Comments on: Notes from the saddle http://jonathanbiss.com/home/2007/09/10/notes-from-the-saddle/ The Official Site of Jonathan Biss Thu, 04 Dec 2008 05:26:49 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.1.2 By: PS http://jonathanbiss.com/home/2007/09/10/notes-from-the-saddle/#comment-24 PS Mon, 24 Sep 2007 11:42:21 +0000 http://jonathanbiss.com/home/2007/09/10/notes-from-the-saddle/#comment-24 (Regarding this and your last post) As a non-musician, I wonder if there an advantage, then, to a studio recording over a live-performance recording? Do you have a preference? Do you imagine that you might have more "takes" now during recording sessions than you will have later in your career, not because of better skill but because of better perspective or simply because it IS early in your career and it's more important to focus on nuance now than when you will have an established record of artistry/interpretation? I suspect, from the tenor of your entries that your struggles with 'effness' and precision are more personality traits and less the result of career concern or experience -- so the number of takes (and producer's trials-and-tribulations) won't change much. A recommendation for a future post: how do you go about preparing a new piece? What research and preparation do you do (beyond practicing, of course)? Do you, for instance, delve deeper into the history composer's life and times at the time of composition? Listen to others' recordings or independently develop your interpretation? Consult with other artists, professors, etc.? I'm booked for your Oct. 26th Beethoven and Janacek recital at Mandel Hall, Univ. of Chicago. Any suggestions for listener preparation for these pieces to get the most out of the experience? (Your blog is welcome; it's refreshing to read an artist's direct descriptions of his experiences and reflections on his art. Your devotion is admirable.) (Regarding this and your last post) As a non-musician, I wonder if there an advantage, then, to a studio recording over a live-performance recording? Do you have a preference? Do you imagine that you might have more “takes” now during recording sessions than you will have later in your career, not because of better skill but because of better perspective or simply because it IS early in your career and it’s more important to focus on nuance now than when you will have an established record of artistry/interpretation? I suspect, from the tenor of your entries that your struggles with ‘effness’ and precision are more personality traits and less the result of career concern or experience — so the number of takes (and producer’s trials-and-tribulations) won’t change much.

A recommendation for a future post: how do you go about preparing a new piece? What research and preparation do you do (beyond practicing, of course)? Do you, for instance, delve deeper into the history composer’s life and times at the time of composition? Listen to others’ recordings or independently develop your interpretation? Consult with other artists, professors, etc.?

I’m booked for your Oct. 26th Beethoven and Janacek recital at Mandel Hall, Univ. of Chicago. Any suggestions for listener preparation for these pieces to get the most out of the experience?

(Your blog is welcome; it’s refreshing to read an artist’s direct descriptions of his experiences and reflections on his art. Your devotion is admirable.)

]]> By: Jonathan http://jonathanbiss.com/home/2007/09/10/notes-from-the-saddle/#comment-26 Jonathan Sun, 30 Sep 2007 00:07:11 +0000 http://jonathanbiss.com/home/2007/09/10/notes-from-the-saddle/#comment-26 A sincere apology to PS: somehow my spam filter decided that this extremely thoughtful comment was spam. I just discovered this, which explains why the comment is appearing only a full week after it was written. I've learned my lesson, and from now on, will check my spam folder more regularly. I suspect that other comments may have been wrongfully spammed as well, and that I missed them before they got deleted. A further apology to anyone else whose comments were thus lost... A sincere apology to PS: somehow my spam filter decided that this extremely thoughtful comment was spam. I just discovered this, which explains why the comment is appearing only a full week after it was written. I’ve learned my lesson, and from now on, will check my spam folder more regularly.

I suspect that other comments may have been wrongfully spammed as well, and that I missed them before they got deleted. A further apology to anyone else whose comments were thus lost…

]]> By: Stephanie Trick http://jonathanbiss.com/home/2007/09/10/notes-from-the-saddle/#comment-37 Stephanie Trick Wed, 17 Oct 2007 05:20:19 +0000 http://jonathanbiss.com/home/2007/09/10/notes-from-the-saddle/#comment-37 Jonathan, I know this is a little belated, but I just wanted to thank you for giving me such great insight into the Beethoven Op. 2 No. 3 Sonata at the Master Class in St. Louis a couple weeks ago. I only wish that we were able to get through the whole movement! But I suppose that's the nature of master classes. Also, I just wanted to say how much I am enjoying your Beethoven CD. It's really wonderful. I especially love the Op. 109, and it's even more fun listening to it knowing how much blood, sweat, and tears went into recording it! I hope you're having a great tour! Your enthusiasm and love of music is truly inspiring. Thank you. stephanie Jonathan,

I know this is a little belated, but I just wanted to thank you for giving me such great insight into the Beethoven Op. 2 No. 3 Sonata at the Master Class in St. Louis a couple weeks ago. I only wish that we were able to get through the whole movement! But I suppose that’s the nature of master classes.

Also, I just wanted to say how much I am enjoying your Beethoven CD. It’s really wonderful. I especially love the Op. 109, and it’s even more fun listening to it knowing how much blood, sweat, and tears went into recording it!

I hope you’re having a great tour! Your enthusiasm and love of music is truly inspiring. Thank you.

stephanie

]]> By: Jonathan Biss | Piano » Blog Archive » Changing gears; building programs http://jonathanbiss.com/home/2007/09/10/notes-from-the-saddle/#comment-41 Jonathan Biss | Piano » Blog Archive » Changing gears; building programs Fri, 26 Oct 2007 06:03:51 +0000 http://jonathanbiss.com/home/2007/09/10/notes-from-the-saddle/#comment-41 [...] by an extremely thoughtful and inquisitive comment on a previous post, I thought I would try to explain the thought process that went into the [...] […] by an extremely thoughtful and inquisitive comment on a previous post, I thought I would try to explain the thought process that went into the […]

]]> By: Manny Goldman http://jonathanbiss.com/home/2007/09/10/notes-from-the-saddle/#comment-63 Manny Goldman Thu, 31 Jan 2008 05:22:46 +0000 http://jonathanbiss.com/home/2007/09/10/notes-from-the-saddle/#comment-63 Dear Jonathan, Your performance at the Kennedy Center evening honoring Leon Fleischer was wonderful. Thank you for helping to make a great evening even greater. My wife and I look forward to seeing you on February 20, 2008 in San Francisco. Since our seats are in the side terrace (stage left), we will be looking down directly onto you and MTT. We literally overlook the stage. Thank you for coming to San Francisco once again. On a separate note, I noticed that both you and Jonathan Bell are from Indiana. Are you friends and/or family friends? Please let me know, since a very good friend of ours is from Indiana and goes crazy over anything good from Indiana (like yourself, Jonathan Bell, and Larry Bird). Thanks. Manny Goldman Hillsborough, California 94010 mgoldman38@aol.com Manny Goldman Dear Jonathan,

Your performance at the Kennedy Center evening honoring Leon Fleischer was wonderful. Thank you for helping to make a great evening even greater. My wife and I look forward to seeing you on February 20, 2008 in San Francisco. Since our seats are in the side terrace (stage left), we will be looking down directly onto you and MTT. We literally overlook the stage. Thank you for coming to San Francisco once again.

On a separate note, I noticed that both you and Jonathan Bell are from Indiana. Are you friends and/or family friends? Please let me know, since a very good friend of ours is from Indiana and goes crazy over anything good from Indiana (like yourself, Jonathan Bell, and Larry Bird). Thanks.

Manny Goldman
Hillsborough, California 94010
mgoldman38@aol.com

Manny Goldman

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