the best accompanists coordinate their head swaying?

[49410enrique]

apparently that IS the SECRET!

had no idea lang lang was such a gifted collaborative artist. look how he mimicks and coordinates in a complimentary manner his head sways and bobs to little marc yu   

[davidjosepha]

apparently that IS the SECRET!

had no idea lang lang was such a gifted collaborative artist. look how he mimicks and coordinates in a complimentary manner his head sways and bobs to little marc yu   

I'm at work and can't watch the video with sound on, but it's really creepy watching their heads silently moving in sync...I really like when they get out of sync at about 30 seconds in and are alternating. Ya know, after all the extraneous movement Lang Lang usually has, this doesn't even seem like anything!

[perfect_pitch]

WOW... I can't believe that lucky bugger got to play with someone as talented as Marc Yu...   

[49410enrique]

you all are funny. i quite literally laughed out loud!

[werq34ac]

WOW... I can't believe that lucky bugger got to play with someone as talented as Marc Yu...   

Give Lang Lang some credit, he's a far better pianist than you. Plus he seems to be a nice guy.

[davidjosepha]

Plus he seems to be a nice guy.

I'll definitely give him that. Many pianists seem to be like that grumpy old guy next door when you were a kid who, if you accidentally hit the ball into his yard, you just went and got another ball, and if you didn't have another ball, you quit playing. Lang Lang seems very innocent and child-like, and also a very nice person. I would think, for all the emotion he seems to have, based on his facial expressions, he'd have a bit more musicality, but he's way more talented than I'll ever be, so I can't fault him too much.

[perfect_pitch]

Give Lang Lang some credit, he's a far better pianist than you. Plus he seems to be a nice guy.

Try growing a funny bone and learn to take a joke for goodness sake.

[lukediv]

He does seem like a nice dude

I watched a short video of him doing a master class in Sydney and he was very funny and not taking it all so seriously, was very Australian of him . Was particularly funny when he was speaking about the Romantic period.


The video is here for anybody who wants to watch it....

[werq34ac]

Try growing a funny bone and learn to take a joke for goodness sake.

Whether its a joke or not, it still sounded quite negative towards Lang Lang. Don't get so defensive, he's a much better pianist than all of us here.

[perfect_pitch]

Don't get so defensive, he's a much better pianist than all of us here.

Technically - yeah, he is... in terms of Musicality - hell no.

And I wasn't being defensive... Lighten up.

[werq34ac]

Technically - yeah, he is... in terms of Musicality - hell no.

And I wasn't being defensive... Lighten up.

Don't put yourself so highly. Whether or not you like his playing, you can't really consider yourself a better musician than Lang Lang. Because you don't give masterclasses all over the world (or do you?) and I'm not sure how you've contributed to classical music. (I'm not sure how I have, but that's besides the point).

[49410enrique]

Don't put yourself so highly. Whether or not you like his playing, you can't really consider yourself a better musician than Lang Lang. Because you don't give masterclasses all over the world (or do you?) and I'm not sure how you've contributed to classical music. (I'm not sure how I have, but that's besides the point).

 Lang Lang as a clinician... man he really does seem like a lot of fun to study with. i love his dynamic with these kids.  I'd love to have a MC w him! Heck he seems like he'd be such a great teacher to study under long term (i.e. should he take a position as artist in residence somewhere when he slows down a bit on touring and recording)

[perfect_pitch]

Whether or not you like his playing, you can't really consider yourself a better musician than Lang Lang.

Considering he's got the musicality of a drummer (no offense to drummers), and that he's basically Justin Bieber of Piano - someone who's been given plenty of praise despite taking some of the greatest music and destroying them... I'd say you really need to listen to some better pianists.

