Awadagin Pratt Performs at the White House: 2 of 8

[ceciliamusica4]

To those who were wondering what transcription this is, it is actually his own. And yes, there were a few double-key-hits that threw some interesting notes into the performance--however, these were so minor that it is ridiculous to point to them as if they eclipse the musical power of this wonderful performance! I don't envy playing that piano, btw, the action looks terrible. I know Mr. Pratt personally and his performances have often brought tears to my eyes.THAT is the mark of a real musician.

[JoannaMeier]

This was a sublime performance. Anyone who considers the Toccata and Hail to the Chief motifs in the coda inappropriate would have suffered an aneurysm listening to the things Liszt is reputed to have done. But then Liszt isn't a convenient target for baffling prejudice. My thanks for posting this, listening to it brightened my morning.

[Scarbo09]

This piece is originally for organ, but has been transcribed for piano at least six times, by d'Albert, Catoire, Malata, Roger-Ducasse, Szántó, and Weiss. But I don't know which transcription he is playing.

[NickjamesC]

the hail to the chief and the d minor toccata and fugue quotes were really cheesy. If I was in that audience I would've been enjoying the performance up until that point, when I would've felt really embarrassed or burst out laughing, I'm not sure.

[verumpost]

This guy performed at my middle school when I was in 7th grade. He completely blew me away, what an amazing musician. Glad to see he's getting the recognition he deserves.

[TheDivineLife]

Wonderful piece and excellent performance! Bravo!!!!

[JohnEBPiano]

The added themes at the end of the performance disgusted me..

[advancewarsaddict]

Brilliant performance! I personally prefer organ performances; I think that they lend more majesty to the piece. However, this is wonderful.

[MusicalVickyGirl1902]

Excellent pianist. Anyone talking crap is just frustrated that they don't have the talent of this man. Talent is talent regardless of race. Talent cannot be denied. This man is talented and has earned his success.

[thedowlingsingers]

Awadagin Pratt is one of the most gifted pianists and interpretors of Bach that our generation has ever seen. He is also remarkably grounded, humble and giving of his time and talents. This man grew up in an all-white community in the midwest, the son of two college professors. He faced the high level of discrimination that one would expect in all-white conservative 1960/70s U.S. EVERYTHING he has achieved, he has earned by his incredible talent and perseverance.

[artmanpro]

Mr. Pratt is one my all-time modern classical heros. I love the fact that he is of African Descent, a dreddy, masculine and an iconiclast. He is always himself and never pretends to be no one else in playing style, demeanor and dress. I love Bach and I love Africaness!

[crosswordswithpen]

Obviously, a few of the people mentioning affirmative action need to find their own soul before they can appreciate another. I will go cry a little right now for the assholes who think you can't play Bach if you're black.

[crosswordswithpen]

Historically conscious performance is different than giving us something we haven't heard before, and I think he's going for a modern rendition on a modern instrument. I don't hear anyone crying that he's not using an organ or a harpsichord. Maybe the people sitting there with the score looking for mistakes should go hear more live music. Get away from your CD player and you'll discover that the best musicians in the world are rarely ever "perfect." I prefer soul to accuracy any day.

[crosswordswithpen]

Awadagin dresses as an "individual" which is perfectly acceptable in solo performance. Remember when individuality was a positive quality in the arts or do we all need to be sheep or "sheeple" and mimic that one standard performance? I have fancy degrees in music too. Who cares?

[crosswordswithpen]

Awadagin dresses as an "individual" which is perfectly acceptable in solo performance. Remember when individuality was a positive quality in the arts or do we all need to be sheep or "sheeple" and mimic that one standard performance? I have fancy degrees in music too. Who cares?

[AndrewFinch1]

It's terrible that this affirmative action pianist feels the need to play the piano while dressed like a Ubangi. 

[TheDivineLife]

@AndrewFinch1 Why are you so jealous? Geez. Playing like this takes a lot of time and practice...if you want to be good, then you should practice more.

