Heasook Rhee

The Art of Instrumental Accompanying

Written by Dr. Heasook Rhee, faculty member in Piano Chamber Music and Accompanying at the Manhattan School of Music in New York City since 1998, this book is intended for pianists with different levels of experience. Dr. Rhee draws from her vast career as a collaborative pianist, having performed with many distinguished artists of our time, including violinists Ivry Gitlis, Ilya Grubert, Peter Zazofsky; cellists Marcio Carneiro, Charles Curtis, Karine Georgian, the late Samuel Mayes, Nathaniel Rosen, Jian Wang, Tilmann Wick; tenor Nikolai Gedda, bass-baritone Simon Estes, soprano Youngok Shin, the late flutist Julius Baker, and saxophonist Harvey Pittel. The Art of Instrumental Accompanying serves as an introduction for pianists who are beginning to learn accompanying for major students, and also for teachers who might be interested in considering these reflections and examples. The author's aim here is to introduce prospective accompanists to some practical tools and concepts that will improve their skills and provide a systematic and hierarchical understanding of pertinent ensemble issues. This text is an invaluable tool from an expert artist.