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  • @roybrachet The original tempo marking is 176

  • Try this:

    youtube.com/watch?v=zFC_4UKQ7G­I

  • Technically proficient, but musically bland.

  • @aljeke1, my thoughts exactly. He's just running through it without saying anything.

  • @KhagarBalugrak i Guess Interpretation is in playing as well as in listening - i like his interpretations of the whole Opus a lot

  • if u play faster than richter then u know u are to fast

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  • класно...з такою швидкістю..)

  • He needs to listen to Cortot's version, and rethink the entire approach; I think it should be slower, softer, and way more melodic and tender.

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  • It's a powerful, fortissimo, spiritual performance of a divine work. Tender?? You're an idiot.

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  • @pianomanjc93

    JEALOUS!!!

  • Does this man get elctric schocks from the keyboard?

  • I'm sure he's capable of getting it better. What I'm hearing is chord grouping patterns. It should have a feel like falling water. It sounds like (descending) E C G C break E C G C break etc. Those arpeggio joins need to sound more continous without a feeling of one ending and another beginning...like a waterfall.

    The rhythmic feel in this piece is just as important as the dynamics. Garrick Ohlsson, Pollini, Valentina Lisitsa (slower but good, and great dynamics).

  • Started this today!!!! Climbing Mt. Everest in piano my teacher says.....

  • Muito lindo!!!!!!!!!

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  • Very excellent. You can hear even after playing it thousands of times, this piece still fatigues the player. How did Chopin do it with such small hands?

  • @davids2000 its all in the wrists and forearm. thats one of the aims in this study

  • Wow is that fast. My best time was 1:50 but not quite the quality of this one.

  • Lots of feeback about this performance. Also nice to see different ideas and opinions. Keep in mind though, folks, this is an etude. It therefore serves for a particular purpose - in this case to study/develop arpeggiation throught the range of the keyboard at speed. Musically it is a bit trivial, the physical demand is deceiving. Mainly, I think Chopin's intent with this piece was to represent endurance up and down the keyboard at speed without getting tense - not easy to do.

  • if we slow down the strings, and we train regularly, it is not so difficult for the tunes all come in sequences not jump low, high, low irregularly. Thanks to Freedy, he made a perfect smooth, but too many repeated, same notes make the imagination and appreciation rather blur.

  • The 10-12 only "sounds" difficult. It sounds difficult but it is straight forward. You learn the notes, you play them the slowly, then build up speed - within a short time frame. You are then free.

    The 10-1 will always try you even after years of study.

    @supergaybot

    This piece has no name. The waterfall image is but one of many possible interpretations.

    As for the speed, around 1 minute, 45 seconds is the speed in the score. All others are just slow. For good reason ;)

  • @TMattLee erm, isn't that the key to all music? then why do SOOOOOOOO many musicians suck my balls?

  • another version of this song : watch?v=UkApPrdfW_U

  • dont know much about this piece so dont eat me if im wrong...but its known as the waterfall piece so the right hand should sort of flow of of the left hand so the left hand must be more prominent than the right? correct me if im wrong

  • this is hard to play :)

  • in my opinion, the hardest chopin etude of all...

  • @HomerJ666: harder than the revolutionary? why?

  • @freaky011 try to play it. the distances between the notes are so horrible its really not easy to get into it. personally i dont think the revolutionary is one of the hardest chopin etudes, but also not one of the easiest. i think op. 4, which you can see in my profile is also one of the hardest, but this one blew my mind...

  • @freaky011 sorry, i meant op. 10 no. 4

  • @HomerJ666 I don't know. I think there are quite a few harder ones than this one. Like the Revolutionary and Op. 25 No.11. Yes it's hard but most notes fall into a logical succession of the previous notes so it's not actually as hard as it sounds.

  • @Challsoer i think its harder than it sounds... i think everyone's different there, but i consider the revolutionary to be moderate in difficulty versus this one =) i never played 25/11 though, gotta try it ;)

  • @Challsoer say that to little hands !!! doing a C F C F in this speed isnt that logical !!!

  • @mehdital The wall is C F# A Eb ok slowly but speed ....

  • Bravo!!!!!!!!!!!! :) greetings Hella

  • i've always wanted to play the piano at a place like this. Yr awesome and lucky!! :D

  • Mind-boggling virtuosity, accuracy and dynamic range, but did Frederic Chopin really mean this piece to be played at such a break-neck speed? If he did, it means that just about everyone else plays it too slowly.

