William Primrose Plays Paganini Caprice 24

[epessina]

GREAT !!!!! thanks

[ensignlilyjavert]

I just realised that around 2:07, he's plucking half the notes. -bows down and worships viola Jesus-

[Lightflaredragon]

Wow, he has one amazing pinky!

[classicgirl05]

To the 'lack of expression' folks: it's a Paganini Caprice guys, it's essentially an etude, just like Rhode, Kreutzer and Campangoli...can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear. Just sayin'

[stringscgda]

I haven't heard anyone do pizzicato better than primrose :) That's better than Heifetz :)

[NetRunner88]

Primerose in the beginning was violinist, than in early 900 he decided to build up viola school. wen hebrought for the first time a viola in a violin competition, he played paganini and bach viola transcription. in the end of him performance, commision was a bit angry and laughind; they told him: next time what you will do? put also the E string on viola?

that day Primrose and Tertis started to work on creating viola school.

[AbsoluteZ3R0]

After rewatching this video for the first time in ages, I realized that Primrose is probably improvising some of his inflections and nuances in this performance. Like that last note at 2:01, there's no way he practiced playing it that way. If he did then I'd be shocked, but if he didn't then I suppose it's his way of being capricious

[EldoKim]

In response to @AbsoluteZ3ro and @physphilmusic... TL; DR.

[AbsoluteZ3R0]

@EldoKim Congratulations for letting everyone who views this video know that you have a poor attention span.

[violabrain]

each instrument has it's own challenges. stop your bickering. it's taking up space.

[AbsoluteZ3R0]

@violabrain If you're going to say "each instrument has its own challenges" then I would like for you to tell me what is more difficult about playing violin ASIDE from the greater competition.

[AbsoluteZ3R0]

@violabrain If you're going to say "each instrument has its own challenges" then I would like for you to tell me what is more difficult about playing violin ASIDE from the greater competition.

[cadence911]

If I may put my two cents in, I am not a very good string player, but I play violin and viola, and I believe they are almost equal in difficulty. For me personally, viola is slightly harder because my fingers and hands are very small and having to reach farther for the notes on the viola poses a challenge for me. However, the two are virtually the same, and honestly I believe only personal opinion can dictate which is the more difficult to play.

Excellent performance, by the way.

[AbsoluteZ3R0]

@cadence911 I'm not sure how experienced you are at either instrument, but if you were to professionally study both you would find that viola is more difficult. It's not a matter of opinion when there are physical explanations as to why viola is more difficult. If you compare the skill levels of players who are equally experienced at either instrument, the violist will have far less technical facility than the violinist. Try playing a virtuosic violin concerto or etude on viola, it's much harder

[physphilmusic]

@AbsoluteZ3R0 Perhaps that's also because technically demanding viola pieces are much less in number compared to violin. It's like the cello - there are hardly any pieces with tenths, thirds, left hand pieces, even upbow staccato in the standard repertoire, and hence the average concert cellist is less technically skilled than the violinist (not to mention how such effects are more difficult on the cello anyway).

And you also have the running joke that violists are simply failed violinists :)

[physphilmusic]

@AbsoluteZ3R0 Perhaps that's also because technically demanding viola pieces are much less in number compared to violin. Same with the cello - there are hardly any pieces with tenths, thirds, left hand pieces, even upbow staccato in the standard repertoire, and hence the average concert cellist is less technically skilled than the violinist (not to mention how such effects are more difficult on the cello anyway).

And you also have the running joke that violists are simply failed violinists :)

[AbsoluteZ3R0]

@physphilmusic Sorry, but you have it backwards. You're saying that the reason that there aren't as many skilled violists is because the repertoire is less demanding, when in fact, the repertoire is less "demanding" because the viola simply isn't capable of doing what a violin can do. Take a piece that has been transcribed for nearly all instruments - the flight of the bumble bee. This piece is relatively easy on piano, somewhat more difficult for violin, but it'd be almost impossible for a

[AbsoluteZ3R0]

@physphilmusic (continued) bassist or tuba player. Why? Because these instruments are simply more difficult to play in the sense that they are far less capable of being played virtuosically than "easier" instruments such as piano or violin. Therefore, if you were to find a bassist capable of playing flight of the bumblebee as cleanly and quickly as a violinist, it would be far more impressive and virtuosic on than it would be on violin.

