Competition Juries

[soliloquy]

This is mostly just hypothetical, but do you think it would be inappropriate to play a piece written by someone on the jury?  For instance, John Corigliano or Mikhail Pletnev is on the jury, and you wanted to play the Etude Fantasy or the Tchaikovsky Nutcracker Suite transcription respective to the composers.  Do you think this would be a good idea, how do you think it would effect the composer juror in question, how do you think it would effect the other jurors, and what reaction/feelings do you think it would encite from the composer?

[le_poete_mourant]

Definitely NOT a good idea, unless you have worked on that specific piece with its own composer.  I mean, they probably will have a very specific idea of how they want it to sound, and if you don't live up to that standard, that would not be good for you.  And they'll know every little detail.  One pebble out of place...

Plus, it would look like you were doing a fair amount of arse-kissing.  I don't think the other judges would take to it very well, and the judge who wrote the piece might not look upon it too favorably either. 

[ramseytheii]

It all depends on how audacious you are.  If you own that piece like nobody else, by all means play it.  If you are playing it just because yo uthink it will make an impression on its composer/transcriber, I wouldn't do it.  You'd have to play it because 1) you know you play it better than everybody else and 2) you don't give a damn what they say.

Walter Ramsey

[tds]

it is ethically possible, skepto. tds

[invictious]

Depends on the jury.
Usually no, they will know the piece 5million times better than you do, and well, definitely won't like your intepretation.

[pianowelsh]

The question should be more can they respect your interpretation than do they like it.  A competition winner need not necessarily be the one who pleases all the jury BUT there must be an indisputable quality and comitment in their performance which can convince even if it is totally the opposite fo what you would teach yourself.
Regarding the playing of a piece by someone on the jury.  Most competitions dont have composers on the jury so 99% of the time this isnt a worry. But if they do I wouldnt do it because chances are that the composer will be exempt from voting and may only produce a decisive or lifeline vote in order to put someone through.  Its the same with teachers on the jury they are supposed to declare an interest if they teach or have taught you in last few years because it could compromise the result.  However I agree that if you feel you play a particular piece extremely well and feel totally commited to programming it then you probably should BUT dont use it as your sales pitch..it probably wont work.  If everything else you do is head and shoulders above everyone else it may work as icing on a cake for you because it could bring the composer on side an present possible comissioning opportunities....BUT at the international level there is rarely one competitior who is SO far above the others that they would get away with it.

One must rememeber also that a number of competitions have specially comissioned works and very often the composer will advise the jury on that..but then its slightly different because everyone must play it!

[avetma]

If you are enough conviced in your own interpretation, then why not?
Pletnev is not stupid, he would understand it.

[pianowelsh]

Exactly - most 'real' musicians are mature enough to realise that once they have given something to the world that they cease to be in control of it.  My point really was that whilst if you play it well it shouldnt cause out and out war on the jury (although not all jury members are mature!) but it may not necessarily benefit you to play it either so if it works in the context of the recital and you love it and feel you can really do it justice - go for it.  But as one of the jurors said at the van cliburn and has often been remarked at the LEEDS there is one rule of playing in competitions. 1. DONT play for the Jury!!

Go out and enjoy yourself and give the audience pleasure.  Chances are if you do that then the jury will also enjoy themselves and you may end up walking off with a prize?!?!

[clavicembalisticum]

DONT play for the Jury!!

Play for the music.

[pianowelsh]

AMEN!  musi cso often suffers in competitions...we get wall to wall liszt played fast and loud!!! really depressing sometimes.  I think the panels should set requirements that force the competitors to think more carefully about their programming. Most programme very badly!