I used to end my recitals years ago (35+) with this. Sounded a lot like you, your expression and style. You are very accomplished. Have been listening to a lot of your repertoire. Some musicians can be overly critical when they need to bolster their security when they sense it is lacking.
Good sound, a well thought rythm: it doesn't lack behind like too many other interpretations, and enhances the poignant. Calm yet anxious and troubled, well done
Sunny day outside and what are you doing? Playing your heart out with some Rachmaninoff. Well played, i love how sustained you are throughout, only letting emotions seep through at the crucial times.
you really let the feeling flow from section to section... love the tempos used, this is my favorite performance yet, as I look for references of this piece, bravo!
sure the tempo is a bit off at times, but who gives a crap, very very well played. All that matters is the music, the point is to make a performance your own, not to carbon copy every person who has ever played it before you. I think it was very wonderfully played, and this is by far my favorite rachmaninoff prelude
@michielroosen - I was not implying that this was in any way the official story given by Rachmaninoff. It was merely intended as an aid for interpretation, and others have speculated upon similar stories; some more along the lines of 0blacone with specific reference to bells. It is interesting that this was originally in a book of 5 works, the first being an Elegy. Sometimes people may create imaginary lyrics to help with phrasing; I like to create stories to help with interpretation.
@crazyjonah - Were you offended by my comment? am i just mis interpreting this as you being a little unhappy with my comment?, anywaaay im just saying that the burried coffin one is not rachmaninoff's but of course i may be wrong, however it is a bit too dark in my opinion :)
@0blacone No, don't worry, I think you just didn't read my comment properly. I already stated it was probably not rachmaninoff's official story. Nice to hear your story too. Peace.
Excellent job. I'm working on this piece now and listening to lots of different clips. I don't always agree with your chord voicings - which can make the piece feel "heavier" in some places, but your agitato tempo was perfect. Too many times pianists make the mistake of playing that section too fast as if it were an etude.
Musical and interesting playing. Here is non-official story.
It's about a guy being buried alive. The octave C# at the opening is the coffin hitting the ground. It's serene and peaceful at first, the victim is asleep. Eventually he wakes up, and upon realising his situation begins to panic. (The triplet section). Eventually this panic turns into outright fear and he begins banging on the coffin lid (the huge chords written on the double stave). He drifts of again, this time dieing for real.
@crazyjonah - I dont that's the story - you see another name for this piece is the bells of Moscow. - The first three notes is um i think the start of the fire - then the first theme is the houses starting to burn, then you have the Second theme which is basically the whole place catching fire, then the Tempo primo is the buildings collapsing and the destruction of the city. The coda part is basically when its all just finished and there are only small pieces and ashes left of the city Moscow.
Man, your interpretations of some of the classic classical pieces are just terrific! Keep up the great work!! Two requests I have are Chopin's Ballade No. 3 and Mussorgsky's Pictures At An Exhibition.
What a miraculous piece! And you're right, don't look for errors, just feel and love the music! I loved listening to you play! You are a spectacular pianist, Mr. Roosen.
hey nice job ,but there are alot of stuff u can do to the sound,
it would be cool if you:
for the first two minuts pay more attention to the base notes,its eems like u just play them but dont know what to do with them,for the first minut build up a cressendo in the basse ,at gsharp ,we should feel a sense of arrival,and do the opposit when u come back to csharp, by the way loves ur base bringing out at around 1:57.nice one.
might be good to do some rubato in the second section ,a bit of energy!!
this was a very good rendition. I just think that there were certain notes that should stand out a little bit more and towards the middle it was slightly muddled sounding. But overall it was great and your piano sounds very nice.
I liked it very much, but when u were playing the agitato, a lot of the notes seemed rushed or lost in a mess. That sounds way harsher than I mean it, it was very well played in my opinion, but it seems some of the clarity of it was lost somewhere.
Piano does sound weird, though I still vote your comment up for being funny. The problem with it is that it is overly metallic. I mean, it has a good dark sound to it too, but it definitely might need some work to get the metallic sound of it.
The delay at the very beginning was a bit much, but overall this is very good. 2:46-3:30 needs some more rubato. It's a little bit stiff and this is the climactic release, so it needs that extra drama. A masterclass would help you a lot.
It sounds just like the one Ashkenazy play's (at least, at the beginning). And there's something that disturbs me: the unnecessary movements... you don't have to play piano like that... well, that's my opinion.
Well, to some extend, I believe you are right. But to me it seems that most of the artists (especially the amateurs and some of the masters too) don't express their real feelings when they play, but that they are just presenting something memorized... There is nothing wrong with "real" movements, but with false, I have a very big problem. And to me it seems (most of the time) that the movements are false... Of course, it's part of an artist to express how he wants to express sth. and thats good.
