Master Lessons: Pianist Daniel Barenboim on PBS special

[Thor]

I saw an excellent show on PBS Wednesday night with pianist
Daniel Barenboim performing 5 Beethoven Sonatas. I have to
say, I found his performance very impressive. If you have a
chance to catch it, do so; even the most rock and blues
minded of us can relate to parts of it.

There was a segment at the end with Barenboim working with
5 different young and quite accomplished pianists, where they
played different passages and he provided constructive
criticism regarding their performance of the segment of the
particular piece played. This part of the show was
titled 'Master Lessons'.

I watched this carefully, but unfortunately, without pen and
paper right there. Afterwards, I quickly noted down some key
concepts and ideas after the segment that he discussed.
Even though they are in no particular order, let me share
them with you, they really venture into what I would call
'Performance Detailing':

Music as Illusion

Ultimately, a musician creates an illusion in time and space.
That cannot be done if the performer is not completely
invested in the piece. Random thoughts about whether your
wife was upset with you, or your day was distracting will
prevent you from being able to accomplish this.


Crescendos

Feeling them, leading up to them, not rushing resolution, but
completely working the resolution.


Musical Discord and Clash

Let it play itself out, don't rush the resolution, but let it play out.


Change Establishment

If you have established the (root) note, (his example was an Eb)
there is no need to reiterate it in the same dynamic. A
weaker lower octave is sometimes more effective than a
stronger reiteration.

Dynamics

Be more aware of the particular dynamics in the music. Listen more.
Bang hard when the space is there and the resolution is coming.

An aside

'I have played this piece for 54 years since I was 8. It has always
brought me something new, something different. No matter how
often you play a piece, it is never the same.'

The dynamics vary, day to day. Take advantage of that.




Like I said, the concert and the discussions afterwards
were elegant. Nothing like getting Music 201 from a pro.
Great show if you have a chance to catch it. Surround sound is
a plus.

[Aaron Saunders]

Thanks a bunch, Thor -- that's some really cool stuff. Do you know if it's a regular weekly thing on PBS?

[smperry]

Thanks for the notetaking! One of the times I wished I had a tv. I am going to tell some friends about it though. I did some looking and I found some information here:
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/gperf/shows/...oim/index.html
There's four pages.

Cheers,
M

[Thor]

Originally Posted by Aaron Saunders

Thanks a bunch, Thor -- that's some really cool stuff. Do you know if it's a regular weekly thing on PBS?

No, it is not, as far as I can tell. But those PBS specials often
get produced at one station and passed around to the others.

Channel 36 WSBE here in Providence has it scheduled to be shown
a couple of times this month, often they will repeat those kind of
shows a few times.

I do want to catch the last 15 minutes again, the guy has
a wonderful mastery of the art, and his ideas translate well
from the piano where he controls all the dynamics to a
group setting where dynamics can be more difficult to control.
(In English, get your guitar players to watch it.)

Thanks for the link Marshall, that is the special I was talking about.

[PolkaHero]

I caught that program about a month ago on PBS. Excellent stuff, his performance of the "Appasionata" Sonata by Beethoven was nothing short of amazing! It's unreal the dedication and effort it takes to master these particular pieces of music.

[Thor]

I agree, Appasionata was incredible. I ran over and turned on the
stereo hooked up to the TV.

LOUD.

I am not often mesmerized by a piece and performer,
but this guy blew me away.

[CamMcIntyre]

Ok-i was originally going to say i thought that was available on DVD. I was wrong-all i could find is his DVD of the complete Beethoven Sonatas rather than a Masterclass DVD.

A few comments on Barenboim-i haven't heard him conduct all that much [my first year at the CSO store was his final year as music director], but i am a fan of his piano playing. If you guys want a great CD that isn't all that expensive-check out Barenboim playing 3 Beethoven Piano Sonatas-the Appasionata, Pathetique, and Moonlight Sonata. I think it was $12.99 @ the CSO Store-should easily be available from a local place or Amazon.com