Nikhil Hogan Show

140: Wim Winters (Whole Beat Metronome Principle)

Aug 1, 2023

Guest Wim Winters, a Clavichord researcher and YouTube channel host, discusses topics such as the history and touch of the Clavichord, reconstructing jazz without sound recordings, the Whole Beat Metronome Principle, controversies surrounding Beethoven's metronome, pressure in classical music, and upcoming projects

01:50:11

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Wim Winters

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Quick takeaways

The Whole Beat Theory challenges traditional metronome marks, suggesting each tick represents note subdivision.

Whole beat performance addresses misconceptions about composers like Beethoven and Chopin.

Advocates of whole beat performance face hostility in the classical music community and emphasize the need for open-mindedness.

Deep dives

Whole Beat Theory: Exploring the Metronome Mark Interpretation

The Whole Beat Theory challenges the traditional interpretation of metronome marks in musical compositions. It suggests that the metronome mark should be read differently, with each tick representing the subdivision of the note value, rather than the actual duration of the note. This interpretation aligns with historical evidence, such as the one-slack definition and the concept of a beat consisting of two movements. Critics may provide examples of individuals playing at lightning-fast tempos, but it is important to consider the technical limitations of physical instruments and the questionable nature of some recordings. The theory also addresses the evolution of tempo practices and the misconceptions surrounding composers like Beethoven and Chopin. Additionally, discussions about broken metronomes and alternative interpretations are explored, emphasizing the need for a careful examination of historical context and an open-minded approach to understanding the intentions of composers.

Wim Winters on Holby Theory

01:16

The Principle of Slow Movements

01:20

The Origins of the Clavicord Organ

01:20

The Culture of Improvisation

01:20

Introduction

4min

The Clavicord: An Instrument of the 18th Century

14min

Reconstructing Jazz from Anecdotes and Sheet Music

16min

Understanding Whole Beat Metronome Theory

2min

The Limitations of Digital Keyboards for Playing Difficult Pieces

18min

Controversy Surrounding Beethoven's Metronome

13min

Scholarly Questions, Internet Anonymity, and Whole Big Time

2min

Pressure and Expectations in Classical Music

24min

Publishing and Promotion

4min

10.

Experiencing the Evidence Firsthand

8min

11.

Upcoming Events and Projects

2min

0:00 Intro

0:36 Start

1:26 When did you start your YouTube channel, and when did you shift from recording performances to research into Whole Beat?

6:22 Which composers used the clavichord?

9:01 Did playing the Clavichord change the way you played Organ?

11:06 What is the Clavichord's touch like?

12:55 Piano vs Clavichord

18:21 What if we had to reconstruct jazz without having access to any sound recordings but rely only on written transcriptions

30:21 Weren't there musical mechanical clocks during Haydn's time that captured authentic 18th-century musical performance practice?

34:22 What is the Whole Beat Metronome Principle (WBMP)?

36:45 Wim responds to people playing Czerny at single beat tempo

47:18 If Whole Beat is true, why do students and eye-witnesses of the great composers play so fast?

54:31 Was Beethoven's metronome broken?

57:56 Don't the flyers and concert bills that advertise the concerts of these composers invalidate Whole Beat because the concerts would be too long as opposed to their actual advertised length?

1:03:11 What has been the general response to your research overall?

1:08:57 Injuries: The unspoken dark side of performance careers in Classical music

1:14:55 Beethoven recording gets canned because the musicians' careers got threatened

1:15:48 The most powerful classical music agent Ronald Wilford wouldn't allow Cyprien Katsaris to record/perform piano transcriptions if under contract

1:16:22 What does Wim think of partimento and classical improvisation?

1:20:46 Wim's favorite composers

1:23:13 Great compositions sound great slowed down, maybe even better than how they are typically played fast today

1:30:46 Whole Beat can't work because vocal music is impossible if singers have to hold notes that long

1:38:42 Carl Czerny: Whole Beat or Single Beat?

1:38:46 Beethoven: Whole Beat or Single Beat?

1:38:50 Mozart: Whole Beat or Single Beat?

1:39:04 Franz Liszt: Whole Beat or Single Beat?

1:39:14 Did Paris Conservatory graduates historically think in terms of Whole Beat?

1:39:28 Alkan: Whole Beat or Single Beat?

1:39:39 Tchaikovsky: Whole Beat or Single Beat?

1:39:49 Rachmaninoff: Whole Beat or Single Beat?

1:40:54 Debussy and Ravel: Whole Beat or Single Beat?

1:43:50 Rimsky-Korsakov and Stravinsky: Whole Beat or Single Beat?

1:44:13 What tempo should people play Bach?

1:45:23 Wrapping Up

1:47:10 Outro

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Nikhil Hogan Show

140: Wim Winters (Whole Beat Metronome Principle)

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Deep dives

Whole Beat Theory: Exploring the Metronome Mark Interpretation

Questioning Duration and Concert Programs

Misconceptions and Fallacies

The Importance of Whole Beat Performance in Classical Music

Challenges and Hostility Faced by Advocates of Whole Beat Performance

Exploring the Implications and Potential of Whole Beat Performance

Wim Winters on Holby Theory

The Principle of Slow Movements

The Origins of the Clavicord Organ

The Culture of Improvisation

Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts