You did a wonderful job on this beautiful, melancholy tune. I thought your interpretation was beautiful - relaxed, thoughtful and expressive. I'm learning to play piano myself, and you are an inspiration. Thanks for sharing this piece, and thanks to the great Scott Joplin for writing such gorgeous music.
The third melody in Joplin's Solace is some of the most beautiful American music ever written, encompassing so much lonely emotion, and giving bite and truth to that line in The Sting, where it was used: "You know me. I'm just like you. It's 2 a.m. and we both don't know anybody."
Beautiful. The second half of this piece, though technically difficult, needs to be played with the timing and tempo to bring out the feeling. Which you did admirably.
@DoctorSapperstein -- thanks. I, too, was brought up on the classics -- which I still love and play (you can never get to the bottom of them no matter how often you play them). Joplin, I have found, Is a composer you just have to trust, lean back, and go with --
Great job! I loved the laid-back lilting feeling that you captured. So many people play this piece too fast. This is my favorite Joplin piece. Thank you for sharing!
For some reason, this piece just doesn't do anything for me. I think the word "serenade" seems a little more... I don't know... pretty? I don't know. The playing is fantastic, and it's a great song, but I think that it's badly mis-named.
Kudos to your playing, though! I love it. The technique, everything. :)
somewhat ... I find that Joplin does best with as little pedal as possible - though that is just my take on things (if you go too far in the other direction it can sound to "honky tonk", I think).
I'm still a beginner. So you would basically use the pedal for those chords which are spread apart too wide to sustain with the fingers alone, but nothing more?
rien à dire sinon......C'est EXELLENT,PARFAIT!!!Ce sera ma prochaine à travailler.Moi j'ai sorti paragon,entertainer et the favorite,mais je ne suis pas près à les montrer en video....
Appreciate this tempo on the whole, but it's true (after about 10 versions ) that piano tone flavours are getting all washed out on you tube...i guess one just has to get back to the bench and try it again personally.....
I know as a professional musician it is easy to get caught up in the technical aspects of a particular performance. Allow me just to say that in listening to this performance, I was able to just relax and enjoy Joplin's genius - thanks for the experience and for posting!
Rather rare for me to comment on videos, but this will be my 2nd in two days on piano pieces. I find yours to a very well done and "faithful to the music" performance. I consider it a privilege to have seen and heard this! Well done, and thank you!
Excellent !. I tried to find this music for years, but i don´t know the name´s. I enjoy very much when I hear this music. I consider that Joplin was a very complete compositor. Good job for you!
maybe its the sound recording quality, but i would've appreciated a bit more contrast in dynamics and some more rubato... but of the 5-6 interps ive listened to on youtube, this is the best.
Some parts could've used more pedal, but, again, that's a matter of personal preference.
Thanks for the kind words. Believe it or not I was trying to overplay the dynamics - the recorder I have (or the codecs I use) totally flattens the dynamics out --- frustrating !! The rubato (or lack there of) is, of course, totally my own take -- which is, of course, what makes making music such a satisfying experience.
Very well played. This is definately one of those Joplin pieces that leave room for personal interpretation. As for the pace, I always play slower than your version. I always took 'Serenade' to mean that strict adherence to tempo (a Joplin demand in most pieces) could be abandoned, and the piece played with tempo shifts even where he does not indicate them in the music.
his music is so comforting to me... i just love it! it's like comfort food for the heart! he was such an awesome composer... oh and great job playing it!
There are a lot of tubes of people dicking around with Solace -- your version is very well played, maybe the best. Thank you. (and thanks for playing all the parts!
Thank you, I am far from Joplin expert and I am still trying to understand his language -- but I give it my best shot.
When I hear Joplin I hear an echo of Franz Schubert (don't task me why) so I try to bring that out. Like Schubert I think Joplin had technical limitations, and, like Schubert, one is tempted to ignore them and luxuriate in the sound. If you got any of that feeling then I am happy,
Bob, you are too kind. I am still trying to get to the bottom of Joplin (I was raised on piano music written by old, dead, white, German/Austrian (generally) men). I hear such beauty in Joplin, but it is a bit of a diamond in the rough (to my ears) so you have to emphasize the glories (of which there are many) and tread cautiously around the problems (of which, likewise, there is a fair helping). Still, I try to let the music speak for itself, and I truly appreciate all the feedback.
It's true that it should be slow. Joplin indicated "Very slow march time". But I quite enjoyed this interpretation, and in fact, if you play the whole thing with repeats at a very slow tempo it can be a bit boring.
