Book Reviews

Susan Tomes with the Presto Music Award 2021 for book of the year for ‘The Piano – a History in 100 Pieces’

Reviews of ‘Women and the Piano: A History in 50 Lives’, Yale University Press, 2024

‘One of the must-read non-fiction books of 2024 so far.’ Tatler Asia, 2 July 2024

‘Even today, there are more men than women in the top echelon of international pianists. Tomes’s book is not a polemic, although it investigates why this might be the case. Instead, it celebrates 50 exceptional women pianists, from the 18th century to the turn of the millennium, who have beaten the odds.’  Best Summer Books of 2024, Financial Times, 21 June 2024

‘Delightfully provocative and consistently informative’. The Wall Street Journal, 15 June 2024

‘Susan Tomes’s Women and the Piano has given me more pleasure than almost any other book – in the sense of following her leads to various fascinating people.’
American pianist and writer Jeremy Denk on BBC Radio 3’s Saturday Morning, 1 June 2024

‘In this engaging survey of fifty female pianists, from the eighteenth century to the present, Tomes aims to correct a male-centric understanding of piano history. Women pianists have long been scrutinized—for playing in a “masculine” style, for their appearances, for not orienting themselves around family. Through short biographies, Tomes documents the cost of pursuing art. Fanny Mendelssohn allowed her compositions to be published under her brother Felix’s name; Zhu Xiao-Mei continued studying Bach even after being sent to do manual labor during China’s Cultural Revolution. Yet the resounding note is one of passion. As Marguerite Long told her students, “My joy in life is work, because it will never betray you.”
New Yorker, ‘The Best Books We’ve Read in 2024 So Far’, 20th May 2024

‘Its tone is one of joyful rediscovery and recognition, across 50 biographies of 50 colourful musicians … While full of fascinating, often poignant detail, her succinct biographies also paint a rounded picture of a musical world that’s full of familiar figures and events, but which feels like it’s had the bits that are usually left out put back in.’ The Scotsman, 20 April 2024

‘Susan Tomes’s study of women and their place in the history of the piano is not only timely and valuable but long overdue… It is, as with all her earlier books, beautifully written and well-researched … full of insight, anecdotes, contemporary reviews and comments, of interest to the general reader as much as the pianophile.’
Gramophone, April 2024

Women were not able to pursue professional music careers for much of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, no matter how musically gifted they were. . . . Anyone interested in learning about these hidden musical figures will find much to appreciate in this concise and carefully composed work.’
Booklist, which recommends books for American libraries and institutions

‘Revealed within the pages of this elegantly written book by pianist and author Susan Tomes are the lives of 50 female pianists, from Anne-Louise Brillon de Jouy (nicknamed ‘La Brillante’) in the 18th Century to Nina Simone in the 20th.

In between, dozens of achievements and anecdotes emerge in deft biographies. To give a flavour, here are a handful: Wanda Landowska, who refused to leave a Scarlatti sonata unfinished when she was recording as the Nazis entered Paris; Zhu Xiao-Mei, who copied out Bach’s Goldberg Variations while in a Chinese ‘re-education camp’ during the Cultural Revolution; Sara Levy, great-aunt of Felix and Fanny Mendelssohn, and one of the many women in that family who kept the music of Bach alive; Philippa Schuyler, whose eccentric parents used her to experiment with their theories about education, nutrition and genetics; and Hélène de Montgeroult, whose near miss with the guillotine during the French Revolution is Hollywood-worthy.

Just as valuable as Tomes’s judicious selection is her fresh look at the situation now for professional women pianists. Sadly, sexism, ageism and racism have not been consigned to the past. An important book.’
BBC Music Magazine, April 2024

‘The author is both a fine pianist and a writer of elegance and erudition … equipped with unflagging and informed curiosity. … Women and the Piano is a fascinating investigation of the way in which female pianists have confronted a history of being excluded, ignored and misrepresented.’
Country Life, 13 March 2024

‘Once again, Susan Tomes has delivered a work of genuine stature. Women and the Piano is an important book, superbly written, and an essential read.’
Pianodao, 12 March 2024

‘She has hit the nail on the head with this, because these are things that we actually don’t think about… I have to say this is a real page-turner… I think she really gets to the heart of it. I hadn’t heard of half the people in her book… She’s gone to a place that other people haven’t tapped into. That’s very clever, and there’s a lot of insight.’
Lucy Parham reviewing the book on BBC Radio 3’s Music Matters, 9 March 2024

