Tzvi Erez plays Chopin's Prelude No. 20 in C Minor

[pll89]

How can you compare Chopin and Bach when they are from different classical era? (Bach - Baroque and Chopin - Romantic) Either way I love both so win win.

[BuBbLexGuMxTrAsH]

Playing this for my entrance audition into my music course at uni.. something different i think you'll agree :)

[ashiesdollpartsX]

i'm hearing manilow's voice. and i like it :')

[stinkyshoe]

This piece is beautiful.

I have little to no piano playing experience, but I am. DETERMINED to learn this song. I'll work my way up :)

[synthem]

wow, i love that ending, to end on such an inviting tone. it really opens the space around it.

[Aurenier]

@HerlockSholmes123 You're right.

[ArtQuakedoom95x4]

Angra - Visions Prelude.

[keetner]

And to think the prelude is only 13 measures...heh.

[JiEunxD]

This song is how I feel like after my travel to Europe, especially France.

I wish I can go back somehow...

[chocchipcookiegirl]

@ceedrake lol, while I disagree with that statement, theres no denying Chopin was awesome

[razorwre]

Is that McGee?

[MrJbaker7]

Beautifully Played....Jack Baker NYC

[SertavisSaviPianist]

speechless :P

[123alexanderman]

i just melted

[JaydeGreen]

I could just play that first bit over and over again, so beautifully haunting.

[December10th2010]

This is hauntingly beautiful and melancholy. Where is the woman with the sad, teary eyes so that I may join her? The Bosendorfer really performs perfectly for this piece, and with the combination of your passion and brilliance, this is a superb performance.

[BASSHEAD89030]

i like those neapolitan chords

[jesseeftis]

@Messjuh1

As a student of classical music one much prefers the music of the romantic period to the rudimentary baroque music like that of Bach that is so common for intermediate piano students. I believe that may be what he/she was getting at.

[ChopinBachBrahms]

Chopin > Bach? I find it difficult to stand behind a belief that Chopin himself would laugh at. No one > Bach

[Messjuh1]

@ChopinBachBrahms

Thank you! I don't know why people make strange comparisons.

[TheCornguy]

@ChopinBachBrahms bach is to precise and organized. chopin plays the world

[paneuphony]

@ChopinBachBrahms maybe if you just talk about being the first... but as far as i've studied Bach, I have no problem believing someone is better. but it's not a fair comparison across time. I would give Bach that he was the most thorough with counterpoint, but because of that he's so limited to what music you can make by following rules.

[weedchopin]

@ChopinBachBrahms I think I´ll go with neither is best, neither is worst, both of them are Genius!

[master0rolando]

This dirge is the first song I learned to play on the piano.

[SatanPanda]

piano sounds amazing for being 100 years old

[CieN1ght]

each piano has his own composer's imo bosendorfer and german pianos R best for chopin but betowen is better on steinway like rachmaninoff.thats my opinion at least . .. .

[lumahau]

I liked it a lot, but the second to last bar, a rittenuto, is supposed (that's my interpretation) to be played pianissimo as the rest of the phrase, and he strenghtens play, returning to a forte or fortissimo. He, thus, completely ignores the sforzando on the last bar.

It's the best tempo I've seen, but I didn't like the dynamics. Yet to see a perfect play of this piece... :(

[vyrvidomb]

those sixteenths are too short. it makes the feeling of nervousness and spoils the phrase. bravo for playing so slowly. it's the hardest thing to play slowly and not in the boring way (but still... there is ritenuto and the end of the piece which you didn't do)

[BernardProfitendieu]

sorry Frederic, after 1975 Donna Summer owned this little number ... nice try, though

[rae2xus]

Yes ... :)

Thank you for dynamics and not going abundantly slow. Better version than most

[pianoplayer29]

I like this version of the "Chopin Prelude myself and I remember in high school chorus that I was in a few years ago sang this and it was nice to perform it on stage back at that time. It sure does bring back memories.

[456jay123]

why is it that the third measure in this piece is always playing the last chord C minor? I even checked my Chopin book to see if I had mis-learned this gorgeous piece, but no, the natural accidental for the E at the beginning of the measure never changes before the last chord is played, making it, supposedly, a C MAJOR chord. Or am I missing something, like I'm supposed to know that Chopin's time didn't bother carrying over accidentals for the whole measure??

