imitazione heifetz

[sternbergzookie]

*twitch* Oh, Mr. Heifetz, you are cruel.

[Pit0030]

wow! we plays better than me! 0.o

[galexwong]

The laughs are sooo fake

[Adorado31]

@galexwong Funny, I had the same feeling! ;) Perhaps they're paid actors or something :P

Also funny, I steel enjoy his playing, even like this :D <3<3<3

[fidicen73]

@Adorado31 They weren't actors. They were advanced students at a Heifetz violin workshop (which is on YT). Their laughter must have been a natural reaction to the very tough workshop and criticism they'd all just been through. Heifetz's spoof audition wasn't just for fun, there was a serious teaching purpose behind it. Remember that those students would soon be auditioning for top orchestral jobs, and perhaps one day would be teaching and even judging auditions themselves.

[Adorado31]

@fidicen73 I see. This (:P) means that I was kidding. Nevertheless, thanks 4 your reply :)

[peteguy2400]

How can he play that bad, but seem so professionally correct at the same time?

[martinstoss]

:-))))))))))))))))

[patvln]

BRAVOOOOOO hahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!

[nimalakers24]

heifetz sucks at making mistakes

[SpookyWatcher]

He's playing Vieuxtemps concerto nr. 4 1st part...

Very beautiful concert though, listen to original too...:)

[bergkalis]

Just the Greatest of all!

What is the work he is playing?

[polyonyx]

I don't understand why they laugh.. Oh my. =)

But honestly, I really don't understand why they laugh at him. T_T

[annefrankisaho]

@polyonyx

Lots of wrong notes and silly over-the-top excursions into harmonics that have nothing to do with the piano accompaniment. Still, it sounds good in a bad way.

[polyonyx]

@annefrankisaho Hhhmmm... I can't find them. I can only see unnecessary gestures and bows.

Thanks for informing me however. :)

[layth111111111111]

all that humour, and still no smile on his face, what a guy!

[sarahxboxbeara]

still better than me!

[milstein91]

@sarahxboxbeara so quit the volin

[annajeehee]

It wasn't nice to make fun but coming from him- it was a bit funny- don't think he meant any harm

[jazzynet1]

I think that is how Jean Luc Ponte started out! :D

[xoxCarlyx7]

@gospelkeys07 1st movement of Vieuxtemps Violin Concerto no.4

[simonwongyh]

He actually put the sense of humor into this crappy demonstration, that's also a kind of musical sense as well huh=]

Interesting video

[DHcello]

@simonwongyh I Agree!LOL

[rapter9800]

lol, I think Heifetz had to practice to make it sound that bad

[satoristrings]

He still played it very in tone!!! He just could not play anything out of tone.

[LlamaLlord21]

what song is this supposed to be?

[xoxCarlyx7]

@LlamaLlord21 1st movement of Vieuxtemps Violin Concerto no.4

[trigunnnnnnn]

even so, he is in tune...

[Solexsox]

probably more difficult for him to play this crappy than for him to play clean and perfect. Now thats skill.

[Dagrehn]

If I am pricked, do I not...Bleek?

[hangooksaram123]

laughed my ass off. thanks for the upload. ^^

[imb1991]

his students are so fake!!

[AbsoluteZ3R0]

The best part is Heifetz's ability to maintain a straight face throughout the entire performance

[sbeallvln]

I would LOVE to know who is the poor soul that auditioned that morning!!!!!

[CrazyJimKU]

Fake and gay

[no1sfhippy1]

This is VERY, VERY FUNNY, but all too realistic for the majority of violin students.

[StringChannel]

hmm

[MrTheComposer]

Cheap, no respect for Vieuxtemps or the student who auditionned. And it is so long to endure.

[marlowespirals]

@MrTheComposer Haha, Heifetz had to endure a lot worse auditions at USC than that. One time, a women came in, played a g-scale on a violin she had bought at a garage sale, and said she had only come so that she could tell her friends she had played for Heifetz. : D

[FiddlerKim]

You know, it's really not easy to play like that intentionally, what a play!

[joparkeruk]

I think it's rather funny to see Heifetz play like I do HAHAHAHA

[grabagoodone]

those stupid students laughing something they have been doing also.

