I loved this video and performance of Fazil Say - and I suppose that it is the ultimate solution for a live solo performance of a four hand piece. I like the inovation and the performance - and you have to admit, Fazil Say is all about the performance.

Michael Monroe from MMusings wrote a long and interesting post about what this performance does for live musical performance, as far as the tension it creates, the expectations of the audience and the legitimacy of it in the classical world. I had not previously considered a lot of his points, finding most of them quite valid.

For me the bottom line is all in the performer. Because Fazil Say is a virtuoso - audiences expect him to be exceptional, and he does not let them down. Not only that - he can pull it off. I am not sure that everyone could, though.

Isn’t this beautiful?

Designed by Yves Plattard

Via  Monotonous Forest

I just was just getting into reading the interview with pianist Andre Watts on Indystar.com, when it ended abruptly.

Usually in an interview or Q&A there will be at least 8-10 questions, but on this interview there were only 3 questions…Very strange. Am I write that this is a partial interview and that my computer some how screwed up and cut it off in the middle, or is this really all there is to it? Because if it is, I feel like a child who’s sweets have been taken right out of their mouth!!

Photo credit Steve J Sherman.

Via The Well Tempered Blog

Mahler: Symphony No 3, 1st movement (Valery Gergiev, London Symphony Orchestra)

I was inspired into Mahlerdom after reading a post on Mahler Owes me Ten Bucks that bassicaly devides all of Mahlers work into 4 types:

The most I can do is to group Mahler’ symphonies into four tiers of profundity and beauty. Call them Transcendentally Profound and Beautiful, Immortally P&B, Extremely P&B, and Merely P&B.

Transcendentally P&B Mahler Symphonies
3, 8, 9, 10

Immortally P&B Mahler Symphonies
2, Das Lied von der Erde

Extremely P&B Mahler Symphonies
5, 6, 7

Merely P&B Mahler Symphonies
1, 4

I found that quite an interesting division and am going to spend some time figuring out if I buy this or not.

I do find #2 Immortally P&B as described above.

Mahler: Symphony No 2, 1st movement (Valery Gergiev, London Symphony Orchestra)

I am sure you have all heard of Guitar Hero, the video game and the ongoing debate about its influence on music, musicians and the next generation of musician.

I happen to be all for moving on with the rest of the world and fitting in so as not to get archaic, and love the idea of Guitar Hero. As far as video games go - this is one of the good guys.

Very Very loosely based on this concept Michael Monroe developed something called Piano Hero

the point here is to try to present a classical music event that makes it clear musicians actually have fun reading and learning music - even before the music is ready for prime time. I really like the idea of a recital that celebrates the joy of impromptu sightreading and not worrying about getting everything right. I also really do find significant similarities between sightreading and videogaming - it’s basically all about split-second hand-eye coordination. It would be great to have gaming software that could score one’s attempts at sightreading, but the music is its own reward. Hopefully.

What Michael Monroe does, is put together various performances with himself and or other pianists with no rehersal involved. Sort of an organic and natural meet between the music, musician and audience.

Read more about this project on Michael’s blog MM Musings