A story of page-turning

While most posts on this blog are of musings and reflection, I warn you although this following one will also be that, but will not have a happy outcome (unlike most of the others here). I do not often rant negatively here - though ranting on in general seems to be my forte - but in this instance, this story is too incredulous not to be documented. This post does not intend to offend nor humiliate, thus anonymity. It merely hopes to document, shed light and hopefully educate.  

Recently, I played for a recital where I required a page turner. Now, I will be the first to admit that page-turning can often be a daunting job. And we, as humans, are subject to error. I can accept that. And usually if something has gone pear-shaped and I whip a page over or back with speed and a grumpy face, it's usually just because I need something done quickly and I do it myself. Peter Donohoe has written an excellent article about "The Art of Page-turning", which can be found here. While it is quite long, it is well worth the read and is also full of great anecdotes. But he makes the point that a good page turner is worth their weight in gold, and often is the last person to be thanked. But woe betide the page turner that does a bad job! There are several grievous offences, including having bad body odour or breath, using the right hand instead of the left, consistently turning too early or too late, among others....
Such offences can severely distract the pianist and even compromise an performance. Not to scare anybody, but because I think it important that all musicians have the ability to do it because you never know when you might just have to. And to highlight the importance of doing at least a satisfactory job.

So, the story.
I started playing, having turned down the top right corner of the first page. Just so, you know, the first one is easy. As I get to the bottom of the page, the page-turner (let's just refer from here on in as PT) jumps up suddenly, and uses the right hand. Oh, that's okay, the music and the keys are obscured momentarily but I know it quite well so it's okay. So, a right hand turner. Let's see if PT gets it correct the next time. Nope. PT continues to use the right hand to turn. I mean, I know the music and keyboard pretty well but it's good to have visual recognition at the times you desire.
I didn't want to break the flow of the first set of pieces so had to wait until the break in the middle (an excruciating 12 minutes in)  to lean over and ask, "Can you use your left hand?".

But no, sometimes the right hand is not sufficient enough to do the job.
I had briefed the PT just prior, that the music was all straight through, no turn-backs. Only for the first set, and a bit of the second. Maybe just follow the music, and I'll nod as well. PT is pretty keen on following the music. And only gets up at best, two bars before the end of the page. Because they're following the music, right? But because two bars is not enough time to get up, get (right) hand ready and flick the page (which is not old music or anything, no sticking together, just regular A4 copy paper), PT gets worried that the music that is sounding is not as followed so starts to kerfuffle with two hands trying to furiously get the page over in the most noisy and obtrusive of fashions.
Especially in the quiet moments where there are amazing changes of harmony. Or in slow movements.
Or when there is a double bar at the end of the page, furiously flicking over to reveal the next movement, or even better, two blank pages.

Because we're following the music exactly, PT also fails to notice peripheral things. Such as me furiously nodding to turn the page. Or the furious shaking of head to indicate that this is the end of the movement and it doesn't need turning. I probably should have glared, but i) didn't have the heart to do so and ii) was so distracted already that all energies had to be focussed on actually playing rather than multitasking.


But just in case all that wasn't enough...
At the end, the PT commented and asked, "Oh, does the page turner always sit on the left? Because perhaps I should have sat on your right hand side so that I could have used my right hand."

Followed by the response to my question, "What do you play?"

"The piano."







Okay, so I get that not everybody has done page turning. And many people don't enjoy it. But here are my two cents worth:
i) If you're a musician, you need to be able to do it at least to a basic level of satisfaction. Because you might be called on to do it and just HAVE to do it. And except in the case of extremely difficult music, should not be a task more difficult than actually playing music.
I don't mind if you are an early-preparation person, or stand up in time to flick it over and sit back down again in one movement. Just make sure it happens without fuss.
ii) Okay, so maybe this PT had never done it and was inexperienced. But:
a/ Had not considered what things might be helpful or unhelpful if they were in my position (as a pianist!)
b/ Had no awareness of what was going on around them - musically or physically. Nor learnt across time. I just don't get that.

It was my error: I should have sacked the PT while I had a chance; as it turns out that hindsight is a wonderful thing and the stress caused by the PT was far greater than the act of doing the page turns myself.

Thoughts, comments, incredulity welcome.