{"id":56105,"date":"2018-10-02T14:57:37","date_gmt":"2018-10-02T18:57:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/?p=56105"},"modified":"2018-10-02T16:14:36","modified_gmt":"2018-10-02T20:14:36","slug":"primer-soundstreams-six-pianos-dream-project-coming-koerner-hall","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/2018\/10\/02\/primer-soundstreams-six-pianos-dream-project-coming-koerner-hall\/","title":{"rendered":"PRIMER | Soundstream&#8217;s Six Pianos Dream Project Is Coming To Koerner Hall"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-56110\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2018\/10\/pianoecstacy_093-800x500.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"640\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2018\/10\/pianoecstacy_093-800x500.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2018\/10\/pianoecstacy_093-800x500-300x188.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2018\/10\/pianoecstacy_093-800x500-768x480.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>For a typical classical piano concert, one would imagine a single grand piano with its lid open, its brilliant inside encased in silky, heavy blackness.\u00a0 Sometimes, there are two pianos \u2014 there are a handful of orchestral and chamber two-piano favourites that are programmed regularly.\u00a0 But six pianos?<\/p>\n<p>Yes, please!<\/p>\n<p>On <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/event\/soundstreams-six-pianos\/\" rel=\"noopener\">October 12, 2018<\/a>, 6 Steinway concert grands will fill out the Koerner Hall stage, under the Soundstreams\u2019 season opener: Six Pianos. Featuring a mix of Toronto pianists and percussionists: Russell Hartenberger, Ryan Scott, Greg Oh, Jamie Parker, Stephanie Chua, Midori Koga and Radka Han\u00e1kov\u00e1, the program is built on Steve Reich\u2019s <em>Six Pianos<\/em>, and features John Cage\u2019s <em>The Beatles 1962-1970<\/em>, along with smaller scale multi-piano works (Lutos\u0142awski, Alexina Louie, Juliet Palmer), and a newly commissioned work by virtuoso pianist\/composer Andr\u00e9 Ristic: <em>Variations on Vivaldi<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p><em>Six Pianos<\/em> was Reich\u2019s dream project, realized at the Baldwin Piano studio in New York in 1973, and Russell Hartenberger was one of the musicians who witnessed and interacted with the evolution of the piece:<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe wanted to write a piece for all of the pianos in a piano store\u2026 so he kept paring it down and paring it down, until it ended up Six Pianos.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"jetpack-video-wrapper\"><span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/PAacGWwt6eU?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-US&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation\"><\/iframe><\/span><\/div>\n<p>Lawrence Cherney (Artistic Director, Soundstreams) also finds six pianos a magical combination:<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;The sound of 6 nine-foot pianos is just about wonders of the world.\u00a0 I always loved the sound of multiple pianos, and it was six that the average human ear can distinguish\u2026 We\u2019ve done multiple pianos a few years ago with Six Pianos, so we tried to bring something new to this format \u2014 this time, we have a new commission with Andr\u00e9.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The logistics for such a concert is quite different from the norm.\u00a0 As most concert halls have just two pianos (larger international halls may have up to four, often varying in size), the main challenge lies in sourcing the pianos that can be matched successfully.\u00a0 Luckily, Steinway Piano Gallery, Toronto, is providing six concert grand pianos; the rehearsals for Reich are taking place at the Steinway Piano Gallery in Markham.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-56116\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2018\/10\/pianoecstacy_031-800x500.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"640\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2018\/10\/pianoecstacy_031-800x500.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2018\/10\/pianoecstacy_031-800x500-300x188.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2018\/10\/pianoecstacy_031-800x500-768x480.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>And how do pianists feel about the piano-exclusive ensemble format? Most pianists work alone, or in chamber groups consisting of other instruments.\u00a0 Even in professional musical training, while string, wind and brass instrumentalists are placed in appropriate large ensembles, (guitarists are usually sent to guitar ensembles) and vocalists into choirs, pianists \u2014 well, they are usually sent to choirs (even if the pianist has never sung and does not want to sing), as multi-piano ensembles are quite rare, even professionally. There are only a handful of <a href=\"http:\/\/www.gershwinpianoquartet.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">4-piano quartets<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.grandbandnyc.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">6-piano groups<\/a> in the world.<\/p>\n<p>Stephanie Chua remembers the excitement she felt when she was approached for Six Pianos.\u00a0 As co-founder of juntQin keyboard collective, Stephanie is no stranger to multi-keyboard works; she was also part of the <em>Music for 18 Musicians <\/em>performance for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.soundstreams.ca\/past-performances\/20152016-season\/steve-reich-at-80\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Reich at 80<\/a> at Massey Hall (2016). So, when Lawrence approached her about Six Pianos, she jumped on board right away:<\/p>\n<p><em><strong>\u201cIt\u2019s very special to work on these pieces with Russell, as he was there for the conception of these works and has had a long collaborative relationship with Reich\u2026 and I\u2019ve done many works for multi-keyboards, but never anything on this scale. I look forward to sharing the stage with so many fantastic pianists!\u201d<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p>For Greg Oh, this is the third time he\u2019ll be performing the <em>SP<\/em>, and as a seasoned performer of this work, Greg is particularly fascinated with his own evolution with the piece:<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>\u201c\u2026 It gets incrementally more fun with each iteration.