Classical Guitar Innovator: Eliot Fisk at TEDxBoston
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 11 ก.ค. 2013
- How can classical music deviate from the expected?
Guitarist Eliot Fisk plays Bach, Sor and Tarrega and talks about his special relationship with guitar legend Andres Segovia.
About TEDx
In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations) - เพลง
Many people have given Fisk a hard time over the years but he has stayed true to himself. Sure if he slowed down a bit he may make fewer mistakes but then we would not be seeing the real performer who is willing to take himself to the edge in order to be exciting and dynamic. People complain about performances which lack feeling or are boring. He may fluff a note here and there but he can never be convicted of giving a boring performance. He is naturally a flamboyant person and this comes across in his playing. Honest to himself and the audience. A lesson many people should learn.
Fisk is the man. My close friend studied with him for his masters. How amazing to be so close to Segovia's teaching.
Emotion and musicality trump technique - every time. We classical guitarists strive for music in it's totality. Thank you Eliot, again, for your musicianship.
In Cervantes's masterpiece, Don Quixote meets a certain man who translated from the Italian. Contemptuous of his work, he exclaims (paradoxically in translation here): "I would venture to swear that your worship is not known in the world, which always begrudges their reward to rare wits and praiseworthy labours. What talents lie wasted here! What genius thrust away into corners! What worth left neglected!" . So many talented guitarists, unknown to the world, dare criticize Elliot Fisk in this forum! Show us your contribution to the world of guitar, equal at least to Maestro Fisk's transcription and recording of Paganini's Caprices and then you will be worthy to carry his guitar case. Vale!
"Recuerdos De La Alhambra" has to be one of my favorite classical pieces of all time. I especially like the way it starts off with an A minor tonality, then switches mid-song to an A major tonality. Eliot's playing is quite expressive.
When he started the Bach Prelude I thought: 'hey, that's a nice flamenco piece......'
Haha
Same here! Lol, but the thing about it is that I really enjoy how he plays everything super fast.
Elliot brisk.
@@jazzerrocker Super fast can be great but not at the expense of accuracy. Unbelievably sloppy performance in rhythmical terms..
THESE CLASSICAL GUITARIST BLOW ME AWAY....THEY PUT THOUSANDS OF HOURS OF REALLY TOUGH DISCIPLINE .....BRAVO...... A PERSON WHO HAS NEVER SEEN OR HEARD A CLASSICAL GUITAR AND TRIED TO PLAY IT FOR THE FIRST TIME HE WILL TELL YOU IT CAN'T BE DONE
Dear friends, you must know Eliot very well to understand his music. I spent 5 years studying in his class in Salzburg. Great artist, great person, great friend. The world is in his hands. Thank you Eliot for every moment that you dedicated to me. Petar
Wonder what J.S Bach would have said about this turbo, non-dynamic interpretation. He is rushing away - like always. Tecniquewise he is fast - but who cares?
I feel sorry for you Petar, 5 years wasted
John Mills Well, that is not a very nice or even appropriate - because you should´t judge how people value their live´s achievement. Petar has the right to be proud of his experience. I know that Elliot is a very talented and renown artist and his skills and knowledge are unquestionable. But it´s a pity that he has so play fast - since the feeling vanishes then. Petar you should be proud of your education in Salzburg - but don´t do the same mistake that Elliot did. Listen to Per-Olof Kindgren - that´s how classical guitar should be played.
John Mills I honestly feel sorry for you sir, your immaturity is scary. Whether you like his playing or not, Mr. Fisk studied around the world for years, Andres Segovia himself called Fisk "one of the most intelligent and gifted young musical artists of our times." What do you think he would have to say about you?
John Mills I can also tell from your demeanor that you are no musician yourself. Anyone who has any skill whatsoever in the instrument would be much more humble/respectable. So keep watching your youtube videos and dreaming sir.
I remember taking a master class session with him when i was 19, gave me great advice towards my way of playing music.
weird. since he plays so bad
Un verdadero maestro de la guitarra clasica...Msr Eliot Fisk
I doubt there is one person who commented here has the talent this man has, I don't play but my late father was taught by John Williams father and went on to teach many students to concert standard so I know this man is good at his craft.
