I just found out today that Piano Day exists! It is celebrated every year on March 28th (and, in leap years, March 29th). According to Nils Frahm, who is a German musician, composer, and record producer based in Berlin, Piano Day celebrates “the piano and everything around it: performers, composers, piano builders, tuners, movers, and most important, the listener.” It is an annual event that takes place on the 88th day of the year, since that is the number of keys on a piano.
As this is my first Piano Day, I want to take the time to reflect on the role of pianists in all walks of life, whether that be a solo effort e.g. solo concerts and recordings, or a collaborative effort e.g. an accompaniment role with other musicians in various efforts, such as in theatre performances. I especially want to focus on the latter, since I feel like often, the pianist is not recognized for their role in those efforts. The truth is, the pianist adds so much support to the production. It sets the atmosphere and mood for the live storytelling, and it supports the actors in bringing to life their own vision for their characters and in establishing groundwork for their vocal performances. If you were to take the piano out of the production, so much would be lost.
So, on this special day, take a few minutes to think about pianists and their role in this field. I know that I will.