August 5, 2011 "Dueling Pianos" with Peter Dopatka and Steinway Artist Elio Villafranca at M.Steinert & Sons, Boston, MA, on two Model D Steinways

Once a courtly salon sport, now a global unifier. “Duelling Pianos” is brought to you by Boston’s M.Steinert & Sons’ Steinway Pianos, Principle Pictures, and G.G. Garth Productions. Two composers, one jazz, one classical, met over a Steinway piano.
Their only shared language: Music. On August 5, 2011, Steinway Artist Elio Villafranca, from Cuba, and Peter Dopatka, composer and former student of Stephan Askenase, from Germany, met and collaborated for the first time to “duel” at Steinert’s. This is the composition that resulted on two Model D’s in our Steinway room at 162 Boylston Street.

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Remarks by Elio Villafranca, Steinway Artist, followed by Peter Dopatka’s remarks

When Ghia of GGGarth Productions mentioned to me the possibility of meeting and duelling piano with a great classical pianist/painter Peter Dopatka who was in town from Germany, I got very excited. Great! I thought. While, I’m not so much of a duelling type of guy --I like to build things together and that applies to my music-- but the nature of a musician is to meet new talents to collaborate. My understanding was that Peter was a very accomplished classical concert pianist, which intrigued me and worried me a bit at the same time. How would we communicate? I’m a jazz pianist, trained in classical music so I know how difficult it could be to establish a bridge of musical communication between a jazz pianist (me) and a classical pianist (him). But I was up for the adventure.

That afternoon, Peter and I met at M.Steinert & Sons in Boston, MA. First, I tested some wonderful pianos in the hall and we both decided on two flanking Model D Steinways. He suggested to first play together on one piano as a form of introduction, so we sat at one piano.

One Steinway

Peter suggested the key of D major as a center of inspiration. Carefully, I observed his hands, listened to his music for a few bars, and within seconds I felt comfortable.

I closed my eyes and began playing. We played for a few minutes at one piano. Once we felt that we were formally introduced, and were comfortable with one another, we split. He moved to the piano to my left. Another wonderful Steinway D.

Two Steinways

The second piece we played on two separate Model D Steinways was more animated. For this one, Peter suggested the key of Db major as center of inspiration. Once again I closed my eyes and it felt like freedom! I was playing on my own piano, and he was playing on his own. Each of us had a weapon of 88 black and white bullets. After all it was a duelling, but the most wonderful kind. He was shooting at me beautiful melodic themes and I responded with an extension of his idea. We took turns, I initiating the conversation and then he would follow it.

Two Steinways -- Swapped

For the third piece, we switched pianos.

This time I suggested no center key for inspiration. Just listen and everything follows. That is the real test! How to play together with no conceived mode or key. Just listen! We did, we listened to one another and the result was magical. Every so often I opened my eyes and looked to my right to watch Peter’s hands and his facial expressions. I like Peter’s sense of composition; this is the very thing I need as a classical and jazz pianist to create music when it is improvised. The music went to many different places as a result, and it was one of those moments in which the music flows and I could have played for days.

I hope to do it again

Peter Dopatka’s Thoughts on "Duelling Pianos"

Als ich vor dem Duelling durch den Public Garden spazierte, war ich auf der Suche nach einem guten Start.
Before Duelling Pianos at M.Steinert & Sons, I was walking through the Public Garden, considering what would be the right place to begin the "duel".

Ich versuchte erst einmal ganz leer zu werden um dann beim Spiel diesen Raum fuellen zu koennen.
I tried at first to empty myself so as to be able to allow myself to be filled with the feeling that this "duel" might bring.

Normalerweise ist es wichtig, sich vor einer Performance einzuspielen. Diesmal jedoch wollte ich direkt starten.
Normally, it’s important to warm up before a performance. This time I wished only to begin straight away.

Als wir bei Steinways auf die anderen warteten, beruehrte ich die Fluegel nicht einmal.
While waiting for the film crew to arrive, I did not even touch the piano once, but waited.

Als Elio Villafranca ankam spielte er sich auf zwei grand pianos ein.
When Elio Villafranca arrived, he tested two grand pianos.

Er startete mit Jazz was ich sehr mochte und welches mich gleichzeitig inspirierte, einen ganz anderen Weg zugehen und mit einem Motiv im klassischen Sinne zu starten.
He began with jazz, of which I’m very fond and which at the same moment inspired me to go in a very different direction, and thereby to suggest a classical motif.

Erst auf einem Fluegel, First on One Piano:

Wir begannen ein musikalisches Gespraech ersteinmal auf einem Konzertfluegel.
Elio and I began our musical conversaton first together on one concert piano.

Beide konnten wir nur einen Teil der Tastatur fuer uns beanspruchen.
We each took a section of the key board for ourself.

Durch diese Naehe hatten wir die Moeglichkeit uns gegenseitig zu beobachten und die Melodie wie in einem gemeinsamen zusammenfuehrenden Raum zu entwickeln.
Through our proximity, side-by-side we had the possibility to observe each other, and thereby the melody could develop as a unified entity, driven individually but in unity by each of us.

