I realise this is a stupid question.

But -

Is Ravel's Concerto for Left Hand actually all for left hand?! And what does a pianist do with the other hand...?

Yes, it is. It was written for a pianist who lost his right arm in WW1, and whose name escapes me for the moment.

I went to see a performance of it by Cecile Ousset, and was wondering what she (being two-armed) would do with her right hand. I seem to remember she left it loosely relaxed in her lap.

Wasn't it written for a soldier who had lost his right-hand?

When I was about 12 I went to a concert given by a pianist who only had one arm. I can't remember what he played but I know I was very impressed.

Edit: Andante in C got there first

The pianist was Paul Wittgenstein, brother of the philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein. He commissioned left-handed pieces from quite a number of composers but I think the Ravel is the best known.

I was nearly asked to play the Ravel in a concert last year. It didn't happen (the orchestra had other plans) but I imagine it would have felt weird.

Thanks, sonataform. I knew he had a famous name, and it was on the tip of my tongue a few times.

I believe there are also pieces written for the right hand, for the same reason (other hand lost in WW1) but I cannot bring any to mind.

There is a piece on the Grade 4 AMEB syllabus (the Australian exam board) that is written for the left hand only. Every student wants to learn it (and usually does), but closer to the exam they realise how awkward it is to sit there with the right hand doing nothing, and usually opt for another piece

I recall seeing this performed at a concert (by a two armed pianist) it was quite odd to watch them sit at the piano and simply rest their right hand in their lap . Listening to the piece, without seeing it, one can find it very difficult to believe there's only one hand playing there .

No kidding: I had the piece on CD for a long while before I knew the story behind it, and had assumed it wasn't a literal description *gulp*

Scriabin, wrote two well known pieces for the Left Hand. He did this because he had strained his right hand, while over practising and could not use it for some time. the Nocturne and prelude for left hand are both beautiful pieces...but i learned them using both hands.

Practising, eh? I see.

I know a one-armed pianist who plays this, but he has to use his right hand, which is really hard.

It's for one hand! :D:D:D you can spread it across both if you want to be a big fat cheater!

and remember, there are no stupid questions...










...just stupid people hahaha just kidding x

I'm always amazed that it's just one hand when I hear it

Although it must be very difficult to fight the compulsion not to scratch/pick anything....

Hope this doesn't sound callous (bearing in mind why the piece was written in the first place), my left hand drags a bit so it would be good practise, what's the name of the piece?

Will never be able to comprehend how 5 fingers can do this, except when I see a live performance with my own eyes!

It's not callous at all - this one was written for a pupil with a broken right arm!

It's called Melody (for left hand) by Miriam Hyde (an Australian composer). It's a great for ensuring that your student's have a loose LH wrist - any tension and it sounds strangled and horrible!