Pianist
A pianist is a person who plays the piano, either as an amateur or a professional.
A professional pianist can either perform solo pieces, play with an orchestra or smaller ensemble, or accompany one or more singers or solo instrumentalists.
A performing classical pianist usually starts playing piano at a very young age, some as early as three years old. Many well-known classical composers were able pianists themselves, i.e. Franz Liszt, Frederic Chopin and Robert Schumann.Some pianists have special preferences as to which composer's music they play.
Most western forms of music (can) make use of the piano. Consequently a pianist has a wide variety of forms and styles to choose from, including jazz, boogie woogie, and all sorts of pop-music.
Wellknown classical pianists:
- Martha Argerich
- Claudio Arrau
- Van Cliburn
- Vasso Devetsi
- Vladimir Feltsmann
- Emil Gilels
- Jacob Gimpel
- Misha Goldstein
- Glenn Gould
- Lola Graham, Australian pianist
- Friedrich Gulda
- Gerard Hengeveld
- Wilhelm Kempff
- Liberace
- John Nakamatsu
- Maria Joao Pires
- Eduaro del Pueyo
- Karl Richter
- Hans Richter-Haaser
- Arthur Rubinstein
- Jean-Yves Thibaudet
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Well known jazz pianists:
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