Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Pianist Corner Let's talk about some music

Lately on the Pianist Corner there has been an abundance of threads about particular pianists, particular performances, mechanics of piano technique, philosophical stuff, etc, etc, but what I don't see any of is actual discussion and analysis of MUSIC, which I believe is what should comprise the majority of the discussion here - we are musicians first and pianists second, after all.

I don't really mind so much what pieces we discuss, as long as things don't get bogged down with quibbles about the relative merits of this or that performance. But I'd like to have some discussions about MUSIC.

Is anyone with me on this?

What do you mean by MUSIC?

I don't quite understand your question...

I mean conglomerations of pitches thought up by composers...

I really like the 2nds that resolve into 3rds in the opening of Kabalevsky's Prelude No. 1 of Opus 61. I'm sure I have the theory wrong, but there is something about the sound that stops most listeners in their tracks, and that is very pleasing. The key is G major.

I'm not familiar with those pieces. Can you post a link to a score?

When does noise become music?

That's one of the "philosophical" discussions I'm trying to avoid.

When judicious periods of silence are selectively applied.

Dang, sorry!

Hmm.

I don't think this is being taken seriously.

Never mind about my idea then. Carry on.

I don't think I know how to talk about music. Mostly, it is baffling to me. I probably could use a music teacher.

I can't tell...whether that's sarcasm or not.

If you were referring to my post, it wasn't sarcasm. I feel woefully inadequate when talking about music, and can't analyze worth beans.

Actually, I like your idea. I hold you in high regard.

I've been attending recitals and concerts here in backwoods KY, experiencing the good, the bad, the ugly.. Hoping to develop a better sense of conceptualizatiion for those pieces I'm working on, and hope to work on. Mostly what I've been exposed to is music I've never heard before, of living composers, but the delivery has, in most cases, been excellent.. By that I mean vital, exciting, engaging.

Part of me wants to understand the minutia of why this is, but another part wants to just abandon the analytic and absorb. Hopefully either approach will leave me better off as a player.

My instructor performed the Tchaikovsky 1st piano concerto last evening, and while his playing was superb, the orchestra was ... Well, less than superb. Parts sounded as if it as a PDQ bach production with the double reed slide music stand. He had NO support from the orchestra.. No pulse to depend on, play around with, and for that I admire his tenacity.

The strangest thing though... Since I know the inevitable question of 'what did you think' will present itself at lesson. I've been listening to the "greats" today and their approaches to this concerto, and trying to formulate an answer that will convey understanding of why it was bad. I will not tell him I liked it since he would:
1. Forever doubt my sincerity and never trust me for feedback again
Or
2. Think I had no ability to discern good from mediocre.

However, HE brought his A-game and put some real beauty into a stinker of a collaborative effort. I've found that trying to figure out why the overall experience was unsatisfying! has been enlightening in much the same way that I listened to Ms. Poon (goodness, what a name) on another thread to out a finger on just - WHAT - annoyed me about her approach to the C# minor sonata.

And hopefully that will help inform my conception of the sound I want to make before I ever begin to try.

I don't know if this is 'talking about music' or not.

Forrest

I think WR said it better than I did.

F

Here's a tip......when you want to have a certain type of conversation, start it yourself. Instead of posting 'ugh' on a thread, post your analysis of the music.

The one problem that could arise with this idea is that, for example, we can't post a legal link to Kabalevsky's music (being dead for a short period of time, in classical music terms! And copyright terms)...

So, by all means if we'd like to analyse some Chopin, it's free to get, but anything after 1922 is becoming a bit sketchy...

In addition to that, I'd say that a lot of people might be perfectly happy with being pianists, rather than MUSICIANS as you put it. Nothing wrong there.

Other than that, do make a proposal, and I'll be happy to check it out at least!

Maybe you could start a thread or two or three with a more specific idea. This thread will probably diverge in a number of unsatisfactory ways...and what Nicholas said.

Alriiiiiight, let's talk about music! Yayy!!!

Could you give us an idea what you would like to know exactly?

I'm a music teacher! What ails?