[physphilmusic]

@AbsoluteZ3R0 Which is why in the end I believe it's all equal - there's always trade-off between natural difficulty of the instrument and the technical virtuosity. I'm differentiating between natural difficulty and technical virtuosity.

I don't think I have it backwards; rather I think the interaction is two-way to some extent. Take my instrument, the cello. In many cases the true technical capabilities of cellists is only truly revealed in the much more difficult contemporary works.

[AbsoluteZ3R0]

@physphilmusic Yes, obviously difficult compositions push the technical limitations of instruments, but a bass player will never be able to do what a violinist can do, no matter how challenging bass compositions become. Same goes for viola. There is no way around this. Also, you STILL have it backwards. The violin became popular during the classical era because it was EASIER and more agile/versatile than the other instruments. Therefore, more difficult compositions were written for it because

[physphilmusic]

@AbsoluteZ3R0 Had there not been such difficult works which push the boundaries of technique, those players would never have had any reason to practice to that level. But it doesn't mean that they can't, it's just that they haven't and don't have a motivation for doing so. If for some reason, suddenly very technically difficult double bass works enter the main repertoire of the instrument, it wouldn't be a surprise to see the average virtuosity rise.

[AbsoluteZ3R0]

@physphilmusic it was EASIER and more capable of playing virtuosic music! In other words, challenging repertoire exists for the violin because the violin is more capable of executing challenging repertoire (and therefore easier) than other string instruments. No cellist, regardless of skill, will ever be able to play a transcription of Wieniwaski's first concerto for violin, and even if they could they would never match the technical perfection of a violinist.

[physphilmusic]

@AbsoluteZ3R0 I don't completely disagree with you. But you tend to think that violin is the easiest, and I think that's wrong - what I've been saying is that the natural easiness of the violin is complemented by the harder difficulty of the pieces. In the end the overall difficulty tends to even out between all instruments. You think I have it backwards, but what I believe is that piece difficulty, player virtuosity, and instrument difficulty all form a continuous feedback loop.

[AbsoluteZ3R0]

@physphilmusic If what you're saying is that in the end all instruments are equally difficult to master because the repertoire will always push the virtuosity of its respective instruments to its limits, then yes I agree with you. However, that's not the point I was trying to make. In a nutshell, I was just trying to say that playing a violin piece on viola is more difficult and impressive because the instrument itself isn't as facile as the violin, and that the violin is more facile than any

[AbsoluteZ3R0]

@physphilmusic other instrument besides piano.

[physphilmusic]

@AbsoluteZ3R0 In that case I wholeheartedly agree with you - very few cellists have also been able to play the Paganini caprices. But if you were talking about the experience of an average orchestral player, I'd say that the parts for viola, cello and double bass are always less busy and easier compared to the violins, and that this disparity isn't complemented fully by the natural instrument difficulty. Hence I often see that the average virtuosity level of a violinist is better than a cellist,

[physphilmusic]

@AbsoluteZ3R0 and this is not explained away by the natural difficulty of the instrument, since we're not talking about Paganini caprices and renowned soloists, we're talking about average high school cellists and repertoire (if the cellists were to regularly be demanded to play parts as hard as the violinists, I think they would put more effort to their practice to become better players - this is what I meant when the musical demands increase the average virtuosity level).

[violonistchris]

@AbsoluteZ3R0 you re so right i play both and viola is harder than the violin ....!

[guiguibouli]

This guy is amazing!!! VIOLA FOR EVER!!! :)

[cloudkap]

his.... his..... PINKY!!!!

[scottydscottd]

As some one who plays violin and can play viola as well - they're basically the same instrument technique wise - stop arguing. They're just different, played with different personalities. One is more earthy and "dark" , one is more brilliant and in your face. That said - the violin is harder. The notes are closer together and you need to mash your fingers together to get them!

