“Number One” was a phrase my father—and, for that matter, my mother—repeated time and time again. It was a phrase spoken by my parents’ friends and by their friends’ children. Whenever adults discussed the great Chinese painters and sculptors from the ancient dynasties, there was always a single artist named as Number One. There was the Number One leader of a manufacturing plant, the Number One worker, the Number One scientist, the Number One car mechanic. In the culture of my childhood, being best was everything. It was the goal that drove us, the motivation that gave life meaning. And if, by chance or fate or the blessings of the generous universe, you were a child in whom talent was evident, Number One became your mantra. It became mine. I never begged my parents to take off the pressure. I accepted it; I even enjoyed it. It was a game, this contest among aspiring pianists, and although I may have been shy, I was bold, even at age five, when faced with a field of rivals. Born in China to parents whose musical careers were interrupted by the Cultural Revolution, Lang Lang has emerged as one of the greatest pianists of our time. Yet despite his fame, few in the West know of the heart-wrenching journey from his early childhood as a prodigy in an industrial city in northern China to his difficult years in Beijing to his success today. Journey of a Thousand Miles documents the remarkable, dramatic story of a family who sacrificed almost everything—his parents’ marriage, financial security, Lang Lang’s childhood, and their reputation in China’s insular classical music world—for the belief in a young boy’s talent. And it reveals the devastating and intense relationship between a boy and his father, who was willing to go to any length to make his son a star. An engaging, informative cultural commentator who bridges East and West, Lang Lang has written more than an autobiography: his book opens a door to China, where Lang Lang is a cultural icon, at a time when the world’s attention will be on Beijing. Written with David Ritz, the coauthor of many bestselling autobiographies, Journey of a Thousand Miles is an inspiring story that will give readers an appreciation for the courage and sacrifice it takes to achieve greatness.

Journey of a Thousand Miles: My Story

Biographies & Memoirs

Ritz, David

Lang, Lang

Arts & Literature

Spiegel & Grau

“Number One” was a phrase my father—and, for that matter, my mother—repeated time and time again. It was a phrase spoken by my parents’ friends and by their friends’ children. Whenever adults discussed the great Chinese painters and sculptors from the ancient dynasties, there was always a single artist named as Number One. There was the Number One leader of a manufacturing plant, the Number One worker, the Number One scientist, the Number One car mechanic. In the culture of my childhood, being best was everything. It was the goal that drove us, the motivation that gave life meaning. And if, by chance or fate or the blessings of the generous universe, you were a child in whom talent was evident, Number One became your mantra. It became mine. I never begged my parents to take off the pressure. I accepted it; I even enjoyed it. It was a game, this contest among aspiring pianists, and although I may have been shy, I was bold, even at age five, when faced with a field of rivals. Born in China to parents whose musical careers were interrupted by the Cultural Revolution, Lang Lang has emerged as one of the greatest pianists of our time. Yet despite his fame, few in the West know of the heart-wrenching journey from his early childhood as a prodigy in an industrial city in northern China to his difficult years in Beijing to his success today. Journey of a Thousand Miles documents the remarkable, dramatic story of a family who sacrificed almost everything—his parents’ marriage, financial security, Lang Lang’s childhood, and their reputation in China’s insular classical music world—for the belief in a young boy’s talent. And it reveals the devastating and intense relationship between a boy and his father, who was willing to go to any length to make his son a star. An engaging, informative cultural commentator who bridges East and West, Lang Lang has written more than an autobiography: his book opens a door to China, where Lang Lang is a cultural icon, at a time when the world’s attention will be on Beijing. Written with David Ritz, the coauthor of many bestselling autobiographies, Journey of a Thousand Miles is an inspiring story that will give readers an appreciation for the courage and sacrifice it takes to achieve greatness.

Humor & Entertainment

Random House]

HE STARTED LEARNING to play the piano when he was three years old in Shenyang, China. Today he is one of the world’s most outstanding pianists. In this engrossing life story, adapted by Michael French, Lang Lang not only recounts the difficult, often thrilling, events of his early days, but also shares his perspective on his rapidly changing homeland. He thoughtfully explores the differences between East and West, especially in the realm of classical music and cultural life. Shining through his rags-to-riches story of a child prodigy who came of age as a renowned musician, Lang Lang’s positive spirit, his dynamic personality, and his enduring passion for music will inspire readers of all ages. Includes a 16-page photo insert.

