Bizet, Habanera (from Carmen), James Edwards, guitar

[PianoDude1011]

was this in the movie up (but with a different instrument I think) ?

[Fancyfrost]

This is a BEAUTIFUL piece.....also my mothers favorite opera.

[jonowonoponosono]

this is so much cooler than clair de lune

[chadhello211]

This is a really nice peice, but I'm just wondering how many guitars are you using

[smalin]

@chadhello211 One.

[haaatz]

Pure sex.

[PaleMoons]

@haaatz *chuckles* Yes, if you think of it like that.

[Scarlov87]

Wow Awesome and relaxing!

[GinOhara]

So many tone colors on one instrument! The guitar truly is amazing in the hands of a master.

[carmenliujiawen]

my father and mother give me this name carmen!!! i love this song!! ^^

[sectorjeat]

@smalin

Where can I get the score!!

It's a fine arrangement!!

[smalin]

@sectorjeat See the FAQ.

[sectorjeat]

@smalin

Thanks!

[hhdaphne]

Never heard it on a guitar before....Is awsome!

[TrekieMonter]

no midi for this?

[1964Yojimbo]

this always remind me of Gilligans' Island

[FugitivesOfSorrow]

i'v heard so many remakes of this piece,good to know that i found the real thing :D

[shamitri]

looooooooooooool. i love this song. i never knew it waas from carmen though

[joce95]

this is so nostaglic i cant rmbr where i heard this before

[terrybeaton]

I thought that was two guitars at first, untill I read the title and artist! Amazing!

[bransonguitar]

YouTube videos of Recuerdos:

?v=AIzKsNIRrV4

?v=QcletQJQ6AE (2,300,000 views)

James, Very mature effort on Recuerdos de la Alhambra. Great tempo, good try on the grace notes, good use of space, however, the last chord should be a block chord. A big thumbs up.

Jim Greeninger

[nycolas1712]

Excellent.

[thomaszwerger]

hi, dont tell me this video is about how good someone can program logic audio...amazing..

[soniczdawun1]

J'adore beaucoup Carmen

[dhaddox]

I've never noticed it before, but this bears striking similarity to the first movement of the 5th symphony by Shostakovich. Compare the orange part at 2:38 to JokfD5cquI0 at 4:52

[abogadaortizbarraza]

Me encanta Carmen!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[bobbyt912]

where can i get the tab for this on guitar

[bobbyt912]

was this played on a classical guitar?

[jeedwards9]

@bobbyt912

Yes, a 1994 Ignacio Rozas; made in Madrid. Spruce top, Indian rosewood back and sides.

[lennic95]

@bobbyt912 Sounds like it

[1964Yojimbo]

BRAVO!!!!

[RedEviscerator]

Are you the same person in all of these videos? If so, give you a medal.

[smalin]

@RedEviscerator Who do you mean by "you" and what do you mean by "in all these videos"? I made all these videos, but lots of people (including me) are performing the music you're hearing in them.

[RedEviscerator]

@smalin Oh. That's exactly what I was wondering. If it was all one person doing it or a lot of people. But yeah.

[smalin]

@RedEviscerator The FAQ for each video says who's performing. If it doesn't say, it's almost always me.

[MeLifeNMusic]

Played this song in my school teacher :). My teacher taught it offhand! AMAZING SONG!

[Zeahftw]

@MeLifeNMusic I would most like to learn how to play "inside" my teacher. Not really, but, meh.

[MeLifeNMusic]

@Zeahftw 'Kay, :)

[SheSingsBroadway]

I absolutely love this song! I sang this in concert several times and, have to admit, it has won my heart.. despite it's unflattering lyricism. Haha. I absolutely adore Georges Bizet's work! Anyways, thank you so much for posting this! I hadn't heard a version of it for guitar and have to say that I really love how it sounds.

[ThePlayasBeatz]

sounds waaaay better on the piano... lol

[2205ninja1976]

very nice piece !

[123pelerin]

Superb!

[JeffBend]

wonderfull, I may be a rock 'n roller but i do love my Habanera.

[TopherMarsh]

NICE

[bianxter01]

Q: Can I download this song?

[smalin]

@bianxter01 See the "where can I hear more" item in the FAQ

[myktyl]

LOL... It's beautifully played, and nicely ported over to make use of the strengths of the guitar.... but if you've heard the piece sung, and the tone of it... this is really strange. Like... the threatening bits "prend gaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarde a toi!!!!!" sound sort of sleepy in this version, which is really nice as a totally separate thing... beautiful if taken completely separately from the aria itself.

