Craig Dukes performs 3 Chopin Preludes from Op.28 © LVB1770

[enyainlove]

You play beautifully, I wish I could play like this! By the way, what Preludes are you playing here? I'd like to hear the Raindrop Prelude by you ;)

[LVB1770]

Thanks enyainlove,

The preludes are listed in the video. Op.28 #4,6 and 20.

[rafant44]

Played with high musicality. I like the way you manage pauses and silences to enhance the phrases. Very important. Congratulations.

[wolfymozartinio]

i think it prety good to control the sound is very important and he did this well

[elislav35]

Ich libe piano!

[JasonTchavarria]

I guess you should put a little more of rubato. Just my opinion. But you did a great job.

[Nikioness]

Very good cover.

[chrity6]

wow i wish i could afford a grand piano..

[pervert246]

cool!!

i like sad music on piano

can U suggest me something about?

sorry my english, i speak spanish

[siral33]

you play it so emotional, it touches me!

[LVB1770]

Thanks siral33! I am working on No.15, the rain drop prelude at the moment.

[cholapat]

very beautiful.. thanks so much

[LVB1770]

Thank you cholapat!

[Cary17]

Even if it is old, as you say.

I think it is great.

I love Chopin's pieces. They're all really touching.

(sorry, if there are any grammar mistakes^^)

[LVB1770]

Thanks Cary17, When I first learn pieces I'm very conservative in using too much rubato but I'm final getting to a point were I can play more freely as I learn a piece, thanks to Scriabin's music and pianists like Sofroninsky.

[temp7819]

Hi, then you too hear a clip in the notes.The piano needs to wail or sob a bit. The notes have to roll, like a tear down a cheek. Get that piano to answer you, not the other way around. You are the master. Good job! I'm a musician/composer, all the best!

[LVB1770]

temp7819, Listen to my newer Scriabin recordings. I will be postings some other new ones very soon. This post is me very young in my tonal understandings of color, Peace!

[temp7819]

This piano is not reponding to his touch as much as it could. Chopin was feeling this and got his piano to cry................

[LVB1770]

temp7819, It's more than likely me still learning the response of the piano in it's early stages to me.

[tnmtemerity]

This makes me miss my C3. I'm actually just starting to work on these seriously (besides just site reading occasionally). Keep it up.

[LVB1770]

Thanks tnmtemerity, If you can get a hold of the Alfred Cortot English edition of the preludes they are very instructive regarding the character of each prelude. Search you tube for Maestro Paik Kun Woo for a great interpretation of No.4. Peace.

[pcmendes1973]

Congratulations on very, very good work!

As a suggestion, maybe you could use a little more dynamics in some passages.

[LVB1770]

Thanks pcmendes1973, God, this recording is so old! I play them so different now days!

[smitmeister0000]

Btw it's not a comment! Because I think you're playing great, it's just a tip!

[smitmeister0000]

You play the relude 4 very well. It seems you know well what you're playing. But I'd suggest perhaps (what I've done when playing it) you get a bit more feeling in the left hand, most of the time use accords of the same lenght, but it adds a bit more feeling when sometimes you end up a bit faster. It's difficult to manage because to often annoye's, but you should try! I'm now playing Ballade 1 op 23, so if you have any tips for that one, welcome!

Cheers, keep up the good playing!

[CHOPINasVAPIDtone]

I AWARD THIS 3 TUBERCULAR FITS...This performance feels like the pianist sincerely wants to express something...but can't...

because instead of playing the expression

...he's too busy playing the (sound)

Further....there is nothing here to justify tthe effort as...it sounds just like everybody else.Either he has no point of view...or is afraid to speak it.Meanwhile the metronome is ticking....

[LVB1770]

CHOPINasVAPIDtone,

How can you criticize Richter,Pletnev, Pollini, Nairigri Gorian? That's insane! What's with you using the term TUBERCULAR for your useless criticisms? Chopin died of this terrible disease and it is sad that you

use it to criticize people. You may find it amusing but I find it sickening. You are obviously a person with serious mental problems. Get a grip on yourself. Go ahead

and keep babbling on with your overstated intelligence!

