Solo Viola Sonata op. 25 no. 1 by Hindemith (IV) - Ngwenyama

[MrWorldbefree]

shit I damn near ran out of breath watching this.....I co sign

[TheCalebCoker]

She was also chosen to perform at the White House for NPR.

[TheCalebCoker]

Before criticizing this performance please realize that she won the Primrose Competition and now directs the event. She is president of the American Viola Society and has degrees from Curtis, The Superior National Conservatory of Music in Paris, and Harvard. She is also a visiting professor at Notre Dame. She is very well researched in music and her choices should be respected whether or not you agree with them (which I do seeing as I am but a lowly college music student).

[lexo30]

Lovely-sounding performance, but this is famously the movement where Hindemith instructed a ridiculously fast tempo marking and gave the direction 'tearing tempo, wild, beauty of tone is incidental'. She has a beautiful tone, but needs to lose it here; this is I think a tiny bit too slow and not harsh enough. Played as Hindemith instructed, it should sound like shredding (as in what certain kinds of metal guitarist do). That's only my opinion, anyway, but I've heard it done.

[AbsoluteZ3R0]

@lexo30 Screw Hindemith, we don't have to play everything the way he wants. If we did, there would be no such thing as a good performance of Der Schwanendreher

[lexo30]

@AbsoluteZ3R0 Isn't the whole point of so-called 'classical' music that you play it the way the composer wants? Otherwise you might as well play something else. Maybe you should. But played as closely as possible to Hindemith's basically impossible directions, this is a cool piece of music, but the way this player does it, it's boring. If you are a classical musician and you have this idea that you can disregard the score - well, good luck with that. Maybe you need to change direction.

[AbsoluteZ3R0]

@lexo30 Lol wow you're so arrogant. If you think this is so boring then why don't you upload a video of yourself playing it more interestingly? Oh wait, you can't because you're a guitarist. You're saying that unless this piece is performed exactly as Hindemith intended that it's boring right? Well I love this performance, and the fact that I do completely throws your argument out the window. I never said to disregard the score, I just said that we don't have to play everything the way

[lexo30]

@AbsoluteZ3R0 I'm not arrogant. I can't play this piece because I can't play the viola, period. I do not need to be able to play the viola to post my opinion that this is not a very convincing performance of this piece. The fact that you love this performance does not completely throw my argument out of the window, because neither you nor I nor anyone else gets to judge how this piece should be played. You like this performance: I think it's boring. Let's not even bother to argue, eh?

[AbsoluteZ3R0]

@lexo30 Hindemith wanted. Variations in performance are what create DIFFERENT INTERPRETATIONS which is the true essence of western art music. Maybe you're the one who needs a change in direction. Oh wait, never mind, you're already not a classical musician.

[lexo30]

@AbsoluteZ3R0 I've never claimed to be a classical musician, and I'm glad I'm not one. Your point?

[AlastairBrownViolist]

Bravo, love it. I do not hear that she is playing like a "violinist" whatever that means. A lot of times this movement is just a horrific mess, Thula is playing it beautifully here. You can hear every note, and she still captures the feeling of abandon that was intended. Bravo Thula!

[BBRENTTAGHAPP]

i agree, i hear people say "oh that violist plays like a violinist" or vice versa. like what does that mean? do you have to have a certain mind set while playing?

[grdzelli]

You're no Zimbabwean. Most Zimbabweans are too intelligent and literate to write like that.

[ghafhos]

you had said boy most !!!

[ghafhos]

play like a violinist!!!!

she needs more strong!!!!

a little soft and light!!!!!

[ditharkx]

playing like a violinist doesn't work as well as you think it would on the viola.

[ghafhos]

Solo Viola Sonata Op. 25 no.1 Hindemith IV - Hector Vasquez

[amanofsoup]

I'm assuming more strength? Her style of playing is obviously lighter than many, but it allows the beautiful instrument's tone to be heard more clearly. Go ahead and play it the way you like, but I don't recommend this criticism.

[AbsoluteZ3R0]

@ghafhos False, her bow arm is the bow arm of a violist. Just because she plays it cleanly unlike 99% of people doesn't mean you have to insult her playing. I prefer this to a dirtier but more aggressive rendition

[lexo30]

@AbsoluteZ3R0 The fact that you 'prefer this to a dirtier but more aggressive rendition' says to me that you have completely failed to get the point of this piece. But of course, that's merely my opinion.

[Sunshinesweety95]

All I can say is OH MY GOD!!!

[Epmonito]

quarter note=600

thats crazy!

[grdzelli]

jimijoh:

Ustunde ne seyyare?

[grdzelli]

jimijosh:

ustunde ne seyyare?

[jimijosh]

kim kaskashian played it better,faster

[grdzelli]

Jimijosh:

Ustunde ne seyyare

[182278]

yeah but Kim Kashian is much older.

who knows where this lady might go.

besides, you will always be disappointed if you compare everyone to the best in the world.

[grdzelli]

In a word-totally kick ass!!! She can play her butt off...that's all I have to say!!!

[giorgiomioben]

I'm in love with her, she's fantastic!!

[isabellanakahara]

Very nice. I agree with zero9046... I played it ...not so clean sounding and careful, but You sound wonderful.

[zero9046]

very nice!  maybe a little too clean sounding, and it could always be faster!