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Horowitz Slow Motion

 
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kannan725



Joined: 04 Aug 2009
Posts: 15

PostPosted: Sat Mar 20, 2010 12:19 am    Post subject: Horowitz Slow Motion Reply with quote

What are your thoughts?

Rachmaninoff Sonata 2 3rd movement
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ll9J1fTB8tM
Carmen fantasy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJfssHGrfAQ&feature=channel
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alan fraser
The Expert on Piano Technique


Joined: 22 Jul 2006
Posts: 696
Location: Novi Sad, Serbia

PostPosted: Sat May 08, 2010 5:26 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

This is completely fascinating. The tremendous elasticity of his hands, and above all the tremendous rhythmic impulsion coming from his arms, which is much less visible when you watch it at speed. I've never seen hands that seem so completely the sheer manifestation of mind, of musical thought. At this speed as well you perceive much more clearly the vast changes in dynamics he used so often to such great effect in creating the illusion of orchestra.

Thanks for finding this!

AFF
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Eric



Joined: 13 Aug 2008
Posts: 110

PostPosted: Sat May 08, 2010 9:42 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hi

Really great clips my first thought was that he really keeps up a strong arch with no collapse. Before watching the DVD I wouldn't even have noticed it easy to get the wrong ideas with Horowitz because everything is so refined and optimal. And it looks like he uses his upper arm a lot also keeping the wrists pretty imovable at times. Looks like the triceps are very much in play?

Best regards
Eric
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kannan725



Joined: 04 Aug 2009
Posts: 15

PostPosted: Tue May 11, 2010 10:36 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

It also looks like he is getting power from his back in the final chords of the carmen fantasie. I might be wrong about that. Unlike the slow motion videos from the 20s, these videos have sound, so his dynamics and voicing become much clearer. Another thing that becomes clear is how precisely he strikes his chords. Even at slow motion the notes of the chords sound absolutely together.
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alan fraser
The Expert on Piano Technique


Joined: 22 Jul 2006
Posts: 696
Location: Novi Sad, Serbia

PostPosted: Thu May 13, 2010 9:59 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

There's also a Black Key Etude there that I never saw before.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rNBa1_KUvYo

It's obvious that his 'arch', the bridge of his hand, is rock solid - that's why his fingers can move so cleanly from it. His hand is not messed up with any of this relaxation bullroar. The precision of touch comes from good physical organization - there are no anomalies anywhere.

We live and learn!

AFF
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Eric



Joined: 13 Aug 2008
Posts: 110

PostPosted: Sun May 16, 2010 10:14 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hi

Discovered there are several Horowitz slowmotion out there.Very instructive.

Here is a nice one with Rach3. It's not armweight it's a whip and a cobra. But most of the time the fingers are in contact with the keys.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zsvlmjNddns

Eric
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alan fraser
The Expert on Piano Technique


Joined: 22 Jul 2006
Posts: 696
Location: Novi Sad, Serbia

PostPosted: Sun May 16, 2010 10:59 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

More, more, send me more!

These are so amazing for me! You feel all the passion and intensity and mental clarity of the performance at speed, and yet it's intesified even further because of the slow-mo. You can sense his PROCESS.

The utter psychic calm he displays is mind-boggling. It is mental clarity at the service of emotion.

Oh yeah, and then there's his physical organization. I know I am supposed to be the physical guy, but I must say I am so blown away by these other elements that I hardly notice what he's doing physically...

Thanks for posting this!

AFF
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kannan725



Joined: 04 Aug 2009
Posts: 15

PostPosted: Sun May 16, 2010 2:38 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Here is one from the final part of the Rachmaninoff sonata 3rd movement:
http://www.youtube.com/watch#!v=cvpc3YOeOjM&feature=related
Chopin Polonaise op. 44:
http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=4785689#p/u/655/aMzgSi64c0I
Moszkowski etude, this one gives the closest look at his hands but it is silent:
http://www.youtube.com/watch#!v=pIxfAHSZHXI&feature=related
The same user also uploaded some rare recordings and videos of Horowitz and other great pianists. There are some video excerpts of Horowitz playing Clementi sonatas at his home and more.
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kannan725



Joined: 04 Aug 2009
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PostPosted: Tue Jun 22, 2010 2:59 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yc5h4phJzG0
Horowitz plays chopin introduction and rondo. Here is another Horowitz video you might not have seen. It is taken from 1974.
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alan fraser
The Expert on Piano Technique


Joined: 22 Jul 2006
Posts: 696
Location: Novi Sad, Serbia

PostPosted: Sat Jul 17, 2010 2:54 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

When I watch this it is just as always: I am WAY more impressed with his musicianship than with his technique. If you want to play like that, start trying to figure out where did his musical inspiration originate? How did he conceive such a fantasy-filled, elegant and musically evolved interpretation? His hands do what they do because his musical imagination requires those sounds of the instrument...

Really, try forgetting about everything I've written and just experiment with sound and phrasing. See how far you get!

As for the Chopin, for an alternate reading go to

http://www.alanfraser.net/mp3/misha%20dacic%20mp3s/02%20rondo%20master.mp3

This is Misha Dacic (Datsich) recorded on a beatup old Steinway at our Academy in Novi Sad about 8 years ago, yours truly did the sound engineering and editing...

You can hear how Misha is simultaneously so near and yet so far from the master...

AFF
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