Michelangeli - Debussy - La fille aux cheveux de lin

[TheEntity91]

Like everyman Debussy stood in awe of this women's beauty @ 0:20, imagined a life with her, realized he probably had no chance around 2:08, and at 2:30 thought " i will always admire her beauty....even if from afar."

[MadameClassique]

Love. Just love. :)

[lyudmilajeffery]

Superb! We will listen this on the next lesson with Anthony.

[majorgeek098]

this is probably my favorite piece for the piano

[cdebussy01]

This maestro is my grande-teacher!!

Fantastic!!

[tarikgorazde]

0:10 - 0:15 makes me wanna learn piano

[PtiiiteDIIIdy]

my favorite song of debussy's "clair de lune" , "arabesque" and "la fille aux cheveux de lin"

[PtiiiteDIIIdy]

is just perfect !

[AverageGamerz]

If you guys think he's "acting" while playing the piano, look up Lang Lang and his rendition of Chopin's Heroic Polonaise.

[lucasuttoofficial]

@AverageGamerz You're my idol. :-)

[BIueCheeses]

art

[MrDobbspiano]

Why did he pet his fingers at the beginning?

[kimattbort]

@MrDobbspiano same reason you pet a dog

[ProblemStick]

this piece is absolutely asotunding.

[jazzcornejorn]

Great playing! I am right now doing an Orquestration homework over this piece... i am burning my brain!!!! Greets!

[2c4u222]

@jazzcornejorn

Interesting....will you be sharing it?

[s6laju00]

Heyo, Civ 5.

[amerinadian]

At 2:36 the notes smack him in the face O:

[connormcj25]

@amerinadian haha at first i thought you meant literally. still funny though

[mcammo88]

this sounds heaps better on a violin

[2c4u222]

@mcammo88

really? Never heard it on the violin - I'll have to look for it.....

[ahmadti]

i thing he is acting more than he is playing

[effleseff]

@ahmadti He is feeling the music. Passion. not acting.

[2c4u222]

@ahmadti

gasp!

[lauriran]

Im currently practising this for a competition. :)

[fledgehog]

the harmonies in this piece have some jazzin goin on

[sirshitsalot007]

@crazyingrid09 u want a medal?

[Jenga650]

This is exactly how I begin every time a play a piece on the piano 0:01

[rozzamixyyey]

not the best version ive heard...

[MERTx123]

Way too fast in my opinion. But I've heard so many different renditions of this piece, it's hard to say exactly what I like the best in terms of its performance. :)

[2c4u222]

@MERTx123

interesting - I thought it was too slow but I think people have been bickering about the right speed FOREVER

[stoysville]

Talk about 'In the zone'!

[bill291212]

Debussy is awesome, i get a total bluesy feel.

[trwil0]

love the smile at :43

[Ivanhoe2]

A stunningly beautiful piece so sensitively played by this great virtuoso.  Together with Jascha Heifetz's version on the violin, the two performances indeed soothe the soul. Many thanks for posting. Best wishes.

[Argentino246]

sublime...

[9UnneccesaryPerson4]

I'm sorry I don't like this performance. Debussy is amazing though and I love French Romantic music. :)

[IWantANameDammit]

@9UnneccesaryPerson4 technically an impressionist composer.

[Argentino246]

@IWantANameDammit Debussy dismissed the term "impressionism" to describe his music...

[IWantANameDammit]

@Argentino246 That's him though. Artists are always strange. But read any textbook or scholarly article and they'll describe as an impressionist composer, or something along those lines.

[9UnneccesaryPerson4]

@IWantANameDammit I wasn't actually being as specific as that. I just meant French Romantic music. Russian Romantic music, too, is brilliant.

[stepheng1483]

This type of music is white people's unique contribution to the world of music.

[draycmf]

@stepheng1483 ok

[shway250]

@stepheng1483 well that's kind of offensive. What do you call Celtic folk music? or any folk music from western europe for that matter.

Also, Debussy was heavily influenced by world music.

[2c4u222]

@stepheng1483

what a beautiful thing to say....

[2natw]

Debussy is so INCREDIBLE! There's nothing like him!

@primevk - HAHA! That would be a great quote!

[unknownkingdom]

Justin Bieber

[primevk]

@unknownkingdom No matter when, where, why, you can always count on someone to be annoying.

[sunflower5678]

i'm playing this for an audition....I hope I can play it this well! My goodness, that was great!