[TheGlobula]

I really don't know what is that amusing in it...

[legman36]

Genius, pure genius!

[rapter9800]

This is why you should practice...

[gibsonpaddy]

The 5 dorks sittin there with there mock laugh

[violaplayer1995]

hilarious! but that was pretty in tune you kno =)

[raoultak]

So....Heifetz had a sense of humour. One of the greatest practical jokes high grade students can encounter from Heifetz. We finally see Heifetz smiling and taking effort to entertain his students. This shows that Heifetz wasnt such a completely controlled person; he also was a human being with human feelings. And....Heifetz enjoyed playing like this as well. Its a revelation. Great!!!

[JardelPablo]

uatarel?

[soparu]

hahaha WTF?

[Garnet826]

LOL... i bet he had to practice to play so bad :D

[notnownanao]

my teacher is in there!

i love how heifetz still sounds amazing

[jazzecca2007]

very nice roflmao XDDD

[dksrkdud]

hahaha love him!

[LoneRifle]

Vieuxtemps No. 4 - YOU'RE DOING IT WRONG

[kljsadfhklj]

I can't believe he's able to keep a straight face all the way through.

[MyLordLoke]

hehe

[Silkmeister]

this is how Guarneri and Strad corners get knocked off

[violinist102]

it was his tononi

[SkyXCloud23]

So all of you people should practice correctly! Or else, you will be like his imitazione... LOL very funny!

[CokeCake]

He's allowed to be arrogant.

[PassionateViolinist]

but he isn't. I know he is humble truly inside. He can be eccentric and sarcastic, but he was a great man

[lopata32]

His face is awesome, when he do this.

[RandomMuch1337]

This piece is Henri Vieuxtemp's Violin Concerto No. 4

[asertado2]

Dude...when did he hear me play...?

lol

[jonathancaramin]

it's the fourth concerto by Henry Vieuxtemps, and there is a good rendition by Heifetz on youtube.

[BaRToLoMaSi]

gnatural... i love Heifetz... i think hes great and all that.. but he was arrogant.. he was snob... everybody knows that as person.. he as a badass... i love his musicality.. his geniality in music.. but his far to be such a nice and kind person like hahn for example..

[RandomMuch1337]

Then again...if you were as bad as he portrays, why would you audition for Heifetz's studio?

[gnatural]

I have to agree with some of the earlier comments, i think this was not necessary. it makes heifitz seem like one of those "snob violinists" that make fun of those who cant match their level. i am sure i could be wrong, i have respect for Heifetz and his playing, but this just was not funny to be making fun of other struggling violinists.

[IDTFG]

Struggling? All musicians struggle. The best are the ones who've struggled the most. You don't mean struggling. You mean the ones who don't practise either enough or correctly. The ones who don't listen to the sounds they are making. The ones who are arrogant enough to think that it is acceptable to present a work of art without giving the composer the respect he deserves. This is a fantastic demonstration of an underprepared performance and as such is useful as well as hilarious.

[gnatural]

no, i mean exactly what i said, there are people who practice for hours on end, and struggle with their craft, but because it may not be their talent, they cannot match the level of a heifitz. that the point i was trying to make.

[IDTFG]

If it is not their talent then they are not part of this particular equation, should not be auditioning in front of one of the greatest musicians of all time, and should be humble enough to be able to take a little good natured fun. Otherwise they are displaying ignorance, arrogance and self-obsession. The music is important, the people are not. No-one in that room matches the level of Heifetz. But they've all worked their arses off to be privileged enough to be there.

[musicmatt09]

You forgot Erick Friedman, the only protege of Heifetz - he's sitting right there.

[IDTFG]

@musicmatt09 I didn't actually know that was him - but was priviliged enough to have sat in a masterclass of his when I was at school. The two violinists who worked with him were Jack Liebeck and So-Ock Kim - both hugely successful now. Extraordinarily powerful guy. Feels weird to be part of some kind of musical timeline. Makes this clip even better, thanks a million 8D

[musicmatt09]

@IDTFG Ann Fontanella is another, cited by Friedman as his greatest protege. I cannot tell you how many pieces I fell in love with after hearing him play it. His playing had charm.