[noelsafont]

Just to let you know, I graduated from an Ivy League school and I am doing well living in Miami. If you look at previous posts from me you will see that I give Mr. Pratt a whole lot of credit for his talent and expertise at the piano. Playing Bach in front of the President is no easy feat. However, in my humble opinion I feel that he should have been more appropriately dressed. That is all. You take it any way you want to. Noel

[ColinBurnside]

Great Performance. Music has always been deeply routed in politics. Not a bad thing. We can as musicans do are own we bit. To let World Leaders know when things are going Right and Wrong. Its a pity that a lot of the Modern Classical Music because it is so expensive to produce. Is up to Big Movie Productions. CGSNI.

[gregoryusa1]

The man's an accomplished world class musician. Give him his due. If you can do better post your own video. Critics!

[bohun28]

@gregoryusa1

Being a critic has nothing to do with being able to do better oneself, that is the nature of criticism of the arts, people who have a deep inherent knowledge of the subject, and as such can pass judgement on various levels, yet do not actually do it themselves since they lack the necessary talent.

That I cannot play the violin myself, does not alter the fact that I can tell when it is being played well and when it is played badly.

[KevinJALax]

That there, is one great looking piano..

[TheDivineLife]

@KevinJALax Jealous a bit.

[ladygnt]

my arms would have been aching after 3 mins this guy has got stamina lol

[faradyeva]

Awesome!!

[AnnAAngel1564]

and what a pratt t is

[noelsafont]

The piece is off, but it could be the piano that gave him a real hard time - also that is no easy piece to play. This guy is definitely a great pianist. But sorry, the guy needs to dress up for this event.

[jbernard49]

@noelsafont and wear what, a monkey suit tux? hello!

[jbernard49]

@noelsafont and wear what, a monkey suit tux? Hello --let me guess- anglo fashionista?!

[jbernard49]

@noelsafont and wear what, a monkey suit tux? Hello --let me guess- anglo fashionista? I think his attire is beautiful and fitting! -light skinned African American by way of Russian and Eastern European Jewry.

[noelsafont]

@jbernard49 -oh I see he was just displaying his African-American heritage by dressing like a cheetah

[Psalms11817]

@noelsafont

It's so sad that you have chosen not to enjoy the talent of this gentleman but rather to try to make fun of him in someway.  It is so sad..... but then that's is why you are where you are and he is where he is, performing in the White House.

[AndrewFinch1]

@Psalms11817 He is, where he is, in the White House, because he is the only black man in the world that plays Bach. And he doesn't do it well. So stick it up your ass, you fucking dilettante.

[Psalms11817]

@AndrewFinch1 You can call me an amateu that your oppion but ( you didn't think I knew the meaning of dilettante) but If you really believe that this gentlemen is the only black man in the world that plays Bach then you must a dilettante that lives in a small world. By the way on the profanity; one of my professors once told me when you have to use profanity to try to get a point accross you just lost the argument. .

[TheDivineLife]

@Psalms11817 Yes, he is dressed HORRIBLY! OMG and that totally takes away from everything. The man could have worn a suit and you STILL would have something negative to say. Get a life.

[Psalms11817]

@noelsafont It is so sad that you have chosen not to celebrate this gentleman and his awesome talent but to try in some pitiful way to make fun of his clothing. But then this is why Mr. Pratt is where he is (Performing at the White House) and doing concerts all over the world and you are where you are. And Where you are must be a sad place,

[bohun28]

@Psalms11817

The reason that he is where he is has more do do with ever-dropping standards in Classical music and the increasing tendency to hail any old thing as "genius"...had he been playing 50 years ago he would not have been considered a great talent.

[jbernard49]

jbjazz: I think our musician's attire is beautiful! What would you prefer? A designer tux? IMHO, from one Light Skinned African American by way of Russian and East European Jewry.

[londoner1953]

I enjoyed the privilege of playing with Mr. Pratt during his recent visit to Arizona. I play regularly at one of Scottsdale's premier resorts and he simply wanted to join me at the piano to perform Billy Joel's Piano Man. He's a bit of a character and a truly great musician. Afterward, we chatted and exchanged musical war stories on the patio. An evening I shall not forget in a hurry.

[scaramangaix]

Going Baroque for Barack!

[rmxsings]

Beautiful performance! I really enjoyed his playing, especially at 3:40 .

[5starvideos]

the white house has a youtube???

[TheSnailSugar]

Vote in November. Take America back.

