Hi Alan Boy is this a timely post. This past year I've been doing a lot of exactly this kind of work with Simax here in Norway. On my initial meet with this practice I could not help but raise the question .... how much of the final CD is the pianist... how much is the producer... and how much is the editor ? And where in all this does the concept of <<music>> in the usual sense of the word come in ? These concoctions (I guess that word applies) are like digital quilting where literally every passage is played 10 - 15 times and the end result any one of a subjective collection boarding on randomized plastering of 100 passages... Ok.. thats perhaps overstated but you get my point. In the Grieg Ballade I just helped out on there must be a total of 10^50th possible combinations. That would be 50 passages played in 10 different variations each if I dont forget my basic combinations maths. In anycase... the creative endeavor that goes into this kind of a production is way different then a pianist sitting down and simply playing the piece from the heart and soul. Its a completely different art form I'd go so far as to say. No pianist could actually duplicate this kind of play in real life situations.... so whatever spontaneity, expressivity, and passion there is in the piece is a conglomeration of moods over a 5 day (in the case of the Ballade) recording session. Interesting to say the least. :) Cheers RicB Dear listers, I'd like to pass on the review from the Wall Street Journal of a book recommended by a colleague regarding piano performance practices that looks quite interesting; apparently the writer feels that much spontaneity and expressivity and passion has been lost in the modern age of digital editing of multiple takes, etc. with its emphasis on restraining one's more personal interpretive tendencies; the Apollonian approach vs. the Dionysion, I guess. Apparently the book is at the top of the list of music-related books selling on Amazon currently. (No, I have no connection with the writer!). http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120122345824015449.html?mod=2_1167_1 Best regards, Allen Wright London, UK
This PTG archive page provided courtesy of Moy Piano Service, LLC