[minsypie]

wow... he's icecold

[daniellerozenblat]

XD great i love this one LOL XD HAHAHAHAH

[demosj]

There should have been auditions to go to a Heifetz audition. How can someone go to play before such an august violinist knowing they were going to perform badly?

[omaitata]

such a stupid bastard. disgusting

[Musicheart85]

I think so too

[olympian1980]

i dont know why but it reminds me of yehudis violin technic

[pastrocchio90]

lol this is kinda mean to say =p

[AbsoluteZ3R0]

@olympian1980 Haha you're so right, like in his video of the Bruch violin concerto

[maaateeen]

@olympian1980

you`re a bugger!

[Jctankk]

@olympian1980 Menuhin is still one of the greats.

[hildagrim]

one of the only videos of heifetz smiling. awesome!

[komivesz]

I really cant get bored of this video!! Each time I see it, I almost die by laughing!!

I love 4:03 :))

[qwack3rsnaq3r]

its really really hard to suck so WELL

[cgijfk]

the cadenza is hilarious! I'm speechless in describing it. Instead of his violin singing (which is to be expected with Heifetz), it's basically shouting "BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH!!!!". priceless and added to favorites.

[Jaesango]

what song is he playing?

[Arkhimedes]

damn... still better than me

[Musicheart85]

He is terrible, nobody have to put shit on work of everybody. I don't undersend why a big violinist has to be so stupid

[duhhh86]

sigh...when he gives direct criticism, you all blame him. when he does it in a humorous way, you blame him as well. i think what he does in this vid is a wonderful way of bringing across what one should avoid in violin-playing. he isn't simply "putting shit on work of everybody" alright...stop being so sensitive.

[Musicheart85]

I know just a think, I do not laugh of hard work of others. . I'm sorry but humility has to be all for a musician. Laughter of others is a sign of stupidity

[duhhh86]

oh come on...he isn't really laughing at other people. the humour is directed at general bad violin technique, and not at any particular person. get my point?

[poseuresque]

i didn't know heifetz knew how to suck. it's nice to see he might have started somewhere!!! it makes him human, just to hear him make some bad music even if on purpose

[AytidaRed]

lol.

[thecandyman86]

You know it must suck if you're the person he's making fun of LOL.

[imsleepyanddead]

if you watch this video without sound, you'd think that from his facial expression, he'd sound like his brilliant himself!

[00Eregos00]

Take this video with some context and a grain of salt. These are professional musicians having a bit of fun, with some educational value too - Even knowing the mistakes takes knowledge of the violin.

[dansoftheways]

I dont get this video at all

Heifetz imitating a violinist who cant play correctly, is that funny???????????''

And the other students are watching and laughing??????????

For me this is so stupid. Have you seen the guy playing the brazilian piece laughing. Why does he do that, does he play at the level Eric Plays?

I think this video has a lack of respect

[pastrocchio90]

take it easy man

[meineke11]

Humor is not found in wisdom but in useless nonsens at times. So why not..? I would be depressed to see Heifetz as a dull but "politically correct" man--now, THAT is sick! But don´t get me wrong, humor is not allowing anything, but this demonstration here I like--by the way, are we not all sometimes like that unlucky student he imitates? --Let´s laugh and feel better!

[Razoumovski]

You are right. Those are games for little kids, and certainly not for such a great violonist. But the things is that for such a musician, it is almost difficult to play this way.

[Yahairo]

@dansoftheways agreed, not funny at all....

[osito16]

i love 2:04, lol you can tell he's trying so hard to sound bad but he still sounds good

[IsaacDelarge]

LMAO. You cats who criticize this video need to stop acting like a bunch of schoolyard tattletell PUSSIES.

Look at 2:04, even his accompanist starts crackin' up. And he was a professor at USC.

[Beeffyviolin]

I guess I just have a problem with his sense of humor. I agree that it would be really funny in an informal setting and he played a phrase or 2 badly like this, but to play through the whole bloody movement like that. He must have planned it. It's just not funny and the people in the room all of them including that geek at the piano iskissing his ass.

