A few years ago my friend Marnie introduced me to Jeremy Denk’s piano performances, and his writings. I’ve fallen in love with both. But especially the two together: there are other great performers to listen to, and other great writers on music and life to read: there are few who are both. Another friend sent […]
Jeremy Denk is a terrific writer, the best I’ve read among contemporary serious pianists. His blog, Think Denk, is erudite and funny, passionate and inspired. He recently published an article in The New Yorker. In it he recounts his experience making a professional recording of Charles Ives’s Concord sonata, with reflections on the frustrations, opportunities […]
Tagged blogs, performance, performers, writingI like reading books about pianos and pianists. I sometimes write about them here. Turns out Joe Queenan likes doing both (the reading and the writing about it) as well (though he doesn’t write here). He seems to feel more strongly about it than I do.
Tagged booksThe Economist recently published an article summarizing scientific research into why humans so universally engage in composing and performing music. Is it natural selection, or group selection? An accident that has been elaborated as an invention?
Tagged psychologyJeremy Denk is a terrific pianist, known to many (including me) through his tours with Joshua Bell. Turns out he is also a terrific writer. His blog is textured, dense, adventuresome (like the music of Brahms he rhapsodizes). And he is a humorist: his “interview with Sarah Palin” about the Hammerklavier is to die for.
Tagged blogs, performers, writing