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To know or not to know (2023)

Natasja Douma
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Research question How will biographical, historical and analytical knowledge affect my interpretation of Rachmaninoff’s cello sonata and can this relationship be made audible? In what way does background information, such as analysis help me to shape my view on a piece and will a more thorough research really make a difference in my performance practise? Summary of Results To investigate this, I have chosen a piece that is definitely one of my favourite pieces of music, the cello sonata by Sergei Rachmaninoff. I decided to gain information from different angles to determine what did or did not have an effect on my interpretation of the sonata. I looked at the biographical context, what was his life like around the time that he wrote this sonata? I have been reading about the Russian School, to learn more about the traditions of Russian piano playing. One other aspect was listening to Rachmaninoff playing his own compositions. I listened to recordings of the sonata by different people and I have been talking to colleagues about Rachmaninoff and more specific the sonata. I also made an analysis and studied the manuscript. The analysis in particular provided a sometimes different, but above all much more conscious interpretation. Gaining knowledge from so many different angles definitely provided an extra layer and the entire journey showed without a doubt that knowledge changed my interpretation. In my research catalogue you can read about my findings and experiences. Biography Natasja Douma received her first piano lessons from her grandmother, the concert pianist Roeli Schijf-Verhoog. She continued her studies at the School for Young Talent at the Royal Conservatoire in The Hague with Jan Boumans and Marcel Baudet. In 1989 she started her higher music education studies with the well-known Dutch pianist Jan Wijn at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam, where she obtained the Teaching Musician and Performing Musician diplomas. Afterwards, Natasja pursued further studies in the field of song accompaniment with Rudolf Jansen, which she completed with distinction in September 2000. In June 2022, Natasja hopes to obtain her Master’s Degree, including an extensive artistic research project focused on the Cello Sonata by Sergei Rachmaninoff. Natasja won the SJMN (Stichting Jong Muziektalent Nederland) competition twice. She also won second prize at the Competition for the European Music Prize in Antwerp. In 2013, together with violinist Isobel Warmelink, she won the NTR prize for the best performance of the compulsory work (Music minus one or two by Guus Janssen) during the Davina van Wely national violin competition. Natasja is a much sought-after duo partner, chamber musician and accompanist, who performs frequently in the Netherlands and internationally in France, Germany, Hungary, Austria, Sweden, Belgium and Luxembourg. Since 1998, she works as a coach pianist at the Royal Conservatory in The Hague, where she has coached and supported many young artists on their way to become professional musicians.
typeresearch exposition
date14/09/2020
published13/07/2023
last modified13/07/2023
statuslimited publication
share statusshared in portal(s):
copyrightNatasja Douma
licensePublic domain
languageEnglish
urlhttps://www.researchcatalogue.net/view/989520/1559878
published inKC Research Portal
portal issue3. Internal publication


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