[iloveeyouxoxo27]

THE NOTE BOOK SONG!

[nairigrigorian]

La musica es tu vida...Gracias de todo corazon

[LVB1770]

Thanks nairigrigorian, Coming from an artist so great as yourself, it means so much to me. I am so surprised a major label has not found you. You are a treasure that has yet to be discovered! Your playing is up there with the great pianists!

[rodrigobrizuela]

Very lyrical, beautiful playing. Congrats :)

[LVB1770]

Thanks much rodrigobrizuela!

[darkwitch442]

wow! awesome!!I play the piano too...and I'm

learning the 1st prelude, and i would like to play it just like you do!(sorry for my bad english, but I'm from spain, and I'm just 14)

[LVB1770]

Thank you so much darkwitch442. Keep practicing

and always enjoy your playing.

[RockingJulia]

Wow. I like this too. Play as you feel - and do not listen to "instructions". I know if I did listen to it too much I would have stopped playing years ago.

Your interpretations are very deep. Keep it up!

And for the record each of us sees Chopin just a bit different - that is exactly why Chopin is THE ONE!

[LVB1770]

Thanks RockingJulia! Actually, I am getting instructions(piano lessons) from Scriabin's Great Grandson and his Grand Father was the great pianist Vldamir Sofroninsky.

Check out some of my Scriabin. Chopin was a huge influence on Scriabin. Funny, I am actually obssesed with listening to other pianists. I have 30 different versions of Chopin's preludes! I don't copy interpetations but I get ideas from listening. Thanks again!

[sirdeluq]

Sounds so Polish, ain't it?

[ames6018]

you have a wonderful talent. I think that chopins opus 28 preludes are some of the most beautiful and emotional pieces i have ever heard. You did a really great job of playing them with the amount of emotion that they deserve. i loved listening to them!! -amy

[LVB1770]

Thanks ames6018-amy! Chopin's preludes filled with all kinds of emotions. I love the stories the famous George Sand wrote about Chopin's preludes. I have some where in the number of 30 different pianists playing the complete Chopin's preludes! I am a bit fanatical about them, just like Scriabin's preludes but there are only a handfull of complete Scriabin prelude recordings, unfortunately.

[youtrash9]

You're a bit old for mechanical techniques in many Etudes. Nevertheless, the emotion in these pieces is captured very well. Good Work. Enjoy yourself.

[LVB1770]

Thanks youtrash9, maybe as I get even older, I may play some mechanical techniques in many Etudes, LOL! Thanks again for you comments.

[lepaintre123]

You are also an artist, particularly a personality who loves music and the fact that we partagers. Thank you. Aimi Kobayashi is already an artist! Lol Our universe inundates us this perfection, leads us to the ultimate pleasure, listening to Chopin, Mazarin, Claude Debussy and everybody else.

Thanks again for your talent and the pleasure of music. Good end of the year to you and your family ...

jacques de paris

[LVB1770]

Thanks so much lepaintre123. I appreciate your comments. All the best to you and Happy New Year

to you and your family.

[djriskyp]

Very well played although that long pause before the last three chords of #4 was quite long! That is going against the score a bit... of course I realize it was one of those "in the moment" things. Also the ritardando at the end of #20 could not really be noticed.

[LVB1770]

djriskyp, I totally agree with you! I play these

preludes much differently now days. I think because this was my 1st real piano I got hooked

on sustaining too much!

[swatdead]

yorumun güzel de kolay bşi yani sonuşta gereksiz şeyler yapmışsınnn ama tebrikler müziği hissetmişsin...:D ama bok gbi olmuş :d

[mozartsuckz]

This guy is really into his music.Great to see. Im like that after playing moonlight sonata, another piece of power and emotion

[LVB1770]

Thanks mozartsuckz! Music is what I live for!

[adistar]

Your fourth prelude is full of dignity. Congratulations. Usually, people who post themselves play it with too much rubato, they don't keep the same tempo and forget that it is the prelude that represent the most the inner sadness of the composer

[LVB1770]

Thanks adistar! I most quote Cortot again, he states,"One may search the melancholy and feverish passionate work of the singer elect

of sorrows, in vain, for a more tragically significant page than this, which contains, in the space of a few bars, one of the most thrilling images of despair ever immortalized in music."

