Nigel Kennedy - Running on Pure Adrenalin

As Nigel Kennedy prepares to perform Elgar's Violin Concerto tonight at the BBC Proms 2008 you can be assured that he won't have ingested any prescribed medication to combat nerves prior to his concert.

However, what he does after the performance, in order to relax, may be a different matter.
This point was recently highlighted in many newspapers and blogs.

One example was in The Guardian blog with a post from the American oboist, journalist and author of 'Mozart in the Jungle', Blair Tindall.

Apparently Kennedy is against musicians taking prescribed drugs for stage fright, but not adverse to occasional cannabis use.

This whole topic reminded me of a post I ran almost a year ago which looked at Robin's views of the use of beta blockers to combat nerves, 'Sex, Drugs and Classical Music.'

So, apart from the cannabis, I think we fall into the same camp as Nigel Kennedy, which I must say isn't a bad place to be.
I'm actually far more concerned that I will only be able to hear his performance at the proms tonight on Radio 3, and not see it on any of the available television stations, despite huge coverage in the media....

Musicians and Their Families

Bryn Terfel, Britain's leading opera star, has pulled out of the Royal Opera House's autumn production of Wagner's Ring Cycle. You can read the article by Matthew Taylor here.
Terfel wants to spend more time with his family.
A decision he reached, after one of his sons required surgery three times for a badly broken finger, with more treatment to follow.

Any parent wants to be with their child at a time like this. It's always difficult getting the balance right when you are working. But if that work takes you away from home, often for lengthy periods of time, it can be a considerable strain for all concerned.
Robin has missed childrens' birthdays, sports day, parents' evenings, harvest festivals etc. all because he has been away at the time, and all he would have attended and enjoyed, if he had been home.

Whilst this is difficult for us, it is even harder for him. Especially birthdays. Last year we had to e mail a photo of the birthday boy holding up a message to his Dad, just so that he felt a part of things.
Unfortunately the same situation will arise next month.
But what can you do?
It's not just a case of accepting work, but also, of needing to play.
So we muddle through as best we can and make the most of the times when he is home.

Terfel will still be doing concerts, just less opera, which requires more time away from home.
I'm sure it's a decision he has deliberated over, and I hope that it is one that works out for him.

Robin Hill and Memorisation

Today we have entered the 'twilight zone' where the number of hours in the day seem to be halved and the amount to fit in doubled.
Yes, it's that time again, Robin is setting off on his travels tomorrow.
I did take time out to read an article in The Guardian, 'All in the Mind', by pianist Susan Tomes.
Tomes discusses the art of memorising music and the strains that this puts on musicians. It's worth a read, there are lots of good points.
She states that, 'many musicians find it so stressful that they play less naturally than they would with the score.'
Also, that, 'memorising music is more complex than memorising words and the challenge is multidimensional for those who also have to play instruments.'

I wouldn't dispute that, but it isn't the case for all musicians. However, I can only talk about Robin's view on memorising music.
For him, it is a part of the process of learning and understanding the piece, and he would never perform any music until he felt that process was complete.
Robin likens it to actors on the stage. You wouldn't expect them to walk around still holding onto their script. They only get up on stage to perform once they have immersed themselves in the part.
The same applies to music.
However, at the beginning of his career, he did have music on stage with him, but rarely looked at it, mainly because he usually plays with his eyes shut. In fact, quite often the music on the stand wasn't even the piece he was currently performing. He would literally forget to turn the pages.
The issue was that it was there. A crutch to lean on.

Over time he realised that not only was it redundant, but was also obscuring the view for most of the audience. Even if the music stand is put slightly to the side, someone won't be able to see very well.
So, many years ago, he took the brave decision to perform without music, and he still maintains it is a liberating experience. All his attention goes on interpretation, the notes are already there.
Frequently members of an audience will comment that they have just observed him perform for an hour and a half, without the aid of music, and are amazed that so much information can be stored in the mind. It seems to make the concert experience special for all concerned.

Robin does actually have many hours of music memorised to call upon when required, a combination of physical, audio and sensory memory.

However, he does still take music with him when he travels. Not just new pieces he is working on, but, also ones that will be performed in that concert. He hasn't quite shaken off the crutch altogether, even if it doesn't actually make it out of the suitcase.
Speaking of which, there's a pile of music to make space for in the case I'm just packing....