Added: 5 years ago
From: PianoPlaya123
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  • Beautiful job! I really appreciate all the character and emotion you incorporated into this piece. It really came alive!

  • How long does it take to practice and perfect this song? And do you learn this by yourself?

  • Vunderful, great, fantastic~!!!^O^ I was a bit iffy about the apparel, but... It's a beautiful piece, and I love hearing you play it.^^ I love piano with a passion, and guys who can play it are REAL men!!!^^

  • Wow! I'd love to be able to play this!

  • sweet performance

  • tchykovsky...I appreciate what you said. My only point was just a personal one....the way Cambry plays this hits me as personally emotionally right. I find myself choosing to play this when I get emotional. I do not play well but I play for myself with passionate adoration of this music and for those who can play it well.

  • as in... josef hofmann completely jumps the tempo faster, adds in rubato. these days, chopin ballade and the new generation of pianists are too keen on "a perfect score" and being "on time." especially since recording technology has improved, nobody wants to hear a wrong note in their recording. in fact, recordings of classical music are more popular than live classical music. those good days might not come back because most don't enjoy classical music with freedom (or in their case errors).

  • I think Cambry plays this better than anybody else including Rachmaninoff himself.

  • @sonbarzzz Rachmaninoff plays this at a near impossible speed, cambry is not even half as fast in some of the places. doesn't mean its bad, but at the speed rachmaninoff plays it, i almost feel as if there is a sudden rush, my brain is popping like crazy and that i'm at a HUGE risk of hitting a wrong note. the climax is just octaves, most pianists can do it, but to play those at Rach speed takes quite a level of motor development and muscle memory. top it off, rachmaninoff makes it all even.

  • @sonbarzzz with rachmaninoff, it's all about taking risks and making music. horowitz understood it with the Rach 3 and nobody to this day can play any of the pieces Rachmaninoff wrote near the original tempos. it's that borderline between safe and dangerously crazy that makes Rachmaninoff's music ridiculously hard to play. these days, Rachmaninoff music is too over sentimentalized and played very slowly. Josef Hofmann also does the same thing with Chopin's ballade 4.

  • very nice!!!!!!

  • probably my favourite interpretation of this piece i've ever heard. been coming back to this video for like 3 years now. love it. well done.

  • I don't care what you wear. Just keep playing :)

  • First of all I want to say that it is a very difficult piece only a very talented musician can bring to perfection

    I heard it many times and have played it myself

    but you have clearly misunderstood it, it is made to be played in a tragic and dramatic way through the first page and i got the feeling that you kindda "fast forward" the hole page, the second part was to be played building power and stress but your way made it feel ordinary.. i was waiting for that "boom" to finely come

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  • Wow. this is the best i've heard on youtube and (Not meant to be racist at all) it's from a black guy guy wearing a sports jersey. This is almost exactly the same as I play it (You're better though, of course. ) The same tempo and such. I havn't yet mastered the Quadruple sfortzando yet. GREAT job though! Subscribe and favorite*

  • it's funny how people criticize his clothing... and most of them are sitting in their underwear locked onto youtube all day. what does getting all dressed up have to do with playing the piano?

    you would have to be kidding to criticize his playing though, even though it's a little slower than the standard (lets say the standard would be how rachmaninoff himself played it), it's very rich and interpretive. i liked it a lot.

  • @ibclappin Rach played part1 slower, part2 faster and more dexterity, and part3 slower. All quieter. He had a very rare, unique, and uneven slight rubato that imparted his characteristic "imperial" quality. Most importantly, a lot of people's interpretations are stylistically much more cohesive than Cambry's. It takes more than just drama/emotion and dexterity. It takes creative intelligence and an interpretation that has some creative meaning to it. In short, emotion, but no personality.

  • @resonantdave it's only what was recorded; rachmaninoff, like scriabin, prokofiev, gershwin and many others, had different interpretations of the same piece of music

  • @ibclappin All performances by Rach, not just this work, have certain distinct qualities in common. Because those qualities are universally found in all his recordings and in written accounts of his playing, it is part of his distinctive style. It was elegant, strangely "regal", with a very uneven rubato that was more than just having a different method. He was very much known for his style of playing and how distinct and weird it was. Gould and Cziffra also had styles they were known for.

  • @resonantdave a lot of rachmaninoff's performances of his own pieces are extremely dry and robotic, as if sending a message to the pianist saying "i want to leave you with just the notes and you're free to express them however you like."

