At the end of our visit, Fleisher agreed to play something…
““At the end of our visit, Fleisher agreed to play something on my piano, a beautiful old 1894 Bechstein concert grand that I had grown up with, my father's piano. Fleisher sat at the piano and carefully, tenderly, stretched each finger in turn, and then, with arms and hands almost flat, he started to play. He played a piano transcription of Bach's "Sheep May Safely Graze," as arranged for piano by Egon Petri. Never in its 112 years, I thought, had this piano been played by such a master-I had the feeling that Fleisher has sized up the piano's character and perhaps its idiosyncrasies within seconds, that he had matched his playing to the instrument, to bring out its greatest potential, its particularity. Fleisher seemed to distill the beauty, drop by drop, like an alchemist, into flowing notes of an almost unbearable beauty-and, after this, there was nothing more to be said.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
A master pianist instantly connects with a historic instrument, revealing its unique voice through sensitive, nuanced playing.
In simple terms: A skilled player brings out a piano’s character.
Key Takeaway
Listen deeply to let instruments guide you.
Themes
music
artistry
connection
Mood
reverent
inspired
Type
descriptive
reflective
When to use this quote
- concert performance
- private recital
- teaching
- recording
- instrument restoration
Key Concepts
interpretation
instrumentality
musical empathy
Questions to Reflect On
- How does a performer’s sensitivity shape an instrument’s sound?
- What can we learn about listening from this interaction?
A Different Perspective
The description may romanticize the encounter, overlooking technical challenges.