VERY nice! I often seach many videos of a work while I am working on it and I really like your use of phrasing and the emotion you impart in your playing, particularly the middle passage. Many others are so mechanical in thier playing of this work. Definitly a superior performance!
This piece have been part of my life for so long, in so many ways and I can agree with kristeemc2russia that Rachmaninov would probably be impressed=-) Especially the way you time n work with gravity n motion to musically bring fourth quality timbre=-)
Excellent. There is a madness in every great musician and composer; a substrate that every performer must interpret and channel through themselves to the exquisite part of the human condition. You have succeeded here to feel that dark place. A place all lovers of Rachmaninoff yearn to sit and listen. Thank you.
I like the speed you play this piece. Others play it a little too fast, but you give each note time to resonate showing really how dark this piece is. Bravo!!
This is absolutely fantastic, Michiel. Love the uptempo style, and I also think you capture the rhythm of the song as well as any version I've seen. I'm actually learning the song right now and keep coming back to this video to figure out the subtleties of certain parts. Great job, also, on the sound and production.
By the way, do you have any advice for an amateur (me) to get the correct rhythm on the triplets (agitato section)? Somehow, I can't quite play it the right way. Again, great job!
Cool! I'm trying to learn this piece, and it is HARD! For me at least. I'm only 16!
I liked your interpretation of the entire piece. You give it a dramatic, action-packed feel, whereas I would give it a more sinister, resonant feel. It's ANYTHING but bad!! To me, classical music is all about interpretation; I love it when musicians give an old piece an updated sound. It gives him a chance to express his own feelings. Great job!
Michiel, congratulations. Excellent your performance. I understand you feel the music and transmit the sound through Internet with big power and conviction.
@michielroosen Exactly. You have honoured us with a fine performance, and let those who want to criticise FIRST demonstrate that they can produce something better. For my part, I thank you.
@michielroosen Sorry, he really does have a point. There's a difference between picking out errors and offering constructive criticism. He was doing the latter, and I agree. The piece is played superbly, just slow down when you get to 45 and it'll be great. I love how you played the ending. Overall, really good job :)
Hey man, respect your critics. Don't be so defensive. Even people with less experience are still fresh ears and can find areas that you can improve in.
I gave you what I feel like is a better critique than this one, but I'll still give you a critique since I also play the piano well (brought tears to peoples eyes), not as well (as you can hear in my moonlight sonata recording), but I like constructive feedback.
@hellomate639 It used to be that a "critic" was someone who knew what they were talking about. But now it applies to any random, anonymous misanthrope who thinks that "good performance" means playing a piece exactly the way they've heard on the studio recording, and without allowing your body to move in time to the music, and that enjoyment of the interpretation of a difficult piece can be trumped by pedantic slavishness to standard interpretations and styles.
Well, some people online might actually know what they're talking about is the thing. I rarely just "sit back and enjoy." The only time I can do that is when a performance is so exceptional that it overtakes me, which is rare. And even after that, I go back an still analyze the performance. Even in the greatest performances that are among my favorites I can often find things that I don't exactly agree with. Not always, but still fairly often.
Even my most favorite performances usually have flaws. There are performances where I find things that I don't agree with that I like better than some performances where I do agree with everything.
A lot of passionate people comment on these videos. A lot of idiots do too. If you understand music well enough, you can usually tell the difference.
Look, I agree with you on "feel the music" but you should still play it the way it's written. I owuld only post my video on youtube if I wanted to get criticism on my playing. I know thta I want to become better. Shouldn't you? It's still great, not gonna take away from that. Just take the bad with the good and learn from it. Be glad the people are taking time out of there day to not only watch your performance but assess it as well. I Find that to be an honor. No disrespect intended.
Hey, no offense, but how many times has "You Raise Me Up" been covered? Over 125 times. And though many versions are different than the original, it's always popular. It's had nearly every sound from negro-spiritual to operatic to Celtic. I do agree there's nothing wrong with the original piece. But there's also nothing wrong with a new flair. If music gets boring, you don't have to re-write the piece; just give it a great feel! I think Rachmaninoff would be impressed. God bless you both.
Absolutely. I also think that if you want to be a performer, don't move in ways that will distract the audience from your playing. I for one feel that this is one of the best recordings I have ever heard of this piece. David Helfgott sucks. It's very clean, which meakes hearing the different voices very easy, and it is also obvious what voice you are trying to bring out when. You do a very good job of that. Just make sure that, if performing for a live audience, not to move in wierd ways.
No, it surely does not hurt. It is a question of aesthetics. If you approve of any movement on stage in general, then of course you are in favour of it.
And it is not enough to say that one moves as he feels. Your teacher surely avoided you making silly postures when you started to play your instrument, at least I hope. I could move a lot on the piano myself, but it has not to do with my playing. I don't have to. So I try to avoid ridicule.