[lustbydust]

I hope to play this as well as he did, someday.

[DunNotCome]

lols i heard that Debussy was interested in Indonesian music too. Maybe the pentatonic scale orginated from his ideas in Asia

[superbananafiyer]

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[SingHouse]

ah Debussy... what a man. His music is just so... organic. It grows like a tree, from small twigs to a fully blossomed beautiful, tall proud tree.

[TVLover1995]

This is so beautiful. I LOVE this, and the version that Richard Stoltzman did with the clarinet! Pure beauty!

[Nationsnotregimes]

Perfect music to read by, as I read "Preface Culture Of Critique"

Cheers!

[Nationsnotregimes]

The ten thumbs down were by drunks that meant to press for a thumbs up!

GREAT POST!

Cheers!

[ishotthesheriff7]

10 people have no taste for good music

[ninijo1234]

Hello Debussy incorporated pentatonic scales in his music hello

[stepheng1483]

Classical music is uniquely white music.

[Azlaier]

@stepheng1483 This is 20th Century, not classical, btw.

[LordRoach]

@stepheng1483 Tell that to Heitor Villa-Lobos

[2c4u222]

@stepheng1483

Don't tell that to Richard Smallwood who LOVED classical music as a child and fully incorporates it into his GREAT gospel music! (You can tell he was a big fan of Mozart) yum, yum...

[unnaro89]

I didn't know Uncle Leo played the piano

[glassies]

@unnaro89 LMFAO

Jerry! Hello!

[Spirituse]

@unnaro89 this is the best thing I've read on youtube.

[MadameClassique]

@unnaro89 bahaha!

[bachirl]

this is so hard to do, but i love debussy

[funkycatglasses01]

His playing is LOVELY:D I love Debussy^_^. I love how HE plays Debussy!!!!

[Kaufa2]

buf.. grandioso

este compositor es el mejor en piezas lentas y clasicas.. esta y claire delune son una muestra

[stagesix6]

debussy>>>all others...

[Arcadeburner1]

I've just listened to this piece approximately 14 times in the past hour.

[MeNuWamv]

I cried, this is beautiful

[IrishDutchman]

haha he's such a showman too, I love it. The expressions he makes and the way he moves his hands, it's brilliant! He can pull it off though, 'cause he plays extremely well.

[chowderandspoon]

is this a hard piece?

[tenoralkid]

Depends on your definition of "hard". It is not hard technically, BUT in my opinion it is quite hard musically, and I´m inclined to believe that it demands a certain musical maturity in order to be completely understood.

[2c4u222]

@tenoralkid

I will forever be BLOWN AWAY that ANYBODY could EVER write this down!

[superexcellent12]

The beginning of this video is the most pretentious thing I have ever seen in my entire life. Not to say that he plays it poorly.

[gnatfamily]

@superexcellent12  I'm just wondering... how is it pretentious?

[abmsghost]

@superexcellent12 He was my teacher.But I am always willing to learn..How should it be played than..master?

[superexcellent12]

@abmsghost Oh, I'm by no means saying that I could play it any better, I'm just saying that the expression on his face is the stereotypical "pretentious" face. Was he really your teacher? That's crazy!

[abmsghost]

@superexcellent12 why is it crazy?But you said that he plays is poorly.Why is that?

[superexcellent12]

@abmsghost You've completely misunderstood what I'm saying... I said "NOT TO SAY that he plays it poorly," by which I mean that I think he plays it very well. And by "that's crazy" I mean, "that's interesting." It's an English colloquialism. English is not your first language, obviously, so it's an understandable mistake.

[marilu7653]

kissà se pensi ancora a me mentre la suoni....

[Brahmsfourth]

If there is a god it is in the aesthetic apotheosis of Debussy, Mozart, et al.

[gabrichesuona]

semplicemente meraviglioso...

[claire1909]

Dang it. Why is Debussy so good at making beautiful music?

[ccen1]

you dont have to throw youself from one side to another to show u feel the music on the piano as some pianists do. excellent such a nice piece played BEAUTIFULLY my the Debussy master...

[adamsthecoolest]

this guy blatant pedo !!!

[mcmike100]

Just beautiful. He put his soul into every note.

[tommie007geetar]

it sounds like 'adultery' by little comets

[Mikau888]

Easily one of the most calming songs ever, along with most of Debussy's other pieces.

