For more classes like this one, please visit the Benjamin Zander Center - www.benjaminzander.org/ Alan Toda-Ambaras, cello; Dina Vainshtien, piano Interpretations of Music: Lessons for Life with Benjamin Zander Dave Jamrog Audio/video
I hope that one day, some time in the future, the pandemic will pass. I want to be able to sit in a room, united with the rest of the people listening, with how touched we are by the music.
Benjamin Zander reminds us that beyond the technical aspects of music we are here to fully express the wide range of emotions that composers have laid out before us. As a musician, we must be confident enough to display our vulnerabilities in the hopes of reaching out to our listeners.
I think what he does is incredibly difficult how do you advise musicians past the technicality? Isn’t art subjective? I like how he helps musicians look at things differently rather than imposing his own interpretation. He may sound like a crack pot sometimes but that is precisely what opens their eyes to what they want to express when they play a piece
@@oldbird4601 Art is most definitely subjective. I think one has to spend a LOT of time developing and mastering their technique in order to fully express the vulnerability that the musicality often presents. Life experience helps as well haha
After watching this.. I played my Cello for awhile and realized how lucky I am... Cello is the most beautiful instrument and being able to teaching my students is the best thing...
i'm a perfectionist. i used to hate getting critiqued about my performances to the point it took the fun out of playing and don't play anymore. I was taking it the wrong way. Mr. Zander has helped me see why the critique is there. He is trying to make you better... and he will always do that no matter how good you are. "My job is to make other people powerful." He also points out what music is and why we do it. It's so easy to get lost in the details and forget the objective. "It's not about you, it's about them or the message."
19:56 : “No no, no no no, the mistake was fine, it didn’t matter at all, we think mistakes matter: *mistakes don’t matter!”* 26:36 : “And what happened when you played like that, people actually forget about *you.* They don’t *think* about the cello, they think about *their* life and *their* experiences, and *their* memories and *their* relationships, and the… the freedom that comes from experiencing deep sadness through music. And it’s not about you at all. Isn’t that an amazing discovery?! And it frees you, it frees you to be fully available and present to what you’re giving.” - Benjamin Zander
Shout out to that incredible accompanist! She's on so many of these and universally provides beautiful and artistic co-creation of the world's most beautiful music. Brava!
6:23 "this is beautiful, but death is not present in this room" i gasped in awe. truly a maestro thing to say... and then the explanation... toll bell and wailing and sobbing and emptiness and loving memory... so intuitive and poignant. every phrase becomes meaningful. i have known this piece at least for two decades but until now never realized how piercing it could be.
Mr. Zander is a master at masterclasses! Most masterclasses are, "You played it that way, but now listen to my way?" He didn't even play, and brought the essence of the music to the great young player, the pianist, and the audience! Great!
@@cindymcfarlane9371 Who was this old codger. The guy was doing it perfectly and the old chap was ruining it by stamping his feat, talking waffle, and singing off key!
@@SaintMu I like classical music. The cellist was doing fine. I though the old guy ruined it. Why shouldn't I be here. I'm entitled to express an opinion same as you. Would you care to set out your "rules" on who or who not should be here?
By the time I reach the end of these videos, I'm in tears. The transformation from competent musician to artist is palpable; their performance shows it.
When I hear this piece I think about how much Faure's must have loved his wife. I hope I can love someone that much one day, and if I could be so lucky... For them to love me in return.
This performance by all three of the musicians was truly a privilege to watch. Benjamin Zander is such a wonderful interpreter and teacher of classical music. Everyone present was witnessing a true master musician at work. Thank you so much for putting this wonderful video on RU-vid.
Well I cried the whole time watching this video. Music has so many different meanings in so many peoples lives and this piece touched me like no other. And Benjamin's words touched my heart in a way no other musician has. Thank you.
Simply astounding, I'm moved, truly. What a valuable lesson for every musician out there, having this masterclass available for watching is a true privilege.
