Added: 3 years ago
From: thekingthut
Views: 72,185
Sort by time | Sort by thread (beta)

Link to this comment:

Share to:
see all

All Comments (183)

Sign In or Sign Up now to post a comment!
  • I like him. :) 

  • What piece is this?

  • I bet he practiced this :D

  • I love his sense of humor. The most talented people are always the coolest....well usually lol

  • Apparently Heifetz cán play as well as I can. :')

  • @tomo1tanker But he could also play like Heifetz.

  • @ObscureAuteur Yeah, the only one who ever could.

  • He has to work very hard to sound bad.  I'd be happy if I could play that well.

  • I CAN PLAY THIS PIECE FAR WORSE THAN THAT - THUS I WIN - HA!

  • @jehovahuponyou I suspect that you can't play it any other way unlike Heifetz.

  • @ObscureAuteur - LOOK, SHERLOCK, I ALREADY ADMITTED I SUCK AT THIS SONG - WHAT THE HELL MORE DO YOU WANT, BLOOD? BTW, HOW COME YOU GOTTA BE SO DAMN DISRESPECTFUL TO YOUR ELDERS? SO WHAT IF YASCHA COULD PLAY IT GOOD OR BAD, I AM STILL WORSER THAN HIS BAD, OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

    ROFL!

    :^)

  • to play it that badly on purpose is something! i dont have to try to play it that badly

  • Actually, if you notice, though of course in jest, at times in the piece even he cannot hide his brilliance.

  • And all the while I had thought that Heifetz was a great master!

  • after reading many of the comments here, i've gathered that either most have not succeeded professionally as a violinist, isn't a violinist or takes themselves too seriously as a violinist. if you are neither, then this is actually freakin' hilarious.

  • lol that sounds like my playing

  • what a fun, yet the maestro looks so serius, which makes the performance even funnier.

  • Does anyone know what this piece is suppose to be?

  • @lolturtle13 Vieuxtemps Concerto. No. 4 in D Minor. ;-)

  • i can play this, too! and sound like this!

  • Un faux air à Tati,et un humour au moins aussi grand!!!

  • Comment removed

  • @abracadabranque

    Humour ???

    Beaucoup de platitude autour, vu que c'est un grand maître ...

  • @francesca7564 Flagornerie voulais-tu dire?Quant à l'humour,c'est dans la musique que je l'entends,pas dans les rires de la cantonade.Chacun rit comme il peut...Ne te force donc pas!..

  • @abracadabranque

    Flagornerie ? Je n'osais dire ... Mais puisque les foudres sont là ( n'ose dire aux aguets ) ,ne me force qu'à ne pas pleurer ...

    Pas de quoi faire un roman . Chacun s'amuse comme il le peut . Et s'il le peut c'est bien, très bien, très très bien .

  • @francesca7564 Evite avec moi la culpabilisation et le chantage sentimental,surtout en public...

  • @abracadabranque

    Mais rien de tout celà !!!

    Voici mes plus humbles excuses publiques .

    Je t'embrasse .

  • @francesca7564 De même!

  • Comment removed

  • The work Heifetz is deliberately playing badly is an excerpt from the first movement of Vieuxtemps Violin Concerto number 4.

    The audio and video are out of sync because of the way Youtube handles some video codecs. I have the DVD's of the entire series, and this was included on it.

    You can hear Heifetz performing this, circa 1935, here on YouTube: watch?v=qWRJQAiNu40

  • Comment removed

  • I think he spent more time to practice for this funny interpetion than his original interpetion......

  • Comment removed

  • hahaha...the students are laughing......is it funny?What a character...I don`t like it...

  • Even though he THINKS he's playing crappy..it sounds good at times..!

  • His tuning is still PERFECT

  • is Jascha Playing is fake to make his students laugh?

  • @346ZackFair In this upload, unlike another I found, he explains that before he starts.

  • ok seriously its npt that funny are they on crack

  • Hate this video. If like me you have ever suffered from a lack of bow control, then this hits hard. I couldn't understand the laughing either: I just felt sorry for the auditionee he is ripping the piss out of. Good musicians shouldn't feel the need to do put- downs. Its a matter of whatever knowledge you 'think' you have, let it go and recognise that the person in front of you is just at a different stage of discovery. Think this argument over piece/ song just plays on the same judgmental lines

  • @johnevamy Yeah, I completely agree. I suffer from stage fright, which affects my bow control. Seeing someone of Heifetz's reputuation taking the piss out something which can be pretty humiliating, just for a cheap laugh is, in my mind, shameful - as is the nauseatingly sycophantic response from his students.

