MUSIC AND MUSCLES.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XLV, Issue 12074, 10 June 1920, Page 7

MUSIC AND MUSCLES.

Piano plaving is real hard work, for in no other sphere, except that of typewriting, perhaps, is the wear and tear of the nerves so great. The rapidity with which a pianist consumes energy is so enormous that in only a couple of hours' work the consumption of heat is sufficient to boil twenty gallons of iced water. At a conference of musicians, held some years ago in Dublin, it was shown that the ordinary player must cultivate the eye to see no less than 1500 signs per minute, while the fingers had to fly over the keyboard and make upwards of 2000 movements. .In a part of Chopin's "Etude in E Minor," the rate of reading reaches 3950 signs in two and a half minutes, which is equivalent to over twenty-six notes per second. As the I eye can receive only about ten coni secutive impressions per second it I will be apparent that the brain must 1 accustom itself to read in groups. Generally speaking, a greater force I is required to make a note sound on a piano than is required to lift the lid of a kettle. As most kettle lids vary in weight- up to about two ounces, it will be seen that a pressure of something like three to four ounces is required to produce a sound on the piano, even though it be very soft. In Chopin's last study in C Minor, there is a passage which takes two minutes and five seconds to play. The pressure which must ne brought to boar on the keys during this time is equal to 8130 kilogrammes, or sufficient to remove over three tons. In the same composer's "Funeral March," a passage occurs which takes a minute and a half to play, and is only estimated at 834 kilogrammes, but even here it will he seen that a pianist would only require to work four or live minutes to move a ton. From these examples it will he seen that the total tonnage of one hour's playing varies from twelve to eighty-four tons.