Ask Augustin 48 - Is Mozart the hardest composer?
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- čas přidán 8. 06. 2024
- In episode 48 of Ask Augustin, I talk about why Mozart's music is so difficult to interpret and perform.
I often get questions about Mozart, since his concertos are among the most played violin pieces, and a staple at auditions. A lot of Mozart's music seems deceptively simple and easy to play at first, but then seems to only get more difficult the longer you work on it. There are so many factors to consider! There is such elegance in his music, such balance in the way the music is created and structured. Because of the perfection and balance of the writing, the interpretation can't be too cheesy, too precious or careful, too harsh, or too boring. Mozart's music seems relatively easy to the listener, but it's jarring when the slightest thing isn't just right: mannerisms are particularly obvious in Mozart, out-of-tune notes stick out like sore thumbs, you immediately notice if anything is off-balance or exaggerated.
It is crucial to get a feeling for the elegance and poise in Mozart, and I talk about some tips on articulation and vibrato to help with that. However, working on making the gestures sound elegant and lovely can lead to the interpretation sounding cautious and lacking in energy! I find it very helpful to think of his music as different characters or people interacting. In the example from the fourth violin concerto that I play, it sounds like three different characters are introduced right after each other -- one heroic, one funny, one lyrical. Mozart wrote operas his whole life, and most of his instrumental music is written in the same musical language. It is not just one cute theme after another, they truly have different personalities, and bringing them out is the key to ensuring that an interpretation of Mozart is not only elegant but also exciting!
Perhaps the most important thing is, however, that despite this never-ending struggle and the feeling that the piece becomes more and more difficult, it remains fun! - Hudba
The most difficult aspect of music by Mozart is the simplicity.
What a cliché thought
Mozart's piano compositions are deceptively simple-sounding.
this video sheds light on a composer whose understanding is taken for granted. Thank you from Colombia!
I am a flutist but I learn so much watching your videos! Thank you👏👏👏👏👏
Yes! It’s fascinating how his music is easy to understand, easy to listen to, but so difficult to perform. And the listener may not even realize it, which is a nice thing, they can just focus on the beautiful music.
I’m not even a musician, I can’t play any instrument, can’t even sing. But I love watching your Q&A videos.
Love the way you explain it, feel like I could see how much you love music and so passionate about it.
I only recently discovered this Ask Augustin list. In addition to being among the very few real A-list performers, you seem to have the best analytical mind and communication ability among all teachers I am aware of. This series of remote mini-lessons helped me correct a good number of lifelong errors, some of them really significant, even at my advanced age and with my encrusted habits.
This list will become the basic bible, at least for us dilettanti. Please continue and make sure to save all the sessions to a secure device outside CZcams.
Thank you.
Finesse and sensitivity. That's Mozart's music. And you definitely captured and delivered that. Thank you Augustin!
Hi , mr. Hadelich.
Thanks a lot for sharing your amazing knowledge with others.
I really like your performances, I listened you time to time. Now I found this your "masterclass" I appreciate you even more.
Wishing you All the best.
Thank you for this. My old teacher Zvi Zeitlin was famous for his many performances and the recording of the Schoenberg concerto. I once asked him, "how on earth did you learn that. It must be the hardest concerto ever". He replied, "no, the hardest concerto is Mozart no. 4".
Was at your concert in Seoul just yesterday & now I find myself binge watching all of this series.
I am a guitarist (50 years) and a violist (21 years). You have inspired me to try and play Cafe 1930 after listening to your recording with Pablo Sainz Villegas. I will be working on both parts to record. Thank you for these helpful videos.
Yes I’m so happy this is Bach!
What a wonderful masterclass! Thank you for sharing your personal insights into Mozart's music. Jascha Heifetz also said that Beethoven and Mozart were the most difficult composers to play. And Nathan Milstein said that his approach was not to "spoil it." To paraphrase him, let Mozart be Mozart and get your ego out of the way!
