Pianist

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article deals with those who play the piano. For other uses, see pianist (disambiguation).

Image:Claudio Arrau at Carnegie Hall - 1954.jpg

A pianist is a person who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an orchestra or smaller ensemble, or accompany one or more singers or solo instrumentalists.

A performing classical pianist usually starts playing piano at a very young age, some as early as three years old. Many well-known classical composers were capable pianists themselves: Ludwig van Beethoven, Johannes Brahms, Ferruccio Busoni, Frédéric Chopin, Franz Liszt, Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Sergei Prokofiev, Sergei Rachmaninoff, Anton Rubinstein, Robert Schumann, Alexander Scriabin, Geirr Tveitt and Carl Maria von Weber were all virtuoso pianists. Most pianists, to some degree, specialize in performing the music of either certain composers or certain periods.

Pianist Vladimir Horowitz at his 1986 Moscow recital.

Most western forms of music can make use of the piano. Consequently, pianists have a wide variety of repertoire and styles to choose from, including jazz, classical music, and all sorts of popular music.

Below is a list of well-known or influential contemporary pianists of different genres.

1 Classical pianists
2 Pop music pianists
3 Jazz pianists
4 Blues pianists
5 Country pianists
6 Other Pianists

[edit] Classical pianists

[edit] Pop music pianists

[edit] Jazz pianists

From the List of jazz pianists.

[edit] Blues pianists

See the List of boogie woogie musicians for more blues players.

[edit] Country pianists

Owen Bradley, also a record producer
Floyd Cramer, "Last Date"
Mickey Gilley, "Room Full of Roses"
Jerry Lee Lewis, also rock and roll
Ronnie Milsap, Almost Like a Song
Moon Mullican, "I'll Sail My Ship Alone"
Charlie Rich, "Behind Closed Doors"
Hargus "Pig" Robbins, legendary session player
Fred Rose, also a music publisher
Bobby Sowell, "Moods"
Del Wood, "Down Yonder"

[edit] Other Pianists

Maksim Mrvica
Scott Joplin Ragtime
Richard Clayderman, commercially-oriented contemporary pianist who also features recordings of classical composers.
George Winston Folk Acoustic (Easy Listening)
Scott Oglesbee New-Age
Martin Leung video game music

Well known gospel or contemporary Christian pianists include:

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