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The Modern Day Pianist-Composers: Hough and Hamelin

Discussion in 'Pianists' started by pianoman342, Mar 12, 2013.

  1. pianoman342

    pianoman342 Member Piano Society Artist Trusted Member

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    I found an interesting journal article about Stephen Hough and Marc-Andre Hamelin.

    It takes a look at the historic composers who we know to be some of the first famous Pianist-Composers (Liszt and Thalberg, and to a lesser extent, Bach because his composition instrument wasn't soley the piano)

    A question from it: "will a pianist be a better player if she or he composes music?" According to Hough, the answer is a definite yes!

    written by Yi-Syuan Lin:

    http://gradworks.umi.com/1472305.pdf
     
    pianoman342, Mar 12, 2013
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  2. pianolady

    pianolady Monica Hart, Administrator Staff Member Piano Society Artist Trusted Member

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    I'm not completely sure....I know Grieg was a good player and of course there is Rachmaninov. Also Granados!!
    But I remember reading somewhere that one of the 'biggies' composed great music, but couldn't play it very well himself. I can't remember who that is now....
     
    pianolady, Mar 12, 2013
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  3. musical-md

    musical-md Active Member Piano Society Artist Trusted Member

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    Tchaikovsky?
     
    musical-md, Mar 12, 2013
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  4. pianolady

    pianolady Monica Hart, Administrator Staff Member Piano Society Artist Trusted Member

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    Yes, I think that's right. Thanks, Eddy! :)
     
    pianolady, Mar 13, 2013
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  5. andrew

    andrew Administrator Staff Member Piano Society Artist

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    I totally agree with this. I think an interest in composition makes you more inclined to look at the music you're playing from two different angles - the pianistic and the compositional. I (if I may flatter myself by terming myself to some extent a composer) keep finding myself asking "why did he express it like this, not like this or this?" I really do suspect that some pianists look at a score as something to be replicated and never ask themselves "why?"

    MAH's a peculiar phenomenon: I just don't warm to his playing and find it a bit dry and lacking in character. However I do quite like him as a minor composer; it seems like the character and humour lacking in his piano-playing emerges in his compositions.
     
    andrew, Mar 14, 2013
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  6. andrew

    andrew Administrator Staff Member Piano Society Artist

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    Notoriously, Schubert.
     
    andrew, Mar 14, 2013
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  7. pianoman342

    pianoman342 Member Piano Society Artist Trusted Member

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    That's a good point. I was studying a book about Bach's 48 Preludes and Fugues and the book talked about how Bach as a younger man was looking at scores and rewriting the parts that he didn't like, or making various improvements. A shame that some pianists would just see playing as a simple job like that of a taxi driver. As long as you don't crash, you're fine :mrgreen:

    Yes, much more known for his technique than for his interpretiations. I also find his compositions very well written and yes, at times humorous!
     
    pianoman342, Mar 15, 2013
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  8. pianoman342

    pianoman342 Member Piano Society Artist Trusted Member

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    Schubert and Tchaikovsky... and Sibelius
     
    pianoman342, Mar 15, 2013
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  9. hreichgott

    hreichgott New Member

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    R. Schumann?
     
    hreichgott, Apr 9, 2013
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  10. techneut

    techneut Active Member Piano Society Artist Trusted Member

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    Ravel.
     
    techneut, Apr 10, 2013
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