Heifetz:Tchaikovsky

[utra1337]

heifetz had 'popular' success, but he is sooo overated man. So many violinists better than heifez any day!

[stupidstorm]

@utra1337 are you trying to be funny? so many violinists play better than heifetz? would you mind naming a few?

[EPiCPlaYLisT123]

wow

[takhirviolinest]

Auer's version.

[olivier797]

神乎其技!! BRAVO!!

[scriabiniste]

absolutely incredible: Heifetz is beyond belief

[ellenol1014]

you can actually the woodwind freaking out....I dont think they did any thing with speed...I mean its not impossible...some people were just born with the physique.

[serafinichess]

It's obviously been speeded up by the sound engineers; they could do this even back in the 40's. It's pretty common; Heifet'z pupil Erick Friedman had his recordings engineered faster e.g. as have many artists. Heifetz of course is still beyond amazing

[AbsoluteZ3R0]

@serafinichess Lol conspiracy theorist? No, actually, a lot of old recordings are slightly sped up due to flaws in the recording technology of the time. Ever seen a charlie chaplin movie? They're REALLY sped up, and not on purpose. This video is a half step sharp, meaning that the frame rate is 1/12 faster, and therefore this video is approximately 8% faster than how Heifetz actually played it

[stupidstorm]

@serafinichess have you heard any other recordings? it's not sped up silly

[serafinichess]

@stupidstorm They're almost all sped up. Grow up

[martin24495]

incredible!

[sijas]

wow this is the first video i've seen that makes him look human.

(not as in he made mistakes, but as in how it was shot)

[Cactustabornok]

The BEST!!!!!!

[iluminada333]

Tchaikovsky would fall in love with him if he saw this...

[diafiro]

It seems nobody has noticed that there's something wrong with the speed here.

The whole clip is playing as if in Eb Major (almost).

For some reason, it's playing faster than it should. And because of this the pitch also goes up.

But still, Heifetz was beyond amazing.

[Funkimunkeee]

It's not being played at a faster speed, the frequency of the sound is higher because the frame rate used for the original film is different from the one in modern (not so modern) technology that the film was converted into. Heifetz does play it at that speed.

[AbsoluteZ3R0]

@Funkimunkeee Nah, it's 8.33% faster in accordance with the increased pitch/frame rate

[stupidstorm]

@diafiro LOL. when old videos/records are converted to modern mediums, it always goes sharp!! or have you never heard anything except this?

[diafiro]

@stupidstorm Hey, there's no need to go after me like that. Just to let you know, first I'm a Violin Performance Master's student, second during my undergrad I worked in the Music Library on campus for 4 years as the person in charge of the LP Collection (45RPM, 33⅓ RPM, and 78RPM's)... oh, and I digitized quite a bit of those (or portions of them) as well. So, yeah, I was merely pointing out the fact about the pitch, not about the process.

[TomaVan]

this is perfect x 1000

[Andrew12795]

2 WORDS

EAR ORGASMIC!

notice how every note is clear and crisp and how heifetz's intonation is unsurpassed

[Alphanur]

OMG

amazing!

[BeammeupSpotty]

wow

[PassionateViolinist]

"Such perfection angers the Gods" we all advise Heifetz to play a couple wrong notes to prove that he is human.

[assindiastignani]

@PassionateViolinist That's what George Bernard Shaw said to him. It's a famous anecdote.

[TomBarrister]

Pardon my typo. Heifetz didn't play any of the Tchaikovsky concerto in "They Shall Have Music". He played a short excerpt of Tchaikovsky's Melody.

The conductor is Fritz Reiner, and this is the New York Philharmonic

[xXLeafXNinjaXx]

i thought he played the 3rd mov of the mendelssohn at the very end of that movie?

[TomBarrister]

This is an excerpt from Heifetz's performance in the movie. You can find the full clip (which is still a shortened excerpt of the first movement) elsewhere on YouTube.

In "They Shall Have Music", Heifetz played (among other things) the third movement of Mendellsohn's Concerto with the Peter Meremblum California Junior Symphony. You can find that in my videos section.