Ich fand es sehr erstaunlich, dass wir in der Musik mit zwei Koepfen und zwanzig Fingern so schnell eine Einheit gefunden haben.
I found it quite astounding that we so quickly found a co-creative unity, despite our two heads and 20 fingers.

Wir tauschten uns aus, griffen die Tonfolgen des anderen auf und gingen in Phasen dazu ueber, uns zu duellieren um dann wieder zueinander zu finden.
We took turns, got the vibe of each other’s sound and then played in phases duelling against each other, followed by the realization that were were again playing not against each other but in a unified manner.

Zwei Fluegel, Two Pianos:

Nach dieser ersten Begegnung haben wir uns auf zwei Fluegel aufgeteilt und einige wenige Worte ausgetauscht.
After the initial encounter on one piano, we separated to two pianos and exchanged perhaps a few words.

Wir einigten uns auf eine Anfangstonart mit allen erdenklichen Freiheiten.
We unified ourselves with an beginning sound/theme, but with the freedom to develop it however we individually chose to.

Ich begann mit einer hellen Stimme das zweite Stueck zu eroeffnen.
I began this piece with a light voice.

Es dauerte nicht lange bis wir nach dem Einstieg wieder ausbrachen, das Stueck orchestral (tuti) weiterentwickelten und die volle Klangfarbe nutzten.
It wasn’t long after we began that the piece developed into an orchestral sound, and thus came the full colour of the sound.

An zwei Fluegeln zu spielen war ein voellig anderes Erlebnis als an einem. Immer wieder brach einer von uns aus um dann von dem anderen zurueckgeholt zu werden.
To play on two concert pianos was a completely new and different experience, compared to playing together on one piano. Again and again one of us broke away, only to be reigned in again back by the other.

In dieser gesamten Phase haben wir auch ohne direkten Blickkontakt dennoch den gemeinsam den Dialog fortgefuehrt.
Another aspect to our collaboration or "duel" was to not make direct eye contact, but evenso our musical dialogue developed.

Im Stueck No 3, For Piece #3:

Wir wechselten die Pianos.
We swapped pianos.

Ein sofortiger temperamentvoller Einstieg, sehr rythmisch. Ein leichter spielerischer Kampf entstand.
We began with an immediate temperment-full increase, very rhythmic, resulting in a light, playful "duel".

Ich hatte das Gefuehl das wir grenzenlos ohne Einschraenkungen spielen konnten und den Wahrheitsgehalt erreicht haben.
I had the feeling we had no boundaries, that we could play without restriction, and that we reached the essence of truth in creation.

Wir konnten uns auf einer sehr hohen musikalischen Ebene treffen ohne uns zuverlieren.
We were able to meet at a very high musical level without losing each other’s intention.

Beide zeigten ihre Staerken. Es war nicht konstruiert und aufgesetzt.
Both of us demonstrated our strengths. It was not contrived or showy.

Kein Akord war ueberfluessig. Die Spannung entwickelte sicher immer weiter.
Not one chord was superficial. The tension developed steadily and continuously.

Es schien so, als wenn wir beide eine unschlagbare Einheit darstellten.
It appeared as though we both exhibited an undefeatable unity.

Wir hatten uns viel zu sagen.
We had so much to "say" (musically) to one another.

Dann wurde die Melodie ruhiger und romantischer. Wie ein Nocturne. Mit Ausbruechen die das naechtliche immer wieder unterbrachen.
Then the melodie softened and grew more romantic, as in a Nocturne, followed by explosive sounds that interrupted the deeper, more mysterious sounds.

Stueck No 4 (oder Vortsetzung von No3 nach der Unterbrechung der Aufnahme - ca. 17:30 auf der CD), Piece #4 (or continuation of #3 after the interruption due to change in cassett at approx. 17:30)

Es begann ein schneller Lauf als Fortsetzung des vorangegangenen.
It began with a quicker paced sequence.

Jedoch deutlich ruhiger was die Melodiefuehrung anging.
This melody was certainly calmer, than at the beginning.

Die Musik klang aus, wie ein verheissungsvoller Abschied trennte wir uns – und das zweite Klavier (Elio) gab noch einen letzten leisen Gruss.
The sound of the music reduced as if saying goodbye with anticipation of what is to come. And the second piano on which Elio played, gave the last tender bidding of farewell.

Das Duelling war fuer mich ein wunderbares Zusammenspiel und eine in dieser Art ganz neue Erfahrung ueber die sprachlichen, kulturellen und unterschiedliche musikalischen Hintergruende hinaus.
Duelling for me was a wonderful collaboration and an entirely new experience, especially interesting encountering Elio’s and my literal/verbal communication, cultural similarities and differences, and different musical backgrounds (classical v. jazz).

Ich haette nicht gedacht das ein Duell zwei Pianisten sozusammen bringt.
I never imagined that a duel could bring two pianists so very much together.