[davidjosepha]

Considering he's got the musicality of a drummer (no offense to drummers)

It's ignorant comments like this that piss pianists off when non-pianists make them, so why do you make them about drummers? Though drums and cymbals generally lack defined pitches, there is a huge amount of musicality that goes into being a drummer. Yes, there are crappy drummers who lack any sense of music, but the same could be said of any instrument. Drummers have to cope with the fact that by default, their instrument sounds like sh*t. You hit a snare drum and it's not a pretty noise and no one wants to hear it. Drums are potentially the worst sounding instrument in the wrong hands (yes, violins are awful too, but thankfully very quiet). The fact that using simply rhythm and various timbres one can add so much to music is astounding. Well placed drum hits and tasty beats can make or break a band. So maybe, ya know, stop being so ignorant.

Also, while I generally don't like Lang Lang's choices musically, it's obvious in much of what he plays that he has made conscious choices to affect the way the piece sounds, which is musicality.

[werq34ac]

Considering he's got the musicality of a drummer (no offense to drummers), and that he's basically Justin Bieber of Piano - someone who's been given plenty of praise despite taking some of the greatest music and destroying them... I'd say you really need to listen to some better pianists.

And where does that place your musicality? At least Lang Lang has personality to his playing. And by no means is Lang Lang my favorite pianist. I do listen to better pianists. You need to stop pretending you are one.

As a person, Lang Lang seems to trump you in that as well. He knows how to take criticism. He doesn't make a show of his playing anymore and his facial expressions have gotten better. Really where my respect for you bottomed out was when you said you were better than Lang Lang.

[davidjosepha]

He knows how to take criticism. He doesn't make a show of his playing anymore and his facial expressions have gotten better.

I've noticed this too...I've also noticed a rise in pianists who seem to be copying his facial expressions and movement but doing it 10 times worse than Lang Lang ever did.

[unholeee]

i watched a clip of lang lang being a student in a master class - and he imitated the wishes perfectly. but ive also listened to some of his own interpretations and playing : [

[pianoman53]

Considering he's got the musicality of a drummer (no offense to drummers), and that he's basically Justin Bieber of Piano - someone who's been given plenty of praise despite taking some of the greatest music and destroying them... I'd say you really need to listen to some better pianists.

Really, you're going there? I mean, it's not very difficult to do what you do. It's way easier to see the fault in someone than the greatness in someone. Though, considering that you see Sokolov as a fraud, I don't know how serious one can take your opinion.

There has been plenty of stuff going on around Lang lang. A few critics first said "Ah, he has no musicality blah blah.." and then were to listen to his recording of Beethoven, and praised everything about it. The funny thing is, they had no idea it was him, because it was a blind test. I'm quite sure you'd do the same... or maybe you are such a great musician, that you know all the truth in the world, even when there is nothing like truth in music.

I don't mind that people have an opinion in music. What bothers me is when they think they know they're right... while everyone else is wrong. But wait, why am I even pointing this out? I'm obviously completely wrong anyway...

[perfect_pitch]

Though, considering that you see Sokolov as a fraud, I don't know how serious one can take your opinion. 

You know - this is what is wrong with people on the internet. They misinterpret, misquote and misread everything.

I said Sokolov's recording of Rachmaninoff's 3rd Piano Concerto sucked... I've never said anything about his other repertoire... and I never called him a fraud.

So frankly - anything you say doesn't mean a damn thing to me, and personally your opinion means less than a grain of a salt to me.

[werq34ac]

You know - this is what is wrong with people on the internet. They misinterpret, misquote and misread everything.

I said Sokolov's recording of Rachmaninoff's 3rd Piano Concerto sucked... I've never said anything about his other repertoire... and I never called him a fraud.

So frankly - anything you say doesn't mean a damn thing to me, and personally your opinion means less than a grain of a salt to me.

We could say the same of your opinion. And that would make decent human conversation with you impossible. So don't go there.

[pianoplunker]

apparently that IS the SECRET!

had no idea lang lang was such a gifted collaborative artist. look how he mimicks and coordinates in a complimentary manner his head sways and bobs to little marc yu   

That was great. What a great mentor he must be.  One thing I notice is that the little kid is playing more from memory and really getting into the piece while the older appears to be sight reading, but nonetheless very very well. The heads swaying together is simply chemistry which is what all musicians should seek when playing with other musicians. Beautiful.

