@barendbos You know, I have been amazed how civil, positive and focused on the music the comments have been. Reading and replying to them (including to yours!) has been an unexpected delight. Thank you.
Hey, Mr. Greenhat, VERY nice performance! Your careful and graceful execution shows your profound respect for Mr. Joplin's composition. Very nice. Really enjoyed listening and watching. You must have practiced long and hard. And obove all, it was a gentle recital. Not like some I have seen, akin to appreciating a magnolia blossom with a sledge hammer. I will watch more of your recitals. Thanks again.
Nick, thank you so much for the kind words! You know, this was my first YouTube performance, and you're right, I practiced it pretty hard. And not knowing any better, I used a low-quality microphone (the camcorder built-in). My later uploads have better audio quality. Thanks again for listening and taking the trouble to write. I really appreciate it. -Paul
Hi Paul. I've been thinking about learning Weeping Willow, and in searching for performances for inspiration, your beautiful rendition was right near the top of my search results! As usual with your elegant interpretations, this is exactly how I "feel" this piece should sound. Great work.
Hey Peter. Good to hear from you. Sorry we didn't get to cross paths last summer. I was (and am) dealing with a bad back, travelling to festival was out of the question then. Maybe next time. I encourage you to pick up Weeping Willow. It's one of Joplin's easier pieces. Easier than Magnetic or Maple Leaf. I chose it after looking for an easy one to learn. It was the first rag I learned. Please give a shout when you have a new music video posted, I look forward to it. Best, Paul
@wonlungtong Thank you so much for commenting. If I'm understanding you, the transition from B to A is one-measure (at about 1:54) in which the left hand keeps the beat with single note up-down pattern. I love this measure. Also, I looked at your YT videos from your shop - fascinating! I love the belt-drive system, don't know if you have a video that focuses on it, but that would be good. Your speaking narration is excellent - nice if you did more. Thanks again for your kind words.
@Kakabeblen Thank you for the kind words. I agree with you about the technical quality of the video and audio. This was the first piano video (of nine) that I've made and it is flawed. I used the mic in the camera, big mistake. Now I use a separate high quality mic. Thanks again.
@Kakabeblen For any one who thinks this is played to slowly, why is it that the composer himself writes, Do not play fast, it is never correct to play rag time fast, Mr. Scott Joplin had said that, in referance to his own music.
But you change tempo, wich the audience doesn´t like that much, sorry to say so, basically i like your way of playing a lot but in the end you keep running, only because it gets you so, its so much music in this part, like as if it would be the climax, but it is not good, when it turns into hectic.
Sorry man, i can´t stop myself from saying this.... keep on playing!
Very nice job !! I tried to send email to you, at a yahoo id and it came back. Would love to visit as i love Ragtime myself!! email me thanks, Brian bcb.markvii at yahoo
I like the distinctive, sostenuto style that you've put on the left hand, but don't let the damper pedal get in the way of the percussiveness of the song, which is the main point of ragtime, and don't let your right hand get dominated. Other than that, the song is amazing. :D
Interesting debate about ragtime tempo. Scott Joplin put 'not too fast' on pretty much all his rags as far as I know. I think the tempo can be fast or slow really, but I suppose this song is called Weeping Willow so perhaps slower is better in this case. My friends always like me to play as fast as possible! Anyway, you can see my faster performance of this song in the video responses if you'd prefer to hear a faster version. I think in the end though we're playing about the same speed!
Ragtime tunes always make me think of some grassy nole in the 1920's where the folks are over dressed for the weather and drinking homemade lemonade. Yeah, I know, I'm pretty sick , huh?
As you wanted a comment on the rhythm I have to say I thought it was just BIT too slow. I felt like I just wanted it to move along a little faster. Thats just my opinion however and I see a lot of people think it was great :)
Thanks for your comment on the tempo. I happen to agree with you - a little faster would be better. I think these days I probably do tend to play it a wee bit faster.
No, Paul, a bit faster would not be better! You can play it even a little slower. It is titled "not fast" explicitly. Scott Joplin had it in mind like you played it, not a performance or speed competition. I like your playing.
