How NOT to play piano - Vladimir Horowitz

Who's watching Horowitz in 2023 ?
Vlodya's philosophy on excessive expressions in piano playing
*Just to be clear, Horowitz himself shows a lot of emotions facially in his performances, but those are natural and unintentional. Please do not take it as "you cannot show emotions while playing", it's not true and not human too. The point is not to be intentional or over dramatic.
New York 1974, from documentary A Reminiscence

[@RafaelCunhaAraujo]

My father used to say that if your face says one thing and your music says another, you are in contradiction. And you see people putting more emphasis on facial expression and body gestures than talent and technique in playing the piano. Dude, you're on a piano, not at a soap opera. For some, it seems like they are in excruciating pain all the time (according to their faces). Combine that with fancy dress, "fast playing" and you have the hallmarks of many of today's artists.

[@imacompoza]

Can't agree more. This sums up the whole point

[@mcbill7352]

Bro just hates yuja wang

[@oliverholmes-gunning5372]

Some people can't help it, it's like a subconscious tic. I know a musician like that, I've pointed it out to him before and he doesn't even realise he's doing it.

[@The_Guy_Who_Asked_06]

​@@mcbill7352 Yuja Wang is actually on the tame side. I rarely see her using dramatic facial expressions or body movements, but her clothing is definitely flashy.

[@sym667]

This is a self-referential statement. Everyone is different and everyone is free to express as he pleases. Do what you think is best for you and leave others do the same. Furthermore, body language and gesticulation are part of the expression, recent studies say it's a sign of intelligence.

[@himmel8901]

bro roasted half of the modern pianists

[@MarcAmengual]

They deserve it. It's absolutely fake all those expressions just to get the approval of the audience. We have excellent musicians like violinists, trumpetists, celos, whatever, none of them are so petulant of doing these stupid faces modern pianists do.

[@leandrusi4533]

Like a BOSS

[@alexanderkuptsov6117]

Khatia Buniatishvili, for instance.

[@pjbpiano]

People do not realise that he roasted F Liszt by that logic.

[@lokmanmerican6889]

Long live the other half!

[@ThomasDawkins88]

Artur Rubinstein was an even greater picture of serenity at the keyboard. Completely stoic while playing the most difficult and dramatic music. Horowitz didn't move much but he did make some faces, especially if he didn't like something he'd done!

[@ApostolosK06]

Well, you cant expect anyone to be completely distanced from what he is playing

[@thearm95]

Richter too

[@szdxw]

Imo, Michelangeli is the greatest picture of serenity/simplicity in piano playing

[@alfonsogarcia-valdecasasca9047]

@@szdxw Indeed fella

[@ContraereaSerba]

Except when he played De Falla Ritual Fire Dance. He moved his arms up and down like a dinosaur when there was no need to, so it was probably a show. But anyway, I don't care and everyone should play however they want.

[@jspianomusic4462]

Did he just roasted lang lang lmao!!

[@TheKinren]

LOL. However, did Rachmaninoff make those faces when he played? Horowitz would know.

[@jspianomusic4462]

@@TheKinren I don't about that but he doesn't look like a man that will make those faces instead he may look very seriously into the music

[@r.i.p.volodya]

@@TheKinren By all accounts, Rachmaninoff sat still as a rock when playing.

[@r.i.p.volodya]

OMG Lang Lang can be terrible for that!

[@nickb220]

lmao they both sound good though maybe it doesn't matter

[@jonathanchavez9009]

The thing is, he never says you SHOULDN’T do that, he just says he personally doesn’t play this way. I don’t know why everyone is so eager to jump to this conclusion that he’s insulting other performers or saying there’s a “right” way to play

[@Capnight1fr]

I dont think you are getting the meaning, its not a problem if you do it, but if what you do on the piano is diffrent than what u show on the face, or even worse, do those faces and postures to hide badly played phrases then there comes an issue, music is about expression, yet if you cant even play it, what are you expressing really?

[@Capnight1fr]

Adding to that, you play with the fingers, with hands, not with face and back

[@johnmartinez7440]

Agreed. I think he handles it diplomatically, and then half the comments are just whining about people who dare to show emotions while they play.

