Reimagining the use of 19th-century techniques on historical piano: from the perspective of a 21st-century pianist

Hui Han Lui

About this exposition

The difference in embodiment experience when transitioning from one piano to another is highly complex, not to mention the transition from a modern piano to a 19th-century historical piano, as playing techniques were also different. As the modern piano is very different from 19th-century keyboard instruments such as the fortepiano, it can be difficult for a modern pianist to understand the techniques used in the 19th century, and why. While it may be impossible to perfectly reconstruct the playing of 19th-century pianists, this study focused on the process of reimagining the 19th-century playing techniques on historical instruments from the perspective of a 21st-century pianist which will help develop understanding towards the potential roles and impact of these techniques, recognize the connections between instruments and techniques, as well as their influence on my playing as a pianist-researcher. Through this artistic practice, the feedback and observations from these experiences in the form of reflection logs were used to uncover the roles and effects of these techniques. This exposition will discuss a performer-researcher’s experience with references to the current literature, demonstrate how these techniques help narrow the gap between the modern and period instruments, especially in terms of touch and control, and investigate the effects of the artistic practice on dynamics and phrasing. Video clips of performances on both modern grand piano and historical instruments such as the fortepiano will also be included to better demonstrate the different approaches.

type	research exposition
keywords	piano technique, performance, historical instruments, historically informed performance
date	25/04/2023
published	29/10/2024
last modified	29/10/2024
status	published
affiliation	Maynooth University
copyright	Hui Han Lui
license	CC BY-NC-ND
language	English
url	https://www.researchcatalogue.net/view/2100311/2587156
doi	https://doi.org/10.22501/ruu.2100311
published in	RUUKKU - Studies in Artistic Research
portal issue	21. Performing Artistic Research in Music – Performing Music in Artistic Research

name	Picture 1_process of artistic practice
copyright	Hui Han Lui
license	CC BY-NC-ND
usages	picture

name	Waldstein 1st movement _Graf
copyright	Hui Han Lui
license	CC BY-NC-ND
usages	video

name	Straight Arm from elbow to finger knuckle
copyright	Hui Han Lui
license	CC BY-NC-ND
usages	picture

name	Perpendicular finger action
copyright	Hui Han Lui
license	CC BY-NC-ND
usages	picture

name	Figure 4: Bars 17 to 24 of Grande Polonaise Brilliante (London, Wessel & Co.)
copyright	Public Domain
license	Public domain
usages	picture

name	Arm position Deppe
copyright	Hui Han Lui
license	CC BY-NC-ND
usages	picture

name	Own technique arm position
copyright	Hui Han Lui
license	CC BY-NC-ND
usages	picture

name	Figurative comparison
copyright	Hui Han Lui
license	CC BY-NC-ND
usages	picture

name	Mozart 3rd mvt arpeggio LH b114-116-period techniques
copyright	Hui Han Lui
license	CC BY-NC-ND
usages	video

name	Mozart 3rd mvt arpeggio LH b114-116-own techniques
copyright	Hui Han Lui
license	CC BY-NC-ND
usages	video

name	Mozart K576 First Mvt Bar28-29
copyright	Public Domain
license	Public domain
usages	picture

name	Figure 9: Mozart’s Sonata in D, K.576, first movement, bar 95-100 (from Breitkopf & Härtel edition, 1878, p. 196).
copyright	Public domain
license	Public domain
usages	picture

name	Figure 10: Mozart’s Sonata in D, K.576, first movement, bar 137-146 (from Breitkopf & Härtel edition, 1878, p. 197).
copyright	Public Domain
license	Public domain
usages	picture

name	Mozart Sonata 1stmvt_c132
copyright	Hui Han Lui
license	CC BY-NC-ND
usages	video

name	Mozart_fortepiano _1stmvt_c137
copyright	Hui Han Lui
license	CC BY-NC-ND
usages	video

name	Andante Spianato on Pleyel using Deppe's techniques
copyright	Hui Han Lui
license	CC BY-NC-ND
usages	video

name	over lapping technique full
copyright	Hui Han Lui
license	CC BY-NC-ND
usages	picture

name	Erard_Andante Spianato et Grande Polonaise
copyright	Hui Han Lui
license	CC BY-NC-ND
usages	video

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Reimagining the use of 19th-century techniques on historical piano: from the perspective of a 21st-century pianist (2024)

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