Primrose was the greatest viola player of all (no wonder he was Heifetz's violist of choice when one was needed!) Magnificent technique and a fine musician.
"When he performed Paganini's violin caprices on viola, Mischa Elman is said to have exclaimed, 'It must be easier on viola!'" -Wikipedia Haha, he has transcribed so many tunes to the viola, it's amazing, and he owns numerous viola scores already, there is a whole library based on his viola works!
I am so freaking happy that a violist is playing this. That means there is a very very very very small chance that I could achieve this some day...I practice very very very hard.
That is why they make viola strings where you can choose light, medium, or heavy gauge. Light are quicker to respond and heavy are slower to respond but do so with a better dark, warm viola sound. They didn't have that luxury back then, which is why Primrose is AMAZING.
If yu've listened to Primrose's actual recording of this piece, it is very musical and cl3ean, i'm not sure why but he plays it muych faster in this video than in his recording. And i'm not sure who vardi is but if he was as great as you say he'd be as well known as primrose. Primrose not only had spectacualkr technique but awesome musicality as well
The Viola is so much harder on which to play Paganini by account of its size. What Mr Primrose accomplishes here is beyond the understanding of any Violinist. The acrobatics he performs are nearly beyond belief- my hands are nearly the size of Rachmaninov's and I can barely stretch a tenth! I tip my hat to you Mr Primrose. Maybe one day after a billion hours in a practise room, I may be able to come half as close to how well you play.
elliotviola You know Paganini would have been able to do his caprices on a viola because of his genetic disorder which lets him stretch out his fingers
Man is great, I'm play viola too and I'm impressed... Pizzicato of left hand - revelation. And flażolety-jakkolwiek to się pisze po angielsku.. RESPECT!!
It's edited! If you look at 1:12 and 1:27, when he takes off his bow (with a bad flicking motion), the next frame is already starting with his bow close to the strings! (You can definately tell by his bow tip too).
actually the Walton was written with the violist Lionel Tertis is mind. However Tertis turned it down and Hindemith played the premier....which was a flop. However, I agree with you that Primrose was huge part in the development of the viola. His natural talent and extraordinary technique is still unparalleled even today.
@ Jaesango You're the first primarily violinist I've heard say that. Most violinists I know are (not to offend) used to the ease of how much less movement is required for shifting, or even hitting the 5th above the string, as well as less trouble with vibrato (for the same reasons), and less trouble with getting the full sound out of the note (with 3 or 4 part chords it's hard to get this on a viola IMO), since the strings are thinner, and most have a synthetic core.
hey i thought this was somwhere to talk about the player and the piece played. I think it sounds good. I'm a Violist and cant wait to find a copy of this piece arranged for viola and get stuck into learning it. "If you dont have somthing nice to say dont say it."
Hehe, you are like the Gypsies in the front row of the audience who all brought stopwatches to hear Heifetz play the Paganini Perpetuo Moto in concert. They were surprised at how slow he played it :)
My new viola sounds like this. It's a 1690 model but has the exact same construction as an Amati. I barely touch my violin anymore because my viola's sound has balls in comparison to this violin of mine. The viola in general is a ballsy instrument because only ballsy people can play it. And like Primrose said (no offense violinists), "A Viola is a violin with a college education".
정말로 화려한 스킬을 가지고 있다. 이 동영상에 '싫어요'를 누를 만한 점이라면, 그것은 바로 음질과 화질이다.하지만 이는 어쩔 수 없는 부분이며, 이 정도 연주면 이해해야할 부분이다.It has a really splendid skill. If you like to hit "Dislike" on this video, It is sound quality and picture quality.But this is an inevitable part, This is something you should understand if you play this much.
"Emanuel Vardi holds the distinction of being the only violist, besides his mentor, William Primrose, to have ever given a solo recital in Carnegie Hall." Never heard of Vardi huh?
Hail our glorious leader! Best violist ever in existence! Sad that this is the only recording of him playing that we can hear which isn't good quality (of course, it's several decades old...).
Would have been so much better without the piano. In fact, that bouncy, thrumming tone was nothing sort of outright annoying especially during the pizzicato part.
I heard this once on the radio, played by ofra hanoy (sp?), who is a cellist. now this is cool on a violin, adventurous on a viola, but it just doesn't work on a cello.
