Tzvi Erez plays Chopin's Military Polonaise, Opus 40 #1

[vandykgreene]

Well done!

[MrRevolutions]

beatiful

[612curtis]

This is excellent! I love hearing this piece and you played it amazingly! Thank you for uploading it :D

[junqinwu]

hands like lang lang!

[jjFife]

Don't get me wrong, I watch these because you play superbly and always do the pieces justice. But I also enjoy the little trivia in the bottom of the window :)

[andeanphoto]

Wonderful! Well done Mr. Erez.

[ZombieBrainsIEat]

Hurray for big hands!

[caa4444]

@TzviErez how do you play measure 48? It is the only part I'm confused about. How many notes per trill should I play and should I slow down during that measure?

Help is appreciated

[BigMedley]

I recently played Chopin's first polonaise for my recital. I hope to play this in my senior recital in 5 years (I'm 12.) If not before. :D

[r2mcpmakavelic]

I've f**ked up the replay button :)) Tzvi Erez Prezident :))

[maresm484]

Just heard this played at a high school piano recital and was amazing! There is a lot of talent at my school.

[F14Lolcat]

Beautiful! I was just wondering how much skill is needed to learn and play this well? I've been playing the piano for ~2 years and I am currently practicing pieces like Sibelius's Caprice op 24 #3 and a few waltzes from Chopin and Brahms. Am I good enough to give this a try? I know this requires strenght and stamina, but I don't usually find myself tired, even after playing a long time. Thanks already!

[DRWHOremixer]

Great performance!!!!!! You played this piece excellently - but I did notice two spots that didn't seem quite right??? I noticed that when you played the first chord of bar 15 in the treble clef, the right hand didn't sound like C#-F#-C#(v8). It sounded more like C-F#-C(v8). Just an observation - I could be wrong.

Great playing all the same!!

[Ashurasonic2Jesterex]

They're not lying when they say raw power. This piece is all about strength and endurance. While the performance is a 5/5, if you listen carefully, you can see in the last part Tzvi is tired :P

[Pulido0717]

You play extraordinarily beautiful Mr. Erez.

It's amazing to see someone play Chopin like you!

[lkmusicman2]

good polonaise!!

i always think chopin got lazy and repeated almost the same theme over and over and over and over again

[bryanliang1]

great job! :D i have trouble on m. 5 with the last four sixteenth notes, i can play all of them but not very fast at the normal allegro. are you supposed to slow down or is there a technique to play those notes fast (like fingerings)? i always hit wrong notes when I'm playing m. 5. thanks! :)

[bryanliang1]

great job! :D i have trouble on m. 5 with the last four sixteenth notes, i can play all of them but not very fast at the normal allegro. are you supposed to slow down or is there a technique to play those notes fast (like fingerings)? i always hit wrong notes when I'm playing m. 5. thanks! :)

[RagtimeIrvin]

I just learned this song, ill post a vid once i perfect it

[TemurKvitelashvili]

Great Playing !

[ILoveThePiano1]

No one plays this better. The Bosendorfer is so intimidating with its raw POWER. I love the raging Bosendorfer, the powerful playing, the suit with the white cuffs is so very classy, and those hands are wonderful to watch as his fingers seem to fly up and down the keyboard, and the emotion he displays is perfect with the rhythm of this militaire. I mean the entire scene is just so masculine, and this is just the right piece and instrument to go with the entire picture. Absolutely brilliant.

[gonrolgonrol]

Really great!!

:)

[ISuckAtPianoPlaying]

EXTRAORDINARY!

[fenderbender92]

So much energy and enthusiasm even the lady downstairs is cheering you on. If you catch my drift. ;P

[TheLovelyPiano]

@fenderbender92 - Oulala... And who might that be? Does the lady "downstairs" have a name?

( :

[wewerd007]

I adore this piece of music and I have never heard it played so beautifully. You truly are a gifted musician. Thank you! Nikki B. P.S. You must have big hands. God bless your parents for that, too!

