Chopin, Nocturne in E-flat Major, opus 9 no.2, Piano Solo (animated score)

[maneatingtoilets]

What kind of piano or even software do you use? I like your sound.

[smalin]

@maneatingtoilets  I think I did this one with the Acoustica Pianissimo software.

[Chris55811]

Makes me think of sleeping babies

[diegosgc]

Could you do the first movement of Mozart's Sonata K331?

[MASAIMANIC]

you played this?? !

you continue to amaze me...

[animefanz123]

i think the playing is too fast for a nocturne...

[smalin]

@animefanz123 Chopin indicated 132 eighth notes per minute in the score; I'm playing it slower than that. If you think I'm playing it too fast, you need to argue with Chopin.

[rrlloo1]

@smalin Impossible! Chopin died years ago!

[smalin]

@rrlloo1 Then I guess there's no arguing with him.

[rrlloo1]

@smalin Unless... TO THE TIME MACHINE!

[rleb09]

@smalin es verdad!

[MrDrewboggess]

My favorite nocturne

[JDM96ACCORD]

very nice

[JakobMcBong]

Dexter :D

[GovernerOfBurningHam]

@JakobMcBong season 2?

[over181471]

do you play the music?

[smalin]

@over181471 I did for this video, but there are often others playing.

[over181471]

@smalin cool. I can see that you put a lot of effort into your videos and it pays off.I don't usually listen to classical music but the way you show it in you videos makes it seem like a puzzle and because i'm quite mathematical I can understand it. Thank you.

[ellamariera]

This is absolutely gorgeous!

[ANON1NE]

Thank you for this wonderful collection of videos stephen.

[herointoast]

You know guys, it is really sad that every single classical piece on you-tube is broken to pieces by critique. What matters to me is if it sounds pretty much how it should, it's fine! This song along with many other pieces by Chopin have great emotional meaning to ME as an individual! That is how a lot of art is interpreted, what does it mean to YOU? it doesn't always have to be focused on the meaning to the performer! Lets quit picking at a beautiful piece of music and just LISTEN and ENJOY.

[madplaysHD]

I dont really like the fisheye effect. It basically makes the timeaxis non-linear, this means its hard to follow.

[deserteacher]

wow Stephen, you're the bomb

[Rannyfash]

not particularyly fond of the animation, should not have a graduated transition between notes,

[l306yue]

I forgot how much I like this little tune. Its timeless. Well done Chopin. How many of us truly create something that will live on forever!?

[MrVulpone]

Sorry, but unless they can perfectly imagine all the intervals based on this animation, deaf people don't see squad except for moving circles. As beautiful as this is, let's not get ridiculous.

[smalin]

@MrVulpone Some deaf people have commented that they enjoy my videos.

[MrVulpone]

@smalin I wasn't questioning the visual beauty of it - most of my friends became lovers of your videos thanks to me -, but their comprehension of the music that is played beyond the circles.

[smalin]

@MrVulpone I see it as a continuum: People who've lost much of their hearing report they can use my videos to fill in (in their "inner ear") parts of the music that they no longer hear. Some who've gone completely deaf say my videos allow them to reexperience music they remember. Some who were born deaf say that my videos help them understand what is interesting about music. If a deaf person who has studied music theory were to read a score, would they be comprehending it?

[MrVulpone]

@smalin Interesting point... I would assume that a person that was born deaf may know everything about music theory and still see it beyond what we can comprehend, simply because they are trying to grasp something that essentially is not there. And personally, I'd love to hear that person's perception of music; it must be truly magical. But is it any different from asking a blind man how he sees the world?

Isn't the world fascinating in every facet? Thank you for your input, it made me think.

[thisonewingedangel16]

@MrVulpone I think this video is the most beautiful representation of this equally beautiful piece. Actually, this is what got me into playing the piano. I think you should learn to be a little more open-minded. 

[bandweenie2871]

@MrVulpone I can tell the rythm and the approximate pitch by just watching the video. I don't need to hear it.

[AdamGloominati]

Stephen Malinowski, excellent performance, great animation!!!! I know a way to hear music through my eyes, this is it....

[MarSwanlake]

Ohhh, gracias Chopin por tan hermoso regalo!

[HitsujiV]

Simply beautiful.

I think this is a true gift for the deaf, they can hear one of the greatest pieces of music with their eyes.

[gotohemp]

Here for my daily dose.

Thank you smalin :)

[MsChrissy760]

Hate to say this but its awesome!

[facetubemyassplug]

This is great. Both video and performance. Thank you Smalin.

[SarinaJynx]

so schöön (:

[LtCrunch42]

Doing homework while listening to this is quite fitting. Sometimes I even look forward to doing my homework right after school, which proves you can never go wrong with classical music :)

[mad4hatters]

@crazyradioman It's Chopin

[crazyradioman]

Is this Stephen Foster?

