo virtuoso.This book should be read not only by lovers of chamber music but by everyone who loves the art of music. It reads well. Serious without being heavy and delightful without being silly. Spend a happy night or two reading it and listening to a few CDs of the quartet's music.
Rating:
Summary: For everyone who loves music as an art.
Review: I have enjoyed the music playing of the Guarneri Quartet as long as I have known about classical music. This book is a treat. Mr. Steinhardt writes a delightful and truthful book about his own life and teaches what quartet playing is really about. He shares its challenges and delights and why he chose the path of chamber music over a career as a solo virtuoso. This book should be read not only by lovers of chamber music but by everyone who loves the art of music. It reads well. Serious without being heavy and delightful without being silly. Spend a happy night or two reading it and listening to a few CDs of the quartet's music.
Rating:
Summary: Dr. Steinhardt is a great entertainer in both string & word.
Review: I loved Dr. Steinhardt's book about the Guarneri Quartet. His way of telling the Guarneri Quartet story and relevant musical anecdotes made me grin and chuckle more than I have in two decades. I even laughed out loud in some parts. I especially enjoyed Dr. Steinhardt's candid treatment of the real life aspect of being a traveling musician. This book was a joy to read. I was truly reluctant to finish the book.
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