classical music

Hearing the Unseen: How to Tell the Difference Between Pianists’ Interpretations of Liszt’s Sonata in B Minor

2025-02-14T12:54:42+00:00

Franz Liszt’s Sonata in B Minor (1853) is one of the most enigmatic and monumental works in the piano repertoire. Its single-movement structure—spanning moments of relentless virtuosity, profound lyricism, and spiritual transcendence—challenges both pianist and listener. More than just a technical tour de force, the piece is an interpretive battlefield, a mirror reflecting each pianist’s artistic personality. While the notes remain the same, the experience of listening can be vastly different depending on the performer. To understand how interpretation shapes the sonata’s impact, we compare four legendary pianists—Vladimir Horowitz, Martha Argerich, Sviatoslav Richter, and Krystian Zimerman—who each take us on a [...]

Hearing the Unseen: How to Tell the Difference Between Pianists’ Interpretations of Liszt’s Sonata in B Minor2025-02-14T12:54:42+00:00

Keys Full Of Passion: The Piano’s Role In The Romantic Period

2024-10-03T10:55:22+01:00

The Romantic Period was the start of dramatic music full of passion and life, with the piano playing a significant role during the era! After the French Revolution, artists used the atmosphere it created as inspiration for their works. People became more open and public about their objections, which radiated through musician’s compositions. Romanticism was mainly a reaction against political and social injustice. It was also a way of rebelling against the industrial revolution that replaced people’s jobs with machines. That probably explains why romantic music is so expressive and dramatic. Yet this was not the only reason for the [...]

Keys Full Of Passion: The Piano’s Role In The Romantic Period2024-10-03T10:55:22+01:00

The Classical Period and Classical Piano

2024-09-04T17:27:40+01:00

From Beethoven’s groundbreaking symphonies to Mozart’s breathtaking Sonatas, Classical Piano is one of the hardest music genres for any pianist to master, but continues to captivate audiences through timeless compositions and virtuous techniques. Classical music is a genre that derived from approximately 1750 until 1820. This time period was called the Classical Era due to its distinguished musical creations and characteristics. It originated in Europe, where classical music was mostly written for the royals and nobles to enjoy while living their comfortable lives. Many musical inventions were born during this era, and it was the start of the piano joining [...]

The Classical Period and Classical Piano2024-09-04T17:27:40+01:00

Is Jazz Piano Harder than Classical Piano?

2024-05-30T16:06:44+01:00

The comparison between jazz and classical piano is often debated among musicians and enthusiasts. Both genres demand a high level of skill, discipline, and creativity to master, yet they differ significantly in their approaches, techniques, and philosophies. Determining whether jazz piano is harder than classical piano is not straightforward, as the answer largely depends on various factors including individual aptitudes, training backgrounds, and personal musical preferences. From the outset it is worth noting that a proficient jazz pianist and a proficient classical pianist can often be the same person, and that the process of becoming a master pianist can often result [...]

Is Jazz Piano Harder than Classical Piano?2024-05-30T16:06:44+01:00

Mastering a New Piece in a Single Lesson – Debussy’s Reverie as an Example

2024-05-30T10:43:50+01:00

What you need to know in Mastering a new piece in one lesson. We will take Debussy's Reverie as an example to showcase a comprehensive guide to expression, technique and musicality. "Réverie" by Debussy is a nuanced piece that requires attention to detail in terms of colour, phrasing, and balance between both hands. Here's an expanded plan that includes these aspects to effectively convey these musical elements to students in a single piano lesson: 1. Introduction to the Piece (5 minutes) Briefly introduce Claude Debussy and the "Réverie" piece. Discuss the overall mood, character, and unique qualities of the piece. 2. [...]

Mastering a New Piece in a Single Lesson – Debussy’s Reverie as an Example2024-05-30T10:43:50+01:00

The best classical pianists of all time

2021-03-01T10:21:41+00:00

The Best Classical Pianists of All Time Over the centuries, the piano has given the world some incredible musicians. Obviously, we know that music is subjective, what appeals to one person may not be another’s cup of tea – but here are just a few of the pianists that we consider the greats.18th century Mozart The most famous composer of them all, Mozart is regarded as one of the best pianists that ever lived. His work was hugely versatile and clearly reflects the way piano music changed during the classical era, he also inspired many of the other greats in this [...]

The best classical pianists of all time2021-03-01T10:21:41+00:00
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