  • @ibclappin Yeah, it's very subtle, and he emphasized his ability to play very evenly and lightly, even at great speeds.

    That was a different era where such subtlety was seen as tasteful.

    For a good example of what I'm talking about, look up his performance of this piece. It starts out even, and then once there's a repeat, he adds the distinctive rubato. It's more than just no rubato then suddenly rubato; jazz musicians do that too, where they will complicate the timing progressively.

  • @resonantdave Surely the deviation from how Rach played shows personality? Stylistic cohesion means nothing. If you want to hear it how Rach played it listen to Rach. If you want to hear it how Cambry plays it listen to Cambry. If you don't, then don't listen, and quit your yacking. He's worked very hard, and, while personally I prefer other versions, I appreciate this, and I think he does a great job. Your criticism doesn't help Mr. Cambry, it just puts him down. What do you mean by 'cohesive'?

  • @bertiethetoupee4 All recordings of all songs by Rach have distinct thins in common, meaning his personality shows through them. He was very much known for that at the time. It is described many many times in the written accounts of his playing from the time. Cambry doesn't have that. It isn't even clear he has a style throughout an individual piece.

    Gould and Cziffra were also known for their incredibly distinct styles.

    Endless praise may be fun, but truthful critique is useful, and truthful.

  • @resonantdave He wants to be a real pianist, he should accept real critique with humility and class, not insecure lashing out.

  • guau, claro- diáfano, un toque lento pero delicioso

  • read the info dumbshit.

  • amazing. simply amazing. I'm just beginning this piece and you are an inspiration.

  • Im 12 and playing this piece too.

  • It's a pity that sensitivity, just like true emotion, is not a popular trait. This the era of mediocrity where a guy /gal who just learn a few chords, or has the audacity to recite cheap rhymes on a beat can be an overnight idol...

    Why should an artist who has worked hard, to attain this level of mastery in his art should be referred to as a "Black Dude in tee-shirt"?

    Camry, the notes you play convey a quiet, but wonderful sense of fulfillment. Keep the faith!

  • At 02:20 it should be faster and maybe a bit harder.

  • Fast or slow... I guess this is called interpretation and up to the one who plays.

  • very well played, one of my favs

  • Wow! that was amazing! I am playing this song for a competition, and listening to you just helped me a lot.. because there are some parts that I have trouble playing, but now I think I know what to do :D

  • Hmm, well congratulations on getting all the notes. I think to make it better you really need to slow down and feel the music. Damn you can play it fast though : D

  • this isn't fast at all. i'd call it normal. and i'd call you a douchebag

  • True... True...

  • Excellent I want to work up to this level of playing yet Im 18 and I'll probably acheive something like this in about 5 years

    I wonder what a racist person has to say about your playing????

  • Great work. Sounds fantastic.

  • Beautiful work. Do you have a post for the variation on a theme of Paganini no. 18. ?

  • Everytime I hear you play a classical piano piece, I feel like I'm in heaven! You Sir, are a genius among geniuses & that is coming from my heart.

  • Brilliant work. This is one of my favorite pieces ever written. I mist add that you do it justice. Bravo.

  • occhio alla musica... non perdere di vista il fraseggio...

  • hahaha you're funny

  • @duweykeysking haha it says this comment has received too many negative votes... haha

  • @duweykeysking I don't understand; the piano sounds fine and dynamics excellent. Some rough spots, but interpretation and mood were there.

  • zomggg that does look like mike brown... or as i like to call him, Mr. Snowman

  • you are very good! I study this peace too, before i study rachmaninoff Prelude Op 23 no 5 . Can you play that too, its so beautifull song and its very dificult too. Thanks for the upload

  • by any chance, are u Cleveland Cavaliers' coach Mike Brown??????

    lol jk

    i love ur work man

    keep up the good job

  • A incredible performance! I applaud you, sir. Bravo.

  • Simple virtuosity.

    P.S.: Put on a suit, people will mistaken you for the Cleveland Cavaliers' coach Mike Brown

  • hahahaha

  • well done

  • bene bene bene ego fleo optimum est

  • amazing...

  • thats not cool man

  • This performance is incredible! Thanks for sharing!

  • muito bom

  • dont know what i like about this guy, he seems different from the other youtube piano players. you got something unique in your playing keep it up

  • you are obvioulsy and without a doubt better than 98% of the other piano players. But in my mind your still so far from the 2 other %.

    gl keep training and improving your very good.

