The music world offers many different professions, one of them is a concertmaster. This is, in fact, an accompanist, but the scope of his duties is great, as is the range of skills and abilities. The great role of the accompanist in pedagogical activity, in the work of ensembles, special responsibilities fall on his shoulders in opera. We’ll talk about what the accompanist’s work consists of and what qualities he should have.
The concept of "accompanist"
It is believed that the accompanist is a simple profession that people who are not able to become soloists go to. But in reality, these musicians should have a much greater arsenal of abilities and skills, since it is not enough just to be good performers, but you also need to have a sense of ensemble, be able to effectively deliver a soloist, etc. The concertmaster accompanies other musicians, students, musical performances. The very name of the profession suggests that this person is a master of conducting concerts, he is the unifying beginning of concert action.
Profession history
The formation of the profession of accompanist takes place in the 17th century, when special pianists appear who accompany the performances of the singers. This specialization grows out of the practice of home concerts, when chamber concerts of musicians were held in the living rooms and they were accompanied by specially prepared pianists. Gradually, the profession crystallizes and acquires new nuances and responsibilities. Accompanists become popular in musical pedagogy, in opera, in symphony orchestras. Today, the accompanist is an assistant conductor and concert manager. Gradually, several varieties of this profession are being formed: actually the accompanist, pianist, accompanist, teacher and opera accompanist. Consider the specifics of each species.
Accompanist
The accompanist accompanying the vocalist provides him with a musical background. However, this is a simple profession only at first glance. The task of finding the harmonious coexistence of a clavier accompaniment part and a solo voice or instrument rests with the accompanist. The concertmaster of this variety solves the problem of creating an acoustic ensemble, for this he needs to be a like-minded soloist, his partner. But if necessary, the accompanist should become the leader, leader of the concert, he guides the vocalist, leads him and at the same time emphasizes the beauty of the sound of the soloist. The concertmaster should be no less than a soloist in terms of talent and skill, they should have one breath. Often the accompanist helps out the vocalist, helps him in unforeseen and difficult situations. It is not in vain that many vocalists are looking for "their" accompanist and have been working with the same partners for years.
Concertmaster pianist
The concertmaster is always a virtuoso musician, because he has to solve several creative tasks at the same time. Often, accompanists work as pianists, but not everyone, even very talented, can become a concertmaster.
From the second half of the 19th century, when professional performing art began to take shape, a separate specialty, the pianist, was singled out, at the same time specific criteria for assessing the skills of the accompanist began to form. And not everyone was able to combine these two professions. There are philistine ideas that anyone who knows the pianistic technique can easily become an accompanist. Naturally, they do not correspond to reality. A concertmaster-pianist, often working in an orchestra or ensemble, must subtly feel group creativity, be able to direct the parts of other musicians, and control the flow of the melody.
The formation of the Russian school of accompanists was greatly facilitated by outstanding composers: M. Glinka, S. Rachmaninov, M. Musorgsky, A. Rubinshtein. They introduced features such as smooth sound production, imagery, and perfect technique into the culture of accompaniment. Thanks to their activities, the significance of the accompanist’s figure and his skill is reassessed. From a secondary actor, he turns into a full-fledged partner of the ensemble.
Concertmaster Teacher
Historically, the accompanist was also associated with pedagogy. Accompaniment in vocals and choreography is a special skill and art. The concertmaster is an important figure in the pedagogical process. The subtle ear of the accompanist allows you to catch the student’s mistakes. The pianist helps the student to better show the possibilities of his voice, to reveal the depth of the work, to find the right interpretation. An accompanist-teacher must not only possess the technique and musical instinct, but also pedagogical abilities, he must be able to penetrate the psychology of the student, find contact with him.
Concertmaster of the Opera
Another important role of the accompanist is work in the opera. In this status several roles merge at once. Firstly, the accompanist is a tutor for the singer, helps him find the right sound, controls the accuracy of the performance. Therefore, he must have a delicate ear and great musical erudition. Secondly, he is the leader of the string group in the orchestra, assistant and support conductor. The conductor of the creative idea of ​​the director to the orchestra is also the accompanist. Notes are just a texture that still needs to be played with a certain pace, mood, soul. This is the deep content and the accompanist conveys and clearly controls its maintenance during the performance.
Accompanist Qualities
Such diverse duties as accompanist require special qualities from him. In addition to masterly mastering the instrument, he must have a good ear, he must master the ensemble technique and have ideas about singing. A good accompanist should not only play sheet music easily, but also follow the melody, be able to direct the soloist along the right path. The accompanist also needs patience, the ability not to put his ambitions above the general interest.
A good accompanist necessarily has intuition, has a quick reaction and the ability to instantly rebuild. Indeed, in the event of a soloist’s mistake during the concert, he should quickly adapt to the artist without breaking the rhythm of the performance. The accompanist must be a contact person. When working with an ensemble or soloist, interaction between the participants is extremely important. During the concert, the musicians are guided not only by the movements of the conductor, but also by the views and facial expressions of the accompanist.
The demand for accompanists
The profession of accompanists remains prestigious and in demand in the market. This is due to the fact that a good accompanist is a piece of goods, a unique combination of talent and school. Today, the accompanist’s headquarters is in every educational musical institution, in theaters, orchestras, and concert organizations. Numerous performers want to work with personal accompanists who are well aware of their style and capabilities. Therefore, good specialists often go hunting and fighting.
Accompanist job description
Different organizations have different responsibilities for the accompanist. However, in general, the accompanist’s job description includes such requirements as the ability to read from a sheet, transpose musical works, and pedagogical skills. The accompanist must know the parties in which he participates, observe discipline and be responsible for the performance of his duties. The accompanist has organizational, pedagogical and psychological responsibilities.
Famous Accompanists
As we found out, the work of the accompanist is creative, complex, multi-tasking. Not every artist can become a good accompanist, so specialists are worth its weight in gold. For many years, many vocalists have been working with some accompanists alone, and friendly, almost kinship relations develop between them. The most famous representatives of this profession are M. Bichter, D. Moore, B. Mandrus, D. Ashkenazi, M. Nemenova-Luntz.