Michael, I really need your opinion...

[Fabien]

Hi Michael,

I have a big problem.

I'm playing a Rhapsody. It's the Rhapsody Opus 79 (2) of Brahms. My problem is, that my teacher wants me to play it a way, that I think it's really not the way Brahms would have played it, and I really think I understand what Brahms wants to express in his music. She wants me to play it more like Glenn Gould's interpretation...
I don't wanna say I play better than anybody ! But I think Glenn Gould's way is not the proper way to play it.

I have an example:

On the Glenn Gould's way, he takes it really easy... and it's kinda lllaaarrrrgggoooo and it's really I don't know, he does some attacks on the notes that are really... OUCH ! well it's kinda complicate to explain it without a piano in front of us... it would have been easier...
Never mind I think the first "phrase" should be more expressive... but expressive without attacking the notes like that ! It would be more like, something flying away, and then going down and so on.

After a few phrases, there is one of my favourite part... favourite part, the way I play it...

it's start with a "triolet" A Bb A gat is going to be the "horses" of this part. So it has to be really rigular. I used the term horses because:
I know that Brahms was kinda "obsessed" by the Napoléonic war and all the wars that Europe had been threw. And I think that in this part, we have to come from very far... behind the fogs... so you can imagine the horses coming, but just the steps... and all on the forth temp, there is the arppergios, and I think he wanted to do the "drumer" of the infantery... then it repeats again the part, and then it's going kinda wild... the octaves played by the left hand are like the canons and all that sort of things...
Well I can't really hear that thing in the Glenn Gould's way...

Damn, I could continue for a long time... there are so plenty things to say on this Rhapsody... we can also feel the way brahms felt in 1880... The love that he had... even if he died 17 years after, but be old doesn't mean you can't be in love.

I really have a problem... Should I do the way my teacher wants me to play it, or should I do my way, the way I think its the proper way to play it ?

Please answer my question.

I know, its kinda pretencious to say I think my way is better than Glenn Gloud's way. Of course everybody can play the way he wants to play it, and that is all the art of music, but I mean that I wanna play it my way and not the way of someone else !

Talking about Glenn Gould, isn't he the guy that played some Bach a lot, and played it his way, and some great musician was saying his way wasn't the way to play it, but Glenn Gould knew that his way was the proper way, and one time somebody said: "Maybe he's way is the good way" and then Glenn Gould had respect ?
I think he is the guy. (And I LOVE the way he plays some Bach ! )

Well nevermind, please answer my question. And keep in mind I'm not saying: "I'm the one who plays the better way Brahms" I'm more like saying: "I prefer the way I play it", it's not the same thing ;D.

Hope you'll help me Michael !

C-ya

Fabien

[Succubus]

Well, I know I'm not Michael but I don't think anybody should be telling you to play more like Gould or anybody else. Everybody has their own interpretation and I think it's very closed minded of your teacher to tell you to copy somebody else's interpretation rather than allowing you to develop your own. Have you explained to your teacher that you are playing it your way for a reason, and that that's how you feel the music should be played? If so and she is still telling you to do it Gould's way then that's just very bad teaching imo. If you didnt yet, try talking to her and explaining that you simply don't feel that you can express the music properly if you are copying Gould's interpretation...

[clameo]

Play it like you would normally play it, you can't copy anyone 1:1 anyway.

[Adji]

succubus said:

Well, I know I'm not Michael but I don't think anybody should be telling you to play more like Gould or anybody else. Everybody has their own interpretation and I think it's very closed minded of your teacher to tell you to copy somebody else's interpretation rather than allowing you to develop your own. Have you explained to your teacher that you are playing it your way for a reason, and that that's how you feel the music should be played? If so and she is still telling you to do it Gould's way then that's just very bad teaching imo. If you didnt yet, try talking to her and explaining that you simply don't feel that you can express the music properly if you are copying Gould's interpretation...

My thoughts exactly. Play it you're own way how you choose to play it.

[Fabien]

Yeah thx you guys,

Well you know, my teacher is more on Mozart and Bach, and he likes really much Glenn Gould, and maybe, it's because he doesn't know really much Brahms so he thinks Glenn Gould's interpretation is the best. No I haven't talk about that with him yet. But I will. He is still a great teacher, but I think he will understand... But I don't wanna offense him because he has.... such a caracter !!! ;D That's why I've wanted to ask Michael his opinion.

Thanks you guys for your opinions .