[pianoplunker]

Considering he's got the musicality of a drummer (no offense to drummers), and that he's basically Justin Bieber of Piano - someone who's been given plenty of praise despite taking some of the greatest music and destroying them... I'd say you really need to listen to some better pianists.

I know drummers that are very musical. I have one that lives in my yard under some bushes. He hears me practicing and says "Hey, dont you know anything about phrasing ?"

[pianoman53]

You know - this is what is wrong with people on the internet. They misinterpret, misquote and misread everything.

I said Sokolov's recording of Rachmaninoff's 3rd Piano Concerto sucked... I've never said anything about his other repertoire... and I never called him a fraud.

So frankly - anything you say doesn't mean a damn thing to me, and personally your opinion means less than a grain of a salt to me.

Okay, sorry for misquoting.

You can obviously have your own opinion, and you can obviously keep thinking in black and white.
And I still wrote quite much, and you only had opinions about this... Oh well....

[perfect_pitch]

And I still wrote quite much, and you only had opinions about this... Oh well....

That's because the rest of what you said was a load of tripe... and I see all the shades of grey. Just because my opinion doesn't match yours, doesn't mean you have to be a smug, arrogant wanker about it.

Can't believe you fruit loops took this all out of whack all because of a frickin' joke.

[werq34ac]

That's because the rest of what you said was a load of tripe... and I see all the shades of grey. Just because my opinion doesn't match yours, doesn't mean you have to be a smug, arrogant wanker about it.

Can't believe you fruit loops took this all out of whack all because of a frickin' joke.

It wasn't a very good joke in the first place. I didn't really see any good intention behind it so I questioned whether it was meant well. Instead of showing that you had meant well, you just said to "grow a funny bone and take a joke." My funny bone says that joke wasn't funny because 1. Lang Lang has had plenty of criticism and we don't need to hear more. 2. While ironic, the joke was meant to defame Lang Lang rather than praise Mark Yu. To which I replied "don't get so defensive." Fine you weren't defensive in your reply. You were simply negative. And then to don't get so defensive, you made your critical error in replying that you were a better pianist than Lang Lang. Well hello Mr. I'm better than Lang Lang because I am an amateur and Lang Lang is a professional. It's what started all this whack, your claim that you are a better musician than Lang Lang. Why don't you show us a piece by piece comparison of a piece Lang Lang plays and a piece you play to see who's is better.

[pianoman53]

Just because my opinion doesn't match yours, doesn't mean you have to be a smug, arrogant wanker about it.

You did read what you just wrote, did you?

[scherzo123]

It's really immature to say that a concert pianist that has worked way harder than you (Lang Lang)  is bad. Besides, he's a very fun guy and he contributes a lot to classical music. He created the Lang Lang Foundation, which tries to make more kids learn piano and appreciate classical music. Also, Lang Lang probably better than you, considering he won the Tchaikovsky International Piano Competition.

[rachmaninoff_forever]

I hope you guys know that there are pianists who are better than Lang Lang but aren't nearly as successful as him. 

I mean, come on now...  There are people at my school who are better singers than Justin Bieber!

Just because Perfect_Pitch isn't as famous as him doesn't mean that he can't be a better pianist.  Judging by his repertoire that he's working on, it's definitely a possibility.  He has perfect Pitch.  I mean come on now...  Perfect pitch.  Joke intended.

It's really immature to say that a concert pianist that has worked way harder than you (Lang Lang)  is bad

Well we don't exactly know for sure who has worked harder.  And even if Lang Lang has worked harder, it doesn't really matter.  There are A LOT of pianists who work harder than Lang Lang but still aren't as good or successful as him.

considering he won the Tchaikovsky International Piano Competition.

I don't think Horowitz won a competition.  Did he?

Now now...  Before all of you guys flame me, let me get this straight.  I doubt that Perfect_Pitch is a better pianist that Lang Lang.  But until we hear a couple recordings from him, we can then make that decision.  But he is being pretttty arrogant and I kinda don't like that...