My plants stop growing and shortly afterward die when I listen to Fisk, anyone an idea how come?
Here’s a man that works tirelessly, out of pure idealism, on improving the visibility of the classical guitar in the concert scene, the state of music education, and the small (and, as some of these comments show, at times incredibly narrow-minded) classical guitar community. To that end, he invented his technique almost entirely on his own, subverting many of the expectations that have now become “standard,” in favor of creating a sound world befitting his incredible musical imagination.
???Wait til the vax kick in.
An incredible guitarist and never boring. I had the pleasure to meet and listen to Mr. Fisk. He's one of the best.
I do not know the sound of Andres Segovia. I just stumbled onto this and was curious while looking for an example of playing the classical guitar so you may totally discount my opinion. I've heard it said, a musician never plays the same piece exactly the same because their music reflects there feeling too. Each musician brings their own interpretation to a piece of music, that is why orchestras have a conductor, he forces all the musicians to play to his interpretation to achieve hopefully a synergistic effect amplifying and transcending what each individual artist is capable of.
If you want technical perfection get something like a player piano only for a guitar (that way you cannot complain as it does not have the full notes of a real instrument versus a computer). It will always sound the exact same way. Soulless perfection. It will not even sound like what the composer wanted, it will just be technically correct as to how the music is written.
I play around on my guitar. It is an outlet for my soul. I will never be good enough to play even at amateur status but when I am playing, it I am happy and that is all that is really needed.
I considered Eliot Fisk exceptional. For those who were denouncing him, have you considered, that he could play as you desire but played it as he did because that is how he felt it should be played and how he wanted to play the it?
even if the conductor directs the outcome of the piece being played by the orchestra, each member of it plays the music with emotion thereby producing a soulful outcome. it is not just the conductor; it is the totality of the orchestra with the emotions of each member that makes it. a player playing without emotion would be a misfit in an orchestra and can be easily pinpointed.sadly the performer on this clip lack the emotion.
Nope, Fisk is an establishment fraud, solely supported by the tone deaf who can still tolerate discordant cerebral dumps.
Brought me back to the quieter era of classical guitar and players who could play. And a clear example of the most importance ... that experts do not only start the note but control it length thus leading to clarity ... a breath of fresh air
You realize Fisk does none of that. In fact, he's so sloppy he can no longer hear his mistakes. .
0:40 - 0:44 - Possibly the funniest position shift ever made on guitar :D
He lost a note and had to go find it. Ah, there it is... all the way up here near the nut.
great guitar player i once used to think he is not that great but amazing he could do what ever he wants to with guitar i live in the same town as he does in newton ma usa and see him in whole foods sometimes he is a very nice person thank you mr fisk for being so humble talking to you in person modifies my personality
I removed my review for all get excited, but the music speaks for me, I do not need to talk about the music. Congratulations to all of you. I enjoyed the interpretation. It is wonderful, no doubt.
Saw him live in the 80's, all the Villa Lobos etudes. I remember being blown away by his virtuosity. But subsequently I never liked him recorded, nor really liked his interpretations. He may be a little sloppy here and there, but I have to respect him for going balls-to-the-walls and taking risks. This is what makes him entertaining live.
If I suspect for a minute that a classical musician is sacrificing tone, musicality, or accuracy for raw speed, he or she goes down about 1000 points in my estimation. A jack hammer makes noise going fast - that doesn't make it musical.
He isn't rushing. His interpretation has added an element of percussion in an acceleration of timing within the treble that is running, simultaneously and in sync with the perfect timing of the composition.
Are the missed / flubbed notes part of the interpretation?
I think that's syncopation and improvisation; which are parts of interpretation in lieu of replication.
Connie walker-carter
That's being a bit generous, don't you think? I like Fisk as much as the next guy but he's clearly sacrificing playing it to his ideal for the sake of a more hard sound.
Rufus Randolf Agreed!
Nick McLay Exactly. If you can't play at warp speed without screwing up: slow down!
Reading the comments below I conclude that there is only a few people that enjoyed Mr Fisk presentation. In my opinion Mr Fisk is an outstanding technical player, no one can argue on that, but his music ideas seems to me, a little bit outlined. My professor always said to me that what I feel when I'm playing is much more important than technique. Technique is something that can be learned and can be mastered but your feeling and your music ideas born with you. Cheers everyone
Outstanding technical player can play at his speed with much better clarity and much less mistakes. He is unbelievable for being famous without a good reason.