[musicaorganum]

This is piece was actually composed for the organ. I have to say that as a classical organist, that it is not that difficult of a piece to play or memorize. As all of the variations are composed over a ground bass pattern in the pedal, it makes it easy to memorize. It is very interesting to hear this transcription and see how the ground bass and all of the variations have been arranged for a single keyboard making it more difficult.

[wrillove]

Always and incredible task to perform this without sheet music... Awesome !!!

[6558369]

an excellent educational video :"How not to play Bach on the piano!"

[thistle172]

Hear, Hear!!

[Grandmasterbirch]

@thistle172 It's here here - just for future reference :p

[XxXpOrChMoNkEyXxX]

Hercules Hercules Hercules

[thistle172]

Folks...... are you deaf!

This performance is completely AWFUL!

From the thick clouds of wrong notes, to the awkwardly mismatched volume between hands, through the bland and gray expression, and on down to the truly STUPID improvisatory quote from the opening of the "Toccata & Fugue in D Minor", and collapsing finally into the brown-nosing "Hail To The Chief" quote at the end, this forgettable and very regrettable show does not deserve praise except for its high comedic content.

[danorisa]

oh my god. im not that even good at playing twinkle twinkle on the piano and i absolutly agree with u

it is just awkward.. the whole thing! very uncomftable to watch and lisn to

[ybravura]

@thistle172 The trouble with classical music at YouTube is that it attracts phony critics who claim to hear renowned artists playing wrong notes.

WHAT specific wrong notes? What note in what measure? I'll get the score and check the accuracy of your golden ears.

While we're waiting for thistle172's diagnosis, go to his home page to see all the videos he has of his performances and compositions. What an accomplished musician!

[bohun28]

@ybravura

Oh dude, you CAN'T hear all the mistakes he makes?

I have been around Classical music my entire life, I don't claim to be any great artist at all, but you'd have to be done deaf not to hear it!!

As for attacking anyone else and implying sarcastically that they are not a very good musician. You don't actually need to be a musician at all to have good hearing.

Clearly you don't have good hearing if you think this is a good performance!!

[ybravura]

@bohun28 I don't hear ANY wrong notes in this performance, so I guess that despite my 25 videos of original music posted here, my ears are crap when compared to yours.

Poor me.

I met Awadagan Pratt when he was the artist headlining the Great Lakes Chamber Music Festival, but the next time I see him, I'll be sure and tell him that the great bohun28 thinks he's playing "wrong notes."

It must be wonderful to be a genius like bohun28. If only he had pity on us poor mortals.

[bohun28]

@ybravura

Well, to be honest, I don't care how many videos of original music you have posted here, it could be 1000. If you can't hear that this is far from a perfect performance then I suggest you need a different career path or hobby.

You met Mr Pratt, good for you, I met the late Wladislaw Szpilman...good for me. None of that changes the fact that your hearing is actually far from perfect.

And as for you sarcasm, you can shove it.

[ybravura]

@bohun28 Sarcasm? What sarcasm? I was merely pointing out that you are possessed of such talent (as yet undemonstrated) and perfect pitch, that you have the ability to hear imperfections which are inaudible to the rest of us -- although I was relived to learn that you have downgraded your imperious verdict from "wrong notes" to "far from a perfect performance."

[bohun28]

@ybravura

Well, I'll just assume that you can't write a sentence without using sarcasm, since the alternative is that you actually don't know that you're doing it, which would put your ability to read sarcasm in the same boat as your ability to hear false notes.

Try not to overdo it, it's bad form, most people on discovering sarcasm get too excited at this new toy they have found and don't know when to stop...do it too much and you'll prematurely blow your load.

[bohun28]

@ybravura

But for a slightly more serious answer, not that your posts really deserve one but what the hell, I never claimed to have any particular talent, you're the one going on about how many videos of original music you have uploaded, so you're the one claiming to be uber talented. The imperfections that I hear are clearly audible to others, even on this forum, the fact that they are inaudible to you is more your problem than mine I'd say. get over it!!

[ybravura]

@bohun28 Why is a person of your genius and musical perception wasting your time arguing with poor mortals here? Since you have the uncanny ability to hear "wrong notes" that are inaudible to the rest of us, you should offer your services to Pratt's record label, EMI. I'm sure that they'd be grateful to learn that that this acclaimed performer in reality plays "wrong notes" that only the truly gifted such as you can hear.