[Shades2Of1Grey]

I have always loved Heifetz's take on the Tchaik. Especially the version that everyone despises (the one taken from the movie "There Shall be Music"). It is great to hear another of his excellent, charismatic and scintillating performances - and what is more, to see his technical perfection. Watch those hands!

[Shades2Of1Grey]

* They shall have Music

[AbsoluteZ3R0]

actually that Tchaik isn't from "they shall have music" it's from the movie "Carnegie Hall"

[Shades2Of1Grey]

I realised after I wrote that reply, but I really couldn't be bothered writing another one. Thank you for correcting me.

[happyfunnyfoo]

Considering abburidotakaria's video favorites includes "testicular examination" I think we can disregard his opinion entirely

[Xiaoyu246]

you idiot

[dosmart]

his emotions are all int he subtleties of his actions. someone doesn't need to sway a lot to play emotionally.

[gowiemeister]

IS THAT KREISLER??

[HaxIRL]

You call that no emotion?! What a bish.

[abburidotakaria]

I really don't like it. It seems like Heifetz is in a rush to go to the bathroom... Absolutely no emotion, all "show off". I hate that

[candyrox21]

i could watch this a hundred times and it never gets old

[ellegin88]

that last stretch at the end is amazing..

[vlnguy]

Tani -- Heifetz is playing Leopold Auer's alternatives. Most recordings you hear today use Tchaikovsky's original (although some fiddle players do some of the alternative versions, esp. in the last movement). Both versions are in most editions.

[taniquetil]

The reason Heifetz plays this differently is because Heifetz was one of the very few to record this arrangement of the Tchaikovsky. ALL music of the Tchaik you buy today will another arrangement.

At 00:30 is when the largest change is noticed. Heifetz starts doing his genius thing, but every arrangement today has arpeggios (sp?).

And at about 1:00, today's arrangement drop an octave down after the first run. Heifetz, because he's awesome, keeps going up.

[BigHarryPotterFan07]

wooow! this guy is full of glucose and ATP! :D

[zanyzann]

Let me guess, biology class?

And to leviolonist, I play violin and dripping sentimentality seems to be my specialty, i'm working on a mozart and it is incredibly difficult for me not to be drippy.

[eshed888]

>>>Bruce Lee was god of martial arts,

Heifetz was god of violin.

There is nothing more to say.

>>>i hear nothing but flawless sound.

thread is over.

Fix'd.

[x3l3m3n7alx7yp3xsx]

This is the same Tchaikovsky violin concerto. This is the 1st movement and it was arranged by Leopold Auer. Only Heifetz played this arrangement of the Tchaikovsky--that i know of at least.

[rule914]

I like Heifetz' intense playing here, but I really don't care for Fritz Reiner's conducting from what I've seen. He looks like a robot that has been programmed incorrectly. Perhaps that's a bit harsh, but it's based on what I've seen in this clip and the other Heifetz Tchaikovsky one...

[leviolonist]

Sizzling white-hot focused emotional power, that was Heifetz ... not sloppy dripping sentimentality. His technique was used solely for his message. What a true-to-himself noble player! NEVER boring, he keeps his audiences riveted and electrified.

[krummy54]

im a little confused. did tchaikovksy write more than one violin concerto? I cant find this video by any other violinists. Can someone clear that up for me.

[MladaOfHamelin]

As far as I'm aware of, he only did 1 violin concerto...I'm kind of curious myself as to what this piece is...

[krummy54]

i figured it out! he plays the ossia

[wodanowitz]

Bruce Lee was god of martial arts,

Heifetz was god of violin.

There is nothing more to say.

[rotondo5]

The question never was who was number one..The question was who was number two?

[MladaOfHamelin]

You know, I can understand having favorites, but I have heard pieces from all these violinists you all have been bickering over that have moved me as well as did nothing for me. How can we, violinists or not, judge these talented men and women so harshly? We weren't around when these pieces were composed, so who's to say one is better? It is up to the individual, and while it might sound too showy to one, it can amaze another who never thought of interpretating a song in such a manner.

[Strunz21LEON]

great musician, but my ego wont let me alone so i will say i couldn't enjoy it and hi is not good becouse i say so and what matter in my world is me even thought i liked it but i wont say.

[sherom]

I don't think it was sped up, if so what's the difference, knowing Heifetz, he probably could of played it faster yet! There's one Heifetz.

