Lang Lang teaches piano in the "Happy Piano Key" music classroom
Between the mountains, the piano master and the 9-year-old child played four hands together, and a "Four Little Swans Waltz" touched everyone on the scene.
On October 8, the pianist Lang Lang brought the "Happy Piano Keys" of Lang Lang Art Foundation to Wenchuan County Qiyi Yingxiu Middle School and Wenchuan Special Education School. He prepared a special National Day for 9 schools in Sichuan and Tibet. The gift-"Happy Piano Key" music classroom-each school is equipped with a music classroom with 16 electric pianos.
From piano masters, charity practitioners to crossovers to participate in variety shows, Lang Lang seems to be very busy these years.
On the afternoon of the 8th, after the day’s activities, Lang Lang chatted with the Red Star News reporter in his Mandarin with a Northeast accent, talking about public welfare, life, and music.
Chengdu Commercial Daily-Red Star News reporter Qiu Junfeng Photographer Wang Hongqiang
Put the seeds of music
Sprinkle into the hearts of children
On the morning of October 8, Lang Lang appeared in Yingxiu Middle School in Qiyi and played the "Four Little Swans Waltz" with local minority children.
In the afternoon, he rushed to Wenchuan Special Education School non-stop to play table tennis, music class, chorus with the children... This charity project called "Happy Piano Keys" has already settled in 45 schools in Inner Mongolia, Henan and other places. It aims to provide professional music learning equipment and a relaxed and pleasant learning environment for children in rural areas, the disabled and ethnic minorities, so that more children have the opportunity to learn music and learn piano.
"I hope to sow the seeds of music into the hearts of children and grow up happily with music. The process of practicing piano may be boring, but the music itself is very beautiful."
Music education and popularization is one of the important tasks of pianist Lang Lang over the years. After temporarily reducing a certain number of piano recitals each year, he started a charity activity in the field of music. "I always hope to promote music education. For everyone, this is a dream I have had for a long time. Now the time is ripe and it can be realized slowly."
Red Star News: When did you get the idea of doing charity?
Why consider starting with music?
Lang Lang: I was awarded the "UNICEF Image Ambassador" when I was 20 years old. In 2004, I visited Tanzania in Africa as a UN International Goodwill Ambassador to visit children suffering from disease, hunger and poverty. .
Because of the language, I couldn’t communicate with the local children, but as soon as I played the piano, the children danced to the music, and then we quickly became one. I saw that each of them had a confident smile and eyes. There is a good expectation for the future.
I had the idea of doing charity activities at that time, and I wanted to continue this charity activity in the form of music.
Red Star News: In your opinion, what gains can music bring to these children?
Lang Lang: I hope that music can open up children's worldview, and through music they can learn about the cultures of all parts of China.
Because playing the piano requires hands, the hands and the heart are connected again, that is, the palms are connected.
I hope that this kind of spiritual experience will also enable them to gain more.
In addition, through the music of different worlds, they can also learn the culture of the world.
Red Star News: Celebrities are prone to encounter some doubts when doing public welfare. What is your attitude toward this?
Lang Lang: It is indeed hard and thankless to do public welfare. For example, our project in Sichuan has been investigated for a long time.
Not doing anything can satisfy everyone, but if we can cultivate and discover talents and allow more children to enter the palace of art, all the hard work is worth it.
Our public welfare activities are still based on popularization, so that more children who do not have access to the piano can access this instrument.
We are really pragmatic to spread the seeds of music in more places. For example, the schools donated in Tibet and Sichuan this time have two special schools. Maybe they have some inherent shortcomings, but my feeling is that music will come together. Everyone's state has changed, and this state is my original intention.
Our foundation will also help talented children by giving them the guidance of concert halls around the world and famous teachers.
Going to variety shows is not doing business?
I have finished!
Since the beginning of this year, Lang Lang has appeared on many variety shows, such as "Romantic Journey of Wife", "Youth Tour 2", "Tomorrow's Son Orchestra Season", either resident or flying, or with his wife Gina.
Lang Lang, who appeared in variety shows, speaks Northeastern dialect, showing a more grounded side that is different from pianists. He has the unique humor of Northeastern people. His sweet interaction with Gina also arouses the envy of the audience.
However, with regard to frequent variety shows, Lang Lang said frankly that the reason for going to variety shows is very simple. Due to the epidemic, the concerts in the first half of the year can’t be played. “I know what I’m doing, and the concerts will start immediately. On variety shows, I still have to let people know what we do, and I can’t play around."
Red Star News: How do you feel about having been on a lot of variety shows this year?
Lang Lang: I have finished the show, this year's variety show has come to an end, so now I am preparing for the concert.
But these three months I am very happy, and I am also honored to receive invitations to these programs, which allowed me to find a wonderful childhood.
And through these programs, I can also spread classical music. This is my purpose. I can’t play blindly. We can let everyone know what I do while playing, right?
Red Star News: Variety shows show you another side, including life and love.
Lang Lang: I think it is necessary to be authentic in doing variety shows. Just express what you really want. This is the most important thing.
Many people said that I showed a lot of delicate aspects in variety shows. This is the influence of Gina on me. Her feelings are very delicate, and it has given me a good influence.
Red Star News: What is Gina's attitude toward your charity?
Lang Lang: She is very supportive. She followed me in many events before. She didn't come this time. But she watched the live broadcast and told me that she was very moved. She said that this is the most meaningful thing we did this year. one thing.