[bohun28]

@ybravura

And again with the sarcasm, you really can't stop it can you, its like some sort of compulsion, do you think what you say is smarter because you're using sarcasm? I have written many times that I do not claim to be a genius or musical talent, I just claim better hearing than you. I'm not sure why you have your tongue so far up Mr Pratt's ass that you seem not to realise that even the greatest musicians have made errors during live performances, it happens, deal with it!!

[ybravura]

@bohun28 If I enjoy being sarcastic, it's because you're such an easy target. You, however, cannot drop your lofty air of superiority and condescension. Your argument is not merely that your ears are better than mine, but that they are superior to all those who've left admiring comments under this video, none of whom can hear "all the mistakes" you imagine.

[bohun28]

@ybravura

Anyone can be an easy target for sarcasm, because it's easy to do, and in your case overdo, since you clearly believe that it remains funny as hell even if you're incapable of a sentence without it.

As for lofty air of superiority and condescension, you should read your own comments and have a think about it. You're the one being sarcastic, you're the one claiming superior musical knowledge and talent, on the basis of your original work, I have just pointed out the obvious.

[ybravura]

@bohun28 I am not the one sneering at Awadagin Pratt. I am not the one claiming to have superior hearing that can detect mistakes in his performance that no one else can hear.

I have demonstrated what talent I have, but just what do you have? Besides delusional opinions, that is.

I can't imagine anything more cheap and easy then to denigrate the accomplishments of others while you can show nothing that you have accomplished.

[bohun28]

@ybravura I'm not the one sneering at Mr. Pratt either, I just said that this is far from a perfect performance, I don't have anything against the man, I have listened to his studio recorded music and highly enjoyed it. You, on the other hand, seem to have your head stuck firmly up his ass with your refusal to apply objective critique to one of his performances.

And what's this "mistakes no one else can hear" you keep repeating? You're the one who can't hear them, one person, singular.

[ybravura]

@bohun28 So now you've gone from, "Oh dude, you CAN'T hear all the mistakes he makes?" and "wrong notes" to "I just said that this is far from a perfect performance." Make up your mind! Is this performance filled with "wrong notes" or isn't it?

If your comment, The reason that he is where he is has more do do with ever-dropping standards in Classical music" is not sneering, than what is?

[bohun28]

@ybravura

I don't have to make up my mind, a performance with wrong notes in it IS far from a perfect performance, one and the same thing.

And I see you're quite the stalker, reading comments I've posted in response to others, trawling through my YT account to see if there's dirt to be found.

But well done, you caught me out, I did write a disparaging comment about Pratt and modern standards of Classical music, although I maintain I have nothing against the man.

[bohun28]

@ybravura I don't see anyone else rabidly claiming that this was a perfect performance, and even if they were, as you have stated yourself, this is YouTube, so the armchair criticism of someone who thinks this piece is played perfectly is worth no more than the criticism of someone who believes it wasn't. I don't see any great musical experts here, you and me included in that.

[bohun28]

@ybravura As for demonstrable talent, what has that got to do with anything? That you have some amateur music posted on YouTube makes you an expert? I'm not a musician, I'm an amateur photographer and my accomplishments in that field are on the appropriate forum, which obviously is not YT. My Father, on the other hand, is an international level concert violinist, so I have been immersed in music since birth, and as a result I have some appreciation of what is good and what isn't.

[ybravura]

@bohun28 I'm sure your father, the "international level concert violinist," is very proud of you for your put-downs of other musicians. Did he raise you to do that?

[bohun28]

@ybravura

He raised me to recognise what is good and what isn't and to not be afraid to criticise, of course. Criticism is how standards are maintained. If any old thing is suddenly "genius" or amazing then soon there isn't any real quality left. In the post-modern world, sadly that is the trend, because we don't want to hurt anyone's feelings.

I didn't put down Pratt, I criticised this performance.

My put downs of you were a response to the way you carried yourself from the start.

[ybravura]

@bohun28 Why don't you reveal to us all what galleries display your accomplishments, so that we can visit those sites and make snide and disparaging comments?

(*I may have no formal training in photography, but I know a poor photo when I see it. Looks like it was taken with a Brownie camera.*)

Actually, you needn't worry about that, as I doubt that many of us would sink to your level.

[bohun28]

@ybravura

Be my guest.