  • @roybrachet not meant to offend or anything, but I think this is actually the right tempo d: atleast outta those 2 ppl i've heard play this piece b4

  • this is perfect, the melody is in the left hand, the right hand is about pure brilliance. I think he got it spot on

  • complete show off ! the arpeggios cant even be distinguished at that speed , and it seems rushed. maybe he should smoke a joint or two to relax and play it again.

  • show off

  • Faster, faster, maybe you can beat Cziffra. Who cares about the melody, feeling, interpretation? Surely not Chopin! Next, try to play it in under a minute. Better yet, play it so fast that you finish before you start. That way no one will suffer.

  • @sasha42196 haha are you being sarcastic?

  • @sasha42196 lol, Arrau played it in 1 minute, 45 seconds. Playing fast doesn't necessarily destroy the beauty of the piece.

  • I think this piece belongs to Ashkenazy, but still so so amazing ::)

  • I just discovered Lugansky's interpretation of this piece and it even slightly out-does Ashkenasy's for my taste, but by only a little.

  • This is maybe the best example of the kind of piano playing I so dislike--all the technique in the world but put only to the service of showing us only that! Cortot and Backhaus were the best ever at making real music of this piece. Ashkenasy does the best job of it today. Pollini is wonderful as well, no can ever fault him for whatever he plays. But he's slightly too technical as always, whereas Ashkenasy prefers the dramatic : so perfect for this piece.

  • Vrey good but this is too fast and covers the music... ! I think that THIS piece belongs to Ashkenazy...

  • @proteas1992 very well said

  • @proteas1992 Louis Lortie

  • @proteas1992

    Insanely jealous. Ashkenazy is good, but this is a far superior pianist

  • UAOOO....

  • a 00.45 c'est le son de l'amour

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  • is it running on fast forward mode by any chance? :P

    bravo kempff!! you live upto your second name..

  • Hi Leon~!

  • Check out my tutorial on this piece on my channel!!

  • I think this is played at the correct tempo at 176!

  • When he jumps you can see his hear going up into the air now and then! haha :)

  • @MusicClassical1 awesome comment dude...

  • The real art isn't to play the left hand extremly loudly and the right hand extremly fastly. The real art is to play the right hand clearly and the left hand quiet, but in a way you can hear the melody good. So, that isn't played in a way, Chopin would like it, i think.

  • @thelast193 It's an etude... Technique-wise, you should play the right hand to push its comfort level while melodically, the left hand has the melody, so that has to be emphasized.

  • @thelast193 You are quite right. Although this is played with great ease and power, Chopin should always have as a basis a melodic element which, when brought to the fore properly makes for an altogether different, but equally as stunning a musical statement.

  • @thelast193 i disagree, the melody is the left hand, the right hand being the accompaniment, the octaves in the bass should shine through the entire arpeggio run until the next octave is played, while occasionally a melody in the treble is to be bought out.... trust me ;)

  • @mrpolaroid123 wrong comment, i didn't mean to vote down your comment

  • stunning!

  • Ja. Auf Vögel schiessen.

  • Kempf is awesome!

  • My right hand hurts D:

  • @Wolvenblaze I know the feeling.

  • He plays the left hand too loud like a sforzando.

  • @nvdahkid123 everybody plays it like this because its meant to be like this.

  • I just had a go at recording this one - I can't make it go as fast as Freddy though.

  • Very good played! :D

  • passion !!!

  • Remember that the left hand here has a melody to sing...

  • Enjoying this beautiful piece! =D

  • Same to me :)

  • Man, that is awesome. I wish I could play like that.

  • check garrick ohlson's version on YT..

    it may be a bit transposed but the style is just amazing..

  • Olssohn's is the best version I say

  • OMG this song is hell. my arm was sore for a whole damn week when i played it through. (not even at half this speed)

  • Relax your wrist, ur technique might most probably be wrong, which was why ur arm was sore. Just remember go by the flow, swave ur wrist and arm around, don't over do it.

  • I was just listening to Pollini versus Kempff again. Pollini actually plays it a tad slower, but his clarity is awesome. I would be interested in what Kempff sounded like if he matched Pollini's speed. I think there is always an optimal speed to play something at. The heart beats with the music and the mood is being set. Too fast can miss the mood just as easily as too slow.

  • No doubt a fine pianist, just doesn't quite have Pollini's clarity in the right hand and I like Pollini's left hand treatment better. I think Freddy is better than his father was. They are all fantastically skilled musicians. I think the best test is when optimal recording equipment is used in the studio and some mixing is allowed.

    I admire all the concert pianists for just reaching that level. That alone is worthy of praise.

  • Why, instead of analyzing how good they are or who is better, don't you just practice piano and play those pieces? It's better than being all I think this guy is clearer or whatever...Btw....where do I get this sheet music? I wanna play it...