‘Highly readable, meticulously researched and elegantly crafted … At a time when the current discourse in classical music – and indeed in society in general – is focused on equality and inclusion, this book is an important, valuable contribution to the debate and a rich celebration of the essential role of women in the history of classical music and the piano in particular.’
ArtMuseLondon, 8 March 2024

Reviews of ‘The Piano – A History in 100 Pieces’, Yale University Press, 2021

‘A fascinating survey of 100 pieces …This is Susan Tomes’s personal tour through the rich history of the piano’s repertoire – and what an interesting, entertaining and enthusiastic guide she is over the course of its 350 pages… The author draws upon her intimate knowledge of the music to detail her observations about the piece and its performances as well as relating its historical background. She does so with wonderfully eloquent and descriptive writing … A book that should appear on every pianophile’s wishlist.’
Pianist Magazine, 23 July 2021

‘This wide-ranging history of the piano takes in everything from Bach, Haydn and Mozart to the the jazz styles of Joplin, Waller and Tatum’.
Scotsman, 14 July 2021

‘These short essays open worlds of sound and history, illuminating familiar and forgotten works with succinct vignettes. They make up a book that encourages you to listen to and explore gems from the piano repertoire. Susan Tomes has chosen great pieces from across the centuries and brings them alive with just enough historical, biographical and musical context. …Tomes is adept at sketching political and personal backgrounds with few words, letting flashes of world events shine through.’
Literary Review, August 2021

‘Tomes’s illuminating chronological selection draws on her personal taste, yet also neatly traces important social, artistic and technological moments in the piano’s history . …Each entry stands alone, but reading them in order reveals a rich web of artistic influence …. Best of all are the fascinating details that Tomes’s performing experience yields: the physical pleasure of playing Scarlatti’s sparkling sonatas,for instance, or the difficulty of conveying Schumann’s rhythmic games to an audience. At these moments, her love for the music really brings it to life in words.’
BBC History Magazine, August 2021

‘Susan Tomes writes with a lucid eloquence founded on knowledge, experience and, above all, an enthusiasm and affection for the piano, which shine through every paragraph. She not only offers the reader important analysis, historical context and performance notes, but also demonstrates a deep understanding of what it feels like to play the music, the sensation of the notes “under the hands”, how it sparks the imagination and provokes emotions, and the experience of learning and shaping it to bring it to life in concert – fascinating insights for both players and listeners. …This comprehensive, informative and highly readable celebration of the piano and its literature is a must for pianophiles and music lovers, and for those who play, a book to keep close by the instrument to refer to, dip into, and cherish.’
ArtMuseLondon, August 2021

‘Whether you find yourself wanting inspiration for fresh beginnings, a reboot in your piano journey, or simply a brilliant read, Susan Tomes’ The Piano: A History in 100 Pieces is poised to perfectly hit the spot and deliver the tonic you are looking for…
[It] is quite simply an essential purchase for any piano enthusiast, offering as it does a veritable feast of salient information and insight into the instrument and music which we love so much.’
Pianodao

‘A fascinating journey … As a renowned pianist herself, Tomes is familiar with many of the solo pieces, chamber works, duets and concertos she explores, and her passion and knowledge shine through. … Her well-researched and evocative descriptions make you long to hear these works played in the concert hall.’
Classical Music, September 2021

‘Tomes writes like a dream and with such elegance, her erudition worn so lightly and her ‘insider knowledge’ dispensed so generously, that even those with a minimal interest in the subject must want to share this journey with her. Perhaps her most important gift is to make the reader stop reading and go and listen to (or physically play) the music she is writing about. Whether she is introducing someone to a work, reminding someone else of an old favourite or waxing lyrical about a particular moment or passage in a piece, Tomes’ glowing affection and profound appreciation of the music are never less than stimulating.’
Gramophone, October 2021

‘It’s an absorbing, and often surprising, read. It’s easy to lose yourself in Tomes’ compelling and personal writing. Perhaps one of the book’s greatest assets is that it is very much written from the hand of an experienced pianist. Tomes knows many, if not all of these works intimately. Whilst its primary audience is pianists, musicians and those interested in the great repertoire of the piano, it should also be of great historical and wider cultural interest.’
David Barton Music

‘Analysis is kept to a minimum and couched in general rather than technical terms, however there are many delightful insights into how the music actually feels to play. Biographical and historical material is well covered with a light, non-polemical touch. …Ultimately the book is a joyous celebration of the piano, its central place in musical and general life, and its range of style, emotion and density from Scott Joplin through the virtuosity of Islamey and the third Rachmaninoff Concerto to the lofty heights of the Goldberg Variations, Beethoven’s Appassionata and the Ives Concord Sonata. There are no music-type examples: everything is described in terms which will enhance the listener’s experience without intimidating those who do not read musical notation.’
Musical Opinion, Oct-Dec 2021

‘This important new book by the pianist and author Susan Tomes uses carefully selected repertoire from the past 250 years as a springboard for reflection on a wide range of subjects. …This is a hugely stimulating book that inspires and enlightens. The overall message is positive, highlighting the huge surge in the piano’s popularity during the Covid pandemic. A fascinating and invaluable resource for music lovers, teachers and students.’
International Piano, November 2021

‘One of the two most beautiful books I got my hands on this year’.
Jenny Colgan in The Spectator ‘Books of the Year‘, November 13, 2021

‘The Scottish pianist Susan Tomes … has emerged in recent years as a significant writer on musical topics. This is her sixth and largest book; I have read three of the earlier ones and enjoyed them greatly. They are thoughtful, engaging and brilliantly written, as is this new one. … As for verbal descriptions of music …  Tomes’s text is as good as it gets, suffused with palpable love of music and thorough knowledge of the challenges it poses to the performer. Moreover, it is spiked with numerous felicitous expressions that stimulate the imagination.’
American Record Guide, Jan/Feb 2022 issue, reviewed by Bruno Repp

‘Unique insights abound, not only for the professional pianist but with plenty to guide and delight the general reader … a highly personal and thoroughly engaging guide to the musical history of the instrument. It’s a work which provides many insights and delights for all who are interested, be they practising musicians, listeners or enquiring students.’
Limelight (Australia), July 25, 2022

‘This is a remarkable and wonderful book – indeed it is an innovation and an inspiration. … the appeal of this particular volume lies in its approach to, and expression of, musical meaning and truth from a performer’s point of view.’
Methodist Recorder, Sept 2022

• The Piano – a History in 100 Pieces was one of the Financial Times ‘Books of 2021’ in Classical Music.
• It was a ‘Book of the Year’ in The Spectator.
• It was a ‘Book of the Year’ in the Presto Music Awards 2021.
• It was a ‘Notable Book of 2021’ as chosen by the Seminary Co-op Bookstore in Chicago.
• It was a Scottish Book of 2021 in the non-fiction category in The Scotsman newspaper.

Reviews of ‘Speaking the Piano’, Boydell Press 2018

‘Susan Tomes’s insights as a performer and teacher are fully matched by her literary eloquence. At the piano or on the page, her style is marked by undemonstrative, perceptive and elegant turns of phrase in every sense. Drawing on her long experience as performer, chamber musician, teacher and the convenor of a piano club for eager amateurs, she translates with crystalline clarity the elusive question of the multifarious interferences between pianists and the music they wish to play … her solutions are intriguing and inspiring… Any music lover would find fascination and entertainment here: there are gems on every page.’
Jessica Duchen in BBC Music Magazine, July 2018

‘Her wisdom is evident on every page and her writing is, as always, eloquent and intelligent but never didactic … An engaging and engrossing read for music teachers, musicians and music lovers alike.’
Fran Wilson in The CrossEyed Pianist blog, August 2018

‘Inquisitive, energetic, entrepreneurial, gently provocative…  Above all – and this is the great value of ‘Speaking the Piano’ – she dispenses insight and information with grace and clarity. Despite its title and inevitably favouring the piano, the precepts she articulates are equally applicable to all instrumentalists – and indeed musicians of every kind, professional and amateur.’
Gramophone, September 2018

‘A remarkable achievement. There are many books on various aspects of piano playing and a vast number on piano teaching but this book makes a unique contribution. The author’s vast experience as a performer at the highest level and as a teacher, including of adult amateur pianists as well as young professional players, is evident throughout. The writing is highly original and displays a degree of psychological insight that would be the envy of Freud. … Stunningly good and highly recommended.’
Amazon customer review, 13 August 2018

‘Fascinating … underlining the magic of music and just how elusive some of its elements are.’
Classical Music Magazine, October 2018

