random pianistic question thing! contribute

[paris]

That's either a horrible set of typos or a really uber-authentic way of spelling "Tchaikovsky".

nope, i'd say this is an authentic version

Пётр Ильич Чайкoвский

 

[arensky]

2 - who is the greatest pianist youve met?
lang lang

What did he say? 

[apion]

16 - are you pro or anti lang lang?

I'm ANTI lang lang

[letters]

1 - i dont know.... hmm

2 - my piano teacher! i also met richard meyrick

3 - i dont know, my friend's pretty good

4 - im absolutely shocking at improvisation so repertoire, i want to get into more jazz though

5 - you have to practice technique for you to effectively use it in a piece, im doing scales in thirds at the moment because i was playing the queen of sheba

6 - proper classical piano music- probably 15 years old (im 17 now) because i wanted to listen to how pieces i was playing were meant to sound, but now i regularly listen (and not always piano either)

7 - the age of 5

8 - lots of people - howling bells, the futureheads..

9 - too many to choose from

10 - i like a lot of debussy preludes and childrens corner, and rachmaninov preludes, also chopin preludes and some albeniez

11 - no idea... i like bach double violin concerto i guess thats chamber

12 - i haven't listened to that many but i like rach 2 and shostakovich 2 (cuz im playing it at the moment!)

13 - thats a stupid question

14 - thats also a stupid question

15 - i dont entirely understand the word virtuosity....

16 - im a 17 yr old school girl dont think so...

17 - who the heck is cziffra anyway?? (sorry if im being insanely ignorant) i think its all about interpretation and if passion slightly overtakes technicalities then never mind

18 - best musicality!!!! even if you had the best technique in the world all you'd ever be able to play is bach and it wud sound like shite

19 - i dunno..... ashkenazy, barenboim, gould, kissin..... dunno

20 - i dont knowwwwww

21 -  too hard.... debussy or bach

[bachmaninov]

1 - who is your pianistic idol?
Vladimir Ashkenazy

2 - who is the greatest pianist youve met?
(Van Cliburn)

3 - who do you think is the greatest improviser at the piano?
(Cziffra)

4 - do you primarily improvise, play repertoire, or a mix of both?
(Play repertoire)

5 - do you believe in exercises or do you believe that repertoire covers all technical skills?
(the second one)

6 - when did you start listening to piano music?
(3rd grade)

7 - when did you start playing the piano?
(3rd Grade)

8 - what is your favourite popular music artist/group?
Eminem!

9 - what is your favourite non-piano work?
Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto

10 - what is your fave solo piano work?
Tie between Rachmaninoff Sonata No. 2 and Liszt B minor sonata

11 - what is your fave chamber music work?
(n/a)

12 - what is your fave concerto?
Rach 2 or Scriabin

13 - what is the 'hardest' piece you can play?
Transcendental Etude No. 8 (Liszt)

14 - how fast can you play?
ppl say i have "great chops"

15 - does virtuosity on its own impress you?
sure

16 - are you pro or anti lang lang?
I dont hate him, I dont like him

17 - what impresses you more; cziffra's technical ability or musical ability?
technical

18 - what would you rather have; best technique in the world, or best musicality?
musicality

19 - name your top 5 pianists
1. Ashkenazy
2. Kissin
3. Van cliburn
4. Argerich
5. Jeno Jando

20 - name the rest of your top 10, randomly
Richter, Cziffra, Horowitz, Yundi Li, Brendel

21 -  name your fave piano composer
Liszt

[thalbergmad]

1 - who is your pianistic idol?                Cziffra

2 - who is the greatest pianist youve met?          Ashkenazy (i met him on a train)

3 - who do you think is the greatest improviser at the piano?         Fats Waller

4 - do you primarily improvise, play repertoire, or a mix of both?      Repetoire

5 - do you believe in exercises or do you believe that repertoire covers all technical skills?

Depends on your repetoire init

6 - when did you start listening to piano music?  In da womb

7 - when did you start playing the piano?   before i was 1

8 - what is your favourite popular music artist/group?  Abba

9 - what is your favourite non-piano work?    Scherezade

10 - what is your fave solo piano work?   Tausig/Weber - invitation to the dance

11 - what is your fave chamber music work?  I do not like chamber music

12 - what is your fave concerto?        Henselt

13 - what is the 'hardest' piece you can play?       Pabst/Tchaikovsky - Sleeping Beauty (almost)

14 - how fast can you play?   dunno - 18 notes a second on me banjo

15 - does virtuosity on its own impress you?   of course

16 - are you pro or anti lang lang?   neither - just inert

17 - what impresses you more; cziffra's technical ability or musical ability?  what do you think?

18 - what would you rather have; best technique in the world, or best musicality?

Best technique

19 - name your top 5 pianists

Cziffra
Richter
Horowitz
Gilels
Hamelin

20 - name the rest of your top 10, randomly   No

[iumonito]

1 - who is your pianistic idol?  Bolet, Gilels.

2 - who is the greatest pianist youve met?  Pogorelich, Olga Kern

3 - who do you think is the greatest improviser at the piano?  Mozart

4 - do you primarily improvise, play repertoire, or a mix of both?  rep

5 - do you believe in exercises or do you believe that repertoire covers all technical skills?

All that matter.

6 - when did you start listening to piano music?

In utero

7 - when did you start playing the piano?

Playing with the piano, around 1.  Lessons at 5.

8 - what is your favourite popular music artist/group?  10,000 maniacs

9 - what is your favourite non-piano work?  The Magic Flute

10 - what is your fave solo piano work?  Brahms Op. 118 # 2

11 - what is your fave chamber music work?  Schumann quintet, Poulenc flute sonata

12 - what is your fave concerto?  Rachmaninov 3, Ravel G major.

13 - what is the 'hardest' piece you can play?  Scriabin Sonata Op. 53, probably.  Alborada del Gracioso maybe?

14 - how fast can you play?  faster than I can listen clearly

15 - does virtuosity on its own impress you?  virtuosity without musicality is like a sporty car in a test room, useless regardless of how impressive

16 - are you pro or anti lang lang?  I care little about Lang Lang, but I have not lost hope he may become a musician when he grows up.  Pollini did.

17 - what impresses you more; cziffra's technical ability or musical ability?  I find him laughable, but have not heard much.  If there si a Bartok 2d with him I would be interested in hearing it.

