Dialogue Between Two Pianos - Long Duo

~ A Talk with Long Sisters ~

Beatrice Long and Christina Long are being internationally renowned not only as soloists but also duo-pianists. Born in Hualien, a beautiful city on the east coast of Taiwan, Long sisters grew up in a family filled of music and arts. Recently, besides releasing the new album "it's lovely here – songs and suits by Rachmaninoff," they also have received an invitation to perform in Taiwan in 2007. Music Park hereby invites Longs to talk about their musical lives. This dialogue reveals the passions, wittiness, as well as tacit understanding between the sisters.

Musical Upbringing and Mutuality

■ How did you get into doing music?
B: Music is a big part of our family live as we grew up. Playing music, singing, listening to music were as natural and frequent in our daily lives as eating or even breathing.
C: Thanks to my parents who provided us a surrounding filled with music and art. It would be unnatural NOT to be involved in music with our upbringing.

■ What's the biggest motivation behind doing music? Why?
B: When I was little, I remember being moved by certain music and thinking: "God! Is there anything else more wonderful than music?" Then through my difficult adolescent years, music became a way for me to "vent" my emotions. I always felt many emotions which were impossible to articulate in words, so I was happy to find such a powerful tool, music, to express my deepest feelings. I also find music to be an incredible way of putting order among chaos. As a middle-age woman now, I found music still irresistible because music has the power to make time stand still!! (it is better than any anti-aging drug.) A great piece of music transcend time and space.
C: In our society where "to do" list is the most important thing, I've always enjoyed "to be" with music. Not to be rushed, but to take time pondering the beauty in it. The process of music-making helps me to calm down, to be more "human" by being aware of my inner world. I have always been intrigued by the fact how music can uplift one's spirit, and I thought it would be a meaningful way for me to live this life doing music.

■ Which musicians have the most impacts on your music?
B: Gee.....there have been many throughout different stages of my life. Yo-Yo Ma, Mieczyslaw Horszoski, Leon Fleisher, Fou Tsong..... And there are many who still have an impact on me even though they have been gone for a long time, Alfred Cortot (to play like you have just composed it,) Autur Schnabel (to make music from above your eyebrow, to anticipate the rendering of the entire composition, as one slow exhalation.) Nadia Boulanger (conventions are point of reference.) The wisdom, creativity and courage of these great artists are my inspiration.
C: I have also been inspired by artists such as Claude Frank, Fou T' song and Radu Lupu, just to name a few. I felt I have heard some of the rare qualities of what the great playing is about. They showed me some color that I have never heard before on the instrument, and the structure of a piece is so well built that a 40-minute piece felt like 5 minute. My formal teachers, Adam Wodnicki and Vladimir Viardo and my dear duo partner, Beatrice, also have had an impact on me. Viardo has demonstrated me what the amazing technique and imagination can do to the piano playing. Wodnicki showed me that even the smallest performing opportunity is to be valued. This view helped shaping my view as a performing artist. As far as what Beatrice have affected me musically is hard to describe. She "forces" me to strive for the impossible perfection, to go as far as possible for certain colors even when I am ready to quit rehearsing.

Piano Duo- an Incredible Journey

■ As already successful solo pianists, why did you want to do duo?
B: Because I love to torture my sister!! (Just kidding.) Duo piano expand the sonic capability of this instrument even further - who doesn't like a bigger sound box? The repertoire is interesting! Lots of great new stuff written and not too many great recordings to live up to (half joking again). Besides, after the concerts, it is more fun to be with my sis than being alone in the hotel.
C: I have always enjoyed playing chamber music since a young age. To make music with someone of high caliber is a stimulating experience. I have always enjoyed the interchange without words. Another reason is that I had a fond memory of a recital which Beatrice and I had when we were 9&11 years old playing solo and four-hand music. But somehow we went on to study in different places and subsequently settle in different part of the country. The physical distance kept us apart until one day during the end of my pursuit for the doctorate degree, B called me to check whether I would be interested to try a duo competition. I jumped and screamed "Yes" right at that spot. I was so glad that I finally could find time to do something I love. Since then, it has been an incredible journey.

"As a Musician, Never be Self-Complacent"

■ After winning many awards and competitions, have that influenced you in doing music?
B: Competitions and awards help only as a small stepping-stone. Sometimes it can open doors for you, but as a musician we can't afford to be self-complacent. Ultimately you can't rely on it to make or break your career. They didn't increase or decrease my devotion to music.
C: They didn't really influence my decision, either. However, winning competitions can boost up one's confidence and confirm that what I am trying is in right direction. Winning the duo competition helped launching our concerts as a duo (before we were concentrated solely on solo,) it helped define our "sister act. "

■What are you trying to communicate through your performance?
B: Our goal is to bring the innermost meaning of the notes.
C: What we want to achieve is to shorten the distance between composer, performer and the audience and to transport the audience to another sphere, another level of consciousness.
B: We love to explore a new way of expression from a common form of music. It fascinates us always how a person can have a strong communication with people in the same room without uttering a word.
C: Music is a super-language, to speak it with freedom and eloquence is our goal.

■ In your performance, what attract the people the most?
B: I think it is different for everyone. But repeatedly our audience had told us that they were impressed with how we can sound like one person, yet having our own individuality and spontaneity at the same time.
C: People simply tell us that they have a great time watching the interchange between my sister and I -non-verbal, mostly. However, what attracts people is an abstract question because it changes with time and places. We have been praised for being dynamic in our presentation.
B: And in more intimate settings, people have really enjoyed seeing our individuality comes through in a warm and inviting manner.

