Northern Illinois University
School of Music
College of Visual and Performing Arts

Book Recommendations on Music Performance and Klezmer

Enhancing musical performance

• Sound in Motion by David McGill
  Indiana University Press. Bloomington, IN.
  • The former principal bassoonist of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra describes aspects of musical performance.
• Germaniums for the Clarinet and Saxophone by Edward Yadzinski
  Plume d'Esprit. Amherst, NY.
  • Engaging essays and etudes on diverse topics like practice, sight-reading, articulation, finger articulation and style.
• The Inner Game of Music by Barry Green with W. Timothy Gallwey
  Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group. New York, NY.
  • Learn inner game skills such as imagery and musical awareness to get more out of music and cope with performance nerves.
• Peak Performance by Charles Garfield
  TarcherPerigee. New York, NY.
  • Use the exercises in this book to learn ways to overcome stage fright.
• A Soprano on Her Head by Eloise Ristad
  Real People Press. Moab, UT.
  • New ways to look at perceived musical barriers and unleash your potential.
• Teaching Genius, Dorothy DeLay and the Making of a Musician by Barbara Lourie Sand.
  Amadeus Press. Portland, OR.
  • An inspirational book about the process of studying a musical instrument.

Klezmer

• Mazltov! Jewish-American Wedding Music for clarinet by Joel Rubin
  Schott/Hal Leonard
  • Informative article about klezmer and how to embellish.
• The Compleat Klezmer by Henry Sapoznik with Pete Sokolow
  Tara Publications/Hal Leonard
  • Thirty-three characteristic klezmer tunes from Dave Tarras, Naftule Brandwein and others. Includes a CD of performances from the early 20th century.
• The Absolutely Complete Klezmer Songbook by Yale Strom
  Transcontinental Music Publications/Hal Leonard
  • 400 pages of a wide variety of melodies, a lengthy article by a noted scholar and contemporary recording of some of the melodies.