[@voraciousreader3341]

Well. First of all, the emotive body movements take much-needed energy away from the effort of making music, and they add nothing to a performance, except perhaps as a distraction against wrong notes. *Horowitz clearly said his emotions come out at the piano, and _not_ through extraneous movements of his body….either it comes out in the music, or the body, not both, so _don’t do it!_ That’s what I got from it. There are performers who do move, and you can tell that the movements are genuine (I’m thinking of the violinist Nadja Solerno-Sonnenberg), and there are those who look completely fake and it’s made very obvious (insert Lang Lang here). When I studied voice, flute, and organ at university, students were asked in master classes why they moved so much, and they would invariably say it was the _music_ moving them. All of us were told, by different professors: the misdirected body movement-emoting-takes much needed energy away from your energy and efforts to make music, which is the primary point of being a musician. So I agree with Horowitz

[@voraciousreader3341]

I think the fakey dramatic movements by performers is done to make them look like serious musicians to convince the uneducated audience that they are “top drawer,” or as a stunt to make them memorable (for all the wrong reasons). There are top ranked musicians like Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg who genuinely need that intense movement when they play, and those “entertainers” who love to make a big production as their schtick (Lang Lang).

[@anthonyzazzarino7478]

Whenever I get to listen to Horowitz speak or play I listen. In my view he sure had a unique special talent at playing the piano.

[@ronl7131]

Saw Horowitz live in Chicago, 5 times, in the 60s-70s. Once from about 8ft away on Orchestra Hall folding chair stage seat, just off his left hand with great view of whole keyboard. Watched him blaze through his version of the Rachmaninov PS. In awe. But, I like his hand to sky at the end of climax in 3rd movement of the Rachmaninov PC3 with Mehta conducting. That’s as excited as I’ve ever seen VH. Fun to watch Mehta watch Horowitz from podium, as Mehta kept time. Mehta had WTF!? look of amazement. Another great VH moment was the “Whew” and face wipe with handkerchief after his romp with the Scriabin op8#12 Masterpiece at a Carnegie H recital.

[@lindaross783]

Lucky you. I saw a short KZbin where Rachmaninoff was said to have liked Horowitz playing of his work. They are all so wonderful.

[@glauciafloresyreyes1833]

Because of this, He was so brillant! He is forever . ❤

[@Aleksandr_Skrjabin]

If it comes out its only in the eyes, shoulders and fingers, sometimes you see concert pianist do all other things with face expresions and those things Horowitz means, but thats them doing it on purpose because they want to get into the music on command, which isnt really possible you either feel like it or you dont, and Horowitz accepts that.

[@alexanderkuptsov6117]

In Russia we had a composer and pianist Oleg Karavaichuk, who was rather eccentric in many ways, and he played with a pillow on his head covering his face completely, because he didn't want to contribute artisticity imposed by his appearance to the way we perceive his music.

[@alvodin6197]

Because putting a pillow over your face wouldn't do the exact thing that he didn't want? Couldn't he just ask the audience to close their eyes? What a moron, sorry.

[@alvodin6197]

I'm sure he is a good player, I didn't mean to offend, but it's kinda idiotic still.

[@alexanderkuptsov6117]

@@alvodin6197 He was, he died several years ago. He was eccentric, I'd say (and so would a lot of people). Yes, the guy was something special both in the industry as well as in daily life (as people who knew him would say).

[@ruschev2]

Why not just wear a mask?

[@alexanderkuptsov6117]

@@ruschev2 It doesn't cover the entire face.

[@davidlevy3092]

Horowitz summed it up many years ago when he said, "If the face has the emotion, it is usually not coming out of the piano!"

[@lokmanmerican6889]

Been looking for this a long time!

[@reachmehere5]

I make those faces when I hear great pianists play.

[@muxant]

This is true. Too many pianists are obsessed with showmanship and such as 'visual thing', leaving the essential behind. Music that truly touches the soul must begin and end with sound. I deeply aware of importance of visual in contemporary music. But if there is no root, there is no fruit. It should be preceded that the law to fully express music is firmly established.

[@bilbaomadrid5040]

Agree

[@lamenamethefirst]

It works for some. Personally I don't make faces but I do need to move around a bit. Horowitz never said YOU shouldn't do it. He said that he doesn't do it. But I do have to admit that it's pretty cool to see pianists that express through their fingers only without even much body movement.

[@kaumowammu]

Note, he said "I cannot do it" and not "I consciously avoid doing it." It might not be a choice. You can force it or tone it down, of course. But I don't think at all that it has anything to do with "roasting other pianists" or link that to the quality of ones artistic expression. That's nonsense.

[@ancapcitorw5162]

I don't do such things... I can't do them. Music is something that comes from within. While performing it goes into the fingers without anything showing on the face. I don't play for the audience.

[@davesnow7133]

On the contrary, facial expressions while playing the piano doesn’t necessarily mean you play for the audience. It could just be the way you express music.

[@c.m.detalleyrand6882]

Thank you.