[uhartchristian]

Very good interpretation of Chopins works by this pianist!!!!

Good technique also. Worth listening although these works are so much known.

[Dernhelmful]

Dear Maestro TzviErez,

You have performed this piece with such perfection. You make it look completely effortless. I must look for your recordings. You are a joy to hear and to watch. Thank you for the upliftment.

[bsharppianomajor]

What a great performance! I have had the pleasure of hearing in person some of the greatest pianists of the 20th century, Rubinstein, Horowitz etc., and have numerous recordings ot others. I truly feel that none compare to the soulful feeling that you put into this piece. Your piano has great sound and your hands are a work of art! I would love to hear and see you in a live performance. Bless you!

[FernEatsNoobs]

I love the way all pianists play with such enthusiasm

[01928377411]

Hi, I'm a pianist from the United States, and I really enjoy this video of your performance. I especially enjoy the clear sound that you and your piano make, and how fluid the piece sounds. I have been working on this piece since June of 2010, and am playing it in a competition in November. I am having trouble deciding how much pedal to use. How much might you recommend? This is the first of your videos I've heard, so I'll have to listen to more of them. Thanks for posting this.

[jmcqueen3]

@01928377411 I'm no expert, but I've been working on it for a while too. I'd say little to no pedal except a bit in the middle, but that's just me.

[LsCity2]

Mój Rodak kochany:) POLAK:) POLACZEK:) kocham go

[LaPianisteBaptista]

a Bosendorfer piano? wow! it's just like the piano in Malacañan Palace. sounds very well! you, too, play very beautifully. keep it up!

[xeproc]

this is so beautiful song with beautiful execution, yet i only wish i had the money to be able to own a piano and get music, sadly i was cursed with being able to love and lust over a piano yet so far every attempt has ended in failure, and only thrown salt onto the wound of my lust over owning a piano and lust over music in general

[CATHERINEGREECE]

hi tzvi!!!!! i need some help!!!!! in the 13nth measure the right hand plays the chord A#-C#-D-A#... my hands are small too... what can i do???? i can reach all notes.... ):

[TzviErez]

@CATHERINEGREECE If you mean the A#-C#-D#-A#, try to play the A# and D# with your thumb (together), which will allow you to play the rest of the notes. If you are playing a D natural, it would explain the difficulty.

[CATHERINEGREECE]

@CATHERINEGREECE i finally got it... u meant A# and C# with my thumb didn' t u???

[thegreatapologist]

@TzviErez Wait, are you sure you're notating that chord correctly? A# and D# are a fifth apart.

[TzviErez]

@thegreatapologist You are correct - It is C# and D# to be played using the thumb only. Thank you for the correction.

[alexei6003]

@CATHERINEGREECE try a slight arpeggiato, I got the same problem but if you just hit the lower notes first and the quickly the upper it sounds fairly well :) good luck

[PizzaDeliveryGuy05]

@CATHERINEGREECE In most versions they have that particular chord rolled. Luckily, my hands are big enough, but try rolling it.

[yonatan5550]

Absolutely AMAZING !!!!

[yonatan5550]

Absolutely AMAZING !!!!

[openmindspace]

Do you have a twitter tzvi?

[auerwack]

That was magnificent. I have loved this piece since I was a child and you accuracy and touch was phenomenal. You captured Chopin's feeling of patriotism beautifully!

[yonatan5550]

Amazing!!!!

You're the best!!!!

[CaptainDickerson]

So pro XP I can't reach a couple of the chords correctly sometimes, so you are awesome

[Awake2012]

This is the one I liked after listening to several people play it on Youtube :)

[3NUNS]

ｍｏｓｔ　ｉｎｔｅｌｌｉｇｅｎｔ　ａｎｄ　ｅｘｃｅｌｌｅｎｔ　ｐｅｄａｌｌｉｎｇ

[teakbridge101]

Wow! Just wonderful to be able to see your hands so close. That really helps me with the fingering on some of those triads and octaves. I am currently learning the A section to this polonaise, and it is fabulously played here. I have a long way to go yet, but this gives me HOPE!

