Brahms, Piano Quartet in C minor, opus 60, third movement (animated score)

[leoquis888]

Brilliant music. Could you add a Paganini Caprice maybe?!

[smalin]

@leoquis888 I might, someday.

[BrothersFreedive]

absolutely beautiful

[gaby92198]

Sadly it's music like this that make us realize "what the fuck are we doing nowadays?"

[konstantinidisgeorge]

youre doing a great job.!i thank you so much...!

[maechel200]

Great!

[EvanFingerstyle]

I'm sorry if this was already answered elsewhere, but are the specific colors intentional (i.e: if someone had synesthesia, would they be seeing these colors?) or are they simply to more clearly separate which instruments are playing what?

[smalin]

@EvanFingerstyle The latter.

[EvanFingerstyle]

@smalin Wow, thank you for the quick response! And it certainly makes for a beautiful visual. Thank you for all the work you put into these videos; it really shows.

[smalin]

@EvanFingerstyle Thanks. It's great to have my work appreciated.

[bombadier203]

@smalin much respect and appreciation! lol

[nahedh]

Even though I don't know if she exists yet, I want her and I to dance to this.

[costep]

Great, right from the beginning. It seems that some pieces are better suited than others. I have to say that this type of visualization is by far the best that I have encountered so far.

[7Saburo]

A beautiful space I'd like to vanish into-

[bellapat13]

a calmer and better place where the world wasnt on greed rather love and gentlemen wooed ladies and danced ever so gently with them in a ball

[N0Contrast]

pure beauty

[SoyAussie]

bravo!

[wiseman2131]

I think to this. Therefore, I am to this.

[6efektif2008]

@wiseman2131 huh? i dun get it?

[wiseman2131]

@6efektif2008 I think while this plays in my head. Therefore, as long as this music plays, I exist.

[bebenvivian]

bravo the best, every music is the best

[iggyman783]

I've been looking for this midi file for the past hour, where did you find it please????

[smalin]

@iggyman783 I made a MIDI file to match the recording I used.

[iggyman783]

@smalin what program did you use?

[smalin]

@iggyman783 Sibelius, Cakewalk Home Studio, and some software I wrote myself.

[juffan]

I've never understood some of the lingo of classical music (if this is classical). Brahms is the guy who wrote it I assume. Quartet means four pianos and C minor is the key the piece is in, right? Do they ever play it in any other key? Why is it necessary to include that? I have no clue what opus 60 means. And I assume third movement is like the third 'song' within the larger piece?

[smalin]

@juffan "Piano quartet" is misleading. Two violins, viola and cello are called a "string quartet" but if you replace one of the violins with something else, you call it a quartet with that instrument's name (piano quartet, oboe quartet, etc.). C minor is the key it's written in; it's always played in that key (and it's the only Brahms piano quartet in that key). Opus 60 means it's the 60th thing he published. Numbers are harder to remember, so people use the name of the group plus the key.

[scheeko]

@juffan By the way, opus is work (noun, not verb) in latin.

[12345678azertyuiop]

This is really amazing it's like watching the music !

[MohammedTheBabyRaper]

This is great. Visually. I mean, it's perfect. Completely intuitive.

But I liked those stupid v.1 polygons better.

I just found it more visually stimulating. The notes were unexpected that way.

Yes. I'm a Philistine.

But any way you slice it, you sir, are a genius.

The fact that you wasted your time sharing your invention with us instead of making money from it proves that you are an artiste.

God Bless you.

[tontimimama]

I am definitely subscribing. Love the piano solos.

[gonebarbados]

beautiful

[imperiumdiaboli]

Do I love Brahms? <3

[Shifty4L]

Can i get i download link pleaaase

[xultradragonslayerx]

Yes, If there was one stranger I could love it would totally be Brahms.

[xombiesftw]

666 likes and 6 dislikes...

[smalin]

@xombiesftw I usually delete comments about the number of likes and dislikes, but that combination seems worth taking note of (especially since I'm in the middle of Mann's Dr. Faustus), so I'm leaving it.

[GeneralHoohah]

@xombiesftw Its an omen!! Oo

[chocolatenesso]

I love brahms.

[se7engold]

Hi @smalin, can I request Johannes Bram's Hungarian Dance? the songs are beautiful. Thank you.

[UnionSquirrel]

It's god's music, not Gods music, but god's music.

[F1R1NMAHLAZAH]

Aha...I heard this as an encore and I couldn't remember what it was...finally I found it, truly amazing

[shrint]

marijuana really helps me to feel this piece. so beautiful

[mysterioso2006]

I almost cried. This is one of the most beautiful pieces of music ever made.

