Pianists (and other performers) who hum along when they play

[Brian]

Love 'em or hate 'em?

The other day I created a "List of Things that Annoy Me" as a stress-reliever. Then I heard a Schubert album by Jeno Jando, in which Jando hums along (distinctly off-key), created a special new "List of Things that Make Me Happy," and put "pianists who hum along when they play" right at the top. Something about Jando's subdued, off-key vocalizations just gave me a very warm, cheery feeling.

Of course, my enthusiasm for noisy performers is not universal. On the Tito Puente/Eddie Palmieri jazz album "Obra Maestra," someone makes some truly godawful groaning noises during "Picadillo Jam"!   

ps. Jando also hums along in "Elvira Madigan," and it's only marginally less charming.

[Lady Chatterley]

Glenn Gould and the Goldburgs.

[Brian]

Glenn Gould and the Goldburgs.

That would be a "love 'em", I presume? 

[Lady Chatterley]

That would be a "love 'em", I presume? 

Yes ,he certainly did.

[longears]

Keith Jarrett, Fats Waller, and Bob Wills come to mind. 

[Brian]

Yes ,he certainly did.

haha, sorry, I meant you! My question was folks' opinion of vocalizing performers ... are they charming or a bother?

[Holden]

In the 'tuba mirum' from Verdi's Requiem you can hear Toscanini almost shouting at his band to get the best out of them. This is the 1951 NBCSO performance.

[Lady Chatterley]

haha,

Thank you.

[Renfield]

Love 'em, really. And I'm surprised no one mentioned "Glorious John" Barbirolli, that paragon of podium groans and grunts!

[Grazioso]

Keith Jarrett's whiny vocalizations are, um, interesting

[longears]

You, sir, are a diplomat!

[Todd]

Love 'em or hate 'em?

Neither. 

[c#minor]

I can deal with it, i would rather not have to though.

One thing i do find very intresting is when i was attending a perfomance of Beethoven's 1st PC by Awadagin Pratt and he stomped the floor quite a few times, and this was no mild stomp, it was louder than the orchestra at times.

That is the only time i have ever encountered stomping of the magnitute.

[Renfield]

I can deal with it, i would rather not have to though.

One thing i do find very intresting is when i was attending a perfomance of Beethoven's 1st PC by Awadagin Pratt and he stomped the floor quite a few times, and this was no mild stomp, it was louder than the orchestra at times.

That is the only time i have ever encountered stomping of the magnitute.

Does it compare to Lenny (Bernstein's) stomping during intense parts of Mahler symphonies, in the late 80's?

[12tone.]

If you have Ashkenazy's Chopin box set or have a single disc, his playing of the second Nocturne of Op.27 (D flat major) at around 3:07 - 3:10, if played loud enough, you can almost hear him breaking out crying. 

[BachQ]

Pletnev

[Harry]

Alfred Brendel, always humming in the background....

[val]

I can't stand noises made by performers. Hum, sing, mumble ... Casals, Toscanini, Arrau are examples and, as much as I admire them, I hate those noises. Last week I heard a CD with works of Weiss for the lute, and Hopkinson Smith seemed under an asthma attack. Very disgusting.

[Mark]

Jando's humming is something I've heard of but yet to experience. Despite having several discs of his music, I can still detect no contribution from him aside from the one he's meant to be making via his fingers and feet.

[sidoze]

Pletnev

I didn't know that. Does he do it often?

I can't stand noises made by performers. Hum, sing, mumble ... Casals, Toscanini, Arrau are examples

Arrau had two problems: heavy breathing (nasal symphonies) and long fingernails (tap plodding, in Arrau's world). Somewhat mars his complete Beethoven sonata set