‘The perfect book to read before starting another year of music lessons. Susan Tomes is an inspirational and transparent author who writes clearly and beautifully about her passions for music, education and lifelong learning … Reading this book will be a catalyst for the generational transfer.’
American Music Teacher, Dec 2018/Jan 2019

‘Warm, elegant prose …. Tomes’s wide-ranging book is thoughtfully written, with a lot of heart. A worthwhile read for music teachers, students, and anyone looking for ways to enrich their own musical journey.’
Limelight Magazine Australia, Oct 2018

‘Studded with gems of insight…  a must-read for anyone who plays or loves the piano.’
Sunday Times, Books of the Year, 25 November 2018

‘An all-embracing exploration of how to make music come alive.’
Financial Times, Books of the Year, 24 November 2018

‘Tomes is a celebrated classical pianist, renowned for her communicative musicianship and her engaging writing on music. This, her fifth book, explores the role of teacher and pupil in mastering this grandest and most bewitching of musical instruments… Part manual, part memoir, part philosophical treatise on the intellectual and emotional rigours of musical performance, the book darts back and forth in time as Tomes recounts her musical journey. …
Fascinating. Tomes is at ease with the paradox of writing about music, that most ineffable of art forms.’
Times Literary Supplement, 1 April 2019

Reviews of ‘Sleeping in Temples’, Boydell Press 2014

‘Those bewitched by Tomes’s three previous books can prepare for bewitchment all over again. The title borrows from the thinking of Ancient Greeks that sleeping in temples might ‘incubate dreams’; to Tomes, ‘temples’ are the works of music which provide the focus for the lives of performers. Well, music has here incubated a fabulously wide-ranging array of essays, some lengthy, some pithily short … her straightforward style captivates through its calming rhythms and unfussy erudition, totally lacking in any vestige of self-indulgence. … At this time of year I’m bound to say that ‘Sleeping in Temples’ will make a marvellous Christmas gift for the musician or music-lover in your life.’
Editor’s Choice for November and a Book of the Year 2014 in Classical Music Magazine

‘Susan Tomes compares her first encounter with chamber music as akin to Dorothy’s flight from her black-and-white homestead to the Technicolor land of the Munchkins. One could extend the analogy to this book, where she plays Dorothy, unmasking not the Wizard of Oz but the hard-to-talk-about myths, conventions and fictions of the classical music world. … Her penetrating intelligence is refreshing in a discourse often reduced to cliché and lazy generalisation. Her thoughts on musical memory and interpretation draw us into a largely hidden world and she asks the hard questions: what is a performer actually doing? How do you play ‘the contents, not the container’ of music? The concept of ‘listening in’ to a score is illuminating, capturing the complex relationship between a performer’s imaginative understanding and a composer’s attempt to codify their work. And I love the idea of the musician as ‘hermeneut’, like Hermes, mediating between Gods and mortals. …. Rare insight. Susan Tomes illuminates at the piano and on the page.’
Music Books Choice with a top star-rating in BBC Music Magazine, December 2014

‘This insightful book will delight and inspire musicians and music lovers, and indeed anyone with an interest in classical music. Highly recommended – put it on your Christmas list.’
Frances Wilson writing in her Cross-Eyed Pianist blog.

‘Sleeping in Temples’ appeared on New Yorker music critic Alex Ross’s ‘Recommendations’ list on 28 November 2014.

‘Susan Tomes uncovers the joys and challenges intrinsic to her chosen life as an internationally renowned pianist in Sleeping In Temples (Boydell Press, £19.99). You hear her music through her words.’
‘Sleeping in Temples’ was chosen by broadcaster Sheena MacDonald as one of the Books of the Year 2014 in the Herald on 29 November 2014.

‘A captivating reverie of a book.’
International Piano, Jan-Feb 2015

‘Fascinating essays by the celebrated pianist about music from the point of view of the performer. … Susan Tomes has devoted her career largely to chamber music – a niche market within the niche market of classical music, and one in which she has achieved a singularly high reputation as an executive musician… Her title refers to an ancient Greek practice whereby individuals would sleep in temples to incubate dreams and so help them to interpret life. For Tomes, it has been Bach, Mozart, Beethoven and Schubert who have provided the sacred texts whose “individual notes can feel like words of truth”, yet in this wide-ranging collection she considers in some depth not only matters of pianism and artistic interpretation but also the practical issues, large and small, that performing musicians grapple with every day of their working lives.’
Guardian, 10 January 2015

‘The essays that deal with the life of a touring chamber musician were closest to my heart, and really resonated with my own experiences as a former string quartet member. … Tomes’ thoughtful voice, her search for the sensitive interpretation of music, and her compassionate understanding of musicians’ realities seem more fascinating, and more necessary, than ever. This book, like all her books, should be compulsory reading for everyone who makes music.’
Cellist and cello professor Miranda Wilson, 20 January 2015, in her blog.

