A Critical Reflection on the Impact of String Instruments in Piano Performance:

Insights from the Pianist's Perspective

Abstract

: This article presents a critical examination from a keyboard performer's viewpoint, focusing on interpreting the score through a lens informed by historical evidence and the insights of string instrumentalists. The author uses Franz Schubert's Impromptu No. 1 Op. 90 as an exploratory platform, examining diverse aspects to inspire pianists to extend beyond conventional boundaries of their instrument. By transcribing solo piano works into various instrumental templates, it encourages pianists to explore unfamiliar domains, drawing on historical insights from string players and unexpected discoveries in string ensemble rehearsals to collectively enrich and reinvigorate creativity in solo piano interpretation. The germ for stimulating such artistic endeavour is rooted in the ground-breaking ideas of Alfred Brendel, whose influential work has significantly sparked the author's creativity and added depth to this cross-disciplinary endeavour. Throughout, this exploration illuminates the intricate dynamic interplay between the composer's authority, the performer's creative freedom, and the enduring influence of tradition, where such an interaction may provide a fertile ground for open-minded interpretations, particularly in “opening new ears” on how contemporary musicians approach scores from the canonical repertoire in present time.