  • You can find it any where on the internet, just type it in the search box.

  • I tried!!! It's so hard finding one. And I don't have a music store near me so yea :(

  • do you still need the music? I can show you where to get it if you want.

  • @urahara53 I got it finally and I'm so happy :D I feel like god LMAO jkjkjk

  • hmm, instead of saying who's better why don't you post your opinion of the video.

  • I think he did very impressive.... He has a good technique... learning the song is one but paying attention to the fingering is like learning a whole new song in this case.

  • pollini's interpretation is better

  • Very skillfull, but without any poetry.

  • Are the Forte Octaves hard on his left hand? In any case Hes one of my favorite pianist.

  • I love the atmosphere! the Piano just looks great in that room.

  • Not exactly crystal clear or even like Pollini....

  • true.. this is really fast..

  • @funkadelik69 Lmao thats a thumbs up for sure!

  • @funkadelik69 why u thumbed up this! .....

  • IMO hardest etude by Chopin

  • hmmm...U think so?

    I suppose it really depends on each person. For example I started the etudes with this one however somebody else might find another one to be easier. =D Really depends on pianist...

  • needs a bit of drum and bass if you ask me. and maybe a rapper. Not sure if a few dancing girls in the background would be too much but I'd definitely ditch the piano... like soooo 1880.

  • Lol squoocher = troll

  • lol people dont seem to understand this is a joke

  • Splindid...

  • aka stephen fry ? :)

  • Bah. SHUT UP!

  • If it is regarding criticism of this performance, then the only people that should be listened to are those who post a video response showing themselves playing this piece to the same degree as Freddy Kempf has played it here. If we see that they are indeed equal, then we shall here out any of their criticisms. Nobody should criticize another man unless he deems himself truly more superior.

  • I truly agree with you. I feel sorry for the people who do nothing, but criticize and scrutinize his performance. What a miserable world you must live in not to appreciate a wonderful performance like this.

  • Disagree. anybody can criticize dude... professional or not... just disregard what you disagree with. most people are not professional yes this is true, but most people also have common sense to know what sounds good, which is a contriuting factor to kempf's fame. non professionals im pretty sure come far & wide to see kempf perform because according to their non professional opinions, they think Kempf's playing is beautiful. the world is built on non professional opinions.

  • Right on perhapsforever, I agree! I like John Browning, Andrei Gavrilov and Murray Perahia performances as well.

  • No I disagree with that, Its far easier to validly and legitimately criticise musical performances than to play the music for yourself. This is just a fact of life.

  • this etude is intended to train the extension of the shoulder isn't it?

  • i prefer Evgeny Kissin's interpretation .

    i think it should slow down a bit ......

  • Actually this tempo is correct :S

  • Por que jodidos quieren comparar a todos con Ashkenazy? Es bueno este video si o no y punto. Para mi es muy, muy bueno.

  • What is your last name??? Chopin???

  • @woodtiger716 Kempf.

  • not one of the knowledgeable commenters this dave...

  • Just listened to Ashkenazy's -- pretty good, but what's up with his "senza pedale" around 40 seconds in?! It doesn't say that on the score, does it?

  • So beautiful. I can't stop watching him playing.

  • i love the emotion! *headbang* ftw

  • GOOOD

  • I love his playing - everything he plays is so wonderfully pieced together.

  • Haha! This etude always makes me laugh - not with ridicule, mind you, but with glee.

  • this is the best performance. from my point of view.

  • you can't have heard many, then

  • dude cant you accept my opinion? ashkenazys is not bad either

  • I haven't heard Ashkenazy's yet, but I definitely feel that this interpretation is far too rushed, and there are just too many mistakes as well. Pollini plays this better than anyone I've heard. I accept your opinion, but I just don't agree with it ;)

  • Are you fucking kidding? Too many mistakes? Freddy Kempf is a fucking amazing pianist and all the etudes he played in the series for this video are perfect. Unlike other shitty fucking versions of this piece on YouTube which are drowned out with TOO MUCH PEDAL, this one is clean and distinct. Not muddled and covered up with pedal.

  • The performance is inconsistent and very sloppy in places. He's an amazing pianist, of course, but this simply isn't a good performance, and all I'm saying is that it's ignorant to say that it's the best there is, which was what I originally replied to. Pollini's recording is far superior IMO, he almost makes it sound like an effortless finger exercise.

  • Pedal is marked on the sheet to hold for almost every two measures.

  • fine with me. but pollini is something diffrent. lets wait until kempf is that old ;)

  • I have this feeling that after you play this your hand will feel REALLY REALLY tired. :/

  • Hamsterpeiling: when you play it that well, you don't feel anything. Your hand only feels fatigue if you don't practice enough =) I'm in the middle of learning this etude.

