I strongly agree with you here!



Good tip. Next time I have to perform, I'll practice improvising in random places - if that's even possible. I'm not a good improviser. I'm also afraid I would randomly start playing "Misty" because that's what I always play when I'm just screwing around.

Andrew,

That is a good article. Thanx for posting it.

Over that past several years, every time that I would consider getting a program together to perform locally, I find myself holding back because of the need for all of that memory. Then I would consider just doing it using the score, but my past training has some how put in the back of my mind that that is somehow cheating. After reading that I article, I don't think that I will feel the guilt so much.

One good point in his case for using the score is that it allows one to create and perform a larger variety of programs rather than getting stuck just performing a few pieces.

Y'all make a good point about practicing a memorized piece with the score in advance. I have often noticed in the past how much more difficult it often is to play a piece that I have had memorized (but has faded over time) from the score. On a similar note, I have found it sometimes difficult to learn a piece from one edition and then playing from a different one for some reason. The crazy thing is that the measures are not in the "right" place on the page and I get lost or it just looks strange.

Scott

That makes perfect sense and is my experience also. It's very confusing to your sub- or semi-conscious spatial memory of the piece on the page, to say nothing of introducing page turns in unexpected places! Even same edition, different binding scenarios where left hand pages end up on the right and vice versa can be pretty disorientating.

Hye-Jin, I'm not sure if you are going to read this, but I saw Stephen Hough play yesterday afternoon in Chicago. He was not part of my regular subscription series, but when I learned he was coming to Chicago, I splurged and purchased one more concert. I’m glad I did, because it turned out to be one of my favorite concerts to date.

In case anyone else is interested, this was his program: Beethoven - Sonata in C-sharp Minor, (Moonlight), Hough - Sonata for Piano (broken branches), Scriabin - Sonata No. 5 in F-sharp Major, Op. 53, Liszt - Sonata in B Minor

It’s been a while since I have watched/listened to anyone play the Moonlight – the last movement is certainly fun to watch! And he did a bang-up job on it too!

Next up was his own composition, "Broken Branches". A very interesting set; I liked the sound of it – some real neat harmonies and such. I found it a little ironic that this was the only time in which he read from the score on the piano. He wrote the music, so you’d think he’d remember what he wrote. Perhaps it is still so new that it hasn’t had time to fully sink into his memory yet...

I was not familiar with the Scriabin piece, but I liked it. At times I heard some jazzy-sounding chords.

The Liszt Sonata – of course I’ve heard this piece many times, but have to say that I so much enjoyed Hough’s playing of it. Not sure if I was in a good place in my mind, like it was a good piano-listening day because the stars were aligned correctly or what, but his playing moved me like I’ve never been moved before. I can’t really explain it.

He played two encores, both Chopin! The first was the Waltz in A-flat, Op. 69, no. 1. This was the very first Chopin piece I ever played and have a recording of it on the site. But WOW I loved the way Hough played it!! He did some different things that I had not considered before – I really think I have to redo my version now. The second encore was the ever-popular Nocturne Op. 9, no. 2, which happens to be the nocturne I like the least! I guess I’m so tired of it and can barely stand listening to it anymore. But Hough’s playing made it much more bearable.

Overall, Hough has wonderful technique. He can play so delicately and inserts so much character into the music that for me it was like hearing this music for the first time.

A great 2nd half! I love the Scriabin 5!

Hi Monica, thank you for the nice concert review! I read your post some time ago, but had no chance to reply... Sorry about that. I submitted a chapter of my dissertation on last Saturday and I decided to be free for today
Just from the recital program of Hough I guess it was a very interesting reital. It includes very important sonatas for the piano, even though I don't know his own composition. I would like to hear him live, but he doesn't come to my area. I envy you Monica that you live in such a big city where so many celebrated pianists gave concerts.