Bruce Brubaker on all things piano
In Cesar Franck's Prelude, Chorale, and Fugue, the crescendo which is marked in measure 65 probably continues to m. 67. In the Henle edition of the piece (and others), there's a line break after m. 65. Playing for me, a young pianist finished the crescendo at the end of the printed system (where the line break occurs), not continuing the swell into m. 67. Pianists are visually suggestible. Switching to a new edition of a familiar piece, with … [Read more...]
December 17, 2009: Rattle December 21, 2009: Early adopters December 28, 2009: Change of venue December 30, 2009: Screening January 5, 2010: Drunk January 11, 2010: Tract January 25, 2010: Costly Imitation February 1, 2010: Kindest Cuts February 8, 2010: Rise February 16, 2010: Forest February 22, 2010: First Note March 1, 2010: Scripture reading March 8, 2010: Overwhelmed March 16, 2010: Repertoire Inflation March 23, 2010: … [Read more...]
Jacob Lateiner died this morning in New York. He was 82. The following passages are from my 1998 essay about his teaching: "In a sense, Jacob Lateiner does not give piano lessons. The piano is a tool for him. It's a means or an obstacle to singing, speaking, and (fuga!) flying. In lessons, Jacob aims to be neutral. Part Socratic (or Talmudic?) questioner, part Freudian analyst (to the exactly punctual end of each session), Jacob allows his … [Read more...]
Alongside music representing elephants, swan, and kangaroos in Saint-Saëns' Carnival of the Animals, there's a section of music titled "Pianists" -- additional creatures caged in the zoo. There are still plenty of occasions when classical performers' hands, feet, and fingers are ogled, when playing is lauded just for dexterity, and coordination, for the technique that may allow art. For today's virtuoso musician, the term "virtuoso" can be … [Read more...]
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