[smalin]

@mysterioso2006 Yes, it's remarkably affecting, isn't it? I've listened to it many times, and played it several times (that is, played the piano part along with a string trio), but even though I understand it musically, structurally, harmonically, psychologically, when it gets to 2:15, it still manages to overwhelm me ... my eyes start filling, my chest feels as if I'm going to sob ... it's magic.

[mysterioso2006]

@smalin I don't even know if I could play it. Once it gets to about there, I wouldn't be able to keep playing. It's even worse for me because 98% of the music I listen to doesn't affect me emotionally at all. So it's the strangest feeling....like literally something I've never felt before....

I wish people of my generation (I'm 15) could understand this...

[smalin]

@mysterioso2006 Oh, I think you could play it without breaking down. I mean, I understand what you're saying, but something happens when you're playing it --- the emotional intensity turns into a physical urgency, and while you might not be able to read the music through the tears, you know you have to keep going.

[EtienneAbelin]

@smalin, @mysterioso2006 in fact it's not always easy. It happens that the bow gets a bit shaky at times. But smalin, you're right, most of the time you enter in a sort of trance, or flow, in which you feel that nothing can happen and it carries you through the emotions. Also, you become the story teller in a way, and with the activity of shaping the music and its story, you feel more empowered.

[Creekon]

@mysterioso2006 Preach on, brother.

[csastrikers]

@mysterioso2006 I definitely agree

[Damstraight68]

@mysterioso2006 Im 17 and i understand what your saying about music. If you let aside all the.. noise. in life and turelly listen to music it can have an effect unlike any other. harmoney aside bueaty. simplly the unembelshed human emotion elequently manifested into a sound. a serious of sounds, that can portray their emotion, their raw feelings and infuse it into the listener resulting in an unavoidable realization of emotion. Thats the feeling. Or at least, part of it.

[SarahOskam]

@mysterioso2006 Im 15! i love this music(: makes me so ....idk, peaceful and happy. <3 it!

[MrAgnost]

@mysterioso2006 You don't . Trust me. You really don't. Just enjoy it. That'd save you 10 years if you're willing to take a leap of faith in a strangers advice. Just enjoy it period.

[lbornman]

@smalin i feel exactly the same way about 2.15 unbelievably beautiful... i play it with on the cello

[EtienneAbelin]

@mysterioso2006 We recorded this piece a while back, when we were still students, in our mid-twenties. For us, meeting every week at Eva-Maria's place, having dinner together and making music was maybe the essential part of becoming musicians. When we recorded the piece in a little Swiss church in the winter, not far from where Brahms wrote his music, our love for eachother and for this music flowed into the recording. It moves me to read the comments here - thank you smalin for visualizing it.

[thelastmagician]

So relaxing!

Thank you so much for posting this wonderful music!

As a person with Tourette's Syndrome, it's hard to get sleep due to constant insomnia brought on by it, but this music is the best medicine for all that stress. Thank you so much again! You are a lifesaver!

[yuvo81]

Hi Smalin, it seems that circles correspond to string instruments and dashes correspond to piano - it is correct? If so, why at around 6:20 there are 4 circles threads? Many thanks in advance!

[smalin]

@yuvo81 Double-stops.

[TheMotorpsycho86]

que relajante con esto me dieron aganas de estudiar O.O

[PAC7310]

I love watching these. I love the music and the animation is fun to watch. It must have taken some time to make these.

[happysun995]

you are a lifesaver i have been looking for someone to put somthing good up now i can fianaly sleep thank you for putting these up you are AWESOME now im gonna go to bed cuz im beat

[tenpiualto]

How do you synchronize the MAM display to human recorded performances?

The speed of the MIDI file you use has to be matched in all of the fluctuations in tempo the performers did, doesn't it?

[elchucabagra]

hearing this piece, and this movement in particular, is what pushed me off the deep end into classical music, and i really have to thank you for it

[smalin]

@elchucabagra I'm glad to hear that. Pass it along!

[Steve27302]

Thank you. I could always hear the beauty but the visual part reinforces it.

[jeremynischuk]

holy shit, i just teared up, buddy. Thanks so much for this.

[Len4692]

I absolutely know no-thing about classical music pieces

but I loooove to listnen to this!

[the81stviewer]

Good lord! Someone once told me that Brahms was useless and shouldn't matter...perhaps this person lacks a soul.

[bryngOneOn]

is there any download or software that automatically removes advert from base of vid upload screen. i know it's fairly uninvasive for this vid , but still, can ya? can ya?

[grannies2armpits]

You are a great human

[calebhaynes11]

You should try Beethoven's Triple Concerto, Mvt. one. It is really grand.

[Iwazaru674]

Love this, so sweet. Really relaxes ya!