[neono99]

YOU. ARE. INCREDIBLE. I am in awe. How long did this take you?!

[migas28]

excellent performance, from the beginning to the end. congratulations

[Voime09]

Bravo!

[fxv26]

That was brilliant

I've never heard best performance of this piece in my life wow 3 times wow

It's a great pleasure to hear your play

[michaelatm2603]

10000/10

[Kopaka0111]

Awesome piece, awesome interpretation. I love your bold style of playing. I can almost picture the soldiers marching down the street. I can not play this nearly as good as you. I love your crescendos and diminuendos.

10/10

[Chi7es]

This piece feels so empowering to play and to listen to i adore it

[Turbokitties]

Mr Erez makes it look so easy! Fantastic technique~

[topo16]

awesome interpretation!!! congratulations mate!!!

[1982DavidH]

Excellent technique and expression. One of the best performances of this piece I have ever heard. Thank you Tzvi for sharing your talent with us.

[Drinkincoach]

Very impressive. One of the most accurate renditions I have heard.

[Jame243]

Congratulations TzviErez!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That's the way this Polonaise is supposed to be played! With Power and Majesty!

From beginning to the end!!!!!!

I am thrilled!!! I am elated!!!!!!!! I am so happy that I found you!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My favorite Polonaise and my favorite piece by F.Chopin! And now my favorite Pianist!!!!!!!!!!

[maxiebby]

@Jame243 He is a fradulent man... what a joke!

[enminatieda]

Very nice.

[noahrvme]

Im thirteen and i can play this piece its not that hard. He should play it louder and with more feeling in some places.

[MrSuperPhun]

@noahrvme

who made you the president of piano?

[noahrvme]

well guess what i have in fact played this piece and i have been thinking that he hasnt been playing the peice with real feeling

[MrSuperPhun]

i never discredited. I did not imply that you never played the piano. But, I still don't think you have the position to tell us (or him) that he should play louder or with more feeling. If you, however, don't like it, post your own video of it. I'd love to hear what you are talking about.

[MrSuperPhun]

"A pianist cannot improve without help from the people who are listening. "

not true, there are other ways for a pianist to improve. practice, for one, is a really effective way to improve, as well as studying musical theory.

[jakeboyman1000]

@hayverboon1 I would like to ask where specifically in the piece where he could've add more dynamics? I do not ask this question in regards of arrogance but merely in interest of where you would improve the piece?

[steinwaygrande1]

@jakeboyman1000 . I doubt that you could have added more dynamics, as this is as good as it gets. I first learnt this piece when I was ten years old back in the 1950s and still play this as as often as I can, to keep my hands supple and free moving while I can.

[willemvdr12]

It's a MILLITARY polonaise,

it has to be straight and mighty.

Military is hard, no feelings,

just keep on going.

Sometimes sad, sometimes  happy, sometimes mad, but it has to be mighty in every mood.

[Pianda]

Your videos are pure art: the music and the pictures/scene!

Wonderful!

[TheWaterfallman]

i want a grand piano now, hehe.

[TheWaterfallman]

haha! me too. my hands get so tired after playing this

[TheLovelyPiano]

I played this and it wore me out. I had to stop. My hands were in pain. I hope that doesn't happen with the big A.

I love how they show a lot of the finger action. WOW!!! I'm in love with this man's playing this piece. lol lol

[TheLovelyPiano]

So POWERFUL! And I love how he moves with the piece with so much passion.

And the Bosendorfer is sounds MUCH better than a Seinway. A Steinway can't touch this beautiful instrument.

I love this video. I wish I could hear him play the big A! Chopin Polonaise in Ab M. I just started it and love it to death. What a challenge.