But in a way, great posture fits if one considers Adorno's judgement of that piece: "plakatives Schaustück, mit dem Dilettanten Kraft und Virtuosität vortäuschen könnten. „Diesen Kindertriumph hält das Präludium für infantile Erwachsene fest (Musikalische Warenanalysen).
Concentrate on your play. That body dance is hard to bear. Consider as matter of aesthetics: who wants to swing with one's body more than great pianists. Isn't that kind of ridicule?
I'm a violinist, and I have to strongly disagree. That's how he feels the music when he plays, and I guarantee he's not wasting an ounce of concentration on consciously moving his body. People come to see orchestras, as opposed to bands, because the music's enhanced and there's movement on the stage. Makes it more interesting to watch. It's not hurting anything, so why bother?
@silverbud This is not dance 101. This is music. Please alt tab out of this window and listen to his interpretation if the body movements distract your ADHD-ridden mind so much. =)
@theunkown8 Something tells me you are not familiar with this piece. If you are NOT hitting suddenly loud fortissimo chords (fzfff) with that much force, you are playing this prelude entirely wrong. Just look at Gilels' version.
Actually, IIRC, FFF is used once or twice with a suddenly loud as well and they're all accented chords. Seriously, don't even bother to comment on the musicality or technicality of a piece if you can't even read the score to begin with.
@theunkown8 Yes you mentioned his body movements. Go try to hit a 4 note 8 interval chord repeatedly the hardest you can for 30ish sustained seconds. If you aren't 'jumping' on top of the chord, you are doing it wrong. Three fortes and a fz (suddenly loud).
watch?v=EtuMVBLEWJU
Gilels. Famous pianist who is very talented when it comes to Rachmaninoff. See the force he is applying to that grand piano? His hair at 2:35 = Q.E.D.
Yeah, that is how you play this prelude. Glad we covered that.
My question would be this: where are the mics? Because this is like cd quality, and I see no mics. Just curious how you managed to get such a good sound out of either a camera mic or mics across the room, without getting a TON of reverb.
I love this piece. I've tried to play it for years (most of the time I'm an engineer) but now I can just barely play the notes. I dream to play it as musically and as well as you do, Michiel. Nice job!
it's actually a fairly easy piece. it's very intimidating at first but if you break it down into seperate pieces (aka: the base notes/octaves and then the chords (parallel positions make them easy))and then put them together, you can accomplish a lot in a relatively short time frame. the section with the broken chords is the most flashy but if you play it slowly as solid chords, then it becomes a lot easier. good luck with it!
I can tell from the tempos, etc. that you're very musical. Your shoulders seem a little stiff, physically, and your wrists a little too loose, but I'm sure you know that already.
Great job! Quick question... How long have you been playing?
dship98 3 weeks ago
very very nice job man! really enjoyed your use of rubato/dynamic contrasts.
IndianTerp 2 months ago
Fantastico Bravissimo!!
phus2001 2 months ago
I used to end my recitals years ago (35+) with this. Sounded a lot like you, your expression and style. You are very accomplished. Have been listening to a lot of your repertoire. Some musicians can be overly critical when they need to bolster their security when they sense it is lacking.
ocd1927 2 months ago in playlist More videos from michielroosen
i like your musicality
esuitea 4 months ago
I love it!!!!!!! Gorgeous ;)
VONHIMMELBACH 5 months ago
Now I know where headbanging came from....lol!!!
Rmeister007 5 months ago
Hi i am katsumi, i have a original piano role played by the Composer Rachmanioff
57504-H PRELUDE C Sharp minor
do you know what i can get for it ? thank you for your time
mrkatsumi1000 5 months ago
hmm I must admit I didn't like the b section.. as it says agitato, here, I found b section more calming then it should be.
MBclms 6 months ago
Very good performance :) I love the B section!! Although I think if you relaxed your shoulders a bit more it could be even better!
DancerAndMe123 7 months ago
Try Rach's own transciption of his most famous prelude for 2 pianos at:-
/watch?v=EL2t8gk4Y
What do you think?
bradtiscali 7 months ago
@bradtiscali
Sorry - got the link wrong!
Should be:-
/watch?v=EL2t8gk4Y_c&feature=channel
bradtiscali 7 months ago
Very good! I like it!
ChoirBulgaria 8 months ago
Comment removed
WaterSpine 8 months ago
Good sound, a well thought rythm: it doesn't lack behind like too many other interpretations, and enhances the poignant. Calm yet anxious and troubled, well done
WaterSpine 8 months ago
well i thought it sounded lovely so everyone just stfu.
KayKayz94 9 months ago
More....time....just, more time, and ARRIVE!
mmmmgood13 10 months ago
Nou leker boeiend al die reactie's, lekker laten l*llen.
Ik vind het prachtig! Het is en blijft een moeilijk stuk maar je hebt het werkelijk prachtig gespeeld, petje af!
lekkerbekje 11 months ago
@Kaggypant
stop being an immature brat and stop the oh i am so smart your so retarded shit.
ill admit i have never played this piece u don't have to be such a prick about it.
theunkown8 1 year ago
Really, just Really, magnificent.