18 - what would you rather have; best technique in the world, or best musicality?  Neither, but I would take best facility to learn and remember.

19 - name your top 5 pianists

Bolet, Gilels, Antonio Pompa-Baldi, Joyce Hatto, Judit Jaimes.

20 - name the rest of your top 10, randomly

Horowitz, Hough, Hamelin, Michel Block, Edwin Fischer, Rachmaninov, Lhevine, Hoffman, Godowsky, Davide Cabassi, Olga Kern, Ivo Pogorelich, Krystian Zimmerman.

21 -  name your fave piano composer

Brahms, Bach, Godowsky

22- fave book about piano playing

The Art of Playing the Piano (Heinrich Neuhaus)

23 - fave movie on a music subject

Maitre de Musique (the one with Jose Van Dam)

24 - favorite recording

Horowitz' Rachmaninov 3d with Ormandy

25 - favorite piano video

Argerich Prokofiev 3d, Pogorelich's Gaspard

[lau]

1 - who is your pianistic idol?

*Arcadi Volodos

2 - who is the greatest pianist youve met?

*My teacher

3 - who do you think is the greatest improviser at the piano?

*Don't know, don't care

4 - do you primarily improvise, play repertoire, or a mix of both?

*Strictly repertoire

5 - do you believe in exercises or do you believe that repertoire covers all technical skills?

*Never tried exercises

6 - when did you start listening to piano music?

* age 10?

7 - when did you start playing the piano?

* age 8

8 - what is your favourite popular music artist/group?

* no comment

9 - what is your favourite non-piano work?

* There is no other art form

10 - what is your fave solo piano work?

* Hardest question in the world- right now i love volodos ruslan and ludmilla transcription

11 - what is your fave chamber music work?

* Beethovens 5th, i don't know what you mean by chamber though

12 - what is your fave concerto?

* um, I don't know what a concerto is

13 - what is the 'hardest' piece you can play?

* Volodos Turkish March

14 - how fast can you play?

* You tell me based on my hardest peice

15 - does virtuosity on its own impress you?

* Even more than musicality

16 - are you pro or anti lang lang?

* anti

17 - what impresses you more; cziffra's technical ability or musical ability?

* Technical

18 - what would you rather have; best technique in the world, or best musicality?

* technique, what good would the musicality do you?

19 - name your top 5 pianists

* Volodos, Cziffra, Liszt, Chopin, me   In a particular order: Volodos 1st

20 - name the rest of your top 10, randomly

* no comment

21 -  name your fave piano composer

* Volodos- I know deep down inside he's not even close, but his transcriptions i think are the coolest things ever.

[pianohenry]

1 - who is your pianistic idol?
Vladimir Ashkenazy
2 - who is the greatest pianist youve met?
I havent met many great pianists except my piano teacher
3 - who do you think is the greatest improviser at the piano?
-
4 - do you primarily improvise, play repertoire, or a mix of both?
Repertoire
5 - do you believe in exercises or do you believe that repertoire covers all technical skills?
Repertoire (because i hate excercises )
6 - when did you start listening to piano music?
Since i was born
7 - when did you start playing the piano?
Playing - started when i was a few years old but LEARNING - about 7/8
8 - what is your favourite popular music artist/group?
-
9 - what is your favourite non-piano work?
Some random soundtracks
10 - what is your fave solo piano work?
Suite Bergamasque, Debussy Arabesques, Chopin Waltzes(C sharp minor)
11 - what is your fave chamber music work?
-
12 - what is your fave concerto?
Piano Concerto - Rach 3
13 - what is the 'hardest' piece you can play?
probably Beethoven Sonata in E minor.
14 - how fast can you play?
huh? i dont know an exact tempo... demisemiquavers at presto agitato tempo are fairly easy :p
15 - does virtuosity on its own impress you?
sometimes
16 - are you pro or anti lang lang?
anti
17 - what impresses you more; cziffra's technical ability or musical ability?
technical
18 - what would you rather have; best technique in the world, or best musicality?
Technique, i think once you have that you can work on musicality - but if you dont have the technical ability you cant do jack
19 - name your top 5 pianists
Ashkenazy, Schiff, Brendel...
20 - name the rest of your top 10, randomly
-
21 -  name your fave piano composer
Debussy/Chopin

[chopianist123]

1 - who is your pianistic idol?

   Rubinstein   

2 - who is the greatest pianist youve met?

   Yundi li

3 - who do you think is the greatest improviser at the piano?

   Jerry Lee Lewis

4 - do you primarily improvise, play repertoire, or a mix of both?

   Mix of both

5 - do you believe in exercises or do you believe that repertoire covers all technical skills?

   Both can develop technical skills

6 - when did you start listening to piano music?

   11

7 - when did you start playing the piano?

   Around 12

8 - what is your favourite popular music artist/group?

   Bee Gees

9 - what is your favourite non-piano work?

   Eine Kleine Nachtmusik - Mozart

10 - what is your fave solo piano work?

   Impossible to answer (but at the moment - Heroic Polonaise Op.53 -Chopin)

11 - what is your fave chamber music work?

   Don't really have one right now

12 - what is your fave concerto?

   Lots - Chopin 1,2/ Beethoven 4,5/ Mozart 20,21/ Rachmaninoff 2,3......

13 - what is the 'hardest' piece you can play?

   1st mvt Chopin e minor piano concerto

14 - how fast can you play?

   As fast as possible (although it might not sound all that great)

15 - does virtuosity on its own impress you?

   Certainly

16 - are you pro or anti lang lang?

   Pro

17 - what impresses you more; cziffra's technical ability or musical ability?

   Technical ability

18 - what would you rather have; best technique in the world, or best musicality?