[AbsoluteZ3R0]

@scottydscottd Lol no, everyone who plays both knows that viola is harder. Why do you think that there aren't nearly as many good violists as there are violinists? Everything about the viola is more difficult except for the competition

[scottydscottd]

@AbsoluteZ3R0 Or maybe because all the people who are half way talented don't choose to play violin as their main instrument...... Do you play both? If not don't talk

[AbsoluteZ3R0]

@scottydscottd Actually I do play both, no need to be a dick. Why do you think Mischa Elman exclaimed "It must be easier on viola!" after hearing this? If it were SUPPOSED to be easier on viola, then he wouldn't have been so shocked to hear Paganini like this. The further finger spacing is a disadvantage, not an advantage. Violinists always have better intonation than any other string players. Shifting is more difficult on viola, the size of the instrument makes it physically awkward, and

[AbsoluteZ3R0]

@scottydscottd getting the strings to respond is more difficult. It doesn't project well either so good tone production is difficult to achieve without overpressing. In addition, bow strokes that require more finesse such as spiccato and ricochet are a lot harder to execute on viola because of the same reason. If you really think viola is easier than violin, then I'd like to hear you upload a video of you playing Wieniawski 1 on violin, and then on viola - or anything by Paganini.

[NerdicalHumour]

@scottydscottd Hey. Before you even go on ranting on, let's see you play viola. Viola is arguably the hardest stringed classical instrument (that being violin, viola, cello, and bass). With the viola being a mix of the violin AND cello, you have to stretch your fingers to reach higher notes. With that explained, most prefer violin, mostly because of influence, popularity, and ease of difficulty. The viola is much to play a violin, I play both, I should know. Thanks.

[maxhansendk]

People who doesn´t appreciate this don´t know much about the difference between a Viola and a Violin.

This is a 100% quality performance!

If you prefer the violin instead, that´s ok. But please don´t compare apples to pears.

[viola8freak]

The section completely on artificial harmonics is INSANE!!!!!

[denizHASHMET]

AbsoluteZ3R0 thank u for  this video...i have been watching this video around 1000 times and i can watch this video at least 1000000000... times more :)

[Smith676]

Absolutely beautiful! Thank you for posting it :)

[ThePablo901]

omg i totally don't like this interpretation, i think paganini would agree with me :<

[AbsoluteZ3R0]

@ThePablo901 How the hell do you know what Paganini would think? You don't, this is by far the most arrogant comment I've seen posted in a long time.

[ThePablo901]

@AbsoluteZ3R0 Ehhhh... Maybe i should use "I GUESS"... Well it's my opinion, and i dont think it is arrogant either *eyeroll*. This performance here don't make the proper "mood" of this composition... IN MY FCUKIN OPINION

[AbsoluteZ3R0]

@ThePablo901 Your opinion is that you don't like this interpretation. Good for you. What's arrogant is to say that Paganini would agree with you. I made that very clear in my first comment so don't try to pretend that I was calling you arrogant for having a different opinion because that's bullshit and you know it

[shiveringflower]

@AbsoluteZ3R0 Very well said, the comment by Thepablo901 is incredibly arrogant.

[Vlazsyra]

if you dont know, William Primrose has been the best of violist in every times, play this caprice on viola is almost imposible, and obviously very harder than on the violin, if you dont know no coment please...

[Vlazsyra]

if you dont know, William Primrose has been the best of violist in every times, play this caprice on viola is almost imposible, and obviously very harder than on the violin,Primrose was known for his tremendous technique. When he performed Paganini's violin caprices on viola, Mischa Elman is said to have exclaimed, "It must be easier on viola!" if you dont know no coment please...

[salchrys]

I agree with the Pablo901!

[guitarubik]

Damn man I sound amazing! XD I say that because I am also named William Primrose. However, having the same name as this violinist was pure coincidence

[shiveringflower]

@guitarubik He's a viola player, not a violinist - making this performance all the more remarkable in my opinion.

[mouiygirl]

wow.. i'm a violist, and i hope that one day i'll be at least half as good as this guy...

[astrogeek15]

why are you arguing lets all be happy and just agree that jascha heifetz is better... mmmmmmmmmmmmmk :)

[Arpimagyar89]

not even a violinist can play it like this Violinist fuck off !!!!! Viola is harder to play just trz to play this on it and u will see

[crazykungfumaniac]

i must say those chords were pulled off perfectly!

[CanadaPisces]

A wonderful performance! Thank you!

