 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: luca1
Date: 2011-06-19 22:30
One of my very favorite musicians, Menahem Pressler, has a new video on the same site as the Karl Leister Masterclass ... www.pickstaiger.org ...
http://www.pickstaiger.org/video/menahem-pressler-chamber-music-master-class
Music includes the Piano Trio in B-flat Major, K. 502 by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart; Piano Trio No. 4 in E Minor, Op. 90 ("Dumky") by Antonin Dvoråk; and Quatuor pour la fin du temps by Olivier Messiaen.
(the Messiaen starts around the 68minute mark ... but all of his coaching is well worth listening to!!)
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Author: Tony Pay ★2017
Date: 2011-06-20 15:10
Don wrote:
>> (the Messiaen starts around the 68minute mark ... but all of his coaching is well worth listening to!!) >>
He doesn't say much of interest about the Messiaen. But his overall message, in all three pieces, has the effect of stopping the players being 'players', and having them be instead, 'contributors' to the musical argument and magic.
Indeed, he says that explicitly in a short interlude after the Dvorak.
You can see everyone reducing their 'showing off' and becoming serious. I was especially struck by the gradual change of demeanour in the (undoubtedly talented) 'cellist in the Mozart, to whom he said practically nothing until the end.
May he continue to influence musical culture everywhere -- especially in America.
Tony
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Author: Buster
Date: 2011-06-20 22:30
luca1,
Thank you for the link.
I have only had a chance to listen to the Mozart so far, but what an amazing teacher and transformation he elicited.
It never ceases to amaze how the seemingly smallest things, that are often glossed over, are in actuality the MOST important. The smallest change in how a phrase is closed, colored, or passed through an ensemble changes the entire atmosphere. The tiny change in the pressure, or motion, of the bow (for the "Sunday sound" as he called it) turns a single note into one with such internal integrity that it almost automatically moves into the following interval- as if it could not imaginably happen any other way at that moment. Or the slightest change of touch in the repeated piano "block chords" changed the entire feel of the piece. (Sorry to wax poetic, but wow!)
Quite an incredible man to not just be a consummate performer, but also a brilliant teacher. Those musicians are the ones that are found few and far between.
Also, it always amazes how two pianists can play the exact same piano (viewed as a glorified typewriter of sorts by many) and have such differing personal "sounds."
Thanks again for the link and I look forward to the rest of the video.
-Jason
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Author: Buster
Date: 2011-06-21 01:53
still haven't had a chance to listen to the rest of the video but I wanted to correct a wrong that I wrote.
From the Mozart clip, I would not use a derogatory term such as "teacher" for Mr. Pressler. Too often a teacher imposes his will upon a student, pushing the student into the teacher's way.
Mr. Pressler was the exact opposite of this. He rather found a way to allow the students to grow without imposing his will or stroking his own ego. In a master-class setting, I have far too often seen the guest artist paralyzing the students, rather than letting them grow. I guess this must come from some ego driven place; perhaps one of insecurity.
But the occasional "clinician" comes along and actually guides the student, instead of attacking them. I won't insult anybody by saying whom does not exemplify this, but Mr. Pressler surely is a prime example of "one of the good ones."
Still looking forward to the rest of the video.
-Jason
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