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“Take pleasure in this piano – it’s a present!” When Elton John performed a short piano compilation of his popular songs at St Pancras railway station in 2016 – stopping to hastily write a message on the instrument which he revealed he was giving to the station – he couldn’t have predicted the ripple effect he would create.
Over the years, the Yamaha piano with a black finish and the singer’s message and signature has been played by numerous individuals who have passed through the central London station. This includes several famous musicians such as Jools Holland, John Legend, Tom Odell, and Jeff Goldblum.
Alicia Keys played the piano on Monday for a small audience of confused travelers who had just arrived on the Eurostar. Rod Stewart also performed last week, but instead of using Elton’s piano, he had his own 11-piece band and played a baby grand piano, which was played by Holland.
If you’re looking to promote your album (like Stewart and Keys), the best spot to be is not Wembley but between Mac Cosmetics and Accessorize by the lift to St Pancras platforms 1-4. You’ll definitely create viral social media content there.
Although the St Pancras piano (there are actually two) was originally meant for the enjoyment of everyday individuals and those around them, it is often monopolized by Grammy award winners.
One morning this week, while the station was busy with its daily routine, Anastasios Pagonidis, a 19-year-old from Greece who is partially sighted, took a seat to play. He told the Guardian that he is homeless and visits the station every day because he does not have access to a piano where he stays.
While Pagonidis skillfully performed a variety of traditional Greek songs and original pieces, some passersby stopped to listen, while others slowed down to admire or smile.
Pagonidis began playing the piano at the age of nine. When asked about its significance to him, he replied, “It is a reflection of myself.” As he was talking, a woman pushing two heavy bags approached and asked, “Could you tell me where the elevator is?”
After that, it was Joseph Smith’s turn. He could have chosen to become a musician, but instead he ended up working as a software developer for the Guardian. In his free time, Smith plays the piano for a choir made up of homeless individuals known as the Choir with No Name. He stated, “I try to fit in as much music as possible outside of my job.”
As Smith began playing the opening notes of John’s “Tiny Dancer,” Wendy and John Gornall, taking a break from their home in Preston to visit London before Christmas, stopped to listen. Wendy commented that having a piano in a public space adds a special element and that it’s wonderful to hear someone who is truly skilled in playing – it’s awe-inspiring.
The popularity of street pianos may have originated from a discarded instrument in Sheffield during the early 2000s. However, it really caught the attention of the public in 2008 when artist Luke Jerram placed used pianos throughout Britain with the invitation: “play me, I’m yours.”
Numerous similar events have emerged in the United Kingdom and beyond, following the success of the popular Channel 4 program The Piano earlier this year. This led to Lang Lang, a Chinese concert pianist and judge on the show, giving his own performance at St Pancras, bringing his own instrument like Stewart did.
Upon returning to the main area, Smith had transitioned to playing White Christmas, resulting in joyous expressions and attracting additional bystanders to pause and listen. “Hearing the piano just brings joy to everyone,” explained Hannah Gault, who was en route to a carol concert in Liverpool. She had purposely allotted extra time for her travels to ensure she could experience the station’s pianos.
She stated, “I don’t really care what is being played as long as someone is playing the piano. It brightens my day.”
On the opposite side of the train station’s main area, there was a second piano that was not as fancy. It was located between Paul Express cafe and a set of escalators. 10-year-old Heidi Arieh was playing a beautiful version of “I Dreamed a Dream” while her mother, Leonora, proudly filmed her. They were traveling from York to Paris and were delighted by the fact that many renowned musicians had also played at the station.
“I am truly amazed by that, as I believe people leave energies behind wherever they go,” expressed Leonora. She mentioned that her daughter had never taken lessons and played solely by ear, stating, “It simply brings her great joy.”
Before she could finish, a heavily intoxicated man approached holding a bottle of red wine and asked, in his own way, if he could have a turn. The mother and daughter decided it was time to leave. Elton John never had to deal with these kinds of interruptions.
Source: theguardian.com
