The Image of a Pianist

[in_love_with_liszt]

Whenever I think of what a "steriotypical" pianist looks like I think someone tall and lanky with greasy long hair and eyes that seem demonically posessed and boring into your head. Ok, well maybe that's just Liszt. I guess Beethoven seems to say: "Oh. I have scruffay hair." But Brahms is like: "Ho ho ho! Look at my beard!" (It's my working theory that his beard played the bass part in the Hungarian Dances...) and Chopin: "Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum!" Rachmaninoff screems: "18 years and I'm finally out of prison! Woo-hooo!" (Picturing Rachmaninoff screeming "Woo-hooo!" just about made me pee my pants)*. Ok, so these guys were unique exceptions....I think their somewhat uncanny appearences contribute and reflect their individual character and somewhat magestical stage presence.


*None of this is meant to discredit these phenomenal composers in any way.

[JK]

I'm not sure whether you would consider Kissin a great pianist but I have to admit that his hair is very induvidual, the way it moves when he plays is almost hypnotic! Plus I'm sure that Brahms had a family of mice living in his beard!

[Shagdac]

Thanks for the laugh... --(picturing Rach screaming WooHoo as well)! Hahahaha. I understand what you mean, when you think of a pianist, there are just certain things that come to mind. Usually tall, slender, definately the hair..(the long hair at the front that goes all over when the play).

But now only do I think of the physical image, but I also tend to think of their personality characterists as well. I know this in NO WAY is true of all pianists, but it seems to me most are somewhat dark, moody (almost mysterious), very sensitive, dry humored, often perseived by others as somewhat "whacko" and pensive. Very orderly, and usually perfectionists at many things. Don't you feel similiar personality traits are common as well as the physical ones?

S

[DarkWind]

dry humored

Some say I'm too humorous. AM I NOT CUT OUT TO BE A PIANIST!!!!? . When I think of a pianist, I think of him/her to be gallant, majestic, powerful, intelligent, mysterious. A Powerful image, but not so powerful, leaving the person in a trance like state of wondering. Also, the Rach Prisoner thing was LOL. Everytime I look at the front of my copy of the Rachmaninov Concertos, I see his picture and i get slightly frightened .

[in_love_with_liszt]

Some say I'm too humorous. AM I NOT CUT OUT TO BE A PIANIST!!!!? . When I think of a pianist, I think of him/her to be gallant, majestic, powerful, intelligent, mysterious. A Powerful image, but not so powerful, leaving the person in a trance like state of wondering. Also, the Rach Prisoner thing was LOL. Everytime I look at the front of my copy of the Rachmaninov Concertos, I see his picture and i get slightly frightened .

Don't worry, just because George Winston (omg I hate that man & his music) has no personality doesn't mean that's the way you have to be to be a good pianist (actually I don't think he's that good...but it seems like he thinks he is...) Yeah as you can see I'm a bit of a nutcase myself, and have the weird sense of humor to go with it. Humor is a very important part in anyone's life, especially that of a musician, in my opinion it is key to understanding certain passages, and in some cases entire pieces of music. And yeah, Rachmaninoff looks like a convict...durring his time little children had their parents check under the bed and in the closet for him at night before they went to sleep.....maybe not, but Mary-Lou Flemal checked under her bed for communists when she was a child.......*dies laughing*

[Motrax]

In the International Edition of Rach's Second Piano Concerto (2 piano reduction), the first page is just a picture of Rachmaninoff staring blandly at the camera. On one hand, it's a rather grim photo - the man does look intimidating. But if you just will yourself to believe otherwise, his gaze turns into a wry smile - just waiting patiently to listen to what you have to offer.

Uhh, not that I play piano for pictures of dead people or anything...  

[Shagdac]

No, DarkWind. Personally I think a sense of humor is GREAT! It's just most people if you were to ask to pick even 5 words to describe a pianist would not pick "humorous"! But I do indeed think it is a great attribute for anyone to have. Actually, one NEEDs it in todays world!

Strangely, if I am told to picture a pianist, the image that comes to mind, is that discussed above...tall, langley, the hair, etc.... BUT if someone were to tell me to picture a "female" pianist...Nothing really definate comes to mind. Isn't that weird. I guess I don't really think of any certain characteristics when trying to mentally picture a female pianist. Hmm...anyone else?

S   (of course we all know they are beautiful, witty, graceful and charming of course!!!!)

[DarkWind]

Without humor you couldn't play a scherzo!

[dlu]

But not only do I think of the physical image, but I also tend to think of their personality characterists as well. I know this in NO WAY is true of all pianists, but it seems to me most are somewhat dark, moody (almost mysterious), very sensitive, dry humored, often perseived by others as somewhat "whacko" and pensive. Very orderly, and usually perfectionists at many things. Don't you feel similiar personality traits are common as well as the physical ones?

S

This describes me PERFECTLY!!!!!!!!!!!

[DarkWind]

It barely describes me at all. I am the least perfectionist person, although I am pretty good at doing things. I am not mysterious. I am whacko, but more in a funny way. It goes on...

[in_love_with_liszt]

Lol, I'm A: A perfectionist; B: Gone insane; and C: want to grow my hair out a bit longer to give it that "dynamic" effect when playing. That would be fun.

[goansongo]

Humorous...
Entertaining...
Skillful...
Dead...

Victor Borge.  hahaha, j/k!

[in_love_with_liszt]

lol very true. That guy cracks me up.