[skellez83]

I really liked this performance of this piece

[ClassicalH]

perfect

[Indra177]

damn good performance sir. I salute your godly piano skills...hopefully I can one day be as good as you...

This song is way hard for the level that I'm at...how come everyone here thinks this song is easy? It's hard as shit if i'm not mistaken! (and i have big hands too)

[HarryPotterObsessed7]

Wonderful performance!

I have a quick question for anyone to answer. I'm 12, and I'll be playing this piece. My hands are generally a good size (Can stretch 9 keys), but not huge, so will I have any trouble playing the piece? I know I can play the piece technically, but I was just wondering about physically.

Thanks for any help!

[ThePuddingMan]

In this piece there are some ten note stretches. It may be rather difficult to play physically for you. It's a wonderful piece, but nothing worth getting tendonitis over.

[HarryPotterObsessed7]

Thanks. I may not play it. I'm unsure.

[MrAVE78]

Hi! You should definitively study it!! It does't matter if you can not stretch your fingers 10 keys...there are ways of playing it without having to strike notes at that lenght. I have seen some people with very short hands (specially women) playing it fantastically!!! Please do not hesitate and start studying the piece. It is a real challenge, and highly rewarding!! Good Luck.

[HarryPotterObsessed7]

Status report: I'm playing the piece! It's absolutely wonderful! You're right, the note stretches are fine. There's only one where I have to compensate.

This year's repertoire is coming out so nicely! I'm playing this Military Polonaise, Liebstraum, and "La Tambourin", and hopefully a concerto. So excited! Thanks, all, for your encouraging words about playing this piece.

[rsoeyadi]

LOL In piano there is a rule. If you can't stretch it, you roll it really fast. Trust me. My piano teacher go's to Juilliard in NYC...Look her up, Miao Hou

[HarryPotterObsessed7]

That's exactly what I'm doing for the chord I'm having the problem with.

Oh, and it's always great to have a wonderful piano teacher like yours.

[rsoeyadi]

Thanks! Wait, you were up at like 11:00? I get tired lol

[HarryPotterObsessed7]

You mean, awake? If so, then yes. Haha. I've been having a lot of trouble sleeping lately, so I've been going to bed around 12:30 or so. I honestly would prefer to go to bed and wake up much earlier, but my body insists not to...so until school starts again, it seems I'm stuck with this sleep pattern.

Ha ha.

[rsoeyadi]

That sucks! haha

[TheLovelyPiano]

Mr.AVE78, so true. I don't know why someone gave you a thumbs down. I played this and I had to drop some of the notes on those huge chords. You can't really tell that much if you just play it loud enough. lol

[XPJamieXD]

Some of the chords are 5 note chords and some of the harmonies in those are barely heard. As long as you simplify and keep the main harmony i don't see the problem (:

[JohnEBProductions]

Hey, Mr. Erez; I'm a 13 yr old pianist learning almost exclusively Chopin, and I have found that your recordings exhibit a great control of technique, dynamics, and overall skill. Subscribed =)

[HarryPotterObsessed7]

Just a quick question for JohnEBProductions: Why exclusively Chopin? He's my favorite composer, no doubt, but you should expand! =)

[JohnEBProductions]

I've dabbled in Mozart, Debussy, and a little bit of Jazz as well.

I've only recently began to play, and Chopin has made it quite clear that his music is what I want to play. Almost exclusively, not entirely. I've just learned Nocturne in c-sharp minor op. ph and am about to learn Arabesque #1. When I look for a piece I want to learn I listen to a wide variety of composers and it's just by opinion that I usually land on Chopin.

[HarryPotterObsessed7]

I see. Well good for you to appreciate Chopin for the master that he is!

[SAXPLAYER128]

Good for you, but you should probably still do some other stuff like Bach for your technique aswell.

Good luck

[brisingr380]

yeah- that's what i'm doing. thanks! :)

[brisingr380]

AMAZING :) see, my hands aren't as big as yours, so I can't reach the D#-A-F# chord in the fourth measure, but hearing someone that can is very inspiring. great!

