The Piano Shop on the Left Bank Discovering a Forgotten Passion in a Paris Atelier (Audible Audio Edition) Thad Carhart Dan Cashman Random House Audio Books
Download As PDF : The Piano Shop on the Left Bank Discovering a Forgotten Passion in a Paris Atelier (Audible Audio Edition) Thad Carhart Dan Cashman Random House Audio Books
Thad Carhart never realized there was a gap in his life until he happened upon Desforges Pianos, a demure little shopfront in his Paris neighborhood that seemed to want to hide rather than advertise its wares. Like Alice in Wonderland, he found his attempts to gain entry rebuffed at every turn. An accidental introduction finally opened the door to the quartier's oddest hangout, where locals - from university professors to pipefitters - gather on Friday evenings to discuss music, love, and life over glasses of wine.
Luc, the atelier's master, proves an excellent guide to the history of this most gloriously impractical of instruments. A bewildering variety passes through his restorer's hands delicate ancient pianofortes, one perhaps the onetime possession of Beethoven. Great hulking beasts of thunderous voice. And the modest piano "with the heart of a lion" that was to become Thad's own.
What emerges is a warm and intuitive portrait of the secret Paris - one closed to all but a knowing few. The Piano Shop on the Left Bank is the perfect audiobook for music lovers or for anyone who longs to recapture a lost passion.
The Piano Shop on the Left Bank Discovering a Forgotten Passion in a Paris Atelier (Audible Audio Edition) Thad Carhart Dan Cashman Random House Audio Books
For anyone who has ever been attached to a piano--that lumbering piece of furniture that becomes whatever you make of it--this is a must-read. I was influenced in my love of pianos by my mother, who talked for years about saving up for a Wurlitzer spinet, and she did it! It was her pride and joy. It was my babysitter during summers alone at home when there really wasn't anything else to do.Because my mother's mother was a strict music teacher, and because my mother was a very shy child, her mother would not teacher her to play because she couldn't be brave enough to count out loud. Her mother being over-strict, mine refused to push me. And of course, I wish she would have. But the piano was my playmate, and I slowly worked my way through a few inappropriately difficult pieces over the summers. I have never become an accomplished player, but I do love playing "at" piano on this one that is more than I ever deserved.
Carhart's story resonates with those of us who's hearts have bonded with a piano. Pianos are ridiculously complex and delicate or sturdy, whichever way they are personally inclined. They can be had for almost no money when somebody needs to get rid of a piano. I paid $300 for the piano in 1969, and probably $3000 in moving and tuning over the years. My 1920s Blasius & Sons upright grand, which I've had for 48 years, has been moved, stored, and moved at least 10 times. It is a trouper, and it can still be tuned to concert pitch.
It is about to become the property of the local ragtime festival, and I can't wait to hear its destiny fulfilled by being played by worthy musicians. I will be standing around awaiting their praise as if it were an only child. I will strive to be rational. This piano is also a favorite of our 11-yr-old grandson, who is against the notion of moving it on. I have campaigned the notion of "stewardship," saying that this piano is bigger than the two of us and that it has a destiny to fulfill. Together, we recorded our names and dates inside the lid yesterday, inspired by Carhart's story. Thank you, Thad! I am buying several copies to share with friends.
Product details
|
Tags : Amazon.com: The Piano Shop on the Left Bank: Discovering a Forgotten Passion in a Paris Atelier (Audible Audio Edition): Thad Carhart, Dan Cashman, Random House Audio: Books, ,Thad Carhart, Dan Cashman, Random House Audio,The Piano Shop on the Left Bank: Discovering a Forgotten Passion in a Paris Atelier,Random House Audio,B01B5730VM
People also read other books :
- Expositions of Holy Scripture Romans Corinthians To II Corinthians Chap V Alexander Maclaren Books
- Mistaken The Mistaken Series Book 1 edition by Renna Peak Romance eBooks
- Flag Ship Down Troy Barclay/Amber Neilson Thriller Series Book 6 eBook Daniel Adams
- Bitten Beauty Book 3 Of the Deadly Beauties Live On edition by CM Owens Paranormal Romance eBooks
- A Love Story Reversed 1898 eBook Edward Bellamy
The Piano Shop on the Left Bank Discovering a Forgotten Passion in a Paris Atelier (Audible Audio Edition) Thad Carhart Dan Cashman Random House Audio Books Reviews
I was fascinated by the stories about pianos in this memoir and how they were sold in Paris. I liked the book so much I bought it as a birthday present for my nephew Jon who is a talented musician and likes to understand how things are put together. If you love memoirs set in Paris you will love this book. If you are simply a fan of Irving Berlin and know the lyrics to "I Love a Piano" because you do, you will love this book.
