William Bolcom's Graceful Ghost Rag

[Zona57Bob]

I agree with 'chexg', Grant. Up-tempo this about a third - and get some 'sparkle' in it. Your notes are great, btw!

[TheGracefulGhost]

Hey everyone. I confirm that this is the best recording on YouTube currently.

[ferociousgumby]

I haven't found a better version so far! I have a certain mind's-ear view of it, from the first time I heard it on the radio and it just came on, and I didn't even know what it was. It was played very much like this, but somewhat more elongated, kind of dusky and noir-ish, like something from an old Warner Brother's movie with Bogart and Bacall. I like the sensitivity here, the wonderful fingers, the bright high chords and how the left hand knows what the right hand is doing.

[judyholc]

Thank you. Illiterate me, the tune was so familiar and endearing and I thought it was Joplin! Played beautifully by you!!

[MickeyMudTurtle]

It's interesting hearing this performed in a 'straight' tempo. The version that WRR-FM plays from time to time (and which used to be their sign-off song before they went to 24-hour broadcasting) has a 'swing' quality to it. Anyway, I like both! :-D

[LillyC68]

What a gorgeous tune and you played it beautifully!

Best wishes,

Lilly

[TheFalcon1054]

I heard him play this song him self when i was a kid didnt think to much about it , heard some more of his stuff later on and love it. Hes my great uncle but i definatly didnt get any musical talent

[TurnOnTheLights0]

What's up with the three dislikes? I think this is the best performance of this song on YouTube.

[mullahsoutnow]

good job... solid performance...

just heard Leon Fleisher perform the four-hands version of this with his wife last night.... beautiful piece

[Xtirocutie]

Great job

[ytfarmer90]

really great!

[benthread]

wardrobe consultant needed NOW!!!!

[SrFerrier]

Great found on the internet! Congrats for the good taste. Still about the sensitive interpretation: think about the title: I believe you can make the Ghost much more Graceful - maybe the notes should be played by him, as the piano hammers would play by themselves...

[Etheryczna]

BTW...music can heal...like this one...

[Etheryczna]

I think the best performance of this piece on You Tube

[DedmonStudios]

nice man!

i hear a couple slips here and there,

but everyone makes at LEAST a few mistakes while performing

and lets not forget, this piece is very difficult

i'm still learning it myself

but you played it beautifully! ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

[benchkey]

HI: This is not an easy piece, and Grant has nailed the notes, but the life's breath of the piece is a little short. It needs to lilt like an old rag. Listen to Bill Bolcom playing it (the composer) and you will get a fresh perspective. This can be a very sensitive loving piece.

[chexg]

@benchkey Hi, thanks. I totally agree with you. It's been a while since I've played this piece, and I hope to bring it back really soon and I will definitely take in consideration your advice.

[RagtimePassion]

Thanks for one of the best plays of GG. Another best will be one by Mas Ikemiya, I suppose, which had made up my mind to try to arrange it on the guitar in 1999. And now you may make me realize how wonderful this tune AGAIN... so, I will try to revise my arr. from now on! Thanks a lot... ;-)

[bce5150]

I remember my parent's playing this and I thank you for an absolutely beautiful rendition. 5/5

[morsart]

This is so beautifully done! Thank you for posting it. The performance is inspiring: Though I'm not an accomplished pianist, I'm determined to see if I can learn it. My first try failed when I bought something called "Graceful Ghost", but it's not the same, and much shorter. Where did you buy the sheet music?

[PandaMishima]

For reasons of my own, I think of a manatee dancing.

[bryan57s]

@PandaMishima Damn it, you've ruined this piece for me.

[MsPandaRosa]

@bryan57s

ah, then my work here is complete,

what's not to love about manatees?

(had to change my webname)

[harpdiva59]

This is really excellent, man.

I like how it's very musical, but it's still a rag.

V. lovely.

[vybor]

Graceful... as it should be... very nice.

[Plowhandle]

Amazing interpretation ! Obviously, one of YOUR favourites - now it is one of MY favourites !

[chexg]

thanks!

[MrPercival100]

I'm trying to learn this one, any tips?

[SystemofaBjorn]

@MrPercival100 definately try to bring out the melody, it makes it sound really good. and be sure to give it a "jazzy" feel

[illidnarg]

Terrific !!!!---much like Bolcum  played HIMSELF !!!

[drustrange]

Very nice! I think a lot of the other recordings of this song are played too square - you've got a sweet lilt in there, especially in the first third of the video. Thanks for sharing it.

[JLeeGraham]

One of my favourites. Nicely done, and I agree with the previous couple of posters, arguably the best performance on YouTube to date of this piece. What I like about your interpretation is that it's soulful and dignified without getting overly fussy, and you resist the temptation to over-interpret with dotted rhythms and other stuff that's not on the page. It doesn't need it, and you know it. Thanks for sharing this, and best of luck with your beautiful playing.

[kalios55]

Best one here so far ... for ths tune ...

[chexg]

Thanks!

[ferociousgumby]

What's-a matter with you guys? I've spent all morning trying to find a decent version of this piece, and this one is head and shoulders above the rest. Probably all it requires is a little finesse and the emotional maturity that will come with time. I swear, I don't want to listen to any of the other YouTube versions now, because relative to this one, they suck! He has some really nice moments here when he "speaks" with the keyboard. Too many pianists play it "jaunty" and ruin it.

[chexg]

Wow. Many thanks, friend.  :)

[mmedefarge]

Yeah, I agree; it's supposed to be a GRACEFUL ghost, not a funky chicken.

