Interpretation Archives - The Creative Pianist

Brahms Intermezzo in E Major, from Klavierstücke, Op. 116, No. 4

Date October 24, 2020 Author By Jeff Category Interpretation, Piano Lessons

Brahms Intermezzo in E Major, from Klavierstücke, Op. 116, No. 4 contains some interesting elements that should be considered literally.

Brahms Intermezzo Op. 117, No. 1: what’s up with the B-section?

Date May 15, 2020 Author By Jeff Category Interpretation, Piano Lessons

"Brahms Intermezzo Op. 117, No. 1," from The Creative Pianist

Brahms Intermezzo Op. 117, No. 1: what’s up with the B-section? Octave displacement, rhythmic displacement. There’s your answer.

Rubato, and how to get there from “Gray Day”

Date October 19, 2019 Author By Jeff Category Interpretation, Piano Lessons

"Gray Day: a lesson about rubato," from The Creative Pianist

I’m going to use “Gray Day” as a lesson in rubato by way of phrase goals and phrase shaping.

Alec Rowley’s “Lied,” Op. 42, No. 13

Date August 23, 2019 Author By Jeff Category Interpretation

Alec Rowley’s “Lied:” a performance analysis involving the interretation of slurs, pacing, Romanticism, and rubato.

How does a piano player intertpret a slur?

Date November 12, 2018 Author By Jeff Category Interpretation

How do pianists interpret slurs? The obvious answer is, “They play legato.” But in fact, there’s much more to it: phrasing, musicality, and metric accent all play important roles.