[jacs06]

oh god this is really precious

[TuboEspectador]

Ah Stephen I have never seen this done before to one of my fave Brahms' pieces. Soooo nice.... mmmmm...

[DickBeak]

It reminds me of when I was a little girl playing outside in the Fall, throwing leaves up in the air with my little sister. Everything is in slow motion though, and all I see is the sun's beams falling on our faces. (: Wonderful, gorgeous, amazing....I could go on forever. This is beyond words<3

[unknowndeoxys00]

Gorgeous. :)

[2fashizzle]

Hey, smalin, how did you make these amazing works of musical art? Was it some kind of program?

[smalin]

@2fashizzle Yes; if you want some background, go to my web site, and look at the History section.

[brukomura]

I find it so amusing to see how the notes "dance" with each other. Its a nice feeling the expectation you get when you see the yellow dots approaching, taking the enjoyment of music to a whole new level... rs

[juffan]

What is the instrument that is the red dots? 

[smalin]

@juffan Violoncello.

[pmchsaini]

This piece makes you travel far away in mind...

[terrybeaton]

That's just beautiful beyond words. It's really wonderful how you presented the strings in that distinct way. It's like one can examine all the relationships between the instruments in an analitical way and still be so moved by the music.

[chansgalindo]

Me parece bellísimo

[PoisonousMelody]

So fucking trippy O.o

[georgemichaelbastard]

Wow. I'd go bald for this shit.

[DDboy13]

where can i find sheet music for this?

[MindWalker123]

what is C minor? :-)

[Lenniz]

@MindWalker123 It's a musical scale in minor based on the tone C. Search Wikipedia for it :)

[BenjaminTheHolyDiver]

Hei Smalin :D i wonder if you perhaps wold consider to make a grafic score of Alkans "Le Esti,d Estope" its beutiful :D

[juliog1984]

Smalin, you are awsome man.I cant even describe you.These artists would've been proud of you.

[FugitivesOfSorrow]

i'm a big fan of you,smalin.i like watching the music,more thin lisaning to is :D

[MVanthoor]

One of the most remarkable software projects I have ever seen.

Being able to SEE music really illustrates how complex some of the classical music can be.

[jonosia]

Hi smalin, wondering if you have any plans to sell your art on dvd?

[smalin]

@jonosia In 2006 I issued a DVD that contained the two programs I'd released on VHS video (in 1990 and 1996). That DVD is available for sale on my web site (musanim.com). I'm planning to do a DVD of Beethoven's 9th symphony sometime during the next year or so.

[T42nk]

@smalin Can the DVD be preordered?

[smalin]

@T42nk No, I have enough pressure on me already.

[T42nk]

@smalin Wow, that was a quick answer! It's a pity but I guess I have to be patient then. Just don't rush things and keep up the excellent quality of your work.

[danielkirk1]

Thank you for the video.

[PatTheStalker]

WHERE CAN I FIND THE SHEET MUSIC FOR THIS???

[supersmashermeta]

@PatTheStalker They may have full and seperate-part scores on IMSLP.

[merysusan]

simply beautiful. thank

[RandomNinjaOfEvil]

Beautiful piece and beautifully mathematical animations, which reminds me of lovers for some reason. Great stuff. Now I just need to make an OSS version of the software. heh

[nathanel1993]

Hi Smalin.

I'm a big fan of your videos, and I was wondering: could you post an animated score of Ravel's "Gaspard de la Nuit"?

Thank you very much and keep up the good work!

[smalin]

@nathanel1993 See the "Could you please do..." item in the FAQ.

[rTZink124]

@smalin hi dude Ima huge fan and ive been watching your vids for like 2 hrs straight, but my ? is how do you make them??

[smalin]

@rTZink124 With software I wrote.

[LordCheran]

This is beautiful. This is what music should be. I like today's music and listen to it happily, but this is an example of music that is made for the sole purpose of bringing a smile to your face and a tear to your eye. Sadly today's musician don't seem to have the same idea and instead it is all about who can make the most money.

[macDaddy1118]

Smalin......i have gotten laid to one of your vids. Thank you. Nothing like soothing music to relax the soul....and the body XD.

[smalin]

@macDaddy1118 Hm ... they seem to be working better for you than for me ...

[TristramChrysostomus]

@macDaddy1118 Who could resist this? What we deem "romantic" in this time seems quite shallow next to Brahms.

[Treijim]

It feels like there's no way I can express how touching this is.

[TheD4n13l]

This is a very very nice vid, what nice, beautifull!!!

[Firecross666]

I'm glad to hear this beatiful piece of music.

Brilliant! : )

[whythewar1]

Smalin , I want you to know that its because of the videos and animated depictions of these pieces have shown me that I can be lonely and sad and music would still be there to help me hold my head up and keep hopes , and that when I'm happy I can know that music will support me in wherever I take my happiness, and for this, I thank you.

