Johannes BRAHMS: Op. 118, No. 2 (Intermezzo)

[AvidHobbyist]

you do not know how to strike the keys for a proper legato tone! connect the notes and don't bang on them.

[marginallymental]

I mean the second part especially---it's ALL fine!

[marginallymental]

I think the second half of this here is really fine--very expressive, especially for an electric piano.

[Mozart61]

Playing this piece on such an instrument is throwing away your nice work on it.....

[tgruy]

Lovely rendition! I don't care what kind of piano it is played on, it sounds wonderful!

Thank you so much for sharing this with us! You are very talented.

[KCOtutti1]

Now, make a new recording and this time be sure that the sound synchronises with the images and, most important of all, find yourself a nice Steinway to play on and don't insult the music AND your talent with an electric piano.

[Nickthejedi1]

KCO, I can't afford a grand piano. Should I even bother to play this on an electric piano? All I have is a $100 keyboard from Costco, it's all I can afford. What do I do!

[KCOtutti1]

I understand, ofcourse. But when you present yourself on the net, it might be a good idea to do it on a grand piano. Try to see it this way: if his playing wouldn't have made such a great impression nobody would have bothered to react... I'm sure that when you're this talented that there will be somebody around you ( or maybe in a school of music ? ) that will let you make a recording/film of your playing. Sometimes a small desicion can make a huge difference for the rest of your life.

[Mozart61]

This isn't a piece to be played on electric piano!

No,just this no!

[Nickthejedi1]

No to you sir! I thought this was a great interpretation.

Just because a man cannot afford or cannot have a grand piano means he cannot play whatever he wants?? So much for passion! So much for personal emotion and interpretation!

[Eorzean]

@Mozart61 only brahms has the right to say that.

[mariusfelix]

@Eorzean Everybody has the right to say everything, espacially on youtube...

[Eorzean]

@mariusfelix then my comment still stands.

[PCguitar1905]

beautiful rendition especially for an electric piano!!!! the fact that you can evoke such beautiful sound out of an electric piano is accomplishment alone let alone the soulful feelings you convey

[marmasiotis]

Go and by a real piano, you deserve it (and Brahms too)

[GodsWayActivist]

I keep this video in my favorites. Your phrasing is so beautiful, satisfying, convincing. You nuances are indescribable. You have an understanding of the intimate sonorities of Brahms. Oh, my goodness....You instill an otherwise soul-less electronic piano with such life. A person's hands can say much about them, and watching yours at the piano brings to mind: gentle strength, thoughtfulness, and depth.

Thank you so very much for sharing your talent.

God bless, Katheryne

[wxy5183]

so gental,with a little sad..

I love it

[telvierundachtzig]

Chapeau! He has understood many of the piece's mysteries. So we derserved to hear it on a real piano. The electric sound is poor.

[paytoplaynj]

Beautiful playing man!

[Maratini]

One of my favorite piano pieces. I have several versions - Neuhaus, Rubenstein, Gould, Pogorelich - and this gentleman does a fine job!

[xcolossians3x]

You play beautifully, sir.

[Jauhara]

outta sync.

[docdicey]

I can't believe how judgmental you are -- "this pianist doesn't feel beauty..." And how do you know? Plus, maybe this pianist can't afford a grand piano. What a bunch of snots....

[freeqwerqwer]

This pianist doesn't feel beauty so why play the piano?

[elieltanr]

get a real piano. electronic pianos arent good for expression. If i may comment, your touch is abit too heavy.

[lawbigduck]

yes, not a bit, but quite much heavy

[elieltanr]

dont slam your fingers down, feel the keys. practise legato without pedal.

[arschfickerfotze]

The begin is too fast

the second piece could be more like a wave

i hearn`t all voices

but it´s not bad

exercise it and buy an authentic piano!

[Alvs9]

Could have played on a Grand Piano son...

[danired18]

Beautiful, nothing else could describe it. One of the best on youtube by far.

I'm working on the piece, and it's not easy after the large section of chords, but i'll get it soon enough.

I'd love to hear you play this piece on an actual grand piano in a room with good acoustics, i think it would make the entire performance even more grandiose.

Don't ever stop playing, you have talent :)

[Oblomov18]

"one of the best on youtube"...please!

[RomanticPianist]

Hello Cubas, I want to say how much I enjoy your beautiful, soulful playing. You have a gift for understanding the flowing and rubato romantic feel that was intended for these piano works. I started as a guitarist years ago, and have just become serious about the classical piano in the last 10 years. I just started on the Intermezzo 118 No2, and I was curious about how you are using your right thumb for the A# below middle C in the piu lento. I'm quickly rolling the LH chord. Am I wrong?

Gary

[cubusdk]

There is no indication in the score that you should roll the chord but if you play the three notes with the left hand it might be difficult not to roll. As the right thumb is free at this moment it can be played without rolling.

At some other instances, for instance at 1:31, I found no solution to play all notes at the same time as indicated in the score.

[RomanticPianist]

Thank you for your reply! Yes, I am "rolling" the A chord at 1:31 as you are, and although there is no roll in the score at the piu lento, I'm doing the same here. I have fairly small hands (I can only stretch a 9th) and this fact creates problems with fingering and voicing for me (not much Rach, Prok or Liszt for me....Ha!). If you're playing the A# with your R thumb, how are you holding the tied C# with RH #3, and still play the RH F#, A#, and melody F# with your RH #5? Thanks!

Gerald Braden

[cubusdk]

I used RH#5 for the tied C#.

By the way, I think it sounds equally well rolling or not rolling at the point we discuss whereas I would have prefered no roll at 1:31 and similar places.

[RomanticPianist]

That means you had to use your pedal, and lift your RH to play the high melody F# with RH #5. My small hands make me look at every piece in a literal way. In the end, it's how it works and sounds for the player that counts, but tips from wonderful players like you really helps! Last year I was working on the C#m Rach Prelude, and I found that I didn't have to cross my hands and could play "mirror image" chords, and a professor said "clever, but not interesting."...Ha!

Thank you!

Gerald Braden

[cubusdk]

Yes, pedal used. On an acoustic piano I guess it would be preferable using the pedal in any case having all of the strings vibrating with the chords played.

[willk326]

I feel like the beginning should be more tender. It seemed to in tempo and atually a little loud. The rit.'s didn't quite do it for me. It seemed like the natural push and release of the piece was hidered and a little rushed.

[ryoichi2000]

your play help my soul again and again.

it reminds me of my old country ..

thank you , i mean ,, really  ,

[greyhall1]

Very nicely played! Another interpretation I like very much is by a russian pianist Nina Postolovskaya but I don't think she is on youtube.

[djsacred]

Probably my favourite of the Brahms op.118 pieces, and I like your interpretation :) Very nice.

[michielxboxer]

Cubusdk = the best!:)

[clowngirlmcl]

amazing