[TzviErez]

Thank you! Just break the chord quickly and bring out the top note. Should sound just as good. :)

[bsharppianomajor]

@brisingr380 Have a look at a photo of Josef Hoffman's hands. 

[brisingr380]

@bsharppianomajor that's pretty impressive (but he did have pianos special-made that were an eighth of an inch shorter per octave...)

how far could he reach?

[F14Lolcat]

@brisingr380 Haha, I'm 13 and I can... :)

[jefrayte]

BRAVO!

[llennercito]

YOU VERY INTERPRETATION!!

[wirelessoptical]

I played this song with a broken right foot, haha. I had to use the left food for the pedal.

Anyway, it's a very good sounding piece, and is relatively easy to play if you have big hands.

There are a few parts where you need quick fingers or you get muddled-up, though.

Overall I think Beethoven's moonlight sonata's 3rd movement was the most challenging song I've ever played.

[hurricaneap60]

Amazing precision and power.

Is it just me or do people generally ignore the crescendos in the first couple of passages?

[BachScholar]

Excellent.

[GeorgeDavidB]

Fantastic ! A lovely performance, which reminds me of when I first heard it played, by a very gifted 18 year old in my last year at school, more than 50 years ago. Thank you.

[peterrabbit1999]

It sounds like a victorius battle for the polish. Polish verses the nazis. Except that cant happen. The nazis are to strong.

I looked this piece up and I found out that a guy played this before a polish battle. Overall, Tzvi Erez did an excellent job! Thanks for uploading!! Bravo to Tzvi Erez!!!

[peterrabbit1999]

I love this piece! Thanks for uploading this video!

[Julianne1113]

it looks like he's playing it lightly! it must be really tiring to play such a long energetic piece. my teacher didnt let me play this cuz she said it was too tiring!!!

[TheWaterfallman]

haha, it is

[pianomangshoe01]

this video is very helpful, i've been using it for playing it, thanks so much!

[animemusic8]

amazing...i love this masterpiece of chopin!

[X52SY]

I appreciate and respect your work. One of my favourite rendition is played by Nuccio Trotta. I think he's a very good unknown pianist. I'd like to invite watching his performances. Thanks.

[icemancotour]

awsome music and at 1:07 it looks like invisibal hands

[Ritzounett]

I like it and that's enough for me.

[kaikai1230]

I'm not seeing the comments that should be given for this piece, and this is where I'll state them. just playing loud won't cut it; you need to play with your HANDS RELAXED. If you don't do this your arms have a chance to get injured, and you won't be able to create emotional sounds. When listening to professionals play pieces, watch out for these stiff arms, because there are some other professionals that do this too.

[statnerd52]

all the critics of this performance should post videos where they exhibit their skills.

[professorliszt]

This Polonaise by Chopin should be played with absolute force. Erez, I feel didnt play forcefully enough, for my taste (or feel) of this particular Chopin Polonaise. When I play this piece I play ffffffffffffffffffff, basically.

Yeah, the piano should be at the point where it is about to colapse due to the wild fortissimos.

Break those strings!

[Ritzounett]

yeah and you're a pain in the arse!

[godsloved3]

man i can NOT play that one c# on the 2nd staff or measure (haha i forget). it's way to high. how did chopin do it? Wasn't he supposed to have small hands?

[godsloved3]

hahahaha i suck at reading music thats why

[DonkyKong8765]

also chopin had massie hands. google images search "chopin hand cast"

[godsloved3]

lol i saw those were huge. But now my hand grew into that. wow its amazing how much you can grow in 5 months.

[BojangleDangles]

did you do stretching exercises?

[godsloved3]

naw i just grew. this was back when i was 5'5. now im 6'1. hands got a little bigger

[1B2C3D4E5G6P7T8V9Z]

Wonderful playing!

