Psycho-physio dynamics in violin-piano duo: a pianist's perspective

The case study looked at psychological and physiological responses to stress in musicians, comparing a newly formed and a consolidated violin-piano duo. The common element between these duos was the pianist. Using the psychological tests (STAI Y1 and Y2, K-MPAI, MMPI-2, ICAC), the immunoassay saliva test to measure cortisol (stress hormone) and non- invasive device VitalJacket® developed at the University of Aveiro, Portugal, participants were monitored under various performance conditions. Others quantitative and qualitative dataset were collected including a pianist’s personal diary (analyzed by psychiatrist), semi-structured interviews with members of long-terms chamber music duo and perceptual evaluations (listening test) of the performances by expert listeners. The variables included two performance venues (European university and secondary school), as well as well-known repertoire, recently known repertoire and newly known repertoire. The latter was given approximately one week before each recital. The psychological and physiological dataset were collected for a total of eight recitals – two series of four recitals each. The unexpected results show that state anxiety levels and stress of the pianist, who does not present an anxious profile, either in social or in musical terms, are always higher when playing with a well-known partner. Possible explanations may be due to the highest expectations for quality of performance and implications of mirror neurons (since the reactions are very different according to the partner). In other words, the “known” (i.e., the consolidated duo) can become “trapped” within a predetermined space, especially at the psychological level, while the “unknown” (the occasional duo) seems to be less involved and therefore more reassuring and exciting in positive terms. In addition, the preference of the expert audience is for the consolidated duo.

The menorah : from Theodore Herzl ; for solo, tenor or soprano, violin and piano ; with 4 texts: Hebrew, Jewish, English and German

composed by A. Haitmann

The Ghetto song : Rachel oh Rachel ; for solo, tenor or soprano, violin and piano ; with 4 texts: Hebrew, Jewish, English and German

composed by A. Haitmann. [Words] from Hugo Zuckermann

Concertino, in D major, for violin and piano, op. 12 /

Acc. originally for orchestra.

Popular collection for[violin and piano]

Score for violin and piano, part for violin.

Classical collection for violin and piano.

Pl. no. 54415-83.

Concerto, for violin and piano, op. 61.

Mode of access: Internet.

[Collection of music arranged for violin and piano.]

Contains works by Beethoven, Appollinaire de Kontski, G. Scheller, H. Vieuxtemps, J.W. Kalliwoda, Mozart, F. von Suppé, F. Doppler, and L. Spohr.

Concerto, in G minor, for violin and piano, op. 26 /

"Carl Fischer's music library, no. 312."

Romanze : for violin and piano, op. 42 /

Mode of access: Internet.

Concerto, no. 4, D major, for violin and piano /

"Carl Fischer's music library, no. 872"

Concerto in A, op. 20 : (Konzertstück) : for violin and piano /

Mode of access: Internet.

Concerto, no. 19 in D minor, for violin and piano /

Acc. originally for orchestra.

Twenty sonatas for violin and piano. [music] : Original version (Urtext).

V. 1. No.19 (K. 57) F major. No.20 (K. 58) E (flat) major. No.22 (K. 60) E minor. No.24 (K. 296) C major. No.25 (K.301) G major. No.26 (K. 302 E (flat) major. No.27 (K.303) C major. No.28 (K. 304) E minor. No.29 (K. 305) A major No.30 (K. 306) D major. No.32 (K. 376) F major. No.33 (K. 377) F major -- v. 2. No.34 (. 378) B major. No.35 (K. 379) G major. No.36 (K. 380) E (flat) major. No.37 (K. 402) A major. No.40 (K. 454) B major. No.41 (K. 481) E (flat) major. No.42 (K. 526) A major. No.43 (K. 547) F major.