I will go home as soon as the activity is over. I’m basically going out for two or three days now. I’m going home and my wife’s team members. Family is very important to me now. Normal work will not delay the family.
Red Star News: What is the biggest thought for you from this epidemic?
What are the plans for the next work?
Lang Lang: The epidemic has a great impact on our performances. Our domestic control is very good, but abroad, all (events) have become online.
Online can only say "continued life", which is different from the scene. Looking at the feeling we are in the classroom today, how can we experience this atmosphere online?
I also hope that the world can be controlled quickly so that everyone can speed up to return to the normal track of life.
There will be several performances in the country in the future. Currently, Beijing’s National Grand Theater and Shanghai Oriental Art Center are scheduled. (Next year) there may be another performance of "Gothenburg Variations" in Chengdu in January, as well as Tianjin and Xi’an.
There are not so many performances this year, and they are much less than in previous years. Many places are still very careful, and many cities want to do it, but they are still more careful when applying for approval. This year, it is good to be careful.
Challenge "Gothenburg Variations"
Make life bigger
On September 4, Lang Lang released "Gothenburg Variations".
This is the largest and most magnificent variation in music history, including 30 variations, with repeated themes and greater difficulty.
After years of gestation and tempering, Lang Lang recorded the studio version and the live version.
The relationship with Bach can be traced back to Lang Lang at the age of 17.
At that time, he improvised after the concert and played the "Gothenburg Variations" for Eisenbach. This experience left deep memories for both musicians.
Later, Lang Lang began to learn from the leading figures who interpreted Bach, including master conductor Nicolas Hanoncourt, harpsichord player and early keyboard expert Andres Starr.
Red Star News: How do you feel about challenging the "Gothenburg Variations"?
Lang Lang: After playing this time, I feel that I have seen through a lot of style things, this is very useful for me.
I think there are some things that I used to think are very difficult to play, that is, culturally difficult to understand, or artistic conception is difficult to understand. I did a lot of homework this time, and after conquering these things through this song, I felt like I had passed it again. One pass.
Red Star News: "Gothenburg Variations" is more than 90 minutes in total. Is this length a challenge for you?
Lang Lang: This song is one and a half hours, not just to concentrate, you have to know how to design a rhythm for one and a half hours, how to gradually get to the climax?
This is very different from playing a tune for 10 minutes and half an hour.
So this will also make my structure a bit bigger, that is, it will be a little bit wider, and not so eager for quick success.
For example, for a five-minute song, it’s easy for you to rush for quick success and quickly finish it, right?
But you have to come a little bit of this kind of music, this time is still long, just like a marathon.
Have a better understanding of the long lines of your life.
Our music education
Must be more precise
As a well-known piano master at home and abroad, Lang Lang has shown outstanding musical talent since he was a child. At the age of 2 and a half years, after watching "Cat and Mouse", he started playing the melody on TV; at the age of 5, he Won the first place in the Children's Piano Competition of the Three Eastern Provinces; at the age of 15, he was admitted to the Curtis Institute of Music in the United States with Graffman as the first place; at the age of 17, he entered the Chicago Lavinia Music as a substitute Festival", became famous in one fell swoop...
On his way to becoming a pianist, Lang Lang had almost no play time in his childhood. He got up at 5 o'clock every morning to practice. He played the piano after he went home for lunch at noon, and only started to do his homework after he played the piano at night.
However, his artistic path has not been smooth sailing.
When he was 9 years old, he was preparing for the Central Music Supplementary Hour exam and was criticized by his teacher for "not having the ability to play the piano."
It has to be said that such criticism is a great blow to children who have been called "piano prodigies" since childhood.
Red Star News: Seeing that your performance is very contagious, how do you always maintain this love for the piano?
Lang Lang: When I was performing, I was really involved in the music. It has gone beyond happiness and is a kind of enjoyment.
We must express this feeling to everyone.
When we are playing highly musical works, we enjoy it very much. You will play it over and over again, just like listening to a good song and want to listen to it all the time.
In fact, the more you understand art, the more you want to pursue it.
This is reflected in our education. Our music education must be more precise and know what we are doing.
When you learn more, you will know that I will practice this way today.
Red Star News: Practicing piano is very hard, and your father was very strict with you at that time.
In your opinion, is strict supervision a necessary condition for practicing piano?
Lang Lang: Sometimes children really can't sit still, there is no way.
My father is indeed very strict with me, very fierce. Without his father's strictness, he would certainly not be able to achieve me.
But I think there is still family affection in it. If I just practice hard, I will definitely not be a pianist. I still have rich feelings. My relationship with my father is very good now.
My father and I played the piano at that time mainly because of the contradiction of musical ideas. Sometimes he wanted me to listen to some of his artistic ideas. I was not willing to listen. I always had my ideas.
Red Star News: There are many children learning piano in China. Do you have any suggestions for them?
Lang Lang: Parents nowadays don't force their children as much as I did when I was a child. It is much more relaxed.
They are also very clear that many children now cultivate interest and open up some horizons.
My suggestion is that the guidance to the child must be accurate. This is still very important, because some parents may not understand it. Originally, the child feels good, and then the parent's blind guidance is delayed.
Piano education also needs to be more precise. Our teachers are very serious in their attitudes, but they need to be more detailed. Some work hard, but they did not go to the artistic point. In the end, the timbre and sound that should be presented did not appear.