I don't know if it will show that link, so here's a roundabout one w w w dot flickr dot com / photos / kiwiboynz

You can denigrate all you like, they are amateur galleries and I certainly don't go around claiming that having them makes me any kind of authority on photography, unlike the "oh I have x number of original compositions I'm the expert on music here" that you basically did.

[ybravura]

@bohun28 You are no different from any of the other many adolescents here with no talent or ability who try to gain self-esteem on the cheap by deprecating the accomplishments of gifted people. You are not the only one who makes charges of "wrong notes" under a video of a celebrated performer. There're many jerks who do this, and like you, they invariably, have nothing to show at their own page.

[bohun28]

@ybravura

And yet again you're the one demonstrating a lofty air of superiority and condescension, this time in a highly arrogant and insulting manner.

Presumably, to detract from your own insecurity, which naturally stems from the fact that you have a demonstrable lack of talent which is obvious to anyone who chooses to listen to your compositions.

And you're ignorant enough to believe that just because someone is a "celebrated performer" they are above mistakes.

[ybravura]

@bohun28 Is there nothing too low for you? It's very easy for you to sneer at my music when you have nothing.

But it demonstrates that you are no different from all the other super critics who magically hear faults that no one else can hear. None of them have anything to show at their channels either. Like dogs, all you guys can do is go around urinating on art.

[bohun28]

@ybravura

Is there nothing too low for me? Oh I'm sorry, you can't handle criticism then you shouldn't start hurling abuse and directing people to your amateur-hour compositions as proof that you are somehow more musically gifted or in tune than anyone else.

It is easy for me to state that your music is not very accomplished because I have listened to a great deal of highly accomplished music in my life.

[bohun28]

@ybravura Are you actually suggesting that anybody who is not a musician/composer themselves is somehow "unqualified" to judge the quality of that music? That their hearing is somehow inferior to yours because they have not studied Music 101? Or played Twinkle Twinkle Little Star on the piano? What an absurd idea to even suggest, what arrogance and elitism that you would suggest something like that!!

[ybravura]

@bohun28 Now those of you following this thread may wonder, if bohun28 thinks Pratt plays "wrong notes" and my music is Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, just what does he like? What earns his approval?

Until this morning he had an comment agreeing with a video titled Cole in Auschwitz 3 of 7. It's a Holocaust Denial video.

That explains a lot of things, doesn't it?

bohun28, do you deny that you had a comment posted under that video, and do you deny taking it down recently? Ashamed?

[bohun28]

@ybravura

As I wrote, you really are the stalker!!

I absolutely deny that I wrote any comments agreeing with Cole's Holocaust denial thesis. I'm Polish you moron, I had family murdered in the Holocaust, I have relatives who lived through it, so no, I don't deny it. But since I am a history grad and find the Second World War particularly interesting I do look on YT for videos of interest, be they ones I agree with or not.

But top marks for proving yourself to be a complete retard.

[ybravura]

@bohun28 @bohun28 So your statement, "It is easy for me to state that your music is not very accomplished because I have listened to a great deal of highly accomplished music in my life," does not display an air of superiority? Your pronouncement that Pratt plays "wrong notes" does not demonstrate an air of superiority?

[bohun28]

@ybravura

No it doesn't, it is a qualifier as to why I believe that I am no less able to judge what is good and what isn't despite not being a musician or composer. You're the one calling me out, demanding on what basis I make such statements since I have nothing to show musically, and when I reply you twist that reply into some kind of statement of superiority. I suppose the lesson here is that it's best not to reply to someone who doesn't listen anyway.

[bohun28]

@ybravura

I'm sure when he records an album for EMI he has as many takes as he needs so that the piece is error free, much like you have as many takes as you need to make your recordings error free for your videos.

[ybravura]

@bohun28 Yes, but the point is that it is your duty, what with your superior hearing, to alert EMI that one of their featured artists plays wrong notes in public. Surely they would not want such an inferior artist (as perceived by the great bohun28) representing their label.

Forget about YouTube. Since your hearing and talent is so much finer than that of the rest of us, it is your duty to lead the record companies in the right direction.

[bohun28]

@ybravura

And more sarcasm. Music is quite clearly the wrong direction for you, you should take up a career as a stand up comic who specialises in this very clever and sophisticated form of humour, you are clearly better at it than at musical composition.