Paul, your a very good, dedicated player to Joplin pieces. your playing is great and smooth and you follow the dynamics, good job! I love Scott Joplin pieces as well, but I can't play them as well as you. haha
That's perhaps one of the finest playings of this piece I've ever heard. I love your own dressings, and the tenpo is perfect, most people will either play it too quick or too slow. That was very enjoyable, thank you very much!
sawyer4pres and yourself (Greenhat9) are right, Joplins rags sound better played slow, some people try and play them far too fast and you cannot enjoy or keep up with the tune. This sounds perfect, I love weeping willow rag x
You play Joplin the way it's supposed to be played. As mentioned in that book on your piano (often)Scott Joplin admonishes: "It is never right to play Ragtime fast." Bad grammar, good advice.
I like ragtime a little more lively, but you certainly are sure of the notes and you play very strongly, hitting the keys right to the bottom...something I can never do!
Thank You So Much for posting this video, i was looking for a nice up beat joplin peace for an upcoming recital and you helped me choose this one! Thank you again for making my search a painless one!!
what a nice rag, great work joplin did. i play this song at the moment too and i hav to say, that your interpretation is very nice, keep playing piano ;)
You have a nice touch! I think adding a few different notes here and there is much more acceptable than altering the smooth tempo called for. I think people lose the classical aspect when they try and jazz it up too much.
I usually skip the B section and go right on to the C section. I am just that kind of guy. I appreciate your post. Well Played. I know ragtime is supposed to be played so, but if you ever get really good, build up the speed very fast, and play it more like a stride piano piece. Its very interesting =]
I understand what your saying but if you read up on joplin he says the worst thing a performer can do to one of his peaces is speed it up too fast. But its not like hes going to come back and haunt us for our speedy tempo
As you know, tengelo777, I prefer to play a relatively slow tempo. For one thing, slower is just easier. (This was the first piece I learned well enough to post on YouTube, and that was the level of my ability.) But I think you make a good point: Joplin stated a preference for "not too fast", but it's up to each performer to find the tempo at which he/she can be most musical. I've heard lovely fast, and lovely slow Joplin. In the end, it's the musicality that matters.
Well-stated!! It IS the musicality that matters... I'm not a big fan of the "tempo police" of YouTube who're so adamant "their tempo is correct." There are great amatuer and professinal interpreters out there - both slow and fast. Anyway, 5-stars. You're truly an inspiration to us Joplin amateur players. :-)
Nice rendition... I'm trying to nail this one down myself, and was looking for a performance to figure out the B section... Tempo was pretty close on yours! Ragtime is almost universally played too darn fast.
tempowise, i play Weeping Willow Rag at about 72. Dont get carried away with liberties like you took in the B section. this rag is farly laid back and relaxed about a mezzo forte throughout (B section forte then back to MF) but the climax is the D section, so save the build up for the end. other then that nice job
ye it's a very difficult piece to get the pace right, in a way it can never be too slow but theres always the urge with stride to get a bit faster than necessary, in my video response I tried my best to keep the pace down where as I have failed to do so in other ragtime renditions lol
Thank you for bringing to my attention your performance of this piece. Very well played, indeed! I think many if not most performers (including Joplin and myself) would agree with you that slower is better, although there is often a tendency, as you say, to speed up. On the other hand, if I play too slowly I find that the piece often loses musicality. - the dynamics fall flat. So I would say that the art is in finding an ideal tempo (which may differ for different players).
Yes I totally agree,looking back at my performance of the great scott rag (by james scott, also on my page)I felt the need to play faster in order to make the overall sound more interesting and exciting. However with your "weeping willow" it's not played fast and theres a great sense of rhythm which is hard to maintain at a slow pace so well done! :-)
i think slowing it down just a little bit would make this piece sound even better than it does. and separate each section just a little bit. try experimenting to see what you like, maybe nix some of the swung notes but DEFINITELY keep your grace notes in there. they really spice the piece up.
Really love not only your delicate interpretation, but your choice of pieces that sound great when played in such a thoughtful way (Weeping Willow and Strenuous Life). Also, your Mason sounds just wonderful. You've got me considering if Strenuous should be the next piece I tackle, since now I know how I'd like it to sound!
