Sunday, February 23, 2014

Universal

Music is not a universal language.  It can, however, deal with universal subjects.


Step back and look at the big picture.  Most likely you will find nothing is absolute.  Perhaps we can only define music as a personal aural experience, and accept everything that comes with it.  So, as a musician, we choose our niche.


Choose your niche.

Saturday, February 22, 2014

Expressive Virtuosity

I don't consider myself at all to be a virtuosic flutist. I am, however, attracted to certain technical passages which, depending on how it's written, make me feel like flying. Flute acrobatics, tumbling across, sculpting forms out of air. 


I think it isn't always a matter of speed, but rather, the energy behind the movement. I love to ride on this energy, it feels like perfection. For it is also this energy which gives the technique a certain expression. WH calls it expressive virtuosity, a truly beautiful virtuosity which not only impresses but also touches the senses.


I think to achieve this, one needs to 'appear' limitless. The key is in the sound. The sound has to be mature, centered in its limitlessness, containing all possibilities of sounds, the feeling that at any moment it would mould and morph into something else.


Where's my flute?? I wanna play NOW!! (sitting in a train back to FFM)