The Performer, a Researcher?September 4th, 2008
Today, I’m interrogating myself: I have often been told by young (and also old) musicians and composers: “It is necessary to please the public and play for him”, or from the composer’s point of view: “it is necessary to write the music the public wishes to listen”.
For a long time I think another way and I’m convinced that the profession of pianist is a permanent search on the instrument, the sound and the music itself. We make experiences, we look for an interpretation of the score and especially, all along life, we build up a “musical philosophy” (it’s a bit pompous, isn’t it?). This is not necessarily a very lucrative activity, but those who choose this profession for the money are out of the problem. I mean it at any rate.
What do you think about it? Does the profession of performer seem to you to be a research?