I take your point but respectfully disagree -- kind of. I can find no way of playing the first part of this work at Joplin's very slow march tempo and make it convincing - to me (and perhaps this is my limitation) it just sounds like a dirge. That said, the second half just cries out for kicking back, relaxing, and going with the flow -- and that I deliberately do (you can clearly hear the changing of gears, I hope). De Gustibus ! And thanks for your feedback.
actually I think Joplin's "very slow march tempo" is 63 bpm = quarter note and you even played a bit slower than that. It's true that many people play Joplin way too fast sometimes I get the feeling the people who really appreciate the music try too make the point that it's meant to be played slow but they take it too far. I think you played this just right
You did a wonderful job on this beautiful, melancholy tune. I thought your interpretation was beautiful - relaxed, thoughtful and expressive. I'm learning to play piano myself, and you are an inspiration. Thanks for sharing this piece, and thanks to the great Scott Joplin for writing such gorgeous music.
Mr512austintexas 2 months ago
rook move bro it's wayyy too fast
zombiegorilla1141 4 months ago
It's a very beatiful ...
NusiaKaro 9 months ago
Very well played. I prefer to play it in a slower, more dreamy way with more rubato but that's just down to interpretation.
mattwalkerpianist 11 months ago
The third melody in Joplin's Solace is some of the most beautiful American music ever written, encompassing so much lonely emotion, and giving bite and truth to that line in The Sting, where it was used: "You know me. I'm just like you. It's 2 a.m. and we both don't know anybody."
marginallymental 1 year ago
Comment removed
marginallymental 1 year ago
Beautiful. The second half of this piece, though technically difficult, needs to be played with the timing and tempo to bring out the feeling. Which you did admirably.
Bravo!
renshall 1 year ago
great job !
I am stuck in European classical stuff and these tempos are a bit strange for me - I like watching you to help my feel
DoctorSapperstein 1 year ago
@DoctorSapperstein -- thanks. I, too, was brought up on the classics -- which I still love and play (you can never get to the bottom of them no matter how often you play them). Joplin, I have found, Is a composer you just have to trust, lean back, and go with --
Alan
alanlit101 1 year ago
My favorite Joplin composition...a sad story behind it.
sagehopper2006 1 year ago
very nice job, I am impressed
mrrrks39 1 year ago
2:59-4:35 ....<3
MusicIhave 1 year ago
Great job! I loved the laid-back lilting feeling that you captured. So many people play this piece too fast. This is my favorite Joplin piece. Thank you for sharing!
pennylane288 1 year ago
For some reason, this piece just doesn't do anything for me. I think the word "serenade" seems a little more... I don't know... pretty? I don't know. The playing is fantastic, and it's a great song, but I think that it's badly mis-named.
Kudos to your playing, though! I love it. The technique, everything. :)
EchoProductionz 1 year ago
lovely. Thanks for posting.
gmonkey808 1 year ago
I love Scott Joplin!!
rufusino47 2 years ago
Very Nice job. I can only remember one movement of the song tho.
allendale1962 2 years ago
THe middle part is so gorgeous... I cry when it's played right
Jragir 2 years ago
Wat grade is this? and where can u download this sheet music?
Moviesoundtrackguy 2 years ago
do you have use the sustain pedal to play this?
SingHouse 2 years ago
somewhat ... I find that Joplin does best with as little pedal as possible - though that is just my take on things (if you go too far in the other direction it can sound to "honky tonk", I think).
resoundinghealth 2 years ago
I'm still a beginner. So you would basically use the pedal for those chords which are spread apart too wide to sustain with the fingers alone, but nothing more?
SingHouse 2 years ago
I love this piece. You can tell Joplin really went for exoticism with the chromatism and lazy melodies.
SingHouse 2 years ago
bravo maestro. thank you. very moving
VideoVicious 2 years ago
this song is so much fun to play. and you played it extremely well. i am truly impressed.
TurkeySandwhich123 2 years ago
I enjoyed this performance greatly.
likemyviolin 2 years ago
rien à dire sinon......C'est EXELLENT,PARFAIT!!!Ce sera ma prochaine à travailler.Moi j'ai sorti paragon,entertainer et the favorite,mais je ne suis pas près à les montrer en video....
LaFemmeTrombone 2 years ago
i like the part at 4:40 best
gamemaster2422 2 years ago
best tempo you could choose! and there's a lot of feeling in your playing!
5stars!
hellsbells8888 2 years ago
Hey, nice job. You play really good, keep playing nice music
matajuegos 2 years ago
I loooove the part starting at 3:00. That's the only thing I can play from that.