Very well done, I really like the interpetition.
moshe1321 1 year ago
Playing at home isn't same as in a public concert -.-'' poor...
551ferari 1 year ago
Oh and by the way another note: your performance time aligns almost exactly with Gilel's. I think your tempo is perfect. =)
Kaggypants 1 year ago
Simply wonderful. 2:47 was incredible.
Never mind the asinine idiots who post their pathetic constructive criticism when they themselves cannot play the piece.
Kaggypants 1 year ago
What type of piano do you have?
MsThisNameIsTaken 1 year ago
relaxin...
Bigice99 1 year ago
that's metal as fuck.
MetallicaBLS 1 year ago
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Try Rach's own 1938 2 piano transcription of his prelude at /watch?v=EL2t8gk4Y_c - performed at the International Rachmaninoff Society's 2008 AGM.
Valentina Seferinova rules!!
bradtiscali 1 year ago
Sunny day outside and what are you doing? Playing your heart out with some Rachmaninoff. Well played, i love how sustained you are throughout, only letting emotions seep through at the crucial times.
Dirte111 1 year ago
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I love your interpretation. You have a good control of your emotions. The piece is perfectly played. Congratulations
mxterrorist 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
I love your interpretation. You have a good control of your emotions. The piece is perfectly played. Congratulations
mxterrorist 1 year ago
I love your interpretation. You have a good control of your emotions. The piece is perfectly played. Congratulations
mxterrorist 1 year ago
you really let the feeling flow from section to section... love the tempos used, this is my favorite performance yet, as I look for references of this piece, bravo!
Dolphinboy02056 1 year ago
sure the tempo is a bit off at times, but who gives a crap, very very well played. All that matters is the music, the point is to make a performance your own, not to carbon copy every person who has ever played it before you. I think it was very wonderfully played, and this is by far my favorite rachmaninoff prelude
rlocke2 1 year ago
hey what kind of piano is that? it looks as if it is yamaha... but it sounds very nice
GAMuRr 1 year ago
I absolutely love this! Your version is superb and I got goosebumps! Thank you!
steak2468 1 year ago
Beautiful rendition. Listen to mine too, please.
JorbenadzeDr 1 year ago
Duuuuude your playing is sooooo hot!!
TheJackHarkness 1 year ago
BRAVO
LondonMC2017 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
Please, listen to this prelude performed by me on youtube. Thanks and best regards, Rezo Jorbenadze.
JorbenadzeDr 1 year ago
Awsome i Hope I Was Can Play Like This
Forelizebg 1 year ago
I actually love this performace more than the one at the Concertbegow - beautiful!!!
pianoairlines 1 year ago
Bravo! You played Wonderfully!! Great Job!!
wwanims 1 year ago
Awesome job. All else falls in line behind feeling and I pesonally think it was on point. Props.
pianoman221413 1 year ago
very good ! Work more on the nuances if I may.
blackrachmaninov 1 year ago
@michielroosen - I was not implying that this was in any way the official story given by Rachmaninoff. It was merely intended as an aid for interpretation, and others have speculated upon similar stories; some more along the lines of 0blacone with specific reference to bells. It is interesting that this was originally in a book of 5 works, the first being an Elegy. Sometimes people may create imaginary lyrics to help with phrasing; I like to create stories to help with interpretation.
crazyjonah 1 year ago
@0blacone - Do the words "non-official" mean anything to you?
crazyjonah 1 year ago
@crazyjonah no, explain
michielroosen 1 year ago 2
@crazyjonah - Were you offended by my comment? am i just mis interpreting this as you being a little unhappy with my comment?, anywaaay im just saying that the burried coffin one is not rachmaninoff's but of course i may be wrong, however it is a bit too dark in my opinion :)
0blacone 1 year ago
@0blacone No, don't worry, I think you just didn't read my comment properly. I already stated it was probably not rachmaninoff's official story. Nice to hear your story too. Peace.
crazyjonah 1 year ago
if something a mediocre recording without the romantic touch to it
theblacktiger911 1 year ago
Excellent job. I'm working on this piece now and listening to lots of different clips. I don't always agree with your chord voicings - which can make the piece feel "heavier" in some places, but your agitato tempo was perfect. Too many times pianists make the mistake of playing that section too fast as if it were an etude.
jamesparrillo 1 year ago
Musical and interesting playing. Here is non-official story.
It's about a guy being buried alive. The octave C# at the opening is the coffin hitting the ground. It's serene and peaceful at first, the victim is asleep. Eventually he wakes up, and upon realising his situation begins to panic. (The triplet section). Eventually this panic turns into outright fear and he begins banging on the coffin lid (the huge chords written on the double stave). He drifts of again, this time dieing for real.
crazyjonah 1 year ago
@crazyjonah - I dont that's the story - you see another name for this piece is the bells of Moscow. - The first three notes is um i think the start of the fire - then the first theme is the houses starting to burn, then you have the Second theme which is basically the whole place catching fire, then the Tempo primo is the buildings collapsing and the destruction of the city. The coda part is basically when its all just finished and there are only small pieces and ashes left of the city Moscow.
0blacone 1 year ago
@crazyjonah i like that story best! i can actually see that being played out as i listen.
renman000 1 year ago
@crazyjonah Why spoil a great piece of music with your sick thoughts? Go and watch a cheap horror movie instead!
baselstrasse 1 year ago
Man, your interpretations of some of the classic classical pieces are just terrific! Keep up the great work!! Two requests I have are Chopin's Ballade No. 3 and Mussorgsky's Pictures At An Exhibition.
ruskybalboa 1 year ago 2
Bet you didn't know there were so many maestros on youtube waiting to critique you...
Awesome rendition, I enjoy it.
drathbun831 1 year ago
It really good..
brandonscherrer 1 year ago
What a miraculous piece! And you're right, don't look for errors, just feel and love the music! I loved listening to you play! You are a spectacular pianist, Mr. Roosen.
Lydia2377 1 year ago
hey nice job ,but there are alot of stuff u can do to the sound,
it would be cool if you:
for the first two minuts pay more attention to the base notes,its eems like u just play them but dont know what to do with them,for the first minut build up a cressendo in the basse ,at gsharp ,we should feel a sense of arrival,and do the opposit when u come back to csharp, by the way loves ur base bringing out at around 1:57.nice one.
might be good to do some rubato in the second section ,a bit of energy!!
amirmot 1 year ago
Great !
Alaing20 2 years ago
this was a very good rendition. I just think that there were certain notes that should stand out a little bit more and towards the middle it was slightly muddled sounding. But overall it was great and your piano sounds very nice.
hwcreatureha 2 years ago
overall I really like it, nice job...
Ricoshady 2 years ago
great piano and recording, very clear.... nice.
Ricoshady 2 years ago
Your lower C#s should be a little stronger at 2:25. But still great! I like this better than the majority of the renditions of this piece on youtube.
killabanana84 2 years ago
Your amazing, I'm learning the song now, and will probably never get it that good. I'm in awe :]
TayWantsOurPornos 2 years ago
I liked it very much, but when u were playing the agitato, a lot of the notes seemed rushed or lost in a mess. That sounds way harsher than I mean it, it was very well played in my opinion, but it seems some of the clarity of it was lost somewhere.
ferocemisterioso9879 2 years ago
bravissimo!ottima interpretazione!
ilpianista1980 2 years ago
UGH! i LOVE how you use body language when you play.. it makes it SO much better.. the song.. as creepy as the song is.. the emotion ALWAYS helps..
jackwhitefanatic 2 years ago 2
i thought the body language made it look a bit too dramatic and was distracting, awesomely played though.
NeilHonky 2 years ago
thanks man, im learning it but i got stuck on the general feel and tempo of the song.
You helped me heaps.
5thElementTV 2 years ago
Very beautiful performance of this masterpiece !
I love it !
koubache 2 years ago
perfect *.*
wango321 2 years ago
i love you ! <3 :')
nanaXpaper 2 years ago
Really great !
random405 2 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
tune your piano, dude....
jorgefuentes90 2 years ago
LoL, I listened to your Fugue after reading this comment, you've been listening to your horribly out of tune guitar too long.
willworkforan86 2 years ago
tune your ears.
illusion484 2 years ago
the piano sounds great....tune your ears.
chapc1 2 years ago 20
@chapc1
Piano does sound weird, though I still vote your comment up for being funny. The problem with it is that it is overly metallic. I mean, it has a good dark sound to it too, but it definitely might need some work to get the metallic sound of it.
The delay at the very beginning was a bit much, but overall this is very good. 2:46-3:30 needs some more rubato. It's a little bit stiff and this is the climactic release, so it needs that extra drama. A masterclass would help you a lot.
hellomate639 11 months ago
brilliant!
pianoplayer450 2 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
haaa this guy looks retarded when he plays!
pokeyodick 2 years ago
It sounds just like the one Ashkenazy play's (at least, at the beginning). And there's something that disturbs me: the unnecessary movements... you don't have to play piano like that... well, that's my opinion.
ElisabettaVS 2 years ago
dont you think playing the piano is more than "playing"? there are millions of pianists. and everbody of them makes different "movements".
its about feeling. and feeling is connected with movement.
zEXXXY 2 years ago 2
Well, to some extend, I believe you are right. But to me it seems that most of the artists (especially the amateurs and some of the masters too) don't express their real feelings when they play, but that they are just presenting something memorized... There is nothing wrong with "real" movements, but with false, I have a very big problem. And to me it seems (most of the time) that the movements are false... Of course, it's part of an artist to express how he wants to express sth. and thats good.