[starzofh3av3n]

holy crap!

[OistrakhMilstein]

ripper23k, its not because he is dumbfounded... It is because reiner usually was a stern man and looked like that all the time...

[romana08]

galing =_=

...

[rheumer]

Heifetz's genius was in the realm of Mozart, Beethoven, Einstein and the like. A true star in a very small human galaxy. He was gifted beyond comprehension.

[leomulder]

If it was sped up, it would be distoned too. And Charlie Chaplin is propositally sped up, and some 20 years before this.

[seannyandme]

I'm sure OistrakhMilstein is a good musician, for the only reason he doesn't have so much hate inside as many of the people (freaks) who break our balls here in the internet... I only insult when somebody insults me, no matter who he is...

[mtava002]

LOL charlie chaplin used alot shittier quality videos and they were before sound wasa implemented along with motion picture.

[AbsoluteZ3R0]

It is faster than actual speed, all old videos are sped up. Just watch any old charlie chaplin video and you'll notice everyone moves unusally fast. the video is sped up and the pitch is raised a semitone as well. on the otherhand, if you listen to heifetz's recording of this piece, it's almost as fast, still faster than anyone else's

[RagingBull777]

OistrakhMilstein, I know it's hard, but for once in your pathetic life, GET OVER YOUR JEALOUSY. Look at Heifetz and Reiner after the performance, are they bowing or shaking hands like they're being fast-forwarded? I have the original performance on the Carnegie Hall DVD, THIS WAS HOW IT WAS. Your excuse for Heifetz's talent is that everything he played was sped up. You have no proof to make an asinine comment like that.

[OistrakhMilstein]

I think you take youtube users way too seriously

[RagingBull777]

Once again, you try to dodge the fact that you're wrong about the video. I have no problem with youtube users, just dumbshits like you who like to insult others to make yourself feel better.

[OistrakhMilstein]

I'm not arguing with you anymore

[RagingBull777]

"I'm not responding to any of your comments anymore... Had enough of cunts like you "

That's what you said YESTERDAY, why did you comment again today?

That's OK though, I understand. It IS kind of hard to argue when you're a 16-year old posing as a 24-year old, an awful violinist who criticizes good violinists, and a youtuber with nothing else going on in life.

[OistrakhMilstein]

um, do I know you? Why do you care what I do?

[RagingBull777]

For someone who supposedly won't comment anymore, you sure like to keep contradicting yourself.

[artoftheviolin]

go XXXX yourself

[Tomviolinist1986]

I'm prety sure that u r wrong..^^

[OistrakhMilstein]

prove it

[kaikobird]

You can prove it mathmatically. A half step difference in pitch does not provide a noticeable tempo discrimination.

[artoftheviolin]

idiot

why can't you just appreciate music?

are you discriminating against lithuanian jews or something?

asshole.... tisk tisk

[OistrakhMilstein]

I'm pretty sure this is sped up

[RagingBull777]

Look closely at Heifetz and Reiner after the performance, they aren't moving that quickly....this video is not sped up. I have the original footage from the Carnegie Hall DVD, this is the way it was. Heifetz usually takes quicker tempos in performances than he does for recordings.

[ccuueerr]

Thank you, Isaacstern3, for sharing this film. What a great play by the greatest violinist, or should I say, the greatest violin performer in the 20th century.

[supermacaw]

sometimes i can barely hear Joshua Bell over the orchestra

[ztefieh]

Actually, he played a more complicated version of this ossia in his later, clearer(?) recordings.

[seannyandme]

oh, actually he is the only one that plays this ossia that I've heard of... I'm not saying he plays terrible, this would be a lie, but it's not my favourite version...

[ztefieh]

I'm not referring to the speed or technique...I'm referring to the 0:28 to 0:38 passage.

[seannyandme]

Thank god nobody plays it like this... it's too fast in my opinion... but you have the right to have a different one, of course!! I'm just giving mine...

[ztefieh]

Like it or not...Heifetz championed this piece to an unprecedented level. No violinist has played it Auer's way (or Heifetz' way).

[vitola123]

I don't like Heifetz

[tubedani]

I wouldn't so angry, I'd just rebate with strong arguments...

