Table of Contents

Very Early, Very Fast, Very Steep
Beginning in the Golden West: Tyrol, Vorarlberg, Switzerland
Haarlem and the Rest of Europe
Heiller and America
Short Midday, Long Sunset
All the Registers of a Soul
Compositions before ca. 1956
Compositions after ca. 1956
What He Thought, How He Played
Appendix: Organ Specifications
Chronology
Notes
List of Compositions
Discography
Bibliography
Index of Names
Index of Subjects

Reviews

History has already recognized Anton Heiller as a significant figure in 20th-century music, probably the most influential organist of his time. . . .Through his genius and personal charisma, he achieved what others could not: he brought the organ into the mainstream of music where it belongs. Planyavsky's biography delivers this message, while giving a complete picture of Heiller's life and work. . . . Belongs in the personal library of any serious organist. Through this book a great organist continues to interest and also to teach later generations of organists. A comparison . . . demonstrates not only an accurate but sensitive treatment of the original [German text].
*THE AMERICAN ORGANIST*

The biographical chapters make . . . fascinating reading . . . [No chapter] is more gripping than the chapter devoted to 'Haarlem and the Rest of Europe.' . . . Christa Rumsey has done a sterling service for English-speaking readers by her elegant translation of an important book.
*ORGAN AUSTRALIA*

A remarkable book [about] one of the greats of the mid-twentieth century. Packed with facts and stories. Christa Rumsey's excellent, flowing translation [is] a pleasure to read.
*SYDNEY ORGAN JOURNAL*

The text flows effortlessly. . . . The story is vibrant and gives extremely good insight into life between World War II and 1979 in Austria and life in Vienna in particular. Of interest to any interested in organ music and, in particular, developments in the early to mid-twentieth century.
*ORGAN MUSIC SOCIETY OF ADELAIDE NEWSLETTER*

Peter Planyavsky's book accomplishes a difficult task: that of doing justice to the life of a monumental musician. Planyavsky, himself an organist of international prominence, avoids the pitfall of presenting Heiller as primarily an organist, instead presenting a compelling picture of Heiller as the complete musician, giving ample room to a discussion of his career as a conductor as well as to a discussion of his many compositions. The result is a comprehensive and engaging account of a person who was a dominant figure in European musical culture for several decades of the twentieth century and whose influence was felt far beyond the circle of the Viennese musical scene. --
*William Porter, Eastman School of Music (University of Rochester)*