Each concert a new opportunity – each moment a chance.

“Le passé, il faut l’étudier, le connaitre – c’est très  important. Il doit avant tout servir de base. Il faut connaître les styles, les périodes, l’harmonie, l’analyse musicale. Mais une fois qu’on a la base, il faut s’en détacher. “

David Greilsammer 

The past, we have to study it, know it- that’s important. It has to serve as base. We have to know the stiles, the periods, the harmony, the musical analysis. But once we have the base, one has to detach.

If we would understand our work as the musician David Greilsammer (pianist and conductor of the Chamber Orchestra Geneva) knowing about history, periods, styles, harmony, techniques and instruments), we would consciously tell ourselves to let go, to think each time afresh and to compose afresh. I am convinced that this healthy approach is not only valid for music.

If we step back for a minute and see our work in the eyes of a pianist or conductor, we might point our attention to different aspects:

  • We include variations in tempi and rhythm
  • We experiment with instruments, we use different combinations
  • We listen the silence before we start playing
  • We repeat certain passages, others we leave away
  • We wander off the defined plan and include short improvisations
  • We introduce quiet moments
  • We hold the final tune and then let it go

The music perspective is interesting. It remembers us that also knowledge is in flow, in motion; and constantly developing further. And so does the situation we are working in. The context is evolving, there are new options opening up, new technologies available. New actors bring in new perspectives. We ask new questions, phrase old questions differently. It’s a constant interplay of tiny adaptations, of change and transformation. And there might be room for new adapted solutions we cannot see now.

We have to let go and play to find it. The tiny steps, variations, the little twists and bends…

There is more I can do than I thought.