A little life story of Arthur Rubinstein
One of the greatest pianists of our time, in my opinion, was Arthur Rubinstein. Unlike most pianists, he was able to play publicly and at a high level throughout his 70s and 80s. His interpretation of Chopin's music had brought much joy (and tears) to many people.
I was surprised to read in his autobiography a little life story about his early struggle.
Arthur Rubinstein was a prodigy. Once he became world renowned – feted wherever he traveled – he ceased to work on his craft with sufficient regularity and assiduity. He confessed with great sorrow that he was not proud of himself at those early years. Below were his own words:
The dissipated life I was leading, my constant constantly preoccupation with the opposite sex, the late hours spent nightly with my intellectual friends, the theaters, the shows, the rich food at lunch and dinner, and worst of all, my passionate attraction for all of this never allowed me to concentrate on my work.......I couldn't boast of one single piece which I played entirely faithful to the text and without some technical shortcomings........I knew that I was born a true musician but instead of developing my talent I was living on the capital of it. (Source: Arthur Rubinstein, My Many Years (NY: Knopf, 1980))
Rubinstein came to realize that he could not live on this capital indefinitely without replenishing it. He privately commented to a friend, “When I don't practice for a day, I know. When I don't practice for two days, the orchestra knows it. And when I don't practice for three days, the world knows it.” And so he gradually relinquished the life of the sybarite, settled down, launched a family, and began to practice the repertoire with greater regularity and scrupulousness. Rubinstein went on to become a giant amongst classical musicians (pianist) of our time.
Rubinstein stands as an example of someone who has the humility to admit one's weakness(at the height of one's success); the courage to let the unholy self dies, the perseverance to wed the two meanings of discipline: mastery of a craft, and the capacity to renew that craft through regular application over the years.
Indeed, this is something we can learn.
* Arthur Rubinstein died on 20 December 1982 at the age of 95, and his ashes were buried in Israel, in a plot of land overlooking the Jerusalem Forest. His music lives on, and can be found on youtube web-site.
I was surprised to read in his autobiography a little life story about his early struggle.
Arthur Rubinstein was a prodigy. Once he became world renowned – feted wherever he traveled – he ceased to work on his craft with sufficient regularity and assiduity. He confessed with great sorrow that he was not proud of himself at those early years. Below were his own words:
The dissipated life I was leading, my constant constantly preoccupation with the opposite sex, the late hours spent nightly with my intellectual friends, the theaters, the shows, the rich food at lunch and dinner, and worst of all, my passionate attraction for all of this never allowed me to concentrate on my work.......I couldn't boast of one single piece which I played entirely faithful to the text and without some technical shortcomings........I knew that I was born a true musician but instead of developing my talent I was living on the capital of it. (Source: Arthur Rubinstein, My Many Years (NY: Knopf, 1980))
Rubinstein came to realize that he could not live on this capital indefinitely without replenishing it. He privately commented to a friend, “When I don't practice for a day, I know. When I don't practice for two days, the orchestra knows it. And when I don't practice for three days, the world knows it.” And so he gradually relinquished the life of the sybarite, settled down, launched a family, and began to practice the repertoire with greater regularity and scrupulousness. Rubinstein went on to become a giant amongst classical musicians (pianist) of our time.
Rubinstein stands as an example of someone who has the humility to admit one's weakness(at the height of one's success); the courage to let the unholy self dies, the perseverance to wed the two meanings of discipline: mastery of a craft, and the capacity to renew that craft through regular application over the years.
Indeed, this is something we can learn.
* Arthur Rubinstein died on 20 December 1982 at the age of 95, and his ashes were buried in Israel, in a plot of land overlooking the Jerusalem Forest. His music lives on, and can be found on youtube web-site.
posted by Allen Lim @ 10:57 PM
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