  • clap x999999999999999999

  • no cabe duda que la interpretación es impecable, pero, con todo el respeto que me merece este gran pianista, que el manejo de las dinámicas no se ve, entonces es impresionante pero no transmite sensibilidad ni emociona mayormente... es mi humilde opinión. Olvidan que es arte...

  • You guys stop breaking balls with all that shit about "he has great technic but no interpretation". He has technic, AND sound AND power AND energy. What the hell do u wanna make more out of this composition? it's an "etude" and all we need to hear about it in a concert hall is just the outstanding job kempf does here!

  • we can make a deal: i stop commenting here while you stop dealing with MUSIC at all, nano-brained idiot

  • This interpertation even though I like his impressive techinique, has no feeling whatsoever. How come his other etudes sound have more feeling in them except this one?

  • mvs13l2, this etude DOES have loads of feeling, it's just that no one really knows how to bring it out, because they just learn the notes instead of learning the harmony and the melody.

  • Eh, I'm sorry I guess I wasn't clearer enough with my comment. I was referring to Freddy Kempff' interpretation of this piece, not the piece written by Chopin itself. I myself play this piece, I know that one can put more feeling into it like putting more strength when alternating from an ascending arpeggio to an descending one. I was referring to the player not the piece.

  • i love boggie woogie!

  • God forbid. Good technique, but the left hand it`s very stiff. Good tempo, but like that`s all. He didn`t do any kind of dynamics, he just played forte or mf all the way. I think he didn`t analyzed harmonically, cause you have some places that are in minor mode, from C Major to A minor, in the second page, nothing ... he didn`t care. Better listen Murray Perahia playing Chopin etudes, more beautiful

  • is it true that he is half japanese half german? i heard that and think that is really cool

  • yo no desconozco la capacidad técnica de Freddy Kempf, es impecable, pero, a mi se me hace que él, como otros artistas jóvenes, descuidan un poco la interpretación y el debido uso de lad dinámicas, es algo que pienso se pierde de vista y es sumamente importante, hay piezas de mucha simpleza que transmiten demasiado todo por una buena interpretación... es un concepto muy humilde de mi parte que no mengua la capacidad de este gran artista...

  • Look at Kempf's face, it seems he is really painful

  • what´s it with those last few left hand octaves bangged away ?? he makes a static sound and doen´t even seem to realize or care... weird considering his obvious technical abilities...

  • i dont really see/hear the static sounds

  • well...then you have to go to your doctor and get your ears checked!

  • Arppegio's all day

  • 0:40 - section that requires the most stretching

    Section afterwards is, I think, the most beautiful part of the piece.

  • i agree with you. it is one of the most difficult sections, especially for the second and third finger! and in 0:47 my favourite part begins, too.

  • this guy actually plays this etude even faster than argerich or cziffra..

  • They actually completed at the same time (with Cziffra), but his recording has more silence in the video. And Cziffra makes pieces which are to be played slow even slower, and the most difficult parts even more insanely fast.

  • Wonderful notes. I think Chopin had a little bit of Liszt when he composed this work.

  • Actually he was a little bit inspired by Paganini when he wrote this piece, however, it's simply wonderful.

  • I thought this was inspired by Bach... (C major prelude in WTC)

  • you are correct. he wanted the LH to emulate the pedals of the organ

  • think the other way around liszt was always inspired by chopin!

  • hey, what are the accents for in this piece.

    at the start they are there then their not..

  • you have to play them through the whole piece.

  • Someone told me that if u can play this piece well, you can master any other Chopin songs too. Is that true?

  • no chopin has so much other technique in his etudes, you cant compare it.

  • But I heard that from a National standard teacher. coz I think most of his techniques r in this song. Im not too sure how to explain it to u. Its a saying of a National standard teacher

  • The defenition of "master a piece" goes really wide.If you think of playing the score up and down without mistakes then you cant play every other chopin stuff. your national standard teacher means to reach perfection which is extremely difficult, but you dont hear it at that tempo here anyways. : )

  • I think she meant by some important techniques or hard ones of Chopin.

  • this etude is really to strengen the left hand and get the right hand more flexible, every one of chopins etudes where to strenchen a diffrent thing, so this one etude doesnt mean you can play any chopin song.

  • terrible how it doesn't show his hands during the hardest parts around 40 seconds

  • that's the easiest part lol..

  • OMG THAT ACTION LOOKS SOOOOOOO RESPONSIVE.... im sure it has to be for this masterpiece too.