I'm a classically trained folklore music violin player from Moldova , and I'm happy to learn from you ; I like your clarity of sound , technique , and the fact that you try to make things as logical as possible for every played piece 🎻👍 Keep it going !
That’s so cool! Does the folklore music you were trained in sound a bit like Klezmer? I’m interested in learning this style, but I have learned violin from a more classical basis. How would you suggest starting?
@@alexandracomus755 it is in some ways similar to klezmer music , but is much more complex and variated... In romania for example there are more than 4-5 types of zonal folklore , every one is different and has different rythms and styles in it ... I suggest starting with moldavian songs , you can listen to some ADVAHOV orchestra songs (I play there too) , also you can subscribe to my Patreon to learn from what I teach there , I post there almost every day : tutorials , music scores , folklore accompaniment , etc 🎻
I really enjoy these little analyses of performance. It’s very helpful.
new Mozart album in the works? hope so
So down to earth.
Very true...some pieces are difficult because of technically like paganini or last rose of summer, but other pieces from composers like Bach have very high degrees of musicality like Chaconne. Then there are pieces like the yasye sonatas which have both aspects and are insane.
Thank you so much for this video! Mozart's 4th concerto is the exact piece that made me love practicing and start to appreciate violin as a child. It's touching to listen to you playing the solo and analyzing it.
I’ve always loved Mozart’s music, and your description and analysis have explained in words and example, exactly why. Thank you, Augustin!❤️👏👏👏
Very interesting~ Thank you for sharing your thoughts Augustin.
Thank you... I am learning always something from your contributions.... 🎶☮️🎶
I need more material! I really enjoy your channel and it is so helpful to get your tips!
It is really hard to find a good balance in Mozart's music - there's light, but there's also the classical style but it has its charm too but not too romantic - too many informations! That's why he is so requested in violin auditions... but still, for me, the HARDEST composer to learn AND perform is Bach. Man... I get more than chills every time I have to play Bach
What a fantastic video! I can't wait to practice tomorrow (it's late night here). I think I'll dare a little Mozart, just for the fun.🌻
Thank you for this. Your teaching here is a good reminder of the thought and care that must be taken in order to play Mozart with the character in which it was written. I appreciate the lesson!
So humble.
Thank you, Augustin!
That was so great!!
Wow! I'm surprised! But if the greatest living violin virtuoso says so, I better take in every bit of it to heart.👍👍👍❤
Honestly such an amazing violinist and musician
Thank you very much ♥️
Thank you so much Augustin, for sharing your detailed thoughts and technique... I feel like I learned so much... to not vibrate the last note or to vibrate it less is such a unique new thought I'm going to try it out... I love how you share that there are different voices in the piece, that for me is one of the hardest yet most enjoyable things I can do when playing, to play a piece with multiple voices. Big virtual handshake for being so giving with your videos!
Thank you for explanation and inspiration!
I love your videos... Thank you
Thank you so much for this wonderful apercu.
I love your teach videos, thank you so much.
Excellent video. Everything is easy to understand and is accompanied by the music. Easy to hear but difficult to get right is a fascinating irony. I now know what makes up a good Mozart interpretation and am greatful to all musicians who sweat to give us good performances.
A teacher once told me: You have to play Mozart to sound childish, like it was a game, without any seriousness. But, he was a prodigy, so your technique must be flawless...
Care but do not care... I am still working on that.
Augustine, thank you very much. Everything I see seems so relaxed and smooth. Could you talk about your left fingers strength as well as how you approach coming down to the fingerboard? How should one articulate the notes and how does one practice articulating the notes. When I hear you speak, I feel you speak in rhythm but with warmth and care and I feel like you do the same with your left fingers.
I loved Mozart so much!!! Thank you for your video😊
I think it will be very helpful to students learning. Thank you! 🎵
I love your videos and music! :) amazing
Another one bites down panini. 👏👏👏👏👏 Bravo maestro.
shure it is helpful, thanks for your generous pieces of advice
This helps immensely!!! I am trying to perfect my Mozart 4 for auditions, and this is a godsend.