[tubedani]

whatever you say

[Tomviolinist1986]

Ok your wish is my will!!:P i will show some video ok???

[Tomviolinist1986]

Yes tubedani's right!!Im so childish...Calm down Mr Lawyer...I not wrote thoose thing for to hurt you!What would YOU say if somebody would come,and criticize for example Oistrakh like this..and not for the criticize!!belive me!!We can learn from theese people,and trough criticism...U can felt from my Comments:Its not good if somebody too prideful.I wrote theese things cos U were prideful my friends!!Belive me!And with just Heifetz!!Is it not childish???

[seannyandme]

By the way I STRONGLY HOPE I DON'T HAVE Heifetz's sound or "expression" or "individuality", lol... And I play the Bach Prelude too fast in my opinion, which I don't like but I had to do (video size)... and the paganini is too slow... See?? I can criticise myself too, nobody is perfect!!

[seannyandme]

By the way I STRONGLY HOPE I DON'T HAVE Heifetz's sound or "expression" or "individuality", lol... And I play the Bach Prelude too fast in my opinion, which I don't like but I had to do (video size)... and the paganini is too slow... See?? I can criticise myself too, nobody is perfect!!

[seannyandme]

I just say Rabin is way better, I'm not sucking ass... Please show us a video of your music and talent and sound and speed and expression and individuality and humbleness!!

[tubedani]

tom, you're SO childish...

[Tomviolinist1986]

Its just an opinion,not a fact!!By the way U sucking ass too...maybe...Rabin's ass??Why dont u play fast like Heifetz too...u can do it right??ANd u have sound like him,and expression like him,and individualtity like him...But...i...still...love..­..u!!:D:D:D

[seannyandme]

Oh hahaha... Well I think there were many better than him, this doesn't mean he was not a great master, coz he was, but Oistrakh, Milstein and specially Michael Rabin, among others, were much better than him in my opinion, it's just a matter of opinion... But anyway I can't understand myself why he was so famous, maybe coz he played too fast and people like the "show"... I don't.

[ztefieh]

If you say Heifetz was such a terrible musician, explain to me why he gained international fame for being a musician? If what you say is true, then all "musicians" aren't any good at all, and that includes Menuhin, Oistrakh, Milstein, Stern, and all the rest.

[seannyandme]

yes maestro your wish is my will... ;-)

[Tomviolinist1986]

Look! i was so angry cos your criticism was very pompous..And its not the same thing,that u like more Rabin then Heifetz...Rabin is a Fantastik violinist,so tragical that he dies so young before his time:( But i think when great-great violinist talk about heifetz so respectfully,u have to think again your opinions...

[seannyandme]

Heifetz was one of the great masters indeed, but I don't think he was the greatest at all... You should listen to Michael Rabin... But you won't understand, as people who suffer from "Heifetz Fever" can't understand this... But I don't give a shit and of course not everybody is going to like my playing but I don't care at all... Anyway, thanks for your creative and nice criticism!! I love you!!!

[Tomviolinist1986]

And sry but i think u r not a good violinist!I saw your video...Well, do u thing it was good???YES??How old r u???14???I dont think so!So if i were u i dont speak about Heifetz like this...maybe u will understand Heifetz's art in your next life....

[Tomviolinist1986]

I dont know what are u laughing...Its not funny,its sadly!How could say a musician that??(Heifetz not a musician..)I think u r not a musician,u r an untalented person...Yes i really was in Bell's cocert!he was playing the Mendelssohn e minor violin cocerto with his own cadence.It wasnt good..His sound can not compare with Heifetz's sound!Anyway nobodyes sounds cant compare with Heifetz's sound...If u dont hear this obtrusive thing,u r not musician!

[seannyandme]

Hahahahahaha!!!

[Tomviolinist1986]

I were in a Bell concert...he was terrible....no sound,no technik,no music!!

[seannyandme]

Yes!! Finally a good musician!! Or an artist or somebody with sensibility!! Thanks!!!

[Tomviolinist1986]

Heifetz is the best ever!!

