Anna Han: Schumann's Piano Sonata No. 1 | Juilliard Sir András Schiff Piano Master Class

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♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
(audience applauding)
♫ ♫ ♫ [Andras humming]
ANDRAS SCHIFF: Beautiful, thank you.
It's a wonderful piece.
Isn't it?
ANNA HAN: Yeah, it's beautiful.
SCHIFF: Very.
So...
But you see...
It's very good, most of it.
People say of Schumann's late music that mentally unstable.
I don't know anything more mentally unstable
than this sonata.
(audience laughs)
This is a young, a relatively young piece, yeah?
But you know, it took him...
It's very hard for composers
to write piano sonata after Beethoven.
He's like--you know--a father figure in piano sonatas.
So, even for Schubert, this was always very difficult,
and he struggled with this sonata a lot.
So that's very good if it comes
across in the interpretation.
Should not be easy.
However, there are some elements
which have to be better organized, rhythmically.
Let's just establish this motive.
♫ ♫ ♫ [bouncy orchestral music]
So always the falling fifths.
This represents Clara.
Because Clara is
♪ La, cla, a-la ♪
You hear that?
Re is D in Italian. So...
A and re, yeah?
So it's, within the transpose. (hums)
And the (hums).
♫ ♫ ♫ [lilting orchestral music]
So, always the
Think of this like a light motif in the whole sonata.
It would be good to play for me this one.
♫ ♫ ♫ Andras humming
♫ ♫ ♫ Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann
So, and see.
Always the falling fifths. (hums)
What does this rhythm remind you of?
[HAN] It could be a horse galloping.
[SCHIFF] Exactly, exactly, horses. You know? (hums)
And why is that?
Can you tell me?
Why are there horses here?
HAN: I'm not sure. Maybe he's traveling. (chuckles)
SCHIFF: Yeah, he would.
So this, we know from Schumann's description,
this is like an outcry after Clara.
They were madly in love with each other,
but Clara's father, Friedrich Wieck,
famous piano teacher and pedagogue, he didn't want
to hear of this relationship and sent Clara far away.
So he would like to take a horse
and gallop, just ride to her.
This is my interpretation, but it's not far from the truth.
So you have to suggest it. (hums)
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
♫ ♫ ♫ [Andras humming]
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
Yeah, but you are too, when the semi quavers,
what's it in American, 16th note, yes. (hums)
Start a little later.
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
Yes!
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
♫ ♫ ♫ [Andras humming]
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
Listen.
♫ ♫ ♫ [Andras humming and playing piano]
When you get into forte fortissimo, you lose the quality. Yeah?
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
Good!
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
That's good. (hums)
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
Yes.
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
Clear the air with the pedal.
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
Okay. (hums)
(Andras speaks in foreign language)
♫ ♫ ♫ [Andras hums]
You have to raise your blood pressure here, yes?
(audience laughs)
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
Yes. (hums)
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
♫ ♫ ♫ [Andras hums and plays piano]
Horns, yeah?
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
And!
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
I couldn't pedal with shoes like that.
(audience laughing)
It's very beautiful, but of course, you have to (hums).
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
(hums) Play that along, just right there.
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
Yeah, it's good.
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
♫ ♫ ♫ [Andras humming and playing piano]
Yeah, yeah!
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
Okay, now go back to the (hums).
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
Yeah?
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
Excellent! (claps)
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
Shh, relax. (hums)
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
Shh.
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
Okay, now, it would be nice to have
a more natural rubato here.
It's a little bit stereotype.
♫ ♫ ♫ [Andras hums]
Take away the bar lines, no bar lines.
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
(hums) Change the color. (hums)
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
Again, we have the falling fifth, (hums) yes?
And!
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
Okay, please, just a moment. (hums)
♫ ♫ ♫ [Andras hums]
This pedal is not good. (hums)
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
♫ ♫ ♫ [Andras humming]
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
Good!
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
♫ ♫ ♫ [Andras humming]
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
Okay, how is the voice syncing? (hums)
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
I would bring up a little more of the tenor voice.
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
Yes.
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
♫ ♫ ♫ Andras humming
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
You see, at the end of the movement,
the slowing down is fine, but not here
because there is no tempo change, really.
The tiny bit of difference, but. (hums)
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
Not in half tempo. (hums)
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
It's a sonata so this is the final subject
of this movement, yes? (hums)
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
♫ ♫ ♫ [Andras humming]
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
Very good.
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
Okay, now.
The phrase lengths is irregular, yes?
So let's just play (hums).
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
(hums) Four bars now, one. (hums)
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
Six bars, now shh.
We start now at one. (hums)
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
Four bars. (hums)
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
Now, eight bars.
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
And only here, so if he wants a ritard, he writes it.
So why does he write here, "Ritard," and not there?
See?
It's very good if you keep the momentum, keep it going,
and think in very large paragraphs, yeah?