[@Vaejovis357]

True greatness + humility

[@TVThemeDoctor]

Years ago somebody uploaded 3 "Emotive Pianists" videos onto KZbin. Each had 10 different pianists with a little clip and funny caption. It was one of the funniest things I've ever seen, Whoever you are PLEEEEEEASE upload them again! Each to their own but I personally can't stand all the swaying and lifting hands high off the keys in slow motion and people who conduct themselves when they play??!! I could go on but it's making me angry thinking about them haha. I think if one of my pupils started doing that i'd punch him off his stool You'll always be my no.1 Horovitz :)

[@Piano_improvisations]

not the face. Daniil:"yo wtf"

[@Mike1614b]

some act like they're in the throes of ecstasy, or wave their arms around, or shake the keys like they're playing the violin. lol

[@shadowjuan2]

When Horowitz immediately did the example it looked so funny, I’m glad he doesn’t do those things, especially as a veteran pianist. Perhaps it works for younger players who place more importance on their appearance, but all that really matters is the sounds and the music.

[@olliemartinelli4034]

Agreed, especially with social media overexpression is genuinely infuriating to watch. Tho sometimes I catch myself making weird expressions without even realising so I think for some players it’s very subconscious.

[@mwsc04]

To be fair, Franz Liszt himself was famous for these "rock star" type theatrics, to include, literally, fainting at the piano at a particular climax. He was a pretty good piano player too, according to some accounts

[@TBlev215]

As long as you truly have the talent to back it up, you have every right to flaunt it.

[@uliwidmaier5192]

@@TBlev215 "If you can back it up on the court, it's not trash talk." Michael Jordan

[@guytchoumbia3944]

There's no right or wrong way to play, we're all different. If moving around helps you channel your inner music or focus, do it. If you think it hinders you, don't. I don't mind Glenn Gould's singing, or Keith Jarrett's noises and gesticulations, or Thelonious Monk's dancing (yes, he would stop playing in the middle of a song and start dancing on the stage). They are greater pianists than I'll ever be despite of/thank to that.

[@user-mj5zc5cy7p]

What he is saying is different. You got him wrong

[@guytchoumbia3944]

​@@user-mj5zc5cy7pPlease elaborate.

[@himmel8901]

exactly, i don't think he hated people who show emotions while playing he just states he doesn't play that way. In the end the important thing is the sound not the face

[@Annihilator_5024]

it's about what your fingers are physically doing. too much movement/shift in body posture physically changes what your fingers do by the tiniest bit. it's actually fairly objective when it comes to how much makes sense and how much is too much. either way though he wasn't establishing a "correct" way to play, just preferences

[@MiloMcCarthyMusic]

@@Annihilator_5024 smoothbrain useless comment

[@eonnnaaa3424]

He’s not saying it’s wrong, guys. He’s saying it’s not his way, and that it’s closer to being unpragmatic or impractical than it is to the opposite.

[@southpark4151]

Me too! I don't do those things too. I totally understand what Vlad means here.

[@0xxhell_destrierxx9]

**flashback of daniil trifonov playing bwv 542**

[@lyolevrich]

True true musician❤❤

[@ercb.7299]

Thank you! Someone said it, and apparently a long time ago. Too many who take that approach I find are sloppy and loud, and not by far transcendent. I'd like to know who their instructors were. Generally not the way to do music, and KZbin is not an asset in this regard. Consider Segovia as another to emulate in this regard, definitely not as technically advanced as many of today's musicians, but a much sweeter tone and more musical, and more entertaining to observe regardless of his stoic approach.

[@rockboris666]

You must be great at parties

[@Lordversus44]

With the italian subtitles... perfect

[@ZadokthePriest11]

Preach !!

[@TriremeBoy]

I agree

[@prizm8530]

Just imagine if lang lang was there when he said this lol

[@asterius4271]

This is his personal view and not a lesson in "how not to play piano". The man went against conventional playing in the first place by using such flat hands.

[@arthurscumbagmorgan2339]

What a legend

[@Sofia_.._]

Oh come on.. "this is right.. this is wrong.." all these stuff destroy creativity, expression, art and one's personality. Everyone should express its music the way they feel it. If you put one in a mold of someone else they will block and not be able to express themselves and the result will not be as good anymore.. so relax, live your life and enjoy your type of expression..

[@Sofia_.._]

There is no formula for the best music playing.. but if you want to kill passion for music then use a formula..

[@lighting7508]

I agree. I don’t give a flying fuck what the pianist does with their body as long as the sound they produce is interesting.

[@user-mj5zc5cy7p]

Classical music has nothing to do with the creativity.

[@lighting7508]

@@user-mj5zc5cy7p what an insane statement

[@Sofia_.._]

@@user-mj5zc5cy7p if you play like a robot

[@Marfmellow88]

Too freakin funny, I love him…

[@jauhenmalinouski1443]

Very correct!

