Preparing the month of shows I’m hosting on Q2 — sent me into a studio for several hours of recording voice tracks, my commentary. I was wearing headphones so the microphone-heard sound of my own talking was in my ear.
It made me wonder all over again: Do the sounds a pianist makes from the piano have any relation to that person’s physical voice?
For me it’s concerning if a musician has a particularly harsh or unmodulated speaking voice. One New York pianist comes to mind … And, to me, Vladimir Horowitz’ low, low speaking voice (in English) was disturbing.
You manage your voice. It may not seem that you choose its qualities. But don’t you?
Fashions in speaking-voice sounds change. Just listen to old movies. Smoking changes the tonality or even register of a voice. So does a lot of yelling. In music and in speaking, some harsh sounds may be useful and expressive.
Some pianists actually vocalize, moaning or humming as they play. That vocalizing may be part of the tone of long notes! It is usually a sign that true listening — to the physical sounds in the room — is not happening.
The impact of our spoken voice on piano playing is not only a matter of “sound.” Particular ways of speaking, and the rhythms, emphasis, and inflection of a mother tongue surely influence the way we make music.
And all of this changes. The North American accents of today’s spoken English are not what was heard at the Continental Congress. And I doubt Mozart spoke as a Salzburger living in Vienna might now …
I’m guessing you’ve seen this (‘speaking’ piano), but just in case:
http://youtu.be/muCPjK4nGY4
Great Point!
“And all of this changes. The North American accents of today’s spoken English are not what was heard at the Continental Congress. And I doubt Mozart spoke as a Salzburger living in Vienna might now …”
It’s funny how we seem to fool ourselves that everything stays the same, when actually it’s always evolving and changing.
I like your comment when you say “some pianists actually vocalize, moaning or humming as they play.” I remember listening to my piano teaching playing during his concerts, and he would also hum along with his playing. I always thought it was because he was trying to sing the phrases as if a vocalist would sing it, to make the phrase more musical and connected. Nice post, thanks!