Pianist: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 02:25, 8 January 2006

Latest revision as of 21:08, 23 October 2024

Line 1:

{{Short description|Musician who plays the piano}}

:''This article deals with those who play the piano. For other uses, see [[pianist (disambiguation)]].''

{{other uses}}

{{More citations needed|date=November 2021}}[[File:Rachmaninoff playing Steinway grand piano.jpg|thumb|[[Sergei Rachmaninoff]] at the piano]]

[[File:Temporal-Control-and-Hand-Movement-Efficiency-in-Skilled-Music-Performance-pone.0050901.s001.ogv|thumb|[[Motion capture]] of two pianists' fingers playing the same piece (slow motion, no sound).<ref>{{Cite journal | last1 = Goebl | first1 = W. | last2 = Palmer | first2 = C. | editor1-last = Balasubramaniam | editor1-first = Ramesh | doi = 10.1371/journal.pone.0050901 | title = Temporal Control and Hand Movement Efficiency in Skilled Music Performance | journal = PLOS ONE | volume = 8 | issue = 1 | pages = e50901 | year = 2013 | pmid = 23300946| pmc =3536780 | bibcode = 2013PLoSO...850901G | doi-access = free }}</ref>]]

[[File:'Humoresque' by Sergei Rachmaninoff.webm|thumb|'[[Humoresque (song)|Humoresque]]' by [[Sergei Rachmaninoff]]]]

A '''pianist''' ({{IPAc-en|US|p|iː|ˈ|æ|n|ɪ|s|t}} {{respell|pee|AN|ist}}, {{small|also}} {{IPAc-en|ˈ|p|iː|ə|n|ɪ|s|t}} {{respell|PEE|ə|nist}}) is a [[musician]] who plays the [[piano]]. A pianist's repertoire may include [[music]] from a diverse variety of styles, such as traditional [[classical music]], [[jazz piano|jazz]], [[blues piano|blues]], and [[popular music]], including [[rock music|rock and roll]]. Most pianists can, to an extent, easily play other [[musical keyboard|keyboard]] instruments such as the [[synthesizer]], [[harpsichord]], [[celesta]], and the [[organ (music)|organ]].

==Pianists past and present==

A '''pianist''' is a person who plays the [[piano]].

Contemporary [[classical music|classical]] pianists focus on dedicating their careers to performing, recording, teaching, researching, and continually adding new compositions to their repertoire. In contrast to their 19th-century counterparts, they typically do not engage in the composition or transcription of music. While some classical pianists may specialize in [[accompaniment]] and [[chamber music]], a smaller number opt for full-time solo careers.

==Classical ==

A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an [[orchestra]] or smaller [[musical ensemble|ensemble]], or accompany one or more [[singer]]s or solo [[instrumentalist]]s.

[[File:Maurice Ravel Ondine.ogg|thumb|''[[Gaspard de la nuit]]'' by [[Maurice Ravel]] is considered a highly technically challenging [[piano piece]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Burton-Hill|first=Clemency|title=How performers conquer 'unplayable' works|url=https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20150317-the-worlds-most-difficult-music|access-date=2021-03-28|website=www.bbc.com|language=en}}</ref>]]

[[Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart|Mozart]] could be considered the first concert pianist, as he performed widely on the piano. Composers [[Ludwig van Beethoven|Beethoven]] and [[Muzio Clementi|Clementi]] from the [[Classical Era (Music)|Classical era]] were also famed for their playing, as were, from the [[Romantic era music|Romantic era]], [[Franz Liszt|Liszt]], [[Johannes Brahms|Brahms]], [[Frédéric Chopin|Chopin]], [[Felix Mendelssohn|Mendelssohn]], [[Sergei Rachmaninov|Rachmaninoff]], and [[Robert Schumann|Schumann]]. The Romantic era also saw the emergence of pianists better known for their performances than for composing, such as [[Clara Schumann]] and [[Hans von Bülow]].

==Jazz ==

A performing [[European classical music|classical]] pianist usually starts playing piano at a very young age, some as early as three years old. Many well-known classical [[composer]]s were capable pianists themselves; for example, [[Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart]], [[Ludwig van Beethoven]], [[Franz Liszt]], [[Johannes Brahms]], [[Frederic Chopin]], [[Robert Schumann]], and [[Sergei Rachmaninoff]] were all virtuoso pianists. Most pianists, to some degree, specialize in performing the music of either certain composers or certain periods.