[clyfton]

something really strange happens @ 1:30 and the bar that follows!

[clyfton]

that being said, it's still a very good, competent performance :)

top notch!

[LVB1770]

Thanks clyfton,

At 1:30 is bar 17. There is a crescendo, mixed with a stretto and then a decrescendo which is very hard to pull off and many pianists ignore these markings by Chopin. I believe it is the key to playing out the drama which follows. As Cortot said of the ending, " the dull thud of 3 muffled chords, which seem to gaze upon eternity from the threshold of an open tomb.

Yes, I study this music hardcore!

[GypsyPianist]

No.20 Don't tense your arms after you play each chord - it effects the sound of the next without you realising it. Don't lean back, this will give you more control of sound by using your weight in the most natural way. Hope this helps.

[GypsyPianist]

Hi! Do you have a teacher? You are doing well! Try to get all the left hand of No.4 even and not as spread chords. Maximum 1 pause every time you change harmony. No.6 keep right hand accomp. unaffected by the left hand and try to bring out LH without making RH louder. See next post for No.20...

[LVB1770]

Thanks GypsyPianist, This post is over a year old so my approach is much different now. Independence between the hands is key and I know what you are talking about. As for any kind of pauses keeping a more fluid tempo with minor rubato is my preference according to Chopin and his students letter's. Chopin did not indicate rubato like Scriabin did so it is more a matter of feel and personal emotional understanding.

[GypsyPianist]

I'm glad to hear you have made some improvements. I agree that rubato is important. However, even in Chopin, it should not detract so much that someone not familiar with the work would be unsure as to how it was written (or meant by the composer).

[LVB1770]

GypsyPianist, I agree on what you say about rubato. Chopin was said to have disliked overdone rubato. As Cortot says'" the left hand seems immobilized in the inflexible indifference of a monotonous rhythm of repeated chords."

[GypsyPianist]

I will see if you have a more up to date recording, but it still sounds more like one hand was stopping the other from flowing independently rather than a duet of emotional expressions between the two hands. Still, some very good work here even though a year ago!

[Kanuk2501]

I see some jeleousy resulted in a 3 star rating, deserves 6, very fine work - keep it up, I wanna see more of you on here. a fan.

[LVB1770]

Thank you very much Kanuk2501, I appreciate it. I think

my next post will be a Chopin Waltz. I just posted 4 Scriabin preludes the other day. Thanks again.

[scrumhalforegon]

Good to hear! I spent some time listening to your Scriabin recordings as well and they are wonderful - you do such a good job of capturing the emotions!

We are the same age - 41, but I have only been learning for 2 years. Hopefully with a couple of more years of training, I will play like you do.

[LVB1770]

Thanks scrumhalforegon! Keep practicing and you will get there. I do a lot of intense listening to many pianists as well as watching DVD's, concerts, reading, ect. Capturing emotion is one of the more important elements in music. It goes hand in hand with really being able to hear what you sound like while you are actually playing. That is a skill that will do wonders for your playing.

[scrumhalforegon]

LVB1770, I was listening to your recording once again and I notice that on the last set of chords to finish off the pice, the left had with the octave on E overpowers the right hand notes - you can only hear the left hand. I have the same problem - I really have to focus on pushing down with the right hand a bit heavier to compensate, otherwise the bass notes drown out the higher notes.

[LVB1770]

scrumhalforegon, I agree!

[LVB1770]

Also scrumhalforegon,

I do a lot of things different since these were posted over a year ago. I play them much differently now with a lot more careful touch, dynamics, voicing and balancing techniques between hands.

[scrumhalforegon]

Very nice interpretation! I just finished learning the E Minor prelude too and am still working out the rough edges.

[LVB1770]

Thanks scrumhalforegon!

Search you tube for Paik Kun Woo chopin. He really understands how use bel canto techniques to make the piece sing and flow like an opera singer. Keep practicing and all the best to you.

[scrumhalforegon]

Thanks LVB1770, I did listen to that one - very nice! Also, John Bell Young had an excellent class on the E Minor prelude on youtube a while back but it seems to have disappeared.

