Video concerts During the Corona pandemic, many artists have chosen to use the Internet for video concerts on various platforms. All too often, the video side did not match the musical one, with boring filming and bad sound. Now we have found an American pianist Frederick Moyer, whose Video-Concerts combine his musical artistry with technological innovations that allow him to play solo repertoire, concertos with orchestra, jazz standards with his trio, speak, show images and videos all without leaving his home.
A Video-Concert is the perfect synchronization of many moving parts, Moyer himself, his newly renovated 1939 Steinway Concert Grand Piano, recording equipment from Moyer’s recording company JRI Recordings, his patented MoyerCam (a projection device that displays a close-up of the performer’s hands on the underside of the piano lid), four video-cameras, a sound system, two computers, two projectors, and various hidden switches. Gabe Johnson, a computer programmer in Minnesota, operates the studio computer remotely to accomplish post-production. The resulting video looks like it was created by a large staff, when in fact Moyer is the only person in the room.
A press release says that « Video-Concerts have allowed Moyer to realize his dream of combining a wide variety of music and instrumentations into one performance. A typical program includes Schumann’s Third Sonata (in a version that includes a never-before-published last movement uncovered by Fred’s uncle), Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini using a wonderful orchestral accompaniment created by Music Minus One, Moyer’s own transcriptions of jazz pianists Marian McPartland and Oscar Peterson played along with Fred’s colleagues Peter Tillotson, bass and Peter Fraenkel, drums; and Samai, a Turkish tune by Goksel Baktagir, improvised by Moyer and oudist Iyad Staiti, who Moyer met in December during a visit to Palestine – Staiti’s performance is projected on the underside of the lid of the piano. Moyer’s own USolo software synchronizes these recordings with the live performance. Moyer’s Video-Concerts display the versatility and possibilities of the piano in a way that would be impractical in a traditional recital. »
So far, most of Moyer’s audiences for Video-Concerts have been retirement communities. The elderly are the population most affected by the pandemic, and many retirement communities are on lockdown, leaving residents feeling isolated. Moyer works hard to show that this performance is made especially for them. He projects the community’s logo on a back wall, and the MoyerCam projects photos of the community on the piano. He greets residents and staff by name. The Video-Concert is usually broadcast through the community’s in-house television channel and then put into a private area of YouTube for residents to watch at their leisure on their computers. Sometimes, the initial broadcast is followed by a Zoom reception hosted by Moyer. Says Moyer, « The Zoom reception is the icing on the cake. I even wear the same outfit that I wore when I recorded the concert, which in a kind of fun way gives the impression that I just performed it, which of course isn’t the case. Often the audience members pour themselves a glass of wine, although it’s strictly BYOB. »
With his Video-Concerts, Moyer has created his own work of art. As he puts it: “While I miss the immediate connection with my audiences, these Video-Concerts have offered a whole new set of challenges and possibilities. They are something between a recording and a live concert – offering some of the best of both worlds. I hope to continue with them and to find new ways to make them better.”
More information about Frederick Moyer is available on his website: www.frederickmoyer.com
Some of Frederick Moyer’s Video-Concerts can be seen here:
– For Sarasota Bay Club, Sarasota, FL
– For Kendal at Longwood, Kennet Square, PA
– For The Sequoias, Portola Valley, CA
