The same score takes on a different character through each performer’s choices. The shaping of phrases, timing and sound connects the written music with the musician’s individual understanding and the listener’s experience. A familiar piece can surprise us when we hear a different performer play it. We recognise the melody and anticipate its course, yet something draws our attention to a detail we had previously passed over: a note carries more weight, a phrase ending takes more time, or a lower voice comes into sharper focus. We may sense the difference immediately, well before we can explain what has changed. Imagine two pianists working from copies of exactly the same edition. They have the same notes, the same rhythmic values, and all the same tempo, dynamic and articulation markings. Both understand the work’s technical demands and take care to observe what is written. In performance, however, one draws the melody into a longer, continuous line, while the other br...