[@berlinzerberus]

He is imitating Alfred Brendel!

[@amadeus5889]

I love all the great 20th century piano legends, but the new kids on the block are amazing to listen to as well. Yuja Wang, Daniil Trifonov, Khatia Buniatishvili-they all bring freshness and spice to these beloved classics, and they do it on their terms. Music must be heard FIRST, and if they get a little lost in the sauce while performing it, that’s fine with me, because at the end of the day, they all put in such hard work so that we can experience something transcendent.

[@mouisehay930]

No but that's the problem...it's on their terms. You're always stuck listening to "lang lang plays x". Very self-regarding performers. Fortunately Trifonov does not suffer from this.

[@amadeus5889]

@@mouisehay930 I’m okay with that. Classical musicians, as much as I love and respect them, have this fixation with performing the music as “correctly” as possible. It’s beautiful music that’s largely played without a sense of fun or exploration. I’m okay with new approaches to the music that breathe fresh life into it, even if that means Lang Lang has to dance a waltz while remaining seated at his bench.

[@jonasdaverio9369]

@Mouise Hay What's the point of having more than one musician, then? (except for playing difference pieces and instruments)

[@markthetranslator1162]

I can't even listen to them. To me they don't have soul when they play. They're not even near Horowitz.

[@amadeus5889]

@@markthetranslator1162 I’m sorry you feel that way, but I respect your opinion. I’ve gotten to see Yuja Wang and Daniil Trifonov live, twice each, and personally, I was blown away. Wang has such a confident, even swaggering style, and Trifonov is volcanic. He puts every ounce of himself into his performances.

[@surr3al756]

He never said you shouldn't do that. He said he personally doesn't do that, and specified his personal reasons. This does not apply to anyone else. Do not frame it as if it does.

[@ondinehd6889]

Amen to that!!

[@brewskiproductionslasvegas]

In Mother Russia, the piano plays you.

[@JayZX2000]

The distinctive qualities in Horowitz’s playing is in his large rachmaninoffian hands and the big booms that he produces in the lower registers

[@Will67267]

A message to Lang Lang.😂😂😂

[@LUNA-hs2is]

Anyone know the name of song that he played for 2 sec?

[@virginiafry9854]

Artur Rubinstein was the same - no dramatics when playing!

[@jacobschiller4486]

Pianists in competitions when they see this video: 🤯

[@Adrian_AdamViolonDiGerma-tm3nq]

Classical pianists at past were much more better than today's

[@sebastianlazo7653]

Lang lang left the chat

[@antonio_rioseco]

👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏🙏

[@kurainaru]

Why are people assuming that most modern pianists are doing this out of pure showmanship? You do realize that some people' natural way of expressing emotion through music is by outwardly illustrating it as imitated by Horowitz? Who are you to judge whether someone is being authentic or not? This is also seen in different musical genres, do you think Erroll Garner when making faces and random vocalizations through his melodic Jazz performances are just mere theatrics? Or when Thom Yorke shakes his head around like a maniac when singing some of the more depressive lyrics in modern music, just pure fabrication to seem more emotional to his audience? I don't know whether it's just age or snobbery, but fans of classical music are so judgmental on this aspect of expression in music and it's really unbearable.

[@justinbenglick]

Horowitz sounds like Rocky -- Yo Adrian!

[@luckyarabr]

True !!!

[@anthonydecarvalho652]

I feel the same way, i don't care for the histrionics of so many current pianists. However i do enjoy listening to their recordings or radio etc...

[@pavlenikacevic4976]

I think that physical expressions can be useful to engage the unknowledgeable audience

[@Skryabinist]

A bit of dramatic gesticulating is fine and natural while playing, but some of those straight up o-faces that some pianists like to pull off can get quite distracting. Trifonov, for example is just borderline acceptable in that regard even though I really like his musicality.

[@cava5819]

inside всё настоящее!

[@justme7415]

Totally agree. It's so distracting and hardly believable.

[@TorrasqueLi]

@Lang Lang

[@diegomunoz363]

Tal cual.

[@oceanotter6337]

Natural facial expression is well acceptable.

[@quequitoAR]

I think we all got some names in mind. Besides, same goes for the conductors; even more, since they are supposed to do the work BEFORE getting to the podium.

[@indus7841]

I think its just comes down to how one personally prefers to play, rather than some sort of "this way is right" type thing.

[@Elias-fp2wr]

Does anyone know what piece it is?