[omg55912]

I think this video will help a lot of people. Some people are completely unaware of how they play!Some of it is pretty over the top though lol. Just be aware of what you're doing and be very observant of yourself !( part of it has to be with how much your teacher cares too though). I wish i had a teacher like that, or a class room setting like that, how fun! At least the violinist being criticized probably really cares about the emotion of the piece and is trying!

[ddviolinist]

This is making fun of a person that auditioned for him. And he was NOT known for being a very nice man. I agree with Musicheart85, this is unkind. I have been in this profession for over 30 years, and I can tell you that this type of "butt kissing" never ends. People just don't know how to behave in this profession. And, the judgement and criticism is off the charts. Obviously indicating severe ego issues. I can't stand that part of my profession. I literally hate it, as I do this vid.

[Beeffyviolin]

I think the real idiots are the sheep in the room laughing out loud like they are. It's not THAT funny.... All those guys in the room aren't much better....

[Musicheart85]

I think the same. A lot of idiots. I hate who put shit on work of someone

[lakesidemourning]

Sometimes I wonder if my teachers got their attitude from this guy, lol.

While he IS being a smart-ass jerk for trash talking (or trash-violining, lol) a probably nervous young guy/girl about to play for him, who better to be mocked by than THE virtuoso himself???

Aside from that, by watching this video, all of us aspiring violinists can learn what NOT to do while playing a peice, lol.

MUST love Jascha Heifets.

[ddviolinist]

You are so full of it.

[suren1409]

no puede tocar mal,es el interpretacion mas bella entre los malos!!hasta aqui es el mejor

[klausknulp]

i did not know that maestro heifetz had have such a sense of humor! really funny, my daughter played like that when she was 5 years old. in future i will say that she played like heifetz when she was only 5, lol!

[sophieshihan]

It's obvious that Heifetz was not very concerned about his behaviour, I can hardly say that he had a very good manner...

[NicoloEugelmi001]

My impression is that Heifetz is presenting an amalgam of bad violin playing under the guise of a bad audition, and not imitating anyone in particular. In other words, he's telling a joke deadpan. I think it's hilarious.

[MIchaelYiochalas]

Imagine how this man would feel if he had seen this.Heifetz is a jerk.Oh,and definately not as half as good as kogan.

[PianoFan2012]

mean teachers are usually the best. whatever.

[lovesunrise7]

...what a jerk...

but funny as hell :S

[douchie336]

lol.. i loved the first note!! that was funny..

[staccatofiddler]

With no doubt Heifetz was the greatest virtuoso of the past century and he came immediately after Paganini for his technique.

But here for me Heifetz was a bitch: it isn't correct to make this imitation because every violinist who made an audition for Heifetz could get nervous towards him and probably this pupil studied also a lot in order to prepare this audition.

I think that someone of us who is laughing now for this could be very scared making an audition like that.

[travistheman91]

agreed....he was a jerk.

[orchdork607]

staccatofiddler-

while i would tend to agree with you about making fun of auditions, most of these things aren't mistakes that a talented but nervous violinist would make. like around 1:44 he's trying to trill a note with the finger placed below the held note, instead of above it. he's just being silly!

[staccatofiddler]

orchdork607,

we both see Heifetz that made this imitation but we both don't know the age of this student(maybe he was a gifted child that was scared when he met heifetz face to face) and we don't know if this guy made for the first time an audition and he was too nervous.

I know that Otakar Sevcik,one of the greatest pedagogue ever,was wellknown for be a genius on his bedroom but when he had to go on the stage he always shitted in his pants for the fright during a concert.

[SawBoss1000]

wow, not does he play with conviction, but he also sounds awful with conviction too!

[MadAznViolinist]

LOL, how can he keep a straight face while playing like that?

[cassandra5322]

LOL

[PwnSoldierz]

u fucking idiot no i didnt miss not too much read my comment u dumb shit you probably cant even read, not even to talk play the violin.

[SkN003]

This is the way you Shouldn't play this piece ..anyhow..It is very funny because he kida breaks every violin principle ..his perfect technique betrays him..he cannot play that bad for too long!

[cassandra5322]

hahah his vibrato is so funny!