[Koubenlin]

all you people in the comment section are arrogant music snobs, lets see you do better

[shiveringflower]

@Koubenlin As i have only made positive remarks about Primrose's playing, i resent being called an "arrogant music snob".

Your dismissive remark,made without thought and consideration of the many positive conmments, only highlights your own arrogance.

[shiveringflower]

Easily the most capricous version of this i have ever heard on any instrument.Just amazing :)

[kimgrace13]

It's not a violin I think its a Viola. Because William Primrose is a full time violist.

[shiveringflower]

What a fantastic musician

[howuknomo]

I'm a violist, I would love to play this!

[theXplodingcat]

"it must be easier on viola"

[shiveringflower]

@theXplodingcat lol to anyone wondering, this is what Elman pithily said after hearing Primrose

[Leonor25100]

@theXplodingcat No it isn't

[gibsonpaddy]

No doubt he learned this from the great Heifetz..

[KhagarBalugrak]

I have to say, there's something so natural, relaxed, and right about Primrose's playing. His playing is more moving than that of most of today's violists, who have technique for sure, but no feeling in their playing, usually.

[blastedew]

Primose is legend throughout history, he will be remembered with his unbeatable technique and style

[sitandwatchme]

sexy

[iamnotadriel]

his style is unbeatable

[iamnotadriel]

amazing

[nikoszarb1]

The greatest viola player ever does his stuff!

[Sinfoniette]

"It must be easier on viola!"

[Sinfoniette]

...to anyone who doesn't know; it was a comment of a person (who I do not remember) after listening to Primrose playing this piece.

[LeViOLiSTe]

@Sinfoniette How??

[joshd321]

Amazing how his chin and head are so relaxed -and how his hand positions are so beautiful and never awkward. Oh, and how he makes those chords sound so focused and clean -I wish he had done the whole piece w/o the piano. He does distort lots of rhythms; it does border on cheating somewhat-same with the intonation in places-but I forgive him. If only he had left behind more films like this. AFAIK these 3 pieces are the only visual documents of his playing in his prime. Is that right?

[exodusx599]

He's good.

[HowAboutSomeTruth1]

Viola is the unwanted middle child lol

[christianhosch]

@HowAboutSomeTruth1 BOOOOOO! Violins are for suckers and cellos burn too long... So HA!!!

[purplemonkeyhippo32]

This is probably the most frightening thing I have ever seen that is instrument related.

[princessxoxomelody]

Dude, he makes the viola almost sound like the violin

[xXLeafXNinjaXx]

hes like the jascha heifetz of viola!

[AbsoluteZ3R0]

Hey Brent, it's Orlando, you know, Ashley's friend lol.

[HoodedWanderer]

oh look, viola jesus came down from heaven

[marteo90]

the next who will do a cd with the caprice wiith the viola will be me XD

[purpleoompaloompa]

Our orchestra teacher showed us this in class, I feel like I should practice a whole lot more now...

[purplemonkeyhippo32]

Why are people thumb-ing down this?

[AbsoluteZ3R0]

Because we dislike his opinion.

[KonnytheViolin]

No, I think it is because you dont allow other people to a opinion than you. You could reply to my comment like: I dont think so. But I dont think that disliking some ones opinion means that you have to vote him badly. You do that if someone writes mean stuff, but no if so. has another opinion than you!

[AbsoluteZ3R0]

You are wrong. If I didn't allow people to have an opinion different from mine, I would have deleted your comment. I wasn't the one who thumbed down your comment, so don't blame me. And I disagree, thumbing someone down for having a different opinion is a way of expressing disagreement. Besides, you didn't even state your comment as an opinion. You said "with a violin it sounds much better" as if it were a fact.

[AbsoluteZ3R0]

(continued) If you had said "I like it better on violin" or "it's better on violin in my opinion" then I don't think anyone would have thumbed you down. So don't blame me or anyone else, it's your own fault you got thumbed down.

[KonnytheViolin]

Hey, I thought I would have written it like in my opinion its better on violin. I am sorry. You are right what you said I would not like to blame anybody, I just had it wrong in my mind. But you know the problem is that you can not see my comment anymore. So...however.

[08MCR]

@AbsoluteZ3R0 Get out of here. Primrose uses an instrument that takes more skill to play well than the Violin and plays what many Violinists wish they could on it.

