Virtuosity

[rachchopin]

Hi guys.. I am working on a thesis paper and I would like to hear about people's personal opinions regarding the following questions...Think of this as an interview questionnaire. Answers are greatly appreciated. Thanks.

1. What exactly is a virtuoso?

2.   Have you ever been inspired by a virtuoso? If yes, who?


3.   How did he/ she affect you?

4.   Did this inspiration change your style of playing? If yes, how so?

5.   What is a good performance/ what makes a good performance?

6.   If a person is able to give a good performance, will you consider this person to be a virtuoso? Why or why not?

7.   How does one become a virtuoso?

8.   What is the importance of being a virtuoso? What do you think is his/her role in our society?

9.   Do you think that a virtuoso/ or being a virtuoso still has a significance in our time now? Why or why not?

10.   As a musician, do you yourself aim for virtuosity? Do you want to become a virtuoso? Why or why not?

11.   What in your opinion is the difference between a virtuoso and an artist?

12.   What would you rather be, an Artist or a Virtuoso? Why?

13.   What or how will the world of music be if there was no virtuosity? Why?

[chopin2015]

1. What exactly is a virtuoso?
Latin virtus meaning: skill, manliness, excellence

2.   Have you ever been inspired by a virtuoso? If yes, who?
Of course, Sviatoslav Richter

3.   How did he/ she affect you?
  I listened to his interpretations, he could be anybody and play anything! He was very dexterous.

4.   Did this inspiration change your style of playing? If yes, how so?
 No, I thought of him as someone who had a natural talent, he knew music before he ever touched a piano. I looked at him as someone who had the correct way of interpreting works, he had high intelligence levels and could read exceptionally.

5.   What is a good performance/ what makes a good performance?
 One where something unexpected happens, a delight. A journey, a way to emotionally unwind for the performer. A transformation.

6.   If a person is able to give a good performance, will you consider this person to be a virtuoso? Why or why not?
 It is a skill, we do not really know how much goes into a performance for an average person. I consider a virtuoso to be ready for performance almost instantaneously.

7.   How does one become a virtuoso?
 You have to become a musician first.

8.   What is the importance of being a virtuoso? What do you think is his/her role in our society?
 It is important because everyone must(or try to) excel at something. A virtuoso is someone who excels at music/art. They are important to society because music is a dimension of human existence that is best expressed and communicated by somebody who is highly skilled and professional in this...field of study. It is a part of conscience and a part of humanity. It is the thin fabric connecting everything.

9.   Do you think that a virtuoso/ or being a virtuoso still has a significance in our time now? Why or why not? Yes. Because if there were no more virtuosos, information would be lost. If we say a Virtuoso is someone who can communicate music the best.

10.   As a musician, do you yourself aim for virtuosity? Do you want to become a virtuoso? Why or why not? Yes. Because I don't want the composer to roll over in his grave when I play his music.

11.   What in your opinion is the difference between a virtuoso and an artist?
 Virtuosos inspire artists. Virtuosos are more innovative and have fast thought synapses, faster than average.

12.   What would you rather be, an Artist or a Virtuoso? Why?
 A virtuoso, because the standards for piano players are high, we love music when it is played well. Well accounts for many things...accuracy, bravura, feelings, depth...

13.   What or how will the world of music be if there was no virtuosity? Why?
Beautiful instances of intelligent thought will disappear from our society forever. No inspiration. No place to look for a ray of knowledge. Things will be forgotten, people's standards will fall.

-Julia

[emrysmerlin]

1. What exactly is a virtuoso?
Someone who has complete mastery over the piano (or any other instrument). That involves the understanding of pieces, above-average techniques and the understanding of music as an art.

2.   Have you ever been inspired by a virtuoso? If yes, who?
Hamelin after playing the Chopin sonatas (and anything afterwards)

3.   How did he/ she affect you?
He made me understand that there are a lot more difficult pieces than the ones I'm learning right now and therefore gives me more than ample hope of being able to play it .. well.

4.   Did this inspiration change your style of playing? If yes, how so?
no, my fiery style is retained.

5.   What is a good performance/ what makes a good performance?
A good performance is when all the notes are correctly played and the performer plays the piece as intended by the composer.

6.   If a person is able to give a good performance, will you consider this person to be a virtuoso? Why or why not?
Depends on what piece.

7.   How does one become a virtuoso?
One becomes a virtuoso by playing piano since a small age, understand how rubato, dynamics etc. works and develops their techniques later on to a point that someone who want you to play for them.

8.   What is the importance of being a virtuoso? What do you think is his/her role in our society?
Being able to play things we as non-professionals can listen to and enjoy.

9.   Do you think that a virtuoso/ or being a virtuoso still has a significance in our time now? Why or why not?
Yes, because computer generated works still sound really bad.

10.   As a musician, do you yourself aim for virtuosity? Do you want to become a virtuoso? Why or why not?
Yes, because that means I can explore more music and possibly get a job.

11.   What in your opinion is the difference between a virtuoso and an artist?
A virtuoso can play things many artists can't.

12.   What would you rather be, an Artist or a Virtuoso? Why?
A virtuoso because that means being an artist at a higher level.

13.   What or how will the world of music be if there was no virtuosity? Why?
More people would rather buy recordings than go to live performances because people wouldn't bother to watch the performer's playing with not much flashy bits. Also limits the amount of music we can explore without putting them on computer.