[anne0203]

@Mikau888 WELL SAID

[VulcanZoso]

my favorite debussy piece.amazingly beatiful. i have yet to hear any other piece that makes me feel this way.

[989kiki007]

I love the look on his face when he's playing...I'm playing this just now and listening to this makes me see how bad i am :(

[roush26]

Ah hell I'll admit it, it can make me cry a waterfall.

[roush26]

The only reason i know this song is because Gran Turismo 4 had a version of this song and it was my favorite. It gives me the sense of a quiet loneliness. This song can make me teary.

[poopalot]

love debussy, fun song

[Joeysper]

This is passion.

[JaneisaMuffiin]

I'm working it

But he's so talented :O !

[TheAdmiringFool]

Incomparable!

[Madflyhalf]

Che mostro...

[Candylandian]

Truly amazing

[sideM424]

I love this song.

[fredbarer]

This must be brilliant; my keyboard is wet again.

[trigun630]

yours 2 ? i thought i was the only one :D

[NeoVelocity]

I love this piece. Probably my favourite of Debussy's. And this bloke plays it like he wrote it. :)

[fjeljep]

i love it so much!! so heart touching!

[horsewrecker]

just so well done. wonderful.

[Liptonater]

this is beautifull. About the facial expressions... i can't play piano (when i 'really' play) without emotions too:) I believe it can help give certain strenght and soberness to ur music:) i hope i'm understandable:P

[LrdVnm]

You're perfectly understandable, at least to fellow pianists. One does not only give the song more power with this, but the song will also give the player and the listeners more power. Music is power.

[javierleonenriquez]

yes, i already do a bit, and many times you suddenly see your mind doesn´t let you control your gestures, like a dance with the piano, but i felt that around second 0:18 that was a tick or sth

[javierleonenriquez]

Without trying to ofend, just wonder why does he make all those strange gestures with the face???

[purplecyberduckie]

All the professional pianists seem to do that. It probably just happens if you get really into the music.

[pianist626262]

That's the truth:)

[cazpar2]

Play music like this on an instrument.

You'll understand.

[pianist626262]

Wonderful! I like this interpretation so much!

[madwoman213]

Lovely song and very well played, but has anyone else noticed the way his eye twitches along to it at the start??

[IWantANameDammit]

You've obviously never watched yourself while playing an instrument. Everyone has a "thing" that they do while playing an instrument. Ever heard of the term, "Guitar face"?

[MarcelP1990]

It has 6 flats. It's in the key of Gb. That has nothing to do with it sounding oriental. That's because of the use of the pentatonic scale.

It's beautiful..

[lio689]

His interpretation is so beatiful, I was about to cry XD, I m learning this piece so it touches me much more than an other one.

[whateverpianogenius]

This piece reminds me of Chinese songs...it's a very pretty song!

[HailTheOrder]

Are trying to sound stupid? . .

[kiwibd]

why the hell do you think chinese songs are stupid?

[CheersBigEarsTHEBEST]

It has 6 sharps, which is what a lot of oriental pieces have, not that stupid

[Deiopeas]

Weren't it flats..?♭

[Melyssa6647]

Yes it's in Gb major

[jdaesaorn2012]

yeah. i think it's all flats, including C, except for F.

[eltrentoro]

it's probably all the pentatonicism

[mishabirds]

this is so amazing, hes great,

[allegroconmoto]

The wonderful Michelangeli interpretation is a narrative poem with so many events and shades of meaning about une fille passionate and sensitive : indeed the opposite of a romantic oleography

[allegroconmoto]

Je vien de parler de ça avec un accordeur qui travaillat dan l'usine de Cesare Tallone a Milan ou Michelangeli se rendait touyours pur jouer sans etre derangé sur ses pianos . La Il était simple et aimable avec tout le monde.Merci de votre gentilesse.

[543693The]

Merci pour le complément nouveau. Ce qui m'avait été dit par amateur qui lisait beaucoup , ne concernait que lors de ses concerts où il ne jouait "que sur son piano" et que personne que lui etc... LA RUMEUR!!!! oh la la!

mais même si c'était vrai : les gens bourrus sont souvent gentils, mais émotifs et le trac!!! mon Dieu!

Bref merci et nous l'aimons tous les deux et comme vous êtes intéressant je vais m'abonner!!! au revoir!

