Jascha Heifetz
Jascha Heifetz
Jascha Heifetzwas a violinist, considered by many to be the greatest violinist of all time. Born in Wilno, Russian Empire, he moved as a teenager to the United States, where his Carnegie Hall debut was rapturously received. He was a virtuoso since childhood—Fritz Kreisler, another leading violinist of the twentieth century, said on hearing Heifetz's debut, "We might as well take our fiddles and break them across our knees."...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionViolinist
Date of Birth2 February 1901
CityVilnius, Lithuania
CountryUnited States of America
When people come to play music as they do to play bridge, civilization will have taken the longest stride forward since the beginning of time.
He once told a reporter he wanted his obituary to be short - "just make it born in Russia, first lesson at 3, debut at 7, debut in America in 1917".
I have discovered three things which know no geographical borders - classical music, American jazz, and applause as the sign of the public's favor.
Music has a lot in common with mathematics. But in music, two and two need not make four: they add up to whatever you wish.
Criticism does not disturb me, for I am my own severest critic. Always in my playing I strive to surpass myself, and it is this constant struggle that makes music fascinating to me.
I occasionally play works by contemporary composers and for two reasons. First to discourage the composer from writing any more and secondly to remind myself how much I appreciate Beethoven.
There is no top. There are always further heights to reach.
There is no such thing as perfection, there are only standards. And after you have set a standard you learn that it was not high enough. You want to surpass it.
Practice like it means everything in the world to you. Perform like you don't give a damn.
If I don't practice one day, I know it; two days, the critics know it; three days, the public knows it.
No matter what side of the argument you are on, you always find people on your side that you wish were on the other.
If the Almighty himself played the violin, the credits would still read 'Rubinstein, God, and Piatigorsky', in that order.
Can you appreciate music without playing it? Yes, you can. You can appreciate baseball without playing it. Many people attend a football game merely for the crowd, the excitement, the color.
The discipline of practice every day is essential. When I skip a day, I notice a difference in my playing. After two days, the critics notice, and after three days, so does the audience.