   Best technique

19 - name your top 5 pianists

   Random Order - Rubinstein, Horowitz, Cziffra, Argerich, Yundi Li

20 - name the rest of your top 10, randomly

   Askenazy, Pollini, Kissin, Bunin, Gulda

21 -  name your fave piano composer

   Chopin

[practicingnow]

1 - who is your pianistic idol?
Fiorentino

2 - who is the greatest pianist youve met?
Katsaris

3 - who do you think is the greatest improviser at the piano?
Cziffra

4 - do you primarily improvise, play repertoire, or a mix of both?
play repertoire

5 - do you believe in exercises or do you believe that repertoire covers all technical skills?
both

6 - when did you start listening to piano music?
infant

7 - when did you start playing the piano?
infant

8 - what is your favourite popular music artist/group?
beatles

9 - what is your favourite non-piano work?
tristan und isolde

10 - what is your fave solo piano work?
too many

11 - what is your fave chamber music work?
too many

12 - what is your fave concerto?
Rach 2nd, Liszt A major

13 - what is the 'hardest' piece you can play?
Don Juan Fantasy

14 - how fast can you play?
hmmm

15 - does virtuosity on its own impress you?
yes

16 - are you pro or anti lang lang?
pro

17 - what impresses you more; cziffra's technical ability or musical ability?
technical ability

18 - what would you rather have; best technique in the world, or best musicality?
best musicality

19 - name your top 5 pianists
Fiorentino
Berman
Horowitz
Hofmann
Rubinstein

20 - name the rest of your top 10, randomly


21 -  name your fave piano composer
Liszt/Chopin


yes, random, yes pointless,  yesssssssssss, wuuuuuu

giove me more interesting questions and i may add them

[franzliszt2]

1 - who is your pianistic idol?                     

Richter
       
2 - who is the greatest pianist youve met?   

Martin Roscoe

3 - who do you think is the greatest improviser at the piano?   

Art Tatum

4 - do you primarily improvise, play repertoire, or a mix of both?   

Play repertoire, improvise when forced

5 - do you believe in exercises or do you believe that repertoire covers all technical skills?

nope, I believe that a technique can be developed by learning a piace that contains that difficulty. Learn Dante and you'll never need an octave study again.

6 - when did you start listening to piano music?

11

7 - when did you start playing the piano?

11

8 - what is your favourite popular music artist/group?

Hate most pop


9 - what is your favourite non-piano work?

Janacek Sinfonieta, Mahler 3rd symphony, Wagner.... Just wagner in general!, especially Tristan and Isolde

10 - what is your fave solo piano work?

Chopin 4th ballade, or Gaspard de la nuit, list to long. Them are my present favourites, but I change everyday.

11 - what is your fave chamber music work?

Brahms 3rd violin sonata. Shostakovich 2nd trio



12 - what is your fave concerto?

Prok 3, Rach3. De Fall nights in the gardens of spain( not quite a concerto, but piano has a major role)



13 - what is the 'hardest' piece you can play?

ummmm. Rachmaninoff paganini rhapsody, Islamey. Chopin 4th ballade from a musical point of view.

14 - how fast can you play?

Fast enough



15 - does virtuosity on its own impress you?

For a very short period of time, then it bores me. Virtuosity needs to have something to it apart from fast notes, anyone can play fast and loud.

16 - are you pro or anti lang lang?

Pro, he's interesting, I enjoy his performances. Although I do not agree with his interpratations, who are we to say that any interpratation is wrong. If all pianists were the same them there would be no point ever playing music.


17 - what impresses you more; cziffra's technical ability or musical ability?

His technique to some degree, but I find him boring, theres only so many notes one can process.

18 - what would you rather have; best technique in the world, or best musicality?

Musicallity, technique vcan be developed, musicallity is inborn.

19 - name your top 5 pianists

Richter
Kissin
Horowitz
Zimmerman
Argerich

20 - name the rest of your top 10, randomly
Pascal Roge
Brendel
Ashkenazy
Rubinstein
Arrau
21 -  name your fave piano composer
Chopin

[thierry13]

1 - who is your pianistic idol? Horowitz

2 - who is the greatest pianist youve met? Brendel

3 - who do you think is the greatest improviser at the piano? Cziffra

4 - do you primarily improvise, play repertoire, or a mix of both? repertoire

5 - do you believe in exercises or do you believe that repertoire covers all technical skills? repertoire covers all

6 - when did you start listening to piano music? 3 yrs ago

7 - when did you start playing the piano? 2 yrs and a half ago

8 - what is your favourite popular music artist/group? System of a Down

9 - what is your favourite non-piano work? I don't know really...

10 - what is your fave solo piano work? That is like telling me who is my favorite son, you must love them all (I don't have any yet, btw lol)

11 - what is your fave chamber music work? don't know

12 - what is your fave concerto? see no.10

13 - what is the 'hardest' piece you can play? Mazeppa I guess.

14 - how fast can you play? relative question, but very fast.

15 - does virtuosity on its own impress you? Not anymore.

16 - are you pro or anti lang lang? I think he did good things, but that he isn't one of the greatest pianists ...

17 - what impresses you more; cziffra's technical ability or musical ability? how he combines both.

18 - what would you rather have; best technique in the world, or best musicality? musicality

19 - name your top 5 pianists : Horowitz, Brendel, Cziffra, Berezovsky, Hamelin

20 - name the rest of your top 10, randomly Aldo Ciccolini, Zimmerman, Gilels, Rachmaninoff, Richter, Hough, Volodos, Pletnev, Rudenko, mi-jung im.

21 -  name your fave piano composer see no.10

[jre58591]

1 - who is your pianistic idol? hamelin and hough

2 - who is the greatest pianist youve met? hamelin

3 - who do you think is the greatest improviser at the piano? Cziffra

4 - do you primarily improvise, play repertoire, or a mix of both? repertoire

5 - do you believe in exercises or do you believe that repertoire covers all technical skills? i make technical excercises out of repertoire

6 - when did you start listening to piano music? 7 years ago

7 - when did you start playing the piano? 10 years ago

8 - what is your favourite popular music artist/group? dont have any preference

9 - what is your favourite non-piano work? mahler 9th symphony

10 - what is your fave solo piano work? thats a hard one. at the moment: alkan concerto for solo piano.

11 - what is your fave chamber music work? kapustin piano quintet

12 - what is your fave concerto? another hard one. at the moment: i dont know. i like too many.

13 - what is the 'hardest' piece you can play? kapustin variations and rach 1

14 - how fast can you play? very fast when i need to

15 - does virtuosity on its own impress you? not really. it needs at least a shred of musicality.

16 - are you pro or anti lang lang? anti. hes all tech with no musicality or passion, not to mention horrible interpretations.

17 - what impresses you more; cziffra's technical ability or musical ability? both impress me equally.

18 - what would you rather have; best technique in the world, or best musicality? at this moment, best musicality.

