On a Personal Note
Directed by Lucy Bruell2011 60m TV-G
Having as a backdrop The New York Piano Competition, "On a Personal Note" explores the relationship between young classical pianists and their art, particularly how the personality and personal interpretation of each artist color a work of classical music. For centuries many classical compositions have had their composer's precise score outlining each note to be played, their duration, as well as the composition's tempo, and dynamics. Added to these strict instructions, a young artist is faced with the many recordings of renowned musicians as benchmarks of interpretation. Why classical music today? How can a young artist contribute to such formal art? Why does he or she would endure daily hours of rigorous training and practice in search of personal expression and identity? And how to interpret a brand new work, as it is the case when all the contestants are asked to perform composer John Musto's piece created especially for the competition: "Improvisation and Fugue?" These questions are part of this movie's reflective investigation into the soul of artists in formation.
Where to Watch On a Personal Note