Paul Barnes performs Philip Glass's Satyagraha in Los Angeles

[6DAVIE9]

who here has heard of einaudi? and who do u think is better, einaudi or P. glass?

[andrielisilien]

This song is very calming to me. Thank you for sharing your talent :D

[organboi]

Trilogy Sonata? But it's not a sonata.

[organboi]

Is this the right tempo of this "aria?"

[fredericolamento]

OMG where does one find the sheet music for this?

[bilofab]

Aucun sens de passer du temps a apprendre ça!!!

[bulldogization09]

my mother said she graduated with u her name was cindy trigg

[bulldogization09]

u r really good

[80sholic]

It's great seeing you get so into the music...not that I blame you, as it's probably one of the most stirring pieces Glass has ever written!

[ChristiRich]

I would like to get a copy of this particular arrangement on sheet music. Is it available?

[unlklavier]

@ChristiRich Yes, it's available. Go to my website and you'll see the sheet music in the discography section. It's the second movement of the Triology Sonata.

[rellyrell418]

quite beautiful...excellent arrangement man!!!

[aznpandapaul]

Amazing!



[GUGSSS235]

I LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!! I love listening to that riding my vespa..I feel like I could fly pushed by these airy notes.there's a mixture of happiness and sadness of undefined beauty..love from Italy

[SrNutritivo]

Sorry for my crappy english. I'm a huge fan of Phil Glass. Songs from the trilogy was my very first album, and his operas was my first contact to Glass works. I really like this performance and the expressive way you played it. I agree, it's different to the original, but for me the best performers can add his own vission to compossers one to make one really unique version. Us, the listeners, can pick the one suitable for us and time to time refresh our ears! Cheers.

[androgenousandy]

Absolutely incredible. Wonderful job.

[Xprimentyl]

4:19-4:35, if you don't get chills and/or goosebumps, have yourself checked by the nearest priest, rabbi, imam, etc; you have no soul!

[nomusician]

nice the way you bring out the voices - (too much Rubato, though, in my view.)

Though I'm not one for metronomic playing, I think Glass' would have wanted a more steady and less fluctuation in volume. (The same goes for Eric Satie's Gymnopedies).

[Xprimentyl]

@nomusician Mr. Barnes declares this to be his transcription of Glass' work; this is how he interpreted it; this is how he feels it. I don't think he set out to imitate Glass, simply ape his work or achieve metronomic playing. I don't think he could have done any better to express himself. I, for one, like this version better than any version I've heard from Glass. Barnes "fluctuations in volume" and tempo are very powerful and bring out a deep, raw emotion from the piece and it is amazing.

[nomusician]

@Xprimentyl I don't doubt he has soul; I say it doesn't suit Glass' music (let Glass reply if he thinks I'm wrong).

The same goes for people who avoid playing BACH more rubato. (Why not? It's romantic music?) No, they have to go to extremes and play it 'Jazzy'...) Get my meaning?

Just the same way the majority of performers will play Beethoven 'romantically' instead of rhythmically. If you want to play romantic, take Beethoven's advice: play Händel. (Oh and let Barnes speak for himself).

[Xprimentyl]

@nomusician No need to get defensive as I did not attack you; my "soul" comment was a general posting. Also, Barnes did speak for himself in the video description: "I performed my transcription from Phili Glass's Satyagraha..."

When all is said and done, I did not disagree with you that this is not how Glass intended the piece to sound, I simply think imitation was not Barnes' end goal so critiquing on that assumption isn't really fair to the artist or the performance.

[nomusician]

@Xprimentyl I see. You've got a point. over and out.

[BlueCougar]

@Xprimentyl It's also a totally different thing if you have a composition played by an orchetra, with a soulful voice (Gandhi) singing the melody, than playing it on a solo piano. It becomes a different piece, and since the piano has different ways of expression than a tenor voice or a forty piece orchestra, you have o use what the piano has to offer. Rubato and dynamics, among other things. Everything else would be a MIDI sequence of the piece.

[Albertthefatcat5]

@nomusician

Bach is actually Baroque music; it was played on harpsichords.

Stylistically, there are no rubatos. Playing Bach "jazzy" is stupid, and does not work

[BlueCougar]

@Albertthefatcat5 Except when you are Jacques Loussier, of course. Music is written to be interpreted. If you play everything as it was written 300 years ago, you create nothing. It's dead music then, recited by a parrot.

[Albertthefatcat5]

@BlueCougar You have a point there, although I still believe that Bach should not be jazzy, even though his preludes are a form of improv. Interpretation of music is very important, but there has to be limits on it. Sometimes changing the work may be for the best, however, you can't throw out the style of the period.

[unlklavier]

@nomusician I've just now read the wonderful dialogue going on about this performance. Philip does actually like the way I play this but it is also simply how I hear it - can't play it any other way. And I hope you both can come to one of my live performances. 2012 is a big year for Glass fans so I'll be doing it alot! Will be playing it in Miami in just a few weeks - come on down!

[Fanfardon]

That's an awfully large piano for such a tiny tune. 

[aqtimmy89]

@Fanfardon But you have to admit... it suits it perfectly well.

[CVassili]

Beautifully done! Bravo!

[pianomonica]

Unbelievably beautiful. Thank you for sharing! One day I hope to be able to play this.

[Apuole]

The way love should sound.

[Rawc90]

@divinespace i can send you the mp3 if you would like?

[savvysav425]

That was absolutely beautiful! Wow.

[Xprimentyl]

Simply amazing. I've heard Michael Reisman's performance of this same piece and I was convinced it was a duet. I would love to see the sheets on this. Excellent.

[AmandaCaines]

well.... I think you did great :) I saw Satygraha at the english national opera in London at the end of february 2010...... your piano playing brought it all back to me - a complete joy - thank you xXx

[emilygclarinet]

This is stunningly beautiful.

[szemszeliszemesz]

Stunning !!!Compliments!

[brecherett]

thats a transcription of the "Evening song", the final part of the third act of "Satyagraha"

[Francisco63]

Excellent again Paul!!!!

A great job!!!!.

Thanks for posting this video

[elcapitan369]

My favorite Glass piece!