Earl Wild plays Bach Tausig Toccata and Fugue

[abbeliszt]

This is terrible, sounds like from a bad science fiction movie. I much prefer the Bach-Busoni version anyway

[Baseliner]

The Fugue sounds robotic.

Must be another Asian masquerading as a European composer.

[lipsbach]

when and where is this from? is this that concert hall in sarasota? i might have been at this concert. awesome.

[rbhood2468]

Fantastic Performance!

[diegonico2360]

thanks for put this video!!!!

incredible!!!

[mangosulfurico73]

a mi me gusto mucho la velocidad la y interpretacion,no suena apresurado y eso me gusta es mas importante q suene limpio a q suene rapido

[ccoraxfan]

Oh no! Vibrato just does not work on the piano!

[SealedSage]

Thanks for the tips anyway on fast octaves, cause I wondered how those guys could play like that. Will practice.

[Soamsey]

Wild is a Master. Wild, Cherkassky, Horowitz - no one plays like these guys anymore.

[SealedSage]

I've go tht e sheet music to this song and I must say this guy is a monster. This is my first time seeing Earl Wild perform and he is the greatest I'VE SEEN. I clicked on the Hungarian Rhapsodies buy him too and he just blows me away. Not my favorite pianist but simply amazing.

[GypsyPianist]

So, I don't have his piano, so I can't make the same sound, but in the end, octaves are octaves and so in those days I suppose you could say I could play my octaves like Horowitz. It doesn't mean I'm as good in all other areas as he is or as famous. Just shows that it is possible to play like famous pianists if you know how.

[GypsyPianist]

For example, when I was playing the Liszt 6th Hungarian Rhapsody, I wanted to see if I had achieved it to a good level, so I put Horowitz' recording on and played through the octave section with him. After a few attempts I managed to keep at the same speed. It was just an experiment.

[Soamsey]

Speed is the least important thing about octaves. Playing clean is what's important and there is no way to quantify this so I have to wonder about anyone who would create such a silly experiment. I can play Czerny and Hanon amazingly "fast" but I'm glad we can't measure anything other than speed when it comes to my playing!

[GypsyPianist]

No! Speed (when playing accurately) is exciting! Usually people who say things like that don't get standing ovations after a recital. Of course, that is your choice. You really think that playing Hanon finger exercises fast is something comparable to a Hungarian Rhapsody by Liszt? Speed is 'one' of the most important things about playing repeated octaves where the composer asks for them fast in the score. Surely great pianists like Horowitz are great examples for some music students.

[Soamsey]

1. Hanon is similar to playing octaves, in fact it includes octaves. 2. OK, I will try to play faster so that I get ovations.

[GypsyPianist]

1.) Use Kullak School of Octaves (more musical) 2.) Remember to keep a loose wrist and constantly change the position of your wrist while playing fast octaves.

[Soamsey]

Should I do this even though fast octaves is not a goal of mine?

[GypsyPianist]

Well, he is a remarkable pianist and as you say, one of the finest. However, he was better when he was younger (from a technical stand-point). Now, if someone who you haven't heard of has developed their technique and can play it like Wild, why should you be surprised. Look, if you know how to develop your technique and you spend hours doing so, you will achieve it.

[Wergild]

what's wrong with the sound? seems to be constantly vibrating.

[theicyridge]

to say that one person is the greatest pianist living is near impossible, if not impossible. but one cannot critisize another for praising wild, who has been performing wonderfully for the better part of a century, and has recorded some of the best piano one can find. "shows how ignorant you are" reads "complete snob." thank you kv466 for giving credit where it is due.

colin

[pguitar13]

kv466,

"This guy who said "LIKE MINE' is an absolute idiot for he knows not who he is trying to compare himself to: the finest pianist the world knows today."

shows how ignorant you are

[kv466]

This guy who said "LIKE MINE' is an absolute idiot for he knows not who he is trying to compare himself to: the finest pianist the world knows today. To say something clearly demonstrates utter ignorance. If you want to hear the best rendition ever of the T&F, though, check out Don Dorsey's Bachbusters. Enjoy~

[alivahedi]

hmm..he can play it but i think he isnt very very good,i ve seen much better toccatas11LIKE MINE

[Freewheal]

Sound settles down after a short while!

Not the best sound recording - but nevertheless shows some of Earl's magic.

[legbah]

WOW, its like he

s playing his piano through a leslie 147, Duuuuuuude, Awwwwwwwsome!!!

[Soamsey]

"WOW, its like he

s playing his piano through a leslie 147" No, it's just a Steinway-Hammond L-100 or Bosendorfer-Hammond C-3. Or your years of 'ludes are kicking in...

[tnmtemerity]

I'm not sure what manufacture that piano is, but Earl Wild Generally Played Baldwins and now Kawai.

[keg646]

this appears to be a german steinway