[CrazyJimKU]

HE SMILED!!! :O

[AytidaRed]

does kinda make fun a bit too much, but still a great guy

[PwnSoldierz]

you guys are freakin stupid you dont even hear what he says at the beggining of the video he says and I quote ! "this is an imitation of an audition that I had to hear, it's exagerated but not too much" you fucking douches this is'nt him auditioning this is what someone played for him to auditionyou moron, Heifetz never played this bad (-_-)

[violin614]

You missed out that he also said "not too much".

[bashee3]

ha his technique still shows through

[fernandocombr]

hahaha...it's nice to see Heifetz can do it badly ;-)

Actually, he rocks!

[francescaemc2]

Great. Just great!!! How many times have I heard people play like that and had to try to keep a straight face.

Heifetz rulz.

[Jaesango]

hell i wish i can play like that

[Jaesango]

are they laughing just because it's heifetz imitating someone? i don't really find this amusing enough to laugh out loud like them

[davidj1011]

that's because they're stupid, and heifetz too

[takhirviolinest]

Cadenzo is Perfect.

[takhirviolinest]

Vietan was Cry.

[pianowendy]

what piece is this?

[GyorgyPortas]

Wieniawsky concerto N.4

[xmrbigglesworthx]

No its not. its vieuxtemps. lol

[takhirviolinest]

This  A.Vietan Concerto No4. I think Wieniawsky was 2 violin concerto.

[Mariss666]

It's spelled Viextemps, not Vietan

[takhirviolinest]

I know, i'ts Vietan (Vieuxtemps) concerto 4er for violin and Orchestra Op.31 Not Viextemps au VieUxtemps.

[takhirviolinest]

This A.Vietan Concerto No4.

I think Wieniawsky was 2 violin concerto.

[cello1780]

Heifetz is a genious crazy man and I respect that!=)

[fbandit007]

hehehe my violin teacher told me to search for heifetz videos on the internet to see how great his form is, and this is the first video i found LOL

but no worries, since then i have found many other examples of how amazing he is!

[thecandyman86]

LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL

[takhirviolinest]

Oh, He showed all problem in violin. Every little shading. Thank you for this movie. There is showed more professional details By Mr. Heifetz

[HeifetzReborn]

LOL he still sounds great!!!

[sabsaka]

Oh, come on! "I have lost respect for Heifetz after this", "He should have not done this"... Why not? Every being need some fun, and after all he did not reveal the name of the poor guy! It is funny, and it is not intended to be offensive to anyone!

[the4toedjoe]

Haha, he plays better than I do in this video!

[fernandocombr]

lol....that was really funny!

[zeronecrostarmozart]

jajaja this is really funny xD!!!

[Ziggy1614]

heifetz should do stand up. the guys listening must have boring lives or something. and yes is anyone freak that he smiled at the end?

[HannahXIV]

tee hee! Heifetz made a funny!

[hildagrim]

OOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHH MY GOD!!!!!!!!

HEIFETZ SMILED!

great video

[kyokotag]

My 7-yr old (plays violin & worships Heifetz) screamed watching this: "No laughing while Heifetz is teaching!!"

[pastrocchio90]

ahahah! nice

[svennevig]

I think it is sad when people behave this way... yeah there are crappy violinists out there and they think they are better than they really are. Sometimes you have to put bad violinists in their place, but I really don't think it is funny to make a mockery of the short comings of others.

[sweetchocolateali]

jajaja i loved this!!

everytime that I can't play a part of a concert or I'm having a hard time playing, instead of stressing out like I usually do, I look at this video and figure that that's how I look like when I play that piece and I just start laughing!! jajajaj it's a great way to ease out the stress

I reeeeeally love heifetz, he's the best!!! no doubts about it!!!!

GREAAAAAAT video =D

[violin614]

Maybe THIS took some practicing for Heifetz!

[Wiesbadenrockt]

pupils=actors

[mexindian1]

Great joke. Heifetz had a wonderful sense of humor, like Perlman, like Mozart.

[wiccalite]

Heifetz was put up to do this for a laugh. Why would anyone of his stature want to take the p*** of lesser violinist mortals? I love the way he obviously finds it so difficult to play out of tune. It must have taken a supreme amount of concentration to play this bad. What a master!!

[john16889]

Who ever audition this crap should be shamful!!!

[iluv2write]

it's a violinist's joke!!!