Recreating Great Performances with Technology

There is something special about listening to a live performance. There's the energy in the room, the element of unpredictability and the uniqueness of the performance conditions - time, place, humidity, environment, audience and performer - that can never be replicated. Now with technology, it is possible to replicate at least one aspect of a performance - how it was performed. John Walker from Sony demonstrates, using a Yamaha Disklavier, how they took performances by Glenn Gould and Art Tatum, converted the recording into raw data that can be played back. In this clip, you get to see the piano play part of Bach's Goldberg Variations as Gould did in one of his recording sessions.

They even show photos of the recording process, enabling you to listen to the music as if you were the one sitting on the piano bench, as opposed to 20 or so feet away in the audience. Believe me, it is a different experience.

Although you can never replicate all aspects of a performance, it's still pretty interesting to watch the piano show you how Gould and Tatum touched the keys, the pedal.

(c) 2009 by Musespeak(tm), Calgary, AB, Canada. All rights reserved.

Deaf Percussionist Talks About "How" to Listen

Deaf percussionist Evelyn Glennie gives an impressive demonstration-talk on how to listen. She clearly shows viewers how to listen by using your entire body as a resonator. Evelyn also highlights how our experience of a sound can differ, depending on our location and our role (creator, audience). This piece of advice resonates in other aspects of life: Relax, open yourself up and you can listen better. You can become one with your instrument/car/cooking/studying/[insert activity here]. Here's the video:

There's a humorous moment in the middle when she asks the audience if they heard what she just did. And another when she tries to get the audience to clap "snow".

(c) 2000 by Musespeak(tm), Calgary, AB, Canada. All rights reserved.

Choir Music Musings

This semester, I'm filling in for the pianist of Okotoks Alliance Church Choir. They are busy preparing for the Christmas concerts. Yes, I know, we're not even past Thanksgiving yet but these things take time to prepare!I haven't sung in a choir since university and it's been a few years since I've "accompanied" (or shall I say, worked as a "collaborative pianist") in this capacity.

I forgot how much fun it was.

There is such a rush when you hear all the voices blending in and filling the room. It's somewhat similar to the rush I got playing in the jazz combos at jazz camp this summer, especialy when we fed off each other's energy and ideas.

I find myself itching to practice Michael W. Smith's setting of Gloria/Lux Venit, because if some of the youtube videos are any indication, the build-up in Gloria is going to give one huge rush to performers and listeners alike.

[Note to those who've heard this - yes, I'm drilling that transition from Lux Venit to Gloria like crazy!]

This is serving as a reminder of how important it is for pianists - who play mostly solo repertoire - to engage in group music activities.

It provides balance, works on our teamwork skills but most of all - it's just plain fun to do.

Addendum

Here's our performance of Gloria with Lux Venit:

(c) 2009 by Musespeak(tm), Calgary, AB, Canada. All rights reserved.

Designs by Musespeak(tm)

Musicians hear all about creating imagery in music. For instance, if pianist is performing Schumann's The Wild Horseman, he or she should be trying to help the audience envision a horseman on a wild crazy ride. I've decided to add to Musespeak(tm)'s activities by approaching it the other way - creating music through imagery. Photography has been a hobby of mine for many years. Check out the new store - Designs by Musespeak. As you can tell, there are several common themes along with variations within those themes.

Maestro is even excited to have his own "Maestro Groupie" t-shirt and "Bad Hair Day" hats.

(c) 2009 by Musespeak(tm), Calgary, AB, Canada. All rights reserved.

Google Docs Makes Music Reports Easy

Two ways that my students can earn bonus points (and thereby Maestro Bucks) through my incentive program is to do a research project or concert report. One of my students, Grant, is pretty technologically savvy and has been using Google Docs to complete and submit his reports.

He simply emails me the link, I print it off to store in my Student Composition and Projects Binder and he gets his bonus points and Maestro Bucks.