Skoda Reviews

This book it's a really treat from a Master on the Piano Performer Authority.

Here is performance information for the pianist without apologies. There are numerous excellent books for organists and harpsichordists from which I have been forced to extrapolate to the piano. Badura-Skoda exhaustively covers all facets of Bach performance on the piano: rhythm, articulation, tempo, and that endless bug-a-boo, ORNAMENTS! He is fearless in expressing his insight and opinion on ornaments and their execution. Musical examples are plentiful, avoiding the need to fetch scores. Of particular interest is his section on the Chromatic Fantasy and Fugue, a short chapter on 18th c. organ-barrels(!), and a Gouldian Imaginary Interview on the "Urtext Problem". "Interpreting Bach" is an informative reference book reminiscent of Rosenblum's "Performance Practices" in scope and ease of use. Well worth the investment for the pianist knocking on Bach's door seeking entry. Badura-Skoda can help open it for you.

I Purchased this book a little over a year ago because little else was available on this subject. I found that the presentation of the material was good and in chronological order from the development of the guns until their use in the the two world wars. Skoda Company history is presented as well but mostly in the context of it's realtion to weapon construction. This book is substantially aided by the numerous photos, illustrations and drawins throughout the book that help give the reader a feel for what the guns looked like and who was most responsible for their development. Recommended for anyone interested in Artillery, the Austro-Hungarian Army and the Skoda Company