19 - name your top 5 pianists: hamelin, hough, zimerman, volodos, lane. no order.

20 - name the rest of your top 10, randomly: donohoe, aimard, osborne, tozer, cziffra. no order.

21 -  name your fave piano composer: thats a very hard one. at the moment: alkan.

[ronde_des_sylphes]

1 - who is your pianistic idol?
   
     Cziffra

2 - who is the greatest pianist youve met?

      No-one especially famous. The Swiss pianist Christoph Zbinden impressed  me considerably when I met him at a piano summer school in 2003.

3 - who do you think is the greatest improviser at the piano?

      In classical piano, Cziffra. In jazz, Tatum.

4 - do you primarily improvise, play repertoire, or a mix of both?
 
      Both (but I play almost no mainstream repertoire)

5 - do you believe in exercises or do you believe that repertoire covers all technical skills?

      I think I should do more Hanon.. but I can't bring myself to.

6 - when did you start listening to piano music?

      Probably in the womb.

7 - when did you start playing the piano?

      About age 7.

8 - what is your favourite popular music artist/group?

     AC/DC, Kiss (and a Kiss spinoff band far too obscure to be named). Nothing on this planet will induce me to post pictures of me from 15 years ago!

9 - what is your favourite non-piano work?

     I don't know. Liszt Faust Symphony?

10 - what is your fave solo piano work?

     Wagner/Liszt Isolde's Liebestod

11 - what is your fave chamber music work?

      Franck Sonata for violin and piano

12 - what is your fave concerto?

      Many to choose from. Busoni, Beethoven 4, Liapunov 1, etc, etc

13 - what is the 'hardest' piece you can play?

      Alkan Le Festin d'Esope (if I flatter myself by saying I can play it). Liszt Don Juan is sufficiently untidy I think can't play it. Alternatively Liszt Norma Fantasy.

14 - how fast can you play?

      Far too fast for clarity, so I don't play that fast unless adrenalin provokes me.

15 - does virtuosity on its own impress you?

      Yes, but only to a limited degree.

16 - are you pro or anti lang lang?

      Couldn't care less.

17 - what impresses you more; cziffra's technical ability or musical ability?

      Close call, but I give the nod to his technical ability as occasionally I find his interpretations tasteless.

18 - what would you rather have; best technique in the world, or best musicality?

       Best technique. That appears to contradict answer 15, but I have more faith in my musicality than my technique.

19 - name your top 5 pianists

       In no particular order: Cziffra, Michelangeli, Bolet, Zimerman, Rachmaninov

20 - name the rest of your top 10, randomly

       Again in no particular order (and it may change tomorrow) Lazar Berman, Earl Wild, Jean-Yves Thibaudet, Horowitz, Volodos. 

21 -  name your fave piano composer

       Liszt, narrowly from Alkan. I'd like to say, however, Alkan's op. 39 etudes are imo better than the Transcendentals.

[dnephi]

1 - who is your pianistic idol?Zimerman I think

2 - who is the greatest pianist youve met? Zimerman, Krystian

3 - who do you think is the greatest improviser at the piano? Moses

4 - do you primarily improvise, play repertoire, or a mix of both?Repertoire.

5 - do you believe in exercises or do you believe that repertoire covers all technical skills? Both.  Do you believe in da Chopetz?

6 - when did you start listening to piano music? When I was 5-6

7 - when did you start playing the piano? 6

8 - what is your favourite popular music artist/group? Lots of pianists

9 - what is your favourite non-piano work?Bach B Minor Mass or a ton of symphonic works

10 - what is your fave solo piano work? Mazeppa, but a lot of things are close to it or similar in quality.

11 - what is your fave chamber music work? Brahms F Minor KlavierQuintet

12 - what is your fave concerto? Rachmaninoff 3rd

13 - what is the 'hardest' piece you can play? As of now, Chopin Octave Etude.

14 - how fast can you play? Faster than is musical or clear.

15 - does virtuosity on its own impress you? Not really.

16 - are you pro or anti lang lang? I am professional. I don't really like him.

17 - what impresses you more; cziffra's technical ability or musical ability? Musical

18 - what would you rather have; best technique in the world, or best musicality? Best musicality, because I already have da uuber technique 

19 - name your top 5 pianists Horowitz, Cziffra, Liszt, Rachmaninoff, Zimerman

20 - name the rest of your top 10, randomly Me me me me me me me me me me

21 -  name your fave piano composer.  I think it's Liszt.  Chopin follows closely with different style.  Beethoven also comes close.

@jre While some of Alkan's 39 Etudes are better than some of Transcendentals, TE1 is just a warmup and I find 2,3,7, and 9 a bit slight musically. 
Among Alkan, I would choose only the first and last movements of the symphony, En Rythme Mossolique(just decent) and Festin D'esope as great works.  At least Alkan 39 #7 deserves study.


yes, random, yes pointless,  yesssssssssss, wuuuuuu

giove me more interesting questions and i may add them

[dnephi]

Quote from above:  "Antonio Pompa-Baldi"
He's coming to my university this spring! .  Anything I should know about him?

[phil13]

1 - who is your pianistic idol?   Horowitz

2 - who is the greatest pianist youve met? None yet

3 - who do you think is the greatest improviser at the piano? Beethoven

4 - do you primarily improvise, play repertoire, or a mix of both? Repertoire

5 - do you believe in exercises or do you believe that repertoire covers all technical skills? Repertoire, hands down.

6 - when did you start listening to piano music? 10

7 - when did you start playing the piano? 11, 6 years ago

8 - what is your favourite popular music artist/group? Pink Floyd

9 - what is your favourite non-piano work? Sibelius Violin Concerto in D minor

10 - what is your fave solo piano work? Medtner 'Night Wind' Sonata

11 - what is your fave chamber music work? Brahms Piano Quintet in F minor

12 - what is your fave concerto? Scriabin F# minor

13 - what is the 'hardest' piece you can play? as of this moment, Scriabin 8/12

14 - how fast can you play? as fast as I need to

15 - does virtuosity on its own impress you? Sometimes, but fury needs a counterbalance

16 - are you pro or anti lang lang? Anti.

