Piano Destruction Pieces Options

[wajid Yaseen]

hello all.....

can anyone give me feedback on how they feel about pianos being destroyed in the name of art, for example by the composers Karl-Erik Welin and Francois-Rene Duchable or by performance / installation artists such as Raphael Ortiz.....would you be willing to destroy your own piano for any reason ? do you find the idea of destroying a piano wholly unacceptable ?...i'd be very curious to hear opinions from pianists on this forum

[Chopinzee]

Hendrix did it with his guitars. But I think it was a daft stage act. thesedays they can call anything ''art''.

[fsharpminor]

Its Sacrilege to destroy any usuable musical instrument

[freda_bloogs]

Hendrix did it with his guitars. But I think it was a daft stage act. thesedays they can call anything ''art''.

As did Townshend with his amps...but I since learned that they are the same amps with no cones/circuitry and they were built for the purpose.

[possom]

do you find the idea of destroying a piano wholly unacceptable ?

I guess it would depend on the piano, if it's very old and untunable then I don't see a problem with it, if it was a concert Steinway on the other hand......

[wajid Yaseen]

fsharpminor's point about it being sacriligous is an understandable point....as with any instrument, the more we play it, the more we have a sort of prosthetic relationship with it - 'the instrument is an extension of our bodies' point of view....and i suppose destroying any instrument feels like self-mutilation if you have a deep enough relationship with it.....

i'd like to put forward some questions to get a clearer idea.....no need to answer all of them, although it would be good to get a complete perspective from an individual....a pre-emptive thanks to any replies





- Can it be stated that most classical musicians are repulsed at the idea of destroying pianos ? if so, are there any interesting reasons aside from the obvious ie, it could be used by somebody who is in need of one, etc

- Do you think piano modifications (as made famous by john cage) and destruction are related via evolution ? ie is destruction the logical conclusion to prepared pianos

- is there guilt involved on a personal level when pianos are destroyed ? if so, guilty for what, and towards who ?..

- can we ever get away from the grandiose symbolism of the piano and see it as any other instrument ? why is it held in such stature ?

- does low-brow or ‘comic’ piano destruction make it more demeaning ? ie Laurel and Hardy, Raphael Ortiz (who went on many live tv shows and must have been considered a crackpot by the majority of the audiences)

- is destruction of an instrument different from destruction of any other type of inanimate object ?

- is destruction creative ? ie are there any justifications for it, for example on a cathartic level ?

- is there a difference in destroying a piano if the person destroying it is classically trained to play it as opposed to somebody who cant ?

- are there instruments that contemporary electronic musicans (laptops for example) would feel uncomfortable destroying to the same degree as destroying pianos is pianists ?

- anthropomorphic sentimentality - do you start to see the piano as having human characteristics ?

[sarah-flute]

- can we ever get away from the grandiose symbolism of the piano and see it as any other instrument ? why is it held in such stature ?

Can't speak for others but I wouldn't be happy to see any instrument being destroyed for the sake of it. Even instruments that I don't especially care for.

Just read this article http://www.contactmusic.com/new/xmlfeed.ns...ts%20in%20style

...my honest reaction is what a complete drama queen, and how stupid to wreck pianos in a fit of pique.

[possom]

Actually the bit in A Fish Called Wanda where the little dog gets squished by the grand piano had me in stitches, I didn't find it offensive or demeaning and I like dogs and pianos!!!

[crazy cow]

Just read this article http://www.contactmusic.com/new/xmlfeed.ns...ts%20in%20style

...my honest reaction is what a complete drama queen, and how stupid to wreck pianos in a fit of pique.

Yep, same here...it seems like he's just throwing a mard and it seems a bit immature for someone who I'm presuming is adult, intelligent etc...it takes a lot of dedication to get to that level of playing. I don't know much about the music system in France, but as far as I was concerned those who thought music was 'elitist' generally went out and did something a bit more mainstream to try and bring classical music to the wider population...it seems to have been the case with several musicians (although those I can think of are young, maybe a more modern education is a factor?) such as Maxim (can't remember surname, but he plays classical piano to dance backing tracks), Bond (string group), Katherine Jenkins? (vaguely remember her saying something about changing people's opinions of classical music), Il Divo, G4 etc...although all have had different amounts of success and varying opinions within both the classical and mainstream audiences.