Yes, I agree
Eliot--I found you on TH-cam! So good to see you play and very impressed it was at TEDx Boston.
This is wonderful music played by a master. I'm not sure why ANYBODY would not appreciate these simple facts. The negative comments have much more to say about the individuals make them then Mr. Fisk. Thank You for the post.
Not really. His playing in this recording is full of technical errors and an extreme lack of legato, connected melodic lines. He keeps buzzing, missing and choking notes in a very frenzied and choppy manner. Was he cold? Overcaffinated? Nervous? I can't tell but I can tell that he is playing far too fast for his actual skill level.
Guest Xu With a second viewing, you are right, he did try and play too fast. And yes, if he relaxed, let the music flow more evenly is would of sounded a whole lot better.cheers
Amazing. The temporal resolution you have when playing is intense. Interesting left hand fingerwork for Recuerdos, loved it!
I suppose the innovation comes from not playing technically perfect and yet not caring about it at all
He plays like there's no tomorrow. I can respect that regardless:)
It is an excellent and brilliant guitarist, everyone can think what you like, but you have to say with knowledge.
The Einstein of The Guitar Was a Mangore not Segovia 😉....
not even close
@@kanker5256 Mangore Was a Mozart of The Classical Guitar and Segovia was Salieri
@@musicavariada6975 no. segovia was segovia and mangore was some guy who wrote some notes that are the only sht that these 'i play on my left leg'gers play all the time
24 fret guitar, innovative, and a great guitarist.
I learned that when i took my classical lesson!
I don't get all the negativity. Everything is what you make it. I'm enjoying listening to this cuz I appreciate technical ability, and this guy certainly has that. I enjoy this just as I enjoy listening to Buddy Rich rip the drums.
can each one of you guitar expert post a link here of yourself playing this pieces the correct way? because to my beginners eyes and ears he played very well.
Probable w’all played better
Very good. Music and its power to take you to other dimentions.
I had no idea that Andy Dick played classical guitar - impressive.
+skategangster lol right! that is a guitar player right there!
I'm glad someone out there gets my stupid humor and isn't offended by it.. Cheers!!!
Sometimes I forget that the world is filled with overly sensitive pussies that can't take a joke - thanks for reminding me..
+skategangster :-) I think we should remove all the warning signs and texts from the society and let the natural selection do it's thing :-).
Sounds good to me, the first week 90% of these sensitive you tubers would be history..
Eliot Fisk is a great guitar player, teacher, and a wonderful man!
I have recently acquired a high quality external speaker and Mr Fisk's guitar certainly sounded beautiful this time. In case there is any confusion, I have always had great respect for Eliot Fist as one of the world's greatest classical guitarist and definitely a Maestro.
nope
This is spectacular.
I have to admit, that I did hear some unexpected flaws, but thought I was being overly picky. I then read the comments and was surprised at how many felt the same. I expect that compressing comments and three pieces in 10 minutes can be a challenge in of itself. And I expect that playing these same pieces of music for over 40 years brings its own challenge in maintaining a "duende". Still, I'm envious that he was able to study with such greats as Segovia and Oscar Ghiglia. He was at the right time and the right place.
How amazing it must have been to be a student of Segovia.
And where is the innovation?
+review collector No, I don't know the difference, cause I'm an idiot, as you've said.
+skripnigor trollin'...sigh...what a world. I've always appreciated Eliot Fisk for his ability to play so cleanly. Listen to this piece by any other guitarist and you'll hear scratches and thudded notes. Fisk is just so crisp. --Also, you're probably thinking where can I get those pink slippers, right?
+Maestra Weil You are absolutely right. I detest myself for writing that awful comment. I am miserable.