[iNeguyeN]

C'est un gros sketch cette musique !

[kevinyang1312]

OMG!!! I finally found it! I've always been looking for this piece! But I've never found it, UNTIL NOW!!! I thank God, and Fate! For helping me find this wonderful piece!

[sargsian2002]

Just for listening to this piece alone it is worth living

[vivixoxoxocandies]

Absolutely beautiful work smalin!!!!!!!!!! I wonder what Chopin was thinking of when he composed this :)

[adram3lech]

I think you should send this to a short animated film competetion.

[smalin]

@adram3lech I've entered my videos in competitions before, and they've won a few minor awards; I've decided it isn't worth the trouble. I mean, my videos already get millions of views on YouTube; what more would I get from being in a competition?

[pkerlover]

@smalin Even more fame! Also, you could probably end up profiting, although you're the genius who made this, you should figure something out.

[thegillfishguy1]

Nice work, I'd be happy to be half as good as you :)

[asdfgasdfg128]

Adoro essa música! Ela é tão completa.. no words...

[PREDxMODZ]

Listen to this when your baked

[rgarcia77]

@PREDxMODZ Ditto that with Vivaldi's Winter ( Allegro) Suite.

[OfficeKitten2012]

This is very good indeed. Chopin was brilliant.

[Valindor13]

Muse used this Chopin in the end of their song "United States of Eurasia" in their album "The Resistance" ! =)

[ladywithsence2007]

Did anyone see the dislike bar?

...... yeah me too!!:)

[frompolandeu]

och Szopenie! kieruję do ciebie te apostrofę, jesteś naljepszy... Chopin do bani

[MissROFLMAO]

Stunning!

[NicolasNarvaez16MFC]

Beautiful :3

[riekomw]

@smalin This is beautiful... Can I use the audio in this video for a short film I made? I will give you credit in the video.

[smalin]

@riekomw Please email me with the details of the request (you can find my email address on my website).

[mjc1024]

@riekomw you don't need to give him credit, this is Chopin and it's public domain

[smalin]

@mjc1024 The composition is in the public domain, but the recording of my performance has its own copyright.

[Blackhorndown]

Beautiful...

[wtblessing]

i much prefer this look over the standard bars. much classier. very nice!

[MGSGR3YF0X]

127 hours <3

[MelisaThe15]

soy feliz :) que buena música es hermosa

[thriftyscotswoman]

I always enjoy your videos. Thank you for uploading this!

[RaCh3L521]

Beautiful. <3 <3

[jubeltr]

I like very much...congratulations. Many professional musicians will use this system

[ez2rbr]

The start music of the Bad Santa movie. Love the music, love the movie.

[Sweetaslily]

Oh god. I believe Chopin was my soulmate ^^. Kidding, thanks a lot, I simply love this piece

[kateykaboomify]

This is one of the most beautiful pieces of Chopin I have ever heard in my life. <3

[hottcheezify]

I love this piece. It's also in one of the episodes of Dexter <3

[deathroman13]

I love this piece :).

[XxXGunMonkeyXxX]

My god, this is so helpful for calming the nerves. I've got a college level Trigonometry test tomorrow, listening to this helps me study so much better. Thank you. :)

[TheMerrianovia]

made my day. im listenin for the exam:)

[superflu]

Nice! Love the red upper line when the tempo changes

[musicalclari7y]

Reminds me of the Disney movie Fantasia.

[danielang330]

I love this music!!! Thanks for doing these videos :)

[ingeniusable]

Visual representation of this stunning music is magnificent.

[JacobFreeze]

Beautiful!

[PsycheLovesEros]

Chopin you will always be my platonic love

[paulantidot]

I wonder, how will look Lighetti's etudes?

[aniercita]

Que Melodia tan bella!!!! Gacias a mi papa por enseñarme apreciar estas obras maestras!!!!

[Chefodeath]

Dear world,

shut the fuck up and listen.

Chopin

[Tintenfix]

So if this is a MIDI-sound, where can I get it!? Every piano sound I have on my computer sounds like something a one-hit-wonder pop band would use...

[smalin]

@Tintenfix If I recall right, I used the Acoustica Pianissimo software for this.

[dieselvisel]

@smalin

Really nice piano sound, where can I download the software?

[smalin]

@dieselvisel google acoustica pianissimo

[jonathan401]

@smalin Wow, I find it hard to believe that these are digital piano sounds.

[yesenia0305]

this is absolutely brilliant. song and the visualization. For a non piano player I can only enjoy the music but watching this i can get a full appreciation of how complex and layered this master piece is. Seriously, great job.

[alittlebeatle]

Are you in any way related to the Anthropologist Malinowski that studied the Trobianders of Papua New Guinea at the beginning of the 20th century?