The violinist least in need of Augustin's excellent insights is Chloe Chua. The exquisite refinement and delight of her Mozart #2 last October with the Singapore SO is as close to perfection as is safe for mere mortals to venture.
Although her #4 three years ago with the Salzburg Chamber Soloists is not in the same way truly great, her phrasing is similarly elevated and in every bar one can hear a truly great Mozart struggling to emerge.
In the absence of Augustin's own Mozart, YT offers no better contemporary guide to #4 than Chloe's.
Good luck with your auditions, past present and future!
Thank you so much Augustin for your fantastic videos! The way you clearly describe things in words are really helpful!
Thank you for these videos. I don't even play violin, rather I play guitar; but I still find them immensely enjoyable and your playing is fantastic. It does make me mad that some A Holes gave you a thumbs down though.
Brilliant 😊
My teacher in conservatory usually said that you play Mozart well when you are a child with no consciousness or a senior when you don't give a damn about showing off something. Useful if you look beyond tecnique.
The better you get, the harder Mozart is to play. IMHO
I liked your comment on the Two Set mental health video :) I'm interested to know your thoughts on the balance between playing for the audience and playing for yourself, for your own pleasure. I've always felt when I perform it's kind of a 'service' that I'm providing, to do justice to the music and to respect the people who have paid to be there. This creates such a huge sense of responsibility. But in the last five years I find I'm moving towards playing for my own fun and pleasure, and what feels good in the moment. I think it's both. But I'd love to hear your experiences / feelings.
Please do long episodes of bach 🙌😌
Hi Augustin, I really learnt a lot from your videos! Could you give us a virtual masterclass about the Mozart concertos, specifically, Mozart concerto no.3. Thank you!
👌 Good job! 👏 👏
7:45 "so you go on the side a bit more" I have never heard of that as a violin technique from anyone else, does anyone else even do it? What a master Hadelich is! Usually you learn a bow hold and that's it. I thought I didn't like Mozart. Now I guess I will rarely like Mozart, for the rare good performance!
I heard that, too! I've seen others do it, but they don't talk about it. This is the first I've heard someone of his caliber actually talk about it.
It's a common technique and approach to bowing. You turn the bow to use less bow hair - you can combine that with bow speed, bow pressure, contact point, bowing angle, bow section, different bow strokes - probably even nuances to virtuosos like Augustine - to control your sound.
Thank you i like your video's.
I love youuuuu! ❤️❤️❤️🎻🎻🎻🎻
Great video as always! Could you maybe give your thoughts about Ysaye's music as well?
Amazing that you never have to check the note before you play, even high up on the neck.
I played this 30+ years ago in high school and my mother recently showed me a video of me playing it. Brings back fond memories but my fingers don't remember much of it LOL. I don't think I could ever match the richness and crispness you have with all the notes...I agree with every point you're making!!! Please post a video of the whole piece --- Either in master class format or just playing straight through with piano accompaniment or whole orchestra!!! I'll appreciate it in any format as long as you're in it.
Hello Augustin! ❤
Mozart is extremely difficult and very few get it right. The few who can interpret develop an understanding of his music. It's all about flowing lyricism and engaging dialogue. He is also remarkably quick and spontaneous, technically and lyrically, and that is not at all simple
Rad ideas for my Mozart G Flute Concerto. Thank you.
This is exactly why I avoid Mozart's solo violin works. I'm happy to admit that I'm not good at Bach or Mozart, which are impossible to play well unless you're somebody like Augustin Hadelich. I find romantic and contemporary music very easy to interpret. Perlman said recently that Bach in particular is "a bad test of someone's ability to play." The reason is because so many people play Bach so many different ways that it's impossible anymore to call any of it right or wrong. Heifetz called Mozart's concertos "some of the most difficult." Musically, they definitely are. The violin-piano sonatas are even harder.
