Tír Na HiFi

Diapason wrote:

fergus wrote:I am not sure if that is something to do with modern teaching methods.

Perhaps, and I think it's also related to the standard career progression of piano competitions.

I also think it has to do with the public as well. My feeling is they get easily wow-ed by the virtuosity of these piano-tigers, the Paganini's of the keyboard. It is not just the modern generation, but also a lot of the older generation that is still touring.
I think that's what the general public nowadays wants to hear to be wow-ed, and not the more musical and less speedy performances.

Luckily my wife's piano teacher of 85 is one of the old breed and thinks alike and also of course my wife, so at home it is all bliss :-D.

Cheers

Aleg

Aleg wrote: I also think it has to do with the public as well. My feeling is they get easily wow-ed by the virtuosity of these piano-tigers, the Paganini's of the keyboard. It is not just the modern generation, but also a lot of the older generation that is still touring.
I think that's what the general public nowadays wants to hear to be wow-ed, and not the more musical and less speedy performances.

In fairness, I'm as guilty of this as anyone...

Simon, but where remains the music? The musical lines of the composition so often get obscured by this racing of notes and chords. Often I find it difficult to hear what the melodic lines are in the piece and what it is trying to convey.

Just give me the likes of Livia Rév, Paul Lewis, Maria Joao Pires, Alicia de LaRoccha (her Mozart is exquisite) anyday.

But to get back on topic. This is being streamed into MQn right now:


Cheers

Aleg

Really enjoying this record on a dark and rainy day in Cobh.
Super performance and lovely tone, almost folky in places.

Aleg wrote:Simon, but where remains the music? The musical lines of the composition so often get obscured by this racing of notes and chords. Often I find it difficult to hear what the melodic lines are in the piece and what it is trying to convey.

Oh you're absolutely right, and for music I know well and admire, mere technique will never do on it's own. In fact, a performance designed purely to show off the player's technique will leave me, well, angry. I have plenty of examples from my own little world!!

However, I'm in such bewildered awe at the virtuoso piano repertoire and the inconceivable (to me) physical effort of merely playing the notes, that anyone who has mastered such repertoire and can carry it off in a flashy way instantly gets a certain kind of respect from me. It's more party trick than musical satisfaction, but I really can't help but admire it. Just the amount of work required to get those steel fingers boggles my mind.

I had this discussion with an Irish piano teacher when he moaned that the virtuoso stuff always got the big reaction in recitals, but the more musically satisfying stuff often wasn't so popular. I think that for the majority of casual listeners it's a simple case of:
"Hmmph, that doesn't sound so hard, I could probably play that myself if I tried, and this guy is meant to be a PROFESSIONAL?? My 8 year-old niece can play that."
vs
"THE PIANIST'S HANDS ARE MOVING SO QUICKLY I CAN'T EVEN SEE THEM, OMG, THAT'S AMAZING, I COULD NEVER DO THAT, HOLY CRAP HOW DO THEY DO THAT, I'D BETTER LEAP TO MY FEET SCREAMING BEFORE THE LAST NOTE HAS EVEN DIED AWAY."

Diapason wrote:

Aleg wrote:Simon, but where remains the music? The musical lines of the composition so often get obscured by this racing of notes and chords. Often I find it difficult to hear what the melodic lines are in the piece and what it is trying to convey.

Oh you're absolutely right, and for music I know well and admire, mere technique will never do on it's own. In fact, a performance designed purely to show off the player's technique will leave me, well, angry. I have plenty of examples from my own little world!!

However, I'm in such bewildered awe at the virtuoso piano repertoire and the inconceivable (to me) physical effort of merely playing the notes, that anyone who has mastered such repertoire and can carry it off in a flashy way instantly gets a certain kind of respect from me. It's more party trick than musical satisfaction, but I really can't help but admire it. Just the amount of work required to get those steel fingers boggles my mind.

I had this discussion with an Irish piano teacher when he moaned that the virtuoso stuff always got the big reaction in recitals, but the more musically satisfying stuff often wasn't so popular. I think that for the majority of casual listeners it's a simple case of:
"Hmmph, that doesn't sound so hard, I could probably play that myself if I tried, and this guy is meant to be a PROFESSIONAL?? My 8 year-old niece can play that."
vs
"THE PIANIST'S HANDS ARE MOVING SO QUICKLY I CAN'T EVEN SEE THEM, OMG, THAT'S AMAZING, I COULD NEVER DO THAT, HOLY CRAP HOW DO THEY DO THAT, I'D BETTER LEAP TO MY FEET SCREAMING BEFORE THE LAST NOTE HAS EVEN DIED AWAY."

I can understand your point of view and appreciate it. But note that the 'easier' (looking / sounding) music is often more difficult to play well than the big impressive pieces.
The fewer the notes the more difficult it is to tell the story and keep it exciting and also the more obvious any mistakes become, while big impressive pieces can more easily mask a not so good performance.

Here is some more music of few notes that is played exceptionally well:



Cheers

Aleg

Aleg wrote:

fergus wrote:

...
Of course there is always Lang Lang (is that his name?)!

Fergus, please, spare me!
Sorry for those who do like him, but I certainly don't, but don't let that put you off.

Cheers

Aleg

LOL!!! Don't worry Aleg as one cannot be put off something that one does not like anyway.

.... But note that the 'easier' (looking / sounding) music is often more difficult to play well than the big impressive pieces.
The fewer the notes the more difficult it is to tell the story and keep it exciting and also the more obvious any mistakes become, while big impressive pieces can more easily mask a not so good performance.

I would agree with that; I prefer the emotionally engaging, soul touching performances.

markof wrote:

Really enjoying this record on a dark and rainy day in Cobh.
Super performance and lovely tone, almost folky in places.

Glad that you enjoyed that one Mark. I had it down only recently myself.

To put my money where my mouth is ...... :-)




Just gorgeous

Cheers


Aleg

Aleg wrote:


Just gorgeous

I will put that recommendation on my Wish List as I have nothing by Mozart performed by De Larrocha.