X for X-treme

Radio 3's Piano A to Z by BBC

Oct 25, 20127:07Music

Although every instrument has a history of extreme techniques, the piano seems to have attracted more than its fair share of people wanting to see how far it, and they, could go. From Beethoven, who was known for destroy...

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Continue listening to more episodes from Radio 3's Piano A to Z.

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Oct 29, 2012 - 6:40

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Y for Yellow River

Oct 26, 2012 - 9:09

In 1969 at the height of the Chinese Cultural Revolution the Yellow River Piano Concerto, commissioned by...

W for Workshops

Oct 23, 2012 - 8:12

What goes into the making of a piano? How do the pianos of today differ from those which Liszt or Debussy...

V for Virtuoso

Oct 22, 2012 - 7:12

Virtuoso is a term applied to many of the world's top pianists of today. With its roots in the Italian us...

U for Upright

Oct 19, 2012 - 7:36

‘A sort of musical fungus attached to the walls of semi-detached houses in the provinces’ is how celebrat...

T for Tuning

Oct 17, 2012 - 8:59

The issue of tuning has been a live one ever since Greek mathematician and philosopher Pythagoras was pin...

S for Sustain

Oct 16, 2012 - 8:58

The sustain pedal, usually the one on the right, is the most commonly used pedal in a modern piano. When...

R for Repetiteur

Oct 15, 2012 - 7:47

Répétiteurs are so much more than just pianists. Sure, they have to be able to get around the keyboard. B...