[smalin]

@alittlebeatle No.

[aloh86]

I started piano when I was a very young kid. I didn't understand the beauty of classical music then. Now, I do...wish I hadn't quit.

[mandarijnia]

@aloh86 Luckily, it's never too late to start again!

[fanabm]

soy felíz al ver las bolitas rojas =)

[FlamIBQ]

Creo que eres un ejemplo para todos los que tienen una profesión técnica; la mezcla entre el arte y las ciencias es lo que llevará al hombre a la felicidad.

[Amarelaoo1]

Who would guess that the best Chopin interpreter would be a computer programmer!? Bravo!

[smalin]

@Amarelaoo1 I played the piano for twenty years before I started working as a programmer.

[Amarelaoo1]

@smalin So what you are saying is that you've kept this recording for 20 years?

[smalin]

@Amarelaoo1 No, I'm saying that it would be more appropriate to say "who would guess that a musician would write visualization software?"

[FlamIBQ]

@smalin

!Bravo!



[druglover200]

@smalin Are you saying who would have guessed a musician would have to resort to producing visual software because of you own beliefs in your musical ability??/ Because sir, Smalin, i think you play absolutely beautifully. Especially, chopin; i love you.

[DementedScrew]

Thank you for this, the visual helps me appreciate it even more.

[strangerinwhite]

Who hear this wounderful piece of music before T:SCC was on the air.

[LONELY8008]

Heaven's Music

[wes5020]

I took piano lessons until 4th grade and now I'm 20 and trying to teach myself piano again and this is the piece that I went after over this summer. I can barely read the sheet music but I can finally play the piece except for those darn trills at the end! I guess that will just come with more practice but I find that I am learning a lot faster by doing hard pieces than using the beginner books.

[JMFruitSalad]

I actually like this interpretation, it feels more aggressive and Chopin's style really shows through

[distancemeansnothing]

Wonderful. I was used to hearing it played slow but after I actually studied Chopin I realized his tempo was much faster than what we are used to hearing. I just love listening to and playing this piece.

[TheMedusa3463]

Nur dabei Träumen....

[AMGwtfBBQsauce]

Absolutely beautiful.

[swissm8]

awesome. and not too fast. its perfct¨!

[raulbecerravaca]

@timlee please take a look of this work played by de Masters of Masters Mr. Arthur Rubinstein and U will see that the time is correct. BUt you can play it the way U want.

[tweetingliketweety]

We used to play ballet to this when I was young - so beautiful, graceful, elegant, and touching. Thank you!

[irishleprechaunyah]

keep hitting that replay button...

[timlee2891]

too fast

[smalin]

@timlee2891 You'll have to argue with Chopin (his metronome marking is faster than I play it here).

[timlee2891]

@smalin dont take it the wrong way, i think the music and animations are great but you can notice it pretty clearly in the melody that the pace is going slightly fast.... it might just be me since ive heard this song played at different paces and the slower version sounds a lot better.

[smalin]

@timlee2891 It has more to do with what you're used to. If you had listened to a lot of faster versions before hearing mine, it would sound too slow on first hearing.

[timlee2891]

@smalin yes i agree... its the same case with many pieces by various composers... but great work regardless... i especially like ur arabesque by debussy... that one is spot on to my ears :P

[swede101]

@smalin

Actually I have to agree with @smalin. This should go even faster. A lot of romance pieces from Chopin and Liszt should be accentuated at a higher pace. However, they are often play much slower. Especially by amateur pianists...

I don't play the piano myself, so congrats to everyone who does, but good pianists can play harmonies on fast pieces...

[HenryTheGuitarist]

@timlee2891 good thing you clarified that. Perhaps you can make some revisions to the melody to?

This is sublime, also, I've got this awesome program called audacity if you want to slow this down a touch.

[timlee2891]

@HenryTheGuitarist if you go to the website 1stpiano, they have a recording of nocturne

that is a slower version... something closer to my preference.

[ChrisPayneable]

@timlee2891 To each his own. I've heard this particular nocturne played at various speeds and prefer this one.

[LONELY8008]

@smalin Dude You're Genius

: )

[ExpressivePugilist]

@timlee2891 ~ Elisabeth Konsja's version would be considered slow in my opinion...

[ExpressivePugilist]

@timlee2891 ~ Elizabeth Leonskaja's version is really slow, and somehow my favorite version too. This one is a really good one as well...

[Ilovemycamper]

I can kinda play this, but I simply can't get the 'waltz' feel of the left-hand no matter how many times I listen to this, dammit.

