Jascha Heifetz Master Classes (1962)
Synopsis
In this renowned series of rare television appearances, the legendary Jascha Heifetz—often referred to as the greatest violinist of the 20th century—leads a historic master class at the University of Southern California, in 1962. Through their mixture of brilliance and informality, these classes offer a glimpse into the technique, process, and personality of a classical virtuoso.
First Air Date: 1962-01-13
Last Air Date: 1962-03-03
Number of Seasons: 1
Number of Episodes: 8
Top Cast
- Jascha Heifetz as Self
- Brooks Smith as Self
- Erick Friedman as Self
- Elizabeth Matesky as Self
- Varoujan Kodjian as Self
- Robert Witte as Self
- Adam Han-Gorsky as Self
- Carol Sindell as Self
- Claire Hodgkins as Self
- Nathaniel Rosen as Self
Seasons
Season 1 (1962)
No overview available for this season.
Episodes:
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Ep. 1: Heifetz Master Class; 1; Varoujon Kodjian
Mr. Kodjian is an Armenian born Lebanese national who is in this country for the special purpose of studying with Mr. Heifetz. He performs Polonaise Brilliante No. 2 Henri Wieniawski and Brazilian Dance Ao pe da fogueira by F. Valle. The Polonaise Brillante No 2 by Henri Wieniawski is a violin virtuoso piece played in concert to this day by all violinists. Wieniawski, a Polish violin virtuoso who lived between 1825 and 1880, belonged to the great virtuoso violin school which also included Vieuxtemps and Ysaye, Paganini, Sarasate, Joachim, and in the present day, Kreisler and Heifetz. The Polonaise is one of two written by Wieniawski which is a must for all violinists. The Brazilian Dance, Ao pe da fogueira by F. Valle was discovered by Heifetz during a tour in Brazil. Mr. Heifetz who has transcribed around 65 pieces for the violin, created a highly engaging transcription of this charming Brazilian dance.
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Ep. 2: Heifetz Master Class; 2; Erick Friedman Plays Brahms and Bach
Mr. Friedman, now on his first concert tour of the United States, is Mr. Heifetzs graduate student. Mr. Friedman has recently done a recording for RCA Victor which Mr. Heifetz introduced. He performs Brahms Concerto D Major First Movement and Bach Concerto for Two Violins Last Movement with Mr. Heifetz and Erick Friedman. In spite of Brahms tremendous output, this is his only concerto for the violin. It is a work of full maturity and its date, August 8, 1878, coincides with a particularly happy and productive period in his life. There is little doubt that in composing it, Brahms took Beethovens Violin Concerto as his model. When Brahms first showed the work to his close friend, the great violinist Joachim, for whom he had composed the pieced, Joachim felt it was so difficult as to make it unplayable...
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Ep. 3: Heifetz Master Class; 3; Claire Hodgkins
Ms. Hodgkins performs Scales and Dont Etude No. 5 and Chausson Poeme Op. 25. Of all the disciples in the Cesar Franck entourage, Ernest Chausson (1855-1899) unquestionably enjoyed the most spontaneous melodic gift. Essentially he was a lyricist; a kind of latter-day and only slightly less prolific Schubert. In 1896, he composed this exquisite work for the violin - The Poeme, Op. 25. Strictly speaking, the Poeme is a free-wheeling rhapsody for the violin. With the instruments soaring above the orchestra, the piece is a glory of communication rather than an exercise in form. It is one of the most beautiful pieces for violin and orchestra.