17 - what impresses you more; cziffra's technical ability or musical ability? both

18 - what would you rather have; best technique in the world, or best musicality? Best musicality, obviously

19 - name your top 5 pianists Horowitz, Gilels, Leonskaja, Hamelin, Schnabel (no order)

20 - name the rest of your top 10, randomly Bolet, Zimerman, Rubenstein, Pompa-Baldi, Gould (but for Bach only)

21 -  name your fave piano composer: One of the following: Chopin, Rachmaninoff, Scriabin, Medtner, or Debussy

Phil

[pianowelsh]

1. my pianistic idol??? I dont have one I have a healthy respect and at the same time disregard for the prominance of all 'great pianists' Learn from them all be a slave to none!!
2. possibly Angela Hewitt, Maybe Boris Berman?
3. probably Mozart or Liszt??
4. Repertoire - although I sometimes do avant garde improv - that can be fun!
5. Repertoire dose cover all the necessary skills But we dont cover all the repertoire so I say both!!
6. Year.  (I dont really remember not hearing piano music, although it was mainly all recorded)
7. 9/10 years of age - Late I know! They said Id never get to conservatory - shows you what they know eh!
8. Hard one prob Eva Cassidy - her voice is very soothing after a lot of practice!
9. Goodness these questions are hard. At the moment probably the barber violin concerto??
10. Right now Szymanowski etude no1 as im studying it. but I fall in love with several pieces per day.
11. C Franck Violin sonata - but its a close run one.
12. Either Scriabin F#(good taste phil13) OR Saint Saens no 5 (the egyptian)
13. Hardest for me: Mussorgsky Pictures at an Exhibition because = some of my paintings are currently off public display for restoration work.
14. Amen! Phil13 I think we could get on. I have a turn of speed when necessary however I feel more at home in the lyrical repertory but that is just my temprement.
15. Impress me, No but I can marvel at someones physical agility - give then credit, but if its mere agility i wouldnt choose to go and here then again. plenty more fish in the sea.
16. See no 1 really. I think LangLang has a hard time.  He is one of the most musical pianists ive heard come out of China, However I wouldnt rate him as one of the greats of all time - he is a perfectly acceptible world class artist but in my view not so amazing to write home about.
17. Cziffra is discredited often by being praised for only his technical prowess. The guy was a legend! In every respect.
18. Neither - i couldnt stand the pressure of being the worlds most perfect pianist. id settle for a proficient pro technique and more musicality than I have today. I think everyday we have potential to expand musically and indeed if your a pro its your duty to keep seeking.
19. Cruel!! Hess, Rubinstein, Horowitz, Brendel, MJ Pires - probably changes depends who im listening to at the time.
20. Argerich, Lipatti, Ashkenazy, Pollini, Fiorentini.. ive run out but i need more space!
21. My word: Chopin!! Liszt, Ravel, Bach, Rachmaninov, Scriabin, Schumann, Franck, Mendelssohn, Grieg, Albeniz, Granados - oh and how could I miss Debussy!!   - think that would be the main ones. Bascially I love piano!!

[pianisimmo]

You are quoting stevie here:
12 - what is your fave concerto?  concerto for glass harmonica  or some concerto i heard for marimba.  surprisingly, i think some piano concertos are too predictable - but maybe leroy anderson's piano concerto would be my ultimate.
Where is stevie ?

[amelialw]

1 - who is your pianistic idol? my teacher

2 - who is the greatest pianist youve met?stephen hough& my teacher both of them are in their own way superb

3 - who do you think is the greatest improviser at the piano?hmm...

4 - do you primarily improvise, play repertoire, or a mix of both? both

5 - do you believe in exercises or do you believe that repertoire covers all technical skills?I believe in to technique

6 - when did you start listening to piano music?since i was born

7 - when did you start playing the piano? when i have 2 and a half

8 - what is your favourite popular music artist/group? chinese group (S.H.E)

9 - what is your favourite non-piano work?eyes on me/ami

10 - what is your fave solo piano work?Mendelssohn's Rondo Cappriccioso

11 - what is your fave chamber music work? Eine Kliene Natchmusik

12 - what is your fave concerto? Mozart&Schumann

13 - what is the 'hardest' piece you can play? Schumann's Piano Concerto in a minor

14 - how fast can you play?i guess the speed of Chopin's Etude Op.10 No.8

15 - does virtuosity on its own impress you?nope

16 - are you pro or anti lang lang?in the middle

17 - what impresses you more; cziffra's technical ability or musical ability?musical ability

18 - what would you rather have; best technique in the world, or best musicality?a mixture of both

19 - name your top 5 pianists my teacher, hough

20 - name the rest of your top 10, randomly i dunno

21 -  name your fave piano composer Mozart

[berman]

who is your pianistic idol? Pogorelich

2 - who is the greatest pianist youve met? Piotr Anderszewski

3 - who do you think is the greatest improviser at the piano? Pär Lund

4 - do you primarily improvise, play repertoire, or a mix of both? Repertoire

5 - do you believe in exercises or do you believe that repertoire covers all technical skills? Both

6 - when did you start listening to piano music? When I was 12 maybe

7 - when did you start playing the piano? 7 y o

8 - what is your favourite popular music artist/group? Foo Fighters

9 - what is your favourite non-piano work? Sibelius Symfoni no. 4

10 - what is your fave solo piano work? Liszt Un Sospiro

11 - what is your fave chamber music work? Mendelssohn Piano Trio D minor

12 - what is your fave concerto? Prokofiev no. 3 Brahms no. 2 Bartok no. 1

13 - what is the 'hardest' piece you can play? Chopin Scherzo no. 3, Polonaise op. 44

14 - how fast can you play?

15 - does virtuosity on its own impress you? of course

16 - are you pro or anti lang lang? anti

17 - what impresses you more; cziffra's technical ability or musical ability? technical ability

18 - what would you rather have; best technique in the world, or best musicality?a mix of both

19 - name your top 5 pianists, Pogorelich
                                          Ciccolini
                                          Barenboim
                                          Argerich
                                          Berman

20 - name the rest of your top 10, randomly, Andersziewski, Mats Widlund, Arrau, Volodos, Sokolov.

                                                       

21 -  name your fave piano composer Chopin

[thinkgreenlovepiano]

1- who is your pianistic idol? I don`t really have have an 'idol' for piano.... there's too many pianists I admire!

2 - who is the greatest pianist youve met? my piano teacher, obviously.

