Cameron Carpenter

[ncredhead]

Cameron: Some people would say your talent comes once in 10,000 people -

I think you are 1 in 1 million - Please be careful and use your talent wisely - Thanks for sharing. It's Brilliant!

[Andulusian]

Carpenter compensates for a tired old out of tune piano with his virtuosity. Impressive in the extreme!

[cycler8]

Medtner - Forgotten Melodies, then Carmen Variations by Horowitz

[Gogolsuite]

Is he doing thirds? OMG!

[ThatDylanYouKnow]

Sparks! Sounds so much better on the organ, but it's still great on the piano. I want his talent.

[capacityplus]

It is brave of him to play an out of tune piano knowing someone is there with a potential youtube video camera. I take my hat off to this great artist.

[willemvdr12]

He makes a lot of mistakes, I couldn´t do it, but you can hear he play´s the organ more than the piano, he can´t ajust very good to the very clear and fine action of the piano.

But it´s a wrecked piano so it can´t be very nice to hear. xD

[ReturnOfTheStienway]

nice to see him on piano...

[MrRicksStudio]

This reminds me of the video that wannabe Sean Bennett did playing the Carmen paraphrase on an electronic piano on the back of a pickup truck in a rest-area parking lot. I kid you not. The video is on YouTube. It is obvious that Cameron is having fun here, and the audience is enjoying the treat.

[Kentertainer]

If he sounds that good now, imagine how he would sound on an in-tune piano.

[beapa1]

Thanks for sharing. This is great!

[machimo1111]

YOU ARE AWSOME CAMEORN

[lithwl]

Cameron plays works done by one of his heros for piano, Vladimir Horowitz. The Moszkowski Entincelles was an encore from the 1986 program in Moscow. The Carmen highlights was written by Horowitz again as a flaming piano virtuosity encore used many times. I can't think of anyone who could honor this man more than Cameron. Who cares about the quality of the piano used here? Open your heart and let the music flow in. We are lucky to be alive and hear this glorious young man do his thing.

[JupiterIV]

@lithwl Amen, brother, Amen.

[pianist1313]

It would make more sense for this guy to play the organ rather then piano. At least, his faults wouldn’t be so exposed. Talent?-yes he has one. Master?–no, he is not.

[archfolin]

Who are you?

[mlittlemeyer]

Makes me realize that invoking the names I did earlier actually was an affront to the pantheon of great musicians to which they belong.

[mlittlemeyer]

I do appreciate his abilities, albeit, I think that his shortcomings are quite transparent as well. I really like watching his footwork, it is fun to WATCH. It doesn't really matter anyways he'll still sell albums and sell out shows, but then again so does Mariah Carey, STILL. Should we compare her vocal talents to that of Mirella Freni, who by the way is not even among the best opera soprano's, but does she really need to be when comparing her vocal talent to Mariah.

[mlittlemeyer]

My point is, the great musicians of our times, the Rostropovich's, the Perlman's, they have something I don't think this lad can learn, the gift of feeling and connection to the music that allows us, even the non virtuosos and academics, to feel like we are as one with the music as the performer as we are taken, quite often, on a highly emotional journey that transcends that which technical ability can afford us. I don't think this guy could do that for me if he was given another 1000 years.

[mlittlemeyer]

You academics and musicians who argue in favor of his technique, I care not about your CREDENTIALS. If the technique of which you speak equals fast and flash while taking the music out of music than who cares. Even someone with less training who has a true appreciation of music can hear the connection to the music to be non existent along with the emotion that touches your soul, such as when Horrowitz plays piano or feeling the strings of Perlman's violin like they run through your body.

[wbutterman]

'Organman' obviously lacks any substantial knowledge of musical history. There have -always- been flashy musicians, and yes, some of them fade into obscurity. But just as many flashy colorful musicians become immortal. Wagner, Liszt, Mozart, Beethoven, Gottschalk, Tchaikovsky, and many more great performers and composers were very colorful characters, but were none the less masters of their art. Let face it, you hate Cameron because he is better looking than you, right?

[speedbird007]

Good Lad Cam.

[onstageguy]

Is it me or is that poor piano out of tune? What a shame to have to perform on a grand that sounds like a saloon piano from the old west.

[JupiterIV]

@onstageguy And what's wrong with that, may I ask? I've heard Horowitz' piano roll of his Carmen Variations on an ages-old player piano that was so out of tune, every other string might as well be replaced. I rather liked the timbre it gave the perfomance. It was as if it was adding its own reverb along the way, in almost the same manner as how today's digital grand pianos can simulate any kind of performance environment..