[princessbobo910]

Very beautiful and that's my favourite piece too.

Love it!  10000*

Bo Bo ^ v ^

[raditzu]

Playing this piece for a guitar recital. Beautiful melody.

[smalin]

@raditzu  This arrangement?

[raditzu]

@smalin

Yes sir. I hope to sound about half as good as Mr. Edwards does in this video, haha. :p

[Carb0nDioxide]

Very nice!

[physicsfemme]

YES!

[MissRomenez]

Everytime I listen to this I start laughing I have no idea why, but its amazing and I love it.

Can you get high on Habanera? :L

[shkim7]

probably because of all the funny latin dance scenes associated with this

[samerazmy]

Superb, Overwhelming

[swupstik]

This arrangement rocks my socks! Love it!

[rockagirl707]

i dont know why but when i here this i laugh i just do and i love it!

[mygeico]

this only have one categorie grate!!!!!

[jbcornwell4692]

reminds me of sitting at a restaurant in San Diego last spring, eating mexican food under the stars after watching the sunset in La Jolla on the beach.  Beautiful.

[carolitoo]

:)  (:

[WDanai]

one of my favorite pieces, arranged beautifully on guitar. Thanks

[TheDragon966]

bravo, svidja mi se!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[willgudmundsson]

bravo

[celusqui010396]

esTaaa muyy bien ,, edemas la estoy aprendiendo a tocar y es bien dificil y se el esfuerzo que lleva!

[arredifestivi]

bellissimo.

[billabongodrum]

is carmen the bullfighting opera

[Fl4dd3rm0uz]

yes. there is a bullfight in it.. but i would not lay my hand in fire that there aren't others.... ;)

[perez79]

Bravo!!

[smalin]

A machine *did* do it ... the Music Animation Machine. I hope to make less monotonous animations in the future.

[jeedwards9]

Neither the composition, the human performer, nor the music animation technology, are "monotonous". Please tell us about all the other "many ways of animating this music", and how you would do it without a "machine"... Play it yourself on a real instrument, perhaps? Now that's animation. :)

James Edwards

[mclemj89]

@ivanbura1

who cares how it looks, the music speaks for itself as an incredible artform

[bethanharvey90]

as if he plays this all at once. no man has that many fingers. i am amazed. fantastic portrayal of music smalin.

[jeedwards9]

Oh, but I do, play it at "all at once" on one guitar that is. My arrangement is published by Mel Bay Pub. and I have had students (not many) who can play it. Thanks, James

[bethanharvey90]

@jeedwards9 brilliant. i once saw tommy emmanuel play in lytham st annes and he was playing like this. i wish i was this good, unfortunately my fingers dont stretch enough to do bar chords, never mind anything else.

[dinesadam]

@jeedwards9 i no nothing about guitar at all dave gilmore is my favorite (i love pink floyd) now i have a classical music play list on youtube (i have many different music likes)you my man are the dogs bits. love it

[apriliahoyem]

:)  thanks..:)

[nikita22f]

Always loved Carmen and especially Habanera

[aliciakx19]

i swear i heard this song in the movie Up...

[deroloi]

yeah ...it was while the old man walked down the stairs with his wheel-chair

...i heard it too...but i recognised it : P

[Baal66613]

wa... *-*

[TopSpeed23]

that chord just absolutely rings at 0:59

[TheBeethooven]

Wonderful

[bellarieboyy]

I love this <3

[smalin]

I'm honored to be your first subscription.

[Malegnius]

BRAVO BRAVISSIMO!

[mee13101986]

Pasiune...Spania...Hacienda...­Maslini...Portocali...Soare

[toitopek]

Great! Thanks again!

[energycore345]

good job for both James and Stephen:) i think this marks the difference between a gr8 guitarist and a *cough* pop guitarist (hope that doesnt sound waaay to stereotypical)

btw stephen, could u do mendelsohn's 4th symphony? -as long as its not too happy 4 ya ;)

[UberMenschNowFilms]

THANK YOU VERY MUCH! You have put almost all my favorites up!THANK YOU VERY MUCH!

[piman3141]

Excellent work, as always.

[3cplantin]

Love the richness of the guitar! It works perfectly. Nicely payed, too!

[anon72390]

this puts a nice spin on a classic

[jeedwards9]

I've performed this with opera singers, so I know what you mean. The classical guitar, unfortunately, has little sustain; so I chose to emphasize the characteristics of the dance.

[DarkPhoenixBlood]

I'll admit, im not a huge fan of this version, becuz ive only ever heard done in an operatic voice, but i think i could learn to love it

[Magus777777]

I love the dynamics in this song.