■ What advices would you give for people who are starting their career as a pianist?
B: To be as diversified as possible-to "survive" as a professional musician these days, you need to develop as many skills as possible, business and people skill can come in handy. To find the repertoire closest to your heart. Be yourself, don't expect to please everyone. Don't do it unless you really love it and be persistent.
C: To be a successful pianist one can benefit from having a well-rounded knowledge, not just on piano playing, but keep your curiosity open as to the background of the music you are playing and the structural and stylistic content of the piece. To better understand the scope of emotions in human nature.
B: Another words, a good balance between the mind, the heart and the spirit!
C: Exactly! Also as classical musicians, we need to have a strong stomach and a positive attitude so you can face the stress of the precariousness and ups and downs, which is part of this career.

Rachmaninoff – a Challenge to Zillions of Notes

■Have you experienced any difficulties on playing Rachmaninoff's duo-piano works? How did you handle it?
B: The writing of Rachmaninoff is usually dense. One of the challenges is to sort out the hierarchy-both horizontally and vertically-amongst the zillions of notes. This is a way to make sense of the music structurally so the grandeur of this music can be conveyed.
C: For example, the most immediate impression of the first Suite is the sense of melancholy and loneliness. If the structure is not conveyed, it could come across as being merely sentimental and sensationalistic. But Rachmaninoff's music has its own nobility and is so majestic when a performer can sustain a long line.
B: The other set of problem in the duo music writing is in the area of balance and synchronization. To sound spontaneous is harder in two pianos than one piano for the obvious reason. You need to know each other's part well, as well as your partner's sense of timing so you can "breath" together.

■ What is the most different experience in your new recording?
B: Well, on the first day of our recording, the NYC subway went on strike. So it was a challenge to get the pianos out of New York City in the chaotic traffic and to ship them to Queens where we made our recording. It was freezing cold in December, so before and during recording we had to make sure our pianos stay in tune. We often got into late night sessions, so we ended up eating all the dark chocolate truffles that we meant to give to Dahong (our producer) for Christmas! But that box saved us.
C: What kind of friends we are, eating up all that chocolate which was meant for his family! But he forgave us, as long as we sounded like dark chocolate! (laughing.) But frankly, this recording was a different experience for me in one aspect; it was a serious challenge to one's stamina. It was physically and mentally taxing, like running a 10K marathon!
B: Or like having a three-day labor before giving birth!! But of course Christina doesn't know what it's like since her labor took less than an hour.

■ What inspires you in playing lately?
B: The latest? Probably the YouTube; the clips on Baronboim giving master class to Lang Lang, Martha Argerich playing Rachmaninoff concerto No. 3, and Glen Gould......
C: Beatrice is hooked watching that stuff.....Since I don't like to spend too much time in front of the computer screen, I would say the book "Chopin: pianist and teacher" has been inspiring to me.

Comparative Roles of Mothers, Teachers, and Musicians

■ Which roles do you enjoy the most: teachers or performers? Why?
B: I teach to live, but I live to perform. But wait, teaching - articulating and explain ideas - helps me perform better. And performing makes me a better teacher, performing definitely helps me understand human limitations. Teaching is rewarding to me also because of the direct human interaction.
C: I would say the balance of both is a healthy way to live. In performance, I communicate through my fingers and my mind. When the curtain of the stage rolls up, the spotlight is on, I feel it is my mission to share the visions in the music, the talent God has given to share with my audience. In teaching, I enjoy the verbal communication with students, to explore the "how's" and the meaning behind the printed notes. The transformation of even the smallest step from a student always delights me tremendously.

■ How do you find a balance point being mothers and musicians?
C: Still balancing and joggling all the time! It's a never-ending challenge but extremely rewarding. I know I shouldn't complain..... Clara Schumann had 7 children and kept going all the time. In this day and age, many women are in the same shoes and many are doing a fantastic job.
B: We learn even if you have 20 min to practice, we don't take it for granted.

■ What do you like to do the most during leisure time?
C: If I ever have leisure time! I always enjoy being close to nature, reading, watching a movie, and eating out in restaurants.
B: Sleep, taking a bubble bath, reading. I enjoy out door sports like skiing and snorkeling, but don't get to do it very much these days.

Taiwan – a Forever Home

■ What does Taiwan mean to you?
B: Taiwan fascinates me with its development and its vitality. It holds a very dear place in my heart not only because I spent my first 16 years there, but also because I still experience warmth and hospitality every time I visiting there. It is not a big island, but it has plenty of people who have big hearts and creative minds. Our hometown Haulien continues to be one of our favorite places.
C: We played there, Hualien, in 2005—the first time since we left in the 80's. For the encore in the concert, we played "It's Lovely Here" with tears in our eyes.

■ If you were not pianists, what kind of jobs would you do?
B: Christina would be a make-up artist! She is very gifted as a beautician. Also if she ever opens a restaurant, I will be dinning there all the time.
C: Compare to your cooking.....yes, of course you will dine with my Cooking! But I think you might have been a writer, or an actress. With your wild imagination and excellent way of mimicking people, you can create drama in whatever you do.

B: Well, thanks! But I somehow can't imagine doing anything other than music.