Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Pianist Corner What piece is Godowsky playing in this silent film?

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He looks a little awkward in his playing but this was a five years after his stroke.

A little heavy and clumsy after his stroke, yes, but still I find it an excellent introductory video for understanding what playing using the weight of the arm is. I almost feel the weight in every his finger when I watch it.

That's some pretty neat footage.

Another example of an artist's home piano all closed up with the music desk on top of the fly lid (to save ears, I suppose).

Someone commented on FB that he's playing the last page of the third dance of his own Java Suite.

There are accounts that he recovered enough to play well in private, if not to his previous concert standard.

Pianos aren't loud enough to damage hearing. I think it's a personal preference. I like the sound of a closed piano better than an open piano myself.

Well, that's too general and too broad a statement; it really depends. If one is constantly playing a large upright, with a harsh, bright tone in a small practice room, or even a grand that is bright and too large for the room in which it is played and a room which is not adjusted acoustically, one can risk hearing damage.

Read this, please:

pianos and hearing loss

Regards,

Interesting article. Thanks Bruce.

Yes, a very interesting article. Thanks for posting!

Godowsky was a phenomenal pianist even such greats as Hofmann agreed he played like no other in his home privately. That said, even though he was extremely gifted it was also hard work as it has been stated that he used to practice 10 plus hours a day. His iterations of the Chopin etudes separate the men from the boys. Hamelin has an outstanding recording of these finger-busters.