[[File:Tord Gustavsen (221258).jpg|thumb|[[Tord Gustavsen]] playing piano during a concert at the 2016 [[Oslo Jazzfestival|Oslo Jazz Festival]] in Norway

|alt=A black-and-white photo of a man playing a piano; he is hunched over it and is concentrating deeply.]][[Jazz]] pianists almost always perform with other musicians. Their playing is more free than that of classical pianists, and they create an air of spontaneity in their performances. They generally do not write down their compositions; [[improvisation]] is a significant part of their work. Well known jazz pianists include [[Bill Evans]], [[Art Tatum]], [[Duke Ellington]], [[Thelonious Monk]], [[Oscar Peterson]], [[Bud Powell]], [[McCoy Tyner]], [[Chick Corea]], [[Herbie Hancock]], and [[Brad Mehldau]].

==Pop and rock==

Most western forms of [[music]] can make use of the piano. Consequently, pianists have a wide variety of [[Piano repertoire|repertoire]] and styles to choose from, including [[jazz]], [[European classical music|classical music]], and all sorts of [[popular music]].

Popular pianists might work as live performers (concert, theatre, etc.) or [[session musician]]s. Arrangers most likely feel at home with [[synthesizer]]s and other electronic keyboard instruments. Notable popular pianists include [[Liberace]], who at the height of his fame was one of the highest paid entertainers in the world , as well as [[Elton John]] and [[Billy Joel]], so nicknamed "The Piano Man", others include [[Richard Clayderman]], who is known for his [[Cover (music)|covers]] of popular tunes and the late [[Victor Borge]], who performed as a comedian.

==Pianists by genre==

Below is a list of well-known or influential pianists of different genres.

A single listing of pianists in all genres would be impractical, given the multitude of musicians noted for their performances on the instrument. Below are links to lists of well-known or influential pianists divided by genres:

===Classical pianists===

''See also *[[List of classical pianists (recorded)]].''

*[[List of classical pianists]]

*[[List of classical piano duos (performers)]]

===Jazz pianists===

* [[Martha Argerich]]

* [[ClaudioList of jazz Arraupianists]]

* [[Vladimir Ashkenazy]]

* [[Alfred Brendel]]

* [[Alfred Cortot]]

* [[Georges Cziffra]]

* [[Ignaz Friedman]]

* [[Emil Gilels]]

* [[Glenn Gould]]

* [[Józef Hofmann]]

* [[Vladimir Horowitz]]

* [[Byron Janis]]

* [[Wilhelm Kempff]]

* [[Josef Lhevinne]]

* [[Yundi Li]]

* [[Dinu Lipatti]]

* [[Witold Lutoslawski]]

* [[Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli]]

* [[Benno Moiseiwitsch]]

* [[Ignace Paderewski]]

* [[Sergei Prokofiev]]

* [[Sergei Rachmaninoff]]

* [[Sviatoslav Richter]]

* [[Anton Rubinstein]]

* [[Artur Rubinstein]]

* [[Artur Schnabel]]

* [[Krystian Zimerman]]

===Pop and rock music pianists===

*[[List of pop and rock pianists]]

* [[Tori Amos]]

* [[Richard Clayderman]]

* [[Vanessa Carlton]]

* [[Jo Ann Castle]]

* [[Nick Cave]]

* [[Russ Conway]]

* [[Gavin DeGraw]]

* [[Ben Folds]]

* [[Billy Joel]]

* [[Elton John]]

* [[Norah Jones]]

* [[Rickie Lee Jones]]

* [[Liberace]]

* [[Alicia Keys]]

* [[Oksana Kolesnikova]]

* [[Paul McCartney]]

* [[Freddie Mercury]]

* [[Jamie Short]]

* [[Barry Manilow]]

* [[Joni Mitchell]]

* [[Laura Nyro]]

* [[Brenda Russell]]

* [[Peter Skellern]]

==Jazz=Blues pianists===

*[[List of blues musicians]]

*[[List of boogie woogie musicians]]

See [[List of jazz===Gospel pianists]].===

*[[List of gospel musicians]]

==Blues=New-age pianists===

*[[List of new-age music artists]]

==Pianist-composers==

* [[Ray Charles]] also jazz, and [[country music]]

Many important [[composer]]s were also [[virtuoso]] pianists. The following is an incomplete list of such musicians.

* [[Fats Domino]]

* [[Little Willie Littlefield]]

* [[Professor Longhair]]

* [[Jimmy Yancey]]

* [[Otis Spann]]

=== Classical period (1730–1820) ===

See the [[List of boogie woogie musicians]] for more blues players.

