Comments on: Moot? or Mute? http://jeremydenk.net/blog/2005/08/30/moot-or-mute/ The glamorous life and thoughts of a concert pianist. Fri, 06 Aug 2010 06:55:43 -0500 hourly 1 By: Amy http://jeremydenk.net/blog/2005/08/30/moot-or-mute/comment-page-1/#comment-1583 Amy Wed, 14 Sep 2005 17:34:52 +0000 http://jeremydenk.net/blog/?p=287#comment-1583 Perhaps because pianists have no equivalent toys, they cannot explicitly show differences in tone. But how many times does one play Bach and think, "On an organ this would be a register change," or "This bass pedal should have a shaded coloring"? In the late Schubert sonatas, there are constant major-minor key changes, changes in tone, mood, and timbre, and to think of them as putting a pianistic "mute" on or off seems the furthest thing from a reasonable argument. Perhaps because pianists have no equivalent toys, they cannot explicitly show differences in tone. But how many times does one play Bach and think, “On an organ this would be a register change,” or “This bass pedal should have a shaded coloring”? In the late Schubert sonatas, there are constant major-minor key changes, changes in tone, mood, and timbre, and to think of them as putting a pianistic “mute” on or off seems the furthest thing from a reasonable argument.

]]> By: elisabeth http://jeremydenk.net/blog/2005/08/30/moot-or-mute/comment-page-1/#comment-1574 elisabeth Fri, 09 Sep 2005 11:00:03 +0000 http://jeremydenk.net/blog/?p=287#comment-1574 Feel free to start that compilation of funny/weird/stupid things people say, on your blog... I would definitely want to read it.<br/><br/>I enjoy reading your blog, if you ever come to Norway let us know... :) Feel free to start that compilation of funny/weird/stupid things people say, on your blog… I would definitely want to read it.

I enjoy reading your blog, if you ever come to Norway let us know… :)

]]> By: bpianissimo http://jeremydenk.net/blog/2005/08/30/moot-or-mute/comment-page-1/#comment-1565 bpianissimo Thu, 01 Sep 2005 07:55:10 +0000 http://jeremydenk.net/blog/?p=287#comment-1565 Chamber music seems to be sometimes difficult !<br/>But I don't understand why you never "offer your thoughts" . For my part it could perhaps be interesting to explain your opinion about the mutes to the strings players . You could build a more common performance , which would have more strength . I think music is made for being shared between the players and with the public . <br/>I agree with your beautiful interpretation of this movement :"something recalled, something seen from a distance, slightly blurred" Chamber music seems to be sometimes difficult !
But I don’t understand why you never “offer your thoughts” . For my part it could perhaps be interesting to explain your opinion about the mutes to the strings players . You could build a more common performance , which would have more strength . I think music is made for being shared between the players and with the public .
I agree with your beautiful interpretation of this movement :”something recalled, something seen from a distance, slightly blurred”

]]> By: littlemissrandom http://jeremydenk.net/blog/2005/08/30/moot-or-mute/comment-page-1/#comment-1564 littlemissrandom Thu, 01 Sep 2005 05:41:29 +0000 http://jeremydenk.net/blog/?p=287#comment-1564 I just found the article on you in Blogger Buzz, and came across to have a look. Your writing is so eloquent, and the way you describe the music makes me yearn to hear it.<br/><br/>Thank you so much for sharing your talents. I just found the article on you in Blogger Buzz, and came across to have a look. Your writing is so eloquent, and the way you describe the music makes me yearn to hear it.

Thank you so much for sharing your talents.