  • Very nice! Keep up the good work dude :)

  • Thank you for your performance. I have a concert on the 4th of october at which I would like to play this piece, and I was looking for inspiration on how to "pronounce" the music in this piece. You were of great help to me. (Five stars)

  • This is one of my favorite pieces from Rach.... This room seems to be much better quality and sounds much better. I love the classical pieces! :)

  • The strong section is really brilliant!!With great power.

    Excellent playing.This piece is amazing at extrem.

  • It's because you keep watching me all day every day and writing comments, you're addicted to my videos and now you're bored. *yawn* be more creative with your comments.

  • @PianoPlaya123 Jabbing back at critics of any kind, in any context, is extremely unbecoming and unflattering. And unconvincing.

    I've heard a LOT of people play this, and Rach's own recording is high on my iPod's most played songs list. Most people play it too evenly, others make it awkward and/or melodramatic. You have some subtleties in your playing, but not in your interpretation, and it isn't cohesive. And listen to AviFreidman94.

  • Do you know how HARD it is to be able to play that? If you had any idea, you would not be saying that!

  • @pianopianistno2 oh!!! pwned by (creative and talented) bro, yo!

  • mmmmmm.... love it!

  • 5/5!

  • I hope you become a great (World-Class) recording artist and performing artist! You sound very refined.

  • My God that is beautiful

  • By the way, the mantra of multiculturalism creates another form of racism - liberal one. When you say that black people are more prone to rhytmic music -rap, R &B, jazz etc. and not to classical music, you reproduce 'civilized' racial stereotypes, which are no less offensive. The difference is what constitutes racism.

  • It is really stupid to talk about race as biological substance. There are few classical composers among black because of racial segregation and oppression cultivated by Western societies. Even now when formally racism is outlawed it still persists in the form of social inequality. The same is true about peasants, workers who didn't have access to any education, not to mention musical education. Paradox, would you say that all white peasants and workers were biologically defective?

  • Awesome - youre one of the first I've heard to play the faster part well.

    Really good rendition

  • But black people are just as capable and creative musically, look at Jazz pianists, some of the best ever are black- Scott Joplin for example. And Jimi Hendrix is best guitarist ever. If you worked it out logically, you won't ever be called racist or be accused of stereotyping.

    Your a very good pianist :-)

  • Well done man! I like your playing! You're a great pianist! That Liszt etude you played was just...No words :D

    And here you come again with more amazing stuff!

    Keep the good job up!

    Take care!

  • It's great to see the unfortunate racial stereotypes being broken with some excellent piano playing.

    Not only that, but the videos you have chosen to record include so many of my absolute favourates of Chopin Liszt and Rach.

    And your piano playing isn't overexpressive either.

  • I'm pretty sure that thinking that there is a racial stereotype being broken is a racial stereotype.

  • bullshit.

    he's right, there aren't enough talented black pianists. cecil taylor and andrew hill are the most talented that i can think of off the top of my head.

  • I'm with Phishrcool... In and of itself, skin color doesn't tell you a thing about a person's family, upbringing, education, musical inclination, etc. It means nothing (except that the darker you are the more sun exposure you should get for adequate vitamin D production).

    Skin color is just melanin in the skin. You know it's the same stuff that gives your hair its color? I personally don't think there are enough redheaded banjo players in the world, myself...

  • some people aren't given the opportunity to ever even touch a piano in their lives. believe it or not, but race and economic situation and a bunch of other factors make life harder for some people.

    i agree with you; you're simply misunderstanding me.

    if anything, darker skin makes you better with music. gospel? soul? jazz? rock? rap? black people. the first music ever, really? black people.

    but seriously, everyone knows that race means nothing.

  • In the case you are talking about, that would be a racial circumstance, not a stereotype. Saying it's a stereotype implies that it is widely believed that African-Americans can't play 20th Century Classical piano music by Russian composers. And that is just prejudice.

  • again, you aren't saying anything new. it's obviously a prejudiced statement based on age-old racist assumptions. but it's a prejudice that exists and is quite widespread: why else would rap become an acronym meaning "retards attempting poetry" for straight-laced, self-righteous, racist pricks?

    also, stop saying "african-american." it's a vague, pseudo-politically-correct word that is quite offensive when you actually look at it. i've heard nelson mandela being called that before...