[ybravura]

@bohun28 As of now, 23,012 people have viewed my videos. I correspond with some of them, and some are highly accomplished musicians. I believe I'll accept their opinions of my work rather than some churl who does nothing but hurl insults at respected artists.

And just how did this go from your claim that you can hear wrong notes (that no one else hears) in Pratt's performance to my ability as a composer?

Because you realize how stupid you look and are trying to change the topic.

[bohun28]

@ybravura LOL yeah, you keep telling yourself that buddy, are they highly accomplished musicians in the same way as you're a highly accomplished musician? LOL

And I'm not hurling insults at respected artists, I did not hurl a single insult at Mr. Pratt, you're the one who started hurling insults and any insults which I now indulge in are directed at you, and you are not a highly respected artist.

[ybravura]

@bohun28 I don't have to tell myself anything. Go to my channel and you'll see 46 friends, most of whom (if you investigate) are musicians. You will, no doubt, do your best to denigrate this, so then notice that I have 42 people (mostly musicians) who have subscribed,so they will be notified of my latest. I can't be as bad as you maintain.

You have 3 friends who want to hear what you have to offer, one of whom has been kicked off the site, and 2 subscribers, both spam.

[bohun28]

@ybravura What is this, a competition to see how many people subscribe to our channels? Ok, guess what, you win, congratulations!! I use YT to view videos, not post them so maybe that has something to do with it...

As for who subscribes to your channel, I don't actually have the time to go investigating all their qualifications as musicians...I doubt there are any really known names amongst them though.

[ybravura]

@bohun28 The point (which you wish to avoid) is that my music is far from being "amateur-hour compositions" (the words of your insult). And yes, some highly respected professionals subscribe to my channel. (You can always pretend they don't.)

You want to turn this into a ridicule of my music, but the only point I originally made was that having formal training and some ability, I should be able to hear the many "wrong notes" you imagine, but I don't, nor do the 133 who voted Like.

[bohun28]

@ybravura

Please direct me to where I can buy a recording of your music and let me know which recording label carries your work. Otherwise, if you are not actually a recording professional, please let me know which institute of higher learning you teach or tutor at, or perhaps where you have played concerts or where others have played concerts featuring your music, or anywhere, in fact, where your music may feature other than your YT thread...

[ybravura]

@bohun28 Although there are recordings of my music posted here by people I don't know (I won't provide a link, because all you'll do is hurl insults as you always do). Instead, consult the website of my UK publisher which is found on my home page. My scores have sold mostly in Europe, including Poland, buit also South Africa and Malaysia. (Of course, you will belittle all of this. What else can you do?)

So what galeries have featured your photos? Who is YOUR publisher?

[bohun28]

@ybravura Well done, I will take you at your word. At least you have some kind of backing that your music isn't amateur hour inasmuch as you sell scores.

As for my photos, they are totally amateur hour, I believe I stated at the very beginning that I am an amateur photographer, I have never claimed otherwise. As such I am not published or featured in galleries. I have shot a few weddings and my clients were pleased enough.

[bohun28]

@ybravura

Also, please stop this popularity contest you keep embarking on, you may have missed it but I don't judge whether I, or anybody else, is right or wrong based upon whether 133 or 1000 other people on YT have voted like or dislike...I don't form my opinions based on the opinions of other people. I won't suddenly stop hearing wrong notes because the great, formally trained and mega-talented ybravura, with his own compositions, is unable to hear them. I'd say that's your problem

[ybravura]

@bohun28 Do you finally admit that only you (and the late thistle 172) can hear all these wrong notes you complain of? That not just me, but all the musicians in this thread are unable to hear the wrong notes that only you can hear?

And now who's being sarcastic? I thought you said that sarcasm was bad.

[bohun28]

@ybravura

You have problems reading as well as hearing, I said that sarcasm is terrible when overdone, and that it is the easiest form of humour. In this case I couldn't help it, mirroring your earlier messages made me chuckle.

I won't admit that because I have not been in touch with everyone who has listened to this performance. It's possible, even probable, that they heard the same wrong notes that I heard.

[ybravura]

@bohun28 Only you and thistle 172 have heard wrong notes. Most of the other negative comments (some by musicians) are concerned with Pratt's apparel.

