Cleveland int’l piano competition inserts a round of pop
NewsThis week’s revamped competition under Israeli president Yaron Kohlberg will feature a round of pop tunes in an attempt to broaden the public appeal of an increasingly esoteric enterprise.
Kohlberg says: ‘People really love the idea that we’re teaming pianists up to play popular music. This not only makes the opening ceremony more interesting and exciting, it also helps introduce the contestants to the audience, who can then vote for their favorite pair and continue to follow them throughout the competition.’
The tunes this year include Olympic themes, ABBA’s Dancing Queen, Survivor’s Eye of the Tiger, Let It Go from Frozen, Queen and David Bowie’s Under Pressure, Guns N’ Roses’ Sweet Child O’ Mine (Kohlberg’s favourite).
The press release seems to suggest that the pop music is not really a part of the competition and will not eliminate anyone.
Of course I expect to see many comments angrily ranting about the downfall of Western civilization!
Indeed, terrible idea.
What about Brahms’ folk song settings?
Not part of the competition yet. Camel’s nose in the tent. The idea that pop tunes will bring a new sustained audience (i.e., returning again and again) to classical concert music has been tried and failed countless times. Why would anyone dare object here? The music is not the point of these competitions. Can you make a serious argument for how any of the tunes mentioned provide insight into technical ability and artistry on anything like the same level as the actual repertoire of the competition?
Please write an open letter to your orchestra. Tell them never to do Johann Strauss again because you think it does not “provide insight into technical ability and artistry on anything like the same level as the actual repertoire”.
The problem with this is, the newest pop song on the list is almost 40 years old. How about something current like Charli xcx’s “Brat?” Or something by Billie Eilish or heck, Taylor Swift? Otherwise, it only makes classical musicians seem even more out of touch.
If new music is to be a repertoire requirement, pop is fair game. A programme of JS Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Chopin, Liszt, Prokofiev, Bartok, Hendrix “Purple Haze,” Beyoncé “Say My Name”, and Jisoo “Flower”—if that doesn’t check the boxes, who knows what will? I’d happily buy tickets to hear Led Zeppelin, Beethoven, Linkin Park, and Mary J Blige in one piano recital.
I suggest that they start with Stairway to Heaven.
These are like the desperate guys in bars just before closing time. They’ll take anything walking on two legs and with a pulse.
I’m a person. I hate the idea.
Please don’t make my head hurt on a Sunday.
Your head hurts listening to Brahms’ folk songs too?
How about Gershwin, Porter, Berlin, Arlen, Rodgers, etc., etc???
New idea and fresh concepts are always welcome. best of luck to Koberg and….keep trying. these are exciting times.
it’s not new it’s a failed idea. The dumbing of America continues.
None of those pop songs are piano music. Is the ability to pander relevant somehow?
No more art songs on string instruments, then! If you have any records of violinists or cellists playing Après un rêve, throw them out now
Correct. It would not be appropriate to hum a violin sonata in a voice competition. What was your point?
The entirety of the classical music world has failed to create a single tune worth anything for over 50 years.
Which melody would be recognizable if you whistled it in the street? And lets not start with Bernstein, that was the 50’s.
The reality is in 1/2 a century the collective of you didn’t produce anything culturally relevant (NOW you’re gonna claim John Williams one of your own – how desperate are you? :P).
Almost 25 years into the 21st century, makes sense they want people to play ANYTHING anybody would actually know.
Your little world is crumbling…
When I was a boy I used to think classical musicians would sneer at pop. But then I read about Fischer-Dieskau admiring Ella and Janet Baker admiring Lena Horne. And I once heard Sarah Walker, in a master-class, urging a student to learn from how Judy Garland used breaths dramatically.
I have heard with my own ears an English conductor whom I will not name claiming he likes rap.
Lots of classical artists talk about, and occasionally engage in, jazz. It is hardly outside the bounds of possibility that some would enjoy any sort of popular music, of any subsect.
What do great conductors listen to when they’re not on the podium? Yannick Nézet-Séguin made a playlist, specifically for Fresh Air, of music that inspires him. It includes a surprising mix of pop, hip-hop and classical music.
The Grammy-winning conductor leads the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Metropolitan Opera and the Orchestre Métropolitain in Montreal. Nézet-Séguin says that he listens to pop music the same way he listens to classical: “I hear harmonies. I hear details of instrumentation and mixing.”
He loves a concept album: “From start to finish, it’s not only a good song, but as a whole, it’s greater than the sum of its parts,” he says. “And I felt this way with RENAISSANCE, by Beyoncé.”
Apparently the great violist William Primrose told his students the best way to understand- and learn- a perfect rubato was to listen to Frank Sinatra.
Why not this?
https://www.google.se/search?q=friedrich+gulda+light+my+fire&sca_esv=eb02f0240770053f&sxsrf=ADLYWIJTyMdS-kMzJtomMtQet3ai-kogiw%3A1722249466890&source=hp&ei=-nCnZuWrNOuowPAP1cqT4Aw&iflsig=AL9hbdgAAAAAZqd_CuQcdh9iaiY66xfcUSr7VAt2DlE5&ved=0ahUKEwjlkL-dh8yHAxVrFBAIHVXlBMwQ4dUDCBY&uact=5&oq=friedrich+gulda+light+my+fire&gs_lp=Egdnd3Mtd2l6Ih1mcmllZHJpY2ggZ3VsZGEgbGlnaHQgbXkgZmlyZTIGEAAYFhgeMgYQABgWGB5IilJQAFisTHAAeACQAQCYAWCgAYkPqgECMjm4AQPIAQD4AQGYAh2gAr0QwgILEAAYgAQYkQIYigXCAgUQABiABMICCxAuGIAEGNEDGMcBwgIFEC4YgATCAggQLhiABBjUAsICERAuGIAEGJECGMcBGIoFGK8BwgILEC4YgAQYxwEYrwHCAgsQLhiABBiRAhiKBcICCBAuGIAEGMsBwgIIEAAYgAQYywHCAgsQABiABBiGAxiKBcICCBAAGIAEGKIEmAMAkgcEMjguMaAHr70C&sclient=gws-wiz#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:ac460246,vid:jcjfhJ030y4,st:0
If we don’t believe that classical music is powerful enough to speak for itself, who else will?
Exactly.
A virtuoso rendition would be interesting. I don’t mean a pop tune redone “a la” some famous composer, but working up the piece to use the full resources of the piano and yet still convey the authentic style of the piece.
But I suspect most piano competitors are not up to that sort of creative re-working.
Stephen Hough and My Favorite Things https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PAQDy-0qz4I
Pure jackassery. This “idea” will backfire miserably, and I suggest Mr. Kohlberg start looking for another job.