Live performance of the Bartok Sonata for two pianos and two percussion. May 7th 2013 Sprague Hall, New Haven. Peter Klimo, Piano I Melody Quah, Piano II Cristobal Gajardo, Timpani Jonathan Allen, Percussion
Astonishing, exciting, uncompromising... Bartók: The first true modern heir to Beethoven. Discuss ;-) I mean it: Bartók unleashes the power inherent in a musical motiv with the same inevitability; Beethoven was the first visionary nuclear physicist of music, Bartók continues the tradition, adding tone color to the list of developmental possibilities. But what I'm most aware of in Bartók, as in Beethoven, is the thrilling, propulsive drive of the argument. (I wonder, but not for too long because I'll get depressed, how many persons-on-the-street you'd have to stop before you found someone who knew the name Béla Bartók?) It does my wobbling toothless grey head good to see and hear young musicians tackling the complexities of this work with such confidence and elan - I love the communication between the musicians that becomes visible in a smile, or a nod, or a spontaneous gesture that surfaces. If the canon of western music, that priceless record of human spiritual evolution, is gradually being lost, it won't be because of these four redoubtable players. Bravi bravi bravi.
Holy crap! An incredibly thrilling and finely nuanced performance of the masterpiece by Bela Bartok. Playing it by heart (all 4 of them!) is utterly unbelievable! Bravissimi!
I keep coming back to this wonderful and charming performance. Great fun to watch the interplay between you percussionists. Looks like you had fun too.
This performance brought tears to my eyes. Bartok's beloved piece played with such togetherness....I had only been dreaming of it. Four artists, but from the first note till the final, the music sounds as if emanating from one musician. Merci.
For starters, it's the first time I've ever seen the percussionists perform their parts from memory. (Often all four players play from scores!) I have also NEVER heard (and seen) the second percussion part played with such grace, elan, precision, and (dare I say) joy and appreciation for Bartok's inventiveness. 40-50 years ago, Juilliard performers still struggled with this piece; performances were mostly decent "approximations". Even Askenazi/Frager with Goodman/Farberman was an up-hill struggle (mid-1960's). Now all these years later, YALE students (probably majoring in Economics and Physics) make it sound the way Bartok must have heard it in his head. Absolutely the best performance I've ever heard (or played in--I was a Juilliard percussion major)!! Take another bow, folks.
Hi MrKlemps, these performers were (at the time of the filming of this performance) students of the Yale School of Music--considered one of the best graduate music schools in the world. They are all indeed wonderful musicians!
The fact that these four Subway Sandwich employees, (one manager, two assistant managers, and one sandwich assembler) could execute this twentieth century masterpiece in such a superb and musical fashion, clearly demonstrates the effectiveness of Subway training. I seriously doubt anyone from Pizza Hut could pull this off.
UUUUUUFFFFFFF so many strong characters and such beautiful chamber music- truly as one but also highly personal and individual....masters! I will try to get my quartet to watch this... thank you!
Thank you so much for your marvelous playing and for making it available for the world to enjoy. Your sincere dedication to the music and passion shine through and are transfixing! I wish you all the best in your future musical endeavors.
You are %100 right about the connecting better without music. Awesome job. Everyone should use this as inspiration to do the same without music. Also, the hi hat is just the new way to play that cymbal part!
So it IS possible to play symphonic pieces with other musicians without having to read music!!!! I learn everything by ear, and play it exactly as the composer plays it, note for note, but I didn't know that there are actually others out there who are willing to do this without having to be a reader of music! I am a percussionist/drummer hoping someday to perform some pieces by Bartok and others. These people in this video are PHENOMENAL!
Thank you Steve for your nice words! We actually learn the piece from the score and after many rehearsals with realized that we will be more connected if we could all concentrate only on playing and communicate with each other without having to read.
I am about to play the percussion part for the Sonata this Saturday at the PAS Weekend of Percussion with my brother, we comprise the piano percussion duo Synchronicity along with Jonathan Haas and Steven Beck. I have listened and watched a lot of versions of this piece. This performance is OUTSTANDING! Great playing all around especially by the pianists. WOW! The cleanest version I have heard yet and great nuance as well. Congrats! My name is Greg Landes not aurora barr, a mishap with my account. My RU-vid account is Caryldrums if you want to check out any of the duo's videos. Again, great job.