SO...  Perfect_Pitch, if you indeed are better than Lang Lang, then why don't you post a couple recordings in the audition room?  After all, the burden of proof is on the positive claim!

[j_menz]

I don't think Horowitz won a competition.  Did he?

A stack of Grammies, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the Legion of Honour, the Ialian Order of Merit, and one of the best bow tie wearers of 1988.

But no piano competitions.

[rachmaninoff_forever]

A stack of Grammies, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the Legion of Honour, the Ialian Order of Merit, and one of the best bow tie wearers of 1988.

But no piano competitions.

I guess that WAS NOT a good example to use!

He was a pretty badass bow tie wearer.  Out of all those awards, I would want that one.

[j_menz]

I guess that WAS NOT a good example to use!

He was a pretty badass bow tie wearer.  Out of all those awards, I would want that one.

Actually, I thought it an excellent example.


Incidentally, it's never to early to start on the bow tie thing, just remember they have to be ones you actually tie yourself. Clip ons/ slip ons are very much a no no.

Incidentally, he has a piano competition named after him (International Competition for Young Pianists in Memory of Vladimir Horowitz) which is probably better than actually winning one.

[werq34ac]

I hope you guys know that there are pianists who are better than Lang Lang but aren't nearly as successful as him. 

I mean, come on now...  There are people at my school who are better singers than Justin Bieber!

Just because Perfect_Pitch isn't as famous as him doesn't mean that he can't be a better pianist.  Judging by his repertoire that he's working on, it's definitely a possibility.  He has perfect Pitch.  I mean come on now...  Perfect pitch.  Joke intended.

Well we don't exactly know for sure who has worked harder.  And even if Lang Lang has worked harder, it doesn't really matter.  There are A LOT of pianists who work harder than Lang Lang but still aren't as good or successful as him.

I don't think Horowitz won a competition.  Did he?

Now now...  Before all of you guys flame me, let me get this straight.  I doubt that Perfect_Pitch is a better pianist that Lang Lang.  But until we hear a couple recordings from him, we can then make that decision.  But he is being pretttty arrogant and I kinda don't like that...

SO...  Perfect_Pitch, if you indeed are better than Lang Lang, then why don't you post a couple recordings in the audition room?  After all, the burden of proof is on the positive claim!

There are plenty of fantastic pianists who aren't as well-known as Lang Lang, sure. But do you really think anyone can say they are better than Lang Lang based solely on the misconception that Lang Lang is incapable of playing musically?

[rachmaninoff_forever]

Incidentally, it's never to early to start on the bow tie thing, just remember they have to be ones you actually tie yourself. Clip ons/ slip ons are very much a no no.

Well,  I can't clip on or slip on a tie, let alone tie one.  So I use magnets or Velcro.

Incidentally, he has a piano competition named after him (International Competition for Young Pianists in Memory of Vladimir Horowitz) which is probably better than actually winning one.

They should have a Carl Vine and a Valentina Lisitsa competition. 

And you sure do like to say 'Incidentally' a lot!

[j_menz]

Well,  I can't clip on or slip on a tie, let alone tie one.  So I use magnets or Velcro.

You'll never win that way.  Learn!

They should have a Carl Vine and a Valentina Lisitsa competition. 

I think by convention you need to be dead, so long may there not be.

And you sure do like to say 'Incidentally' a lot!

Twice is a lot? 

Incidentally, you haven't commented on my purchases in that thrread.   

OK, maybe three times is a lot. 

[davidjosepha]

Now now...  Before all of you guys flame me, let me get this straight.  I doubt that Perfect_Pitch is a better pianist that Lang Lang.  But until we hear a couple recordings from him, we can then make that decision.  But he is being pretttty arrogant and I kinda don't like that...

Yep, you're definitely right on everything you said, rach. How hard he worked and what he has contributed to young people learning piano is irrelevant to his actual pianism. It just shows he's a hard worker and a good guy.

But I seriously doubt perfect_pitch has anything on Lang Lang.