‘A book that exudes the same warmth and passion for her subject, and life in general, which shines through her much-admired work as a solo and ensemble pianist.’
The Scotsman, 24 January 2015

‘It is exactly these kind of insights that can give audiences a sense of the musician as human …. and it’s exactly why candid books like ‘Sleeping in Temples’ are so necessary.’
The Herald, 3 February 2015

‘Written with clarity, honesty and a questioning spirit …. Stimulating, insightful, full of ideas and passing anecdotes as she reflects, often wryly, on her long career, Tomes brings to the page the same care, fastidious attention to detail and immaculate phrasing that she brings to her keyboard playing.’
Gramophone, March 2015

‘She has put in print many of the important thoughts that are in the forefront of a performer’s mind, and in doing so has left a legacy for the next generation to read and explore.’
Choice, a publication of the American Library Association, March 2015

‘I don’t usually ‘judge a book by its cover’, but in this case the cover is a lovely place to start: a reflection? an artwork? water and oil? batik? I’m still not sure what it is, but it’s beautiful, and credited as a photograph by the author, the pianist Susan Tomes. Initially unsure whether the book would be a group of lectures, anecdotes or theories, I ended up feeling I had had a few wonderful conversations, full of humour and insight, a very rewarding read.’
London Chamber Music Society newsletter, 2015/16

‘Susan Tomes is, judging by her latest book, as accomplished a writer and thinker as she is a distinguished pianist … This illuminating and delightful book should be on every music-lover’s reading list.’
Stringendo, the magazine of the Australian Strings Association, October 2015

Reviews of ‘Out of Silence – A Pianist’s Yearbook’ (Boydell Press, 2010)

Out of Silence was chosen as one of the five best books of 2012 by ‘Chopin’ magazine in Japan

‘There have been books about the experience of playing with a quartet or trio, but none by so naturally gifted a writer as Tomes. …She is as alert to her readers as she is to her audiences; we never feel bludgeoned by her opinions, nor do we feel that she is merely trying to please. … Tomes has a particular understanding of humanity rare in writing about music. She has indeed looked ‘beyond the notes’ and seen how the world perceives musicians.’
Times Literary Supplement, 4 June 2010

‘In my experience, highly gifted musicians often find it extremely difficult to articulate their ideas about music and reveal the secrets of their craft through writing. Not so Susan Tomes. Her latest book, Out of Silence, is packed full of fascinating material reflecting upon the difficult and sometimes intangible issues that face a busy professional pianist…Yet the approach here is anything but self-centred, as can so often be the case with autobiographical material. Rather, what emerges from these pages is Tomes’s strong sense of humility, her quirky humour, and above all her tremendous love and driving enthusiasm for her work. … a compelling read.’
BBC Music Magazine, July 2010

‘A glorious collection of essays. ..After ‘Beyond the Notes’ and ‘A Musician’s Alphabet’, with this third volume Susan Tomes joins that small band of musicians whose literary skill runs parallel to their musical talent. …Tomes’s work reminds me of JB Priestley’s life-affirming collection of essays, ‘Delight’. I can offer no higher praise.… Tomes extracts on almost every page a life lesson for the rest of us, whether or not we are musicians.’
Editor’s Choice for July 2010, Classic FM Magazine

‘Unputdownable … by the end, I felt I not only knew more about the author, but also about myself. Highly recommended.’
International Piano, July/August 2010

‘Pianist and five-star essayist Susan Tomes’s ‘Out of Silence’ … For a parent with a musically gifted child, this collection is essential reading.’
Richard Osborne in The Oldie, Summer 2010

‘Tomes has the unique gift of answering questions about the musical life that every other literary register seems to overlook… these pieces explain pianism with a warmth and shrewdness that shelves of theory will never match… Open this insightful and delightful book on any page and learn with pleasure.’
Independent, 16 July 2010

‘There has been a welcome increase in the last few years in the number of interpreters and performers willing and able to write in analytical detail about their craft… Susan Tomes has contributed two remarkably probing books, Beyond the Notes and Out of Silence, to the literature.’
Simon Callow in The Guardian, 17 July 2010

Out of Silence was mentioned by Alex Ross in New Yorker magazine, 21 June 2010. Read Alex Ross’s article.