  • You're totally right. My family was pretty poor up until I entered high school, I didn't have the opportunity to discover music until I was 13.

  • Everyone here is wrong, Rachmaninoff was black.

  • fuck yeah.

  • Ha ha just so theres no confusion, Rachmaninoff was NOT black :-P

    I think it's fair to say that white people are more likely to play classical music- but thats to do with class system. The higher classes in USA are mainly white christian lunatics and can afford lessons and instruments for the kids, whilst as the black community arnt exposed to music too much, you rarely get classically trained black pianists.

  • Um, Yes he was.

    Rachmaninov had strictly Jamaican roots before he moved to Russia and changed his name.

  • No. Rachmaninoff WAS NOT black.

  • can't take a joke?

  • No no, there was a misunderstanding. Yeah i can take a joke and i knew you were joking but elevenwhy seemed very serious. It wasn't funny if it was meant to me a joke.

  • Haha you arrogant ignoramus!

    Stop and think for a second, how could ANYONE possibly harbour the thought that Rachmaninov was black.

    Go look up irony in a dictionary.

    And @PianoPlayer123

    You are fucking amazing man I don't just love your playing but I also love the pieces of Liszt, Chopin, Rach and Scriabin that you choose to play.

  • Alright well there was nothing funny about your "jamaica roots" gag. You sounded like a typical YouTube know-all. I didn't realise that in fact you were just a not very funny person.

  • I though Rachmaninoff was a performing terrier?? he had his own show.. check it out. You play that dog music way better than I do. I've also heard a rumour that Chopin was Kenyan, his mother was Masai. Is that true?

  • Mos def

  • same man.

  • Super! Amazing pianist and a wonderful composition ! Regards :)

  • you are amazing, i memorize all my peices too but this by far is the hardest peice ive ever encountered. CONGRADULATIONS.

    im astounded

  • please don't tell me you memorized all these pieces and played them in one session :P you are amazing haha

  • not perfect but one of the best versions I've heard on youtube...!! I enjoyed it!! Merci beaucoup!!! :)

  • love it, it sounds nice(even in quality)

  • OH MY GOD YOU MUST HAVE BIG HANDS TO PLAY IT

    AWESOME OO

    sry my english

  • It's a large piece of music, for large hands only. :p

  • is that to say that someone with small hands cant play it it? im just curious

  • In an extreme situation, yes. So we're talking really small hands. REALLY small hands. But otherwise... it was a bit of an overstatement.

    Hehe

  • the largest chord spans an octave. it's not that bad. most pianists can reach an octave, even those with small hands.

  • My piano teacher basically has half sized fingers but this song doesn't slow her doww.

  • This is one of the pieces when you show a fair amount of emotion =) keep up the good work!

  • sorry i love this piece, and i just dont enjoy it much from this interpretation - you know very well how to play, excellent player, but i missed rhytm many times - wasnt perfect, but nvm only one bad comment ^^

  • or maybe it was Rubato, then its not a rhytm problem but only mine problem - dont like rubato :]

  • Well played, sir. You're very good. Be proud.

  • This is such a great performance. I really love the emotion you put into all your performances, and you really inspired me to learn music that isn't from video games.

  • yeah it is

  • Personally I thought the middle started a little fast, but the emotion was very much present.

    I actually felt a chill run down my spine when you hit the sudden calm-down near the end! Excellent performance!

  • Very well performed, I performed this in a concert a couple years ago, it's one of my favorites.

  • Great job man! Im learning this piece right now! Keep up the good work!

  • can u sing?

  • Strong work! Play on pilgrim.

  • i like your interpretation a lot.

    haha first time seeing a perf of someone with non-formal attire haha.

    but nevermind my second comment haha.

    good job!!!! :D

  • next time i'll wear swim trunks, it's going to be awesome

  • LOL. Your sense of humor makes me laugh. I'm glad you don't take some of these douche bags who have nothing good to say seriously.

  • Vintage attire or not, it's how you play, and the feeling you give to those who listen. I wouldn't even care if he was wearing his grandmother's pyjamas...

  • this is the best recording ive heard of the piece on youtube you get my vote m8 well done !!!!!!!

  • This IS the most beutiful prelude I've ever heard! I hope I will soon be playing it.

  • people that judge this man based upon his appearance are neanderthals who should be banned from youtube - there should be a minimum IQ requirement of 70 for this site. . .

    this man did a fantastic job with the prelude.

  • Thankyou for posting this. Im trying to learn it too - I learned a bit from watching you play :)

  • Very nice interpretation

    in the 2nd part of the agitato the structure isnt clear and in the end of the agitato too many mistakes.. but good, keep playing!

  • I wish I could play on such a nice piano :(.

    Great playing, I think if I learn this I'll use your video as a reference for "wrong notes" that I may pick up.

    BTW - How did the Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto recording go? I'd love to hear that =P

  • I like it a lot, I think you are very musical.

    I think the fast part shouldn't have that much pedal, though

  • Veerrry nice... I had been looking for a good rendition of this piece for about 20 minutes, and when i came to yours i loved it. i think u eased into the second page with a very good speed. I know some players have just let loose on this part from the get-go but u did great

  • This is one of my favs by Rachmaninoff and you played it beautifully^^!!!!

  • thanks a lot man!

  • excelent, but, two or three mistakes. good time and rithm. Nice feelings.

  • Great again!!!

  • Very nice!

    I played this Prelude Op 3 Nº 2 but unfortunately I don't have recorded it on video. However I've upload a video of the Elegy from this Op 3. I think that I was lucky to do that because I don't remember it now.......

  • You played the prelude just the way I like it. You are an amazingly talentet musician, and I hope you still play classical music.

  • Wow ! Everytime I go looking for video of difficult pieces like this you always seem to show up. Love your work. Great repetoire !

    Bravo !

  • you're so great! another favorited interpretation from you! Thanks a lot!!!

  • muy buena interpretacion, lo mejor que e escuchado... buenos tiempos, buenas tonalidades, en fin muy buen trabajo...

  • Bravo! Best I've heard on YouTube! :)

  • That's great !

  • Beautifully played, with an amazing degree of sensitivity.There is fine, subtle mystery in your interpretation. Bravo Camrbry

  • Absolutely beautifully played! I loved it!

  • tantrum32312, by the outfit not matching the song, should he wear vintage attire in order to amuse ignorant people like you who can't seem to see past an outfit?? Listen with your ears and heart! Cambry is being himself and expressfully playing one of the most beautiful pieces in the romantic era.

  • Vintage attire, black suit, whatever. Can't please everybody.

  • Come on he's at school. Doy you dress up for school? I sure as heck don't.

  • Oh for God's sake. You obviously don't have a clue about this sort of thing if thats all you can contribute. Pieces like this are for LISTENING.  Not viewing.

  • I figure the guy must've been joking, nobody's that stupid. "Wow, the playing was amazing, but he wore a sports jersey, so I'm gonna have to say F!"

  • How shallow you are!

  • ...holy friggin' A...*looks down at munchkin hands on keyboard* I feel so inadequate right now...I'm never gonna be able to play it that well...that was excellent, though, it totally made my day^^

  • Awesome...

  • Exquisite and haunting. Well done. Bravo!

  • EXCELLENT! I am learning to play this song myself, so I have been listening to different interpretations of it, and yours was by far the best. 5 stars!

  • Bellissimo Cambry! I love the way you play it, bravo.

  • this IS without ANY doubt THE best interpretation of this i have EVER seen!!!!! how come you're not world famous?! or are you?!?! BY THE WAY what brand of piano is that?! it's wonderful WELL DNE. i wish i could play this that well.

  • Sounds a lot like a Steinway. You can almost see the name at 00:26. Looks like a long blur and a smaller blur. Fits with Steinway & Sons (Son? sons? whichever)

  • thanks! i shouldve guessed anyway lol.

  • I like this a lot better than the previous video. Awesome!

  • Very Moving Cambrey. Just love this piece and you did it justice. I know the Rach is listening.

  • I just hate that we have to cross our hands to play the begining, otherwise, I could try it myself.

  • The hands crossing should be the least of your worries. The biggest challenge of this song (I find) is overcoming the mental confusion.

  • what do you mean??

  • C#m is a rare key (4 sharps), but it switches through naturals half the time as well... so basically that means the chords are very difficult to predict, and you need to concentrate a lot. The legato bit isn't too bad (basically single notes), but the fast chord bit after this is again more challenging mentally than physically. Maybe that's just me - I don't read that much, and have been playing (irregularly) since I was 5, so the hardest physical playing is when it's cold or I get cramped.