I've been studying piano for 7 years now and am a bit unique because, unlike most piano students (or pianists for that matter), I've taken a very avid interest in how pianos are built and the different makes. I found this book thru a recommendation from a fellow pianist and first read it on , loved it, certainly satisfied my yen for knowing more about how pianos are built and the differences between the different makes, not to mention a good deal of history on music and tips on learning and practice. I loved it so much I had to have it in hard copy. So I got this and I'm very happy with it. I've found myself particularly in awe of the new Fazioli piano the last few years and was so happy that the author included an entire chapter on this amazing instrument. He even traveled to Sacile Italy and visited the factory under the guidance of Fazioli founder. That chapter alone is worth the whole book.
This book explained to me WHY people are so serious about their pianos, even if they don't play well. I don't play, and have no musical abilities, but my mother was a good pianist and my husband tries. The author is a very good writer and shows much curiosity and sensibility about pianos. Mother left me her 7ft Steinway when she died, and I was not thrilled, feeling I would rather have money. She left everything else to my sister. I was very angry. After reading this book, it made me understand how she felt about her piano, and what a precious item it was to her, and what a nice thing it is to have at home with my husband playing. It really made me appreciate the gift and pianos overall. I loved this book so much that I have passed it on as a gift to my husband and my serious piano-playing friends.
“Good Americans, when they die, go to Paris.”
For many a Francophile American (this reviewer included), the above often-quoted but just-as-often-misattributed saying never fails to provoke an irrepressible smile. I have never met Thad Carhart, but if I did, I would bet him that he was smiling the whole time he wrote this book.
In contrast to David McCullough’s opus "The Greater Journey Americans in Paris," Carhart’s approach is deeply personal. He focuses on a small part of the French way of life, as if peeking through the door left ajar at the atelier. This focus, along with Carhart’s conversational style, pulls the reader into a magical world through Carhart’s eyes. And that is what makes this book special among a dolly-full of breathlessly adoring but otherwise unremarkable books about the history, places, and residents of Paris.
Carhart keeps up the intellectuality of the topic, but never condescends to the reader nor does he show off. However, his respectful humility at times becomes slightly repetitive and slows down the tempo of his prose. Carhart also seems to put himself down too harshly when recalling his childhood experience. Yet these small blemishes are all too understandable how many of us have secretly deemed ourselves “unworthy” of the sudden attention of a high school crush, or have mumbled nonsense when star-struck? Carhart’s book, at its core, proves lost love can be found again, even if it takes walking into a dusty-looking piano shop on the left bank.
Interesting to boring.Nothing to entice me to continue reading. Informative if you want to learn about piano's inner workings, beginnings, general history.
For anyone who has ever been attached to a piano--that lumbering piece of furniture that becomes whatever you make of it--this is a must-read. I was influenced in my love of pianos by my mother, who talked for years about saving up for a Wurlitzer spinet, and she did it! It was her pride and joy. It was my babysitter during summers alone at home when there really wasn't anything else to do.
Because my mother's mother was a strict music teacher, and because my mother was a very shy child, her mother would not teacher her to play because she couldn't be brave enough to count out loud. Her mother being over-strict, mine refused to push me. And of course, I wish she would have. But the piano was my playmate, and I slowly worked my way through a few inappropriately difficult pieces over the summers. I have never become an accomplished player, but I do love playing "at" piano on this one that is more than I ever deserved.
Carhart's story resonates with those of us who's hearts have bonded with a piano. Pianos are ridiculously complex and delicate or sturdy, whichever way they are personally inclined. They can be had for almost no money when somebody needs to get rid of a piano. I paid $300 for the piano in 1969, and probably $3000 in moving and tuning over the years. My 1920s Blasius & Sons upright grand, which I've had for 48 years, has been moved, stored, and moved at least 10 times. It is a trouper, and it can still be tuned to concert pitch.
It is about to become the property of the local ragtime festival, and I can't wait to hear its destiny fulfilled by being played by worthy musicians. I will be standing around awaiting their praise as if it were an only child. I will strive to be rational. This piano is also a favorite of our 11-yr-old grandson, who is against the notion of moving it on. I have campaigned the notion of "stewardship," saying that this piano is bigger than the two of us and that it has a destiny to fulfill. Together, we recorded our names and dates inside the lid yesterday, inspired by Carhart's story. Thank you, Thad! I am buying several copies to share with friends.
0 Response to "≡ Libro The Piano Shop on the Left Bank Discovering a Forgotten Passion in a Paris Atelier (Audible Audio Edition) Thad Carhart Dan Cashman Random House Audio Books"
Post a Comment