Lang Lang: Playing with Flying Keys

Children's Books

Biographies

Delacorte Books for Young Readers

HE STARTED LEARNING to play the piano when he was three years old in Shenyang, China. Today he is one of the world’s most outstanding pianists. In this engrossing life story, adapted by Michael French, Lang Lang not only recounts the difficult, often thrilling, events of his early days, but also shares his perspective on his rapidly changing homeland. He thoughtfully explores the differences between East and West, especially in the realm of classical music and cultural life. Shining through his rags-to-riches story of a child prodigy who came of age as a renowned musician, Lang Lang’s positive spirit, his dynamic personality, and his enduring passion for music will inspire readers of all ages. From the Hardcover edition.

Laurel-Leaf

Lang Lang Piano Academy: Mastering the Piano Level 1 Book Mastering the piano is the first series of books to be launched in the Lang Lang Piano Academy, a major new piano program encompassing a range of materials for pianists of all levels. Comprising five progressive books, mastering the piano captures Lang Lang's passion, drive and extraordinary mastery of the piano. Each book gives students the chance to learn from this exceptional talent who has impressed the world. Units in Lang Lang Piano Academy: mastering the piano, Level 1 (approximately equivalent to Grade 1/Early Elementary) include exploring the keyboard, feeling the beat, legato playing, staccato playing, developing dexterity, playing chords, the left hand, and playing with dynamics. Titles: Lantern Song (Traditional Chinese) * Canzonet (Christian Neefe) * Hopscotch (Richard Harris) * Mission Impossible (Pam Wedgwood) * Allegretto in F (Johann Georg Witthauer) * Simple Gifts (Joseph Brackett) * Twilight (Richard Harris) *

Lang Lang Academy: Faber Edition (Faber Edition: Lang Lang Piano Academy)

Arts & Photography

Music

Faber&Faber

Mastering the piano is the first series of books to be launched in the Lang Lang Piano Academy, a major new piano program encompassing a range of materials for pianists of all levels. Comprising five progressive books, mastering the piano captures Lang Lang's passion, drive and extraordinary mastery of the piano. Each book gives students the chance to learn from this exceptional talent who has impressed the world. Units in Lang Lang Piano Academy: mastering the piano, Level 2 (approximately equivalent to Grade 2/Elementary) include exploring the keyboard, hand coordination, rhythmic control, phrasing, developing dexterity, finger control, the left hand, and dynamics. Titles: Bear Dance (Schumann) * Ecossaise in G (Hassler) * Melody (Le Couppey) * To Begin With (Wilm) * A Joke (Bartok) * Tarantella (Bullard) * Night Journey (Gurlitt) * Takeda Lullaby (Traditional Japanese) * Arabesque (Burgmuller) * Gypsy Dance (Haydn) * Trumpet Voluntary (Clarke) * Soldier's March (Schumann) * Cello Solo (Lang) * Song (Reinecke) * Dedication (Heller) * Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy (Tchaikovsky).

Lang Lang Piano Academy -- Mastering the Piano: Level 2 -- Technique, studies and repertoire for the developing pianist (Faber Edition: Lang Lang Piano Academy)

Mastering the piano is the first series of books to be launched in the Lang Lang Piano Academy, a major new piano program encompassing a range of materials for pianists of all levels. Comprising five progressive books, mastering the piano captures Lang Lang's passion, drive and extraordinary mastery of the piano. Each book gives students the chance to learn from this exceptional talent who has impressed the world. Units in Lang Lang Piano Academy: mastering the piano, Level 3 (approximately equivalent to Grade 3/Late Elementary) focus on exploring the keyboard, developing dexterity, the pedal, strengthening your hands, chords, playing in new keys, independent fingers, and independent hands. Titles: Xmas Bells (Hindson) * Cradle Song (Grieg) * Little Prelude in C (attrib. J. S. Bach) * Clowns (Kabalevsky) * Hua hao yue yuan (trad. Chinese) * By Crystal Stream (Carroll) * Les Pifferari (Gounod) * Chant of the Cree (Bullard) * Sarabande (Handel) * The Wild Horseman (Schumann) * Prayer (Karganoff) * Vivace in A (Rathgeber) * Old French Song (Tchaikovsky) * Air from Water Music (Handel) * Romanze (attrib. Beethoven) * El Cóndor Pasa (Robles).

