---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment On Sunday, May 25, 2003, at 12:46 PM, Sarah Fox wrote: > Hi Rich! Hi Sarah (fascinating questions and observations) > =A0 > I wonder if some of the difference might be that jazz pianists are so=20= > often envelope pushers -- in the same sense that Franz Liszt was an=20 > envelope pusher.=A0 Do you mean in the composer, improviser or performer sense or all three? Are we talking composition, technique, 'sound' sculpture, voicing? all=20= of them? The answers (observations, extrapolations, wags) could=20 probably fill a book or two, hotly debated by all. Perhaps I'm=20 misunderstanding the focus of the question, but it just seems there are=20= so many variables many of which point in the 'which comes first, the=20 chicken or the egg?' direction. > What they are able to write/perform depends very much on the=20 > technology beneath their fingertips.=A0 I'm sure that this is true much of the time, but some composers seem to=20= conjure sounds, and textures, articulations, voicings, temperaments=20 without regard to whether or not the instruments, technology, or=20 performers are capable of producing it. Sort of 'I have this idea ( by=20= the way the system for notating this hasn't been created yet) and I'll=20= describe it as best I can: can you figure out a way to make it happen?' > Classical pianists, on the other hand, are performing what has=20 > already been written -- within the limitations of existing piano=20 > technology.=A0 Perhaps this is why we see more 'classical' pianists crossing over or=20 outright switching to jazz. Either way all are performing within the=20 limitations of existing tech, until they aren't. > I suspect there may be more enthusiasm on the part of a jazz musician=20= > when his instrument is suddenly able to "do" more than it did before.=A0= =20 > In the world of jazz, including composition and improvisation, that=20 > means expanding the "vocabulary" with which they can work.=A0 For a=20 > classical pianist, that means being able to play better what has=20 > already been played before. For sure the classical pianists performance role is more limited (jazz=20= pianists is expanded). I don't know if 'better' is the word I would use. I remember Shura Cherkasky saying *(late 70's/early 80's) in a NY Times=20= interview ~ 'I never play it the same way twice, it depends how I'm=20 feeling in the moment'. > =A0I'm also captivated by the expressiveness of jazz piano.=A0 (As a=20= > classical pianist, I'm rather envious of the jazz masters and wish I=20= > could "do" the things they do!=A0 But I'm also that way about all = forms=20 > of expression, like opera -- wow!)=A0 > I wonder if the abundant "enunciation" and "punctuation" of jazz=20 > piano requires more of the instrument.=A0 Or perhaps it only requires=20= > *different* things of the instrument.=A0 I'm not versed in jazz=20 > performance, so I don't really know. Ditto. What is leaving me increasingly awestruck are the 'concert tech=20= masters' and their ability to make a creation as liquid as a piano=20 action 'behave'. > =A0 > I've often wondered why performance pianos don't ship with multiple=20 > actions for different performer preferences.=A0 Take out one, slide in=20= > the other.=A0 Different piano!=A0 Two pianos at far less the cost of = two.=A0 I know of pianists who have second ('practice') actions, so I can't=20 imagine a manufacturer would refuse such a request. Just a matter of=20 writing the check? Probably easier to do this when piano is new.=20 Otherwise I'm guessing the 'catch 22' is that you would have to ship=20 your action to the manufacturer (or say Kluge) for duplication. Issues=20= for institutions might include safe (from damage) flat, secure storage=20= (and writing that check)? I'm guessing there might be issues associated=20= with actions sitting dormant (for extended periods)? > It would make sense to me... > =A0 > Peace, > Sarah Diane Fox, Ph.D., NPT > Columbus, Ohio, United States of America Best, Rich Olmsted > =A0 > > > ---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: text/enriched Size: 4775 bytes Desc: not available Url : https://www.moypiano.com/ptg/pianotech.php/attachments/13/0e/18/4e/attachment.bin ---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment--
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