Incidentally, it's never to early to start on the bow tie thing, just remember they have to be ones you actually tie yourself. Clip ons/ slip ons are very much a no no.

Quite the purist, I see.

Incidentally, he has a piano competition named after him (International Competition for Young Pianists in Memory of Vladimir Horowitz) which is probably better than actually winning one.

You could be like Van Cliburn and win a competition and have a competition named after you. The best of both worlds, right?

[perfect_pitch]

Now now...  Before all of you guys flame me, let me get this straight.  I doubt that Perfect_Pitch is a better pianist that Lang Lang.  But until we hear a couple recordings from him, we can then make that decision.  But he is being pretttty arrogant and I kinda don't like that...

OH FOR FUCKS SAKE... YET AGAIN... I never EVER said I was better than Lang Lang... My DISGUST for him is how we can take music that was written ever so beautifully and create monstrous recreations of them... I personally wouldn't mind if he took some of his performances a little more seriously and applied a little more care to the emotional input.

Now, I KNOW I'm not technically better than Lang Lang, but believe me - in my life, I would like to be... I intend to be playing piano till the day I die. I think it's just ignorant that a person with so much fame and authority treats much of the piano literature like a joke.

- Quite possibly the WORST interpretation I've ever heard of this magnificently written piece.

- SERIOUSLY???

As a serious pianist, he should demonstrate his love for music not through how fast he can play, or how loud (after all, he rightly gained the nick-name 'Bang-bang' for a reason for goodness sake - and I wasn't the one who came up with it), so obviously other people can sense it.

There are plenty of fantastic pianists who aren't as well-known as Lang Lang, sure.

Damn right... there are people out there who may not be technically talented at the piano, but their passion and their ability to demonstrate a deep emotional connection with the music is far more prevalent and convincing than a LOT of Lang Lang's music.



AND YES... I may be arrogant. Some call it being strong-willed... Maybe it comes from the will of wanting to be a concert pianist from a young age, but was taught by MORONS and self-taught WANKERS who didn't know sh*t about piano, and was only told as an adult at University that practically everything you've been taught is WRONG!

So I have worked my arse off at piano... I used to play like sh*t, and I mean sh*t, but believe ME, there isn't a day that I don't work at bettering the craft of piano - both technically and musically.

[outin]

SO...  Perfect_Pitch, if you indeed are better than Lang Lang, then why don't you post a couple recordings in the audition room?  After all, the burden of proof is on the positive claim!

And then there's the fact that it's subjective what makes a pianist better than another. Better in what? So even then this discussion might be never ending...

EDIT: The only thing I can tell 100% surely: They are all 3 better than me! 

[rachmaninoff_forever]

OH FOR FUCKS SAKE... YET AGAIN... I never EVER said I was better than Lang Lang... My

I didn't feel like reading the whole thing, so I just skimmed a few places ad that's what I assumed.

My bad dude!   

[rachmaninoff_forever]

EDIT: The only thing I can tell 100% surely: They are all 3 better than me! 

Well that's also subjective!

[outin]

Well that's also subjective!

No, that's an exception of the rule, you can ask my teacher 

[davidjosepha]

OH FOR FUCKS SAKE... YET AGAIN... I never EVER said I was better than Lang Lang...

Actually, you did.

Whether its a joke or not, it still sounded quite negative towards Lang Lang. Don't get so defensive, he's a much better pianist than all of us here.

Technically - yeah, he is... in terms of Musicality - hell no.

I think most people here will agree musicality trumps technique in most cases, so saying you play more musically then Lang Lang would be to say you are a better pianist.

[pianoman53]

Come on PP, you're better than that! You're too old to still have those 17-year old ideas. Obviously there are many ways to play a piece, and obviously there are people who like his playing. Chopin didn't like Beethoven, but he knew that Beethoven was a great composer.

Lang Lang is clearly not Beethoven, but you are clearly not Chopin.
So how about keeping it in the grey-zone. I've actually never seen you say something that isn't Heaven or Hell. And I've never seen you say "It's good, but not my taste". I mean, how can someone who's been praised by both Eschenbach and Baremboim be a screw up? Either you have better taste than those two, or you are too narrow. It's your choice.