Thank you very much, Peter. I would love to hear you play Strenuous, and am looking forward to your posting of it. Or of any other piece, for that matter. You're a terrific pianist, and I hope you will continue to post your performances on YT. -Paul
I like your tempo and embellishments you add in to make it your own. You have it solidly in your fingers and your practice shows. I would like to hear some change in dynamics in the decending bass to add some excitement, but I love the way you slowed the tempo at the end to give it feeling.
Hi Karen, thanks for these good suggestions. I agree, varying the dynamics to make the playing more lively would be great. This was the first piece I had the nerve to post on YT.
I bought the sheet music for Nan Bostick's "That Missing You Rag" and am working on it. Such a beautiful, soulful piece! I am very much enjoying the videos you've posted from WCRF-07. -Paul
Unfortunately neither of my two books of Scott Joplin Rags has Weeping Willow in it so I can't specify which bars the problem occurs in. Using timings, though, listen to the sequence at 1.57, 2.03, 2.11 and 2.17. Notice 3.29 as well.
I love the sound of the that piano and you play it very nicely. You could put a bit more "feeling" into it. The playing sounds a bit mechanical (nothing wrong with the St Louis tickle though). One thing that does irritate is that you quite often play the left hand note slighly before the right hand one. Listen to this piece and you will see what I mean. I'd enjoy it much more if you got them together!
Thanks for your comments. I agree it needs more "feeling". I'm working on it. I wonder if you could tell me where the timing between left and right hand gets off. Can you give me one or more times in the recording when this happens?
I think it sounds great. Of course, I made the mistake of quitting piano lessons when I was younger. I regret it now because I want to play like this! Good Job!
Thanks for the compliment, webbubbles. Well, of course, there was a time when I, too, could play only the first part. That's how it's done. Keep practicing.
Hi Webbubbles...I too am an intermediate, and probably shouldn't be posting until I can get it better, but listen to my latest Weeping Willow.. keep it up!! I too need to!
My suggestion regarding tempo and phrasing is to find the song as recorded by Max Morath and assimilate his perfect grasp of the nuance of any piece. There is no better standard.
Paul, thank you for the kind words! Coming from you, who play the guitar so beautifully, they mean a lot. I'm currently working on a rag, written in 1904, called "St. Louis Tickle". I'm guessing you know it, because it's usually played on guitar. I have loved it since hearing Dave Van Ronk play it in the 1960's. Van Ronk's tabs for it are on the internet.
MIND=BLOWN
MRSUPERWOODD 1 month ago
I don't think you could have picked a better tempo for this rag. Great job.
Harmonyww 2 months ago
wow. i reached the kind, loving, eloquent and gentlemen part of the internet here. Look at those comments!
barendbos 3 months ago
@barendbos You know, I have been amazed how civil, positive and focused on the music the comments have been. Reading and replying to them (including to yours!) has been an unexpected delight. Thank you.
GreenHat9 3 months ago
Subscribed!!
lil27viet 5 months ago
Hey, Mr. Greenhat, VERY nice performance! Your careful and graceful execution shows your profound respect for Mr. Joplin's composition. Very nice. Really enjoyed listening and watching. You must have practiced long and hard. And obove all, it was a gentle recital. Not like some I have seen, akin to appreciating a magnolia blossom with a sledge hammer. I will watch more of your recitals. Thanks again.
Deckerd (Nick Mayeux)
Deckerd724 7 months ago
@Deckerd724
Nick, thank you so much for the kind words! You know, this was my first YouTube performance, and you're right, I practiced it pretty hard. And not knowing any better, I used a low-quality microphone (the camcorder built-in). My later uploads have better audio quality. Thanks again for listening and taking the trouble to write. I really appreciate it. -Paul
GreenHat9 7 months ago
Nice job! Encourages me to start playing again..;)
Free2bepurp 9 months ago
Hi Paul. I've been thinking about learning Weeping Willow, and in searching for performances for inspiration, your beautiful rendition was right near the top of my search results! As usual with your elegant interpretations, this is exactly how I "feel" this piece should sound. Great work.
Thanks so much for the inspiration.