The crucial question is, specifically WHICH notes are wrong? It's obvious that in order to correctly call a note "wrong" you'd first have to know the piece, and not just the original by Bach, but the transcription. My guess he's playing a version written by Busoni in about 1919. How do you know that Busoni didn't write it that way???

[bohun28]

@ybravura It is equally probable/possible that they didn't mention it because the overall performance was positive enough for them and a couple of wrong notes didn't bother them. Likewise, they never had to deal with you coming to Mr Pratt's defence like some sort of faithful Yorkshire Terrier.

I went to a Michael Nyman concert in Warsaw a few years ago and his playing was riddled with errors, I still enjoyed the concert and other than a remark to my guest I didn't mention it.

[ybravura]

@bohun28 In fact, the only person who agrees with you about "wrong notes" is thistle 172, who seems to have been recently kicked off this site. (Nice company you keep.)

The division of opinion in this thread is generally divided between musicians who admire Pratt and non-musicians who post insults. (I believe the modern term is "Trolls.")

Check the comments, and you'll see this is true.

[bohun28]

@ybravura

Really, so you have actually gone off and stalked everyone in this thread so as to be able to backup your assertion that those who admire him are all musicians and those who criticise this performance (since criticism isn't actually an insult) who are all non-musicians? Or, as I'm willing to bet money on, you're just making that up and talking out of your ass.

[ybravura]

@bohun28 Don't take my word for it. Go through this link and count the number of comments by those who admire this performance. Then, go to their home pages. Most are musicians, and some are quite talented. Only you and thistle172 hear wrong notes.

And if you "don't form my opinions based on the opinions of other people" why did you remove your comment which agrees with the Holocaust denier? ("Cole in Auschwitz")

You can't call it stalking if you've posted all this on a public forum.

[bohun28]

@ybravura

If most are musicians of your calibre then I'd rather just take your word for it and not waste my time. I knew a guy who's final composition of the year was entitled "sledgehammer on piano"...he basically destroyed a piano with a sledgehammer, recorded the noise and calls himself a musician too. I can fart and in the post-modern world that makes me a musician. And I'm sure that more people have listened to this than just those who posted comments.

[bohun28]

@ybravura

I wasted my time already finding out as to your level of musicianship, I don't have endless amounts of free time, some people actually work for a living you know.

[bohun28]

@ybravura As for "Cole in Auschwitz", you are so very certain that I agreed with him in my comment so perhaps you'd like to share what my comment was, since you must know it, since you know that I was in agreement with Cole right? The only way for you to know if I agreed with him is if you know what the comment was, so, what was it?

I have already made it perfectly clear that I am not a Holocaust denier and exactly why I am not one, so now explain your insistence that I actually am.

[ybravura]

@bohun28 So why did you remove the comment? You took it down for the obvious reason of removing the evidence so that you could claim the opposite.

With your standards of honesty, you will deny that you agreed that the number of deaths at Auschwitz were exaggerated by the Russians.

Go back to the Holocaust Denial videos and leave the music videos to those of us who have something positive to say.

[bohun28]

@ybravura The obvious reason you say. No, actually that is just your opinion. If I didn't want evidence of my opinion then why would I post it in the first place? I don't recall ever removing any post on that thread.

The number of deaths at Auschwitz were actually exaggerated by the Russians, which is pretty mainstream historical opinion these days. Certainly not Holocaust denial. The Russians estimated approximately 4 million murdered where the actual figure was closer to 1.2 million.

[ybravura]

@bohun28 Now that we've found your true self, please take your Holocaust Denial opinions to the appropriate forum and spread your bile and insults there. Leave the music videos to those of us who have a genuine love and appreciation for artistry.

There, you can dispute the number of Jews killed all you want, and I promise never to interfere.

[bohun28]

@ybravura My true self? You can quite easily check that figure on any site dealing with the Holocaust. The accepted death toll at Auschwitz was approximately 1.2 million. It'll take you less time to confirm that than it did to search out the Cole video in the first place.

Calling me a Holocaust Denier when I post a universally accepted death toll is just a futile, and somewhat stupid way, at grasping at every straw to try to insult me.

[ybravura]

@bohun28 Oh. . . . O.K. How 'bout "Holocaust Skeptic" then?