[ulsbolde89]

I always think that f, ff, and fff aren't good enough for this Polonaise. It should be played in more like ff, fff, and ffff, to do justice to its glorious power.

[Dickheadgotfleas]

i dont no..........theres something missing.........like........mo­re emotion........it is chopin.........and theres really no explosivity .......there should be explosivity in this Polonaise......

[Nadiditta]

You're totally totally right, it needs more emotions and explosivity in it

[TheDarnell07]

you don't 'no'? maybe you should try to comprehend english, before becoming a critic?

[Misunderstood123]

It's funny how some people only see the "bad" side to performances. This is REALLY well played. It's so damn good if not the best version of this song on youtube. One wrote note or missing note is NOTHING. This is very good. I'm glad that you shot your hands while you play. I'm learning this piece right now and I can see how to move my hands around with this video. Thank you very much.

[ktheblenderuser]

i luv professional recordings!

[2bninja]

nice double dotting you have going on there!!!

[elsnerr]

I play this piece, but not nearly as well as you. I like to listen to the great pianists play this, and I would rank you at the very top of the list. I think Your style of playing is like Jose Iturbi, who was at his peak in the 40's. Congratulations on a fine job.

[thepianomaniac]

Awesome interpretation! And awesome sound on that bosendorfer.

[pianoplaya47110815]

he forget one note in left hand at 4, 39 till 4,40. but well played at all

[pianoplaya47110815]

It wasnt my wish to offend you and i don t wanna

compare myself with you but you need really big hands to play that note. Your playing sound so nice i wouldnt care about the note

[Gershwin234]

That was so good, and unlike what seems like most videos you can see his hands most of the time. Anyways that was awesome.

[SkiddyBlade]

lol it's very funny that you are 12 and still bragging that you can play this piece since I've seen like 7 year olds playing it.... except that for some chords they arpeggio due to small hands but no problem.

[akon64]

lol im 12 and i memorized this piece. lololololol good job though.

[2bninja]

im13 and i memorized this piece....so what?!?! memorizing the piece can be done by anyone.

you have to show emotion. and interpret the piece the way you were inspired by this polonaise. Just memorizing is not enough even though you might think of that as a great accomplishment.

Stop watching this video

and go practice the piano

[Hey1237]

I'd really like to see wheter you could be able to play it in this way...otherwise do not complain and shut up

[pianoplaya47110815]

First you have to slow down so that you play this piece in six minute. You have to look after your misstakes. And then you can play it a bit faster and faster, but in my opinion it has to be very very powerful. I play this piece to and need 5,35 minutes to finish it. I think i upload this next.

[misotoma]

it's not too hard to sight read and play it.. but i notice my wrists tire with playing the whole piece more then once. and i play it slowly so at good tempo it must be hard.. still its not hard to memorize and practice.. but its great for working your wrists Oo.

[cocolucky]

exactly!

but i want to play that one, 'cause it's relatively easy and exciting, but i know that hands will be so tired when you finish...just like the turkish march...

[pianoplaya47110815]

i play this piece too and i think his interpretation is one of the best i ever heard

[ulsbolde89]

That is just spectacular playing! This piece is really hard to learn.

[aussiej07]

Definitely a great piece of work, just the right interpretation and Tzvi Erez's approach of the keyboard gives this tremendous polonaise all its brio. Congrats!!

[ccen1]

its a lot better than the other ones on youtube. well done

[3NUNS]

Good video for finger positioning...

[nyorkgirl]

Perfect.

Flawless.

I'm agreeing with everyone else --this is great.

[booduh1181]

Love the shit out of this video whoohoo!!!!!

[altercations]

I agree with flawless.

[coldaquatomato]

Perfect performance, no mistakes, nothing you can fault at all.

[Bassoonist123]

Flawless!

[lonewolf604]

Flawless!

[Bassoonist123]

I concur. What a masterpeice!

[lonewolf604]

I second that concur!

[Bassoonist123]

Flawless!

[salexlindsay]

Flawless!