世界で一番大好きなバイオリン弾き❤️
For someone with such esteem, virtuosity is in excess so anything hard would be about interpretation rather than technique
Yo. Thanks
It is not without reason that Beethoven's early career is often framed as an attempt to get out from under Mozart's shadow. Mozart's musical accomplishments are made more spectacular by the brevity of his life.
Have you thought about Bartok solo sonata? I think your style would be a great match.
Dear augustin!
Where did you buy your bow rubber grip?
Thank you for the videos
wow, very few people notice this! It is actually rubber tubing -- there are industrial uses for this kind of rubber tubing but can also be found among hospital supplies. It's not easy to find just because it's hard what exactly to call it or to search for. It's easier to find transparent rubber tubing (among hospital supplies for example), but the black looks a bit better and I eventually found it somewhere. It can be a bit difficult to first get it onto the bow, but it stretches to fit the bow and feels good because it give my thumb a nice grip on the bow. It adds slightly less than 1 gram to the weight of the bow.
@@AugustinHadelichViolin wow you answered! feel honored!
yes, i remember about 20 years ago, my teacher gave me one of those and i just noticed in your videos that you use one! those feel really good i remember! ill keep searching
all the best maestro
@@yongefy actually i just found it. I Googled rubber grip for violin bow. There are many different options. Good luck
Hi, Agustin, could you please talk in some future "Ask Agustin" about resonance and overtones in violin playing?
add subtitles Brazilian Portuguese, all here we welcome you! thanks !
So how to play contrapunctal passages together in a quartet (by Mozart or other composers), for instance? I guess, there is a lot of work with what frases in what instrument you want to empphasize.
Hi Augustin, I wonder if you have any tips to prevent unwanted bow bouncing on a down bow?
😍
👏👏👏
I like Mozart, but Paganini is a different class, in my view the 24 Caprices, and Paganinis nel cor piu..., violin concert and Sauret Cadenza are most difficult.
You chose to play the pizzicato in caprice 24 with right hand g8 gers instead of with the bow. Watch Alexander Markov in caprice 24.
I can't seem to find any videos of August in playing mozart
I have wondered why all the great violinists said Mozart was the hardest, even Heifetz.
Could you please link to that clip where he said that? Heifetz is such a legend.
“The sonatas of Mozart are unique; they are too easy for children, and too difficult for artists.” ― Artur Schnabel
Hi Augustin, do you think it's possible to become professional violinist if starting learning it at 22?
Yes! I started at 39. And I'm doing amazing. You can certainly do it. With daily aware practice.
From which piece are the passages on 04:50 and 05:25 please?
from the duos K.423 and K.424
@@bigstroker1300 thank you :)
Hi, Augustin, I'm extremely curious as to why my subscription is not showing up on your channel?
probably just youtube just being youtube
He is for me maybe because I am deaf and I don't really interpret him well. When I was younger I performed more tchaikovsky then anything.
👏👏👏👏👏👏💜🎶💜🎻
Mozart's piano sonatas are pretty difficult to get to a consistent performance level of mastery imo, at least if you play all the movements.
4:26
"Mozart is the musical Christ!"
How to get left an right synchronized? Except from slow practicing.
Slow practicing 😀
Hi Augustin, i totally agree with your opinion on the difficulty in playing Mozart. Thank you for all the episodes of Ask Augustin, I find them incredibly interesting! I’m a professional violinist myself, based in Belgium, and recently started a CZcams Series about the famous Belgian Violin School (De Bériot, Vieuxtemps, Ysaÿe,...) - czcams.com/video/jamk8gfyrFc/video.html - and was wondering how you feel about the influence of the Belgian Violin School on violinplaying in general and if you are planning of recording all 6 Ysaÿe sonatas? Grtz from Belgium!
When there is Paganini, Mozart seems childist
(it is still very hard)
One of my teachers said Mozart is very easy for kids but very hard for adults.