  • @RedMetalViolin Yes! Sycophantic! much kinder than the word I was thinking of! :)

  • @johnevamy I disagree : if fright do not allow you to play correctly, either you try to control it by wathever means, or you do not audition, but you never present something like that to someone like Heifetz (or anybodyelse). Because somehow it is disrespectful to audition at this level if you can't match the basic expectations of the jury... And it is kind of his role to be judgmental as a teacher or in a jury and sometimes you need this kind of electroshock to learn further...

  • @sheridan54 yeah, absolute! you've got to wonder if the poor fellow could hear himself playing if it was really this bad! No, you wouldn't present something so unpracticed, I was just questioning the response from Heifetz; it seems to me that this person is either a) incredibly nervous or b) riddled with poor technique. if B, then yeah the guy needs a good kick, but if A it kind of bothers me, taking the michael out of him, even tho he should just NOT have auditioned!

  • well, kitty's technically right. the definition of "song" is music with words—as in sung... but a "piece" can be anything, including repertoire for instruments without words (though I'm sure you could make an argument that a song is worth a thousand words.. uh or whatever)... =/

  • kitty, you can say whatever you want.

  • I think this may be Perlman's playing altered with computer programs. The sound and dexterity in the left hand are that of a fine player I think (when I can stop laughing and listen). It would be pretty hard to do this by just playing to the track unless you were a pretty damn fine violinist, with a great attack and vibrato. I am going to go with electronic monkeying as my theory.

  • @Mendy7952 Why work so hard. It is just an excerpt from the master class videos.

  • Kelsey Grammer  cameo at 2:04!

  • its actually sooo funny omg

  • jajajajaja!!!!!!

  • @TheENM Jajajajaja What the fuck????

  • Heifetz shreds!

  • First movement of Vieuxtemps, Violin Concerto 4. It's on YouTube.

  • This is the violinists equivalent of a Roadrunner cartoon. One joke modified and repeated in endless permutations, building on itself to the end. Every time they see another mistake they are much too familiar with it sets them off again.

    I admit I don't get most of the humor, (I don't play violin) but I've seen gags structured like this, and they can really build a good momentum. The students here are probably trying not to fall out of their chairs and miss anything.

  • well despite the interpretation (ahem) I like the piece. whose is it?

  • i think he has no talent for playing badly, no matter how hard he tries, his notes struggle to go out of tune

  • There's a good reason why there are 2 camera switching back & forth here, (which would otherwise be completely unnecessary): One is of Heifetz, the other is a look-alike from the back, with some laughing lookalikes in a similar room. Note also that 'his' first sentence is audio without showing Heifetz..no reason to do that except to make up for no good synch with anything he actually said. This may not be a YouTube hoax, perhaps it's older, but it's a hoax, nonetheless.

  • to a violinist, especially a Heifetz fan, this is about the funniest thing ever. a lot of the commenters here just don't get it.

  • @cornel999 Spot on. Aside from the obvious fact that it sounds like s**t he is systematically deliberately making just about every error possible that any trained violinist trys to practice out!

  • asta este tare

  • I don't see the mess up. Anywhere. I honestly don't get why they're laughing. Maybe I'm too open to different types of music, good or bad. :P

  • @TheExarion - First is just the fact that here is one of the greatest violinists of all time deliberately playing badly. Of course if you played the violin yourself you'd get it more. He got through the piece, yes, but with every fault you can think of. If you're really interested, search heifetz vieuxtemps 4 on YouTube and hear him playing the same piece for real -- of course with an orchestra. And you could really learn a lot by comparing them. Do it many times.

  • @priscianusjr I don't think you understood what I said. I said he's playing pretty good. I play cello, in high school... and we're not the best. Maybe that's why I think this isn't bad, but that's just me.

    It's obvious he's messing up, but the "audience" is overreacting way too much ;x

  • @TheExarion - The audience is not overreacting, because they aren't judging by the standard of a HS orchestra. By that standard my reaction would be: the kid has a certain facility, but so many bad habits -- and this piece is technically and musically way beyond what he should be studying now. He needs to work on the basics.The reason you think it isn't bad is because you have lot to learn. If you want to learn, you should compare this to Heifetz' serious recording of this piece.

  • @priscianusjr What's the actual song?

  • @elena1826 of COURSE they are.... you would too if you met him!

  • @thekingthut

    Honeslty no.

    I would have tought he would be just annoyed by such a behaviour, as happens to all greats who are great not in their specific field only.

  • @thekingthut absolutely lol

  • @thekingthut you'd be one of those cringeworthy fanbois as well :/

  • @elena1826 Actually, 5 idiots, not 4!

  • @elena1826

    It's not just for the sake of being funny. I'm sure he had a point there. If you listen carefully, his mistakes seem quite consistent. It's just not "any bad playing." Maybe he wanted to emphasize certain types of mistakes (by doing them over and over throughout the piece), so if if he only played 30 seconds of it, he wouldn't be able to do that.

