David Dubal - The Piano in World Civilization

Speaker: David Dubal
Pianist: Jung Lin

This is my favorite author and friend of the late Vladimir Horowitz, David Dubal, presenting "The Piano in World Civilization." An amazing, in-depth look at the creation, rise, and modern aspect of the piano.

Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful!
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0:26 Introduction

3:34 - Scarlatti's Sonata in D minor, Kk. 141

**7:32 (Lecture)

19:45 - Schumann's Abegg variations in F major, Op. 1

**27:32 (Lecture)

40:21 - Chopin's Berceuse in D-flat major, Op. 57

44:25 - Chopin's Fantasie Impromptu in C-sharp minor, Op. 66

**49:21 (Lecture)

1:05:42 - Liszt's Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2 in C-sharp minor

**1:15:04 Conclusion
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**7:32 (Lecture)
-Comparison of harpsichord to piano
-Creator of the piano Bartelomio Cristofori (1655 - 1731)
-Bach, Stratoverias, C.P.E. Bach
-Death of religious music, polyphony and counterpoint
-No one cared of piano at creation
-Violin and Opera are preferred over piano
-Silberman recreates the piano, but better (Italy 1725)
-Bach doesn't know how to play with inflection!
-Frederick the Great plays piano too

**27:32 (Lecture)
-J.C. Bach is the first pianist in history
-Zumpe re-recreates the piano (England 1761)
-English musical life (1767)
-Piano enters the musical world
-Mozart gives up harpsichord for piano (8 years old)
-First piano solo at an actual concert (England 1768)
-Piano business begins
-J.C. Bach, Clementi, Mozart, Horowitz, Beethoven, Chopin
-Competition against Mozart in Vienna is a draw!
-Beethoven is given a piano
-Chopin is the poet of the piano

**49:21 (Lecture)
-Great romantic composers
-Alpheus Babcock reforms the piano (America 1832)
-Chopin, Schumann, Mendelssohn, Liszt
-The atmosphere created by the pedal
-37,000 parts make up the piano
-Chickering pianos are a big deal
-Henry Steinway opens for business (America 1857)
-Ragtime's emergence
-Debussy, Joplin, Anton Rubenstein, Paderewski
-Rubenstein makes millions and rebuilds the St. Petersburg Conservatory
-Bosendorfer opens for business (1828)
-Bechstein opens for business
-Beethoven comes to America and plays 200 concerts from memory
-1911 piano's fame dies down
-1915 Phonograph overpowers the piano
-Letter is read speaking on the plight of woman
-Depression hits and only 29 piano companies exist
-War destroys German, American, French and English industries
-Yamaha opens for business (1897)
-Fazioli pianos are beautiful

**1:15:04 Conclusion
-Godowski and Hoffman have tiny hands yet are great virtuosi.

Woman to Godowski: "How do you play on such a level with such little hands?"

Godowski: "Madam, who ever told you you play piano with your hands?"

Category:

Education

Tags:

• david
• dubal
• jung
• lin
• piano
• in
• world
• civilization
• 2007
• history
• liszt
• chopin
• godowski
• cristofori
• bach
• ragtime
• steinway

[dasteufelhund]

A reminder for you all, Dubal does not get paid nor came to fame for his singing. Just to put things in perspective.

[dasteufelhund]

It's not the piano, she simply hasn't have the pieces workout, and no matter how bad the piano may sound, you can't hide clarity and cleanliness of technique.

[CanIHazIceCream]

I'm not convinced with all he said but I guess I've to trust him cause is the pro. Tht's quite interesting actually.

Where can we get the full version ?

(F**** the 240p btw)

[vova47]

He looks a bit and sounds quite a lot like F. Murray Abraham in Amadeus. I wonder if they knew each other?...

[robertslistening]

I doubt if it is her playing, but the sound is crap. No reverb. The piano just sounds dead. This is also in 240p. Lowest quality.

Pogorelich Plays Scarlatti K20. Couldn't find this one, but he plays excellent Scarlatti. The recording quality is a whole lot better also.

My opinion is if you're going to record music, why not make it a good recording.

Anyway, I've heard Jung Lin play other pieces which sounded better.

...what was with the irritating singing he was doing. Good grief. Explaining?

[pianoxpert]

Scarlatti was the son of Allesandro Scarlatti and was born in Naples. He was Italian, not Spanish. He later became the court composer in Spain. I'm surprised Mr. Dubal would make such an error. 

[bfcr2001]

@cnjacksun The cameraman doesn't have a microphone.

[cnjacksun]

why's the cameraman breathing so hard when the girl's playing...

[9419872008]

nice singing

[phazt]

I feel sorry for all of you who cannot watch the rest of this video after the introduction, because his lecture is captivating and filled to the brim with information!