Billy Joel Fantasies and Delusions 01-Villa d'Este Op. 3

[ajtabacco]

I haven't been on here in a while. I read through many of these comments and I see that I offended many people. I WILL NOT apologize for what I said, only the way I said it. I should have been nicer, but oh well. I will answer some of you and post an art song I composed a while ago. Go, listen, and RIP ME APART, but listen. Then you might understand what I am trying to say. Billy Joel is a GREAT songwriter. The piano music is expressive, but not fresh. That is my point, nothing more.

[dhhs91]

@ajtabacco If you want innovation in sound, go listen to dubstep and tell me it's so much better than this.

[urjaswatithefire]

could you upload soliloquy?

[FinkChrist]

Joel has always been a great songwriter, but when he wrote this masterpiece, he truly became a composer.

[boobabiegirl]

Billy Joel would have been an amazing composer.. (as he's shown) but he was told "It don't sell kid." Idiot bubblegum-pop society strikes again. I'm glad he's made an effort toward both because this piece alone makes my eyes instinctively shut and just BE..... in the sonic architecture of bliss. I give credit where credit is due so THANK YOU Billy Joel. I've enjoyed your piano since I was first able to hear.

[lovemommylove]

didn't know he didn't play these... kinda frustrating 8 )

[44t56]

@lovemommylove He said it was too difficult for him to play it the way he wanted it to sound, whatever that means. He'd be awesome at this

[urjaswatithefire]

thanks ruskybalboa! could you upload the rest of the album too? I'd love "Soliloquy (on a separation)" & the "Suite for Piano" set here on youtube.

[Joanncrtt]

I remember when this was coming out. I couldn't wait! AND! I was not disappointed. I loved it then, I love it now and I will love it forever~ I'd love to see another one someday soon!

[soulinthewall77]

I'm wondering who Billy Joel's influences were. There were moments where I thought I was listening to Debussy, Chopin, and Rachmaninoff. I am, by NO means an expert. But, the style of music all of these artists brought to the world had left a lasting impression on me since I was a kid (I was classically trained; but, I was never that good.)

[ruskybalboa]

@soulinthewall77 Joel actually had ALOT of classical influences in his early teen years before he went into Rock 'n Roll. His influences ranged from Bach, to Beethoven, to Liszt, to Tchaikovsky, and to Rachmaninoff! He is truly a very versatile composer! I want another classical album from him lol

[terrareus13]

I don't know how it took me 10 years to realize Billy Joel made a classical album... wow! Classical music really is timeless. I'm not a huge fan of it, but I do enjoy it from time to time and was looking for modern classical composers and found this! Billy Joel is even more awesome than I thought!

[loves2bleef]

I love how everybody completely reamed that guy for trying to dump on this. Lovely piece; will try to pick it up in my spare time.

[jackthompsonsucks]

I WANT THE SHEET MUSIC!!!!!!!

[ajtabacco]

Look up this Video and you might appreciate it: Greg Anderson plays Ligeti Etude 13: "The Devil's Staircase"

[killamanjaro17]

@ajtabacco That piece was good too, but there were certainly composers from 200 years ago that composed in that style as well. And why can't you listen to old music or make new music in a similar style to older musics? Besides, like I said there are older musics that are in the same style that this piece is, so why is it any better? Just because you're arrogant and you say so?

[ajtabacco]

Well, I truly don't want to offend, so let me say this differently. Billy Joel let me down here, everything in these pieces echos a style from 200 years ago. We need to step into the 21st Century and listen to music with new melodic/harmonic material. Let's start by listening to some piano etudes from György Ligeti.

[Hektor88]

@ajtabacco Or we could listen to modern music AND older music? Why do we have to choose one over the other?Would you advocate throwing all the Bach, Mozart, Brahms, Stravinsky, etc. into a giant bonfire just because it's not new?

