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ruthann
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User
Posts: 579
(9/6/01 1:48:17
pm)
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|
Mischa
Elman
I borrowed volume 1 of Applebaum's "The Way They Play" from a
friend. The first chapter, on Elman, is wonderful. Here's a quote
from him:
"There is something radically wrong in our teaching
methods which permit talented students to be obsessed with the idea
that speed and rapidity are the great essentials...velocity is -
used in its proper place - a genuine requirement. Yet, I feel that
genuine development of technic can be retarded by overindulgence in
speed for speed's sake.
"Perhaps I should not blame the
teachers entirely. The very nature of the instrument itself instills
a desire to exhibit skill in fast execution. It is the nature of the
modern human to unconsciously be attracted to speed. But this very
desire to play at fast tempos causes slovenliness in execution, a
lack of coordination between the two hands, and a perverted approach
to the emotional content of the music."
And later he
says:
"The standard etudes for the violin are invaluable. We
know how beneficial they are as aids in building technic, but their
value as musical compositions is apt to be underestimated. They
should not be viewed merely as exercise works, nor exclusively as
the means of achieving finger and bow technic. Their musical
structure provides an excellant basis on which to build
musicianship, a knowledge required in the study of standard solo
literature. Although these etudes have no accompaniment their
harmonic background is very strongly expressed in the srudies
themselves. This should be made clear to students; teachers should
present a theoretical analysis as each study is taken up and it is
extremely helpful if they provide a simple accompaniment on the
violin or piano, thus offering a harmonic background. The student
should be taught to feel or imagine it within himself as he
practices."
Is this great stuff or what? Too bad this series
of books is out of print.
cello_suttonr@hotmail.com |
dennisw
Registered User
Posts: 247
(9/6/01 2:19:18 pm)
Reply
|
Re: Mischa
Elman
After God made Mischa Elman he broke the mold.
Edited by: dennisw
at: 9/6/01 2:20:38 pm
|
Andrew
Victor
Registered
User
Posts: 398
(9/6/01 4:02:01
pm)
Reply
|
Re: Mischa
Elman
Ruthann,
You might be interested to know that Mischa Elman
included China Lake on his final tour year - he appeared in the
"Station Theater," Community Concert Series. It was problaby 1973 -
I think he was about 75 years old. Quite a series that season - also
had Rise Stevens - soprano, and some young guy, assistant conductor,
named Zubin Meta and the whole LA Philharmonic - I forget the other
several programs.
It is also reported that Elman turned in
his audience seat at Heifetz US debut concert to tell his neighbor
that it was awfully hot in the hall, and the neighbor,Gregor
Piatigorsky replied, "Only for violinists!"
Andy
Edited by: Andrew
Victor at: 9/6/01 4:05:24 pm
|
ruthann
Registered
User
Posts: 582
(9/7/01 1:26:13
pm)
Reply
|
Re: Mischa
Elman
Wow! So I have trod the same boards as Mischa Elman (and Ryan
Selberg) in the Station Theatre. The concert series isn't what it
used to be. We get one real classical group a year, and sometimes
that's just Pat Rindt. Sigh.
cello_suttonr@hotmail.com |
TerryM
Registered
User
Posts: 556
(9/7/01 4:17:08
pm)
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|
The Way They
Play Series
You are right, it is too bad these books are no longer in print.
However, you can find them from time to time on the used books
search tools and on eBay. Volume 1 and 2 are the best in my estimate
and also the most expensive, as well. The last time I looked at
Montagnana books, they had a copy of book 2. Book 1 is the hardest
to find.
Terry
|
G
M Stucka
Registered
User
Posts: 687
(9/7/01 4:34:13
pm)
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|
Good
books
Dave Sanders can confirm this, I'm sure, but I believe that Volume
One of the 'The Way They Play' series is an update of an earlier
Applebaum book titled "With the Artists." Just offereing this as a
possible option to finding the official Volume One.
|
David
Sanders
Registered
User
Posts: 692
(9/7/01 6:09:01
pm)
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|
Applebaum
books
I know longer have volumes 1 or 2. One is the hardest with four and
then 2 a close 2nd and 3rd. Also the most expensive.
I have a
number of the others, I think for $30 each. I recently saw no. 3 on
a book search site for $160, and no. 1 for something like $250. I
sold my last no. 1 for about $50.
I haven't really compared
"With the Artists" with "The Way They Play" Volume 1, so I don't
know if they are "related." I'll have to check it out.
David
|
drcello
Registered User
Posts: 597
(9/7/01 8:17:35 pm)
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| Edit
|
Finding "The Way
They Play" book series...
You will find them listed many times and at varying prices
at
http://www.abebooks.com/
a
great place to find used books.
Marshall C. St. John
drcello@vei.net
Wayside Presbyterian Church
|
ruthann
Registered
User
Posts: 584
(9/10/01 2:04:56
pm)
Reply
|
Re: Mischa
Elman
The plot thickens. I ordered a used copy through Amazon for about
$15. It's not going to be vol. 1, is it?
Thanks for the used
book site, Marshall. I've already used it to order a cookbook I've
been looking for for about five years.
cello_suttonr@hotmail.com |
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