Remarks by pianist Murray Perahia
Doctor of Fine Arts, at Duke University, May 9, 2009

It is for me a great privilege to receive this honorary degree from Duke University. I've had a long connection to the University dating back to the early 70's--almost 40 years ago. Some of my first professional engagements began here. Dr. Alan Bone, then the head of the department of Music brought me to play with the University Orchestra. I played also with the original Ciompi Quartet and did a solo recital (something that I have returned many times over the years to do again). That was professionally. Personally, I have had a special attachment to Duke as my son went to college here and graduated three years ago with a history degree. He still considers it one of the most influential times of his life.

Coming to his graduation as I did and coming again now to this weekend's events, I feel a very special atmosphere in the air--one feels it in the hotels, at the restaurants, receptions, on campus. The families all gathered together. The festive mood I can only describe as quiet elation----Elation at an enormous accomplishment, for this school is one of the most challenging and intellectually stimulating establishments in this country.

But if my own experience is anything to go by, the value of the their education now will probably only be truly appreciated many years from now. When I went to Mannes College in the 60's (a music college in NYC) we were taught fairly rigorous courses in counterpoint, harmony and Schenkerian analyses (very theoretical disciplines)--that it seemed to me had minimal impact on practical music making. Put simply--at the time I thought that if I wasn't practicing the piano, I was (in a sense) wasting time.

Concurrently, as if that wasn't bad enough, the Dean at Mannes, a former philosophy professor brought in his academic colleagues to teach us courses in philosophy, English literature, Aesthetics, etc. at that time unheard of in music conservatories.

But over the years, it was precisely those subjects that had the most impact on my music-making---far greater than the actual piano practice. My interest today in the more theoretical aspects of music--questions about structure, why the composer writes this note as opposed to that one, how Mozart was able in his words to conceive and heir a whole piece in a flash. All this was hinted at to me in my college studies but not fully appreciated or understood until I came back to it and made it my own, many years later.

Actually I found that understanding the disciplines that underpin great music--the disciplines of counterpoint and harmony --teach one more than just music. They teach one about ideals in life. Metaphorically, they represent ideal social commonwealth--many voices ---though each individual and beautiful, work not to glorify themselves but to make a cohesive whole--something greater than themselves.

At any rate, the education one receives when young nourishes throughout one's life and the true celebration of graduation day will be felt in many years to come.