As a member of the Archiving Project for Left Hand Piano Music whose goal is to spread and revive music performed by the left hand, I have been working to promote such music since 2011.
A century ago, Paul Wittgenstein, an Austrian pianist, played a notable role in the history of the left-hand-music. He was shot in the right arm during his service in WWI and thereafter deteriorated in Siberia. Returning to Austria, he continued his life as a musician playing with the left hand and encouraged the audience. The tunes commissioned to composers have become a central part of the left-hand music: his life and career have given me a powerful principle guiding my life.
It is my mission to follow in Paul’s footsteps and pass on his will and music to the future. Performing tunes in his Vaterland played by Paul and his contemporary POWs makes me feel as if I transcended time and created a bond with them.
As for me, I would like to bring the thoughts and feelings of the soldiers to their descendants and the locals. Through concerts, I strongly wish to show my appreciation to Paul for introducing Western music to Japan 100 years ago and for creating the foundation of left-hand music.
Left Hand Pianist
Wittgenstein Memorial International Piano Competition for Left-Hand Executive Committee Member
ARIMA Keisuke
Archiving Project for Left Hand Piano Music http://www.lefthandpianomusic.jp/
Wittgenstein Memorial International Piano Competition for Left-Hand http://lefthandpianocompetition.com/