A funny thing happened before the concert ...

A funny thing happened before the concert ... If one has prepared thoroughly for a recital program or concert performance, one can usually count on a certain degree of predictability. Of course, there are many variables that can affect a performance. However, above and beyond these factors, there sometimes are bizarre, totally unexpected elements that turn an otherwise "normal" performance into what we might call an adventure. It is in this realm that I address the following experiences. In the early 1950s, I moved to New York City New York City:see New York, city. New York CityCity (pop., 2000: 8,008,278), southeastern New York, at the mouth of the Hudson River. The largest city in the U.S. and established residence at the Manhattan landmark, Hotel Ansonia, located on Broadway between 73rd and 74th streets. The Ansonia was a haven for those in the arts. I soon became acquainted with many of my professional colleagues who lived there, especially with a family named Klinger: The mother and father were medical doctors, son George a student at a nearby university and daughter Delia a professional dancer. Delia was affiliated with a dance group called Ballet Studio, headed by the noted dancer Igor Schwetzoff. It so happened that Schwetzoff was looking for Looking forIn the context of general equities, this describing a buy interest in which a dealer is asked to offer stock, often involving a capital commitment. Antithesis of in touch with. a pianist to perform the Saint-Saens G Minor Concerto for a North American North Americannamed after North America.North American blastomycosissee North American blastomycosis.North American cattle ticksee boophilusannulatus. ballet premiere of that work. Through Delia, arrangements were made for me to audition for him, and I was accepted. The entire program was to be accompanied by a two-piano ensemble; therefore, the orchestral accompaniment to the concerto was taken over by the second piano, and the rest of the program consisted of two-piano arrangements of the repertoire used. The time came for the first rehearsal in Schwetzoff's studio. The first two movements went well, and I was thrilled to take part in such a different setting of this work. Subsequently, the third movement was commenced. As I was kept rather busy at the piano, and because my forward vision was essentially blocked by the height of the large upright piano, I did not look around very much ... but suddenly I heard strange sounds--as if people were stumbling and falling. At that point, I turned around to see what was happening and discovered that, indeed, the dancers were stumbling and falling! I stopped the music, and then it was gently, but persuasively, explained to me that the choreography for the third movement provided for a greatly reduced tempo from what I was playing. Of course, I did as I was instructed and tried to make myself at home with this new rhythmic concept. Shortly after my graduation from the Curtis Institute of Music Curtis Institute of Music,in Philadelphia; coeducational; founded 1924 by Mary Louise Curtis Bok (later married to Efrem Zimbalist) and named for her father, Cyrus Curtis. in 1948, I was invited by one of our most renowned graduates--Aaron Rosand--to accompany him in a forthcoming recital at the Greenbrier greenbrier:see smilax. , located in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia White Sulphur Springs is a city in Greenbrier County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 2,315 at the 2000 census. GeographyWhite Sulphur Springs is located at (37.793975, -80. . The recital was to take place in the hotel's main dining room. We had rehearsed previously in this setting and were satisfied with the acoustic properties as well as the general ambience; therefore, we felt confident all would go well, despite our headiness from the delicious dinner we were served. Apparently, the staff wanted the program to be attractive visually as well as aurally; consequently, the piano had been coated with a film of glossy furniture polish furniture polishn → cera para mueblesfurniture polishn → encaustique ffurniture polishfurniture n → , giving the instrument an attractive sheen. Because this was done after our rehearsal, there was no way for me to realize that, in the zeal of attainment, the polish also had been applied to the fall board--the vertical wooden structure situated just in front of the keyboard. I knew immediately the problem that would arise: If my fingers were to touch the fall board, which is inevitable at times, the oil would then be transferred to the keyboard, making piano playing piano playingNeurologyA fanciful descriptor for finger movements linked to the loss of position sensation, in which the Pt seeks to discover finger position in space by periodic movement; PP occurs in Dejerine-Sottas syndrome; PP also refers to intermittent akin to ice skating ice skating,gliding along an ice surface on keellike runners known as ice skates.Skating as a SportSkating, besides being an important form of winter recreation and the essential skill in the game of ice hockey (see hockey, ice) has developed on this occasion. Of course, we pianists have to be quick thinkers and act in true haste when necessary. I took out my handkerchief as Aaron was taking his first bow and removed as much of the surface oil as possible. Subsequently, I re-used the handkerchief discreetly whenever possible--during cadenzas and during the first stages of any applause. Fortunately, not very much oil actually was transferred to the playing surface, and I had long ago learned to cope with perspiring hands on sticky keyboards. So the concert went well, as I recall. Or--was I sufficiently numbed by the large amount of food and the tiny bit of alcohol to dull the sensation of apprehension? I'll never know. I cannot conclude this odyssey without narrating my favorite My Favorite is an independent synthpop band from Long Island, New York. They released two CDs: Love at Absolute Zero and Happiest Days of Our Lives. My Favorite broke up on September 14, 2005, when singer Andrea Vaughn left the band. , albeit brief, "adventure" story from my colleague Menahem Pressler Menahem Pressler (born 16 December 1923, Magdeburg) is a Jewish-born German pianist.Menahem Pressler is the founding member of the Beaux Arts Trio, an ensemble widely considered to be the world's leading piano trio for more than 50 years. : "We (The Beaux Arts Trio The Beaux Arts Trio is a noted piano trio. For half a century, the trio has been held in high esteem for their performances, both in concert and in recordings. The Beaux Arts Trio has recorded all of the standard piano trio repertoire. ) had rehearsed, and I found that one key was broken. I called the person in charge, and she said, 'Oh, we have a wonderful tuner, and you musn't worry about it. It will be all right.' Well, we didn't worry. We came to the hall in the evening, and I found a little note on the piano. It said, 'Yes, I found out that key was broken. I couldn't do anything with it. DON'T USE THAT NOTE TOO MUCH!'" BONUS BYTE For more anecdotes by Joe Rezits, go to www.mma.org. Click on "American Music Teacher" then click on "Tell me more about ... Bonus Bytes." Joseph Rezits is internationally known as a performer, recording artist, lecturer, clinician and author. Rezits is professor emeritus of music at the Indiana University Indiana University,main campus at Bloomington; state supported; coeducational; chartered 1820 as a seminary, opened 1824. It became a college in 1828 and a university in 1838. The medical center (run jointly with Purdue Univ. School of Music in Bloomington.