Actually it's in Eliot's mind. VERY Good player - absolutely. World class innovator? That would be John Williams or Julian Bream who on their worst days were .. Well you get the picture . Eliot OTOH is still crashing in on spending a few lessons with a very old Segovia. I heard him tell almost this exact same story about Segovia in 1981- I was in Ithaca NY studying classical guitar w Edward Flower and we attended a highbrow reception and performance with a young Eliot Fisk who was incredibly full of himself and arrogant. The two pieces he plays here are played more musically by 100s of recording classical guitarists - and they are standard rep for any college guitar program. Hell, Chet Atkins played Memories of Alhambra better. Eliot's tremolo has that amateurish "horse galloping" problem that 99.9% of us have. Very good? Yes. World master? Uh, no Eliot. Sorry. You want true musicality ? Listen to Ana Vidovic play these pieces. Her guitar literally sings.
Your comment is actually quite right , i was asking myself the same question... why would they write "innovator" and " deviate from the expected" if they are not going to show any of these... he is good though
Music is an art that happens on stage, unlike pictorial art, or writing there's no tie to 'correct' a mistake. Itr´s closer to acting. Judging an artist on a single presentation is absurd - we are used to CD quality recording in which 'wrong' notes are punched out and digitally replaced with a 'good' note from a different take, and the editing is so good we don´t notice it. In live performance we can't do that, and the point is to carry the music, not to be a machine. Sure, Fisk had some minor flaws in this particular performance, maybe he was constrained by time and this didn't help, but his playing is wonderful. Regarding comments about what Segovia would have thought- not only are there videos of Segovia performing in which he also misses a couple of notes, but I've seen several of his students live (A. Diaz and J. WIlliams) and they're not machines either... what they ARE, is WONDERFUL and MASTERFUL musicians, like FIsk.
+magiorey well said!
magiorey he has his moments yes but I am more critical of his interpretation of certain pieces because even though there is no wrong way he paints a picture that is a bad copy of the original on Requerdos de la Alhambra. The tempo should not sound like a galloping horse. it is not meant in that piece to make u see a galloping horses steps as it was meant to emulate the trickles of the fountains water in Granada. He paints the wrong picture.
Wether you liked this music or not is no big deal. Get over yourself. What this man played was from his heart and soul. Get it ❤️ and soul. That’s all that matters. And the fact that this man enjoyed it, so no matter what you or anybody says uuhhhh who cares. I have played piano and guitar all my life and what people see when you play is an absolute barring of you for all to see and hear. And as long as you can say that you tried your best then that is all that matters. Please my friend keep on playing and making people smile, for it is that smile which makes everything worthwhile. And believe me when I say that I smiled through both songs from ear to ear.
Why do I like this guys playing so much when all of the comment section is " sloppy playing. Overrated. Average guitar" - I guess we all are different. I really like his playing and find it very relaxing.
Sounds like me when I'm just playing around on guitar warming up. Didn't know it was song
Excellent!
I've seen him play in person. He's brilliant.
Or, neurotic.
@@00vTv00 All artists are neurotic. I look in the mirror every day lol
Beautiful
Seek out Julian Bream - simply the best classical guitar and lute of the 20th century, nobody else comes close.
others talk anything you like but I really enjoyed his music. ..we must respect his age also...
I think the sound is awesome.
ПОТРЯСАЮЩЕ!
bella camicia...
I really enjoyed "Recuerdos de la Alhambra"
bad day ana also fucked up at ted talks his human i can hear nail shape problems though oh yeh thats no question but i stiil love him its the hear not the nails
Anything by Christopher Parkening. Check out his album Simple Gifts on spotify. It's perfect.
Único, el Maestro Fisk.
ugh Magic Flute, what a mess of randomly disjointed tremolo picking.
Its Eliot Fisk enough said always a pleasure even when he is being rushed by TEDs running sheet
Ok, so several people apparently thought the same thing...
I'm not a fan of Fisk, but I enjoyed this interpretation of Recuerdos. It's a piece that all classical guitarists have heard countless times, performed by seemingly every professional guitarist in the world and I am sick to death of it. But because Eliot plays it differently from everyone else, it actually sounded nice to me. No, it wasn't super clean and I don't care for his tone, but the musicality worked for me.
Brilliant.
I don't get the negative comments?? The Alhambra was played beautifully, with feeling! That is the point of playing live, it's not supposed to be exactly the same every time.
I'm a lead guitarist, vocalist and love power metal.
guitar is awesome
The Segovia right hand positioning kills all hopes of a full tone.