Not even sure what I'm trying to say there, just that he is surely the one who chose to limit himself to 1% of the population? Throwing a hissy fit over it seems really over the top. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/mad.gif)

Personally, I hate to see pianos being destroyed...I remember the car advert when they dropped the piano on the car *shivers* or a Delta Goodrem video (don't ask me which song, haven't a clue!) where she set fire to a baby grand? or something along those lines. I think it probably is because I really wanted to have a piano to practise on at home, but due to many various reasons I couldn't get one until the point where I could no longer fit my pieces on a keyboard...to see something that so many people could make use of being destroyed seemed really stupid. Also it annoys me when people pay a fortune to get a black baby grand or whatever just so that it can sit in their room as 'furniture', but is never played. It just seems like a bit of a waste (IMG:style_emoticons/default/mad.gif)

Maybe destroying pianos rather than playing them is for the elite...many people my age have the chance to play a piano (even if they're just playing rugrats or whatever!) at school, but I doubt there would be many who could afford to buy one just to destroy it. Unless it was like a fake one or whatever, then that would be ok! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)

[chocolatedog]

Even worse is the article I once read about so many beautiful large concert grand pianos being bought by the ignorant 'nouveau riche' as pieces of expensive furniture, and never once being touched or played..... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) that makes me weep.........a piano deserves to be played........

[SueHM]

Even worse is the article I once read about so many beautiful large concert grand pianos being bought by the ignorant 'nouveau riche' as pieces of expensive furniture, and never once being touched or played..... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) that makes me weep.........a piano deserves to be played........

My piano sat in a London office as a 'trophy piano' for 25 years before it was rescued and I bought it. It has changed so much in 2 years through being regularly played and loved! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wub.gif)

Back on topic - it does feel very uncomfortable to think of destroying a piano, but it all depends on the context. There are plenty of horrible old church hall thumpers I'd gladly put an axe to. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/muahaha.gif)

I should imagine busting up a piano could be a little dangerous - all those strings suddenly pinging!

Didn't people used to have competitions to see how fast they could break up a piano and post it through a small hole?

[Rosemary7391]

Its Sacrilege to destroy any usuable musical instrument

And if it isn't usable, then I would practice repair techniques on it in an effort to make it useable!

- can we ever get away from the grandiose symbolism of the piano and see it as any other instrument ? why is it held in such stature ?

- is destruction of an instrument different from destruction of any other type of inanimate object ?
- anthropomorphic sentimentality - do you start to see the piano as having human characteristics ?

ANY musical instrument is important to the person who owns/plays it. Not just the exspensive ones or the good ones - I would be just as upset if someone ruined my B12 clarinet as I would my Rosewood Hanson, because they both mean a lot to me. I almost live my life through my clarinet - It is the one thing that is constant, its there and reliable, and playing it is just as natural as speaking to me.

Every instrument is unique - even if I got 2 of the same mske/model there would be noticeable differences, which may seem trivial to a non instrumentalist but can throw those who (Unlike pianists!) are not used to chopping and changing. if you take a book, for example, any variances in that are not going to cause any annoyance or most likely even be noticed!

I think that all instruments can 'speak' in the right hands, and can move almost every person who comes into contact with one. What other inaminate object can do that?

[sonataform]

- Do you think piano modifications (as made famous by john cage) and destruction are related via evolution ? ie is destruction the logical conclusion to prepared pianos

No. "Preparing" a piano in the John Cage sense has nothing to do with destruction.

- is there a difference in destroying a piano if the person destroying it is classically trained to play it as opposed to somebody who cant ?

No.

[Saradhi]

In the URL posted by Sarah-Flute, someone(I don't even care to remember his name) said that the piano is an arrogant instrument, which I feel is the reflection of the person's arrogance.

[musicmanNZ]

BUT

that's not to say I don't sometimes FEEL like destroying my piano when the stupid thing refuses to play the right notes and sound that way I want
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/piano.gif)