[ashburna0116]

Your touch has great clarity, but I think this needs more dynamic contrast....and yes, it needs to sound more emotional, but not too melodramatic.

[84Fish48Fish]

That must have been embarrassing when the phone went off.

[hugh144]

And yes, I have seen the Richard Dowling video. I think he is too mellowdramatic in his playing. I didn't like it at all.

[hugh144]

Every time I learn a new piece I search YouTube for every possible video featuring that song. I ordered the music and was disappointed I received the Geo. Winston arrangement. I've master that already since it's faily easy. I went back and ordered the Bolcom, which has to come via snail-mail. I can't wait to start on it. Anyway, my point is this... I admire your style and control of your playing. The piano makes all the difference as well. You win for the best display of this piece!

[hugh144]

Upon the recent passing of his father, Bolcom was known to have said he felt the presence of this late father who helped him write this piece from the beyond. Hence, the name.

[ashburna0116]

Actually, it was his son who passed away before he started writing this.

[bryan57s]

Isn't the chord at 0:33 supposed to be arpeggiated?

[Lennythewinner]

pedant!

[bryan57s]

I just really like the arpeggiated chord there, one of my favorite part, that's all. Still very good overall of course!

[Zamashaa]

I want this to be played at my wedding. :)

[meteor901]

Gorgeous rendition!  Tempo is just right, imho.

[kktrumpet]

i'm pretty sure this is what it's called.....but i think this sounds a lot better if it's played in a double time swing feel that means you swing the sixteenth notes and have the eighth notes be straight.......still really good.....this is just how i like to play it

[RoxyDiver2013]

Thanks so much! I needed help with the counting.

[Carabelle19]

good job!

i'm trying to learn this one, there's so many freaking flats

[SystemofaBjorn]

its good

[emaytee]

at 2:27 you can hear a cell phone ringing

[Dabednego]

THANK you for not swinging this. People think that you have to but it sounds so much better straight. It's such a delicate piece.

[buckwheatjazz]

I concur. The syncopation provides the rhythmic interest. "Swinging" the 8th. notes takes away from the natural propulsion and sounds contrived. Good job ignoring the schmuck who doesn't know how to use the "vibrate" feature on the cellphone. Nice performance!

[brotou]

check out bachscholar (cory hall) version. this is a bit too fast and loud if you ask me...but wonderful also.

[mmedefarge]

It's fast and loud because It's not a ghost; it's a Poltergeist.

[brotou]

why would it be a poltergeist if it's called graceful ghost?

[mmedefarge]

Only kidding.  Playing it loud and fast would make it seem as though the Graceful Ghost was really a Poltergeist.

[anfran05]

This piece works very nicely "swung" also. Very nice job!

[ferociousgumby]

This is my favorite ragtime piece, melancholy, hauntingly beautiful, and more sophisticated than Joplin. I want this to be the theme music for my "dream" movie about the life of silent screen legend Harold Lloyd. Pray for my dream!

[Patfromhutto]

Beautiful.

Have you heard the Serpent's Kiss? I'm in the process of acquiring that music.

[dalwhimo]

I agree with homerboy488 you need to listen to Richard Dowling and pay careful attention to his expression...you have a lot to learn.

[thomastoons1]

Truly beautiful rendition.

This is an expressive work that requires great maturity and you bring much more depth than expected for your age.

Honestly, I'd like to hear you play this in 20 years.

Keep it up!

[bedacket]

Ah yes-I forgot to mention this--does this rag remind anyone else of somw of Randy Newman's work??

Love him too.

[bedacket]

Heard this rag on my local public radio station and fell in love immediately. I then ordered it, received it today and listened over and over--there is something just mesmerizing about it, beautiful and sad.Wish I had my old piano! Sigh.

[meteor901]

Beautifully done. Thanks for posting this, one of my favorite rags.

[StrawHatKirby]

Such a hard song.

Congratz =)

[homerboy488]

Very nice. It's a difficult piece. Check out Richard Dowling's version.

[firesofforever96]

this is also pretty sweet, i just recently ordered the music for this song, im gunna be playing it for a contest

[hazell86]

Omg boy you have really amazin talents ...

you can be the best pianist in the world ;D

[thothbaboon]

love this song, listen to it by gil shaham. he makes it sound so sad. this song is so beautiful.

[garyo1982]

Grant, that was great. Makes me want to enjoy a beer in an old ghost town saloon.

The mailman enjoyed this piece very much.

[pianogirl97]

Graceful Ghost Rag is from a set of three Ghost Rags written by William Bolcom. If you google the name of the piece, you'll find a website where you can buy the music for a very reasonable price.

[bixvenuti]

Beautifully played. A lot of pianists try to swing the A section--I'm glad you chose to play it "straight." Thanks for posting this!!

[gulgar06]

Awesome. Thanks for sharing.

[ahoy16]

i really love this piece, i downloaded the music sheet, but

looks too difficult, can u help me?

[string0pearls]

where did you download it from? i've been looking for that song for months!

[beanbummmms]

lovely, really enjoyed this! :)

[kiyabyers]

Great - you've played this piece exceptionally! Is there a specified grade for this piece?

[chexg]

clarify with what you mean by 'grade'?

[kiyabyers]

I am assuming you take exams with an exam board, most likely the ABRSM (Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music). This and other exam boards asses you in grades, which measure difficulty. In the case of the ABRSM, grades are from 1 to 8.

[chexg]

oh okay, I would say its an 8 grade then :)

[kiyabyers]

Very cool - well done again!