[ajtabacco]

@Hektor88 That's not what I'm saying at all. Billy Joel is a pop song writer, I love his songs that he writes, who doesn't? What I'm saying is that his talent isn't writing piano music. The music that makes an impact is composed in such a way that it makes one think, "Hey, I've never heard that before!!!" When history books are written about the late 20th and early 21st Centuries, Billy Joel will be remembered for Piano Man and Only the Good Die Young, if you know what I mean...

[FourthDerivative]

@ajtabacco

Out of curiosity: suppose J. S. Bach were around today and wrote all of his music in the 2000s instead of the 1700s. Would you accuse his music of being "garbage" because it's old-fashioned and not "innovative"?

(Of course, Bach was accused of the same thing during his lifetime; that's why he was best known as a performer instead of a composer at the time.)

[flutterfeet]

@ajtabacco Please consider that classical music doesn't need a contemporary style to be innovative. I am a ballerina and have been for 9 years so I have heard my fair share of classical music, yes I have heard tons from this particular style yet I have also never heard anything remotely similar to this composition. I would advise you to please look up 'Tomorrow is Today' by Billy Joel, after you have heard that you cannot say Billy Joel isn't a versatile artist

[Tolstoy111]

@ajtabacco Even Joel's pop music is old fashioned. There has always been music that looks back as that which looks forward.

[ajtabacco]

All of you seem to forget that we live in the 21st Century, this music is total, tonal garbage. Billy Joel better stick to songs like "Piano Man" because his piano music is less than innovative... to put it gently.

[ruskybalboa]

@ajtabacco it's not garbage dude, millions of people love classical music...if you think this stuff is "garbage", than why did Billy write all of it?

[CassidyClaireJ]

@ajtabacco garbage? do you even realize that modern music comes from classical music? Billy Joel was a genius.

[MrEightyEights]

@ajtabacco Classical music is timeless.

Without the restrictions of words, it is able to convey in a unique manner what exactly music is: Feeling. Ever had a moment where you had something to say, but no words with which to say it?

Now you're right, Billy Joel is and will always be the Piano man to us now and to generations to come. But think of this as an added chapter to his book. Another insight into Billy Joel, as a person... not just the timeless pop artist.

[hosszu2010]

@ajtabacco I think tonal music is not garbage. Of course this is not innovative, but not innovation that determines whether a piace of music is good or bad. (no such factor?) For me this is quite pleasant. Daniel

[killamanjaro17]

@ajtabacco Less than innovative tonal garbage? You obviously don't know what music is, and therefore have no credibility. What do you think "Piano Man" is anyway? It is piano music, he just sings with it too. And anybody who knows what they're talking about knows that it's all in a very tonal fashion. To put that gently.

[Eltinwe]

@ajtabacco Something being contemporary or "innovative" does not make it superior. "Piano Man" is a great song, not because it is innovative, but because it is timeless. People have, for a very long time, been in those categories the words talk about. People will always gather for music. The song hits on something just about everyone can identify with. What's more, the basis for a song like that IS music like this being in his head. Without this, there is no that. It could not exist.

[YDG777]

@ajtabacco if you played piano you might have more of an appreciation for it

[JackBlair2]

@ajtabacco What's wrong with tonality?

[TekkenIdiot]

@ajtabacco classical music are like old paintings, art. You sir are a moron.

[MrMikellsof88]

@ajtabacco you, sir, are totally, tonal garbage. *SLAPS YOU WITH MY GLOVE*

[DanielEverts]

@ajtabacco Just because you don't like this kind of music, doesn't mean its garbage. Isn't this the reason that there are so many different music styles?

[44t56]

@ajtabacco I can never forget that we live in the 21st century, with the shit music today clogging up airwaves that could be used to preserve our music history and heritage. You try writing innovative piano music, and post it. I want to see if you can try

[AmyThinx]

Chopin? Huh? 

[AmyThinx]

It's hard to believe no one has responded to this absolutely gorgeous work of art from one of our contemporary geniuses. As a pianist, I will not only buy the album and the sheet music, but spread the word about it as well. Please listen to as many cuts as you can, then decide if you will do the same. It's truly marvelous.

[CheekyVimto08]

@AmyThinx it's not Chopin but it is excellent.