Name: Goran Filipec
Main Subject: Classical Piano
Research Coach: Andrew Wright
Title of Research:
Romanticism and its heritage: The piano transcription
Research Question:
Where is the phenomenon of the transcription coming from? Are there similar creations
in other arts that it could be compared with? How to differentiate artistic transcription
from a technical one, and what are the means used in its creation that make this
difference?
Summary of Results:
In my artistic work transcriptions attracted much of my attention and I had the
opportunity to play and perform them often in concert. It is relatively easy to remark that
many transcriptions from Romanticism are not often performed anymore. A big part of
them however can still be considered high quality piano pieces. That fact opened for me
important questions about the source of the transcription, and its essence.
While trying to answer to these questions I pursued a musicological research combined
with practical analysis of different sound makings necessary to create adequate acoustic
effects. I found that categorizing transcriptions and their main characteristics in
comparison to their original sources suggests immediately an interpretative guideline. For
example a textual and ideal independence from the original could suggest a more free
interpretation. On the other side, the transcription, which is trying to reproduce original
ideas with different means, implies more respect of the original piece.
Biography:
Goran Filipec was born in 1981 in Croatia where he received his first music lessons. He
studied piano at the Academy Ino Mirkovich, Zagreb Music Aacademy, Oxana
Yablonskaya Piano Institute, Schola Cantorum and Moscow conservatory
“P.I.Tchaikovsky”. He performed as soloist in Europe, USA, South America and Japan,
and was awarded several top prizes at international piano competitions such as José Iturbi
(USA), Premio Mario Zanfi (Italy), Gabala International Piano Competition (Azerbaijan)
and Concours Ile de France. He has recorded for Naxos (CD), France 2, Radio Suisse
Romande and other radio and TV channels.