Best Regards, Peter
ouirv 9 months ago
@ouirv @ouirv
Hey Peter. Good to hear from you. Sorry we didn't get to cross paths last summer. I was (and am) dealing with a bad back, travelling to festival was out of the question then. Maybe next time. I encourage you to pick up Weeping Willow. It's one of Joplin's easier pieces. Easier than Magnetic or Maple Leaf. I chose it after looking for an easy one to learn. It was the first rag I learned. Please give a shout when you have a new music video posted, I look forward to it. Best, Paul
GreenHat9 9 months ago
I especially like your B section, and I particularly like your transition to A. You offer a tasteful interpretation. Thanks for sharing.
wonlungtong 10 months ago
@wonlungtong Thank you so much for commenting. If I'm understanding you, the transition from B to A is one-measure (at about 1:54) in which the left hand keeps the beat with single note up-down pattern. I love this measure. Also, I looked at your YT videos from your shop - fascinating! I love the belt-drive system, don't know if you have a video that focuses on it, but that would be good. Your speaking narration is excellent - nice if you did more. Thanks again for your kind words.
GreenHat9 10 months ago
Brilliant Peice. Love the way you played it.
frozenghost233 1 year ago
why are these vids always most popular in america ?
mesatweenie 1 year ago
Beautifully made. I love this piece, and you deliverd it well!
The only thing is the poor video\sound quality.
If you have a new camera and maybe a better mic, I'd love to see you record it again =) Thumbs up!
Kakabeblen 1 year ago
@Kakabeblen Thank you for the kind words. I agree with you about the technical quality of the video and audio. This was the first piano video (of nine) that I've made and it is flawed. I used the mic in the camera, big mistake. Now I use a separate high quality mic. Thanks again.
GreenHat9 1 year ago 2
@Kakabeblen For any one who thinks this is played to slowly, why is it that the composer himself writes, Do not play fast, it is never correct to play rag time fast, Mr. Scott Joplin had said that, in referance to his own music.
dansing124 1 year ago
Great job :-)
But you change tempo, wich the audience doesn´t like that much, sorry to say so, basically i like your way of playing a lot but in the end you keep running, only because it gets you so, its so much music in this part, like as if it would be the climax, but it is not good, when it turns into hectic.
Sorry man, i can´t stop myself from saying this.... keep on playing!
lilataubenei 1 year ago
Very nice job !! I tried to send email to you, at a yahoo id and it came back. Would love to visit as i love Ragtime myself!! email me thanks, Brian bcb.markvii at yahoo
bcbmarkvii 1 year ago
I like the distinctive, sostenuto style that you've put on the left hand, but don't let the damper pedal get in the way of the percussiveness of the song, which is the main point of ragtime, and don't let your right hand get dominated. Other than that, the song is amazing. :D
josiah566 1 year ago
This is my second favorite Rag by him. 1st being Maple Leaf Rag and third being The Entertainer. =]
MercuryWinds 2 years ago
Interesting debate about ragtime tempo. Scott Joplin put 'not too fast' on pretty much all his rags as far as I know. I think the tempo can be fast or slow really, but I suppose this song is called Weeping Willow so perhaps slower is better in this case. My friends always like me to play as fast as possible! Anyway, you can see my faster performance of this song in the video responses if you'd prefer to hear a faster version. I think in the end though we're playing about the same speed!
khriskooper 2 years ago
Nice!You make jazz melodious.
Diorrisimo 2 years ago
definitely not any faster.
If anything, maybe a little slower.
Very nice playing though :-)
clemxo 2 years ago 2
haha this song is stuck in my head now :)
i think im gonna learn it & maybe play it at my next recital. It's such an uplifting song for me & just happens to be the name of my favorite tree!
belle1199 2 years ago
I'm only just getting interested in rag- have listened to many. Love it and yes a little faster would be great!
dilemmix 2 years ago
Ragtime tunes always make me think of some grassy nole in the 1920's where the folks are over dressed for the weather and drinking homemade lemonade. Yeah, I know, I'm pretty sick , huh?
PaulUmbarger 2 years ago 4
Funny, while many people seem to say it was played too slowly, I felt it was played too fast. I'd have prefered a slower tempo of this.
Noarcs 2 years ago
Ive been a Joplin Nut for yrs,
I had all the nonsuch albums and the angel ones too in the early 70's,
always wanted to play piano like this, ive got a Kawai console but I like the uprights base better, ,
Joplin was a total genis and there wont be another like him,
kirkconway 2 years ago 2
Great, maybe a little slow but way better than I can play it.
