I have spent much time in recent weeks exploring new (and not so new!) piano repertoire......always such a joy to research and listen for hours on end! I'd like to share a special piece with you by Bela Bartok from his suite Out of Doors, "Musiques Nocturnes." Barbara Nissman, in her wonderful book on Bartok from a performer's view, says that "Bartok's writing here is complex and multilayered, and his ideal sound palette is difficult to translate. this is music that demands time and concentration; before the hands are ready to paint the picture, the brain must be able to decipher the language and understand the vocabulary." In this movement the listener hears the sounds of nature outside at night, as a peaceful, mysterious background of insect, frog, and muted bird cries. It is positively amazing writing for the piano. I discovered a video by Andras Schiff playing and explaining his thoughts on this movement; I think you might enjoy watching as I have. Then, in reading Barbara's discussion about this movement, perhaps my favorite comment by her (and one the has stayed with me for the last several days as it applies to all we do as pianists!!) is her thought "once (this piece) begins to take shape, the imaginative possibilities are infinite, and then the fun begins! The pianist can explore the sound possibilities of the instrument; with every performance, the piece will change, especially when playing on a different instrument or in a different hall. THE PIANIST ALWAYS MUST LISTEN ANEW AND ULTIMATELY LEARN TO TRUST THE EAR. UNLIKE THE PAINTER, THE PIANIST NEVER COMPLETES THE PAINTING. AS WITH THE SOUNDS OF THE NIGHT, EACH NIGHT REMAINS A SEPARATE MEMORY." I am rather awed by the beauty of this thought...........wow. Please enjoy watching and listening to Nathan Carterette perform: "Musiques Nocturnes" here in this video.
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