[Synsacrus]

Definitely lives up to the name of the rhythm pattern that is repeated in the bass and in certain parts throughout the melody and harmonies.

[iLuvKats89]

Great piece! I've been yearning as to who wrote this. <3 Thank you for making this piece come to life. Magnificient; splendidly magnificient! Nostalgic. :)

Speaking of reminiscing, what would be grateful is if you could do an orchestral or piano version of Haydn Wood's orchestral piece: Mannin veen. The movement is precisely written to make me succumb many wondrous emotions!

Again, thanks for uploading this rather special movement. I've been waiting to hear it from such a long time! <3

[nycolas1712]

Beautiful....!!!!!

[thegaymaker]

I really like this particular version of this song.

[MandooNess]

Beautiful :)

[fisceylies]

Oh my god i love this! its makes me want to show up my favortie enimies in a friendly old fashion way haha

[Bercik87]

Mind reader. Just yesterday I was thinking about this piece. Lovely.

[AlexClouseComposer]

Hey Smalin, I noticed you always use the piano roll display. Have you ever thought of displaying the pitch class wheel? I think its pretty cool...it raises the anticipation for odd notes outside the key signature, which makes for a more exciting listen with certain pieces if they seem too stagnant. I don't know how everyone else feels about it, most of your viewers probably have no idea about it yet. But I really like it.

[smalin]

I don't think people would find it as interesting. I do, however, use the circle-of-fifths coloring scheme from time to time, and that covers the same ground, conceptually.

[AlexClouseComposer]

Hey Smalin, I hear what you're saying about the Pitch Wheel idea. I did notice that you use the color scheme sometimes with the piano roll display, but for me it makes things a little confusing. On the Wheel, the fifths are next to each other so the colors make more sense.

The reason I brought it up is because I posted a video using the pitch wheel and I think it worked great. You should check it out.

[smalin]

For me, the bar-graph version of your piece is much more interesting than the pitch-wheel version. Maybe you should post a bar-graph version with the harmonic coloring, and ask your viewers what they get out of each one?

[AlexClouseComposer]

Okay, good idea. Thanks so much for the feedback!

[smalin]

You're quite welcome. Thanks for the help in spreading my software around!

[gre2g]

Can you do Ellington's single petal of a Rose ?

[smalin]

study the "could you please" item in the FAQ

[RockLobsta23]

I love the chord at 2:52.

[RTvidz]

it's just a D major chord in route position

[smalin]

Did you mean "en route" position?

;-)

[RockLobsta23]

I dont care if its just whatever to you, I just said I like it.

[mindygrahamkrauth]

omg..

i am rolling,,, before it is even over ,steve...

it is so beautiful...

but need i even tell you this...

perfect...my love...min,

[jefcon3]

Excuse me... how long does it take you to put these videos together? I could never follow music theory, but watching this makes it so much easier... I could watch these for hours... Thanks for posting!

[smalin]

It varies. The minimum time is if I'm using somebody else's performance, and they also supply MIDI data; in that case, it takes 2 to 3 hours of my time, plus an hour or so of video compositing time. So, a minimum of 4 hours, from start to finish. But if I have to learn to perform a piece, or write software to handle something new, or prepare a score, or sync an existing recording to a MIDI file, or shoot video, etc., it will take longer. This one took between ten and twenty hours, I think.

[jefcon3]

Wow! That's very selfless of you.  You must really love your work to share it with us!

[smalin]

Selfless? Well, maybe a little ... but I get paid, too (Google ad revenue). Not enough to live off, but it's definitely an incentive.

[1000jamesk]

It sounds very weird at 2:51 - 2:52. Except for that, I liked this version!

[teslaphysics]

Loved it! Great version! Thanks for your hard work!

[musicbrain5]

This is one of the first songs l learnt when l got into classical guitar!

[tinylittlesun]

this version isnt that great

[smalin]

What don't you like about it?

[tinylittlesun]

Just the interpretation by James Edwards. It just doesn't flow properly.

[PrismLightwave]

The part where it changes from D minor to D major sounded a bit weird. The melody that continued from the previous section suddenly becomes 1 octave lower, which sounded weird. Was it simply done so so that the high notes can be inserted?

[icovada]

True, the real rhythm (and meaning) is lost

[smalin]

Those spaces were all added by hand (by listening to the recording and changing the score) --- I'm glad the work didn't go unnoticed!

[juan66669lover]

great selection

[lars517]

Excellent!

[Seriath1]

cool!

[jeebus022]

awesome