All right, I would build this up from the lower voices.
(hums) Lower strings, so not the first violas. (hums)
♫ ♫ ♫ Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann
It's violas.
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
Now, second violas.
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
And now the first violas. (hums)
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
Yeah?
So we have to orchestrate.
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
Legatissimo.
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
Breathe. (hums)
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
It is tonic dominant. (hums)
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
It sounds too normal, how you play this.
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
It's the wrong fingering.
Don't take this thumb on the black key. (hums)
Yeah? (hums)
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
That's right.
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
Timpani. (hums)
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
It should be very spooky, threatening, yes?
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
Yes.
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
Hang on.
♫ ♫ ♫ [Andras hums]
Yeah, yeah.
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
Hang on. Something is not ringing. (hums)
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
♫ ♫ ♫ Andras humming
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
I don't hear the grace note.
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
Yeah.
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
Hit it.
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
But.
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
More dominant than tonic. (hums)
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
That's right.
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
You okay?
Very good, now play this slowly.
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
Yeah, I don't hear the harmonies.
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
♫ ♫ ♫ [Andras humming]
It's better, but (hums).
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
Yeah?
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
♫ ♫ ♫ [Andras humming and playing piano]
Yeah?
You have to follow the bass.
HAN: Sorry.
SCHIFF: Mm-hm.
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
Good!
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
♫ ♫ ♫ [Andras humming]
Pianissimo, shh.
It's much too loud, much too loud, even in New York.
(audience laughs)
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
Very good.
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
But even in this, now it's a slower temp. (hums)
The syncopation. (hums)
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
(hums) Out of breath.
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
(hums) Very good.
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
No, this is too mechanical. (hums)
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
Very good.
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
And now, you have to change the attitude.
Go crazy here. (hums)
You know?
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
All right, here, yeah, but here,
when I say go crazy, but don't go crazy.
(audience laughs)
It's fine.
Now, the expression is good, but don't lose control.
For example, I don't hear (hums).
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
Those voices, yeah?
There is just a lot of noise.
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
The phrasing is independent. (hums)
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
BAM BAM. The timpanist goes in. (hums)
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
♫ ♫ ♫ [Andras humming and playing piano]
Yeah?
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
This, I would take it, left, five, two and five, one.
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
Yeah?
That's right.
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
And here, it's like...
When it's a very good movie director makes a cut. (hums)
Back to the beginning, so don't connect here, all right?
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
You are still connecting too much. (hums)
It's subito piano, yes?
And before, we were forte fortissimo, so acoustically,
we need a tiny, little break, a scissor. (hums)
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
(speaks in foreign language) What does it mean?
HAN: I don't know.
SCHIFF: You don't know and you play this piece? (clicks tongue)
But you play it very well.
This part you didn't play well
because you don't know what is (speaks in foreign language).
(audience laughs)
It means in a manner of speaking way.
Why is this? (speaks in foreign language)
Italian, (speaks in foreign language) to speak.
It's not singing but speaking, declamation.
♫ ♫ ♫ [Andras humming]
Now, I am telling you, yes?
Speak, yeah?
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
♫ ♫ ♫ [Andras humming]
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
Okay, now just play the left hand alone,
please, just speaking.
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
So for (speaks in foreign language),
you have to articulate the small notes. (hums)
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
Yes?
Just that.
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
(hums) Not legato, not legato. (hums)
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
And. (hums)
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
Very good.
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
Now! (hums)
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
And so, the other hand is anticipating the harmony. (hums)
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
Always the right hand is half a step ahead of the left hand.
Just play it slowly and listen to the harmonies, yeah?
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
(hums) Very good.
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
Very good.
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
Okay, and this modulation, nobody would expect this.
It's very daring. (hums)
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
Yes? (hums)
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
Okay, now put it together and don't think too much.
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
Very good.
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
♫ ♫ ♫ [Andras humming]
But. (hums)
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
You have to smuggle it in, yeah?
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
♫ ♫ ♫ [Andras humming]
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
Where is the harmony?
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
Like bells, yeah?
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
Very good.
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
Very good, now, waves. (hums)
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
Okay, but this is the climax. (hums)
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
Whatever you have, and no rubato there. (hums)
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
Okay, but let's build this up again. (hums)
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
There's a wrong note there.
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
♫ ♫ ♫ [Andras humming]
This is a...
No, that's right.
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
How can this be more orchestral?
Just slowly. (hums)
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
It's very difficult on the modern piano
when you play too much bass.
I love a lot of bass, but the bass strings
are very thick on the modern piano.
Be careful not to cover the middle and the top.
Balance it.
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
It's not enough to hold the pedal
and Holy Mary or what, you know? (hums)
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
Hold your hand on the...
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
Yeah?
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
Listen.
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
Very good.
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
(hums) Wait, shh, agitado. (hums)
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
No. (hums)
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
Yeah, (hums) yes!