  • @SkrPchr3 Come on, there's a camera there....

    This is not a regular violin class, and the smug grin on his face says it all.

  • @elena1826

    I'm not sure what your point is:

    First you say that he isn't that funny--that's fair enough.

    But then, when I pointed out that this is more than just comedy, that this has some learning value to it, you respond "This isn't a regular lesson"....Um, so therefore he's not allowed to teach anything? I don't get your point here: he's not allowed to teach anything because this isn't a regular lesson? What do you expect him to do? Pretend to teach for the camera?

  • @elena1826

    I mean, whether or not this is a regular lesson, he's making a point here. I myself make some of these mistakes when I play (though not to such exaggerated extent, thankfully). But this made me more aware of those weaknesses of mine.

    Why do you have anything against that? Because this isn't a regular lesson? (honestly, I don't see how that logic connects)

  • @SkrPchr3 I am fairly sure he did it just to be funny. These students are well past the stage of needing instruction concerning such errors. The remarkable thing is allowing it to be filmed!

  • @elena1826

    Well, he played the whole piece as you would in an audition. LOL! Btw those four idiots were great players!!!

  • @NOalRAZZISMO ?

    So a comedian mocking james bond goes on playing the whole 007 serie....

    About people on the background being great players, have I questioned their professional skills? I am sure they are great players, this doesn't make them less pathetic a bit, in this situation. Those laughs are so fake and the whole act is obviously done to please the Maestro.

  • @elena1826 Are you a mind reader since you know that they are only laughing to please Heifetz? Is it not possible that they are actually laughing because it is hilariously funny to anyone who knows the pitfalls of attempting to play the violin??!!!!

  • @elena1826

    I think the laughs are slightly overdone because they didn't know how to behave in that unexpected situation. I mean it's not your best mate telling a joke here, it is Maestro Heifetz playing a long joke!! A bit of relieve after the hard time they had during lessons! And anyway even if it was as you say to please him... so what? He was an amazing man like not many in the world, wouldn't you pay to clean his house just to hear him practicing??

  • @elena1826 i laughed the whole time. Yes it was that funny. perhaps it would be funnier to u if u actually have this piece in ur repertoire and could relate. Heifetz portrays typical mistakes violinists make when preparing this piece. i thought this was funny as hell.

  • @TimChoFsho Perhaps if I had such a boring sense of humour it could crack me up.

    But I have not.

  • @elena1826 its not a matter of sense of humor. its a matter of relating to the comedy. y so ignorant?

  • @elena1826 nicht 4, sondern 5, nicht "idiots" sondern "Violonisten", - ich kann nur danken Herrs Heifetz, das Er zeigte uns, wie musst ein grosse Interpret ein guter Lehrer zu sein.

  • @elena1826 It takes SO much skill to intentionally play this badly. In a way, it's as virtuosic as his regular playing.

  • @elena1826 IIf this lasts for 30 seconds only, you won't even be able to hear Heifetz' PLaying..

  • Heifagz is a jewish mujahadeen

  • heifetz is too good play bad. he kinda faild to play bad

  • Just imagine how much effort it would take Jascha Heifetz to suck?

  • This is really hilarious. Almost a science to producing bad tone and bad manners yasye.It shows how well he had thought through all of this.But he really is a comedian here!

  • Come to think of it, he sounds just like a lot of youtube "wannabees".....!

  • is it funny?

  • sometimes audtions are really this bad, he is totally right..................

  • Is that Ravi Shankar on the left in the audience? They were good friends.

  • wow, how embarrassing for whoever was auditioning! Didn't know Mr. Heifetz had it in 'im! :)

  • Comment removed

  • omg 4:44 is the best part when he starts play a chord and then stops and tries it again, i laughed so hard

  • 0:39 that happens to me everytime whenever I play either for an audition or in front of a group of people... I get really really... like really nervous and can't control my right hand so bad... I always seek calmness but fail ahhh and my nerve costed me principal chair this year -.-

  • Funny!!

  • He still plays well !!!XD

  • You think he's imitating Jack Benny?...

  • disgusting shit

  • Hot, tip, cut at key frames, don't use VBR audio.

  • HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

  • The video and audio are horribly out of synch (which happens a lot on YouTube), but they're as they appeared in the DVD.

  • this is hilarious. i LOVE this concerto (vieuxtemps no 4) but this TOO FUNNY. what DVD did you know it from?

  • These are from Heifetz's Master Classes series, which appeared on public television in the 1960's. They were made into a four-disc DVD set that you can occasionally find on Amazon and elsewhere.

  • Pourquoi c pas synchro? XD

  • Exquisito...maravilloso

  • Comment removed

  • He had to know the song really well to keep playing it badly on purpose.

