Abstract
Visuals, Structure and Emotion: The Toy Piano in the Dramaturgy of Piano Recitals
Highlights
Abstract: this paper examines the contribution of the toy piano to the dramaturgy of piano recitals
In this paper I examined how the feature of toy piano pieces contributed to the dramaturgy of three piano performances which I have developed and performed
Drawing from my previous research was the concept of the artform recital where all elements of the performance are understood as essential for carrying expressivity and meaning in the live music experience - from the space of the performance including visual elements, to interactions with the audience, plus the music programme and performance
Summary
In my doctoral research I investigated strategies to develop a more comprehensive and immersive piano recital, which culminated in the development of the concept of the piano recital as an artform in itself. The body of the pianist (with its performative gestures) carries in itself potential to generate meaning, communicate musical expressivity, to shape the structure of the whole concert Once all these other elements are acknowledged as essentials in the structure of the artform recital, side by side with the music programme, the challenge that emerges is to find strategies to weave them in a cohesive and meaningful way. The toy piano has become a valuable element to enrich my solo piano concerts regarding: (1) the music content in terms of programme and timbre, (2) the visual aspect and possibilities of exploration of the space, and (3) alternatives to structure the programme and the development of an aesthetic concept within these performance projects. Before examining three case studies of piano performances which benefited from the feature of toy piano pieces, this article will discuss relevant aspects of the toy piano in the literature, as a contextualisation
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