[MusicTrainerDotCom]

@456jay123 Yeah the same thing in my book I have E naturals on the second beat of the 3rd measure that should apply to the last chord of that measure. C major sounds clearly wrong though based on all other versions I have heard of this song. Do you happen by chance to have the Chopin Gold Book?

[MusicTrainerDotCom]

@456jay123 BTW I just checked out another version of notation for this song. Look up Chopin C minor prelude on wikipedia, you should see the sheet music on one of the images on the right. It looks like they just forgot the accidental on the 4 beat of the 3rd measure in my Chopin Gold Book. Looks liked you've been playing it wrong. The good news is it should be an easy fix for you (:o) -Brendan PS. the right hand switches to bass clef after on the second measure on the notation I found.

[MusicTrainerDotCom]

@456jay123 OK the mystery deepens watch?v=kmJsugK10Uo and watch?v=pbtVuaws8so both have it as a major chord. Both are old school players WTF is going on hahha.

[IVlr3vil]

@MusicTrainerDotCom It was originally published as a C major chord with an E natural. However, many interpreters thought this could have been an editing mistake. Several newer editions have it as a C minor chord now.

Playing it as C minor makes more logical sense.

[TheRyanLanders]

@MusicTrainerDotCom I think C Major sounds fine in the 3rd Measure because it's a brief tonality change because the 3rd and 4th measures play G, D, and C. Maybe chopin intended it that way or maybe he didn't.

[hazeleyes1012]

finally, a version of this song that changes dynamics. It really makes this song better and more expressive.

[FXIX]

To understand this piece you have to play it first.

[lvsiii]

Evokes pathos.

[mashinkle]

This is my favorite of all youtube versions

[GaryColemanism]

I will never understand the choice of notes at 0:15... one note too many for my liking there lol

Other than that, this piece is awesome :]

[BazzTheBoss]

dissonance

[teakbridge101]

What? Where is the dissonance?? Nothing but clear, Viennese action Bosendorfer piano heard here.

[teakbridge101]

What about the E-flat seventh chord don't you like? Is it the five notes played by the right hand you are meaning?

[GaryColemanism]

@teakbridge101 yes.

Looking at this score, I can't even tell what notes are in that chord, I can pick out a C, Ab, Eb and then a C, but that last flattened note, I can't tell if it's an A, a Bb or even another C lol

[sunshine35anddaffy]

@GaryColemanism

Many, many of the notes in this song are an octave. I'm not exactly sure where you are looking, but I would believe it is safe for me to say, and place a bet on, that the note you are looking at (where ever in the video it might be) is a C.

[GaryColemanism]

Mhmm, looking at this score, I can't even tell what notes are in that chord, I can pick out a C, Ab, Eb and then a C, but that last flattened note, I can't tell if it's an A, a Bb or even another C lol

[GaryColemanism]

Mhmm, looking at this score, I can't even tell what notes are in that chord, I can pick out a C, Ab, Eb and then a C, but that last flattened note, I can't tell if it's an A, a Bb or even another C lol

[teakbridge101]

The best version on YouTube. I am going to patter my version after Erez...he is a master of emotion and interpretation.

[MAH1500]

Check it on the Donna Summer's "Could It Be Magic", awesome !!

[TheFlanB]

@MAH1500

This song is a Barry Manilow "composition" after this prelude. Dona Summer has done a cover

[menchee33]

@TheFlanB

Barry Manilow's 'Prelude / Could it Be Magic' is from 1973 — Manilow's recording begins and ends with an excerpt of Frédéric Chopin's Prelude in C Minor (from 1839).

[menchee33]

@TheFlanB

Barry Manilow's 'Prelude / Could it Be Magic' is from 1973 — Manilow's recording begins and ends with an excerpt of Frédéric Chopin's Prelude in C Minor (from 1839).

[ceedrake]

chopin > bach

[teakbridge101]

Fantastic! Beethven>Chopin>Bach!

[sagosoosmar]

@ceedrake

How the hell can you compare a Baroque composer to a Romantic composer?

You post that on a Bach video and you'll get 20 thumbs down

Bach didn't even wrote for the piano

[TheRyanLanders]

@sagosoosmar well tempered clavier maybe you've heard of it

[j0xIWsNt]

@ceedrake i agree with sagosoo. bach played mainly the harpsichord, and was like 100-200 years before chopin (i forgot :P)

[ZhangZhongShi]

@ceedrake Everything started from Bach.So you should respect him.I don't really like his music either but i know without him chopin,liszt etc. wouldnt be..

