London pianists join forces in epic duet
You've heard of America's Got Talent? Well, it seems Britain has got just as much. And the Brits don't necessarily need a fancy stage or panel of dubiously qualified judges to sanction their creativity with a theatrical "Yes!" Across the pond, the Brits prefer music for the people by the people. And every day, amateur and professional pianists alike are judged in the court of public opinion when they show off their skills for free at street venues across the land.
Public pianos have become part of the furniture in Britain, especially at railway stations. So, whether you've got the chops of a budding Mozart, or a two-fingered rendition of Chopsticks is more your style, you can turn up and play for an audience of travelers and passers-by whenever you like. No questions asked.
The city of Sheffield in the north of England claims to be the first to install a street piano in 2003. Today public pianos are scattered all over the country. Street pianos have also appeared in many other cities around the world. But it's London that's described by worldpianos.org as "Public Piano Heaven!"
Of course, playing the piano is a great British tradition. The piano first became the UK's instrument of choice in the 19th century when it was considered a must-have in middle-income homes. During the World Wars, when the singalong was both a popular form of entertainment and a relief from the anguish and chaos, the piano became more blue-collar. Indeed, anyone who could tickle the ivories on the Aunt Joanna, as it was known in Cockney rhyming slang, was welcome at any pub or party.
Obviously, times have changed. Music is nowhere near as communal as it used to be, as people can carry their audio devices and personal playlists with them wherever they go. But there's still something special about live music. For example, the London Underground is a mecca for buskers. It's said the Tube's estimated 3.5 million daily passengers are treated to more than 100,000 hours of free live music every day from roughly 1300 licensed street musicians.
Commonly, the guitar is the instrument of choice for most buskers due to its portability. And there are some incredibly talented guitarists making a full-time living playing at railway and underground stations, as well as on the high streets of the UK. Wherever there's a potential audience, you'll often find a wannabe Ed Sheeran twanging a six-string. However, in the capital, and elsewhere in Britain, there's still nothing quite like the dulcet tones of the piano to entertain the bored or frazzled traveler.
In London, the St.Pancras railway station is one of the most famous venues for street pianists. The station boasts two public pianos that were installed as part of the "Play Me, I'm Yours" project created in 2008 by British artist, Luke Jerram. He had the idea while visiting a laundromat in Bristol in the west country, where he observed how customers were not interacting.
"I thought, well, maybe putting a piano into a space like that would shake things up and would act as a catalyst for conversation," Jerram says.
And according to the project's Facebook page, his idea has been a raging success. Since its inception, almost 2,000 street pianos have been installed by Luke and his team in more than 70 cities worldwide. And each piano bears one simple invitation to 'Play Me, I'm Yours.'
Global music superstar, Sir Elton John, is the most famous pianist to play a street piano.
In 2016, he treated stunned commuters in London to an impromptu performance at St. Pancras station to mark the release of his 30th studio album. He then signed the piano and gifted it to the station for others to enjoy.
But of course, public pianos are not just for the rich and famous. In London, anonymous pianists of all ages have taken the opportunity to put on showstopping displays of virtuosity worthy of the Albert Hall, Britain's equivalent of Carnegie Hall, New York. Many of these recitals have even gone viral.
There's no doubt that street piano performances can create an upbeat atmosphere and a sense of community. They also provide a welcome and unexpected distraction for the public. But the bottom line is that these pianos are simply there to be played, whether anyone else is listening or not.
