Rachmaninoff had big hands

October 9, 2007 6:21 AM

Rachmaninoff had big hands. (More from Igudesman and Joo (flash), former students of Yehudi Menuhin).

Or, if you prefer,
-Borges plays Liszt with Rolf
and
-Dudley Moore plays with himself

posted by imposster (18 comments total)

Rachmaninoff is one of my favorite substitute swear words. Try it!
posted by darksasami at 6:35 AM on October 9, 2007

God, I remember when I was advanced enough to play Rachmaninoff pieces on the piano. Freakin' torture, I tell you. I would test to see my hand flexibility and strength by seeing how many books I could pick up in one hand from thumb to pinky. I got up to 5 Litttle House on the Prairie books.
posted by spec80 at 6:44 AM on October 9, 2007

Hitler only had one ball.
posted by DU at 7:18 AM on October 9, 2007

Where was the other?
posted by The Ultimate Olympian at 7:21 AM on October 9, 2007

You know who else had big hands? That's right, Lincoln.
posted by StickyCarpet at 7:40 AM on October 9, 2007

And I thought Borges was only a surrealist author!
posted by DU at 7:41 AM on October 9, 2007

I used to use the word "crowfeathers" as a substitute swear word. Try it!
posted by davidmsc at 7:44 AM on October 9, 2007

Where was the other?

They keep it in the Museum of Tolerance. /apologies to Tom Lennon
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 7:49 AM on October 9, 2007

My housemate Karl had nicely large hands, the better to pound out Rachmaninov preludes after a long, hard day -- or even a non-so-hard one. He found a 1930 Mason & Hamlin concert grand for, like, cheap in an Austin music store, and the whole house would vibrate sympathetically in resonance with his playing. I could sit out on the front porch with my head against the siding and not miss a note.
posted by pax digita at 7:50 AM on October 9, 2007

You know what they say: "big hands...


increased flexibility on the piano!"
posted by misha at 8:08 AM on October 9, 2007

He had Marfan's Syndrome.
posted by i_am_a_Jedi at 9:13 AM on October 9, 2007

misha - big gloves?
posted by triv at 9:21 AM on October 9, 2007

Hilarious. Loved that, thanks.
posted by nickyskye at 10:25 AM on October 9, 2007

Here's a related post on Rachmaninov's Piano Concerto No.3.
posted by homunculus at 10:25 AM on October 9, 2007

That's wonderful! I've been ploughing through their vids on Youtube and they are all fantastic. Even the Flash animation on their website isn't too obtrusive. I now love these guys.
posted by electricinca at 12:21 PM on October 9, 2007

homunculus: Same link, even the same text. Sorry I missed that.
posted by imposster at 12:38 PM on October 9, 2007

Also there, very nice: We will survive
posted by growabrain at 6:56 PM on October 9, 2007

I think I'm in love!
wonderful post, it's cheered me up no end.
posted by Wilder at 3:30 AM on October 10, 2007