[ZhangZhongShi]

@ceedrake Everything started from Bach.You should respect him.I don't like his music either but i know without him Chopin etc. wouldn't be..

[DarttheLegend]

@ceedrake couldn't agree more

[keetner]

@ceedrake

Even though Bach heavily influenced Chopin...

[Tankgiaco]

@ceedrake This paragon cannot be made because they lived in two different eras. Bach had the organ and the clavier, while chopin had the piano. Bach's music is fundamental to learn music, in fact if you play the piano, you first play bach... which composed on a clavier, where the sound was very limited... Only ignorant people, who understand nothing from music can compare chopin with bach... they both were great, but you cannot put one over the other.

[q1w2e3r4t527]

@Tankgiaco Is it so wrong for @ceedrake to express his personal opinion on which composer he enjoys more? You can't tell me that if someone held you at gunpoint saying "Choose either Chopin or Bach" you would try making the argument that it's an invalid comparison because they have differing styles. They are both genius composers who came from different circumstances, but people are allowed to have opinions concerning composers. Remember, it's just HIS opinion.

[LosIlluminados]

@q1w2e3r4t527 you might wanna read his comment again. there's no reason for you to post this towards him unless you made a mistake as to who you're replying to.

[bassethound22]

Wow, I can't believe I found this. My dad plays it all the time and I always assumed it was some 70s ballad, just from the way he plays it. I grew up with this tune, but just now find out it's Chopin.

[CrocodileRocker]

It is the basis for quite a wonderful 70's ballad!

[bassethound22]

Being an Elton Fan since age 3, I was attracted to your name, but now I want to know what this song is that you're talking about.

[TheFlanB]

Here's my feelings about the Eb/E natural issue. I think that both are "correct". The argument of FairEmma is right. One can hear it as a short intrusion in F m and a direct return in C m, hence the E flat. But we can hear this last chord of the 3rd bar as a IV of G M, making in the next bar a IV V I and then the return in C m. That's a way to emphasize as well to delay the reapparition of the main key. Playing an E natural links much more bars 3 and 4. That's why a like it over the E flat.

[Kokeytits]

I wanted to learn this but my fingers were too short for the chords

[musikwrocks]

learning this. beuatiful.

[teakbridge101]

Hey! I am learning this, too! Just finished Prelude No. 4 "suffocation."

[BirthTrashDeath]

this music is deep. For me its totally beautiful, i love the mood.

[clovis2012]

Chopin loved Bach and Bach loved symmetry. That's why the Eb is correct.

[tnmtemerity]

@clovis2012 Well, that is an interesting argument but, that is applying Bach's style to chopin and they are hardly alike...

[vodkaa1]

One of the few people I've seen that I feel actually gets the piece. Very good!

[spike2133876]

what i find fascinating about this prelude. in the PIano section, the left hand is basiclly playing a chromantic scale, but yet no one realizes it until you search the score. Anyone else notice?

[ReaganpwnsObama]

I have to analyze the fourth prelude and the left hand also plays and almost chromatic scale.

[rietta]

each person plays there on way.thats what makes the playing unique. if everyone played the same, piano would be boring.

[1423cats]

its ok but kinda boring but loved the way played it! :-D

[hatedrivesus]

fool

[YazzyDoo]

Fingers must move like a Spider... that is the only way to correctly play this short but POWERFUL PRELUDE

Monsieur Chopin will always reign as the Piano Poet.

Bless him always, & give thanks to his music.

PEACE

[lvsiii]

Amen, yazzydoo.

[woofworldpa]

YES!!! My fav version of Prelude in Cmin so far. So many versions on YT are too fast, too slow, or lack much expression or dynamics.

To me, this version is what Chopin "meant."

[kellyfortune]

sounds like "could it be magic"

[syntheticalnothing]

They ripped off a section, and it's so blatant that it's painful! lol

[landyachtfan79]

Exactly. "Could It Be Magic" was written around this piece!!!

[vincelevi001]

It seems to me that a diploma in music limits the enjoyment one can take from a piece. When one feels the need to critique music, something is lost on them. Yes, there are some times when a wrong chord can make one cringe, but it has gone too far when a simple C chord loses its beauty.

