Sonic potpourri
of helpsian concepts

2/4 — Rotary mechanism

Robert Helps inherited from Abby Whiteside a meticulous interest in every kind of piano technique “upstream” from traditional finger action.
The wrist and forearm combined in a supple, coordinated fashion constituted the “rotary mechanism”.
Since each action from right or left, up or down contains a potentially limitless number of physical re-actions, rotary technique can easily produce a scintillating light tremolo, as heard in this excerpt of Helps’ own Hommage à Ravel.