‘…In another part of the musical forest, but with just as sure a literary touch, that outstanding pianist and educator Susan Tomes took us inside the world of the over-worked, under-valued classical player in ‘Out of Silence’. I wish idiots who bleat about the ‘elitism’ of the classical tradition could at least pick up this generous, friendly, revealing diary of a year’s hard slog.’
Best Books for Christmas, The Independent, 25 November 2010

‘A beautiful collection of essays written by a pianist. Her insights are expressed in a wonderfully honest manner.  Her insights invite us to think, look into, speculate about things in life…  Translated by a colleague pianist, very well digested , reads very comfortably in Japanese.’
Nikkei Shinbun (Financial Times), Japan, August 15 2012, ‘This Week’s three books chosen by Connoisseurs’

‘The author is a pianist and is also a superb writer. She describes a pianist’s ‘everyday thought’ vividly.  Many essays of very interesting contents are collected…. The publication of this translation is the result of a heartwarming collaboration between two pianists.’
Mostly Classic, Japan, August 2012

‘Although each essay is short, the essays  have deep profundity. Like Tomes, the translator Noriko Ogawa is also a pianist and a writer. Ogawa translates Tomes’ elegant composition into very beautiful Japanese with deep empathy and affection. It is also a happy encounter of author and translator. Whenever you read each essay, you become surely aware that some clear responses remain in your heart. I was illuminated about many musical matters that I have wondered about for some time now. Tomes’ piano-performance itself is also full of love for music. After reading this book, I recommend you to listen to her performance anew. The taste of the performance will surely increase further. Whenever it is opportune, it is an excellent book to read over. I did not hesitate but placed this book next to “In praise of Shadows.’
Ongaku no tomo, Japan, August 2012

‘The author has always asked herself various questions. As for a certain question, the author puts forward a possible answer, and readers are deeply convinced of her insight and impressed by her wit. The beauty of English of the text can also be guessed from the whole atmosphere.’
Tosho-Shinbun, Japan, October 2012

‘The experience given by reading Susan’s beautiful writing is similar to listening to a good performance of music.’
Akahata-Shinbun, Japan, October 2012

‘Since the author has an open heart with perfect freedom, she can talk about everything. It is a tasty, excellent book that suggests us a good way of life. And I feel to hear music from somewhere inside while reading it.’
Shun’ei Tagawa, Chief Abbot of Kohukuji Temple, Nara, writing in the Sankei-Shinbun, Japan, October 2012

‘…I felt such a strong identification with this book that as I read on from page to page, I found myself nodding vigorously …. music is often very difficult to write about in words, but Tomes’s writing weaves a spell.’
Daiwa Anglo-Japanese Foundation magazine, November 2012

Reviews of ‘A Musician’s Alphabet’ (Faber, 2006)

‘I found myself completely enthralled by each thought-provoking essay.’
Classic FM

‘A Musician’s Alphabet deserves a readership way beyond the usual niche market. Let’s hope it gets it.’
BBC Music

‘No other musician has pinned down the fugitive essence of chamber music with such perceptive candour.’
Independent

‘Fascinating … like a chocolate box of philosophy of music.’
The Guardian

‘A literary journey whose goal is a state of being at once concentrated and relaxed.’
Independent

‘Thought-provoking and with notable integrity.’
Christmas Books choice, The Times

‘A mind-opener for all, whether musical or not.’
Piano Magazine

‘Occasionally serendipity (also known as browsable, open library stacks) will turn up a gem which you would scarcely happen upon otherwise … An insightful book, which you may feel tempted to devour in one sitting … like a tempting box of chocolates, but without the effects on your waistline.’
Duke University Library Magazine, USA

‘Susan Tomes’s wise and winning A Musician’s Alphabet (Faber, £12.99), in which the distinguished pianist crafts a set of intimate variations from her own experience as a performer.’
Independent, Best Biographies, 2006

“The very precision and delicacy of the language she chooses takes us close to an appreciation of the particular state of mind that classical music is uniquely equipped to create.”
TLS, August 2007

“Each of the stepping-stone chapters along the way make one want to stop and dwell on what has just been read, but also to leap on to the next in eager anticipation of new insights.”
Classical Music, August 2007

Reviews of ‘Beyond the Notes’ (Boydell Press, 2004)