[werq34ac]

OH FOR FUCKS SAKE... YET AGAIN... I never EVER said I was better than Lang Lang... My DISGUST for him is how we can take music that was written ever so beautifully and create monstrous recreations of them... I personally wouldn't mind if he took some of his performances a little more seriously and applied a little more care to the emotional input.

Watch your language, kiddo. I'm younger than you (hormones raging and all) and I haven't blown my fuse yet. Let's keep discussion here at the very least civil.

And as a matter of fact,

Technically - yeah, he is... in terms of Musicality - hell no.

Hell no? Actually I admit that this could be interpreted as no, he is not better than "all of us here" meaning the people discussing this (me, you, davidjosepha, and the OP). I don't think the OP, I and davidjosepha think we are better musicians (when I say musicians, I mean pianists as well. Pianists ARE musicians after all, no?) than Lang Lang. That leaves you. (I left out the others because you joined the conversation later). At no point in this ENTIRE conversation have you admitted that you are less of a pianist than Lang Lang (I am not talking about technique. Technique does not determine the better pianist).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2IToCjVaE8

- Quite possibly the WORST interpretation I've ever heard of this magnificently written piece.

- SERIOUSLY???

I could say the same of a lot of Horowitz's and Richter's recordings. Though yes, Lang Lang has consistently banged the heck out of a lot of pieces. That doesn't prove he is a bad musician. The utter lack of good recordings from him would prove him a bad musician. And one good recording would prove otherwise (cough cough Beethoven Op. 2/3).
The Un Sospiro I actually think is pretty good. I mean besides the excessive rubato and the super loud basses (I assume that's why you're bashing it in the first place). His tone and colors are quite nice when he's not banging the bass. There's more to piano than the rubato you use and how loud your basses are 

As a serious pianist, he should demonstrate his love for music not through how fast he can play, or how loud (after all, he rightly gained the nick-name 'Bang-bang' for a reason for goodness sake - and I wasn't the one who came up with it), so obviously other people can sense it.

And unlike you, Lang Lang knows how to take criticism. He considers it, and takes the advice he considers is worth taking. Which is why he's gotten better.

You question his devotion to classical music? Seriously? That's the one thing you can't question. That man has contributed A LOT to classical music. I think we've established that already.

[scherzo123]

OH FOR FUCKS SAKE...

WOW...you're 27 and you think it's appropriate to post this type of language in a thread where anybody, including young people that shouldn't be exposed to this, can see. I mean, A$$ is ok, but what you said...

- Quite possibly the WORST interpretation I've ever heard of this magnificently written piece.

- SERIOUSLY???

Ask yourself if you can play better. If you say yes, then prove it by posting your rendition in the audition room.

[rachmaninoff_forever]

I hope you guys know that I'm better than Lang Lang and everyone on this forum...

Right?

[scherzo123]

I hope you guys know that I'm better than Lang Lang and everyone on this forum...

Right?

 

[j_menz]

I hope you guys know that I'm better than Lang Lang and everyone on this forum...

Right?

Of course.

** looks for those pills rachy has obviously thrown away.....

[davidjosepha]

WOW...you're 27 and you think it's appropriate to post this type of language in a thread where anybody, including young people that shouldn't be exposed to this, can see. I mean, A$$ is ok, but what you said...
Ask yourself if you can play better. If you say yes, then prove it by posting your rendition in the audition room.

Am I the only one here who finds

OH FOR FUCKS SAKE...

the least offensive thing he has said in this thread?

Also, j_menz, you're putting an awfully lot of words in my mouth. I mean, musically I might not be better than Lang Lang, but technically...

[j_menz]

Also, j_menz, you're putting an awfully lot of words in my mouth.

I wasn't aware I had put any, much less an awful lot. 

[scherzo123]

Am I the only one here who finds

the least offensive thing he has said in this thread?

True.