5/5
M3RCYLESSH410GUY 2 years ago
Joplin was a genius
KurtisERIK 2 years ago 17
A real genius.
qazwerty97 2 years ago
Great! Just great! Could be a tad bit louder on some parts, but other than that, it was fine! Keep it up :)
Ragtime44Films 2 years ago
Very good :)
As you wanted a comment on the rhythm I have to say I thought it was just BIT too slow. I felt like I just wanted it to move along a little faster. Thats just my opinion however and I see a lot of people think it was great :)
Was a pleasure to listen to though!
Thanks! and 5/5 definately.
Aden0 2 years ago
Thanks for your comment on the tempo. I happen to agree with you - a little faster would be better. I think these days I probably do tend to play it a wee bit faster.
Best regards, Paul.
GreenHat9 2 years ago
No, Paul, a bit faster would not be better! You can play it even a little slower. It is titled "not fast" explicitly. Scott Joplin had it in mind like you played it, not a performance or speed competition. I like your playing.
cvwiki 2 years ago
Excellent !! Hey Paul .... would love to have you come over and play this on the Austin pipe organ I play ...... JOPLIN ROCKS !!!
Fixnitup 2 years ago
Paul, your a very good, dedicated player to Joplin pieces. your playing is great and smooth and you follow the dynamics, good job! I love Scott Joplin pieces as well, but I can't play them as well as you. haha
Zettsuu 2 years ago
Beautiful!
AirplaneFoods 2 years ago
hi! im just learning this song! very beautiful wrk. and thank you so much for the rhythm, i had no idea it went like that. thanks! :)
RoulaSilvy 2 years ago
Thanks for your kind words. I too have sometimes used aYouTube video to get the rhythm of a piece I'm working on.
Cheers,
Paul
GreenHat9 2 years ago
That's perhaps one of the finest playings of this piece I've ever heard. I love your own dressings, and the tenpo is perfect, most people will either play it too quick or too slow. That was very enjoyable, thank you very much!
hmmmeh 2 years ago
Thanks very much, Sam.
Best regards,
Paul
GreenHat9 2 years ago
Dear Jill1993A,
Thank you for your kind words and all your thoughtful comments. They are most helpful.
Best regards,
Paul
GreenHat9 3 years ago
This is really pretty :)
I love Joplin
SmartStart24 3 years ago
VERY NICE!!!! I like it better slow so then you can do a little jig to it. Good job playing. I barley even noticed the wrong notes so thats good.
jak10987 3 years ago
sawyer4pres and yourself (Greenhat9) are right, Joplins rags sound better played slow, some people try and play them far too fast and you cannot enjoy or keep up with the tune. This sounds perfect, I love weeping willow rag x
prettyparisian 3 years ago
I like the time changes you do and the extra runs of notes you add. Nicely done sir!
cueshark 3 years ago
Hey man that was rockin'! Keep it up, I wish I could play like that. =)
AnotherSchmoe 3 years ago
You play Joplin the way it's supposed to be played. As mentioned in that book on your piano (often)Scott Joplin admonishes: "It is never right to play Ragtime fast." Bad grammar, good advice.
sawyer4pres 3 years ago
I like ragtime a little more lively, but you certainly are sure of the notes and you play very strongly, hitting the keys right to the bottom...something I can never do!
cruddiestcrudever 3 years ago
Hi :) I think you did a Great Job :)
I enjoyed your performance :) 5*
Thomas
thomandy 3 years ago
Thank You So Much for posting this video, i was looking for a nice up beat joplin peace for an upcoming recital and you helped me choose this one! Thank you again for making my search a painless one!!
tangelo777 3 years ago
I'm glad this has been useful. Thanks for your (several) comments.
GreenHat9 3 years ago
Very enjoyable.
perumnx 3 years ago
I love your interpretation of this - the tempo is perfect and I love the part from 3:30 onwards! I'd love to see you play Original Rags.
jenniewrennie 3 years ago
what a nice rag, great work joplin did. i play this song at the moment too and i hav to say, that your interpretation is very nice, keep playing piano ;)
ZockerJake 3 years ago
Thank you, my friend. Keep playing piano: Yes! What could be better?
