MUS Talks | Miracles on Keyboard — Basic Logic of Matthay Techniques
Theme: Miracles on Keyboard — Basic Logic of Matthay Techniques
Language: Chinese
Speaker: Prof. Hong Xu
Host: Dr. Yue Zhang
Date&Time: Apr. 27, 2024 (Sat.) 19:00
Venue: Lecture Classroom 102, Teaching Building(MUS)
Abstract
Tobias Matthay (1858-1945) was an important piano figure from the turn of the 19th century to the 20th century, although he is largely unknown to the current Chinese piano enthusiasts.
He was a professor at the Royal Academy of Music in London and the first person to introduce the concept of "forearm rotation" in his book The Act of Touch. He also found the solution to the conflict between the "finger school" and the "Weight School." For Matthay, piano playing is about incorporating the natural weight of the arm and finger independence. Matthay used a scientific approach to explaining the fundamental action of playing the piano. After learning Matthay, people often gain the ability to identify the pros and cons of different teaching methods. It serves as a compass on their road to building technique.
While it was initially shocking that Matthay said nearly all piano playing is staccato, we cannot stop admiring his ingenious discovery after learning the principles of keyboard action. He has displayed all the logic about piano playing and taught us that we can only produce the sound that the instrument physically allows us to do. Famous Juilliard Pedagogue Georgy Sandor once said in his book On Piano Playing, "While there is a myriad of changes in piano playing, it could be boiled down to several fundamental movements and exertions." Piano playing is not as complicated as it looks from the audience's perspective. Most of the techniques are common and easy to categorize.
Matthay believed that piano technique is mostly about inner sense rather than visible movement. Therefore, one should not imitate the movement of any great master's playing. It is much more helpful to understand how the key and hand work. Then, we are on the road to great artistry.
About the Speaker
Hong Xu
Hong Xu is currently serving as an Associate Professor at the School of Music, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen. As an international pianist, Mr. Xu leads a prolific career in music.·
He received his early training at the Attached Middle School of Wuhan Conservatory of Music with Liping Jiang and subsequently went to the United States and studied with Douglas Humpherys, Jerome Lowenthal, Robert McDonald, and Robert Shannon. During his studies in the USA, he won prizes at the Bachauer, Hilton Head, and Honens International Piano Competitions. Hailed by the New York Times as a "technically brilliant, insightful musician and seemingly limitless potential", Hong Xu is one of China's most accomplished pianists of his generation.
Mr. Xu has performed with world-renowned conductors such as Vladimir Ashkenzy, Mikhail Pletnev, Yannick Nezét- Seguin, Sir Mark Elder, Yan-Pascal Totelier, Hans Graf, Markus Stenz, and Robert Spano. Recent Concerto appearances with London Philharmonic Orchestra, BBC Symphony Orchestra, Hallé Orchestra in Manchester, Russian National Orchestra, Orchestre Nacional de Portuguesa, Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, Beijing's NCPA Orchestra, Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra and Orchestre Métropolitain de Montréal.
He has appeared in many important recital series and venues, including Wigmore Hall, Royal Festival Hall, Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall in New York City, Terrace Theater at the Kennedy Center, Beijing's NCPA, National Theater and Concert Hall in Taipei (China), and Seoul Arts Center. Both BBC Music Magazine and International Piano Quarterly have named him as "one of the most promising rising stars."
During 2010-2023, Prof. Xu taught at the Wuhan Conservatory of Music and had great success with his online masterclass series. He has frequently been invited to give masterclasses and lectures at the Eastman School of Music, San Francisco Conservatory of Music, Oberlin Conservatory of Music, New York University, Boston University, University of Auckland, Trinity College London, National Taiwan University of Arts, Central Conservatory of Music, Xi'an Conservatory of Music, Xinghai Conservatory of Music, Zhejiang Conservatory of Music, as well as Beijing International Music Festival & Academy, and Perugia Music Festivals in Italy.
During the Summer, he teaches at the Amalfi International Piano Festival in Italy. He also serves as the Artistic Director of the New Zealand International Piano Festival.
