A transcription of words by (possibly) the greatest pianist after Liszt:
"the purpose of art is to uplift and spiritualise, not necessarily to entertain... art is aristocratic, not democratic... music demands a consecration, a cultus in the temple to which only the initiated are admitted: she demands to be the chosen of the elect, to possess somewhat of the mysterious".
Rubinstein demanded that pupils learn to sing, for without an understanding of breathing and phrasing, piano playing degenerates into mere fingerwork.
acknowledgements to Larry Sitsky, "Anton Rubinstein" pp18-22
"the purpose of art is to uplift and spiritualise, not necessarily to entertain... art is aristocratic, not democratic... music demands a consecration, a cultus in the temple to which only the initiated are admitted: she demands to be the chosen of the elect, to possess somewhat of the mysterious".
Rubinstein demanded that pupils learn to sing, for without an understanding of breathing and phrasing, piano playing degenerates into mere fingerwork.
acknowledgements to Larry Sitsky, "Anton Rubinstein" pp18-22
