Part 1: The interpretation of contrapuntal music makes particular demands on the pianist. Surprisingly there are very few collections which deal systematically with this important theme. In these two books Fritz Emonts has written a kind of 'Method of Contrapuntal Piano Playing' which may accompany piano tuition over a period of several years. Book 1 begins with easier pieces from the repertoire (ostinato forms, canons, pieces with walking bass) and takes us through easy dance movements up to the Inventions by J. S. Bach. Book 2 offers a selection of repertoire on a rather higher level, from Baroque to Romantic. The pieces are grouped systematically, to distinguish three ways in which parts are distributed. Instrumentation: piano

Fritz Emonts, geboren in Breinig bei Aachen, studierte von 1936-39 Klavier bei Heinz Schüngeler in Hagen und Köln. Nach dem 2. Weltkrieg war er Klavierlehrer am Hagener Musikseminar, von 1963-86 Leiter der von ihm gegründeten städtischen Musikschule, außerdem Professor für Klavier und Klavierdidaktik an der Folkwang Hochschule für Musik in Essen. Emonts schrieb 1958-62 die Klavierschule "Erstes Klavierspiel", 1992-94 die dreibändige "Europäische Klavierschule".