NY Times Article: virtuosos a dime a dozen

[jeffo]

Kind of interesting article from the NY Times the other day on how the technical virtuosity of top level pianists has risen to the level that many of them can pretty much play anything you put in front of them.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/14/ar...irtuoso&st=cse

You could have a similar discussion about other instruments--there are 6-year old violinists who play Paganini Caprices, and Jr High low brass players who can play Mantia and Pryor and Clarke solos. While low brass players have elevated our playing and expectations about our playing, we haven't done so to the degree that pianists and violinists have.

[davewerden]

Certainly you are right about our level of accomplishment, but we need to remember that pianists and violinists have had a LOT longer to develop the culture throughout our music history.

[jeffo]

Originally posted by: davewerden Certainly you are right about our level of accomplishment, but we need to remember that pianists and violinists have had a LOT longer to develop the culture throughout our music history.

I wasn't saying it as a criticism. Just making an observation. The level of artistry and technique among low brass players makes tremendous strides every generation--as I was suggesting above, a good middle schooler can knock out Carnival of Venice--you couldn't have said that a while back.

I agree that the much longer histories of pianos and violins contribute to their higher level of virtuosity. Also, you can start a 3-year-old on the piano/violin and start that wiring during very formitive years, but you can't do that with a euph or trombone or tuba. Additionally, there are a lot more people playing/teaching/recording/composing for/listening to/familiar with pianos and violins compared to euphs--so that's another structural advantage.