Jonathan Bellman writes that modern concert performance style—set in the "conservatory" tradition of late 19th- and 20th-century music schools, and suitable for large auditoria or recordings—militates against what is known of Chopin's more intimate performance technique. The composer himself said to a pupil that "concerts are never real music, you have to give up the idea of hearing in them all the most beautiful things of art." Contemporary accounts indicate that in performance, Chopin avoided rigid procedures sometimes incorrectly attributed to him, such as "always crescendo to a high note", but that he was concerned with expressive phrasing, rhythmic consistency and sensitive colouring. Berlioz wrote in 1853 that Chopin "has created a kind of chromatic embroidery ... whose effect is so strange and piquant as to be impossible to describe ... virtually nobody but Chopin himself can play this music and give it this unusual turn". Hiller wrote that "What in the hands of others was elegant embellishment, in his hands became a colourful wreath of flowers." COUNT 6
QSN1 Who wrote that the current large concert style conflicts with Chopin's preference of intimate performances? ANS1 Jonathan Bellman QSN2 What did Chopin tend to avoid? ANS2 rigid procedures QSN3 What has been falsely credited to Chopin? ANS3 "always crescendo to a high note" QSN4 What did Chopin tell a student is given up in concerts? ANS4 hearing in them all the most beautiful things of art QSN5 Who wrote about Chopin's "chromatic embroidery"? ANS5 Berlioz QSN6 Who wrote that Chopin's music, when played by him, became a "colorful wreath of flowers"? ANS6 Hiller