3 - who do you think is the greatest improviser at the piano? Mozart

4 - do you primarily improvise, play repertoire, or a mix of both? Repertoire + random improv

5 - do you believe in exercises or do you believe that repertoire covers all technical skills? well I can't say I like exercises, but they are useful... I think both are important

6 - when did you start listening to piano music? ever since i was a little kid. before I learned piano.

7 - when did you start playing the piano? 7 years ago?

8 - what is your favourite popular music artist/group? I listen to pretty much anything that appeals to me at the moment...

9 - what is your favourite non-piano work? 

10 - what is your fave solo piano work? oh this is such a difficult survey... I can never decide what's my favourite. sorry =(

11 - what is your fave chamber music work? unsure

12 - what is your fave concerto? I like lots of Beethoven and Bartok....

13 - what is the 'hardest' piece you can play? Chopin polonaise op 26.- maybe? Every piece has its own challenge, hardest is subjective... I guess my repertoire wouldn't be considered very difficult though.

14 - how fast can you play? scales at 130, in sixteenth notes. any faster and my hands will go out of sync. I don't know how else to measure speed. ^^

15 - does virtuosity on its own impress you? it impresses me obviously, but isn't the most important thing

16 - are you pro or anti lang lang? Don't care... I'd like to not be anti-anyone, hehe. He's good, not my favourite probably, but I don't hate him.

17 - what impresses you more; cziffra's technical ability or musical ability? both

18 - what would you rather have; best technique in the world, or best musicality?technique. Not that musicality is less important, but technique is tough, and you need it to play musically.

19 - name your top 5 pianists,    Ashkenazy, Gould, Argerich, Ciccolini, Richter

20 - name the rest of your top 10, randomly, Pires, Hamelin, Uchida, Lisitsa, Tureck

IF I FORGOT ANY PIANISTS, I'm sorry, like I said it's hard for me to pick favourites....


21 -  name your fave piano composer: Bach!!!!!!

[opus10no2]

It's rather interesting to look back on this!

My answers now would be almost identical to what they were back then.

[pianist1976]

1 - who is your pianistic idol?
Van Cliburn

2 - who is the greatest pianist youve met?
I hadn't the chance to know many of them so, although not one of my favourites (but obviously very, very good), I met Pletnev.

3 - who do you think is the greatest improviser at the piano?
Oscar Peterson

4 - do you primarily improvise, play repertoire, or a mix of both?
Primarily repertoire (but I also improvise a little)

5 - do you believe in exercises or do you believe that repertoire covers all technical skills?
Both (on condition that the exercises aren't Hanon's)

6 - when did you start listening to piano music?
I can't remember

7 - when did you start playing the piano?
Very old (11 y.o.)

8 - what is your favourite popular music artist/group?
Pet Shop Boys (I can't imagine my life without their elaborate and fantastic music)

9 - what is your favourite non-piano work?
Only one? Let's think... Brahms 4th Symphony (I'm sure this can change tomorrow)

10 - what is your fave solo piano work?
Again, only one? Any of Chopin's Scherzi

11 - what is your fave chamber music work?
Falla's Concerto for harpsichord

12 - what is your fave concerto?
Crap! Only one again? Liszt's Totentanz

13 - what is the 'hardest' piece you can play?
Chopin's 12 etudes Op 10

14 - how fast can you play?
I never measured it (and I don't care so much)

15 - does virtuosity on its own impress you?
No

16 - are you pro or anti lang lang?
I try to ignore him (not easy because of the constant media hype)

17 - what impresses you more; cziffra's technical ability or musical ability?
Sorry for the fans, I don't like Cziffra

18 - what would you rather have; best technique in the world, or best musicality?
In my opinion there's no technique without music and no music without technique. Leave aside one of them is an absurd.

19 - name your top 5 pianists:
Cortot, Rosenthal, Hofmann, Kempff, Cliburn

20 - name the rest of your top 10:
Busoni, Lhevinne, Horowitz, Ashkenazy, Barenboim, Brendel (not always), Michelangeli Benedetti, Arrau, Richter...

21 -  name your fave piano composer:
Chopin (sorry for not been original but...)  

[omar_roy]

Ok, I'll bite.


1 - who is your pianistic idol? Tough call.  Probably Rachmaninoff.

2 - who is the greatest pianist youve met?  Leif Ove Andsnes

3 - who do you think is the greatest improviser at the piano? Probably JS Bach.

4 - do you primarily improvise, play repertoire, or a mix of both? Repertoire.

5 - do you believe in exercises or do you believe that repertoire covers all technical skills? Exercises have their place, and are great for warming up.  I don't make it a point to learn specific exercises.  Scales of all sorts, arpeggi of all sorts, chord progressions, etc etc.  

6 - when did you start listening to piano music?  As a baby, according to my mother.

7 - when did you start playing the piano? 10, stopped at 12, started again at 16, currently studying piano at the university level.

8 - what is your favourite popular music artist/group? None in particular, i listen to a wide variety of music.

9 - what is your favourite non-piano work? Bach's Double Concerto for Violin

10 - what is your fave solo piano work? Favorite in my current repertoire: Chopin's Ballade No. 1 in G Minor.  Favorite that I would like to learn: Chopin's 4th Ballade and Rachmaninoff's Sonata No. 2

11 - what is your fave chamber music work? Not particularly a fan of Chamber music.  My favorite collaborative piece in general, though, is Rachmaninoff's Cello Sonata in G Minor

12 - what is your fave concerto?  Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 3

13 - what is the 'hardest' piece you can play? Probably the most "difficult" thing for me to perform was the 2nd movement of Mozart's Sonata No. 14 in C Minor (K457) or the 2nd movement of Bach's Keyboard Concerto in D Minor BWV 1052.  

14 - how fast can you play?  If we're talking about scales and metronome markings, I usually do all my scales and arpeggi at 144bpm (1 beat = 1 quarter note) in quarters, eighths, triplets, and sixteenths.  Some of them I can do faster.

15 - does virtuosity on its own impress you?  I think of virtuosity as more than just technical ability.  In that sense, yes virtuosity impresses me.  Astounding technical ability on its own also impresses me.  A well developed technique is absolutely essential if one is to clearly express musical thought.  You can have the greatest musical ideas, but if your hands can't express them as you wish, then those thoughts might as well not exist.

16 - are you pro or anti lang lang?  Pro-Classical Lang Lang.  Anti-Romantic Lang Lang.