@msg06769 I think it's partially because they sometimes speed up the tapes when they convert them. I found out the hard way when I was listening to Primrose's recording of Der Schwanendreher, which wasn't just abnormally fast, but a half step higher than it should have been...
Yeah, the half steps are smaller, but that makes it easier in many respects. On larger violas it is hard for me to reach octaves whereas it is a cinch on smaller violas and violins. Another issue that makes the viola harder is the body of the instrument is longer and getting the arm around the upper bouts to play in higher positions can be a challenge. Also, half steps get smaller on viola as well, not just the violin. Trust me, I play both, whereas you never mentioned any experience on a viola.
He switched at age 26 - not a young age for a musician. He studied violin with Eugène Ysaÿe - that should say something about him being a violinist. In this case he is ALSO a violist. SO is Vengerov and Oistrakh and Zukerman. THE funny part is that in the interview, Primrose once said that violinists should NOT switch to violas any time they wish. In my opinion, who cares??? IF SOMETHING SOUNDS GOOD play or listen to it.
Well, the sound quality is pretty distorted, but what are you gonna do. This brings to mind the saying about Ginger Rogers that "she could do anything Fred Astaire could do, backwards and in high heels."
Funny, I never thought your comment was a criticism. I agree that Paganini is not right on some instruments - for example, the cello. Paganini's genius was pretty much limited to being a VIOLIN virtuoso - his technical prowess was built on an instrument with certain distances between the notes, and the particulars of the violin. His music doesnt always translate well to other instruments.
Viola and Violin have in my opinion have the exact same difficulty level i've been playing violin for 8 years and i just recently picked up the viola to play. Once you know violin the transition isn't hard if you can read the key signiture since you play everything in 3rd position and the fingers are just stretched a bit more. And that caprice wasn't originally written for viola so of coures it's gonna be harder. It's the same thing if you try playing the walton concerto on the violin....
No I'm not kidding. I have a recording of Emanuel Vardi playing all 24 caprices on viola, and he manages to do it without being sloppy and unmusical. I realize that Primrose was important to the development of viola repertoire and that he was a talented player. That doesn't, however, mean that he can do no wrong (this video proves that he quite clearly CAN).
Come on...he was terrific! The incredible rugged beauty of the Viola comes out in glorious splendor under his bow with no apologies to the violin. Eric Shumsky
@DevilViolinist it's pretty hard to physically play a decent sized viola so that will always be the first limit. Prize of decent violas is also hard, because few people make them well for reasonable prices (violins are easier to find in quality). Dearth of good starting level viola teachers may be another obstacle. Just some ideas about hinderances (which in the end fortify violist character haha)
Hey! HEIFETZ IS A GOD! ZOMG LOLZ. :P Haha, yeah I know that feeling about the "cool violin" thing...but it doesn't help that I play both. It really is a shame, too; the viola is such a beautiful instrument. It can do much more than is usually written for it, I think. Go viola!
no no u misunderstand:] what im saying mainly is that the violas in my orch suck... it was a kinda off the wall point to make... but ive attempted playing a viola... and i didnt suck:] at all... the fundamentals are nearly identical... but i do agree with the point that composers were unfamiliar with the viola... there seriously gyped when it comes to music... the're so versatile... they have the power and the deep resonating tone of the cello, but also a high range similar to that of a violin..
The Viola is definitely harder than the Violin in some aspects. The most obvious thing is that it is larger and presents a certain amount of dicomfort for many people to hold. The second is that the Viola is too small for the range it is given, making the tone odd and nasal, with lots of overtones produced. Making a melody line beautiful on the Viola is harder than making one beautiful on the Violin.
I think the viola is harder to learn because its larger and the distances between the notes are further. Being an old viola chauvinist, I also think the viola is BETTER... :)
Look, anybody here who doubts Primrose's musical/interpretational abilities, go watch/listen to my videos and you'll have a change of heart, I guarantee it.
TwoSet: Viola sucks!
Primrose: I would like a word with you.
Primrose was the greatest viola player of all (no wonder he was Heifetz's violist of choice when one was needed!) Magnificent technique and a fine musician.
