On Saturday I was one of three judges for the piano competion for the central region of the Virginia Music Teachers Association. We heard 21 pianists from grammar school through high school.
One thing that surprised me about the day was that many of the children communicated sad music much better than the spritely happy music that seems like it would fit so well with their character. I wonder why.
I am reminded of a moment in Benjamin Britten's opera Peter Grimes when Ellen Orford tells Peter that the woes of little people may be greater than those of grown ups.
Maybe I was just struck by the poignancy of children playing sad music.
Or perhaps child-musicians don't appreciate their own youthfulness.
