Home Page

Official Website for Richard Kastle

Home page for the virtuoso pianist and composer of symphonies

Richard Kastle's home page and website for enthusiasts of the art of the virtuoso. Before Virgin Records released Richard Kastle Streetwise in 1991, all of the recording artists in the 20th century faked the ending of the Hungarian Rhapsody no 2. The live performances by professionals document how they lose control and have a chain reaction of wrong notes when they don't simplify the passage. It is the goal of this website to focus on new advances in science that may unlock the secret to why Franz Liszt was able to play notes that were impossible to other virtuosos.

Chopin's Polonaise in A Flat - click here
Liszt's Hungarian Rhapsody no 2 - click here
Royce Concerto - live solo version - click here
Liszt's Hungarian Rhapsody no 2 -ending/TMZ interview - click here
TV appearance clips - click here

Liszt put his most difficult technique, the descending octaves, right at the end of his most famous piece. My recording on Virgin Records was the first successful performance of Liszt's hardest technique. As a group, the other recording artists before me must have had about a thousand chances to get it right, because of the nature of studio recordings. History shows that all the best of the best had to offer was faked and failed performances of Liszt's descending octaves. It is my goal to explain the science behind why they can't play the notes with the hope that the next generation will be able to use that science to master the art of the virtuoso.

"Spike-haired pianist shows how you can't judge an album by his jacket" -LA Times

"Liszt's Hungarian Rhapsody no 2 shows he can get around on a keyboard" - Boston Herald

"Street hardened punk and passionate pianist" - Dallas Morning News

"His version of Liszt's La Campanella is said to be impossible" - LA Weekley

Why can't they play the hardest notes by Liszt?

-40 octaves = 40 different hand movements in about 3 seconds.

-38 times -the hands have to switch directions.

-19 times -the hands move in opposite directions.

-14 different types of opposite hand movements .

   -THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE-
Liszt requires the performer to "hammer" each of the octaves at full volume. The staccato strike adds about an additional inch to the distance between each of the octaves. The total distance the hands move is about 156 inches if hammered. If the octaves are not hammered , played with less volume and as legato as possible, the distance can be shortened to 111 inches.

Descending Octaves Tour
Hungarian Rhapsody no 2
Tour of live performances
Tour of 20th century recordings

Myspace blogs:
Update on the Campbell Troll and My Other Stalkers
There are Two Ways to Play the Piano
How to Play Liszt's Descending Octaves
The Campbell Troll
The Identity Thief
The Story Behind my Classical    Recordings
Thesis on Myelin Sheath and Piano Virtuosos
The Removal of Creative Challenges in Higher Education of Pianists, Composers and Conductors
The Neocortex: Thesis on Memory Prediction Framework vs. Memory Framework