*[[Muzio Clementi]]

*[[Jan Ladislav Dussek]]

*[[Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart]]

*[[Ludwig van Beethoven]]

*[[Johann Nepomuk Hummel]]

*[[Carl Maria von Weber]]

=== Romantic period (1800–1910) ===

==Country pianists==

*[[Felix Mendelssohn]]

*[[Frédéric Chopin]]

*[[Robert Schumann]]

*[[Franz Liszt]]

*[[Clara Schumann]]

*[[Charles-Valentin Alkan]]

*[[Anton Rubinstein]]

*[[Johannes Brahms]]

*[[Camille Saint-Saëns]]

*[[Edvard Grieg]]

*[[Isaac Albéniz]]

*[[Edward MacDowell]]

*[[Anton Arensky]]

*[[Alexander Scriabin]]

*[[Sergei Rachmaninoff]]

*[[Nikolai Medtner]]

===Modern period===

* [[Owen Bradley]], also a [[record producer]]

*[[Claude Debussy]]

* [[Floyd Cramer]], "Last Date"

*[[Ferruccio Busoni]]

* [[Mickey Gilley]], cousin of Jerry Lee Lewis and Jimmy Swaggart

*[[Maurice Ravel]]

* [[Jerry Lee Lewis]], also [[rock and roll]]

* [[RonnieBéla MilsapBartók]]

*[[Sergei Prokofiev]]

* [[Moon Mullican]], "I'll Sail My Ship Alone"

* [[CharlieGeorge RichGershwin]]

*[[Dmitri Shostakovich]]

* [[Hargus Robbins|Hargus "Pig" Robbins]], legendary session player

*[[Alberto Ginastera]]

* [[Fred Rose]], also a music publisher

*[[Vladimir Horowitz]]

* [[Del Wood]], "Down Yonder"

=== Contemporary period ===

==Other genres==

* [[Maksim Mrvica]]

* [[Cory Henry]]

Well known [[gospel music|gospel]] or [[contemporary Christian music|contemporary Christian]] pianists include:

* [[KeithJacob GreenCollier]]

* [[JimmyJon SwaggartBatiste]]

* [[LukeTigran Ferdinand VHamasyan]]

* [[Richard Clayderman]], commercially-oriented contemporary pianist who also features recordings of classical composers.

==Amateur pianism==

[[Category:Classical musicians by instrument]]

[[File:Johnny_Hahn_January_2012.JPG|thumb|225px|An amateur pianist playing outdoors at [[Pike Place]] market in [[Seattle]].]]

Some people, having received a solid piano training in their youth, decide not to continue their musical careers but choose nonmusical ones. As a result, there are prominent communities of ''amateur pianists'' all over the world that play at quite a high level and give concerts not to earn money but just for the love of music.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Andreas|first1=Møller|title=Professionel pianist leverer dinnermusik til jeres fest af højeste klasse|url=http://www.pianomusic.dk/|website=Pianomusic.dk|access-date=19 October 2015}}</ref> The [[International Piano Competition for Outstanding Amateurs]], held annually in [[Paris]], attracts about one thousand listeners each year and is broadcast on French radio.

[[Jon Nakamatsu]], the Gold Medal winner of the [[Van Cliburn International Piano Competition]] for professional pianists in [[Fort Worth, Texas]] (1997) was at the moment of his victory technically an amateur: he never attended a [[music conservatory]] or majored in music, and worked as a high school [[Germany|German]] teacher at the time; it was only after the competition that he started pursuing a career as a classical pianist.

The German pianist [[Davide Martello]] is known for traveling around [[conflict zone]]s to play his moving piano. Martello has previously been recognized by the [[European Parliament]] for his "outstanding contribution to [[Europe]]an cooperation and the promotion of common values".<ref name=guardian>{{cite web|work=[[The Guardian]]|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/nov/15/paris-attacks-john-lennon-imagine-pianist-davide-martello-klavierkunst|title=Paris attacks: pianist 'drove 400 miles through the night' to pay tribute|first=Jonathan|last=Bucks|date=15 November 2015}}</ref>

== See also ==

* [[List of films about pianists]]

* [[List of university and college schools of music|List of University and College Schools of Music]]

* [[List of piano brand names|List of Piano Brand Names]]

== References ==

{{reflist}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Articles containing video clips]]

[[Category:Occupations in music]]

[[Category:Pianists| ]]

[[Category:Piano| ]]

[[cyid:PianyddPiano]]

[[da:Pianist]]

[[de:Pianist]]

[[es:Pianista]]

[[fr:Pianiste]]

[[ko:피아니스트]]

[[it:Pianista]]

[[he:פסנתרן]]

[[nl:Pianist]]

[[ja:ピアニスト]]

[[no:Pianist]]

[[pl:Pianista]]

[[pt:Pianista]]

[[simple:Pianist]]

[[sl:Pianist]]

[[sv:Pianist]]

[[zh:钢琴家]]