[543693The]

merci pour le complément!!! ce que je disais avec non certitude et voulais savoir, ne concernait que les concerts....Je ne doute pas qu'il fut gentil d'ailleurs il jouait avec une telle sensibilité...! au revoir sur une autre vidéo

[543693The]

subtile et élégante interprétation ...Si je ne me trompe, c'est A.MICHELANGELI qui lors de ses concerts accordait lui-même son piano et pas un autre...?? sinon grosses colères!! merveilleux musicien! merci Monsieur...

[allegroconmoto]

Mais non c'est ridicule il n'accordait pas ses pianos par soi meme mais c'était Cesare Tallone qui était son accordeur de confiance.Tallone était aussi un fameux constructeur de pianos.

[543693The]

merci d'avoir rectifié... mon "si je ne me trompe" ....qui m'avait transmis cette erreur, fin mélomane mais non musicologue n'est plus là pour l'apprendre...ôtez de mot "ridicule" et je serai heureuse d'avoir appris de vous quelque chose en complément. Vous avez fait un bon choix d'interprète, je l'aime beaucoup....J'avais posé une question et j'ai eu réponse merci!

[tsu90]

This is so beautiful...

[pianojakeo]

si jolie :) je pourrais l'écouter toute la journée :)

[TheAtma]

Happy birthday, Claude!

[ludola2911]

grazie :)

[master777999]

This is an absolutely beautiful peice and he plays it with such greatness... Truly a masterpeice.

[enriccoll77]

you only need follow the score to play this piece... and the expresion come easy!!!

[enriccoll77]

la expresión sale sola en esta pieza.

[antetdi]

It would only need humanity, then.

[niniabuenaconsuerte2]

precioso !! =) (L)

[schnaguzz]

très fantastique <3

[CulIens]

Oh My God. This is amazing. He does play it extremely well. And without looking? i know. wow...amazing.

[ninetysevenford]

thumbs up

[lucasaltariq]

GODDAMN! D: WITHOUT LOOKING O_O

[Oogliscublidooby]

He plays it so well

[pogradecaripanjohur]

u know sometimes it;s the look that makes a pianist even a better pianist

so i think besides his great talent, i beleive the wya he expressed his emotions helped on making the performanc eeven greater

[akojovi16]

divno

[jonasane8]

ｍｙ god~~~~~~~!!

[mooshoobutt]

he's a great pianist! :D

[argerich68]

Arturo benedetti Michelangeli,ossian la Divinità delPianoforte!!

[Argerich777]

i play the piece too.i think is not easy~

[lovesongslover]

oh true

[maddorox]

this piece is definately "Technically" easy..its hard to learn due to the number of flats and accidentals...but the Most difficult part of this piece is the quality of the sound that is produced, pedalling and the overall dynamics and musicality.

[curtisdude1]

i disagree. you need pretty good technique to achieve all the stretches and also the finger substitions needed to achieve the legato on the descending 3rds and 4ths. pedalling is easy aslong as you understand the harmonies. and dynamics are reasonably simple too, just bring out the stronger ascending and descending parts.

[maddorox]

oh .... i didnt find those parts that technically hard... Debussy's Dynamics are mostly or almost always hard to achieve "perfectly"

[roguewaw12]

do you think you can help on this piece if I upload video of me playing this piece? I practiced alot and something's still not right

[curtisdude1]

ofcourse

[burobbi]

It's also not that hard to learn due to flats and sharps. I can almost sight-read the entire piece, and so can any proper concert pianist. But true, the ethereal and colourful tones, and the pedalling (both foot and finger), are the most challenging aspect of this piece.

[maddorox]

when i refered to difficulty in the sight- reading i ment it was more difficult than the technique ... but then again i was a suzuki for a couple years ( waste of time) and my sight reading has only lately begun to improve drastically

[isayhi72]

What do they mean by Suzuki? I've always wondered, but never really delved into finding out.

[deftroniks]

Are you referring to the Suzuki method.?

Developed by Shinichi Suzuki. Supposed to be an amazing method for children to reach their highest potential.

[Hardwyck]

I doubt if anybody could sight-read this adequately. The real difficulty lies in giving a coherent structure to the whole piece: getting each phrase right, linking phrases in a way that makes sense, in short giving it direction. It isn't just a mush of nice sounds.

[JanaFaukner]

Liszt surely would without much trouble.

[Jethar2]

mushes are nice too O:

[pigolet2178]

Wow! do you have any of your performance posted it on any website? I'd like to hear, after all you claim you play better than Michelangeli.