[handball1967]

where every you go on youtube with Cameron Carpenter you will find organman52's nasty bitchy comments, to be honest i realy dont care or even what to know what is qualifcations are, hes constants comments are bichy and realy unessasery.

organman52 there more then a few of us,,,well seval thousand that feel sad for you

[GutpileCharlie]

Pure bullshit. Lacks discipline. Also dresses like an ass clown.

[praestant8]

What a shame the piano isn't nearly up to the same standard as Cameron's playing.

[ccedwards]

what is the very first piece he is playing?

[bassman2277]

You might criticize Mr. Carpenter's piano chops, but consider the difference in the touch required to play a piano as compared to an organ. Organs are not touch sensitive and the action is a lot lighter than piano keys.

[Sathrandur]

@bassman2277 A Very good comment. While you can have an acedemic debate about whether or not he is a good musician, there is a point to be made here that regardless of what you think, he is skilled in playing both well since the touch between a piano and organ can be rather different (tracker action might make an exception).

But more importantly, it must be conceded by all that he has incredible technique - regardless of whether he is a good or bad musician.

[bassman2277]

@Sathrandur Agreed. All I wanted to point out in the first place.

[markpianoman]

What a trash out-of-tune piano!

[TIMSY47]

There are only two things I don't like about this clip. 1. People talking instead of listening (it's well worth listening to methinks) and 2. His shirt - which as he's not asked me to wear it is actually fine too. Great footage apart from the person on the bottom right who insisting on holding his pint in frame for most of the film.

[NicholasSmoot]

hahahahahahaha my instructor sent me this video and was like, "I want you to be able to do this by our next lesson". I'm still laughing. And please people, be nice to Mr. Carpenter. We don't get many like him, and it would be sad if you bullied him off of the internet. Don't be bitches. Plain and simple. Thank you.

[BerlietTBC8KT]

i get the feeling from all the nasty bitchy posts from organman52 that there is more going on then just is distaste for camerons playing, mabe that cameron has idendifed himself that a heathen as well, and that organman profile pic is of a religious theme may have soming to do with that, I think organman mite be a bit me a narrow minded bigot some how.

What a sad world we live in

It was bigots like this that help send Stephen Bicknell (organ hostorian and designer. google him) to a earily grave

[DaDailyBread]

WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[clinton8or]

Hmmm... Mr. Carpenter seems to have virulent and nasty critics whose YouTube accounts show favorites, but few if any uploads of their own. Interesting.

[PicturesOfDavid]

yes!

[JupiterIV]

@PicturesOfDavid

Mind if I repost this under the title "C. Carpenter Improvises on Horowitz' 'Carmen Variations'?"

[silverstartrucker]

@clinton8or - You hit the nail on the head.

[Classicalytrained]

was that directed at me?

[organman52]

Was what directed at you?

[Classicalytrained]

your big paragraph about being a sick individual.

[organman52]

Absolutely.

[Classicalytrained]

Well thanks... i take great pleasure in being that Sick individual.

[organman52]

Let's put it this way - I resort to name calling and insults for the simple reason that I have been exposed to all kinds of adversity over the course of my 40-year 'career' as a musician/organist, and I have grown sick and tired of hearing comments that support such mediocrity as carpenter. It is entirely my right to think of him as mediocre [at best]. His playing is extremely inaccuracte and inconsistent. Don't you hear that? And do or anyone else need such a pathetic display as this?

[Classicalytrained]

okay, im just going to agree with you for the sake of stopping arguing, i too am tiresome. all i can hear is a well played peice of music, tell me my musicality is crap. i dont care. im just going to return to what i do best. Conducting.

[lipsbach]

Which national music magazine? Surely you're not IN THE CLOSET with regard to your enviable vocation....

[organman52]

Get lost. I told you there would be no further comment to the likes of you from me.

[lipsbach]

Just as I thought, another lonely talentless wannabee, lost in his own fantasy world of importance and grandeur. How sad.

[organman52]

The only thing I can say to you is that if you subscribe to this clown's antics, you are a pathetic f*$&#*$.

[organman52]

All you people know how to do is make assumptions. What is the basis, other than your own mediocrity and probably jealousy, for such idiotic statements? No. Don't answer, please.

[organman52]

He is also a lousy 'organ player.'

[lipsbach]

Wow, you must be a really isolated, jealous organ wannabee to post such a stupid comment. What are your qualifications to rate him as a lousy player? And more generally, what in your opinion makes him lousy? God, you lonely talentless assholes can be so obnoxious.

[organman52]

You may believe whatever you want about me. As for my qualifications - you wouldn't believe me even if I told you. As for being lonely, talentless and an asshole - wrong on all three counts. What YOU need to do is learn about INTEGRITY and MUSICIANSHIP. This carpenter person will fade into oblivion before long. He cannot be taken seriously by true organist/musicians.

