Horowitz interview on technique

[donjuan]

Hi,
I saw this link posted a while back.  It didnt seem to get too much attention, but I think it's just too interesting to overlook!  It's from Horowitz's 1932 interview where he talks about his technique.  I am sure most of you have already seen this, but just in case, here it is again.

https://web.telia.com/~u85420275/Articles/1932.htm

donjuan

[rob47]

it is a really good article, I've read it on numerous occassions.  It makes you think.  It made me realize the wastefulness of people playing hanon et al. for 1+hours before practicing.

[arensky]

Wow, this is so cool!  Thank you very much, it makes my day! 

[BoliverAllmon]

thanks

[casparma]

thanks donjuan...

It's a great article.


However, do you, or any one else have other articles based on the interview with other great pianists, like Alfred Brendel, Claudio Arrau, etc, about technique?

[gorbee natcase]

My printer has now ran out of ink, but thanks anyway it was worth it.

[alzado]

I include this quote from that very fine article -- "It is easy to understand why technique varies so much in Bach, Beethoven and Chopin, for instance. The early classics were not written for the grand piano, but for a piano with a much lighter action. "

Darn it, I posted on the board a few weeks ago -- when people were putting down uprights -- to the effect that Chopin performed mostly on uprights, and in salons, rather than in concert halls. He didn't like grands much-- had to do with the action.

The snobs on the board who keep telling us they own $85,000 Steinway grands very conveniently forgot to respond to that.

As we can see, Horowitz was well aware of it.

Folks, dump those big 800-lb. turkeys (grands) and get a top-of-the-line upright!

And ignore the folks in the "Bill Gates" income bracket who seem to think that without a 9-foot Steinway you are just beneath contempt --  just the "riff raff" of the musical milieu.  And yet, although the "Gates" types boast about their staggeringly expensive prestige pianos, can these folks actually play them worth sour apples?  Highly questionable.

[BoliverAllmon]

a good yamaha upright is very cheap and well worth it.

boliver

[chopiabin]

I include this quote from that very fine article -- "It is easy to understand why technique varies so much in Bach, Beethoven and Chopin, for instance. The early classics were not written for the grand piano, but for a piano with a much lighter action. "

Darn it, I posted on the board a few weeks ago -- when people were putting down uprights -- to the effect that Chopin performed mostly on uprights, and in salons, rather than in concert halls. He didn't like grands much-- had to do with the action.

The snobs on the board who keep telling us they own $85,000 Steinway grands very conveniently forgot to respond to that.

As we can see, Horowitz was well aware of it.

Folks, dump those big 800-lb. turkeys (grands) and get a top-of-the-line upright!

And ignore the folks in the "Bill Gates" income bracket who seem to think that without a 9-foot Steinway you are just beneath contempt --  just the "riff raff" of the musical milieu.  And yet, although the "Gates" types boast about their staggeringly expensive prestige pianos, can these folks actually play them worth sour apples?  Highly questionable.

Why you such a hater dawg?!


No. Seriously, why so agressive?

[BoliverAllmon]

maybe cuz he is poor?

[gorbee natcase]

I include this quote from that very fine article -- "It is easy to understand why technique varies so much in Bach, Beethoven and Chopin, for instance. The early classics were not written for the grand piano, but for a piano with a much lighter action. "

Darn it, I posted on the board a few weeks ago -- when people were putting down uprights -- to the effect that Chopin performed mostly on uprights, and in salons, rather than in concert halls. He didn't like grands much-- had to do with the action.

The snobs on the board who keep telling us they own $85,000 Steinway grands very conveniently forgot to respond to that.

As we can see, Horowitz was well aware of it.

Folks, dump those big 800-lb. turkeys (grands) and get a top-of-the-line upright!

And ignore the folks in the "Bill Gates" income bracket who seem to think that without a 9-foot Steinway you are just beneath contempt --  just the "riff raff" of the musical milieu.  And yet, although the "Gates" types boast about their staggeringly expensive prestige pianos, can these folks actually play them worth sour apples?  Highly questionable.

You have to admit that is pretty funny

[donjuan]

Well, if I remember correctly from a video where horowitz does recordings from his home (name of the film is "Horowitz: The Last Romantic"), he does indeed play on a steinway grand.  He also states he is very picky about his pianos.