From my opinion, the viola is the only string instrument whose tone closely resembles the human voice! Primrose rocks!
"When he performed Paganini's violin caprices on viola, Mischa Elman is said to have exclaimed, 'It must be easier on viola!'" -Wikipedia
Haha, he has transcribed so many tunes to the viola, it's amazing, and he owns numerous viola scores already, there is a whole library based on his viola works!
I am so freaking happy that a violist is playing this. That means there is a very very very very small chance that I could achieve this some day...I practice very very very hard.
Go for it!
Did you get it bro?
The father of viola! I love him!
Teddy Bear Stories 12 year old comment omg
No way!! He did NOT just phrase AND vibrato the harmonics section. That was breathtaking.
That’s actually easier than it seems
@@liu6157and that's not the point
The best violist in history! I'm so surprised to find a video on youtube. His technique is so flawless he makes it look easy.
That is why they make viola strings where you can choose light, medium, or heavy gauge. Light are quicker to respond and heavy are slower to respond but do so with a better dark, warm viola sound. They didn't have that luxury back then, which is why Primrose is AMAZING.
What a trailblazer!!!!!! I have never felt this many different emotions from this piece before- a breathtaking interpretation
Um dos melhores do mundo, grande músico, toca maravilhosamente.
This man is a viola machine jesus christ
My viola hero
It's like Heifetz on a viola😻😻😻
Primrose... would've liked to hear him live. Wow - this was amazing.
the best part is the end...the first 2 minuts are solid but the end is where primrose takes over everybody...hes so good
aa que hermoso!! no me canso de ver este video!!!! aaa como amo las violas!!!
If yu've listened to Primrose's actual recording of this piece, it is very musical and cl3ean, i'm not sure why but he plays it muych faster in this video than in his recording. And i'm not sure who vardi is but if he was as great as you say he'd be as well known as primrose. Primrose not only had spectacualkr technique but awesome musicality as well
BOW TO OUR KING!
It still sound amazing even though it's on an ancient recording... I wish that they had better recording equipment back then.
Literally my favourite videos on RUclips
The Viola is so much harder on which to play Paganini by account of its size. What Mr Primrose accomplishes here is beyond the understanding of any Violinist.
The acrobatics he performs are nearly beyond belief- my hands are nearly the size of Rachmaninov's and I can barely stretch a tenth!
I tip my hat to you Mr Primrose. Maybe one day after a billion hours in a practise room, I may be able to come half as close to how well you play.
elliotviola You know Paganini would have been able to do his caprices on a viola because of his genetic disorder which lets him stretch out his fingers
All right, it's been a decade - how's progress?
An amazing inspiration for any violist
woa! j'ai jamais entendu quelque chose de semblable! C'est magnifique!
O melhor de todos os tempos.
Best ever to play a bowed instrument!
As a Violist... I idolize primrose
Best violist ever William Primrose you’re a god
Awesome!!! Viola power!!!💕💕💕💕
beatiful viola!!! i love this caprice and the 1rs,
primrose is all
I wish I had never quit so majestic an instrument!
Wow, there is a reason he commissioned the Bartok Viola Concerto.
absolutely amazing!
First time i heard this my jaw dropped. Definetly my fav. piece. =)
swag
Man is great, I'm play viola too and I'm impressed... Pizzicato of left hand - revelation. And flażolety-jakkolwiek to się pisze po angielsku.. RESPECT!!
It's edited! If you look at 1:12 and 1:27, when he takes off his bow (with a bad flicking motion), the next frame is already starting with his bow close to the strings! (You can definately tell by his bow tip too).
actually the Walton was written with the violist Lionel Tertis is mind. However Tertis turned it down and Hindemith played the premier....which was a flop.
However, I agree with you that Primrose was huge part in the development of the viola. His natural talent and extraordinary technique is still unparalleled even today.
@ Jaesango
You're the first primarily violinist I've heard say that. Most violinists I know are (not to offend) used to the ease of how much less movement is required for shifting, or even hitting the 5th above the string, as well as less trouble with vibrato (for the same reasons), and less trouble with getting the full sound out of the note (with 3 or 4 part chords it's hard to get this on a viola IMO), since the strings are thinner, and most have a synthetic core.
magnifico!!
