Toying with Chopin, Schumann and Cage

MILFORD, PA — Kindred Spirits Arts Programs will present Phyllis Chen, a virtuoso pianist who specializes in playing toy pianos, at Delaware Valley High School at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 6 at the Delaware Valley High School Auditorium, 252 Route 6.

Playing both Romantic classics by Chopin and Schumann and contemporary music by John Cage, Chen offers a rare opportunity to hear a real pianist tackle the sort of instrument Schroeder made famous in Peanuts cartoons.

Toy pianos have been around since the mid-19th century, but only recently have they begun to be seen as serious musical instruments. The first adult work for the toy piano was written by John Cage in 1947. Now they even have websites and blogs. Chen, who also plays the conventional piano, discovered toy pianos, which range from single-octave to 45-pound, three-octave instuments, about 10 years ago, and now collects them herself.

“I have been told that the toy piano sounds like bells, wind chimes, a harpsichord, koto, kalimba, xylophone, harp, gamelan, grandfather clock, a cell phone, music box, and many other things—but never a piano,” says Chen.

“The chameleon-like nature of the instrument is what constantly keeps me interested and curious to know what will come next.” The world-famous pianist Andre Watts has called Chen “one of the most intelligent, musical and interesting players (and people) I’ve ever met.”

Tickets cost $10. For more information visit kindredspiritsprograms.org.