This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/music/2018/nov/04/railyway-impromptu-piano-players
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| We’re not attention-seekers, say the railway piano players | We’re not attention-seekers, say the railway piano players |
| (2 months later) | |
| Since British artist Luke Jerram launched the idea just over a decade ago, public pianos have appeared in railway stations, airports and parks across the world. They have inspired impromptu performances by countless amateurs as well as flash mobs, professional orchestras and well-known musicians such as John Legend, Elton John and Jamie Cullum. | Since British artist Luke Jerram launched the idea just over a decade ago, public pianos have appeared in railway stations, airports and parks across the world. They have inspired impromptu performances by countless amateurs as well as flash mobs, professional orchestras and well-known musicians such as John Legend, Elton John and Jamie Cullum. |
| While recitals often prompt passers-by to smile or clap and cheer, not everyone is a fan. Last week a national newspaper columnist caused uproar on Twitter after declaring that adults playing public pianos were “attention seeking” and made him “cringe”. | While recitals often prompt passers-by to smile or clap and cheer, not everyone is a fan. Last week a national newspaper columnist caused uproar on Twitter after declaring that adults playing public pianos were “attention seeking” and made him “cringe”. |
| There are two pianos on either side of a parade of shops in London’s St Pancras International station. They are tuned every Sunday by a man who voluntarily did the job until he was scouted by management. The Observer spoke to some of the pianists entertaining commuters and tourists as they passed through the station. | There are two pianos on either side of a parade of shops in London’s St Pancras International station. They are tuned every Sunday by a man who voluntarily did the job until he was scouted by management. The Observer spoke to some of the pianists entertaining commuters and tourists as they passed through the station. |
| Marc Mathijsen, 51 | Marc Mathijsen, 51 |
| Brussels | Brussels |
| With his briefcase and suit jacket resting beside him, Mathijsen (above) glances at the display boards for his train back to Belgium while playing some Schubert. A hobby pianist of 20 years, he’s in London for a job interview. | With his briefcase and suit jacket resting beside him, Mathijsen (above) glances at the display boards for his train back to Belgium while playing some Schubert. A hobby pianist of 20 years, he’s in London for a job interview. |
| “I like playing the piano because it’s relaxing. I was in a very stressful situation this morning, so I have to get rid of that stress. If there’s a chance to get on a piano, I play it every time,” he says. | “I like playing the piano because it’s relaxing. I was in a very stressful situation this morning, so I have to get rid of that stress. If there’s a chance to get on a piano, I play it every time,” he says. |
| The trick for him is to focus his attention solely on the piano. “I don’t care about people passing by – I just play, keep myself alone with the piano. I like to do that. | The trick for him is to focus his attention solely on the piano. “I don’t care about people passing by – I just play, keep myself alone with the piano. I like to do that. |
| “This here is Scott Joplin and this one is Chopin. Voila.” | “This here is Scott Joplin and this one is Chopin. Voila.” |
| Xiaoxiao Ma, 25 London | Xiaoxiao Ma, 25 London |
| On the St Pancras parade, Xiaoxiao expertly plays Liszt’s Hungarian rhapsodies. Three of the keys have been knocked out of tune by heavy usage, but it’s barely audible. Xiaoxiao, from China, is studying for an MA in music education at University College London. She started learning the piano when she was just four and has taken a detour on her way home to put in some practice. | On the St Pancras parade, Xiaoxiao expertly plays Liszt’s Hungarian rhapsodies. Three of the keys have been knocked out of tune by heavy usage, but it’s barely audible. Xiaoxiao, from China, is studying for an MA in music education at University College London. She started learning the piano when she was just four and has taken a detour on her way home to put in some practice. |
