James on "How to woo"

[jacqui]

Dare say this is somewhere else my posts usually are ;D


www.readersdigest.co.za/james-may

[eshalda]

Thanks for posting that jacqui.

[pie]

I don't know about anyone else here, but I can't bring myself to watch the bit in Big Ideas where James plays the start of the Moonlight Sonata. I saw it for the first time only a couple of months ago and it is honestly one of the most beautiful things I have ever heard. And I've studied music, so I've heard a lot in my time.

All I have to do is merely think about it and I want to cry. Oh great - now I am. It's heartbreaking. It's the point where sheer beauty and sheer agony melt together and I'm left not quite knowing what to do next. I don't know whether I love it or hate it because of the way it makes me feel.

The fact that James plays it (and writes about it) so magnificently only compounds the situation. You can tell straight away that he's a musician who's overcome the barrier between being simply "skilled" (i.e. possessing the physical ability to play a piece of music as it's written on the page) and being truly musical (i.e. able to tell a story without words, through sound, without really having to try).

There aren't many people who have the maturity, skill and understanding needed to bridge that gap. I'm certainly not there yet. I had so much difficulty with this as a student because I was always so intent on playing "perfectly" - but my "perfect" only ever meant "without mistakes". Yet a lack of mistakes doesn't automatically constitute heart-string-tugging music. In fact, the more "human" a performance, the greater the chance of it reaching the depths, both for the performer and the listener.

Geez, I'm back at uni. I'll shut my trap now. *wanders away to find tissues*

[kadett007]

Thank you jacqui.
Everytime i see/hear a sentence with James and piano in it, I just want to sit down and listen to him for eternity. i love him even more when he plays the piano. Now I want to play the piano too, but i'm pretty sure I'll never really be any good at it.

[crumbs]

Pie - I absolutely understand. There is a world of difference between playing music accurately and playing it accurately but feeling it too.

As a child, I was fortunate to grow up with 2 family members who could play to grade 8 standard. But the difference was that one played accurately and occasionally with passion, but the other was able to communicate the full range of emotions through his playing and it was that playing that reached out to my heart and my imagination. Music is such a beautiful language - it certainly breathes life into me.

[dit]

Mar 15, 2011 10:53:31 GMT @pie said:

I don't know about anyone else here, but I can't bring myself to watch the bit in Big Ideas where James plays the start of the Moonlight Sonata. I saw it for the first time only a couple of months ago and it is honestly one of the most beautiful things I have ever heard. And I've studied music, so I've heard a lot in my time......................... It's heartbreaking. It's the point where sheer beauty and sheer agony melt together and I'm left not quite knowing what to do next. I don't know whether I love it or hate it because of the way it makes me feel.

The fact that James plays it (and writes about it) so magnificently only compounds the situation. You can tell straight away that he's a musician who's overcome the barrier between being simply "skilled" (i.e. possessing the physical ability to play a piece of music as it's written on the page) and being truly musical (i.e. able to tell a story without words, through sound, without really having to try).

There aren't many people who have the maturity, skill and understanding needed to bridge that gap.....................In fact, the more "human" a performance, the greater the chance of it reaching the depths, both for the performer and the listener.

I've been trying for a long time to put into words my opinion of James' musical ability and you've just done it for me, Pie. As you say, musicality takes the leap from straightforward ability to being able to make contact with the soul. Some musicians have it; many don't. Like you, I've studied music, heard plenty....I would love to hear James play more.

[crumbs]

I have seen James play so little - I'd love to hear him play more. The little snippets I have heard have been very enticing. It sounds like many of us would love it if his career took a more musical direction......CAN YOU HEAR US JAMES!?

[pie]

Yeah, come on James...you've lived the life of the rich and famous, now it's time to embrace your calling and start delivering pizzas like the rest of us musos. ;D

I too would love to hear him play more. Thinking about all this, I'm reminded of a teacher at uni who taught a different instrument to the one I was learning at the time, but I was privileged enough to sit in on a few of his classes. I've got to say, I've never witnessed anyone produce music like he did. Yes, the sound itself was absolutely incredible, but there was something else going on underneath and it would paralyse me...literally. I would sit there completely stunned, like a rabbit caught in the headlights, unable to move, think, react. I would feel self-conscious because it was as though I was getting too close to this person's soul without them even realising they were drawing someone in. To be honest, it was very difficult not to actually fall in love with him because I'd clearly fallen in love with his music.

Sounds like a certain pianist we know...

[fallatyourfeet]

You can tell he's feeling the music and not just playing it by the expressions on his face. The emotion cannot be hidden and is there for us all to see.

Swooooon.