KingZerxst I learned that positioning first and over the years gradually moved to no bend at the wrist. much better tone than when I was a kid reading the Segovia method...Not only that but when I listen to his Recordings I notice the tinny tone and plucky trebles that sound plastic and thin. I like a more round sound while still changing position for brightness more near bridge but keeping wrist straight. He may be the forefather but not in tone
Full tone is overrated.
Omg you must use a pic then.
Lol….and you are? Who are you to criticize the great Maestro Fisk?
well done.
Clapping woke some up.
Eliot way of playing is always polemic, but he's a really amazing musician. I recently was talking about two hours with him and his background is surprisingly. If you heear him with guitarrist ears, you lose a great oportunity to hear a wonder musician.
Tremendous performance of Recuerdos . .. I've never seen a guitarist bend time (and extra-hard tension strings) like a rubber band. I wish he would have warmed up before the Prelude, but I give him kudos for keeping the tempo flowing. I felt like I could almost see the opera when he was playing the excerpt of the Magic Flute. It is not easy to express something original in the way which he does with music that is technically challenging and that everyone else has played to death.
Who are you talking about?
@@00vTv00 It was another video of Eliot Fisk. For some reason on my iPad, sometimes I’m making a comment on one video and it jumps to another while composing it. It puts the comment on the next video? Lol.
A guitar sound..., the sound of nature for me.
I wonder if anyone actually thought of pointing the mic actually AT the guitar. As an audio engineer I am often horrified at the audio at events like these.
Richard Wielgosz I see they made an adjustment for the 2nd piece.
Richard Wielgosz very good point sir
+Richard Wielgosz I'm sorry I could'nt quite hear what you were saying......
+Richard Wielgosz there is another sound hole that the mic on his face is pointing to. Wouldn't that be what your asking for?
+Richard Wielgosz I used to play at a place where they stopped you from doing that because feedback. These shows aren't predominantly designed for music, so they're going to have to do the best with the setup they have.
There are so many criticisms of this man - as if he is not a human being.
I think Eliot has a tremendous Heart, and he has inspired and educated me on Guitar playing. I felt moved by what he played, and that's enough, I think.
I think we need to focus more on what the person is expressing - I do not think the criticisms leveled here are fair, and I look forward to seeing more from Eliot
This man is a true virtuoso. He is a top class musician and a highly gifted classical guitarist.
I've met Fisk and seen his performances.. Yes, you can judge him by some of his flaws during his performances because he is not perfect. However, Fisk is a dynamic "Performer" on his instrument.. He can play almost forever and keep you on the edge of your seat.
Surely, you are speaking for yourself on this one.
@@00vTv00 and many others
yes he,s one of the best to play the old masters,it are not mistakes he plays .Its his own style of playing the parts.I lurn playing from the best in my country bud stil sound as myself.After years of studian the masters, i now play my own classical musiek.Its musiek from my soal,i like it,thats importend,not wat athers say about it.
This is the 2nd classical guitar TRD (I mean TED LOL) I've listened to as I am looking to buy my first and once again, I am thinking, no, don't waste my hard earned $. But I know somewhere along the line I heard inspiring or moving classical guitar, which is why I wanted to try it . Just can't remember where.
Tarrega, Albeniz, Villa-Lobos! There you will find the inspiring and moving classical guitar. :)
Here's the thing about Mr. Fisk... You've got to give credit where credit is due in terms of him putting in his ten thousand hours, I don't think anyone could deny him of that. The general consensus (and I actually don't fully agree) is that he sacrifices musicality or beauty for speed for the sake of speed. But I don't think it really is speed for the sake of speed-I think he's got a 'bigger-picture' idea of the kind of artist he wants to be and follows through on that vision. As for my personal opinion of his playing-I think there are other classical guitarists that resonate with me more. Regardless, if everyone loved every piece of music I played the way I played it, that's when I'd start to worry..
An ad in the middle of the Segovia piece??
Ziroland,
Since you are such a great judge of performing ability, one can only assume that you also are a performer. Where can we hear and see (and judge) your performances?
Do you hold a professional football coach to that same line of reasoning?
how he was inovator?
Marcos Fidelis how you learn grammar?
Very interesting, to say the least!
Pero qué tempo es este? Y menuda digitación
Great
Which Bach piece is he playing in the beginning? :)
Thanks, Simon!