GreenHat9 3 years ago
You have a nice touch! I think adding a few different notes here and there is much more acceptable than altering the smooth tempo called for. I think people lose the classical aspect when they try and jazz it up too much.
lustre5 3 years ago
I usually skip the B section and go right on to the C section. I am just that kind of guy. I appreciate your post. Well Played. I know ragtime is supposed to be played so, but if you ever get really good, build up the speed very fast, and play it more like a stride piano piece. Its very interesting =]
bkgangstapianist 3 years ago
I understand what your saying but if you read up on joplin he says the worst thing a performer can do to one of his peaces is speed it up too fast. But its not like hes going to come back and haunt us for our speedy tempo
tangelo777 3 years ago
As you know, tengelo777, I prefer to play a relatively slow tempo. For one thing, slower is just easier. (This was the first piece I learned well enough to post on YouTube, and that was the level of my ability.) But I think you make a good point: Joplin stated a preference for "not too fast", but it's up to each performer to find the tempo at which he/she can be most musical. I've heard lovely fast, and lovely slow Joplin. In the end, it's the musicality that matters.
GreenHat9 3 years ago
Well-stated!! It IS the musicality that matters... I'm not a big fan of the "tempo police" of YouTube who're so adamant "their tempo is correct." There are great amatuer and professinal interpreters out there - both slow and fast. Anyway, 5-stars. You're truly an inspiration to us Joplin amateur players. :-)
cebukid70 2 years ago 9
hhhmmm.....its nice just the way I like it..
but your tempo was a little fast. but its fine just the way I play it. 5 stars for you men!! thanks..
wakerds 3 years ago
Nice rendition... I'm trying to nail this one down myself, and was looking for a performance to figure out the B section... Tempo was pretty close on yours! Ragtime is almost universally played too darn fast.
pljenkins522 3 years ago
tempowise, i play Weeping Willow Rag at about 72. Dont get carried away with liberties like you took in the B section. this rag is farly laid back and relaxed about a mezzo forte throughout (B section forte then back to MF) but the climax is the D section, so save the build up for the end. other then that nice job
Doug19752533 3 years ago
Excellent job! I'm learning ragtime piano and it isn't easy!
BluegrassForte 3 years ago
ye it's a very difficult piece to get the pace right, in a way it can never be too slow but theres always the urge with stride to get a bit faster than necessary, in my video response I tried my best to keep the pace down where as I have failed to do so in other ragtime renditions lol
samuso86 3 years ago
Thank you for bringing to my attention your performance of this piece. Very well played, indeed! I think many if not most performers (including Joplin and myself) would agree with you that slower is better, although there is often a tendency, as you say, to speed up. On the other hand, if I play too slowly I find that the piece often loses musicality. - the dynamics fall flat. So I would say that the art is in finding an ideal tempo (which may differ for different players).
GreenHat9 3 years ago
Yes I totally agree,looking back at my performance of the great scott rag (by james scott, also on my page)I felt the need to play faster in order to make the overall sound more interesting and exciting. However with your "weeping willow" it's not played fast and theres a great sense of rhythm which is hard to maintain at a slow pace so well done! :-)
samuso86 3 years ago
Très joli morceau et si bien joué. Quel talent !!!
alexanundeux 3 years ago
Very nice!
elmojone1 3 years ago
i think slowing it down just a little bit would make this piece sound even better than it does. and separate each section just a little bit. try experimenting to see what you like, maybe nix some of the swung notes but DEFINITELY keep your grace notes in there. they really spice the piece up.
sounds great! keep up the good work:)
x0jeannieloveexx 3 years ago
Thank you for these thoughtful comments.
-Paul
GreenHat9 3 years ago
Oh so lovely - Very nice work.
I love it! 5 Stars.
Ragjazzmonkey
Tom Warner
tdub1941 3 years ago
Thanks, once again, Tom! This is the first piece I posted on YT.
Cheers, Paul.
GreenHat9 3 years ago
Wow that sounds very nice, very well played. And you look like our piano tuner :P Just thought I'd throw that in hehe.
cruddiestcrudever 3 years ago
Muchas gracias!
