Visually interesting repertoire

[astroboy]

Hi all,

Does anyone know of any repertoire that is visually interesting to watch? for example, using the parts of the piano that that aren't the keys, playing the piano with body parts that aren't your fingers, etc etc.. Just something that is different and interesting to watch. Thank youuuu

Ryan

[porilo]

Only thing I can think of is the Aeolian Harp, which involves putting your hand inside the piano and running your fingers over the strings, as if it were a harp. I think it's by Henry Cowell although this is not a repertoire I know much about.

Doesn't one of the movement of Ives Concord Sonata involve placing a length of wood over the keys and pressing them all down at once?

Gregory

[Chrysalis]

john cage 4:31

[bernhard]

john cage 4:31

You are playing this piece far too fast! (2 minutes short actually)

Best wishes,
Bernhard.

[bachmaninov]

HAH! There is this copland piano work that involves you making your hand like a karate chop, and then turning your body so that your hands are flat and straight and not... facing... ok this is really hard to explain...

Umm okay.. so you have your hands like you're going to do a karate chop... and your sideways on the piano... and instead of having your fingers facing the keyboard.. they are facing the right side of the piano... and with your left hand, you are banging on the black keys and going down.. and with the right hand you are banging on the white keys and going down... like a glissando! Except, your not sliding.. your just bashing the keys in a funny way... It's hard to explain

Not hitting the keys with fingers either, your hitting like..7 notes at the same time with the side of your hand...

[musicsdarkangel]

George Crumb.


Check him out, he's a wild ride.

[etudes]

some of 20th century i think
maybe Rzewski (spelling) Ballade

[apion]

Hi all,

Does anyone know of any repertoire that is visually interesting to watch? for example, using the parts of the piano that that aren't the keys, playing the piano with body parts that aren't your fingers, etc etc.. Just something that is different and interesting to watch. Thank youuuu

Ryan

Bartok, Piano Concerto no. 2 ("pluck those strings like a true musician")

[porilo]

Occasionally in some of Percy Grainger's works he indicates clusters of notes to be hit with the fist.

Also has anyone seen Victor Borge and a Turkish pianist (forgot his name) doing a duet of Liszt's 2nd Hungarian Rhapsody ??  It's absolutely hilarious and VERY visual !   

Gregory

[donjuan]

Also has anyone seen Victor Borge and a Turkish pianist (forgot his name) doing a duet of Liszt's 2nd Hungarian Rhapsody ??  It's absolutely hilarious and VERY visual !   

Gregory

haha indeed!

i like the part when Borge removes the piano bench and the turkish guy goes flying under the piano hanging on for dear life

[minimozart007]

Unfortunately, I've only seen the one show with the opera singer doing arias with Victor Borg. 
           

Anyways, If we are not limited to solos, then I would recommend the Danzon Cubano by Copland.  Also, the Gigue from the 1st Partita by Bach has cool hand crossings.

[porilo]

Isn't there a passage in Busoni's Toccata where the hands cross and go in opposite directions, right hand going down the keyboard and left hand going up the keyboard?  I vaguely remember a story of a pianist (can't remember who), who was performing the Toccata and wearing quite a tight jacket, and you can guess what happened when he came to that part - the jacket split right down the middle !! 

Gregory

[SteinwayTony]

john cage 4:31

HAHAHA.

 

[Chrysalis]

heheheh

or that mozart piece that only involves one finger...

eeeuhmm......

glissando's.... don;t know which one....

[porilo]

How about Rzewski's "The people united will never be defeated" ??  Among other things it involves the performer whistling, shouting and even slamming the lid of the piano.  Or there's a tarantella by Dargomizhky for 2 players at one piano, where one of the performers plays a single repeated base note from beginning to end !

Gregory

[porilo]

Another one - I've a short, easy piece by Moscheles which can be played upside-down ......  so, you can play it through once, turn the sheet upside down (a la Victor Borge!) and play it again !   

Gregory