Do you present (talk about) the pieces you are going to play? What do you say?

[anacrusis]

Hey everyone,

I wanted to ask if any of those of you who perform (either to make a living or do it occasionally) talk about the pieces you are going to play? I'm curious what you talk about in those scenarios, and how do you distribute it through the performance? Do you talk before each piece, or at specific moments (at the start/after the break)? What do you usually talk about? What do audiences enjoy hearing about the pieces?

[lelle]

I have liked introducing the music to the audience, and have received feedback that it is very much appreciated, giving the audience some context to music they may not be familiar with. I prefer to share some sort of fact about the music and the composer, more towards the emotional character/context of the music (typical example: "their mother died around the time of writing this piece, and you can tell") rather than dry facts such as years, locations etc.

[comma]

This reminds me of what my teacher Homero Francesch used to say: Many artists love to preface their performances with long explanations, though a short apology would have done perfectly well.

[pontiman]

I absolutely talk about the pieces I play and the audience loves it.  I play mostly a small gatherings like retirement communities or private parties.  I always start a recital by playing my first piece,  then after that I will stop and speak briefly before each piece, particularly if they are longer pieces 5 + minutes).  If they are shorter pieces then I will play two pieces together, or speak every other one.  I take time to group pieces logically (two pieces by same composer, two pieces written by same period, two pieces of the same era).  I usually tell interesting stories of composer's backgrounds and how their lives sometimes intersected.  For example how Robert Schumann met his wife Clara, then how Clara befriended Brahms after Robert's death.  My speaking is always only a couple of minutes and I time it to complement the music and not go over the allotted time for the recital (usually 1 hour, sometimes and hour and 1/2).  I find it helpful and interesting while I practice the pieces to learn more about the composers, it also is a nice break from practicing.  Good luck.

[pianopro181]

This reminds me of what my teacher Homero Francesch used to say: Many artists love to preface their performances with long explanations, though a short apology would have done perfectly well.

That’s a pretty pessimistic view from your teacher lol. I know lots of pianists who like to present their programme before performing who play unbelievably well.

[comma]

That’s a pretty pessimistic view from your teacher lol. I know lots of pianists who like to present their programme before performing who play unbelievably well.

You are right. That's why he said "many artists" and not "every artist" 

[thalbergmad]

Alistair Hinton once gave a pre concert talk that was longer than most concerts.

[anacrusis]

Thank you everyone who replied so far!

(And thal, can you refrain from sniping at ahinton in my threads please  )

Seems like there is an overall agreement that talking should be brief rather than long winded. Which I can agree with.

My original set of questions still stand for anyone who has something to contribute!

[ego0720]

I wanted to ask if any of those of you who perform (either to make a living or do it occasionally) talk about the pieces you are going to play?

I didn’t perform as a musician except in my recitals when I was much younger. I did perform in another aspect of my life. I imagine that there are two audiences for music but in either case I feel the talking or introduction is important for the audience. It’s a matter of degree.

If you perform for non-musical group then it is more important to have a talk (the journey of progress, what the song is about). Ppl like the component that makes you a person to help them relate. I would classify anyone into most genre that’s not classical in this category.

Classical music audience is different. It’s pretty much a technical mastery and everyone knows that’s its weighted focus. In piano it’s the prowess with the fingers or dexterity that is celebrated with very convoluted fingering. The harder the song, the faster the fingers, the better the reception. There should be some introduction but less important. The music speaks for itself and the audience is expected to have music education to remove basic explanations. Maybe that’s my stereotype because of one performance in the 1990s of a symphony. They didn’t really talk much they went through their routine for hours. I had a hard time relating and didn’t quite get it. I also imagine that most ppl paying to see classical pianists are pianist themselves or have played at some point in their life semi-seriously rather than your average laymen.

Know your audience.

[brogers70]

I didn’t perform as a musician except in my recitals when I was much younger. I did perform in another aspect of my life. I imagine that there are two audiences for music but in either case I feel the talking or introduction is important for the audience. It’s a matter of degree.

If you perform for non-musical group then it is more important to have a talk (the journey of progress, what the song is about). Ppl like the component that makes you a person to help them relate. I would classify anyone into most genre that’s not classical in this category.

Classical music audience is different. It’s pretty much a technical mastery and everyone knows that’s its weighted focus. In piano it’s the prowess with the fingers or dexterity that is celebrated with very convoluted fingering. The harder the song, the faster the fingers, the better the reception. There should be some introduction but less important. The music speaks for itself and the audience is expected to have music education to remove basic explanations. Maybe that’s my stereotype because of one performance in the 1990s of a symphony. They didn’t really talk much they went through their routine for hours. I had a hard time relating and didn’t quite get it. I also imagine that most ppl paying to see classical pianists are pianist themselves or have played at some point in their life semi-seriously rather than your average laymen.

Know your audience.

I'm a semi-serious amateur pianist and I go to lots of concerts. I'm not that interested in technical mastery and prowess; I go to hear great music, not to admire someone's technique. I love to hear a short introduction to the piece, a bit of history, something specific to listen for, assuming the performer is a decent public speaker.

[robertus]

Not every piece- that starts to getting boring and predictable. But before a set of pieces, or sometimes I'll introduce a couple in a row. 

Tip: Never begin a recital with a spoken introduction. Play first, then talk.
Tip 2: Use humor, or anecdotes. If there is a good story about a piece or the composer, use it. Try to seem spontaneous, as if you are just talk "off the cuff" (even if you material is completely rehearsed)
Borrow Victor Borge lines where necessary.

I very often play requests which people make before a concert, or during an interval, and sometimes I ask for requests as encored. And I almost always say, "I never play requests....unless, of course, someone asks me to do so."

There's also a certain merit in saying absolutely nothing, but just playing- for a very serious or mystical type of programme. If I was going to perform something like Philip Glass' Metamorphoses or Hans Otte's Book of Sounds I wouldn't say anything.