\u00a0 I think that this work and many of Reich\u2019s other works are skewed towards the experiential. Unlike works that are fun to pull apart and analyze and hum while washing dishes, for me, Six Pianos exists only in the performative moment\u2026\u00a0The challenge for the performer is managing two states of being: one must be conscious of the notes, the precision of the notes and the time and pacing and fitting in, while simultaneously suppressing any thoughts of control or ego.\u00a0 Rather than \u201cJust Do It,\u201d it\u2019s more like \u201cJust Let It Happen.\u201d The biggest danger in this piece is getting in one\u2019s own way.\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Midori Koga and Jamie Parker, and percussionists Russell Hartenberger and Ryan Scott, will be joining Stephanie and Greg on the pianos for <em>SP<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>For companion pieces, Soundstreams chose Cage\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=cCV2LDh421o&amp;feature=youtu.be\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><em>The Beatles 1962-1970<\/em><\/a> (1989), one of the few\u00a0 original compositions for 6 pianos, full of quotes from popular Beatles tunes, Lutos\u0142awski\u2019s <em>Variations on a Theme by Paganini<\/em> (1941), and Louie\u2019s <em>Afterimages<\/em> (1981), to reflect the <em>old,<\/em> and Palmer\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=cCV2LDh421o&amp;feature=youtu.be\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><em>Five<\/em><\/a> (2008), written for Greg\u2019s eclectic ensemble, Toca Loca, and Ristic\u2019s new commission work, <em>Variation on Vivaldi<\/em> (2018) for six pianos (Radka Han\u00e1kov\u00e1 will take Russell\u2019s bench),\u00a0 to represent the <em>new<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-56117\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2018\/10\/pianoecstacy_106-800x500.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"640\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2018\/10\/pianoecstacy_106-800x500.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2018\/10\/pianoecstacy_106-800x500-300x188.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2018\/10\/pianoecstacy_106-800x500-768x480.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>For Andr\u00e9 Ristic, this new commission is a fusion of a few different fascinations in his life.\u00a0 As a teenager (and 30 years on and counting!), Andr\u00e9 first heard the Bach\u2019s Concerto for Four Harpsichords, BWV 1065 and was floored:<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>\u201c\u2026 I\u2019ve been sort of obsessed with (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=tJ49G2-Chhs&amp;feature=youtu.be\" rel=\"noopener\">BWV 1065<\/a>) since I was about 15\u201316 years old, and I believe this is <\/em><\/strong>the one<strong><em> of the most successful harmonic and melodic pieces in history.\u00a0 Then I learned that in fact, Bach transcribed it from the Concerto for Four Violins by Vivaldi (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=QSs6HKwhbAA&amp;feature=youtu.be\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">RV 580<\/a>). With the years, many elements appeared to me in this simple and short piece\u2026 I\u2019ve made a few arrangements of it, and have performed it a few times myself.\u00a0\u00a0 It is repetitive; however, there is a lot of math\/combinatorics in it \u2014 though these calculations are somewhat secondary to the musical effect.\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Another interesting element in Andr\u00e9\u2018s creative process is the actual commission process:<\/p>\n<p><em><strong>\u201c\u2026 Perhaps 75% of what I compose now comes from commissioning agreement, and I am used to adapting to any instrumentation &#8211; as long as they are realistic for me.\u00a0\u00a0 In this case, within the first 2 minutes of discussion, I knew what I wanted to do: I have a strong preference for groups of like-instruments, for instance, pieces for eight flutes, four cellos, 15 brass.\u00a0 It allows me to create sonic illusions and to create instrumental phantasms, such as having these six pianists play simultaneously the whole register of the piano by distributing the notes between them.\u201d<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p>Set for six pianos, with six pianists, there will also be a big nod to Reich in the music \u2014 through repetitive techniques such as phasing, chord repetition and unison canons- an homage from Andr\u00e9.<\/p>\n<p>Six Pianos \u2014 it promises to be a night of a spectacle \u2014 to see and to hear:<\/p>\n<p><em><strong>\u201c\u2026 To be inside that sound (of six pianos) is a wonderful experience, playing these repetitive patterns is a really magical sound.\u00a0 Coming to a Steve Reich concert the audience might think: \u2018well, this is going to be harsh, or just a lot of rhythms and not much melody,\u2019 but the timbre of six pianos is really glorious.\u00a0 There is something about the lush sound of six pianos that kind of rolls over you &#8211; it\u2019s a beautiful experience.\u201d \u2014 Russell Hartenberger<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<blockquote><p>&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8211;<br \/>\nSoundstreams presents:<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.soundstreams.ca\/performances\/main-stage\/six-pianos\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Six Pianos<\/a><br \/>\n12 October 2018, 8pm,<br \/>\nKoerner Hall, 273 Bloor St. West, Toronto<\/p><\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>It&#8217;s not every day we come across a concert for six pianos.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":62,"featured_media":56110,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[14761,19,38,4557,15953,63],"tags":[23031,3079,5889],"yst_prominent_words":[19444,23023,23027,23019,23014,21058,6606,23025,23030,23028,23016,7141,23020,7449,23029,23018,14497,23021,23015,23026],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2018\/10\/pianoecstacy_093-800x500.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p9bakr-eAV","amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/56105"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/62"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=56105"}],"version-history":[{"count":13,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/56105\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":56121,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/56105\/revisions\/56121"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/56110"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=56105"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=56105"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=56105"},{"taxonomy":"yst_prominent_words","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/yst_prominent_words?post=56105"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}