[LVB1770]

scrumhalforegon, For some reason John Bell Young's account was suspended. Maybe it wasn't really him, don't know. I love his master classes. His enthusiasm is contagoius. He is so intense.

[vnsn72]

Great Interpretation, haw many years you study piano

Thank'you

[LVB1770]

Thanks vnsn72, I studied in my mid twenties for about two and a half years and just started up again about

two and a half years ago. So about a total of five years. I have been listening to classical music since I was 16 years old. I am 42 now. I see from your favorite videos you have great taste in music. Thanks again!

[vnsn72]

Thank'you lvb1770, i'm from sardinia and soyy for my bad english i'm see your execution in Scrjabin you choise this piece very very slow!!Why?? I'm classic pianist!! Where you play?? In house pr not and wich piano!!

[LVB1770]

Hi vnsn72, I choose pieces I am attracted to emotionally. I am working my way up to moderately fast and fast pieces. I don't play out in recitals just for friends, family,ect. I have a studio set up in my house. The piano is a Yamaha C3 Conservatory 6'1".

[PaulaBethov]

Me gusta mucho tus interpretaciones, creo que tocas muy bien Y con mucho sentimieto.:)

[LVB1770]

mucho gracias PaulaBethov,

Veo que usted tiene gusto dirq1.Él tiene muchos de grandes videos.

PaulaBethov comment translation to English as best Sherlock can. " I like much your interpretations, I believe that headresses and withmuch sentimieto very well.

[PaulaBethov]

I don't know speak very good english, it is very difficult, thanks.

i thought that you are spanish.ha, ha.

[amandavy]

this is one of my favorite songs of Chopin...and I think you did fantastic on it....keep up the good work..:D..

[LVB1770]

Hi amandavy, glad you enjoyed them. Thanks so much!

[amandavy]

its never a problem...you do a great job..so yea....luv the work..

[LVB1770]

Wow, thanks amandavy! I see you are the #1 Most Subscribed to of all Time Musicians on You Tube!

That is so great. You have real talent and I love your beautiful voice. You are very unique. You don't over sing which is so refreshing. I wish you all the best in your blossoming career! Congratulations on all of your success.

[NeoComposer]

You play these preludes beautifully and I hope you keep it up. Almost as Chopin would have intended it to be. Great Job!

[LVB1770]

Thanks NeoComposer! My playing has changed quite a bit since these posts. I will definitely keep it up. Right now I can't put down Scriabin's preludes!

[NATULINAN]

very beautiful. thank you.

[LVB1770]

Thank you NATULINAN! I see you like Barenboim as I do.

He was a influence on me in these interpretations.

Have you seen his master class with Lang Lang on you tube? Search Lang Barenboim on you tube to check it out. Barenboim's new Beethoven DVD box set of all 32 Beethoven piano sonatas played live is my new bible! My other Bible is the Scriabin Preludes!

[davidwe]

i'm listening to it many times i like it.

last prelude sounds really like here i am. hehe. ill see your newer videos

[LVB1770]

Thanks davidwe!

[davidwe]

which piano is it ?

[LVB1770]

Yamaha 6'1" C3 Conservatory, notoriously bright, also.

[davidwe]

i dont know how big the room but maybe the cover should not be opened. it sounds like "percussioning" and part of it maybe the cover and the touch of course but that is a years thing so... a house solution... would be not to play some pieces with cover

[LVB1770]

davidwe,

You are on the right mone! Plus, the microphones are too close and the piano had not been voiced properly. If you watch my newer videos I have treated the room with sound reflection material, closed the lid on some recordings, moved the mics and voiced the piano. Thanks for your feed back!

[frisko3000]

Hey isn't typing on a computer. Far too mechanical.

[LVB1770]

frisko3000,

You may be surprised if you listen to Garrick Ohlsson or Daniel Barenboim to name a few of the pianists who play these pieces with minimal rubato. I am not comparing myself to them but they play them pretty

straight forward. I do not play these piece like this

at the present time. I have a lot more attention to detail of touch, dynamics and a little more rubato.

Chopin hated overdone rubato.