[AbsoluteZ3R0]

@08MCR o rly?

[trappedbyfate]

who else has done this for viola?

[neji277]

yes. the viola is very under appreciated

[mariachisacramento]

good stuff. i prefer heifetz's version, but this is mind-blowing as well.

[slimbullet96]

viola and violin have different styles so you can't really compare them to each other. But I agree Heifetz was amazing as well.

[Sviolinist]

BRILLIANT

[aqua0077]

Wow, this is awesome!!!

Thanks for sharing.

The "&fmt=18" trick works for me. I use firefox.

[Silviola824]

When I first saw this video, i was amazed, but everything was in synch. now the music starts before the video

[AbsoluteZ3R0]

type in &fmt=18 at the end of the video url and it will be in synch

[Silviola824]

I have already tried that. when I try to type in &fmt=18, the whole url gets erased and I go back to my home page

[AbsoluteZ3R0]

So you copy and paste the url from under the video description, type in &fmt=18 at the end of the url and it sends you to your home page? Very strange

[Silviola824]

yeah. Im going to try it again

[Silviola824]

I figured it out. for some reason, i can't type & on the url

[AbsoluteZ3R0]

Can you paste it on?

[Silviola824]

no. nothing happens

[AbsoluteZ3R0]

Alright, well I'll just message you a link and hopefully you can click on it and it'll work

[Silviola824]

Hey thanks! the video is fine now!

[AbsoluteZ3R0]

No problem

[leite0]

Primrose is a God. Viola is always fantastic!!!

[GIZMOPRIME]

THIS DUDE IS AMAZING

[GIZMOPRIME]

i like the part at 102

[AbsoluteZ3R0]

Btw, to the watchers of this video, typing "&fmt=18" at the end of the video url will not only slightly enhance the sound quality, but it will ALSO make the video/audio synchronized!

[sarsTOTHEmax]

go team viola

[de6789]

AMEN!

[Giuliani7222]

This is a beautiful and depressing piece; I actually like these old recordings as opposed to new more acousticly perfected ones. They better represent the despair and depression of the music.

Yes, good job to anybody to sticks to viola!

[AbsoluteZ3R0]

Lol I've never heard anybody call this piece depressing before, I've always thought it was kind of chipper, sort of like Paganini's way of modestly saying "look what I can do! hehe" through this composition. Old recordings, though fuzzier, tend to pick up more of the "raw" sound of string instruments than newer recordings do, I agree with you.

[Giuliani7222]

lol. Well, i think its the type of person I am. When I hear this I think of early black-and-white films. Then, remembering that fact that the players you are viewing are all long dead. No, I'm not crazy :)

[vibrato101]

i luv this peace. good job to every1 out there who sticks to viola

[bulboflight]

sigh... depressing... isnt it... how to viola is so rejected, dejected, ignored and looked down upon. Heck people dont even look at it, let alone know it exists

[sarsTOTHEmax]

I want to marry this piece

[SpyderV]

Wow. I have seen this so many times, and it never gets old. Primrose is definitely amazing. As a violist, I love this man.

[hotwaiter]

didn't Emmanuel Vardi play all 24 of Paganini's Caprices? I think he's the only one who played them on the viola instead of the violin. Violas are so underappreciated. Everyone wants to be a violinist, or a tenor or a soprano...no one gives enough love to the mid/lower voices.

[AbsoluteZ3R0]

He did record all 24, but I've listened to them and I believe they are poor, technically sloppy and musically absent recordings.

[IhaveaCstring]

Geeze AbsoluteZ3R0, you're very opinionated. Personally, I'd like to see you play a couple of them before you say anything like that.

[bulboflight]

i guess we all judge people like Primrose harshly because of their excellence...

[cymro89]

I have heard AbolsuteZ3RO play them all actually, wonderfully. And if he were unable to play them well, it doesn't take a virtuoso to be able to hear if something is technically sloppy and musically absent. Does it?

[HCprep]

I'm a violist and this shows how viola can be as good as a violin even better so ha. and how annoying violins sound. Violas have that rich sound[= mr. primrose is an idol ancamazing violist he is[=

[lookefrend]

"How annoying violins sound?" Can't you appreciate art without demeaning it with your petty commentary?

