Horowitz plays Barber Excursions

Barber: Excursions Op.20 Nos.1-2-4

Vladimir Horowitz, live at Carnegie Hall, March 28th 1945.

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Category:

Music

Tags:

• Horowitz
• Barber
• Excursions

[photoeditingchicken]

Lol...I searched for this set in order to find its length, as I will plan to play it in a year. Then, I was like, "Horowitz played this?!" After listening to it, I have no doubt that I should plan much, MUCH more time than 8:39! I do agree, though, that he seemed to have 'hijacked' this set...though in a rather lovable way!

[thetunr]

I don't see any hijacking in this rendition. On the contrary, it is marvelous playing. The complete set should be around 13'.

[pianopera]

Unbelievable, Horowitz playing the "Blues"! (no. 2)...and he's turning them into a sonic miracle.

[thetunr]

Indeed, but I treasure the fourth piece even more. How succesful he is in conveying spatial dimension to that banjo duel.

[pianopera]

Yes, that one is great fun!

Thank you for posting this, I had never heard the pieces before, and I doubt if I will be hearing a better performance.

It again shows how versatile Horowitz was in the 40's: playing Romantic concerti with Toscanini, but also chamber music as well as Scarlatti, the Viennese classics, massive transcriptions, French repertoire but also contemporary Russian and American composers.

[thetunr]

You know, in a way I tend to share Tim Page's mixed views on Horowitz. I love immensely how he could turn little known miniatures into gleaming gems, but sometimes I feel he was simply hijacking a piece, especially in concert, and particularly in well known and mainstream repertoire. The single notable exception is Schumann. To my ears, Horowitz live-the-moment approach to Schumann's music is almost always convincing and often revelatory.

[meredith21846]

These little gems will never receive as witty and idiomatic a performance as heard here. The Horowitz legend lives on!.

[darktowersl]

@dkopitz barber hadn't composed it at the time (wiki)

[dkopitz]

Why didn't he play the 3rd? It's the hardest movement according to my son, who plays this piece. He changed this quite a bit!

[GeoJDr]

Well, I love Barber and Horowitz. Great post! Thanks.

[wwwonderful]

a very original interpretation, thank you

[dfairbanks06]

i wouldve loved to hear him play the 3rd one

[EpicSplosives]

@lisztnut i see what you mean

but he didn't make it up

to my ears i think he either placed accents on the upbeats or either copied the pattern that's at the end of the piece and modified it to fit with the next page

[kylegreerrocks]

@photoeditingchicken also, he's only playing three of the four movements

[CelloBoy13913]

@lisztnut do rhythmical misreadings make a difference anyway? Since when is Horowitz been known for playing exactly as the score says. I'm more than positive that he probably disregarded the correct rhythm to make an effect-something that Horowitz is the best at doing.

[TheMadman2006]

Considering barber had no stature at all