The story of rubato, from Mozart to Martha Argerich | The Tonic - Episode 3

tonebase presents the tonic: a podcast about music and the people who make it.
Hosted by Lowry Yankwich, the tonic delves into the hidden meanings behind great works of the past with legendary pianists of the present. For more:
tb.media/thetonic
Episode 3: Stealing Time | The Meanings of Rubato in Piano Playing
Tempo Rubato, Italian for “stolen time,” is an expressive device found in every pianist’s interpretive toolkit. Yet there is little consensus on when to apply rubato, how much, and what it even means. This episode explores how musicians think about rubato, how perceptions have evolved over time, and what taking time in music can teach us about freedom.
Featuring an ensemble cast of celebrated tonebase Artists: Emanuel Ax, Seymour Bernstein, Rebecca Penneys, Garrick Ohlsson, Gwendolyn Mok, Leon Fleisher, Anne-Marie McDermott, Simone Dinnerstein, Jerome Lowenthal, Andrew Tyson, Fabio Bidini, Frederic Chiu, and Sara Davis Beuchner.
Featuring excerpts from the piano’s century-long recorded legacy performed by Art Tatum, Alfred Cortot, Josef Hofmann, Moriz Rosenthal, Ignaz Friedman, Sergei Rachmaninoff, Van Cliburn, Martha Argerich, and Evgeny Kissin.
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Producer: Ben Laude, Head of Piano / tonebase
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[@republiccooper]

Excellent upload. I think Argerich's Rachmaninoff D minor concerto is the most convincing. Extremely convincing.

[@pianoman1857]

There are actually some masterclass from Katsaris in Japan available on youtube you could have used where he explained how to use rubato in chopin’s music, really insightful

[@darnfirefingers]

Oh my gosh. I think I got emotional when Ann-Marie McDermott said, “more than the word rubato… I would use the word freedom.” This deeper meaning was something I shouldn’t hear when I was teenager. Now, I think there’s this inevitability…

[@militaryandemergencyservic3286]

Argerich, the unrivalled composer of genus...

[@mateuszhess4549]

That was an excellent and in-depth overview of rubato means for many pianists, well edited and enjoable to listen to. I feel I lfet with a better understanding than I had before, thank you!

[@CharlesSzczepanek]

Everything on this channel is so good. Thanks for your continual endeavor to enlighten and educate!

[@ratboygenius]

For me the magical concept that is an analogy with rubato is "rhetorical". I was happy to hear this word come up from Andrew Tyson regarding Alfred Cortot - "Trying to find a way of playing that is spoken" and regarding the 4-note turn in Schumann's Dichterliebe "There is something rhetorical about it". How you choose to take time with a melodic phrase is rhetorical, i.e. using the manipulation of time to make a point. And without words, this can be very mysterious.

[@Daniel_Ilyich]

I think singing the way you want to phrase something will lead to natural rubato.

[@Johannes_Brahms65]

In that case, one should have singing lessons! But you're right. Chopin loved opera, Horowitz listened carefully to singers, etc. It's not a formula for playing rubato for everyone though. Some pianists just can't sing.

[@Johannes_Brahms65]

I do think it's worth mentioning that today we're used to "perfect" recordings that suck the life out of the music. That has as a huge impact on music students!

[@susanhawkins3890]

Outstanding!!!

[@tachang1507]

Incredible. Like an eternal mystery unraveled.

[@shayankarimi2033]

It was so good

[@kliberalsing]

Excellent podcast!

[@davidseymour6246]

It is so frustrating that we have no recordings of Chopin or Mozart playing; to prove that they absolutely did not do what they claimed - keeping the LH completely in time like a conductor while the RH was free to wander. It would be fascinating to present one of the pianists alive today who claim to be following that tradition with a LH recording made exactly in time on a sequencer and ask them to demonstrate playing a free RH on top of it without going out of time with the recording!

[@steveyee2448]

Fantastic. Finally it makes sense to me. Thanks!

[@paulmetdebbie447]

Rubato is a matter of good taste and musicality. It should not have been called rubato, because when one steals, there is no giving back. It should have been called Prestito (borrowed). There are no rules for rubato. If you do it wrong, it stands out ugly. If you do it right you don't recognize it at first, until you leave it out again. I like to listen to Pletnev, his rubato is excellent.

[@stevehinnenkamp5625]

Amazing analysis which included a great deal of philosophy regarding the human perception. One thing for sure is music must have a life force if it is to communicate. Thank you for an absorbing essay.

[@dulistanheman]

My favorite rubato pianist is Rachmaninoff.

[@jameswalker4249]

Very good

[@martagarcia206]

Extremly interesting...rubato is breathing...

[@devamusic10]

Thanks, great video!

[@accordiontv1]

Liszt said something like...... The tempo is the trunk of the tree and the leaves swaying around in the breeze is the rubato

[@robbes7rh]

Singers like accompanists who play with “feeling”. That can mean many things, but one thing it doesn’t mean is stiff and mechanical.

[@papagen00]

To me, Horowitz was the ultimate master of rubato but he's not mentioned in this video.

[@joshvigranmusic]

I agree, if you try and play along with him while listening it's so eye opening!

[@percival74898]

And what about Daniel Barenboim?

[@Sentinelenjoyer]

What is the name of the chopin piece played at 16.02?

[@adrianwright8685]

9:40 "columns of the Greek temples are admired for their evenness but actually they are made to look that way because they swell in the middle" Goes on to contradict this supposed analogy by saying we don't want music to appear absolutely even so we play it - and perceive it - with rubato - unevenness!

[@jbrains]

I am familiar with "getting rubato wrong" mostly as the music festival adjudicator's rationalization for otherwise irrationally disliking the performance.

[@weissrw1]

Look, it's easy: If you have to march or dance to it or if there are other musicians playing along, then play "in time." But if the piece lends itself to expression -- then throw the metronome out. Think of it like putting a metronome on Hamlet's "To be or not to be" speech. Some people can complicate a wet dream!

[@JohnSmith-oe5kx]

That is the Cortot/Arrau approach. It is a matter of taste. I find it self-indulgent and awful to listen to. Schmaltzy

[@weissrw1]

@@JohnSmith-oe5kx Well said! My response: just don't over-do it. I am old enough to know the word schmaltzy too and to hate over-done emotion in music. Moderation is the key. There's room for interpretation before schmaltz. Cordially!

[@GerdLinden]

The speaker can´t be quit for some seconds so one can hardly hear any music (except van Cliburns performance).

[@accordiontv1]

Cyprien Katsaris is the current maestro of rubato 😎

[@pianoman1857]

For sure!

[@toiosoy]

Subtitles, please!! 😓

[@Johannes_Brahms65]

How about Arrau? Listen to his nocturnes!

[@JohnSmith-oe5kx]

It is a matter of taste. I cannot stand Arrau’s playing because his pulse is all over the place. I get so frustrated I need to turn it off

[@j.e.chervaz6047]

Subtitles!!

[@thecatsman]

Too much stupid talking OVER really pertinent examples by great artists. A truly great story - the speaker is seldom the hero.

[@robbes7rh]

The whole point of this video is to discuss a topic relevant to performing musicians. If you just wanted to hear a performance by one of the artists discussed in this video, then go dial up one of those videos and spare us your snarky comment.

[@guillermoromero8920]

Please! dont say Back , is so beautiful sound Bach you dont say Got and Bach is God haha

[@NecroSexy]

Mapping human speech to music diminishes music. It's dull and insipid. The Schubert E-flat example of slowing down after first phrase sounds terrible.