The lost art of improvisation

[Peter]

Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Bruckner and many others were renowned and admired for their improvisational skills, but today this form of musical expression in classical music is lost.

http://www.thestrad.com/whatever-hap...improvisation/

[Chris]

I wish this skill were more valued and taught. I frequently have to improvise at the organ, and while I always get something out, I know it could be a lot better.

[Peter]

I wish this skill were more valued and taught. I frequently have to improvise at the organ, and while I always get something out, I know it could be a lot better.

I'm not sure it can be taught but it should certainly be encouraged. At the Vienna concert I went to in 2003 when they recreated the Dec 1808 concert, the pianist Robert Levin did ask for a theme for improvisation from members of the audience which some wrote down and they were placed in a basket and one selected at random - this was however done during an interval behind closed doors but I'll give him the benefit of the doubt!