  • LAMO

  • wtf... dude you're right it doesn't match... but it did! It's not a hoax but damnit youtube. I'm gonna repost this video then.

  • idk

  • @Seitong19 It's out of synch, not a hoax you moron

  • @Seitong19 No hoax! Hes making fun.. If you are a violinist you can see that. The way the bow travels.

  • @Seitong19 Then why would everyone in the background be laughing?

  • If Jascha Heifetz was to play like this, there will not have any good violinist left in this world.

  • jaja lo maximooo

  • OH MY GOD HE SMILES AT THE END!

    that the the most unusual thing in this video by far.

    Heifetz is god.

  • That was so funny!! I just finished learning and performing the concerto, and I couldn't stop laughing! :)

  • He still plays better than me.

  • @wefasdf23 I agree. It's like they're all laughing at me instead of Heifetz's imitation.

  • Lol even behind that faked bad playing, you can still discern his musical talent.

    I feel really bad for the guy who auditioned :P

  • wats that song?

  • vieuxtemps violin concerto no.4 in d minor

  • PIECE not SONG...N-E-V-E-R SAY SONG FOR A CLASSICAL PIECE....NEVER!

  • what if it's a lied

  • a ha! you got me there :) good job! but...u know what i meant, right?

  • @kittyluvr12 unless of course it IS a song.. ?

  • @kittyluvr12 Thank you! However, there are some classical pieces that are songs; most notably the German Lieder (songs).

  • @kittyluvr12 v moi konservatorskie godi mi tozhe nazivali klassicheskie proizvedenija pesnjami. eto shutka kotoruju klassicheskie muzikanti mogut sebe pozvolit'.

  • @kittyluvr12 OK, but what's this song?

  • @kittyluvr12 unless it's a song...

  • @kittyluvr12 unless of course it is a song ^^ (as in "a piece with vocals") You could of course call it a vocal piece, but it is both a broader term, and longer to write, than just "song" :D

  • @kittyluvr12 Unless it's actually a song (Lied).

  • @kittyluvr12

    shut up you stupid elitist fuck.

  • @kittyluvr12 what if you are refering to song? lol

  • @kittyluvr12 Except if it is centered around actual singing. Just never call instrumental music a song.

  • You should practice so that Mr. Heifetz doesn't imitate you!

  • I feel bad for whoever he is imitating. Forever in Youtube history as that bad violinist who auditioned for Heifetz and he made fun of.

  • probably not just one.

  • he even looks serious when he's trying to sound bad. I think the people are a little too musch, sounds fake! X D  lol

  • It is actually a great honor to that violinist that Heifetz paid him/her such a tribute!

  • I mean, it's usaually us mortals who like to try to emulate the greatest violinists, but here it is Heifetz himself trying with all his heart to emulate this auditionist.

  • 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 (-_-)

  • 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 (-_-)

  • I think it is harder for him to play bad than stunningly beautiful. He was still more musical than most the people out there and he is still more entertaining than almost all out there.

    He must have tried hard to sound that ba---- good?

  • I guess if I was a master on the violin and heard an audtion like that, I would start laughing too.

  • I'd rename it: "Heifetz Shreds"

  • lol!

  • thanks, intelligent life.

  • Fantastic!!! I fell on the floor laughing.

    I've heard so many people play like that== not that well-- but on purpose.

    Ah, what a breath of fresh air.

    Thanks for posting this gem.

  • Isn't it amazing that even as Heifetz tries to be "out of tune" and "terrible", he actually displays lots of his great mastery at the violin?

  • Did he do this on purpose? Must have

  • no that's how he actually plays. -_-

  • Hilarious!

  • he must have had to practice an awful lot to sound this bad

  • VERY VERY amazing!!!Heifetz himself didn't laugh!!!

  • Heh, I loved it! Heifitz is the violin god!

  • this guy is truly great. even his 'out of tune' fun is perfect!!!!

  • 'Hey guys, this one time I heard this guy play an audition and HE SUCKED hahahahahah.' what a douche

  • HALARIOUS!!!!!!! its making fun of them in the nicest way possible! =)

  • hahahahaha, that is great. who new he was such a comedian. its great to be able to see that these veritable violin gods are human

  • lol very true! However Heifetz has rather crude humer!

  • Apparently heifetz was amazing at ping pong as well. Who knew?

  • Anybody know what piece this is?

  • Vieuxtemps concerto #4.

    Priceless!

  • some people laugh very,very truly

  • those people seem like they are laughing on purpose

  • I WANT THIS PEACE!

  • What piece is this? I want to start doing this in class.

  • I think he made some mistakes and played TOO well, haha.

  • Yes, you're right. He plays too much in tune! I suppose he can't help it. But the upright bow is priceless.