17 - what impresses you more; cziffra's technical ability or musical ability? Musical ability.

18 - what would you rather have; best technique in the world, or best musicality? The two are not mutually exclusive.

19 - name your top 5 pianists - No particular order: Rachmaninoff, Sofronitsky, Richter, Gould, Sokolov

20 - name the rest of your top 10, randomly - Gilels, Schiff, Hough, Ove Andsnes, Brendel

21 -  name your fave piano composer - No absolute favorite.  Three way tie between Bach, Rachmaninoff, and Chopin.

[asianpianoer]

Insert Quote
1 - who is your pianistic idol? YUNDI LI YUNDI LI YUNDI LI
2 - who is the greatest pianist youve met? FOU Tsong
3 - who do you think is the greatest improviser at the piano?hmm...

4 - do you primarily improvise, play repertoire, or a mix of both? both mainly repertoire

5 - do you believe in exercises or do you believe that repertoire covers all technical skills?I believe in to technique

6 - when did you start listening to piano music?since i was born

7 - when did you start playing the piano? when i was 6
8 - what is your favourite popular music artist/group? ALEXANDER RYBAK
9 - what is your favourite non-piano work? schon rosmarin
10 - what is your fave solo piano work? chopin waltz
11 - what is your fave chamber music work? violin and piano sonata k376 mozart
12 - what is your fave concerto? chopin e minor
13 - what is the 'hardest' piece you can play? just playor play well?
14 - how fast can you play? stupid question
17 - what impresses you more; cziffra's technical ability or musical ability?musical ability

18 - what would you rather have; best technique in the world, or best musicality?a mixture of both mainly musical

19 - name your top 5 pianists
YUNDI LI
Agerich
HOrowitz
Brendel
Rubinstein

20 - name the rest of your top 10, randomly i dunno
Uchida
Richter
Ashkenazy
anderson and roe piano duo
arie vardi

21 -  name your fave piano composer Mozart

[ted]

I too have remained generally constant, but with one or two small changes. Improvisation and the recording of it now almost completely dominate my playing. In other words, improvisation, its processes and forms, have become even more important to me as art in themselves. Qualities such as greatness concern me less and less these days, so accordingly, questions about the "greatest pianist", "greatest composer" and so on are harder to answer than they were four years ago. My eclectic side, my love of variety, always strong, has also grown since then, and questions concerning "favourites" of any sort would now be harder still to answer.

[furtwaengler]

I too have remained generally constant, but with one or two small changes. Improvisation and the recording of it now almost completely dominate my playing. In other words, improvisation, its processes and forms, have become even more important to me as art in themselves. Qualities such as greatness concern me less and less these days, so accordingly, questions about the "greatest pianist", "greatest composer" and so on are harder to answer than they were four years ago. My eclectic side, my love of variety, always strong, has also grown since then, and questions concerning "favourites" of any sort would now be harder still to answer.

I wish you'd post more recordings Ted!

[skunkfunk9]

Keith Jarrett is, IMHO, the greatest improviser at the piano.

[skunkfunk9]

1 - who is your pianistic idol?

Horowitz


3 - who do you think is the greatest improviser at the piano?

Keith Jarrett

4 - do you primarily improvise, play repertoire, or a mix of both?

both

5 - do you believe in exercises or do you believe that repertoire covers all technical skills?

I think that repertoire covers most pianistic problems, and is more practical that technical excercises

6 - when did you start listening to piano music?

Age 0

7 - when did you start playing the piano?

6 years old

8 - what is your favourite popular music artist/group?

Incubus

9 - what is your favourite non-piano work?

Dvorak - New World symphony, John Corigliano Symphony 1

10 - what is your fave solo piano work?

Liszt b minor sonata, Charles Ives Piano Sonata (don't know the number, but the one with the  name Hawthorne, the Alcotts, etc...

11 - what is your fave chamber music work?

Any Beethoven

12 - what is your fave concerto?

rach 3, chopin concerto in f minor

13 - what is the 'hardest' piece you can play?

ballade in g minor, chopin,  fantasie impromptu, chopin

14 - how fast can you play?

Almost the fantasie at full tempo

15 - does virtuosity on its own impress you?

slightly

16 - are you pro or anti lang lang?

pro

17 - what impresses you more; cziffra's technical ability or musical ability?

musical ability

18 - what would you rather have; best technique in the world, or best musicality?

musicality

19 - name your top 5 pianists

Horowitz, Cziffra, Lisitsa, Kissin, Zimmerman



21 -  name your fave piano composer

Chopin , Rachmaninoff, Beethoven,


yes, random, yes pointless,  yesssssssssss, wuuuuuu

giove me more interesting questions and i may add them

[zeusje]

1 - who is your pianistic idol?

Michelangeli

2 - who is the greatest pianist youve met?

My teacher

3 - who do you think is the greatest improviser at the piano?

Art Tatum

4 - do you primarily improvise, play repertoire, or a mix of both?

Repetoire

5 - do you believe in exercises or do you believe that repertoire covers all technical skills?

A mix

6 - when did you start listening to piano music?

At age of 17

7 - when did you start playing the piano?

At age of 17

8 - what is your favourite popular music artist/group?

Michael Jackson

9 - what is your favourite non-piano work?

Beethoven 3rd symphony

10 - what is your fave solo piano work?

Chopin andante spinato + grand polonaise brillante

11 - what is your fave chamber music work?

Something of franck

12 - what is your fave concerto?

Rachmaninoff, paganini rhapsody

13 - what is the 'hardest' piece you can play?

Chopin, op 10 no. 1, (ok not at full speed, but reasonably)

14 - how fast can you play?

10 notes per second is pretty fast...

15 - does virtuosity on its own impress you?

Difficult question... well if all musicality is lacking, I don't think so, but virtuosity has always impressed me somewhat

16 - are you pro or anti lang lang?

After hearing him playing andante spinato + the polonaise, I think I am anti.

17 - what impresses you more; cziffra's technical ability or musical ability?

Combination

18 - what would you rather have; best technique in the world, or best musicality?

