Piano Concertos

[i_m_robot]

self has never played one - nor has self the skill to do so

but self was wondering about the piano solo parts

and if the pianist are allowed more freedom of time while playing solo or must they remain in time the whole concerto

[BoliverAllmon]

self has never played one - nor has self the skill to do so

but self was wondering about the piano solo parts

and if the pianist are allowed more freedom of time while playing solo or must they remain in time the whole concerto

freedom baby

[raymagini]

just make sure you dont have a jerk for a conductor

[i_m_robot]

just make sure you dont have a jerk for a conductor

dont think self will have that problem

[apion]

freedom baby

Agreed ....... freedom baby!

[Glyptodont]

There's a story told about Horowitz, the great pianist.

When he was younger and was guest-performing with some of Europe's orchestras, there were a couple of cases where -- as I remember the biography -- the conductor did not provide rehearsals with the pianist.  Some conductors had a kind of disdain for piano soloists, or so the story goes.

Horowitz had blinding speed, and could play passages at almost an insane velocity.

As I remember the story, the Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto #1 began, and Horowitz took a pace like a "runaway train," smoking out the octaves.  (The piano breaks out at the beginning of course.)

As the biographer told the story, the conductor looked at the pianist with bewilderment and incredulity, then turned and desperately began pumping his arms to speed up the orchestra.

The conductor knew that when Horowitz set such a pace, he had committed himself  to playing even more difficult passages at a similar pace.   The conductor believed that no one could play some of those passages at such a tempo.  He sensed a train wreck on the way.

But Horowitz could maintain the pace.  And did.

To get an idea how Horowitz could hit almost incredible velocity on passages of octaves, listen to the old Red Seal recording of Horowitz playing the Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto #1.  This was with the NY Philharmonic being conducted by Toscanini, Horowitz's father-in-law.  Sound fidelity is not great, because it is an old recording.  But it is memorable.

The point of this story to your question is that, yes, the pianist is going to commit to a certain pace.  He cannot play easy parts fast, then slow down for the hard parts.  At least, without looking like a fool.  (Usually this is sorted out in rehearsals.)