Taught by renowned pianist
Arie Vardi
Join world-renowned Israeli pedagogue Arie Vardi for a profound look at how Chopin constructs intricate emotional worlds in music. Vardi reveals how Chopin’s twin loves of opera and Bach relate to two powerfully expressive compositional techniques: poly-melody and polyphony.<br><br>He begins by showing Chopin’s mastery of introductory music. In the Mazurka in B-flat Minor, Vardi sees the shrinking intervals showing how exploration of the inner nucleus of the self is more fascinating than visiting distant lands. This introduction flowers into an unforgettable melody that illustrates his main topic.<br><br>Vardi defines poly-melody as a mysterious, imagined “third voice” that results from the combination of two voices in a duet. Chopin often gives a strikingly vivid, human character to each voice in the texture, as if it were an operatic duet; in the case of this mazurka, he presents both a pleading and a refusing voice in the upper register. Poly-melody is the synthesis of these two that creates a third, richly emotional impression.<br><br>Vardi contrasts this with traditional polyphony. Instead of presenting two relatively independent characters like in poly-melody, when using his polyphonic technique Chopin is like a philosopher repeating the same musical idea from many perspectives until reaching the truth. Instead of merely emphasizing the top voice, freely choose to zoom in and out on this or that voice. <br><br>Vardi closes by encouraging freedom and flexibility in your interpretation: “Play in such a way that no one will recognize what you are playing” — a surprising strategy for ensuring that Chopin’s extraordinary music will continue to inspire players and listeners alike.
Polyphony and Poly-melody in Chopin
Join world-renowned Israeli pedagogue Arie Vardi for a profound look at how Chopin constructs intricate emotional worlds in music. Vardi reveals how Chopin’s twin loves of opera and Bach relate to two powerfully expressive compositional techniques: poly-melody and polyphony.
He begins by showing Chopin’s mastery of introductory music. In the Mazurka in B-flat Minor, Vardi sees the shrinking intervals showing how exploration of the inner nucleus of the self is more fascinating than visiting distant lands. This introduction flowers into an unforgettable melody that illustrates his main topic.
Vardi defines poly-melody as a mysterious, imagined “third voice” that results from the combination of two voices in a duet. Chopin often gives a strikingly vivid, human character to each voice in the texture, as if it were an operatic duet; in the case of this mazurka, he presents both a pleading and a refusing voice in the upper register. Poly-melody is the synthesis of these two that creates a third, richly emotional impression.
Vardi contrasts this with traditional polyphony. Instead of presenting two relatively independent characters like in poly-melody, when using his polyphonic technique Chopin is like a philosopher repeating the same musical idea from many perspectives until reaching the truth. Instead of merely emphasizing the top voice, freely choose to zoom in and out on this or that voice.
Vardi closes by encouraging freedom and flexibility in your interpretation: “Play in such a way that no one will recognize what you are playing” — a surprising strategy for ensuring that Chopin’s extraordinary music will continue to inspire players and listeners alike.
Technique in Debussy
In piano playing, there is one secret we have to acknowledge: it sounds the way it looks.' In this lesson, Arie Vardi elaborates on this insightful assertion.
Using several of Debussy's Preludes as case studies, Vardi shows you how to match your motions and touches to the color and character of the music. Moulding your physical approach to the meanings of the music is easier said than done, and Vardi demonstrates in detail how to develop a convincing 'sound picture' of a given passage in Debussy, and how to realize this quasi-synaesthetic conception in your technique.
La terrasse des audiences du clair de lune (Performance)
In this video, Israeli pianist Arie Vardi performs Debussy's 'La terrasse des audiences du clair de lune', the seventh Prelude from Book II.
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Unlock Course →Arie Vardi has received international acclaim as one of Israel’s foremost pianists, conductors, and teachers, whose students include the likes of Yefim Bronfman, Yundi Li, Yoel Eum Son, and Beatrice Rana.
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