Solace - A Mexican Serenade, by Scott Joplin

[GreenHat9]

I hope you do!

[cebukid70]

Excellent interpretation. I might work on this one next.

[43Meyrick1]

I've listened to Sue Keller many times and can see that she is a great pianist, but I am not keen on her jerky and sometimes hurried style of playing ragtime. I noticed that you do put some small jerks in your performance but the overall

impression is smooth and relaxed. Your piano has a very sweet tone and sounds the perfect thing in your wonderfully soothing rendition of Roberto Clemente.

[43Meyrick1]

You have made this piece your own with a beautiful interpretation. It's a very difficult piece to play...I been slogging at it for over 30 years and can't get near this. Congratulations!

[GreenHat9]

@43Meyrick1

Thank you for the kind words! You will be interested to know that the YouTube performance of Solace that most moved me - and served as a model while I was learning the piece - is the one by Sue Keller. She's a magnificent performer, and has truly made this piece "her own".

[ComaTwin]

Nice....!

Just one question: @ 6:39-6:40, (5th measure before the end) , you are playing a C with your left thumb, I believe. I was just wondering if that was just a trivial mistake or if in your score the note is actually written as a C instead of a D.

[GreenHat9]

@ComaTwin

You are right! The mistake is in my performance, not in the score, although it was gracious of you to suggest that. Actually, there are several mistakes in this performance. Thank you for listening so closely and taking the time to write.

[mundydog]

Thanks for memories of jeremy

[2131Elias]

Excellent performance of this beautiful Joplin´s gem! Congrats

[suzearl]

I like your interpretation the best.

[GreenHat9]

@suzearl Thank you.

[gmonkey808]

Lovely. Thanks for posting.

[cebukid70]

Fantastic interpretation! I've added it to my "Best of Joplin" playlist.

[gamemaster2422]

i like the part at 5:32 best

[cueshark]

Very nice playing! I just love listening to everyone's interpretation of this song. They vary so much! 5 stars :)

[hellsbells8888]

hi!

i played this song too months ago...your personal interpretation is very beautiful and i like the last part of the song...the funny thing about it is that our interpretations are antithetic.. i tried to play the end of the song slowlier than the beginning...but your version sounds really great!

[GreenHat9]

Thank you. I would love to hear your interpretation, but didn't fine it on YouTube.

[louismagie]

Hello, I love your interpretation of this great part. I remember in the scene of " The Entertainer" where Robert Redford is alone in the street at night.

Thanks.

You're very talented

[GreenHat9]

Thank you.

-Paul

[ojbodzio]

Very good job

[GreenHat9]

Dear Stan,

Thanks for the kind words. Yes, a wide range of interpretation. I was influenced by Sue Keller's very expressive performance on YouTube (with lyrics, yet), as well as Cory Hall's more disciplined Bach-like interpretation. Both excellent.

Best regards,

Paul

[skinnysankyo]

Like many other people who have posted, i wish i could play as well as you... i guess practice pays off! do you know how to play joplin's maple leaf rag? i'd really like to hear your version:)

[GreenHat9]

Thank you. I haven't learned Maple Leaf Rag. I'm currently working on two rags, one by Joplin, another by Joseph F. Lamb. Keep practicing, it works!

Best regards,

Paul

[94jettameowpsst]

Man this song brought back memories :'(, i learned this by ear after my dad passed away....i cant read music, but it was one of my favorite songs he played. Awesome.

[fernandogm77]

Dear Paul,

Congratulations on your flawless playing, I hope to play like that some day. Your piano looks and sounds like a Mason & Hamlin AA. If it is an AA, can you please let me know what year it is. I own a 1913 AA in Mahogany

Best wishes, Fernando

[GreenHat9]

Thank you Fernando.

Congratulations to you for recognizing the AA by ear! The piano is a Mason & Hamlin AA, built in 1912. The length, as you know, is 6'2". The case is mahogany, wavy grain, and I believe it is the original finish.

I've been making my way through your Favorites list, enjoying many of the piano-related videos you've collected, and I'm honored to be among them.

Best regards,

Paul

[fernandogm77]

Dear Paul,

These are amazing pianos, congratulations. You play as I hope to play someday. I will let you know when I receive my AA, I just bought it and it is on its way to me now.

I will keep looking for your latest videos and add them to my favorites also

Best wishes, Fernando

[GreenHat9]

Fernando,

How great that you're getting a M&H piano, and an old one at that. I love them. I'd be very happy to hear from you after you've gotten yours and done whatever restoration you need to do.

Cheers,

-Paul

[fernandogm77]

Dear Paul, Thank you for your comments. I will let you know as soon as I receive the piano, let me know if you want me to email you pictures of it and where to send them.

Best wishes, Fernando

[fernandogm77]

Dear Paul, Hope you are well. I finaly received my 1913 AA Mason & Hamlin, it is a wonderful instrument. I would like to send you a couple of pics. I have been cleaning it up and it is turning out very nice. This piano is all original, but it is amazing how well it has been kept. Let me know how I can send you pictures of it.

Best wishes,

Fernando

[bryantgyt]

Very nicely done!

[glyn001]

Very nice interpretation and nice tempo. Well done.

[ouirv]

Hi Paul! I just realized you've had this up for over a month, and I just found it. What a great, expressive interpretation (as usual for you). Just beautiful. You're really putting the pressure on me to get my a** in gear and get another piece "YouTube-ready" sometime soon. lol Keep up the great work.

[GreenHat9]

Hi Peter, good to hear from you again. Well, I do hope you will post another piece soon! I love listening to you play.

-Paul

[echinacea100]

excellent....although the tempo is slow on this song, it is complex and has some rapid flourishes. When knowing this song so well by heart is is cool to watch someone play it.

[carlyschroeder]

very nice! I'm sure Joplin would have approved. I think when done properly, "Solace" as a beautiful sadness to it, almost melancholy you might say. Very fitting for a Ragtime star near the end of time. Truly, a labor of love.

[idasynco]

Very lovely on your grand! This is a difficult piece to pull off, and you did in a grand sytle!!

[GreenHat9]

Thank you. And thanks for helping with my comment-posting mystery.

[Gangly1]

Very nice Paul.

Great tempo and lovely colour changes.

Regards,

Paul

[GreenHat9]

Thanks, Paul. Hmm, colour changes... I like it.

Best,

Paul