{"product_id":"the-life-and-music-of-john-field-1782-1837-creator-of-the-nocturne","title":"The Life and Music of John Field 1782-1837: Creator of the Nocturne","description":"\u003cp\u003eIn this review of The Life and Music of John Field 1782-1837 readers will find a careful re-examination of a composer often reduced to a single invention. Patrick Piggott's book is aimed at music historians, performers, and devoted piano listeners who want a clearer, source-based portrait of Field and his influence on Romantic piano music. The single biggest reason to buy is the author's methodical correction of long-standing inaccuracies, using biographies, letters and first-hand accounts to reconstruct Field's career and reputation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eKey Features\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSource-based revision:\u003c\/strong\u003e Piggott revisits original biographies and letters to correct errors that have persisted in accounts of Field's life, offering a more reliable narrative.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFocus on misconceptions:\u003c\/strong\u003e The book identifies and dispels common myths about Field's personal relationships and movements, clarifying what is known and what is speculation.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eContextual analysis:\u003c\/strong\u003e Field's career is examined within the broader 19th-century musical scene, helping readers place his nocturnes and other works in historical perspective.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDocumentary detail:\u003c\/strong\u003e First-hand accounts are used to illuminate episodes of Field's life that have been misrepresented, making the biography more transparent and verifiable.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eScholarly but accessible:\u003c\/strong\u003e The tone balances musicological rigor with readability for informed non-specialists interested in piano history.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWho It's For\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis book suits graduate students, performers seeking historical context for Field's nocturnes, and music historians who value careful source criticism and myth-busting. Readers who appreciate biographies that emphasize documentary evidence over romanticized storytelling will find Piggott's approach rewarding.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is less suitable for casual readers wanting a breezy introduction to Field or a short overview of nocturne repertoire; those audiences should seek a shorter, more general survey. Likewise, readers expecting an exhaustive catalog of compositions or extensive musical analysis will find the emphasis here is biographical and contextual rather than analytical score study.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003ePros \u0026amp; Cons\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePros\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThorough source work brings clarity to disputed episodes in Field's life, increasing historical accuracy.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eClear contextual framing shows how Field fits into early 19th-century musical developments and why the nocturne mattered.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAccessible prose allows informed non-specialists to follow scholarly argument without excessive jargon.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCons\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe book is concentrated on biography and correction of errors, so readers seeking deep musical analysis of individual works may find the coverage limited.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTitle\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eThe Life and Music of John Field 1782-1837\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSubtitle \/ Focus\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCreator of the Nocturne; biographical revision\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAuthor\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePatrick Piggott\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSubject\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBiography, music history, criticism\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePrimary sources used\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBiographies, letters, first-hand accounts\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eIntended audience\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMusic historians, performers, informed listeners\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eOur Verdict\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePatrick Piggott's study is a valuable corrective for anyone serious about understanding John Field beyond the myth of the nocturne. Its careful use of primary sources and contextual perspective make it a worthwhile purchase for historians and performers, offering good value for readers who want a clearer, better-documented life of a pivotal but often misunderstood composer.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDoes this book focus on Field's compositions or his life?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe emphasis is biographical and contextual, using primary sources to clarify his life and reputation rather than providing exhaustive musical analysis.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs the book suitable for non-specialists?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eYes; the prose is accessible to informed non-specialists, though it presumes interest in historical detail and source criticism.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat sources does the author rely on?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003ePiggott draws on biographies, letters and first-hand accounts to reassess inaccuracies and reconstruct Field's career.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Patrick Piggott","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48263474479323,"sku":"0520365003","price":116.18,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0724\/1043\/1707\/files\/51zekCnOP7L._SL1500_51e898ba-738f-4509-b6a5-c918070f6f2b.jpg?v=1771098729","url":"https:\/\/gearmusthave.com\/products\/the-life-and-music-of-john-field-1782-1837-creator-of-the-nocturne","provider":"GearMustHave","version":"1.0","type":"link"}