In regards to certain pianists being criticized by some for their physical gestures while on stage (Andre Watts being among one of them) there has been a discussion on classical radio about this recently. Andre Watts take on it "The piano is a percussion instrument, and the great Joseph Hoffman said it so wonderfully "you know, we're all playing a percussion instrument, and we're trying to make it sing." Do you know, the minute we play a note, it starts to decay. I think all the mannerisms...no, I don't think, I KNOW all the mannerisms are a compensation. I think that if I were able to produce at will what I would like to hear, I would have no mannerisms whatsoever."
If interested to read more about this subject check out
http://performancetoday.publicradio.org/ (scroll down, left side)
If interested to read more about this subject check out
http://performancetoday.publicradio.org/ (scroll down, left side)
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