[violalord1]

I'm a violist but I'm also a musician and composer so I can not agree with you. Each instrument has its own beauty.

[sarsTOTHEmax]

this video is really amazing, he is soooo good, but the delay between image and sound is reeeally annoying.... but it's worth it just to see it

[AbsoluteZ3R0]

I agree, if you want to see it in sync, just search "byu primrose" on google, click on the first result, then click on "videos" and click on the one that says he's playing caprice 6 (it's a misprint).

[sarsTOTHEmax]

wow!!!! that was amazing, thanks!!!!!!! :D:D:D:D

[AbsoluteZ3R0]

No problem

[3wheelfleetwood]

violas are BIG

[thetrueiggy]

i play viola, and this video really shows how beautiful the instrument is. i'm just so sick of everyone asking why i didn't choose to play violin.

[hawkguitar]

This guy rocks

[sstutter]

He was one of my teacher's teachers. Such a great/inspirational musician.

[IVIusic]

This guy was my teacher's teacher's teacher

Thanks for uploading this. It's awesome!

[AbsoluteZ3R0]

Man, Primrose looks so badass when he plays viola, he is definitely one of the most inspirational musicians I've ever listened to.

[Hpinovator]

I play viola for 8 years and I still cannot play this

[violalord1]

I haven't played this yet, but this is what I would do. Break it into sections, play slowely, put it together still playing slowely, then speed up a bit.

[sijas]

lol of course, 8 years is not nearly enough time to get good at a strings instrument.

i've been playing violin 15 years, and i make this song sound like shit.

[CampanellaDaemon]

mmmm such an amazing violist. i do not wish to critisize such an amazing musician as i do not really have the right to, and as i hate with a passion youtube criticisms, though i do feel at times it was a bit rushed, especially at the parrallel octave variation. and yes there was a time where paganini played the viola, he even contimplated becoming a violist himself (as every violinist should ;)p.s alexander markovs renditions kills all paganini playing lol

[AbsoluteZ3R0]

I don't really like Markov's renditions of Paganini in general because he forsakes accuracy for showmanship, but I agree that in this video it is all too rushed. His actual recording is a lot more musical though.

[jabsomdoc]

rushed? perhaps primrose had been hanging around heifetz too much... i was actually a student hiroko primrose (his wife). that was just the style back then. people started playing slower (and louder) when they started playing in large concert halls instead of small recital rooms.

[ohdannyb0i]

Thanks a lot, it's better than the last one.

[GreatPianists]

Haha..."it must be easier on viola." He sure played the snot out of that.

Greatest violist ever. Also did some really good chamber music work with Heifetz and others.

[Bigstan2000]

I can't believe I'm actually trying to learn this...

[violinheifetz]

Very Good.

[gangstanerd135]

Primrose was possibly the best violist the world has ever seen, apart from Paganini of course. The only part of this that I don't like is at 0:47 with the parallel octaves. He plays it much too fast, as opposed to the Heifetz version. Other than that, this is an amazing interpretation. I also like his transposition of Paganini's La Campanella.

[IPASCALI]

Paganini was violist?

[jomami17]

My viola teacher is Manuel Diaz--father of Roberto Diaz--and yea...Primrose was his teacher...WOW..this guy was incredible..

[buddapeople]

Roboerto Diaz has that viola... mmmm... goodness...

can't ever be too certain with youtube videos though, especially when its fast... I always think they sped up the tape to make myself feel better... :P

[Imnotonvodka]

Ya know I love william primrose and im a huge fan. i highly respect him for making something good out of a viola. VIOLINS ROCK!

[thedbassist]

come on, did you read it? Its funny,  or is it blasphemy to put the commment on a primrose video?

[AbsoluteZ3R0]

I almost deleted this comment until i read who it was from. Matt, you sir are a faggot.

[pupulique]

No old times or living VIOLIN virtuosi exept the great Heifetz could be compared to this 24th caprice miracle.

[Imasianurnotstfu]

wow, amazing, this video along with the heifetz video of the same piece (different ending) are my two favorite versions of this caprice

[gmollocska]

This is BAd!!Not original !!(Y)

[adidas01003]

now all the other violists have no reason to suck.

[kaliyarivet]

Lol!!! But I'm a violist and I suck.... :(

[BSG751]

yeah you do