‘Her articles about the craft of musical performance are remarkable for their freshness, honesty, intelligence and circumspection. Tomes has the knack of expressing detailed musical analysis in a way that is easily accessible to all … in the accounts of her tours with the Florestan trio, her language and perceptions are profound.’
The Scotsman, 19 April 2004

‘We knew that she was a superb player; now we know that she is a superb writer too.’
The Independent, 27 April 2004

‘Tomes’s delight in the give-and-take of chamber music is wonderfully attested by her performances with Domus, the Gaudier Ensemble and the Florestan Trio. In ‘Beyond the Notes’ she is just as eloquent in print, giving as probing and honest an account as you will read of the cross-currents and creative tensions of making music in a small group.’
CAM (Cambridge Alumni Magazine), June 2004

‘For once the glowing testimony of a foreword, in this case by Alan Rusbridger, is entirely justified. The book does indeed describe with rare honesty and insight the life of a professional musician … Her analyses of the relationships between performers and audience, between performers and one another, and how different players approach the dots on the page are fascinating. Professional musicians will sigh with recognition at page after page; non-musicians will have their eyes well and truly opened. I found the book absolutely enthralling.’
Classical Music Magazine, 5 June 2004

‘An intensely illuminating picture of the life of a pianist from the inside … a series of brilliant essays and diaries. Just as she magnetises with her playing, so too with her words.’
The Guardian Review, 12 June 2004

‘Pianist Susan Tomes puts across her ideas about her art in writing with the same expertise and sensitivity as in her playing. In a world where musicians are often misunderstood, this book provides insights into the multifaceted life of a performing musician; sometimes inspiring, often beautiful, and occasionally depressing … Tomes picks apart the dynamics of a chamber ensemble with the delicacy of an expert surgeon. A fascinating volume. 5 Stars!’
“Best Buy of the Month” – Jessica Duchen in Classic FM Magazine, August 2004

‘Susan Tomes is as sensitive an observer and as subtle a writer as she is one of our finest chamber musicians. The Domus diary is a revealing, intimate and fascinating diary of travelling with the ensemble, its portable dome and the music-making that took place in it. For me this is the highlight of the book, not just because the writing has a winning freshness but because it explores, as few other books by musicians, the dynamic of performing in a group and the many extra-musical influences that affect the way those musicians play the way they do … amid the descriptions of their lifestyle there are numerous forensically observed details that capture so well the different personalities of the group.

The transition from Domus to the Florestan Trio is a fascinating study of the pressure, hopes, aspirations and disappointments that an ensemble is likely to face. That the Florestan Trio is one of the finest piano trios performing today is tribute to the strength and musicality of the three players who formed it – and how lucky that one of them should be able to record the group’s birth with such style.

Susan Tomes is not only a wonderful pianist but also a tremendously engaging writer. This is a book that should be read by practicing musicians and music-lovers alike: here’s one performer who really can communicate in words as well as music.’
James Jolly, Gramophone, August 2004

‘Susan Tomes is one of the most thoughtful and sensitive of chamber music pianists. This book reveals her talents as a writer, too, one with a capacity for imaginative enquiry and a gift for the telling phrase … as natural and compelling a communicator in words as she is in music.’
BBC Music Magazine, August 2004

‘A joy to read.’
Pianist Magazine, August 2004

‘Compellingly reveals not only the ideas and personalities which drove the group, but also the opposed imperatives of artistic idealism and practical – often financial – necessity. … All the essays are marked by a rigorous analysis of what performing music involves. At times, Tomes’s honesty is painful … but she also shows the spiritual satisfaction to be gained, prizing those elusive moments where the listener feels that he or she is ‘not only hearing music but also, mysteriously, being given information.’ There are few performers who write as well as Susan Tomes, and still fewer books that convey the rigours and rewards of a performer’s life with as much insight as Beyond the Notes.’
Times Literary Supplement, 10 September 2004

This is definitely my music book of the year, and its wisdoms come to mind and reverberate again and again. It is a compelling read, revelatory in chapter after chapter and ultimately inspiring. Make sure that this book is on your Christmas list.
Musical Pointers, October 2004

