Books, Methods & Performance Practice

A School for the Flute, by C. Nicholson

Gassett Collection - Facsimile Edition by Peter H. Bloom

Volume I,  PDF $10.50

Volume II, PDF $10.50

Charles Nicholson (1795-1837) was the most renowned flutist in the English-speaking world during the first half of the 19th century. His artistry, style, and technical innovation remain forceful influences more than a century and a half after his death. Before the meteoric rise of the Boehm flute put an end to glorious diversity in the flute world, there were three categories of flutes from which to choose: small hole French style flutes; large hole Nicholson style flutes; and flutes with moderate holes. Nicholson's A School for the Flute, published in 1836, addresses all three styles of instruments and provides clear direction to players of each. He also provides us with a wealth of information on style and performance practice in the 19th century.  (excerpted from the foreword by P. H. Bloom)

Please note that this is an un-enhanced facsimile, a scan of an historical edition, so there are areas that are faded, uneven, or otherwise imperfect based on the condition of the original document.

Volume I: 75 pages including a foreword by Peter H. Bloom, $10.50

Nicholson addresses fundamentals of music and goes on to present a thorough treatise on flute-playing technique including detailed analyses of fingerings and articulations accompanied by clear and useful musical examples.

Volume II: 68 pages including a foreword by Peter H. Bloom, $10.50

Nicholson provides lessons and observations concerning his approach to style, taste and performance practice as well as technique.

Masters of the 19th Century Spanish Piano Music

Compiled and Edited by Ana Benavides

Print Edition, 98 pages, paperback, $24.99

Ana Benavides is an internationally acclaimed pianist and Steinway Artist who has performed recitals in Europe, Australia, South America, and North America. A regular visitor to international festivals both as soloist and chamber musician, she has maintained a keen interest in rare Spanish piano music of the 19th century. Visit www.anabenavides.com to learn more about Ana Benavides and her work.

Masters of the 19th Century Spanish Piano Music (copyright © 2014) is a compilation of exceptional but little-known and difficult to find works, all carefully selected and edited by Ana Benavides. The works are rare masterpieces of Spanish piano music that have been rediscovered and reprinted in an edition formatted to facilitate reading by professionals and aficionados at any level. The main objective of this publication is to establish a unifying link between the 18th century Spanish harpsichordists and the great nationalists. This outstanding book, an anthology of piano masterworks written by influential Spanish composers with different styles and posing varied degrees of difficulty for the player, is an essential tool for understanding music in Spain during the 19th century.

Please click to view the following preview pages from Masters of the 19TH Century Spanish Piano Music:
p1, from Sonata by Nicolás Ledesma
p19, from No.10 of José Antonio Santesteban's 24 Preludios, Op.84
p98, index of composers and works included in the book

Masters of the 19th Century Spanish Piano Music was published by Bassus Ediciones and is distributed in the USA by Noteworthy Sheet Music. We sell this book in paperback print edition only, not as a PDF, and only for shipment to addresses within the USA.

To place an order, please use the Contact Us form to tell us which of NSM's print edition publications you would like to order, and include your email and USPS mailing addresses in the message. We will then send you a PayPal invoice for your purchase, which will include a small shipping and handling fee. Once we receive notice from PayPal that you have paid for the publication(s), we will ship your items to the address you provided for delivery in 7-10 business days.

For sales of the book in Europe, please visit www.anabenavides.com.

The Piano in Spain, by Ana Benavides

Print Edition, 147 pages, paperback, $24.99

Written by internationally accclaimed pianist and Steinway Artist Ana Benavides, this book covers the history of the piano in Spain, from its introduction to the time of Joaquín Turina. The edition is carefully researched and beautifully formatted, and contains numerous music examples and color images. Scholars, professional pianists, amateur musicians, and lovers of the piano generally will find this book indispensible for understanding the piano in Spain during the 19th century. Here is a list of the topics covered:
1. Introduction of the Piano into Spain
2. The First Spanish Piano Builders
3. Music Conservatories and other Musical Spaces
4. Editorial Activity and the Musical Press
5. On the Way to Nationalism
6. Spain and Europe
7. Repertoire
8. Maestros and Predecessors
9. Isaac Albéniz
10. Enrique Granados
11. Manuel de Falla
12. Joaquín Turina

A review by Jonathan Santa Maria Bouquet of The Piano in Spain by Ana Benavides appeared in the Newsletter of The American Musical Instrument Society, Volume 44, No. 1, Spring 2015, p22.  The review has been republished on the NSM website with permission from AMIS.

The Piano in Spain was published by Bassus Ediciones and is distributed in the USA by Noteworthy Sheet Music. We sell the book in paperback print edition only, not as a PDF, and only for shipment to addresses within the USA.

To order, please use the Contact Us form to tell us which of NSM's print edition publications you would like to purchase, and include your email and USPS mailing addresses in the message. We will then send you a PayPal invoice for your purchase, which will include a $5.95 shipping and handling fee. Once we receive notice from PayPal that you have paid for the publication(s), we will ship your item(s) to the address you provided for delivery in 7-10 business days.

For sales of the book in Europe, please visit www.anabenavides.com.

Eduardo Ocón y Rivas—Obra completa para piano

Compiled and Edited by Ana Benavides

Solo Piano, Print Edition, 61 pages, paperback, $21.99

Eduardo Ocón was one of Spain's most notable musical personages of the 19th century—an organist and composer, as well as the founder and director of the Malaga Conservatory. This book, Eduardo Ocón y Rivas—Obra completa para piano (copyright © 2007), is a compilation of the complete piano works of Eduardo Ocón, edited, renotated, and with an introduction by Ana Benavides. The works are rare masterpieces of Spanish piano music that have been rediscovered and reprinted in an edition formatted to facilitate reading by professionals and aficionados at any level. Here is a list of the works included in this anthology:
- Rapsodia Andaluza, Op.9
- Recuerdos de Andalucía, Bolero de Concierto, Op.8
- Rheinfahrt. Estudio Fantástico
- Gran Vals Brillante
- Meditación
- Estudio-Capricho para la mano izquierda, Op.10
- Amor inmortal
- En la playa. Barcarola

Ana Benavides is an internationally acclaimed pianist and Steinway Artist who has performed recitals in Europe, Australia, South America, and North America. A regular visitor to international festivals both as soloist and chamber musician, she has maintained a keen interest in rare Spanish piano music of the 19th century. Visit www.anabenavides.com to learn more about the artist and her work.

Eduardo Ocón y Rivas—Obra completa para piano was published by Bassus Ediciones Musicales and is distributed in the USA by Noteworthy Sheet Music. We sell the book in paperback print edition only, not as a PDF, and only for shipment to addresses within the USA.

To order, please use the Contact Us form to tell us which of NSM's print edition publications you would like to purchase, and include your email and USPS mailing addresses in the message. We will then send you a PayPal invoice for your purchase, which will include a $5.95 shipping and handling fee. Once we receive notice from PayPal that you have paid for the publication(s), we will ship your item(s) to the address you provided for delivery in 7-10 business days.

For sales of the book in Europe, please visit the Bassus Ediciones Musicales website.