demonic virtuosi

[lenny]

i love the idea of pianists of the past playing so DEMONICALLY that audiences literally thought they were posessed by a demon

but is this a quality we have in modern pianists?
and is it possible to convey a sense of 'demonicness'?

how does one attain this demonic edge - if its at all possible, or is it innate?

and which pieces and performance that youve heard fit this description to you?

[abe]

You mean the demon stories relating to such performers as Liszt and Paganini? Well, if anything, nowadays we have more virtuosos similar to the previous two mentioned in terms of amazing, prodigious, faustian technique; but society has become much more secular and skeptical and "knowledgeable" to beleive in such stories.

[lenny]

yes i realise this, but i think this is in fact a bit of a shame

the more one knows...the more one's fantasy is stifled

[Carl]

your fantasy must be boundless 

[lenny]

hey carl, wanna go for a beer down at moe's tavern? 

[anda]

i love the idea of pianists of the past playing so DEMONICALLY that audiences literally thought they were posessed by a demon

the point being...

but is this a quality we have in modern pianists?

question is, is this a quality?

and is it possible to convey a sense of 'demonicness'?

yes it is, but i wouldn't waste my time with this.

how does one attain this demonic edge - if its at all possible, or is it innate?
and which pieces and performance that youve heard fit this description to you?

suggestion diabolique (as example). anyway, same as with any work: it's never enough to play a certain way, you also have to be a certain way in order to play a certain work. you just get in the mood - same as actors do.

[mound]

I thought this thread would be about this:

https://www.riprense.com/Chopin.htm

[lenny]

the point being...



question is, is this a quality?



yes it is, but i wouldn't waste my time with this.



suggestion diabolique (as example). anyway, same as with any work: it's never enough to play a certain way, you also have to be a certain way in order to play a certain work. you just get in the mood - same as actors do.

you dont think its a good thing/quality?

[pianonut]

i think my point in another post is not so much that virtuosos are all demon posessed, but that we have a choice as to how much of a composer's persona we will take on.  van gogh, schuman, and several others went mad at the end of their lives.  i think they let another spirit take over.  it was a choice they made but could not back out of.  sometimes, i realize, poverty and other things make a person have less physical health and stamina and succumb to 'demons.'  there is also moderation that causes us to have less attraction ONLY to virtuosity (taking more time to get there - sometimes because of it).

 i happened to turn on the tv the other night and a famous las vegas magician was showing his magic.  when you are very very good at something, to others who don't understand - it could be conceived as paranormal - yet i do feel a spirit to my playing when i commit it to God.  am wondering if when a person actually commits themselves to another "god" that they are under an influence that gives them a trade of soul for gift.  i would rather have my soul.