[PicturesOfDavid]

I'm a musician and I take him seriously. I think that maybe you are not the true musician. You have to have an appreciation for other's talents, even if you think they aren't as good as you. People are entilted to their opinion but... it's lame to argue over youtube hah!

[Classicalytrained]

i am no professional musician, but i am currently doing a National music diploma studying the organ, so i can one day be just as good as carpenter, I do over 6 hours of playing every day, i run a church choir and i am heavily involved with the church, so im pretty musical, my mother was a Royal school of music student, now I take him seriously, SO by saying what you said, you are telling me i am not a true Musician, i think it is you that is the Untrue one.

[organman52]

Oh you poor thing. If carpenter is what you measure all others by, then you really need to wake up. He is nothing more than a circus clown playing the organ like a circus clown. And his effeminate demeanor is truly despicable. But if this is what you want to strive for, go right ahead. It will get you nowhere. I guarantee it.

[Classicalytrained]

id rather aspire to be carpenter than a nobody like you. if this is what you call clowning arround, i want to see your version of profesionalism. take the likes of bish for example. another well respected organist. She has the same element of show about her, with the way she dresses and her flashy arrangements. everone has theirown trade mark, so stop shouting down someone who is making music a joy for everyone

[organman52]

You poor thing - you don't have any idea what you are talking about. Let me just leave it at that, okay?

[Classicalytrained]

I do have an idea tyvm.... for a start the fact that im doing a diploma in the friggin instrument... that says somthing... because part of that diploma is studying the works of the likes of carpenter & bish. the person that doesnt have any idea is you.... your not seeing past the glitter on his clothes, your calling him a circus freak... why because he is a fantastic organist. id like to see you play this, & id like to see you play the piccalo line from stars and stripes, with your feet

[advisorC101]

Fourth, Boasting about your diploma is nothing to someone that has many decades of experience. Which is the case with organman.

Next is the matter of showmanship and not musicality. Carpenter prefers a flashy approach to his performances which quite often results in sacrificing the clarity of the "old" repertoire. In most cases, completely mangling it.

[Classicalytrained]

oh and by the way..... you dont strive for this.... and look at where you are.... nowhere.

[organman52]

How on earth do you know 'where I am?' Are you clairvoyant? Why don't you just take a hike?

[Classicalytrained]

well lets put it this way... ive never heard of you. you have No videos on you tube... i dont even know if you can play the organ. so... yaknow you take the hike... no-one asked you to comment on these videos

[organman52]

Whatever you say, your majesty.

[Classicalytrained]

im glad we have established whos opinion is worth more.

[advisorC101]

Classicalytrained,

I'll have you know that I personally know organman52 and he is one of the finest musicians I have ever known.

First of all, I don't know why you've brought out your so-called credentials but it certainly doesn't accomplish anything.

Second, you have not established anything. Rather you have hoped that you have and thus you make up all sorts of drivel to try and combat someone that actually does know what they're talking about.

[advisorC101]

Third, the clothes are not what is being criticized here. It's the way Carpenter treats the music and how he uses the media and the fact that he's gay to inspire these kinds of controversies. (Quote from willothebored)

Fourth, One does not have to be able to play it in order to judge its value. One needs only to be well versed with the 'technicalities' involved with such works and how this particular player treats it.

[advisorC101]

Lastly, the option to comment is one that is there for all to use, including critiques.

We have a right to express the way we feel about his playing as well. It is undeniably true that recently we have been quite volatile but for the simple reason that we are angry at how he makes fools of us.

You need to ask yourself is what you're doing really fair as well? Carpenter wants to bring free artistic expression to all, but he isn't helping the preservation of the natural beauty of music.

[advisorC101]

I too can appreciate some of the things he says. Because I too believe in artistic individuality, but what he's doing is negatively stereotyping all of us.

True, we are equally to blame for the fact that we waste our time arguing over this. But we are entitled to it none the less.

Everyone's opinion counts. Especially those that were inspired by your manner of input that only attempts to silence an honest and disagreeing opinion. That in my eyes, is poor taste.

[advisorC101]

One more thing, fame is meaningless.

[Classicalytrained]

I started reading through your comments, thinking that you were just as bad as your 'Friend' However as i read on, i did see some truth and light in what you said, i still remain a fan of Carpenter, I did not mean my Diploma as A tool to show how great i was, i was simply saying that i do know a little bit about what im talking about, because i study the instrument, however i respect your views, and i can see some truth in what you say.

[advisorC101]

I appreciate the fact that you admire Carpenter and I won't argue with that, because we all are entitled to the sound that 'sings' to us most.

