Taking Beethoven beyond the concert hall

Jonathan Biss has been surrounded by music for as long as he can remember. That early influence has made him who he is today.

His mother is celebrated violinist Miriam Fried. His father is violinist and conductor Paul Biss. Both taught at the University of Indiana in Bloomington, where he grew up.  His paternal grandmother was Raya Garbusova, a Russian cellist.

Born in 1980, Biss chose piano as his instrument. He studied at Indiana University and at the Curtis Institute of Music. And he’s developed a special interest, some might call it an obsession, for Beethoven’s piano sonatas. “I’m hardly unique among musicians,” he says, “that I’m so obsessed.” He says he’s found that the sonatas “grab you by the collar.” And so he has set out to record all of Beethoven’s piano sonatas. He’s at the midway point of this undertaking and says 2019 is the target for finishing the recordings.

He’s taken Beethoven into the classroom, too. He’s constructed, and he teaches a massive open online course (MOOC) on Beethoven’s piano sonatas. Anyone can take this class and learn a little something about Biss’ beloved Beethoven  – 100,000 people have taken advantage of this opportunity so far. He’s still adding lectures to the MOOC.

“I didn’t know that I had this talent,” he said.  “The great thing about online learning,” he said, is that it’s for everyone including people who are a little too intimated for the traditional classroom. 

Judaism is also a big part of who he is. “Obviously, it’s a part of my heritage; it’s in every pore,” said Biss. “It’s not a question of belief. But it would never occur to me not to call myself Jewish.”

But music is what drives him and what drives him to share it with others. Biss said that it’s important to reach beyond the concert hall.

And he’s doing that here in Providence with his involvement with Community MusicWorks, a group that brings music to children who wouldn’t necessarily have the same opportunities that Jonathan had.

Community usicWorks serves approximately 130 students from Providence’s West and South sides with free music lessons, as well as ensemble rehearsals and performance opportunities. Its aim is to “create a cohesive urban community through music education and performance that transforms the lives of children, families and musicians.” Teaching and mentoring is a strong part of its model.

Biss has been involved for a number of years; he’s played several benefit concerts for the organization. He also sits on its advisory council. He went to summer camp, he says, with a musician who was already involved and pulled him in. 

As Biss terms it, “the music world is pretty small. I was attracted to the organization and its mission.”

Jonathan Biss will play Beethoven’s Sonata in B flat Major, Op. 106 “Hammerklavier,” and Schubert’s Sonata in A Major, D. 959 in a benefit for Community MusicWorks Friday, April 8 at 8 p.m. at RISD Museum’s Metcalf Auditorium. Tickets are available at communitymusicworks.org.

FRAN OSTENDORF is editor of The Jewish Voice. fostendorf@jewishallianceri.org