Primrose is insanely amazing.
Take this violinists! Also 2:04, I know to play that
U lying? I mean ... u ling ling.. 4 violas????? The gang is saved!!!!!!!!
Amazing that he can get such perfect response! If only the recording technology was better.
FOR THE RECORD: Paganini on viola >> Walton on violin.
Man, i'm a teacher, violist since i was 8 now, i'm 56. My experience allows me to decide if sth sound as viola or not.
hey i thought this was somwhere to talk about the player and the piece played. I think it sounds good. I'm a Violist and cant wait to find a copy of this piece arranged for viola and get stuck into learning it. "If you dont have somthing nice to say dont say it."
Hehe, you are like the Gypsies in the front row of the audience who all brought stopwatches to hear Heifetz play the Paganini Perpetuo Moto in concert. They were surprised at how slow he played it :)
Literally the Heifetz of viola
Nice! 💪🔥😱
=O!!! Love This
My new viola sounds like this. It's a 1690 model but has the exact same construction as an Amati. I barely touch my violin anymore because my viola's sound has balls in comparison to this violin of mine. The viola in general is a ballsy instrument because only ballsy people can play it. And like Primrose said (no offense violinists), "A Viola is a violin with a college education".
정말로 화려한 스킬을 가지고 있다.
이 동영상에 '싫어요'를 누를 만한 점이라면,
그것은 바로 음질과 화질이다.하지만 이는 어쩔 수 없는 부분이며,
이 정도 연주면 이해해야할 부분이다.It has a really splendid skill.
If you like to hit "Dislike" on this video,
It is sound quality and picture quality.But this is an inevitable part,
This is something you should understand if you play this much.
"Emanuel Vardi holds the distinction of being the only violist, besides his mentor, William Primrose, to have ever given a solo recital in Carnegie Hall." Never heard of Vardi huh?
impressionnant ce primrose... pas étonnant qu'il jouait aux côtés de heifetz.
Hail our glorious leader!
Best violist ever in existence! Sad that this is the only recording of him playing that we can hear which isn't good quality (of course, it's several decades old...).
Would have been so much better without the piano. In fact, that bouncy, thrumming tone was nothing sort of outright annoying especially during the pizzicato part.
Born 1904 Glasgow Scotland
I heard this once on the radio, played by ofra hanoy (sp?), who is a cellist. now this is cool on a violin, adventurous on a viola, but it just doesn't work on a cello.
Honestly, I think this recording for cello is great. ruclips.net/video/d26dZGdXnq0/видео.html
Why NOT?? Yo Yo Ma did it!! And I heard it was AMAZING!!!!!!
@msg06769 I think it's partially because they sometimes speed up the tapes when they convert them. I found out the hard way when I was listening to Primrose's recording of Der Schwanendreher, which wasn't just abnormally fast, but a half step higher than it should have been...
It's on the william primrose collection, vol. 2, i don't think it's on itunes unfortunately
I so agree!!! My Goodness, where is the falvour of this piece, where is the surreal aura? Yes, it's very fast, but that's all it is, fast.
VIOLA RULZ YEAH NICE VIDEO!!!!
When this got uploaded i was only 1.5 years old… I am 18 now, damn
Yeah, the half steps are smaller, but that makes it easier in many respects. On larger violas it is hard for me to reach octaves whereas it is a cinch on smaller violas and violins. Another issue that makes the viola harder is the body of the instrument is longer and getting the arm around the upper bouts to play in higher positions can be a challenge. Also, half steps get smaller on viola as well, not just the violin. Trust me, I play both, whereas you never mentioned any experience on a viola.
I meant of the 4 bowed string instruments obviously. Double bass counts as one of the "4" I mentioned btw.
The piano accompaniment is mildly annoying, to say the least... Wouldn't you agree?
Yes
But it doesn' t disturb.
nice and clean XD
@frooben is not that it sounds better on the violin but that this song feels like if he was in a hurry and began to cut parts
He switched at age 26 - not a young age for a musician. He studied violin with Eugène Ysaÿe - that should say something about him being a violinist. In this case he is ALSO a violist. SO is Vengerov and Oistrakh and Zukerman. THE funny part is that in the interview, Primrose once said that violinists should NOT switch to violas any time they wish. In my opinion, who cares??? IF SOMETHING SOUNDS GOOD play or listen to it.
holy shits... *impressed*
dayum this is good stuffs
Well, the sound quality is pretty distorted, but what are you gonna do.