[smalin]

@whythewar1  You're welcome.

[dragonslapp22]

@whythewar1 I know that feeling bro.

[RICPOIRIER1]

Excellent!!! *****

[MatchbookD70]

Smalin, did something change with your uploads, or did Youtube change something? I'm using a very slow old computer, and usually if I put the playback setting to "I have a slow connection. Never play high-quality video," it will playback fine in lower quality, but since the time of your last two uploads, your videos, including previous uploads appear sharper and no longer playback smoothly at all for me! Don't know what to do :(

[smalin]

@MatchbookD70 Hm, I don't know. Have you tried them at different resolutions (720p, 480p, 360p)? Is the problem the same at all resolutions? They do seem to be looking better recently, but I haven't had problems with playback (and it seems that I have had problems in the past). What happens if you press pause, wait for the video to load, and then play it --- is it still jerky?

[MatchbookD70]

@smalin Still jerky at smallest resolution, and even if it loads (all your videos). The edges used to be lower-quality blotchy/blurry, and video smooth, then recently it's all sharp, and playback is jerky, even though my settings are the same. I think Youtube is phasing people like me out who have prehistoric computers. *Falls to knees with palms upward and fingers stiffened*..."WHYYY!?!" Well, it was fun while it lasted!

[arqweryon]

I loved it how the balls appear slightly before bigger than normal and how they fade exactly with the sound now. I find all your techniques have a particular taste to it and don't think one technique is better from another. In my opinion though, this is by far the most beautiful song you've done a video for until now :)

[JonathanTheGreat09]

i seem to not prefer the circle representation. i guess it is just because i am used to the normal scrolling bar.

[MuSixramper]

@smalin congratulations for the video!!! excellent quality as always!!!

[cecato]

excellent! How do you generate the graphics?

[sukitrebek]

@cecato read the FAQ :D

[aalssami]

wow it became more and more complicated. brilliant

[trebleshooting]

I love the integration of the bubble line and the block line! It helps a lot with the visualization of this piece.

[4455matthew]

the animated score helps me appreciate music in a whole new way, actually in a way I've always wanted to understand it: for the first time I could actually see how music can be chracterised as having say romantic (passionate abandon) tendencies versus say music of the classical style (measure and restraint). thank you!

[franielee38]

Bravo - i am glad you combined the two designs. This is great!

[VolkColopatrion]

I wouldn't have been able to recognize this as Brahms if it weren't for the title.

Why does this differ so much from his Gypsy songs and Love Waltzes?

[smalin]

@VolkColopatrion If you listen to all his music for piano with strings (violin sonatas, 'cello sonatas, piano trios, piano quartets, piano quintet), this will fit right in. The dance music (Hungarian dances, waltzes, etc.), are among his pieces in "popular" forms, and are constrained by that. A lot depends on what the music is for. His violin concerto is in a class by itself, as is his German Requiem. To me, it seems like his non-sonata piano pieces are the "center" of his style.

[Jaydoggy531]

Thank you for this post. Seeing Brahms like this is pretty fascinating.

[sensangsun]

great song, but can i ask, why is it called a violoncello instead of cello?

[smalin]

@sensangsun "'cello" is short for "violoncello," which is the full name of the instrument. It means "little violon"; a violon is what we now call a string bass.

[AlanKey86]

I love the motion of the circles against the piano block background - it creates a very compelling "depth" to the visualisation.

Beautiful as always.

[ScribbleMouse]

wow this is really pretty=)))

so warm!!!

[Tayroy]

@ScribbleMouse I was going to make a post too close to what you had said, but I figure, vote up instead of repeating very warm and very pretty

[ScribbleMouse]

@Tayroy yeah!!!=)

[ALAPINO]

Thanks for yet another great upload!

[TFreckle]

This muisc is probably the first time I've really appreciated brahms. The intimacy of his music isn't fit for symphonies - but for chamber music it really embodies and emphasises the genre.

[MatchbookD70]

@TFreckle Listen to Symphony no.3, movement 3, and see how you feel :)

[TFreckle]

@MatchbookD70 I have heard my way through all of the Brahms symphonies. And they are quite decent. But I haven't appreciated it as much as this quartet. I understand why you like it though - although not my cuppatea.

[felipemp93]

Where's the second???

[kontekzt]

oh noes, stretching is back :(

[ALAPINO]

@kontekzt :(

[ExcessiveHorse]

That's great

[AltoFinale]

Lovely.

[ApsisApocynthion]

I'm not the biggest Brahms fan, but I have to admit this is breathtaking. 

[Rozzanger]

the pheasant has no agenda