HPSCHD-L Archives

Harpsichords and Related Topics

HPSCHD-L@LIST.UIOWA.EDU

Options: Use Monospaced Font
Show Text Part by Default
Show All Mail Headers

Message: [<< First] [< Prev] [Next >] [Last >>]
Topic: [<< First] [< Prev] [Next >] [Last >>]
Author: [<< First] [< Prev] [Next >] [Last >>]

Print Reply
Subject:
From:
Borys Medicky <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Harpsichords and Related Topics <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Mon, 1 Nov 2010 11:43:11 -0500
Content-Type:
text/plain
Parts/Attachments:
text/plain (13 lines)
I, for one, am not instrinsically opposed to dramatic gestures from performers, so long as they don't become too distracting for the audience and don't compromise a sound technical approach.  Once in a blue moon I like to make a large arm or hand gesture, but I've learned how to rein them in at the last moment so that the momentum upon contact with the keyboard is negligible.  I can usually manage to touch the key surface in advance and linger there momentarily instead of mashing the key down directly, which makes the gesture much more suitable to the harpsichord.

One other thing to remark on with the Comparone videos is the considerable height of the fingers above the key surfaces, which strikes me as a very piano-oriented approach to the keyboard.  Perhaps this player has never transitioned from a pianistic technique to one better suited to the harpsichord, where, as we have observed, economy of motion is critically important.

BM

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Note:  opinions  expressed on HPSCHD-L are those of the  individual con-
tributors and not necessarily  those of the list owners  nor of the Uni-
versity of Iowa.  For a brief  summary of list  commands, send mail to
[log in to unmask]  saying  HELP .
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

ATOM RSS1 RSS2