‘Tomes is a professional musician, a pianist known best for performing chamber music. She has belonged to two notable groups, the piano quartet Domus and the current Florestan Trio. The first part of the book presents her on-the-road diaries with Domus (1981-1983) and Florestan (2000-2001). The second part comprises 11 essays on music, musicians, and performing. Tomes has contributed many music articles to The Guardian, and she writes clear, nontechnical prose. The diaries provide snapshots of life as a traveling musician: artistic issues collide, inevitably, with practical ones, and chamber music provides opportunities for all sorts of personal conflicts (though Tomes seems to have worked mostly with very civil individuals). Every piece is thoughtful, and there is a fair degree of introspection. Portraits of the great performer-pedagogues Sandor Vegh and Gyorgy Sebok are particularly attractive. Summing up: Recommended.’
CHOICE, The Journal of American Academic Librarians, December 2004

‘This is one of the most richly suggestive books on music I’ve ever read, speculative and down-to-earth, studded with good things.’
Richard Osborne in ‘The Oldie’ Magazine, January 2005

‘Distinguished pianists who are also gifted and accomplished writers have always been rare … Tomes is one of the brightest jewels in Britain’s cultural crown, not only a probing, deeply sentient interpreter but a pianist of extraordinary range, subtlety and technical mastery. If she lacks the fame of many of her colleagues, it is primarily because she has chosen to devote herself to the championing of chamber music, scandalously regarded by many as the poor relation of the solo and concerto repertoire … She writes stylishly, but unflamboyantly, often amusingly, and with unsparing candour. Very few artists have written extensively about the day-to-day experience of a professional performing musicians, and none with greater illumination … This book can be heartily recommended to anyone even moderately interested in how music is made.’
Alan Blakelock in Piano Magazine, January/February 2005

‘There is a freshness to Tomes’ writing that will appeal to many. I urge all young performers to read this volume.’
Philadelphia Branch of the Delius Society, February 2005

‘I am something of a sucker for ‘behind the scenes’ books by chamber musicians, and this one is a really great example. Susan Tomes is now best known as pianist for the highly regarded Florestan Trio. Before that she was a founder member of Domus, a group of musicians straight out of college who took chamber music onto the road performing in a geodesic dome (hence Domus) in an admirable, but idealistic, attempt to reach new audiences. The multi-talented Ms. Tomes is also a fine journalist and regular columnist for The Guardian. Beyond the Notes is a lot more than a good ‘behind the scenes’ book. It questions, and debates, many of the fundamental conventions of performing chamber music, including the very relationship between performer and audience. It also chronicles in diary form the author’s metamorphosis from musical maverick to mainstream performer. Like the Florestan’s many superb recordings, Beyond the Notes is brilliantly researched, skillfully executed, and beautifully presented (by independent East Anglian publisher Boydell and Brewer). Recommended.’
On An Overgrown Path, 24 February 2005

‘Doing my listening this week, it was impossible not to think of the pianist Susan Tomess recent book Beyond the Notes, a wise and wonderful tour of the practicalities of a chamber musicians life, just issued in paperback. Her comments on the recording process provide some of the most ear-opening insights: the hours spent seeking perfection through retakes and inserted patches; the claims of flow and spirit versus the minute, unblemished detail.’
Geoff Brown reviewing CDs in The Times, 24 June 2005

Reviews of the paperback edition:

‘This pianist’s diary of 20 years touring and recording with her bands (the Domus ensemble and Florestan Trio), together with a closing encore of incisive essays, is a delight and a revelation. Tomes, wittily informative about gigs, discs and cash, reminds us of the craft and graft of every performance. She writes with Schubertian intimacy, modesty and grace about how to make sense of music and of a life in music.’
The Independent, 16 September 2005

‘For more words on music, consider a wonderful book by pianist Susan Tomes of the Florestan Trio. Just reissued in paperback, “Beyond the Notes: Journeys with Chamber Music” is fascinating reading for anyone interested in the life of the touring concert artist. Her words are intimate and insightful, and her gentle frankness charms as she chronicles the role of the collaborative pianist.’
Ann Arbor News, USA, 6 November 2005

‘KBAQ’s Randy Kinkel recommends a book by pianist Susan Tomes, “Beyond the Notes”, a peek inside the mind and life of a working chamber musician. Her intelligence, insight and caring help provide a complete picture of the life of a musician … Exquisitely written, this memoir is gold for the classical chamber music lover.’
Book of the Month, March 2007, on KBAQ Radio, Arizona

Beyond the Notes has also featured on:

Woman’s Hour, BBC Radio 4, and on Radio 3’s In Tune. And extracts read by the author were broadcast by Lyric FM in Ireland.

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