Is pulling faces needed to play well!

[SIMON GABRIELOW]

Bare with me on this ( potentially funny thought).. but when, as I am sure many other here,could admit to it, one is playing sometimes it is with such feeling that the expression oft fits the tune!

Historically musicians have thrown themselves into passionate performance by moving in gestures of great expression.. (Lizt was known to wag his long haired head all about when playing, and I have seen film of Horowitz at piano, gurning, just before commencing to play piano.

So admittedly I do my share, but try not look, anyway maybe it cannot be helped and after all shows a real feeling of seriousness in the creative process of expression. And perhaps, if all sat absolutely rigid in expression, or posture; then we would end up with no more than a robotic and mechanical automata, rather than living expressive force in full flow at that moment?

What you all think, or have you any examples of extremes, in performance mannerisms, talk about? Or recall watching?

[Richard Mellish]

I tend to pull a pained face whether I am playing well or badly.

[SIMON GABRIELOW]

😃 byOh, that has given me a good laugh!

Sorry I must be more sympathetic, as I am far from perfect myself!

Maybe we should all suck a nice chewy sweet that will give a more pleased expression! Or think of nice things?

Edited May 13, 2022 by SIMON GABRIELOW
Added happy face to show glee!

[Martin Essery]

I certainly know the pained face of the wrong  notes. I also notice I seem to breath for the concertina, almost like I am singing voicelessly though the concertina.

 

[SIMON GABRIELOW]

Yes, that's something that can happen!

I know my Father was quite aware that, when he played his accordion, he would, or could not help speaking notes along with it!

[conband]

 The answer to the original question is most definitely YES.  So please don't try and stop our fun!

 

Les Branchett

[SIMON GABRIELOW]

😃Can you imagine someone asking Beethoven why he kept pulling faces when he played?

Oh, dear, not the thing to say!  

The fact was he possibly wasn't; it was just natural!

 

Edited May 14, 2022 by SIMON GABRIELOW

[richard]

Within the family it is called "concertina face".

 

I have a friend who is a French woman who plays accordion professionally and I am in deep admiration of her for her normallish looking smile as she plays.

 

richard

[Clive Thorne]

On 5/14/2022 at 12:20 PM, SIMON GABRIELOW said:

😃Can you imagine someone asking Beethoven why he kept pulling faces when he played?

Oh, dear, not the thing to say!  

The fact was he possibly wasn't; it was just natural!

 

He wouldn't have heard you anyway.

[SIMON GABRIELOW]

59 minutes ago, Clive Thorne said:

He wouldn't have heard you anyway.

Phew that' s a relief I suppose; as he was known to be a bit grumpy!!

[Syncopepper]

 

The legendary pianist, and Bach keyboard interpreter, Glen Gould would grunt and moan so much when playing that it was evident in his many recordings.

[SIMON GABRIELOW]

There is a lovely cameo appearance from Laurel and Hardy in a review type film [title approx; with the stars] where Oliver hardy plays an increasingly smaller mouth organ until eventually he almost swallows a very tiny mouth organ, and yet can still play it; pulling the most hilarious faces as he does!