-Paul
GreenHat9 3 years ago
~Paul
OMG!! you sound great! so yeah i'll see you later! kepp up the GOOD work PAUL
<3
~hotchiky21
hotchiky21 3 years ago
Good :)
heartache5115 4 years ago
Really love not only your delicate interpretation, but your choice of pieces that sound great when played in such a thoughtful way (Weeping Willow and Strenuous Life). Also, your Mason sounds just wonderful. You've got me considering if Strenuous should be the next piece I tackle, since now I know how I'd like it to sound!
ouirv 4 years ago
Thank you very much, Peter. I would love to hear you play Strenuous, and am looking forward to your posting of it. Or of any other piece, for that matter. You're a terrific pianist, and I hope you will continue to post your performances on YT. -Paul
GreenHat9 4 years ago
I like your tempo and embellishments you add in to make it your own. You have it solidly in your fingers and your practice shows. I would like to hear some change in dynamics in the decending bass to add some excitement, but I love the way you slowed the tempo at the end to give it feeling.
idasynco 4 years ago
Hi Karen, thanks for these good suggestions. I agree, varying the dynamics to make the playing more lively would be great. This was the first piece I had the nerve to post on YT.
I bought the sheet music for Nan Bostick's "That Missing You Rag" and am working on it. Such a beautiful, soulful piece! I am very much enjoying the videos you've posted from WCRF-07. -Paul
GreenHat9 4 years ago
Unfortunately neither of my two books of Scott Joplin Rags has Weeping Willow in it so I can't specify which bars the problem occurs in. Using timings, though, listen to the sequence at 1.57, 2.03, 2.11 and 2.17. Notice 3.29 as well.
alanor76 4 years ago
I love the sound of the that piano and you play it very nicely. You could put a bit more "feeling" into it. The playing sounds a bit mechanical (nothing wrong with the St Louis tickle though). One thing that does irritate is that you quite often play the left hand note slighly before the right hand one. Listen to this piece and you will see what I mean. I'd enjoy it much more if you got them together!
alanor76 4 years ago
Thanks for your comments. I agree it needs more "feeling". I'm working on it. I wonder if you could tell me where the timing between left and right hand gets off. Can you give me one or more times in the recording when this happens?
GreenHat9 4 years ago
I think it sounds great. Of course, I made the mistake of quitting piano lessons when I was younger. I regret it now because I want to play like this! Good Job!
demonsheep87 4 years ago
wow. great tempo. i am trying to learn it in intermediate but i can only play the first part.
webbubbles 4 years ago
Thanks for the compliment, webbubbles. Well, of course, there was a time when I, too, could play only the first part. That's how it's done. Keep practicing.
GreenHat9 4 years ago
Hi Webbubbles...I too am an intermediate, and probably shouldn't be posting until I can get it better, but listen to my latest Weeping Willow.. keep it up!! I too need to!
idasynco 4 years ago
My suggestion regarding tempo and phrasing is to find the song as recorded by Max Morath and assimilate his perfect grasp of the nuance of any piece. There is no better standard.
livingaragtimelife 4 years ago
good sense of rhythm. you definitely have music in you!
my suggestionsd:
Not so fast -- as Joplin himself marked all his rags!!
Too much pedal ruins the beauty of the singing feeling.
practice slowly so that the few tiny hesitations will be gone.
But overall I like your playimg.
-A classical gitar and pianist.
zazzidog 4 years ago
Oh I wish I could play the piano!!...It all looks so relaxing and effortless when done well.
I do happen to know that it is anything but!!
Lovely stuff Paul.
Best Regards,
Paul
Gangly1 4 years ago
Paul, thank you for the kind words! Coming from you, who play the guitar so beautifully, they mean a lot. I'm currently working on a rag, written in 1904, called "St. Louis Tickle". I'm guessing you know it, because it's usually played on guitar. I have loved it since hearing Dave Van Ronk play it in the 1960's. Van Ronk's tabs for it are on the internet.
-Paul
GreenHat9 4 years ago
I have never heard that song befor but it sounds great! =]
littlemissemoxo 4 years ago
Thanks for listening to it. -Paul
GreenHat9 4 years ago