LoveRandomStuff96 2 years ago
Appreciate this tempo on the whole, but it's true (after about 10 versions ) that piano tone flavours are getting all washed out on you tube...i guess one just has to get back to the bench and try it again personally.....
erniemajor 2 years ago
I know as a professional musician it is easy to get caught up in the technical aspects of a particular performance. Allow me just to say that in listening to this performance, I was able to just relax and enjoy Joplin's genius - thanks for the experience and for posting!
k6musicteacher 2 years ago
although this piece is nice slow.. it is a fun song when sped up
(x1.6)
jakerthesnak 2 years ago
Rather rare for me to comment on videos, but this will be my 2nd in two days on piano pieces. I find yours to a very well done and "faithful to the music" performance. I consider it a privilege to have seen and heard this! Well done, and thank you!
mjstillwater57 2 years ago
Excellent !. I tried to find this music for years, but i don´t know the name´s. I enjoy very much when I hear this music. I consider that Joplin was a very complete compositor. Good job for you!
aeer1961 2 years ago
maybe its the sound recording quality, but i would've appreciated a bit more contrast in dynamics and some more rubato... but of the 5-6 interps ive listened to on youtube, this is the best.
Some parts could've used more pedal, but, again, that's a matter of personal preference.
PutaCaliente 3 years ago
Thanks for the kind words. Believe it or not I was trying to overplay the dynamics - the recorder I have (or the codecs I use) totally flattens the dynamics out --- frustrating !! The rubato (or lack there of) is, of course, totally my own take -- which is, of course, what makes making music such a satisfying experience.
-- Alan
alanlit101 3 years ago 2
definitely, man, rubato is very personal
too bad to hear about the recorder though!
keep up the good work!
PutaCaliente 2 years ago
@alanlit101 wonderfully played, its too bad that you could barely hear the changes in dynamics...
trombonecrhs 11 months ago
Wonderful. Parts 3 & 4 were heartwrenching. Great job!
medeforest 3 years ago
Very well played. This is definately one of those Joplin pieces that leave room for personal interpretation. As for the pace, I always play slower than your version. I always took 'Serenade' to mean that strict adherence to tempo (a Joplin demand in most pieces) could be abandoned, and the piece played with tempo shifts even where he does not indicate them in the music.
jabrookesq 3 years ago
I love this performance, this pace
mtlicq 3 years ago
his music is so comforting to me... i just love it! it's like comfort food for the heart! he was such an awesome composer... oh and great job playing it!
jedijenkeez45 3 years ago
Excellent!!!!!!!!!!!
Pianoloverok 3 years ago
There are a lot of tubes of people dicking around with Solace -- your version is very well played, maybe the best. Thank you. (and thanks for playing all the parts!
redhairedlad 3 years ago
what a job on a great Joplin piece. This guy's fingers seem as light as air!!!! Kudo's!!!!!!
bng44270 3 years ago
Thank you, I am far from Joplin expert and I am still trying to understand his language -- but I give it my best shot.
When I hear Joplin I hear an echo of Franz Schubert (don't task me why) so I try to bring that out. Like Schubert I think Joplin had technical limitations, and, like Schubert, one is tempted to ignore them and luxuriate in the sound. If you got any of that feeling then I am happy,
Thanks,
Alan
alanlit101 3 years ago
Alan, Max Morath could not have pulled this off any better.
Cheers,
Bob the Whistler (who knows a thing or two about Joplin rags)
BobTheWhistler 3 years ago
Bob, you are too kind. I am still trying to get to the bottom of Joplin (I was raised on piano music written by old, dead, white, German/Austrian (generally) men). I hear such beauty in Joplin, but it is a bit of a diamond in the rough (to my ears) so you have to emphasize the glories (of which there are many) and tread cautiously around the problems (of which, likewise, there is a fair helping). Still, I try to let the music speak for itself, and I truly appreciate all the feedback.
Alan
alanlit101 3 years ago
It's true that it should be slow. Joplin indicated "Very slow march time". But I quite enjoyed this interpretation, and in fact, if you play the whole thing with repeats at a very slow tempo it can be a bit boring.
Gerry319 3 years ago
umm....to fast there. I like this song slow to show its true beauty.
FurtherIntelLater 3 years ago
I take your point but respectfully disagree -- kind of. I can find no way of playing the first part of this work at Joplin's very slow march tempo and make it convincing - to me (and perhaps this is my limitation) it just sounds like a dirge. That said, the second half just cries out for kicking back, relaxing, and going with the flow -- and that I deliberately do (you can clearly hear the changing of gears, I hope). De Gustibus ! And thanks for your feedback.
Alan
alanlit101 3 years ago
actually I think Joplin's "very slow march tempo" is 63 bpm = quarter note and you even played a bit slower than that. It's true that many people play Joplin way too fast sometimes I get the feeling the people who really appreciate the music try too make the point that it's meant to be played slow but they take it too far. I think you played this just right
joav87 3 years ago
Very nice
robloxperson23 3 years ago