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You are here: Experts > Music/Performing Arts > Top 40/Pop > Amos, Tori > How does Tori feel about written music
Expert: Nancy
Date: 7/13/2008
Subject: How does Tori feel about written music
Question
I've seen an interview before where Tori talks about her days at the conservatory and her rebellion against the 'old' school of thought when it came to music/music performance. I may have read about this interview or something similar, but the main gist of the conversation is that she always played the piano by ear since she ever sat down at one, and then later how she caught for not conforming to the norms.
Also, there's the sheet music. Sometimes what's published is really close to what is on the albums or what you hear live. Other songs are really off or have a transcription that is made so that most of the performers who want to learn the piece can play it but is not really what she plays. We know for most of her song books it's David Pearl, with Ed Lozano being the project editor (I love his little foot-note in hotel from the album Choirgirl Hotel where he says Tori plays all the d's with left hand and all the others with her right)
And I just came across and article on this site:
http://www.moonmac.com/ToriInterview.html
Here she basically spells out that she works with Bosendorfer, and lets the boys record and track everything. And unless her Bose in the studio has a midi-interface, which is very unlikely-I’d say 100% unlikely, the only way for her music to be transcribed would be for someone to do it manually, unless she actually has a keyboard set up with midi-interface to this. I’ve been trying to research how APSAC actually goes about creating sheet music, especially by artists that create and perform their own songs. It seems to me they actually have someone sit there and watch her play.
Therefore, with her schooling experience, the publishing details on her songbooks, and the article regarding her saying computers are really great machines, I feel that she strongly disagrees with the programmatic approach taken by many Institutes with Music Education. Which is that in order to be a great musician, you must posses great composing and writing skill. Since Tori has achieved this by not actually writing or composing anything (at least in an official capacity, plus she refers to her songs as girls - to be experienced living entities, and that’s how she treats them) could this be what she really was rebelling about? And of course, this is where I’m not sure if it’s something I read or heard that Tori said, but I’m almost positive she has the stance that great music doesn’t have to be written down with composition rules being followed, or needing to have a particular structure or something along that effect…
We also know that Tori is expert at improvising. In order to have this ability, you must know how to make the music in your head become the music that is heard.
So, my question is, does Tori ever write music down?
Answer
Hi there!!
So sorry about my long response time - my internet connection was down this weekend!!
The answer is YES - Tori does write music down. There have been several interviews with her where she talks about it. The most recent one was on WELCOME TO SUNNY FLORIDA where she talked about the process and how sometimes the music comes before the words (at least I'm pretty sure that's where she spoke of it).
I've tried to research some specifics for you but haven't been able to find any this morning, though my time is limited. Check out this site for a TON of interviews and quotes surrounding all her albums: www.toriphoria.com
Hopefully you can find some more of what you are looking for on there.
Thanks for asking!!
Nancy
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