This brings to mind the saying about Ginger Rogers that "she could do anything Fred Astaire could do, backwards and in high heels."
love it.
VIOLA POWER~!!!!!
ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh BEST PLYER EVA
that left hand pizz I thought the video was speed up for a second
Funny, I never thought your comment was a criticism. I agree that Paganini is not right on some instruments - for example, the cello. Paganini's genius was pretty much limited to being a VIOLIN virtuoso - his technical prowess was built on an instrument with certain distances between the notes, and the particulars of the violin. His music doesnt always translate well to other instruments.
Excelente!!!...
amazing.
the viola is a respectable instrument "period" and it sounded well too it would feel like a loss not to hear one in the music world
Viola and Violin have in my opinion have the exact same difficulty level
i've been playing violin for 8 years and i just recently picked up the viola to play. Once you know violin the transition isn't hard if you can read the key signiture since you play everything in 3rd position and the fingers are just stretched a bit more.
And that caprice wasn't originally written for viola so of coures it's gonna be harder. It's the same thing if you try playing the walton concerto on the violin....
No I'm not kidding. I have a recording of Emanuel Vardi playing all 24 caprices on viola, and he manages to do it without being sloppy and unmusical. I realize that Primrose was important to the development of viola repertoire and that he was a talented player. That doesn't, however, mean that he can do no wrong (this video proves that he quite clearly CAN).
Come on...he was terrific! The incredible rugged beauty of the Viola comes out in glorious splendor under his bow with no apologies to the violin. Eric Shumsky
Are you criticizing the greatest violist?
@DevilViolinist it's pretty hard to physically play a decent sized viola so that will always be the first limit. Prize of decent violas is also hard, because few people make them well for reasonable prices (violins are easier to find in quality). Dearth of good starting level viola teachers may be another obstacle. Just some ideas about hinderances (which in the end fortify violist character haha)
Dont you think that it sounds "terrible" because it is a black & white tape???? You should consider that. He is simply amazing.
miracle ! ! ! ! !
Hey! HEIFETZ IS A GOD! ZOMG LOLZ. :P Haha, yeah I know that feeling about the "cool violin" thing...but it doesn't help that I play both. It really is a shame, too; the viola is such a beautiful instrument. It can do much more than is usually written for it, I think. Go viola!
Jascha Heifetz should duet Paganini Caprice 24 with him.
no no u misunderstand:] what im saying mainly is that the violas in my orch suck... it was a kinda off the wall point to make... but ive attempted playing a viola... and i didnt suck:] at all... the fundamentals are nearly identical... but i do agree with the point that composers were unfamiliar with the viola... there seriously gyped when it comes to music... the're so versatile... they have the power and the deep resonating tone of the cello, but also a high range similar to that of a violin..
jk. It is pretty good actually. It does sound a little strange, but it is probably do to the recording equipment.
awesome
thanks =)
lendo... en realidad hacia tiempo no escuchaba una viola
@Musicalaga
hell yeah!
Wow!
the viola can be very very virtuostic. it is mostly known for its very deep rich tone tho.everybody has differnt opinions.
i love his left hand pizz lol.
response of viola is different from violin?
what do you mean? i wanna know more since i'm playing viola right now too
What is the difference between in a violin and viola? and which one is a lot harder to learn?
The Viola is definitely harder than the Violin in some aspects. The most obvious thing is that it is larger and presents a certain amount of dicomfort for many people to hold. The second is that the Viola is too small for the range it is given, making the tone odd and nasal, with lots of overtones produced. Making a melody line beautiful on the Viola is harder than making one beautiful on the Violin.
I think the viola is harder to learn because its larger and the distances between the notes are further. Being an old viola chauvinist, I also think the viola is BETTER... :)
hate to admit it but even my strings teacher says that...and its true i tried my friends violin...its pretty easy to play
when was this video made?! amazing by the way
Look, anybody here who doubts Primrose's musical/interpretational abilities, go watch/listen to my videos and you'll have a change of heart, I guarantee it.