Breathtaking !!! Plato was supposed to have once said that "music was the only gift given to man by the gods that gives direct access to the soul." But he thought it was too powerful for most people to truly understand. And yet, that's what you're doing Zander. You're evoking both the presences of Thalia as well as of Psyche. Bravo. The whole series is a Master Work. Congratulations.
I want Alan Toda to play this at my funeral. It's so moving and Alan's power to express the inexpressible goes way beyond words. Benjamin helps, as always, but really, it was there all the time.
he brings the emotion and life back into music that is often left out when you're just trying to get yourself to play better. he brings back to the forefront what is reeky the essence of music and why we do it.
My senior year of high school is bringing me some tough challenges, the least of which is preparing for a recital in just over a month. It's great to have a reminder that my music doesn't have to be perfect, it just has to tell a story. I hope to find my own path as a musician instead of simply doing what's expected of me. I hope to be half the teacher that Benjamin Zander is.
Rose, how wise you already are as a senior in high school! At your age I was aware that the competitive buzz at conservatory was not in the least bit interesting and that the music was the thing, communicating and reaching people. I hope that your recital was a good experience for you and the audience!
Too much hippie shit in the comments. Technical proficiency is important, deny it all you want. Nobody will want to listen to you for long if you "tell a story" but tell it badly
@@gucker07 to be fair, i don't think anyone is really saying technique isn't important, more just technique isn't all there is to music. the cellist in the video's technique was really good but it didn't convey the emotion of the piece, which is kinda the point of music. you can tell the emotional response from the audience in the beginning of the video to the end was totally different!
I have to write fro newspaper a credit about a concert and listen to this to prepare my listening. What a wonderful experience! I cried sometimes listening what and how Mr. Zander analysed this music.
Who's this old soul?! Damn, I was composing my first orchestra (totally newb here) and I'm just astounded with his teachings! Surely I'll bring his teachings from this and other videos to what I'm doing
Beyond just music-making, this reveals the humanity behind the composition; and the humanity within the performers. Thanks to all of you for creating and giving so much beauty.
Until I had satellite radio, I had never been a fan of classical music. From there I became a fan, which led me to YT, which led me to Benjamin Zander. Benjamin has a God-given gift. He is able to help us feel thru music. To experience emotions thru active listening. And to appreciate life in a much deeper and more meaningful way. Thank you Benjamin for sharing your gift with the world.
Benjamin Zander is an angel and an angel to music - so amazingly kind in transferring his deep deep knowledge of music with unbounded enthusiasm - and the musicians he coaches in his interpretation classes are all really very talented. It is SO very inspiring to see this master of music and interpretation at work - the audience is so rapt with awe and attention too : )
Well I'm here for hours and i hope that when i reach sir benjamin age i can feel passionate and have a mind can still taste feelings and being drowned in notes
This dude CRUSHED IT!!! Intonation, vibrato, phrasing, balance w/ piano . . . GORGEOUS! The speed was a bit fast for my liking, but . . . As Shakespeare said, "To each his own". Wow what a wonderful all around performance . . . It was even better the 3rd time around! The old guy is right! Death is a big bonus!! Who knew??
Correction to one thing Mr. Zander has stated here: Fauré did not compose Elegy on the occasion of his wife’s death. It was dedicated to cellist Jules Loeb who was alive and well and indeed performed the piece.
It is great that we may enjoy this. Zander opens the eyes and the hearts for what music is all about. Fantastic. Having said this, however, I do not see how the following cold data fit into Zander's warm story: The Elegy was written in 1880 and had its first performance in 1883, the year when Fauré and Marie Frémiet married. He died in 1924, Marie in 1926. It is true that previously there had been an (unhappy) engagement, in 1877, which may have been broken off around the time when he composed his Elegy. But this is just speculative. I do not know any source with details, in particular, whether the girl died or someone else's death had any influence in the composition.