I assure you we aren't bad at all, neither is my friend. Usually we do take a very civil approach to this sort of thing, but thanks to the hero worshipping complex recently we've become very bitter and angry. Even if we politely post our own opinions with no hate we are ridiculed by all Carpenter's fans like dogs. So we have ended up fighting a war.

[advisorC101]

A war that ultimately we all hold responsibility for.

I know Carpenter is angry, I can see he has much hate bottled up inside him. For that matter, I can't go on like this any longer. None of us can.

[Classicalytrained]

but you also have to look at it from his point of view. at the end of the day, any musician that plays the peices he plays, will play it in their own unique way. (unless of course your very anal :L) so in a sense, hes making it fun for everyone. You have to atleast Give him some credit, looking past all the anger... you have to be pretty tallented to play like that... do you not?

[advisorC101]

You don't need to change notes and rewrite music to play it in your own unique way. Every musician his his/her own sound that is unique to them only.

I can't say I agree with your "very anal" remark. I can't look past all the anger because inspires it. But now I'm tired of this, I hope he's real happy that I've wasted so much time.

Organman makes a good point about the accuracy in his playing, that's one of the key issues that we've been addressing and why we are so unsatisfied with him.

[advisorC101]

A really good performer knows how to convey and express themselves without relying on altering the music and it's structure. Cameron is fun but he relies on showmanship.

For example in piano repertoire, I've listend to Evgeny Kissin play the Scriabin etude in D Sharp minor and also my own teacher. They play it the same way but it sounds so different... That's because they have their own personality that 'conducts' through their playing a piece.

[Classicalytrained]

well i cant read music very well, as i have trouble with my eyes, So i rely on my arrangments and re-writes, so in a sense i have to agree with carpenters view on this, hense why the toccata and fugue was so out. but i know its out, i learnt it by ear, i used the music as a refrence. now im more of a choir director than anything. so ok i cant really comment, yes im only starting and you may have more experience, but, you have to admit, he puts on a good show.

[advisorC101]

Yes, he is a natural showman. That's something we can all agree on.

Carpenter's view is his view, it's important to have your own view as well. One where you can understand the harmonic poetry that the composer infuses with their works and have your own personal 'touch' with it.

You know Louis Vierne was blind, but he was one of the greatest organists and composers that had ever lived because no matter what he never gave up. You can find some of his recordings on YouTube as well.

[advisorC101]

And Louis Vierne was not even a showman, but rather a humble figure that had so much scorn heaped that he was able to create unbelievably beautiful works of art.

In my case, I hope to preserve those feelings of his.

[Classicalytrained]

Thanks ill check them out! What are your views on Hector Olivera ?

[advisorC101]

I don't really know who he is, so I can't really offer an opinion. I'll have a quick scout around YouTube.

[Classicalytrained]

his pedal work on Flight of the bumble bee is fantastic, as is his toccata on joyfull joyfull.... one thing about carpenter you have to look upon with awe is the picalo line his plays in stars and stripes with his feet!

[advisorC101]

After looking around I have to say Mr Olivera really has something going. He has quite a huge repertoire and more importantly brings the "Classical organ" part to the people through the mainstream.

Moreover, he doesn't go out of his way to inspire controversies. At the same time, he satisfies the current tastes of the people which is quite a wide variety from "classical" to theatre organ.

I think he has the right stuff going. :)

[Classicalytrained]

I thought You might! i played his Toccata on joyful joyful last week at my schools christmas concert,

[bassman2277]

@organman52 You might criticize Mr. Carpenter's piano chops, but consider the difference in the touch required to play a piano as compared to an organ. Organs are not touch sensitive and the action is a lot lighter than piano keys. organman52 sounds like a disgruntled wannabe who feels he could do a better job. Maybe he's a teacher? Well, you all know the old saying about teachers in the arts: If you're not successful as a performer, go teach!

[organman52]

@bassman2277 Oh please - you are doing anything in your 'power' to denigrate my comments because that is the only way you know how to face the truth. A true MUSICIAN will be able to go from any keyboard instrument to any other. But you have to come up with all kinds of hypotheses in order to sound like you know what you are talking about. Please - go away.

[bassman2277]

@organman52 I knew it! You Teach!!! WANNABE!!! HA HA HA HA!

[AndyB888]

So Cameron thinks he's a "lousy" piano player? This is magnificent!

[DPinFL]

Echoing the sentiment of the others . . . Thanks SO much for posting this fun video!!

[VirgilFoxMusic]

Thank you so much for posting this!!!

This is priceless!!! :)

[montanasweaterman]

Cameorn makes playing the piano look so effortless. I am amazed that he was interested in sharing his talents after what must have been a stupendous and physically demanding concert. How many of us can only dream of being such a "lousy" pianist? Great job!

[helybabe]

Great Candid video of Cameron!!!