Who is the artist, really?
Last night on “So You Think You Can Dance,” executive producer and choreographer, Nigel Lythgoe made an insightful comment to one of the dancers. “You are not the artist – the choreographer is. You are the artist’s brush. You are the instrument with which they paint,” he said.
Musicians would be wise to take this advice and understand their role in the creation of music. Their first responsibility is to the composer – to be true to the composer’s intentions and what he is aiming to communicate through his music. The performer must first serve the music with a pure and honest interpretation that is in keeping with the composer’s style. Having first considered this, the performer is then free to express himself through the music.