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Gabriela Montero
By Ernesto | May 7, 2008
I’ve been reading a lot about Gabriela Montero these last few days. She’s a classical pianist who is known for improvising on themes given to her on the spot, both on record and in concerts.
I find this exciting on many levels: not only because it brings improvisation to a mainstream classical audience, but also because of the audience participation involved at her concerts. It really creates an atmosphere of a shared experience between audience and performer.
However, I sometimes get a bit peeved at how she talks about her ability. From her website: "I cannot stress enough how the process that these improvisations go through (and myself!) are as much a puzzle to me as they are to everyone who asks me, ‘How do you do it?’ Where does it come from? What am I connected to? I do not know, and I think I prefer it that way. This way I keep that innocence that trusts and gives itself to the process."
Ok, fair enough. My problem with that is that, first of all, it furthers the idea that improvising is some sort of unique ability that only a talented few possess, when it is in fact a natural ability which any music-making person is capable of.
Also, the whole idea of not wanting to know where it comes from sounds a bit naive to me. Improvising is no mystery. It is a serious discipline studied in various musical styles, jazz being the one closest to us.
That being said, Ms. Montero’s comments do remind us that no matter how much you study or analyze improvisation, when the moment comes, you have to let go and be totally connected to your inner self.
But just letting go can only get you so far. It is a lot easier when you’re not worrying about anything and just playing whatever comes to your head…but how about when you’re playing over a set of changes like in jazz? Or playing a raga? Or for that matter, a fugue? All these require much more thought and practice. But I think the results can be much more powerful when they are mastered.
All that aside, I’m not trying invalidate Montero. She’s an amazing pianist and I’m currently enjoying her Bach & Beyond CD (I really dig how she re-harmonizes Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring, BTW). But I think that if she took the time to analyze what she’s doing she could take her artistry to a whole new level. And while she’s at it, she could check out Derek Bailey’s Improvisation: Its Nature And Practice In Music.
But then again, she’s probably too busy playing to sell-out crowds to worry about that right now…
Topics: Article, Improvisation |
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