[Mysdir]

hey, great playing. but i think it`s a little mechanical!

[LVB1770]

Thanks Mysdir,

When ever I first learn new music I stay away from too much rubato as recommended by many professor's and teahcer's. Chopin describes he how much he hates overdone rubato in his letter's and in notes to his student's, hence his dislike for much of Liszt's music. For me what is missing in these recordings is

mostly about accents, some dynamics and a little more

rubato. I play them much differently now.

[LVB1770]

Mysdir,

Correction on the most important thing to improve on my playing here. It is touch and voicing. I think that's why it may sound mechanical.

[coffeescup]

the sound quality is great on the piano!

[LVB1770]

Thanks coffeescup,

I used a Mac with a MOTU audio interfaced and two

MXR condenser microphones.

[aldebussy]

acrobatically, make it more intense. You look like a piece of wood.

[LVB1770]

aldebussy,

LOL! I am much more free now days. Thanks for the laughter!

[jtone20]

Nice job. I'm thinking about taking the next year, and learning all of his preludes. Chopin really new how to compose, maybe someday I will be able to compose like that. Again, nice job.

[LVB1770]

jtone20,

What a wonderful way to spend a year! You have some nice

videos, if ya know what I mean. Don't forget to mix in that year some of the other!

[Themanwiththeboat]

I came here again, awesome!

[PabloDoom]

Yes,really liked that,real nice choice of chopin pieces.I respect anyone who can play chopin well.Nice piano too!

[LVB1770]

Thanks PabloDoom. I may re-record and post these one last

time as I have learned some much from watching John Bell

Young's master classes on you tube. You videos are very in interesting. Cool stuff.

[PabloDoom]

Hmmm,think I'll check John Bell out myself! Thanks for taking a look at my vids and commenting!Would look forward to your re-recorded uploads...

[LVB1770]

PabloDoom,

For some unknown reason they suspended MASTERCLASSES

account which was were most all the John Bell Young

videos were at. Maybe it was some guy just filming

his videos and selling them for money. Sad, I will

miss those videos!

[diletante86]

chopin in pure style... thanks for ur video!

[ritayshida]

Beautiful. I like your style.

[LVB1770]

Thanks much.

[pianomatteo]

you have the best prelude no. 6 on youtube imo. no one else seems to get the mood of the song correct. you just gotta think of a depressed sad person staring out a window into a cloudy rainy day. (quoted from my professor). only suggestion is at 3 min 13 sec, try to bring out the right hand a little since that is it's time to shine in the piece. great job though!

[LVB1770]

Thanks! I agree with you about at the 3min 13 sec part.

Thanks for reminding me.

[wmi10]

i didnt like no.6..

[LVB1770]

wmi10,

and that is ok.

[chad410]

you have a nice feel.not the way I d interprete but I like.your rec. set up compliments also.I heard your Schumann was it Kinderscenen liked a lot.

[poldi24]

I could imagine the first Prelude just a  l i t t l e faster (alla breve!)

[LVB1770]

Thanks!

[Bacterio123]

lovely...chopin its my favourite compositor

[DeborahJeanne]

lovely. spiritual - like all of your music. thank you! i respect your movements - including the hands!

[LVB1770]

Thank you DeborahJeanne!

[LVB1770]

Posting replies is not working. I am sending messages

to replies. Man, I hope you tube fixes this. I hate not

being able to post to replies.

[seximoleximo]

i am not slagging you, you played them beauftifully, but i dont understand and this isnt just at you, but after youve finished why do you keep your hands in the air?? it seems pointless? in fact it is it doesnt change your performance ()which was fab) personnal the whole waving about on your seat, i just don't like it. the audio is superb though very well played, what other preludes can you play???

[LVB1770]

This is to see if my posts are working. The hand technique is used a relaxation thing. As for waiving about on my seat it allows me to freely move my arms.

[tsunamimom]

Beautifully played - lovely tone to the piano and you captured all the emotion of the piece. Bravo!

[LVB1770]

Thank you very much! I will be posting some Beethoven soon.

[xSkothx]

Like I said before on the other song, great audio quality and well played. This is the first Chopin song I've heard, it sounds really nice.