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Views from the Choir Loft

Never Do This. Just Say “No.”

Jeff Ostrowski · July 19, 2013

UTH SLENCZYNSKA was correct when she said “these kind of gestures died along with silent film in the 1920s.” Excessive gestures and “faces” while performing have been universally condemned by the great pianists. I’ve never been a fan of Arthur Rubinstein’s playing, but he was correct when he noted that “each and every extra gesture of this kind takes away from concentration the pianist ought to be giving to the music.”

Click here to watch a pianist who is so busy focusing on making theatrical “gestures” that he ends up playing wrong notes, breaking tempo, and committing other offenses.

The guy in that video should have been focused on his playing. Here’s how that passage should be played (in a slightly different version by Liszt/Busoni/Horowitz):

      * *  Vladimir Horowitz plays the same excerpt (“live” recording)

Horowitz does a great job, just like Friedman, Rachmaninov, Hofmann, and so many others.

FOR YEARS I REFUSED to listen to Glenn Gould because of his loud humming (while he performs). Friends would say, “But Jeff, Gieseking hummed. Tiegerman hummed. Why do you hold this against Gould?” The difference is that Gould’s humming destroyed the music. However, I eventually realized that if one listens to Glenn Gould while driving, somehow the engine sounds drown out all his humming. Since that time, I’ve listened to Gould with great enjoyment.

Opinions by blog authors do not necessarily represent the views of Corpus Christi Watershed.

Filed Under: Articles Last Updated: January 1, 2020

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About Jeff Ostrowski

Jeff Ostrowski holds his B.M. in Music Theory from the University of Kansas (2004). He resides with his wife and children in Los Angeles.—(Read full biography).

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Corpus Christi Watershed

Quick Thoughts

    Hymn by Cardinal Newman
    During the season of Septuagesima, we will be using this hymn by Cardinal Newman, which employs both Latin and English. (Readers probably know that Cardinal Newman was one of the world's experts when it comes to Lingua Latina.) The final verse contains a beautiful soprano descant. Father Louis Bouyer—famous theologian, close friend of Pope Paul VI, and architect of post-conciliar reforms—wrote thus vis-à-vis the elimination of Septuagesima: “I prefer to say nothing, or very little, about the new calendar, the handiwork of a trio of maniacs who suppressed (with no good reason) Septuagesima and the Octave of Pentecost and who scattered three quarters of the Saints higgledy-piddledy, all based on notions of their own devising!”
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Introit • Candlemas (2 February)
    “Candlemas” • Our choir sang on February 2nd, and here's a live recording of the beautiful INTROIT: Suscépimus Deus. We had very little time to rehearse, but I think it has some very nice moments. I promise that by the 8th Sunday after Pentecost it will be perfect! (That Introit is repeated on the 8th Sunday after Pentecost.) We still need to improve, but we're definitely on the right track!
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Simplified Antiphons • “Candlemas”
    Anyone who desires simplified antiphons (“psalm tone versions”) for 2 February, the Feast of the Purification—which is also known as “Candlemas” or the Feast of the Presentation—may freely download them. The texts of the antiphons are quite beautiful. From “Lumen Ad Revelatiónem Géntium” you can hear a live excerpt (Mp3). I'm not a fan of chant in octaves, but we had such limited time to rehearse, it seemed the best choice. After all, everyone should have an opportunity to learn “Lumen Ad Revelatiónem Géntium,” which summarizes Candlemas.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

“To me it is a most inspiring reflection that, while empires and kingdoms have tumbled down, while language and custom of every kind have changed beyond recognition, still day by day the humblest Catholic priest in the remotest mission stands at his altar dressed in the garb of old Rome.”

— Father Adrian Fortescue (8 February 1912)

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