Classical Music & Chess

Somehow, Chess and Music are related. Many great piano composers had a relation to chess. Robert Schumann, for instance, reportedly recorded games he played in his diaries. Another famous composer, Brahms, once joked that all he ever learned from Schumann was how to play chess.

Robert Schumann

Our local chess historian, batgirl, published an article on Beethoven and chess, and recently wrote another article titled "Morphy and Music". 

Philidor, the greatest player of the 18th century, was best known as an opera composer. Prokofiev was highly skilled at chess, and once defeated Capablanca in a simultaneous exhibition. And that was the same Capablanca who lost under 70 games in his entire lifetime! 

The relationship between Music and Chess goes on. World Champion Smyslov was well known for his beautiful singing. Taimanov, after famously losing the 1971 Candidates' Match 6-0 to Bobby Fischer, remarked sadly "Well, I still have my music". Indeed, for Taimanov was an accomplished pianist.

When a chessplayer hears the name Piatagorsky, one probably thinks of Jacqueline Piatagorsky, the organizer of one of the strongest tournaments in the 60's, the Piatagorsky Cup. In fact, this contribution to chess was so great that she was inducted into the World Chess Hall of Fame. But if a musician were to hear the name Piatagorsky, they would likely think of Gregor Piatagorsky (1903-1976), who was a renowned cellist.

Here are two recordings of Gregor Piatagorsky at work:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_MRKlGmVYPg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z4__cFiaFJY

During the 1961 Fischer vs. Reshevsky match, a cello performance of her husband forced Jacqueline Piatagorsky to reschedule one of the games. No agreement about the time the game was to be played was reached, and so...Fischer forfeited, and the match stopped!  

Gregor Piatagorsky

Luckily for us chessplayers, Garry Kasparov became a chessplayer, not a musician. The story goes that at age six, Kasparov's parents decided that Garry should become a musician. That same evening, the young Kasparov saw a chess puzzle in the local newspaper. He did not know the rules of chess, but the next day, he suggested a way to solve it. Thankfully, his parents immediately saw his potential, and now we have one of the best ever chessplayers in the world.

In this thread, I will try to post more about the relationship between chess and music. 

Some of the pictures didn't post....will try to edit. 

Is it related that my dad has composed (and released) several classical piano CD's?

(See Michael Logozar, easily googled)

Dmitry Shostakovich was a very good chess player, too.

http://iplayoochess.com/2011/10/27/chess-and-music-dmitri-shostakovich-unexpected-sparring-partner-of-guess-who/

Great violinists David Oistrakh and Rostislav Dubinsky (founder of the Borodin Quartet) were avid chessplayers.

Greek contemporary composer Marios Strofalis had a 1900+ rating when he was active at chess.

Smyslov and Taimanov were famous in both fields. 

Taimanov was in the Top 10 players in the world in 1970. 

He was an excellent baritone singer, not a composer.

I've read that occcasionally the two would collaborate to perform music at chess tournaments, Smyslov singing and Taimanov accompanying on piano! That sounds enjoyable!

I didn't know that, lol! 

Awesome! Thanks for posting Robert. I am much more of a classical pianist then chess player so I found this very interesting. Great topic! I always listen to Chopin while playing chess.

When playing bullet, either Yundi Li's or Kissin's performances of Fantasie-Impromptu. 

Sorry to talk about myself but I have a strange/interesting thing that sometimes happens regarding music & chess: If I'm listening to some music and start falling asleep, in that half-asleep state I often start to 'see'/experience the music as moves in a game of chess. That's the best I can describe it but it's not a great description. It's not like seeing pieces moving around on a board, but the passage of one melody to the next is experienced like consecutive moves being played in response to each other. And it is quite specific; i.e there is a distinction between a melody that is a queen move (for example) and one that is a move by a different piece. And If I then 'wake up', I can't accurately recall what I was experiencing. I do have 'perfect pitch' and strongly associate different keys with colours, so maybe that's related. It's just interesting that it only occurs when half-asleep.

Anyone else get anything similar?

My tastes tend to run toward the more esoteric: Sibelius Symphonies, Shostakovich or Bartok String Quartets, Scriabin Piano Sonatas, and I'm one happy camper at the chessboard - and since I'm a violist, Hindemith is always welcome! As for opera, how about something crazy like Richard Strauss - Elektra or Alban Berg - Wozzeck (incredible orchestrations)... I still love the Baroque, Classical, Romantic repertoire though...

I like Murray Perahia's interpretation of the C Sharp Minor impromptu though the piece isn't particularly to my liking.

Whoa! Sounds like some synesthete better lay off the clavier à lumières playing... jk...

Don't know. Were these "bullet sonatas?"

Here's some awesome music for a 1 min. bullet game - you may need to repeat it a few times - if so desired...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v1xfEJ2e4qI

Contemporary composers are welcomed here as well.