Though many musicians interpret andante to mean slow, the term literally suggests a walking tempo, and Mr. McGegan made this movement seem like fitting music for a brisk stroll.

And despite the efforts of living composers, most of what classical musicians interpret is from the repertory, not new work.

He also contributed "Sonnet 62" to the 2002 compilation album, When Love Speaks (EMI Classics), which consists of famous actors and musicians interpreting Shakespearean sonnets and play excerpts.

But I do think it's an interesting area to explore and may prompt us into looking at how a musician interprets someone else's art, what effect is achieved by adding music to verse and such like.

So much work goes into each monthly Loser's Lounge tribute, in which local musicians interpret the songbook of a pop great from the past, that it's a shame that the only payoff is a performance or two.

Said another way, Mr. Pollini was too wise a musician to interpret.

On two separate albums, composer, conductor and musician David Axelrod interpreted Songs of Innocence and of Experience.

Few musicians of our time have interpreted the works of the great composers in so intensely personal a manner, and few have exercised such magnetism in the concert hall.

It is known for its collaborative leadership style in which the musicians, not a conductor, interpret the score.

Other projects have included the album Worried Noodles (Tom Lab, 2007) where musicians interpret his writings as lyrics, including collaborations by David Byrne, Hot Chip, and Franz Ferdinand.