[@lewsibal2567]

Sounds like 2nd movement of Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No 1

[@bugsan]

true that

[@dan27music]

Great smile

[@liul]

I think it depends on the personality of the pianist. For some, expressing with their body may help to express with the sound. There are many ways to do things, and to play music too

[@nobodyuknow.]

100% agree

[@HALXL]

Yep so true. But, it's ok. If you feel like expressing that, it's ok.

[@wedemeyerr]

It doesn't matter how it comes... so pianists need the face impressions to get on the flow... some other dond need to do this

[@Thomas11611]

I love it lol

[@mirnamm3590]

There is always the exception that proves the rule; in this case, Keith Jarrett.

[@SaccidanandaSadasiva]

that’s right, the Mascara Snake, fast and bulbous

[@gregoryungs4462]

Kind of a personal thing. Too much theatrics can look fake. But not sure I like the look of a guy sitting at a typewriter either.

[@Lina_0911]

Are you watching Lang Lang?

[@charlessu7140]

Well, Langlang needs to pay attention to this problem really, as a Chinese I'm honest with that ;)

[@corvanha1]

He showed intense emotion playing Stockhausen's Klavierstücke

[@gregoryhouston1886]

Horowitz is so right on this. My piano teacher also said years ago that pianists who do all this choreographed showmanship are actually covering the fact that they really don't know the piece they are playing. It's an extreme theory but he could be right.

[@Piano_improvisations]

bro hell no. Ever listened to taniil trifonov?

[@dik2bik]

Not a huge fan of Horowitz but he's not wrong

[@Markedwinross]

It’s true most are faking the O. But on occasion it’s authentic. And WOW!

[@diegoguarnieri_]

What is he playing? I can't figure it out D:

[@spatnaspolecnost]

It's different with guitar faces... at least for me when I do one it's because it f***ing hurts lol.

[@davidcaseiro1296]

Keith Jarrett disapproved

[@brucejackson4219]

I can't stand the exaggerated theatricals on some well known pianists-one in particular, with hands all over the place and facial contortions. It is a matter of choice-but give me Horowitz, Richter & Arrau seven days a week.

[@sorenm2]

Listen what he is saying Lang Lang

[@morbidmanmusic]

doesn't mean he is right... if you are honest.. the body does what it does. Music moves people... including the players. Did you all NOT expect some of that. Also... Vlad had his "show" too.

[@kneelbeforeiskeletor]

Somebody show this to Steve Vai. I'll wait.

[@MrsOliva]

Если пианист психически так устроен, что никак не может, чтобы не "делать" блаженство на публике, то это его личное устройство организма. От этого трудно отказаться. Им так удобно.

[@lindaross783]

I love to listen to Lang Lang. I just can't watch him. He is great

[@normalcynormalcy2338]

Man, I saw the thumbnail and for a second thought WHAT this guy's using Horowitz as an example of how not to play the piano? And I completely agree. Too much over-the-top emotion kinda spoils music. You have a piece, and it's meant to be a journey. You start off, and you arrive. Some people interpret "arriving" from the opposite perspective and take it to mean "come," and they do it way too often.

[@Manx123]

Unrelated name drop: Land Lang

[@VicāriusHispāniārum]

Based

[@lalikarlomusic]

Agreed haha the old school….

[@mikedarrah6945]

Lang Lang can play, he doesnt need the faces. Others are nothing without the faces.

[@caseym8385]

Somewhere right now Lang Lang is gently weeping.

[@DATo_DATonian]

... and making his audience gently vomit.

[@nickbrian9882]

Nothing wrong with emphasizing your facial expressions, if you feel it you feel it. Just make sure you make good music and your technique is good!

[@Junglesmells]

It just looks so deliberate for most people though. Same with some of the ridiculous arm choreography. It’s “the done thing” so everyone does it but it’s unnecessary

[@Ha-Youll-Never-Guess-Who-I-Am]

I’ve always felt Horowitz played too “to the point,” mirroring exactly what is written and moving on, the highest and most impressive form of musical regurgitation. I’m not against it, I’ll listen to him to hear timing among other things because it’s crystalline clear. But he doesn’t emphasize inner emotion as much as I’d like, and this video I think represents that well. If you point to your heart and describe “you feel it in here” as a negative attribute, it’s just hard for me to agree with that musical philosophy. I think the best pianists dissociate from their hands and let the music flow more naturally. I, of course, am no master on the subject. But that’s my personal opinion

[@labienus9968]

@@Ha-Youll-Never-Guess-Who-I-Am No master on the subject but what are you talking about?

[@knagencjusz1958]

he looks like Jocker

[@lewsibal2567]

If I pull off something extremely virtuosic someday like the dreaded Eb-major passage in Rach 3, I WILL make a stank face