ElisabettaVS 2 years ago
Very nice!
AlwayzCurious101 2 years ago
great...
chinokifu 2 years ago 2
VERY nice! I often seach many videos of a work while I am working on it and I really like your use of phrasing and the emotion you impart in your playing, particularly the middle passage. Many others are so mechanical in thier playing of this work. Definitly a superior performance!
MR68SC 2 years ago 5
This piece have been part of my life for so long, in so many ways and I can agree with kristeemc2russia that Rachmaninov would probably be impressed=-) Especially the way you time n work with gravity n motion to musically bring fourth quality timbre=-)
RaeDurPowerof3 2 years ago
Excellent. There is a madness in every great musician and composer; a substrate that every performer must interpret and channel through themselves to the exquisite part of the human condition. You have succeeded here to feel that dark place. A place all lovers of Rachmaninoff yearn to sit and listen. Thank you.
VelusDarkbind 2 years ago
I like the speed you play this piece. Others play it a little too fast, but you give each note time to resonate showing really how dark this piece is. Bravo!!
rakausa 2 years ago
This is absolutely fantastic, Michiel. Love the uptempo style, and I also think you capture the rhythm of the song as well as any version I've seen. I'm actually learning the song right now and keep coming back to this video to figure out the subtleties of certain parts. Great job, also, on the sound and production.
By the way, do you have any advice for an amateur (me) to get the correct rhythm on the triplets (agitato section)? Somehow, I can't quite play it the right way. Again, great job!
dyn06 2 years ago
Dude, sorry but Brilliant is Not the word. He was Very Very Sloppy! You are wrong.
spicmar 2 years ago
Cool! I'm trying to learn this piece, and it is HARD! For me at least. I'm only 16!
I liked your interpretation of the entire piece. You give it a dramatic, action-packed feel, whereas I would give it a more sinister, resonant feel. It's ANYTHING but bad!! To me, classical music is all about interpretation; I love it when musicians give an old piece an updated sound. It gives him a chance to express his own feelings. Great job!
kristeemc2russia 2 years ago
With anything in life, especially music, and this piece, just practice precision, and speed will follow.
JimMorrisonAbrams 2 years ago
Michiel, congratulations. Excellent your performance. I understand you feel the music and transmit the sound through Internet with big power and conviction.
Congratulations again.
luispantoja2009 2 years ago
good job i like the way you played the a theme the second time
AliseRegina 2 years ago
I like the way you play but your tempo is not the same in bar 45 as it is in teh begining. Work on that. I rally like the rest.
spicmar 2 years ago
Dont try to find errors, try to feel the music.
michielroosen 2 years ago 32
I agree.
JimMorrisonAbrams 2 years ago
@michielroosen Exactly. You have honoured us with a fine performance, and let those who want to criticise FIRST demonstrate that they can produce something better. For my part, I thank you.
baselstrasse 1 year ago
@michielroosen Sorry, he really does have a point. There's a difference between picking out errors and offering constructive criticism. He was doing the latter, and I agree. The piece is played superbly, just slow down when you get to 45 and it'll be great. I love how you played the ending. Overall, really good job :)
Xodyac 1 year ago
@michielroosen
Hey man, respect your critics. Don't be so defensive. Even people with less experience are still fresh ears and can find areas that you can improve in.
I gave you what I feel like is a better critique than this one, but I'll still give you a critique since I also play the piano well (brought tears to peoples eyes), not as well (as you can hear in my moonlight sonata recording), but I like constructive feedback.
hellomate639 11 months ago
@hellomate639 It used to be that a "critic" was someone who knew what they were talking about. But now it applies to any random, anonymous misanthrope who thinks that "good performance" means playing a piece exactly the way they've heard on the studio recording, and without allowing your body to move in time to the music, and that enjoyment of the interpretation of a difficult piece can be trumped by pedantic slavishness to standard interpretations and styles.
tomoeDave 7 months ago
@tomoeDave
Well, some people online might actually know what they're talking about is the thing. I rarely just "sit back and enjoy." The only time I can do that is when a performance is so exceptional that it overtakes me, which is rare. And even after that, I go back an still analyze the performance. Even in the greatest performances that are among my favorites I can often find things that I don't exactly agree with. Not always, but still fairly often.
hellomate639 7 months ago
@tomoeDave
Even my most favorite performances usually have flaws. There are performances where I find things that I don't agree with that I like better than some performances where I do agree with everything.
A lot of passionate people comment on these videos. A lot of idiots do too. If you understand music well enough, you can usually tell the difference.
hellomate639 7 months ago
Look, I agree with you on "feel the music" but you should still play it the way it's written. I owuld only post my video on youtube if I wanted to get criticism on my playing. I know thta I want to become better. Shouldn't you? It's still great, not gonna take away from that. Just take the bad with the good and learn from it. Be glad the people are taking time out of there day to not only watch your performance but assess it as well. I Find that to be an honor. No disrespect intended.
spicmar 2 years ago
and my typing sucks!
spicmar 2 years ago
Hey, no offense, but how many times has "You Raise Me Up" been covered? Over 125 times. And though many versions are different than the original, it's always popular. It's had nearly every sound from negro-spiritual to operatic to Celtic. I do agree there's nothing wrong with the original piece. But there's also nothing wrong with a new flair. If music gets boring, you don't have to re-write the piece; just give it a great feel! I think Rachmaninoff would be impressed. God bless you both.
kristeemc2russia 2 years ago
@spicmar Rubato? ಠ_ಠ
tunglour 1 year ago
When it comes to posture, it's like anything else in classical music, you have to learn the rules, know them, and use them, before you break them.
JimMorrisonAbrams 2 years ago
Absolutely. I also think that if you want to be a performer, don't move in ways that will distract the audience from your playing. I for one feel that this is one of the best recordings I have ever heard of this piece. David Helfgott sucks. It's very clean, which meakes hearing the different voices very easy, and it is also obvious what voice you are trying to bring out when. You do a very good job of that. Just make sure that, if performing for a live audience, not to move in wierd ways.
spicmar 2 years ago
David Helfgott was a brilliant pianist, I wouldn't say he sucks. Even if you don't prefer his style or interpretations, he is still a good musician.
JimMorrisonAbrams 2 years ago
2:05-2:50. Nicely done, I admire you.
cinefilo14 2 years ago 2
No, it surely does not hurt. It is a question of aesthetics. If you approve of any movement on stage in general, then of course you are in favour of it.
And it is not enough to say that one moves as he feels. Your teacher surely avoided you making silly postures when you started to play your instrument, at least I hope. I could move a lot on the piano myself, but it has not to do with my playing. I don't have to. So I try to avoid ridicule.
silverbud 2 years ago
I really like this piece its wonderfull!
Stefanie2808 2 years ago
But in a way, great posture fits if one considers Adorno's judgement of that piece: "plakatives Schaustück, mit dem Dilettanten Kraft und Virtuosität vortäuschen könnten. „Diesen Kindertriumph hält das Präludium für infantile Erwachsene fest (Musikalische Warenanalysen).
Cheers
silverbud 2 years ago
Concentrate on your play. That body dance is hard to bear. Consider as matter of aesthetics: who wants to swing with one's body more than great pianists. Isn't that kind of ridicule?
silverbud 2 years ago
I'm a violinist, and I have to strongly disagree. That's how he feels the music when he plays, and I guarantee he's not wasting an ounce of concentration on consciously moving his body. People come to see orchestras, as opposed to bands, because the music's enhanced and there's movement on the stage. Makes it more interesting to watch. It's not hurting anything, so why bother?
breathofexodus00 2 years ago
@silverbud This is not dance 101. This is music. Please alt tab out of this window and listen to his interpretation if the body movements distract your ADHD-ridden mind so much. =)
Kaggypants 1 year ago
@Kaggypants good advice ill do that cuz i won't enjoy the music WITH the video
theunkown8 1 year ago
@theunkown8 Something tells me you are not familiar with this piece. If you are NOT hitting suddenly loud fortissimo chords (fzfff) with that much force, you are playing this prelude entirely wrong. Just look at Gilels' version.
Actually, IIRC, FFF is used once or twice with a suddenly loud as well and they're all accented chords. Seriously, don't even bother to comment on the musicality or technicality of a piece if you can't even read the score to begin with.
Kaggypants 1 year ago
@Kaggypants are u sure u wrote this comment to the right person? i didn't say that the music was bad all i said was his body movement was irritating.
theunkown8 1 year ago
@theunkown8 Yes you mentioned his body movements. Go try to hit a 4 note 8 interval chord repeatedly the hardest you can for 30ish sustained seconds. If you aren't 'jumping' on top of the chord, you are doing it wrong. Three fortes and a fz (suddenly loud).
watch?v=EtuMVBLEWJU
Gilels. Famous pianist who is very talented when it comes to Rachmaninoff. See the force he is applying to that grand piano? His hair at 2:35 = Q.E.D.
Yeah, that is how you play this prelude. Glad we covered that.
Kaggypants 1 year ago
wow i heard this twice..
very awesome!!
BRAVO BRAVO!!
WhyNne0w 2 years ago
amazing!!!=O
xoxNic91xox 2 years ago
I love your exaggerated movements..lol :P
nice job tho man
mlr2107 2 years ago
I want to watch you paying Moonlight sonata Mvt 3. thats a challenge
yamkehoe 2 years ago
this is so pretty
kypooh904boo 2 years ago
Great performance, great -played!!! Ovations!!!
lmaxim 2 years ago
Echt Geweldig! Ik bestudeer dit stuk nu ook! Goed gespeeld!!
johnnyTT123 2 years ago
Awesome, it was originally written in C#m anyway.