Execution is part of the message, playing the guitar is not like any other instrument but I think that it is the only instrument by which it is possible to transmit and have the perception of friendliness - si possa trasmettere e percepire amichevolezza.
It should be always like that and this time maybe the guitarist was remembering his master - yes? How much does this have to do with the rigorous educational system or just feelings? Or maybe I'm being subjective too! However, I liked it!
listen to his Paganinis 24 transciption!
The piece by Mozart was played extraordinary well
If "innovative" means butcher the music for speed....then count me out.
name of the song please?
he lost me when he compared segovia to Einstein.
Slow down McLovin!!!!
So this guy is absolutely incredible. There were parts in the second piece where it seemed sloppy and he was just sliding around randomly with his left hand but it really wasn't, it was very precise and I think everything that was played was intended.
However, I don't see any new innovation. He didn't seem to claim to be an innovator in the video but the title and the description imply that he is going to talk about how one can innovate with classical music and specifically innovate with classical music on the guitar. Aside from being an absolutely incredible player I don't really see any innovation. So did I miss something or did the poster of the video just make up some random clickbait title?
Eliot Fisk is considered by many to be an innovator in the classical guitar community for his bold interpretations and performances of the classical guitar, and guitar pieces.
elffyb I'm not sure I would call that innovative but who am I to say right?
SomeDudeOnline I had the spectacular opportunity to meet him and watch him play in a private performance, and what i would consider innovative about his music is the fact that he transcribed much of it himself. Hes taken hours, days even of music originally written for violin and keyboards and other instruments, and made it available for future guitarists. This may not sound like much, but the time and and attention it must have taken makes it quite an impressive feat, and could be considered innovative, seeing as how not many classical musicians have taken the same steps. Its one thing to play a guitar piece, its another to to take a violin piece, make it into a guitar piece, and then play it masterfully.
William Butler I don't know what pieces you heard in concert, and nor would I want to take away from your enjoyment of the performance you heard, clearly Eliot Fisk is a talented guitar player. However, I agree with SomeDudeOnline on this, in that the video title and description suggested we would see something innovative, and yet what we saw was well played pieces from the past. I'm not sure about the Bach piece, but Fisk himself said the Sor and Tarrega pieces were from Segovia's repertoire (i.e. Fisk wasn't the one to first bring them to the guitar). The Tarrega piece in particular is one of the most famous pieces for classical guitar.
I don't blame Fisk, he did nothing wrong here, it's TEDx's fault for misrepresenting what we were being shown. Perhaps Fisk is an innovator at other times, but is it wrong to admit this video was about celebrating the past?
William Butler So I responded to your comment a while ago but apparently it vanished. So I will summarize, I don't see how transcribing music from other instruments is innovative. He certainly wasn't the first to do so. You said many classical musicians haven't taken the same steps, but many have. Any time someone plays Bach, Mozart, Chopin, or any other classical piece not written for the guitar, on the guitar, it was transcribed by someone and I don't think Eliot Fisk is the one transcribing all of this music. Transcribing isn't a terribly difficult task, especially if you can fluently read sheet music which I imagine most classical musicians can.
Beautiful playing!
Does anyone know the name of that beautiful peace he preformed?
Here again, Eliot puts himself and the guitar out there, on an unlikely platform in an unflattering performance space, trying to prevent all of us guitarist’s withering away, navel-gazing in our own little corner. Moreover, in these circumstances he still manages to rock those Sor variations like nobody’s business.
1:20 matteo carcassi etude?
:32 "...little trouble there.... pick it up at 17." HEHE Whiplash.
+TruthSurge :39 "...little MORE trouble there... pick it up at 18."
That's a beautiful soundboard. It has a lovely grain to it.. is that spruce, or is it something else?
Cypress,perhaps?
Yes..a good suggestion.. thank you very much for taking the time out.
You're welcome.
+John Metcalf Looks like maple & spruce to me, but could be cypress & spruce as well.
+sargijapunk Thank you for that. I've seen a lot of spruce but when the camera gets close enough it shows a grain I haven't seen before. Very unusual.. but very beautiful. 😊👍
Big like.😎
Where that mic pointing?
I like your sarcasm when you're talking to anonymous folks :D
beauty