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
And!
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
(groans) Look what you are doing with your foot.
I mean, really, kicking the pedal.
Stay on it, yeah?
♫ ♫ ♫ Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann
Please, sorry. (hums)
Pedal in the middle, (hums) pedal, (hums) pedal.
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
You see?
That's a different story, yeah?
So, one more time. (hums)
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
It's a wild humor, yes?
(speaks in foreign language) He writes this sometimes.
He's a crazy guy, wonderful, crazy man, yeah?
Please.
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
Don't get tired. (hums)
Now, long and tonal. (hums)
Different color. (hums)
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
Shh, yet another.
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
Just wait one moment.
You've put in too many accents here. (hums)
♫ ♫ ♫ [Andras humming]
Yeah?
Not every other accent.
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
No, this accent I don't like. (hums)
♫ ♫ ♫ [Andras humming]
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
Not too slow. (hums)
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
Okay, look.
Don't make life more complicated than it is.
It's hard enough.
When he writes the ritard, then start getting slower,
but you are making so much here.
I am a little bit confused as a listener, yeah?
So don't confuse us. (hums)
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
Now, ritard. (hums)
Dark. (hums)
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
Your lower voice. (hums)
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
Now, middle voice. (hums)
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
And now the upper voice. (hums)
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
SCHIFF: Is your name Anna?
HAN: Yeah.
SCHIFF: Do you know what this piece has to do with your name?
HAN: Uh-uh.
SCHIFF: I can tell you some news.
(audience laughs)
This song. (hums)
♫ ♫ ♫ [An Anna I by Robert Schumann]
This is an early song by Schumann called An Anna,
for Anna, so he wrote a song for you.
(audience laughs)
Isn't it nice?
No, really.
And because of that, before we stop,
please play the beginning of the sonata.
HAN: This part or the very--
No, the very beginning.
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
Now comes your song.
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
All right, very good, so just the (hums).
Says it's very much a cello figuration, no? (hums)
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
♫ ♫ ♫ [Andras humming]
Just play it with a string sonority.
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
And this sonority. (hums)
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
One finger is not enough.
(upbeat piano music)
I try to use sometimes three, just (hums).
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
♫ ♫ ♫ [Andras humming]
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
Yeah, good.
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
You have to use the natural, I hate to talk
about piano playing, but occasionally you have to.
Because to achieve this sonority, the fingers can't do it.
It's a question of the weight of the body, yes?
And the breathing, so never force it.
Think of a fullness of sound, yes?
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
That's right. (hums)
That's very good.
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
Excellent.
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
♫ ♫ ♫ [Andras humming]
Very good, that's a much better sound.
You are confusing the voice-leading. (hums)
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
I don't hear really that the upper voice stays.
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
♫ ♫ ♫ [Andras humming]
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
(Andras claps)
Less full. (hums)
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
Now, the violins. (hums)
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
Yes, now the voice-leading gets more complex here.
(hums) They look at those accent. (hums)
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
You know?
So let's just do from the top of the page.
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
♫ ♫ ♫ [Andras humming]
Shh. (speaks in foreign language)
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
Oh, yeah, sorry.
SCHIFF: Do you like this?
HAN: No. (chuckles)
SCHIFF: No, nor do I. (chuckles)
I love very much how you play,
but it gets very, again, I use the word sentimental.
Because the rubato is composed.
You have triplets against doublets.
So even if you do very simple, it will sound rubato.
But if you're making me seasick here,
it's not necessary. (hums)
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
The simpler, the better.
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
♫ ♫ ♫ [Andras humming]
Yes.
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
Okay, very good. (hums)
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
♫ ♫ ♫ [Andras humming]
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
Okay, also, this Clara motif. (hums)
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
It's the Ninth Beethoven.
It's always in the background, yes?
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
(hums) Very good.
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
Yeah, again. (hums)
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
The interval. (hums)
Legatissimo, no?
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
Very good.
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
Roll back, shh.
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
♫ ♫ ♫ [Andras humming]
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
Okay, so the bass is pianissimo, yes?
But the top stays fortissimo.
I think the pianissimo refers only to the bass, yes?
So just play (hums), just the last three bars, please.
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
Yes, and that only relieves the,
so please believe Schumann here,
that this is absolutely with no change of pedal here.
- Okay.
- It has to sound wild.
And then just release the pedal on this note.
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
What you to have to work on this is the shape
and the form of the whole piece.
And also, when you change character,
it has to be a shocking change, absolutely no preparation.
Like this one. (hums)
♫ ♫ ♫ [Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor by Robert Schumann]
And so you have to change
your whole attitude there, immediately. (hums)
Yeah?
So those moments, and legato, legato, legato, yeah?
It's very hard to achieve a perfect legato
like singers do, but that should be our goal, yeah?
Excellent, thank you very much.
(audience applauding)
Thank you.