Lately there have been several books, both about general history and, about more specific areas such as music, in which a potentially daunting subject is addressed through more easily digestible chapters or articles about items, objects or works which can serve as a springboard for a wider discussion. A case in point is Neil MacGregor’s A History of the World in 100 Objects or, in the classical music field, Laura Tunbridge’s recent Beethoven: A Life in Nine Pieces.

Susan Tomes’ The Piano – A History in Hundred Pieces follows a similar format, providing a more-or-less chronological account of the development of the piano through brief chapters on specific works. Tomes’ history is a wide-ranging one, starting off with a section on the piano’s “prehistory” (exploring the transition from harpsichord to Cristofori’s invention) and ending with chapters on 20th century and contemporary works by the likes of Gubaidulina, Pärt, Glass and Judith Weir (although admittedly there are many other composers who might have been deserving of a slot here). There is even a foray into jazz.

Wisely, Tomes does not feel unduly constricted by the title of her book. The “hundred pieces” are not all solo piano pieces, and include chamber works where the instrument may, at first glance, appear to have more of a supporting role. Some entries actually cover more than one piece, for instance the chapter on Domenico Scarlatti’s Sonata in E major K380, which slips in an overview of the composer’s prolific contribution to the genre. Tomes is herself a pianist with a solo and chamber career, and her insights into the pieces are the fruit of erudition, experience and technical knowledge.

This is a book which will be interesting and useful to pianists and lovers of the piano, whether professional or amateur, veterans or young students getting to know the repertoire. It can be read chronologically or kept by the bedside (or on the piano) as a knowledgeable and friendly guide to new pieces or composers.

(Twitter)
@susantomespiano tells us sales of pianos went up in lockdown. ‘The Piano’ is a specialist book describing 100 piano pieces from 1685- present day. The index reads like a ‘best of’ Spotify playlist and encourages discovery of new pieces to listen to. @yalepress

The Piano - A History in 100 Pieces by Susan Tomes is a fascinating and delightful read. Through her chosen works, Tomes considers the history of the instrument, including the development of its capabilities and the innovative ways musicians and composers have used it over the years. If you are a classical music fan, you will doubtless find this an interesting book. However, it will probably have more impact if you are also a musician yourself (especially a pianist), as you will then understand all the references Tomes makes in her dissections of each piece: details that might be incomprehensible to those with no grounding in musical notation and theory. The only downside was, after three hundred pages, I began to feel a little weighed down by all the detail, so perhaps it is a book better dipped into, one piece at a time, rather than read cover to cover in one go, but for any piano aficionado, it is well worth the investment of your money and time. It gets 4.5 stars from me.