Best musicality

19 - name your top 5 pianists

Michelangeli
Youri Egorov
Nicolay Lugansky
Horowitz
Glenn Gould


20 - name the rest of your top 10, randomly

Argerich
Art Tatum
James P. Johnson
Eubie Blake
Rubinstein


21 -  name your fave piano composer

Chopin

[richard black]

I'm disappointed that Paderewski hasn't made it into anyone's list of favourites. In fact I'd say he's my pianistic idol (to answer the first question). He played magnificently and very personally, overcame all sorts of obstacles in his life and career, and achieved a lot more than 'just' being a world-famous pianist. He composed well, and outside music he managed to lead his country at a difficult time (he signed the Treaty of Versailles on behalf of Poland) and brought up a severely disabled son as best he could in the absence of the child's (deceased) mother. He was, in fact, a fine musician and a fine human being.

[thalbergmad]

he signed the Treaty of Versailles on behalf of Poland

Given the consequences, I wonder if he wished he had not.

Thal

[countrymath]

1 - who is your pianistic idol? Sir. Richard Cristopher Wakeman (keyboard) and Valentina Listisa

2 - who is the greatest pianist youve met? Anyone =p

3 - who do you think is the greatest improviser at the piano? Vitalij Kuprij

4 - do you primarily improvise, play repertoire, or a mix of both? Classucal Repertorie, Country Improvise

5 - do you believe in exercises or do you believe that repertoire covers all technical skills? Exercises.

6 - when did you start listening to piano music? About 1 year and a half, when i started to play the piano.

7 - when did you start playing the piano? Read above, moron.

8 - what is your favourite popular music artist/group? Rhapsody of Fire (Symphonic Metal)

9 - what is your favourite non-piano work? the CD King of the Nordic Twilight, by Luca Turilli

10 - what is your fave solo piano work? Rockfluence - Scott D. Davis

11 - what is your fave chamber music work? WHATEVER

12 - what is your fave concerto? Anyone performed by Valentina

13 - what is the 'hardest' piece you can play? The Seasons - February, Tchaikovsky. In a few weaks

14 - how fast can you play? 300Mbps

15 - does virtuosity on its own impress you? FOR DAMN SURE

16 - are you pro or anti lang lang? Pro.

17 - what impresses you more; cziffra's technical ability or musical ability? Tchnical

18 - what would you rather have; best technique in the world, or best musicality? Technique

19 - name your top 5 pianists
Valentina Lisista
Argerich
Rick Wakeman
and 2 more.

20 - name the rest of your top 10, randomly
10 more...

21 -  name your fave piano composer

[cheesypencil]

1 - who is your pianistic idol? Martha Argerich, Daniel Barenboim for his amazing knowledge and culture.

2 - who is the greatest pianist youve met? Martha Argerich, Daniel Barenboim, Ivo Pogorelich, Lang lang.

3 - who do you think is the greatest improviser at the piano? -

4 - do you primarily improvise, play repertoire, or a mix of both? rep

5 - do you believe in exercises or do you believe that repertoire covers all technical skills? I believe in them, especially Brahms 51

6 - when did you start listening to piano music? few years ago

7 - when did you start playing the piano? 6-7th grade

8 - what is your favourite popular music artist/group? Rebecca Black 

9 - what is your favourite non-piano work? Bach Chaconne or anything he wrote for solo violin

10 - what is your fave solo piano work? there are too many  but lately op.111 arietta

11 - what is your fave chamber music work? Beethoven quartets, Mendelssohn Trios, Brahms Trios, Schubert Quartets

12 - what is your fave concerto? too many

13 - what is the 'hardest' piece you can play? Chopin Piano Concert no1

14 - how fast can you play? pretty much

15 - does virtuosity on its own impress you? as a title yes would be nice to have it

16 - are you pro or anti lang lang? none

17 - what impresses you more; cziffra's technical ability or musical ability? both in different pieces

18 - what would you rather have; best technique in the world, or best musicality? musicality.

19 - name your top 5 pianists

20 - name the rest of your top 10, randomly

21 -  name your fave piano composer Bach Beethoven Brahms. BBB huhah

[lorditachijr]

1 - who is your pianistic idol?

Hmmmm. Martha Argerich and Valentina Lisitsa

2 - who is the greatest pianist youve met?

I have taken some lessons from Dr. Benjamin Woods and Dr. Stephen Buck. They are the greatest pianists I have met and worked with.

3 - who do you think is the greatest improviser at the piano?

I actually don't listen to much improvisation, so I don't feel qualified to say.

4 - do you primarily improvise, play repertoire, or a mix of both?

I mostly play repertoire, but occasionally improvise for my friends.

5 - do you believe in exercises or do you believe that repertoire covers all technical skills?

I think that exercises should be supplemental to repertoire and, if used and learned correctly, can be very helpful to technique.

6 - when did you start listening to piano music?

Piano became my primary listening music about a year ago when I was 13.

7 - when did you start playing the piano?

I began playing when I was 3. I started regular lessons when I was 5, and I began taking from a serious teacher when I was 9.

8 - what is your favourite popular music artist/group?

The Beatles!

9 - what is your favourite non-piano work?

Glazunov's Violin Concerto in A Minor, Op. 82

10 - what is your fave solo piano work?

Liszt B Minor Sonata or Chopin Sonata No. 2

11 - what is your fave chamber music work?

Brahms Piano Quintet or Mendelssohn Octet

12 - what is your fave concerto?

Rachmaninoff's 2nd

13 - what is the 'hardest' piece you can play?

Pure technique-wise? Liszt Hungarian Rhapsody No. 11. Musically? I think that would be Chopin's 1st Ballade or Beethoven's Appassionata.

14 - how fast can you play?

What is this 'fast' that you speak of?

15 - does virtuosity on its own impress you?

Not generally. Unless it's like a 2 year old playing a Liszt HR.

16 - are you pro or anti lang lang?

I am fond of Lang Lang's recordings, and his technique is marvelous. As he ages his musicality will hopefully become as top-class as his technical skill.

17 - what impresses you more; cziffra's technical ability or musical ability?

Depends on the piece.

18 - what would you rather have; best technique in the world, or best musicality?

Musicality for sure.

19 - name your top 5 pianists

Martha Argerich
Valentina Lisitsa
Daniel Barenboim
Van Cliburn
Vladimir Horowitz

20 - name the rest of your top 10, randomly

Jean-Yves Thibaudet
Lang Lang
Glenn Gould
Sergei Rachmaninoff
Arthur Rubinstein

21 -  name your fave piano composer

Rachmaninoff.