[Masterok]

Not really. Quite the contrary, the more you understand music, the more you enjoy it. There just seems to be too much critique going around, you know. People like to feel bigger than others. This happens in the Internet a lot more, too. But, don't get me wrong, there are also poor interpretations. It's just that if you have a diploma in music you either enjoy the little details or recognize the little "errors" even more and more and, it is always subjective

[1citycouncil]

No, no...this piano is no longer good...Needs a rebuild. Those chords should be sustain and be completely audible. However, the initial tone is beautiful-it just doesn't last.

[fighter79mi]

I don't hear the LEGATO..not good interpretation

[1citycouncil]

i think this has more to do with the piano's lack of sustain. Shame, considering it's a Bosendorfer, tho it is not at all representative of these very fine pianos.

[fighter79mi]

Don't think so.I can do i t better on a digital piano:)I prefer other videos about htis pianist,but not this interpretation.I'm sorry.

[1citycouncil]

Hmm..I don't know...I can see the dampers on the piano still lifted and the sound decays so rapidly. Also, it would be very difficult to do a decresendo that quickly.

[omegaxx19]

the left hand chords are a bit jarring... or is it just me?

[Saranaeth]

they're actually arent many left hand chords. its mostly octaves. its the right hand that there so many notes and because its played in the bass cleff i know wat u mean:)

[tavo5150]

Brotha Lynch str8 kills this beat!!!!!!!!!!

EBK allday!

[1citycouncil]

Please put a new soundboard on that piano!

[silvka]

Tzvi,thanks to people like you,people like me can enjoy the music and those with negative comments are probably just envious.

[DualThunder]

envious? you must be joking.

ignorance among the musically undeducated is far too common these days.

[MrCosio]

Yep, sounds like some arrogant dick head who thinks he knows all about music

[DualThunder]

... well i think i'd need to know a fair amount to have a diploma in it.

[k30dxedle]

...On the other hand, it takes right around no knowledge of music to baselessly claim having a diploma in it.

[DualThunder]

i dont understand. DOing a diploma in music requires musical knowledge and understanding as well as technically having the ability on the principle study. If you dont believe that i have a diploma I can always send you a scan of my certificate. I will upload it and link it to you if you want.

[jeroenbangkok]

Why always people play a minor chord on the 12th quarter note? It's C-Major not C-Minor!

The natural sign on the 2nd quarter makes the 4th quarter a C-minor ..... as it lasts for 1 bar ...

[roosta0013]

whats a quarter in british stadard terms? eg crotchet, quaver, semihemidemisemiquaver...okay forget that last one.

[Ceb773]

one beat

[mdma73]

it's not that hard - take your typical bar, i.e. 4/4, and divide it into 4 notes equal in duration, and what do you get?

[crazymum11]

because many musicologists think it was an editing mistake that left the flat out - something to do with the chord progressions of the time making more sense if it is a flat. (our music teacher explained it better)

[crazymum11]

(the comment below is re the q even further below about why the C-minor chord instead of the C-natural in the first line.)

[ubergossen]

Yeah we were actually just discussing this in music class. My one professor is adamant that it should be an e flat and the other teacher thinks Chopin meant for it.

[mdma73]

I don't have a degree, but I played this when young, and that edition had an E natural, maybe biasing my judgement. To me now, the E-natural seems to preserve the symmetry of the main theme and the chord progressions, the transient F minor in that bar. (Of course, symmetry isn't everything!)

But if I ease off the dynamics on that beat, then the E flat sounds nice(-ish - for me, it was an acquired taste!)

Could someone please explain or link to why the E flat is considered correct by scholars?

[FairEmma]

mdma,

Here's why the Eb is right. The chord on beat 2 of measure 3 (C-E natural-G-Bb) is called a secondary dominant chord. Its function, as you noted, is to trick the ear into thinking F is the tonic key for a minute (hence the E natural, the leading tone to F). But secondary dominants only apply to the very next chord. Once we get the F minor chord in beat 3, we're back in c minor and so need an Eb again. This is just a fancy i-iv-i (C-F-C) chord progression.

Hope this helps!

[timothynguyendo]

all the scores i am look at has the flat in front of that E. maybe it's an editing mistake.

[rietta]

e flat major is c minor

[1citycouncil]

I like the sound of the piano, but it has very, very little sustain.

[audiophile71]

I've heard worse, but this is true. Maybe a Mason & Hamlin CC... Those can sustain forever:)

[ldevernejoul]

intériorité, vous ne connaissez pas?

[torilion]

well that is very personal, i love his chopin interpretations including this one!

[BarNuun]

This is beyond beyond.

[LVB1770]

This prelude was a model for many of Scriabin's preludes.