"Holocaust Revisionist"?

I'll accept with alacrity whatever it takes to get you out of the music pages.

[bohun28]

@ybravura As for your interference, you give yourself too much credit. I already said that I don't form my opinions by copying those of others, so why would the opinion of an insignificant, unknown, frustrated "composer" bother me?

Go back to composing your music, that is by far the best insult you could do me (and the world)...discovering your artistry was unpleasant to the senses to say the least.

[bohun28]

@ybravura Oh and it went from the wrong notes that Mr Pratt played to you claiming a superior ability to judge Pratt's music based upon the fact that you have such and such a number of original works on YT, whilst I have none, and therefore my experience of music and ability to tell good from bad must be inferior to yours. So I took up the invitation to listen for myself. It doesn't show any kind of superior ability at anything, and only proves that you're a pompous ass.

[ybravura]

@bohun28 Poor effort at turning it around. YOU are the one who claimed to hear "wrong notes" in Pratt's performance. I said that I could hear no such thing. YOU are the one who began sneering at my music. If that isn't a superior attitude, I don't know what is.

[bohun28]

@ybravura No, you got that the wrong way around.

Clearly I stated that Pratt played wrong notes, you disagreed in a highly condescending manner by being sarcastic and implying I have no talent and nothing to show for myself, then you claimed the higher musical ability and talent and gave your original compositions as proof of this. THEN I went to explore your compositions and then I sneered at it. Get your facts straight at least...the record is all above.

[bohun28]

@ybravura

To be fair, I have listened to bits of your uploads and truly I can't hear any false notes, I'm sure this has nothing to do with them not being live performances.

[ybravura]

@bohun28 Thank you for being so gracious in giving my poor work a passing grade. It means a lot, coming from a person of your (as yet undemonstrated) talent and ability.

BTW, when you detect these "wrong notes," do you hear them on your own, or do voices tell you about them?

[bohun28]

@ybravura

Sadly, all I said was that I didn't hear any false notes, however, since you keep banging on about demonstrated talent, I would suggest that you don't mention your uploads of "twinkle-twinkle little star" level compositions as some kind of example of your talents, unless you're 12 years old or began composing within the last six months...in which case good job, otherwise, don't give up your day job.

[denzelsnipes69]

I wonder if Awadagin and Barack lit one up and smoked it after the show.

[denzelsnipes69]

LoL @ Barack at 6:50 and 8:08.

[denzelsnipes69]

Is that Condoleeza Rice's old piano?

[1787patriot]

very close to my thoughts...I belive it may have been one of the several from Chenys bunker...Seriously I would love to know where or whom had it put into the White House, It sounds wonderful

[hancockification]

watch?v=rHM5PLq9KXo

[Werdzwurth]

I can't imagine how awesome it would have been to be there and hear this live...fantastic!!!

[josealonsoleon]

Wow give the man a standing ovation he was brilliant, and the ending what a great idea I loved his sense of humor.

[josealonsoleon]

Outstanding performance, just as if we there with the Prez.

[josealonsoleon]

Love the subtitles!

[tyu3456]

@josealonsoleon lol "piano playing"

[Glitterateur]

Bravo, hercules!

[Socksbike]

Fantastic.

[TERCOLOCO13]

FUCKING BULLSHIT

[brumagemm]

He plays just beautifully, but the leopard print was a little...distracting....

[kwooster58]

hahahaha , i defnitly agree on that.

[iLuvAkeys4ever]

Great pick, its not how you play, but what you play that matters. When you watch things live the music is amazing but sometimes when it is recorded it loses some of its magic, that is why it is important to pick a piece that everyone, young and old, or new to cassical music can be entertained and therefore appreciate the performance!

[Texpressions]

....stride the earnest soul, each note the truth be told

Powerful performance Mr Pratt! And Thank You White House for sharing this with us.

[Drumvain]

lol on the video response!

Great Performance.

[meg1241989]

Jesus, he plays beautifully

[flushnut]

Beautiful!

[calligrapen09]

Wow, I I met him two years ago; he critiqued my performance on Impromptu in A-flat major by Chopin! And I went to one of his performances, he is absolutely brilliant!!

[PTurchan1]

Beautiful.

[MePandaBlair]

I WISH I WOULD HAVE BEEN THERE :)