[tubedani]

People don't listen with the heart.There's now way speed can trasmit anything.We can only be amazed about it (although this video is sped up) but it won't make us cry or feel any emotions but being surprized at an amzing technique...For me the value of music and the hardest to do is to make music.And for many real artists it is this way,except for the short minded people that love Heifetz more than anybody...He was never the greatest,not at all...Music is music and not technique

[seannyandme]

Oh,it's so sad to hear you guys.Speed can transmit emotions??This is so wrong...At that speed it's impossible to make any music...Heifetz was a genius and a good player but NOT a musician...Even when he tries it is so poor...But of course,he was also a bad person so he can't make good music!!Mr Absolute,somebody should teach you that the most important thing about music is the music,and not speed or technique...Is it so hard to understand??People don't have ears or sensibility today...

[ztefieh]

Isn't Heifetz the only one who plays this the Auer way? (I'm referring to 28-38 seconds into it.)

[AbsoluteZ3R0]

I wonder if Heifetz actually played this fast, or if the video was sped up due to it being an old recording. If you listen to Heifetz's audio recordings of this piece they are indeed fast but not quite this fast. In any case if that was actual speed then I don't know how he does it. He's a violin wizard. We need a new Heifetz damn it. Someone who can play just as fast and precisely. Nowadays we focus so much on being "musical" that we forget the emotion that pure speed can generate.

[bgaluppi]

All these videos are sped up, a technician told me, you can tell by watching the people in the back how they move a little bit faster than it should be in reality

[OistrakhMilstein]

"Nowadays we focus so much on being "musical" that we forget the emotion that pure speed can generate."

I don't think thats quite true... Todays violinists "hahn, vengerov" are more technical wizards... none of them can make the violin sing like the greats...

[AbsoluteZ3R0]

This is true if you consider Nathan Milstein or David Oistrakh, they were musical geniuses. None can compare. heifetz made his violin sing because he was so technically skilled, in my opinion his musicality isn't as good as the former violinists that i mentioned (still better than practically all modern day violinists though) but in certain pieces I think his pure technique can actually generate a lot of emotion

[UmaAstutaBiscoita]

Santa Vaca! holy cow. accuracy, speed, and beautiful besides. Let's elect him president.

[ThunderFlash80]

Does anyone know if there is a full concerto video where this clip comes from that I can buy? I know art of violin has this part in it as well, but I want the whole concerto..DVD,or Video tape, not CD

[pentiumradeon]

lol at the end when he lifts his bow off it looked like he couldve chopped reiners head off with that kind of speed lol, i know if i do that the bow will fly out at that speed LOL

[Slashtap3]

LOL

[otilia46]

Thank you very much dear Isaac Stern!

[freenightt]

i love his cadenza here

[dreamseeker87]

omg! I sux!

[iksurmunky]

I wish Heifetz was still in his youth and performing these days and making videos like this. It seems he just cant play as well as he used to like he is in this video.. I'd love to study his technique and his style. It's inspiring.

[KanaiAt]

Simply the best!!

Incredible performance, just listened at mp3. Just great!

Heifetz and Gidon Kremer are my favorite violonists.

Thank you very much dear Isaac Stern!

nice nick, by the way :)

[FoggyRoad81]

OK now this? This is awesome. Usually I don't like Heifetz, but he's really amazing here. The tone is still super thin, but what he's doing with those extra notes in incredible. This actually beats my Milstein recording of the opening movement and I am not mad at the audience for applauding, incredible.

[cgzH]

I do not enjoy most of Joshau Bell's recordings. That's not to say he isn't good, however, but somehow most of the new generation do not cut it. Listen more to the players of old, and you will hear a marked difference. Then, make your judgement.

Heifetz's Tchaikovsky has and always will be my favourite. He plays the Auer edition here, and the cadenza is his own.

[icetom]

Actually, Heifetz added many notes in this concerto, for example, 28-38 seconds in this video. Many single notes became 3rd or 6th, so it made the piece much more difficult than normal. So even if someone can play this as fast as heifetz, it doesn't mean that he/she has the same technique as him.

[chuckletrousers]

he just played the auer version instead of the original

[funnyviolist]

WHOA BELLY! Slow down there, before you poke someones eye out!

