A lot of my approach to the instrument, especially as I've gotten older, is to treat the piano in ways that are not very pianistic - to consider the sounds I'm after first, and to deal with technical considerations later. Michael Hersch More Quotes by Michael Hersch More Quotes From Michael Hersch I wrote much more quickly when I was younger. Over the years I've required more time in order for the pieces to arrive in a place I am happy with. The process cannot be rushed. I have to live with a piece for quite a while to feel it ultimately is where it needs to be - though anything resembling complete satisfaction remains elusive. Michael Hersch satisfaction order years I do believe young people should be obligated to try different types of music - that is what education is. But once you're in a situation as an adult, it doesn't benefit anybody - at least in my experience - to force music on people that they don't like or do not have an interest in - whether it's three-hundred years old or newly written. Michael Hersch believe people years While I believe there is certainly a phenomenon of timelessness in art, the people writing today can comment on today in an exclusive manner. Michael Hersch writing believe art If people want insights, if they want to swim in the currents of their own time and share the experiences of their time, then it makes sense to engage with the artists of one's own time. Michael Hersch artist swim people I don't think performance out of duty yields very much. Coercion is never the way to go. Michael Hersch yield coercion thinking There are times I'm completely uncomfortable with my works being performed publicly, and I haven't attended certain concerts because the prospect is akin to having a diary read on stage. But there are also situations - whether with an audience of one, or many - where the concert experience can be deeply special, and those experiences are often unpredictable, and wonderful when they occur. Michael Hersch audience-of-one special diaries I write because the act of writing itself is what drives me. It's a private communication within myself - nothing more or less. This doesn't mean I do not want to share with people. Michael Hersch communication writing mean My own goals center around writing the best music that I can, and only I can determine whether or not I've succeeded in accomplishing that. Michael Hersch determine goal writing If somebody responds positively to what I'm doing - if there is a connection - that can be very meaningful. If someone reacts with displeasure, confusion, hostility, well, that is not pleasant, and can often be upsetting. Michael Hersch often-is confusion meaningful Part of what makes music so interesting is the lack of consensus on just about any given topic. Michael Hersch topics given interesting The visual and literary arts are of perennial interest to me, and these art forms have become more and more a part of my life; they have become companions of sorts. I cannot imagine my day to day experiences without the presence of these art forms. They're absolutely essential. Michael Hersch imagine essentials art Just as all pop music is not simplistic, not all contemporary concert music is complex. Often what a person connects with goes much deeper than generalized issues of simplicity and complexity. Michael Hersch issues concerts simplicity I think the tendency to paint composers or styles of music with too broad a brush - for example, identifying composers as writers of "simple" or "complex" music - has become increasingly problematic and is almost never productive. Michael Hersch style simple thinking The best critics leave the reader curious to pursue something further, but still to let the reader have his or her own honest, unique opinion. Michael Hersch honest opinion unique Many critics have become de facto teachers. That is a lot of responsibility, and I think it should be wielded with care. Most people appreciate sincere guidance. Michael Hersch responsibility teacher thinking A healthy dialogue is always good. Michael Hersch dialogue healthy My interactions with musicians have been simply that: interactions with musicians. Issues of gender, or anything else beyond the music-making, have in my experience played no role in whether or not a musician has been able to articulate my intentions as a composer. Michael Hersch issues musician able As I see it, the major requirements for a strong and able rendering are an understanding of a work's structure, voicing, and trajectory; an ability to execute the details on the page from largest to smallest; technical command, and hopefully a connection with the overall expressive impulse (though the latter is not at all necessary to give a good performance). Michael Hersch understanding strong giving Of course, all people have their own reasons for believing what they do about gender. In my case, in over two decades of collaborating with men and women in music - conductors or otherwise - I have seen no distinction. Michael Hersch men two believe Mazur was a remarkable artist. During our time in Rome we became friends. I would often perform my works for him at the piano. Michael Hersch rome piano artist
