Performer and scholar Abram Loft wants every chamber musician to be a strong, collaborative ensemble voice. Here's his hard-headed advice on choosing colleagues, rehearsing and performing effectively together, building repertoire, programming, touring and other facets of the art and business of a chamber music career. Ranging from hilarious to sobering, this is essential reading for music lovers, amateur players, students, teachers and today's many emerging professional ensembles. Recent events in the field, including some strident litigation, highlight the usefulness of this veteran's realistic counsel.

Reviews

"Abe Loft tells the true nitty-gritty story of string quartet life. Those who have been in quartets will appreciate the honest and often humorous portrayal of this eccentric lifestyle. Those who hope to play in a quartet can learn what joys to expect and what pitfalls to avoid. And for anyone else, the book will be a pure delight."