]]> By: brad http://jeremydenk.net/blog/2005/08/30/moot-or-mute/comment-page-1/#comment-1563 brad Wed, 31 Aug 2005 02:39:47 +0000 http://jeremydenk.net/blog/?p=287#comment-1563 Great topic! I just discovered your blog after reading about it in Alex Ross' article where he writes about you, and it's full of insightful stuff; keep it up.<br/>I'm a jazz pianist professionally who loves classical music and look forward to hearing you in the future when you're in New York again.<br/><br/>The issue of what's moot raises another thought that troubles me as a musician, and also as a layman listening to or observing other people's output: To what extent is criticism - written criticism from professionals - moot, and why? I often feel that reviews of performances or new recordings are moot because they fail to take the work on its own terms. Often, the reviewer takes issue with an idiosyncratic quality in a performance because it is unorthodox or somehow aesthetically out of alignment with everything else. But that quality can't be separated from what makes the performance vital and engaging - it's part and parcel with the whole.<br/><br/>The Brahms you mention is one of my all time favorites. I guess it did cross my mind a few times to wonder why the strings use mutes on the slow movement, particularly in the middle development section where they play alone as a trio and respond to the piano: The harmony is so rich there you could make a case for no mutes, to hear those luscious passage more vibrantly. But like you said: moot! To me, the mutes there are in keeping with an overal characteristic of Brahms' music: That 'verklemmt' aspect: There's this incredible heart-on-your-sleeve romanticism, but it's being held in check just a bit, which makes it more poignant. Great topic! I just discovered your blog after reading about it in Alex Ross’ article where he writes about you, and it’s full of insightful stuff; keep it up.
I’m a jazz pianist professionally who loves classical music and look forward to hearing you in the future when you’re in New York again.

The issue of what’s moot raises another thought that troubles me as a musician, and also as a layman listening to or observing other people’s output: To what extent is criticism – written criticism from professionals – moot, and why? I often feel that reviews of performances or new recordings are moot because they fail to take the work on its own terms. Often, the reviewer takes issue with an idiosyncratic quality in a performance because it is unorthodox or somehow aesthetically out of alignment with everything else. But that quality can’t be separated from what makes the performance vital and engaging – it’s part and parcel with the whole.

The Brahms you mention is one of my all time favorites. I guess it did cross my mind a few times to wonder why the strings use mutes on the slow movement, particularly in the middle development section where they play alone as a trio and respond to the piano: The harmony is so rich there you could make a case for no mutes, to hear those luscious passage more vibrantly. But like you said: moot! To me, the mutes there are in keeping with an overal characteristic of Brahms’ music: That ‘verklemmt’ aspect: There’s this incredible heart-on-your-sleeve romanticism, but it’s being held in check just a bit, which makes it more poignant.

]]> By: margo http://jeremydenk.net/blog/2005/08/30/moot-or-mute/comment-page-1/#comment-1561 margo Tue, 30 Aug 2005 19:09:15 +0000 http://jeremydenk.net/blog/?p=287#comment-1561 Speaking of tragic--<br/>True story:<br/>backstage after an all-Chopin recital--<br/><br/>Audience Member: Oh, the second piece you played was absolutely beautiful, gorgeous! A student of mine is working on it right now, actually. What was it again? Beethoven?<br/><br/>Me: ???<br/>AM: That, that second piece you played?<br/>Me: Oh, oh, right. Um, that was Chopin Ballade.<br/>AM: Ah, yes... Well, it was very nice.<br/>Me: Thanks, thank you. Thanks for coming. Speaking of tragic–
True story:
backstage after an all-Chopin recital–

Audience Member: Oh, the second piece you played was absolutely beautiful, gorgeous! A student of mine is working on it right now, actually. What was it again? Beethoven?

Me: ???
AM: That, that second piece you played?
Me: Oh, oh, right. Um, that was Chopin Ballade.
AM: Ah, yes… Well, it was very nice.
Me: Thanks, thank you. Thanks for coming.

]]> By: DO http://jeremydenk.net/blog/2005/08/30/moot-or-mute/comment-page-1/#comment-1560 DO Tue, 30 Aug 2005 18:22:39 +0000 http://jeremydenk.net/blog/?p=287#comment-1560 This is exactly why I never, ever like to go backstage after performances. This is exactly why I never, ever like to go backstage after performances.

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