[AbsoluteZ3R0]

No, it's not a sharp d, it's e flat, if you don't believe me take either a tuner or a piano or any instrument and play an e flat at the end of the song, it's exactly e flat. But honestly, I just want to say again that this piece is amazing at that speed

[lonestargirl500]

whatever. Joshua Bell is the best. He's inspiring.

[OistrakhMilstein]

heifetz has better technique than Joshua bell, FYI

[emtube]

And, check out how scary Fritz Reiner looks! All the orchestral members under his direction were in fear of him. His generally tiny bow movements, his piercing eyes, his unforgiving memory of past flubs...but his performances could really generate the heat!

[alan1963]

and hey, how about Fritz Reiner's long baton? That's his property, and nobody can't touch Reiner's long baton.

[OistrakhMilstein]

Joshua bell can play like that, LOL!!!!!

[lonestargirl500]

yeah!! HECK YES! I love Joshua Bell.. he's my favorite violinist, ever... I went to a concert- he's just amazing.. he's my violin idol- I hope I can be even an once as great as him...lol

[OistrakhMilstein]

lonestargirl500, I was sarcastic (aka I was kidding)

[tofuhead]

i believe black and white recordings are recorded at a different speed back then so when we see them now they are sped up a bit. BUT i could be wrong.

[Startwindow3]

Two words...holy shit! Didn't know anyone can play that piece that fast!

[AbsoluteZ3R0]

but other than that (not that i was complaining in the first place) this video is amazing. I don't care what anyone says. His technique is so flawless that it pretty much generates emotion. When heifetz plays it's like he's not even playing, it's like the violin is playing itself

[AbsoluteZ3R0]

Somebody altered this video and raised the pitch. The concerto is supposed to be in d major but this recording is clearly in e flat major.

[bigmelt]

It's sharp d, but closer to a D than e flat.

[h4xXx0r]

not sharp D, D sharp lol.

[emtube]

It seems to be fairly common for transfers of older recordings to digital media that the pitch is not corrected. Not only movies, but also records and even analog tape. Some very old records even vary in pitch between the beginning and ending of the same disc!

[XieXie3]

This was a poor recording, truly poor. But leave it to Heifetz to still make it a worthwhile spectacle.

[XieXie3]

Heifetz's playing is actually referred to as being played so precise that it fools the average listener into believing that the tempo of the piece has risen, but it in actuality, due to Heifetz's directness with each note stroked quickly with his bow, it leaves a lot of "space" in between. There was an article about that, but all in all, I prefer Annie Sophie Mutter's and Heifetz's recording of the Tchaikovsky Concerto, although Annie could have used more power in her performance.

[emtube]

In some cases this is true (piano performances by Horowitz, Josef Hoffman and so on also exhibit this phenomenon where very precise and even playing sounds faster). But if you look at actual timings of performances, I think you will find that Heifetz tended to prefer brisk tempi. He was a very chaste player, and not the type to "lovingly dwell" on romantically expressive passages.

[AbsoluteZ3R0]

Although this is true, Heifetz actually did play everything either slightly, or substantially faster. This recording, for example, is literally 20-30 beats faster than the average twmpo for this piece. but I'm not complaining. I really like Heifetz's interpretation of this piece. I prefer it to the typical slower, more expressive interpretation which leaves plenty of room for boredom

[arnak]

check me out at myspace.com/arnak1

[arnak]

MY MOM WAZ HIS STUDENT!!!

[ellegin88]

very fast but not the expression isaac stern can do

[viollinre]

Uh.. on ur way out, watch out for my puddle of drool.. @_@  :

[ooziemac10]

pure heifitz, technique at it's highest level, but is this a competition to see who can play it the fastest? thats the one problem i've had with heifitz, plays everything so fast leaves little room for expression (my personal opinion). which is why i prefer joshua bell over hilary hahn. thanks for putting this up!!!

[trevorpinnocky]

maybe the best technically, but i'm never been a fan of his interpretation or relatively 'detached' style of playing. Menuhin or even Milstein is much preferred.

[HaloChaos]

i give it 4 fortune cookies

[HaloChaos]

that was amazing but i have to disagree with Retaw saying it was divine... a bit to rough type of song to be called that

[Retaw]

absolutly devine

[vioguru]

Simply amazing! Thanks a million!

[marking99]

This is truly his signiture performance. Marvellous!