Daria van den Bercken: Why I take the piano on the road … and in the air

TL;DR

In this video, pianist Daria van den Bercken shares her journey of falling in love with Handel's music and her mission to share it with as many people as possible.

Transcript

Recently, I flew over a crowd of thousands of people in Brazil playing music by George Frideric Handel. I also drove along the streets of Amsterdam, again playing music by this same composer. Let's take a look. (Music: George Frideric Handel, "Allegro." Performed by Daria van den Bercken.) (Video) Daria van den Bercken: I live there on the third fl... Read More

Key Insights

• 🔍 Falling in love with music: The speaker fell in love with Handel's music after discovering his keyboard compositions, which led her to want to share it with as many people as possible.
• 🎶 Music as a powerful experience: The speaker describes how playing Handel's music brought her into a state of pure amazement and awe, highlighting the emotional impact and power of music.
• 💡 Contrasting expressions in music: Through Handel's compositions, the speaker experienced contrasting musical elements, such as beautiful melancholy and sheer energy, showcasing the range of human expressions that music can evoke.
• 👥 Youthful openness to music: The speaker observes that young children, around seven or eight years old, are more open and willing to listen to different genres of music without questioning their own opinions, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a sense of wonder in music as we grow up.
• 🎭 Complexity as a barrier: The speaker notes that as children grow older, they tend to struggle in connecting with complex music, and the influence of others' opinions becomes more significant. This suggests that societal expectations and judgments can impede our ability to listen without prejudice.
• 🌎 Broadening the reach of music: The speaker has played Handel's music not only in concert halls but also on the streets, online, and even in the air to create opportunities for people to experience the wonder of music beyond traditional settings.
• 📚 Music's universality: The speaker believes that regardless of age or background, people can continue to listen to music with the same sense of wonder as young children, emphasizing the universality of music as a means of connecting and experiencing pure emotions.
• 🤔 Invitation to listen without prejudice: The speaker encourages the audience to listen to music without preconceived notions or bias, urging them to tap into that state of wonder and immerse themselves in the pure enjoyment of the music.

Questions & Answers

Q: What inspired Daria van den Bercken to fly over a crowd in Brazil and drive along the streets of Amsterdam while playing music by George Frideric Handel?

Daria van den Bercken was inspired by her love for Handel's music and her desire to share it with as many people as possible. She discovered Handel's keyboard works while browsing the Internet and was amazed by the beauty and energy of the music. This experience of pure amazement motivated her to explore unconventional ways of performing and connecting with audiences.

Q: How did Daria van den Bercken describe her experience of playing Handel's music?

Daria van den Bercken described her experience of playing Handel's music as a state of pure, unprejudiced amazement. She felt in awe of the music, something she hadn't felt in a long time. The contrasting characters of beautiful melancholy and sheer energy in the music resonated with her and she considered them vital human expressions. The purity of the music allowed her to effectively convey these emotions.

Q: How did Daria van den Bercken see the difference in the way children and older individuals perceive and appreciate music?

Daria van den Bercken observed that children, particularly those around the age of seven or eight, are open and willing to listen to different types of music without questioning their own opinions. They are in a constant state of wonder and can easily connect with and appreciate complex music. However, she noticed that as children grow older, around the age of 11 or 12, the complexity of music starts to become an issue and external opinions from parents, friends, and media start to influence their perception of music.

Q: Why did Daria van den Bercken play not only in concert halls but also on the street, online, and in the air?

Daria van den Bercken played music in unconventional places and platforms to recreate the sense of wonder and pure listening that she experienced while playing Handel's music. She wanted to break away from the constraints of traditional performance venues and reach a wider audience. By performing on the street, online, and in the air, she aimed to cultivate a state of pure listening without prejudice, inviting others to listen to music in the same way children do.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The speaker shares her experiences of playing music by Handel over a crowd in Brazil and while driving in Amsterdam, stating that she did it because she fell in love with the music and wanted to share it with as many people as possible.

• She describes the transformative power of Handel's music, recounting her own experience of feeling pure amazement and awe while playing his works.

• The speaker believes that children are more open and willing to listen to music without prejudice, and urges the audience to continue listening like children in order to maintain a state of wonder and appreciation for music as they grow up.