[AcousticDude17]

@Ilovemycamper try dancing to it. no joke. put it on repeat and take a step for each subdivision. eventually you find yourself walking in a pattern that represents the waltz feel. youll take a bigger or "stronger" step on each of the big beats and the beats that follow with be smaller. once you have the feel practice it with your left hand only and add in the right hand melody last. hope this helps :)

[hockeystar0330]

Have you ever considered animating any of Phillip Glass' work?

[smalin]

@hockeystar0330 Yes, but without permission to use the composition and a recording, I'm not going to do it.

[duanesharman]

@smalin Very nicely played. The animations are great! And it's good to hear somebody on youtube acknowledge copyright.

[abuguchie]

I know it is a little obnoxious to mention modern music on such a classical piece, but Muse brought me here ;)

[TheGracefulDemon]

I am subscribing for the lovely music ^_^

Thank you.

[Robolord77]

I cant tell if this is a happy or a sad song.

[MuSixramper]

@smalin This effect animation have the MAM?

[smalin]

@MuSixramper Not in the publicly-available version.

[MuSixramper]

@smalin So how I can get this effects for the MAM...is it posible?

[smalin]

@MuSixramper No.

[BazBuzinkum]

Im trying to understand what the data is telling me about the music. I get that there is a decay after each note that is shown by the fading circles. There seems to be no rhyme or reason behind the different sizes, although I feel like there should be. And why does the circle slide into the following position rather than light on with the attack of the note which makes more sense?

[smalin]

@BazBuzinkum The size of the circle is proportional to the length of the note. Beyond that, I can't help you.

[mewithchocolate]

@BazBuzinkum I think it might be the strength/stress placed on the note.

[AndrzejPSL]

I love all songs of this great french composer. Polacks stop arguing, everyone knows he was french

[smalin]

@AndrzejPSL For a Frenchman, he sure wrote a lot of polonaises.

[RocknRollParadiase]

@AndrzejPSL wow, every dumbass average person thinks he's "french". anyone who has any deeper education knows he was Polish, and later lived in France because he had to escape the troubles of his country. I'm pretty sure this was a composition saying his final farewell cause he knew he'd never see his home again.

[thereallyquitesimple]

One of my all-time favorite pieces. So wonderful! Now on to Tchaikovsky:)

[jjgreen555]

Did you create this program? (Music Animation Machine)

[smalin]

@jjgreen555  Yes.

[msmaryfouad]

@smalin The program is GENIUS!!! It's wonderful, and this piece of music is beautiful and soothing. Thank you for posting it up.

[balletgirl1929]

@smalin How difficult would this piece be to play? At least some of the beginning? I've been taking lessons since I was 3, and have completed 8 RCM piano exams, is it unrealistic to try to learn to play this? Thx! And your videos are great!

[smalin]

@balletgirl1929 Sorry, I don't know. You should probably ask your teacher.

[Sailormoonlovers101]

@smalin haa i am going to have to learn by my self because i have no money for teachers and tutors..will that be hard to figure out..i am just starting to learn all i know is how to play chop stick TT-TT

[HenryTheGuitarist]

@balletgirl1929... try it? Sheet musics in the description!

[Twinkytoe]

@balletgirl1929 This piece is a pretty realistic goal for someone who has Grade 8 - the difficulty of this isn't much higher than that. Bear in mind that while someone with a Fellowship diploma or equivalent could play pieces along these lines much more easily, and much better, than you or I, it isn't extremely technical or challenging, which is part of the reason that it is so popular! So I say, go for it!

[balletgirl1929]

@Twinkytoe Thanks! I will!

[liverst]

This music is very relaxing, thanks for sharing

[Selwek12]

Tak Chłpy ON BYŁ POLAKIEM!

[lizzie11377]

It would be really nice if you could put your original recordings on mp3 format. I love your performances and It's really disappointing that I can't find any similar performances to purchase/ download onto my ipod.

Thanks,

Liz. :)

[naanod]

Can you do Samuel Barber's "Adagio for Strings"

[claudia1111rm]

preciiiosaaa! (L)

[IAmThinkTankDubstep]

id like to see this with electronic music.

[Grifff0]

This is amazing, excellent work!

[enest94]

My life is now complete. If I die now, I will have no regrets.

[tonimusher]

This is absolutely beautiful! I love it x

[gabomedellin2]

Please some one help me! I tried doing this with my own midi file but the balls dont seem to strech as nice as it happens in this videos. How can I achive this with MAMM software?

[smalin]

@gabomedellin2 Sorry, you can't. I don't use the freeware version of my software to make my videos.

[gabomedellin2]

Oh men! And isnt there a way of buying it?

[smalin]

@gabomedellin2 Not at the moment, no. Maybe in a year or two.

[hicelina]

I cried. Simply beautiful. Thank you.

[Meltedsnake4]

I love this piece

[schymbros]

Excellent!

[AsianRanga]

soooooo pretty