| “Sometimes people come and sit down with me and we’ll play some four-hands pieces,” she says. “I’ve been coming to practise here since I started studying in 2015 because I don’t have a piano in my dormitory.” | “Sometimes people come and sit down with me and we’ll play some four-hands pieces,” she says. “I’ve been coming to practise here since I started studying in 2015 because I don’t have a piano in my dormitory.” |
| Ben Sharvit, 23 Hertfordshire | Ben Sharvit, 23 Hertfordshire |
| Dressed as a holidaymaker, Sharvit plays a mini medley which incorporates Michael Bublé, beatboxing and Mozart. Close by, his friends – one dressed as the Hulk, the other with a wig in a Tesco bag – wait patiently before they set off for a fancy dress party in Shoreditch, east London. | Dressed as a holidaymaker, Sharvit plays a mini medley which incorporates Michael Bublé, beatboxing and Mozart. Close by, his friends – one dressed as the Hulk, the other with a wig in a Tesco bag – wait patiently before they set off for a fancy dress party in Shoreditch, east London. |
| “I’ve been playing since I was 12,” says Sharvit. “He learned by ear,” adds the Hulk. | “I’ve been playing since I was 12,” says Sharvit. “He learned by ear,” adds the Hulk. |
| Sharvit says he likes playing in public and he gets all kinds of reactions. “Some people dance. When I played here three weeks ago, I had people slow dancing next to me who were on their way to get married. I played Mozart, my own song and some other stuff.” | Sharvit says he likes playing in public and he gets all kinds of reactions. “Some people dance. When I played here three weeks ago, I had people slow dancing next to me who were on their way to get married. I played Mozart, my own song and some other stuff.” |
| Louise, 4 & Maxime, 7 Geneva | Louise, 4 & Maxime, 7 Geneva |
| Performing the most carefree duet of the day, the youngsters pound the keys together, making experimental music. Neither has been taught to play the piano, and their mother giggles as she listens to them adding “crash, whoop and bang” sound effects. | Performing the most carefree duet of the day, the youngsters pound the keys together, making experimental music. Neither has been taught to play the piano, and their mother giggles as she listens to them adding “crash, whoop and bang” sound effects. |
| The duo have just arrived in London as part of a tour of Europe. They are grinning, despite the plonking. Do they want to learn to play? “No, because it’s too noisy,” says Maxime. “Yes,” shouts Louise, smashing her way down the keys. | The duo have just arrived in London as part of a tour of Europe. They are grinning, despite the plonking. Do they want to learn to play? “No, because it’s too noisy,” says Maxime. “Yes,” shouts Louise, smashing her way down the keys. |
| Thabo Mkwananzi, 37 & Aron Kyne, 30 Huddersfield | Thabo Mkwananzi, 37 & Aron Kyne, 30 Huddersfield |
| Mkwananzi and Kyne are seated at the Yamaha piano donated to the station by Elton John in 2016. They are in a world of their own, rehearsing songs for a gig at the 100 Club next week with their soul band. Thabo sings while Aron plays. | Mkwananzi and Kyne are seated at the Yamaha piano donated to the station by Elton John in 2016. They are in a world of their own, rehearsing songs for a gig at the 100 Club next week with their soul band. Thabo sings while Aron plays. |
| “I started playing when I was 13,” says Aron. “He [Thabo] has just arrived on a train, so I came to meet him. We’re about to go to Stratford to meet our bandmates so we thought we’d squeeze in some practice time. | “I started playing when I was 13,” says Aron. “He [Thabo] has just arrived on a train, so I came to meet him. We’re about to go to Stratford to meet our bandmates so we thought we’d squeeze in some practice time. |
| “If people want to watch and record it’s fine. But I just saw this unmanned piano so I was like, ‘right, let’s do this’.” | “If people want to watch and record it’s fine. But I just saw this unmanned piano so I was like, ‘right, let’s do this’.” |
| Music | Music |
| The Observer | The Observer |
| London | London |
| news | news |
| Share on Facebook | Share on Facebook |
| Share on Twitter | Share on Twitter |
| Share via Email | Share via Email |
| Share on LinkedIn | Share on LinkedIn |
| Share on Pinterest | Share on Pinterest |
| Share on WhatsApp | Share on WhatsApp |
| Share on Messenger | Share on Messenger |
| Reuse this content | Reuse this content |