Soubasse
New member
Interesting conversation here chaps. I find that the pieces I personally enjoy are easier to memorise ... well, DUH! of course they are - because that's what you want to be doing. The only work I can effectively play from memory is Alain's Litanies and that still took me years. It does depend greatly on your personal circumstances and your mental agility.
Probably the most stunning performance I have seen to date was Olivier Latry. He performed his entire recital from memory, including Alain's Trois Danses. I think what made it unique for me was that it gave a level of intimacy I'd not experienced before, to an instrument that can be anything but intimate. What you were experiencing then was just this one person very much in complete control of the instrument. The fact that the playing was also technically flawless and emotionally charged, added to the audience being short of breath at the end of it all.
However, for us mere mortals I think there is a practical side to this as well. I feel there seems to be a wider expectation from audiences to have a pianist memorise their performance because then they see just the performer with their instrument, and all that they can give it. With the organ, there is so much more going on, esp with stops, etc. For example, what about a recital at an instrument that has no performance aids and absolutely requires an assistant (or sometimes two). Should they be expected to memorise the work as well?
Probably the most stunning performance I have seen to date was Olivier Latry. He performed his entire recital from memory, including Alain's Trois Danses. I think what made it unique for me was that it gave a level of intimacy I'd not experienced before, to an instrument that can be anything but intimate. What you were experiencing then was just this one person very much in complete control of the instrument. The fact that the playing was also technically flawless and emotionally charged, added to the audience being short of breath at the end of it all.
However, for us mere mortals I think there is a practical side to this as well. I feel there seems to be a wider expectation from audiences to have a pianist memorise their performance because then they see just the performer with their instrument, and all that they can give it. With the organ, there is so much more going on, esp with stops, etc. For example, what about a recital at an instrument that has no performance aids and absolutely requires an assistant (or sometimes two). Should they be expected to memorise the work as well?