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Ep. 4: Heifetz Master Class; 4; Carol Sindell and Robert Witte
Ms. Sindell, a native of Cleveland, Ohio, is only 15 years old. She performs Bach Concerto in A Minor First Movement with Mr. Heifetz at the piano. Mr. Witte is a Swiss national who is in this country especially to study with Mr. Heifetz. He performs Tchaikovsky Concerto for Violin Third Movement. Concerto in D, Op.35. On this program we hear only the last movement of this famous violin warhorse, Tchaikovskys Concerto for Violin. It is worthwhile to point out, however, that like the Brahms and Beethoven Concertos, which preceded Tchaikovsky, it too is the only work for the violin Tchaikovsky wrote. It is also interesting to note that as with the Brahms Concerto, Tchaikovsky showed the work upon completion to his good friend, the distinguished violinist, Leopold Auer, who was the teacher of Jascha Heifetz. History repeats itself again here as it did with the Brahms Concerto. Auer considered the work unplayable on technical grounds...
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Ep. 5: Heifetz Master Class; 5; Erick Friedman Plays Bach
Mr. Friedman, now on his first concert tour of the United States, is Mr. Heifetzs graduate student. Mr. Friedman has recently done a recording for RCA Victor which Mr. Heifetz introduced. He performs Bach Sonata for Violin G Minor Adagio and Fugue and Bach Concerto for Two Violins Second Movement with Mr. Heifetz and Friedman. This sonata in G Minor is one of six that Bach wrote for the violin along, that is, unaccompanied. The sonatas are not only melodious, as well as difficult, but stand alone in all music literature as a monumental creation. The Bach Concerto for Two Violins performed by Mr. Heifetz and Erick Friedman is one of the most joyous works from the pen of the great master. Heifetz chose this work to introduce his pupil Erick Friedman, to the musical world, via a recent RCA Victor album.
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Ep. 6: eifetz Master Class; 6; Elizabeth Matesky
Ms. Matesky is a student going through the regular curriculum at the University of Southern California at Berkeley. She performs Khachaturian Concerto for Violin First Movement. Khachaturian is one of Russias most popular composers. He has written a great many works that have found favor with the masses of the Soviet Union. For example, pieces such as The Ballet Gayne and the Masquerade Suite. The Violin Concerto is dedicated to the Soviet Unions outstanding violinist David Oistrakh. The Concerto is an extremely popular work and has found a ready audience throughout the world.
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Ep. 7: Heifetz Master Class; 7; Erick Friedman and Adam Han-Gorsky
Mr. Friedman, now on his first concert tour of the United States, is Mr. Heifetzs graduate student. Mr. Friedman has recently done a recording for RCA Victor which Mr. Heifetz introduced. He performs Cesar Franck Sonata for Violin and Piano First Movement. Mr. Han-Gorsky is a Polish born national who ordinarily lives in Israel. He is here for the special purpose of studying with Mr. Heifetz. He performs Brahms Sonata for Violin and Piano D Minor Third and Fourth Movement. The Cesar Frank Sonata, written by Belgiums most famous composer, is not only the single Sonata he wrote for the violin and piano, but is one of those rare things in music literature the perfect work. It requires the expert fusion of both violinist and pianist in realizing the lyric qualities and grandeur the work possesses. Brahms wrote three Sonatas for violin and piano. The Sonata in D Minor was the last of the three completed in 1888. The Third Movement is a somewhat mysterious mood in the manner of a Scherzo...
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Ep. 8: Heifetz Master Class; 8; Varoujon Kodjian Plays Bach and Beethoven
Mr. Kodjian is an Armenian born Lebanese national who is in this country for the special purpose of studying with Mr. Heifetz. He performs Bach Partita No. 2 D Minor and Chaconne. Bachs six solo Sonatas and Partitas for unaccompanied violin are as uncommonly difficult to play as their mastery is rewarding. The extraordinary difficulty which this solo music presents impelled violinists to develop almost a special phase of technique to conquer them. The music itself is so supremely great and noble that violinists regard performances of these works as the most convincing proof of the powers of the instrument as well as of interpretation. The Sonatas are sequences of abstract forms whereas the Partitas are sequences of dance forms. The famous Chaconne is the last movement of Partita No. 2 in D Minor and easily one of musics masterpieces, as well as one of the most difficult interpretive pieces ever composed for the violin as a solo instrument.
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