JimMorrisonAbrams 2 years ago
loved it!
StringQuartetFan 2 years ago
Excellent interpretation and performance! Bravo!
Constantinople5 2 years ago 2
Guau!!
Una de las mejores interpretaciones que he visto.
Cogratulations!!
zayasmc 3 years ago
yes, yes, yes, yeeeeess!!! an awesome performance, the tempo was :OO!!!! and the.. god!! i dont know how to say, dude, u rock...
eltachimetro 3 years ago
this was pretty good, and it is in c minor, for all those who think it isnt
BrightAboveYou 3 years ago
I don't know which version you play, but I play it in c SHARP minor.
michielroosen 3 years ago 2
@BrightAboveYou lol.. The prelude is in C- S.H.A.R.P. minor... Wow... What an idiot.
TheJackHarkness 1 year ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
This is a wonderful performance, the best I've heard in awhile. However, I believe this piece is written in F# minor, not C# minor.
eireanngobrach23 3 years ago
I'm sure it is in C# minor, I play it also.
and this is a beautiful masterpiece...really nice played.
basa6512 3 years ago
No, the piece is written in C Sharp minor.
Constantinople5 2 years ago
really nice played but it;s not Rachmaninoff at all- u know, I mean this power :D I like it ;D
MartinaFromPoland 3 years ago
My question would be this: where are the mics? Because this is like cd quality, and I see no mics. Just curious how you managed to get such a good sound out of either a camera mic or mics across the room, without getting a TON of reverb.
statelypenguin 3 years ago
That was fantastic....I loved the tempo.
and the proper mood..I thought...
azfsiguy 3 years ago
Comment removed
artemiss6 3 years ago
First of all, this piece is very difficult. Also, you shouldn't be commenting on one of Rachmaninoff's pieces when you can't even spell his name.
Constantinople5 2 years ago
weird. I didn't even leave that comment. I haven't even heard this song. I think I left my account logged in somewhere....
artemiss6 2 years ago
he has the best right feeling and understanding about the music after having seen so many different people's play
eroshty 3 years ago
bravo bravo
tarathepug 3 years ago
lol thx, I'm an idoit for evn contemplating the possibility lol ;]
Chopianist3 3 years ago
wtf? Are you the real Freddy Kempf, if so kudos for your work on the Chopin Etudes! ;]
Chopianist3 3 years ago
he's not, read the description
thepianovirtuoso 3 years ago
Hi michiel,
how are you? You're very good at playing piano.
Freddy
FreddyKempf 3 years ago
Thanks! I love this piece and I think you are wonderful.
sweetcharlie63 3 years ago
Très belle prestation, pas aussi rapide que certain mais cela prouve que la vitesse ne fait pas forcément la beauté d'un morceau
félicitation
eodwyn 3 years ago
great performance - powerful and emotional
schubert06 3 years ago
lol i found your movements very exaggerated and indeed fake
pian000 3 years ago 5
What happens at 3:30
wiiwin6 3 years ago
is it a mistake?idk
wiiwin6 3 years ago
I'm currently studying this piece.
I enjoyed your performance.
Cheers!
dbddaradar 3 years ago
I love this piece. I've tried to play it for years (most of the time I'm an engineer) but now I can just barely play the notes. I dream to play it as musically and as well as you do, Michiel. Nice job!
selimekim 3 years ago
it's actually a fairly easy piece. it's very intimidating at first but if you break it down into seperate pieces (aka: the base notes/octaves and then the chords (parallel positions make them easy))and then put them together, you can accomplish a lot in a relatively short time frame. the section with the broken chords is the most flashy but if you play it slowly as solid chords, then it becomes a lot easier. good luck with it!
lo9sss9 3 years ago 2
There's some pretty difficult hand position changes that are hard to get used to.
ogolthorp 3 years ago
yea fairly easy... if your hands are large enough to begin with. :D
ArousingAdmiration 2 years ago
Nice job hiding the mics, wherever they are.
I can tell from the tempos, etc. that you're very musical. Your shoulders seem a little stiff, physically, and your wrists a little too loose, but I'm sure you know that already.
madlutist 3 years ago
Indeed.
michielroosen 3 years ago
how long are you been playing ???
thepathetique 3 years ago
meant to add to my comment earlier that your video & sound quality is EXCELLENT also. Wonderful editing! Congratulations on all counts! Joe
jcapistr 3 years ago
I wish I could hear this live by someone much better than myself,.. it gives me the most delightful chills
amazieng 3 years ago
I hope I am the "someone" you are talking about :)
michielroosen 3 years ago
most definately