Lang Lang Piano Academy -- Mastering the Piano: Level 3 -- Technique, studies and repertoire for the developing pianist (Faber Edition: Lang Lang Piano Academy)

Mastering the piano is the first series of books to be launched in the Lang Lang Piano Academy, a major new piano program encompassing a range of materials for pianists of all levels. Comprising five progressive books, mastering the piano captures Lang Lang's passion, drive and extraordinary mastery of the piano. Each book gives students the chance to learn from this exceptional talent who has impressed the world. Units in Lang Lang Piano Academy: mastering the piano, Level 4 (approximately equivalent to Grade 4/Early Intermediate) include posture, movement and hand shape, legato pedaling, new accompaniment styles, more on chords, more on rhythm, musical context, phrasing and rubato, and dexterity. Titles: Little Study from Mikrokosmos (Bela Bartok) * Flower Drum Song (Traditional Chinese) * Waltz (Lang Lang) * Little Study (Robert Schumann) * Arirang (Traditional Korean) * Prayer (Reinhold Gilere) * Study in F from 'The Wheel of Progress' (Thomas Dunhill) * Waltz (Johannes Brahms) * About Strange Lands and People from 'Scenes from Childhood' (Robert Schumann) * La petite reunion (Friedrich Burgmuller) * Allegro Assai from Sonata in G (Georg Benda) * Morning Prayer (Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky) * Study in G (Carl Czerny) * Sonatina from '30 Children's Pieces' (Dmitry Kabalevsky) * Let's Call the Whole Thing Off (George Gershwin &amp; Ira Gershwin) * Ballade (Friedrich Burgmuller) * Watchman's Song from 'Lyric Pieces' (Edvard Grieg) * Sweet Dreams from 'Album for the Young' (Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky) * Der Dichter spricht from 'Scenes from Childhood' (Robert Schumann) * Alla Siciliana (Felix Gullmant) * Andante (Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach) * Study from L'agilite (Felix Le Couppey) * Sonatina (Muzio Clementi) * Invention in F (Johann Sebastian Bach).

Lang Lang Piano Academy -- mastering the piano: Level 4 -- Technique, studies and repertoire for the developing pianist (Faber Edition: Lang Lang Piano Academy)

Mastering the piano is the first series of books to be launched in the Lang Lang Piano Academy, a major new piano program encompassing a range of materials for pianists of all levels. Comprising five progressive books, mastering the piano captures Lang Lang's passion, drive and extraordinary mastery of the piano. Each book gives students the chance to learn from this exceptional talent who has impressed the world. Units from Lang Lang Piano Academy: mastering the piano, Level 5 (approximately equivalent to Grade 5/Intermediate) include developing dexterity, instinctive pedaling, refining the touch, phrasing and rubato, character, ornamentation, interpretation and style, and performing. Titles: Prelude in C Minor (Johann Sebastian Bach) * Presto from Sonata K. 513 (Domenico Scarlatti) * Bagatelle (Ludwig Van Beethoven) * Prelude in E Minor (Frederic Chopin) * Consolation (Felix Mendelssohn) * The Little Shepherd from 'Children's Corner' (Claude Debussy) * Sweet Was the Melody (Daniel Gottlob Turk) * Summertime from 'Porgy and Bess' (George Gershwin) * Arietta (Edvard Grieg) * Study in A-flat (Stephen Heller) * Miniature in D minor (Aleksandr Gedike) * Nocturne in D minor (John Field) * The Storm (Friedrich Burgmuller) * A Tear (Modeste Mussorgsky) * Autumn Leaves (Vladimir Rebikov) * Study (Carl Czerny) * Menuet in F (Johann Christoph Friedrich Bach) * The Fall of the Leafe (Martin Peerson) * Five Happy Variations (Dmitry Kabalevsky) * Nocturne from 'Sonatina Romantica' (Benjamin Britten) * Inanay Lullaby (Alan Bullard) * Rhapsody from 'For Children' (Bela Bartok) * Fantasia in D minor (Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart).

Lang Lang Piano Academy -- mastering the piano: Level 5 -- Technique, studies and repertoire for the developing pianist (Faber Edition: Lang Lang Piano Academy)

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Lang, Lang. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Books by Lang, Lang

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Lang, Lang. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Journey of a Thousand Miles: My Story

Journey of a Thousand Miles: My Story

Lang Lang: Playing with Flying Keys

Lang Lang: Playing with Flying Keys

Lang Lang: Playing with Flying Keys

Lang Lang Academy: Faber Edition (Faber Edition: Lang Lang Piano Academy)

Lang Lang Piano Academy -- Mastering the Piano: Level 2 -- Technique, studies and repertoire for the developing pianist (Faber Edition: Lang Lang Piano Academy)

Lang Lang Piano Academy -- Mastering the Piano: Level 3 -- Technique, studies and repertoire for the developing pianist (Faber Edition: Lang Lang Piano Academy)

Lang Lang Piano Academy -- mastering the piano: Level 4 -- Technique, studies and repertoire for the developing pianist (Faber Edition: Lang Lang Piano Academy)

Lang Lang Piano Academy -- mastering the piano: Level 5 -- Technique, studies and repertoire for the developing pianist (Faber Edition: Lang Lang Piano Academy)