Rachmaninoff Prelude Op. 23 No. 4

[famousamos]

This is.............so good.

haha.

[Israelian01]

Beautiful. Well done.

[johnnyTT123]

you play very well, Beautifull.

[aeonsonance]

Thank you.

[RandomCoked]

ugh when i play it i think it sounds nice... then after a while i listen to yours and then mine sounds horrible all over again.

[aeonsonance]

I think you should find your own ideas and be convinced, because if you're comfortable and confident with what you wish to express, I think you'll feel differently :) Good luck.

[RandomCoked]

ok, thank you!

[hooooooman]

awesome.....I almost cried

[aeonsonance]

thanks... i'm moved.

[concerto35]

This is a wonderful and moving performance. Of course the dynamics range comes through and the rubatos are well measured. However, if you are not content with it completely, please be aware that the full majesty of your interpretation will come out in performance hall conditions or controlled professional studio conditions. But you definately have a gift for interpretation.

[aeonsonance]

Thanks :)

[euntaekkim]

so awesome

[aeonsonance]

thanks, euntaek :)

[elgatosucio]

Inspiring !!! We wanna hear more performances of this girl.

[aeonsonance]

Thanks!!!

[leducjm]

Beautiful, so moving.

[aeonsonance]

Thank you.

[afertyus1000]

yes this is a very difficult nebulous piece and i play it different everytime!,it to me is never satisfying playing it as i am constantly concentrating on the desired effect

[FerencLiszt]

a very good job!

[aeonsonance]

thanks!

[marcelochiarella]

Beautiful interpretation.

[aeonsonance]

Thank you.

[aeonsonance]

Thanks! Why is it a surprise?

[aeonsonance]

thanks :)

[aeonsonance]

thanks.

[aeonsonance]

Thanks :)

[michanso2]

Well done. One of my favorite of his preludes. BTW, just a random thing, the C#-D-A-C# chord...you can play that without rolling if you play the D with the tip of your thumb and the C# with the knuckle. You have to bend the thumb a fair amount to do it. If you knew that trick then just ignore this. I personally like that chord (both times it occurs) to be played without rolling...because it happens at such powerful moments, but you played the piece very convincingly regardless.

[aeonsonance]

Haha, yes I know that trick, but my thumb is so short it can barely do it, so for security and the possibility of a good sound, I roll it. I would do it that way if I could.

Thanks.

[pkarkivist]

about that rolling trick : i have a reaally small hand but i managed to play that chord unrolled, it has more emotional impact (i plucked the c-sharp & d with the thumb). it's all about hand position, as long as you make the superior note sound. btw, you play that piece marvellously well. don't rush the tempo at the recap to let the full sound breathe, just like like blooming flowers. other than that, you've made my day!

[famousamos]

beautiful!

[aeonsonance]

thanks!

[fusa16]

I like it. you feel this music and you show it

[aeonsonance]

Thanks.

[Alvs9]

Though I would play this song diffrent from your interpretation...I still think you've done an Awesome job

[aeonsonance]

Thanks.

[gerdbadur]

You are way too critical about yourself IMHO. Of all the interpretations i have heard, this is the one i like most. You are right about the limitations of the video, though. Wish i had heard it live. Anyway, thank you very much for sharing this little masterpiece.

[aeonsonance]

Thank you.

[tokmind]

Bravo!

[aeonsonance]

Thanks!

[LascoDePasco]

Thank you for this recording. It is absolutely beautiful. You play this masterpiece the way you feel it. When you play it you can imagine the silence in the large Russian landscape. So this is all about. Ilja Repin (famous Russian painter) said about this piece when R. performed it: "How preciously he (Rachmaninoff) heard the silence!" Bravo!

[aeonsonance]

Thanks!

[pianomed]

you are way too hard with yourself in your comment. It is beautifully played!! keep uploading your videos, listening your music is a beautiful gift!!

[aeonsonance]

Thanks!!

[carraze]

you play very well ! It is a pleasure too listen to you because it is obvious that you love the music that you play as i do too !

You are a real musician !!!! I love your game ! keep on with your great art !

THousands of thanks for the pleasure that you give me !

[aeonsonance]

Thank you :)

[R1skArb]

expressive, lyrical and most importantly, personal. u play it form your soul so it's "right" every time ;)

[aeonsonance]

thank you :)

[aeonsonance]

Thanks :)

[aeonsonance]

merci beaucoup!

[haydn4ever]

I LOVE your interpretation!! The best on You Tube! I do confess, I just discovered this piece through you, and am TRYING to attempt it! It is a major stretch piece for me at my level.....I'll be working on it for years!

However, if I could get ONE line, I would be happy and content to play the same line over and over! This is such a beautiful piece!

Thanks for sharing, your playing is truly inspiring!

[aeonsonance]

Thank you. Every time you play that line, it will be different. That's the beauty of creating music - spontaneity, uniqueness of each deliverance, and different ways of playing it in different periods of your life.

[naughtbutchrist]

This is the best version of this prelude I've been able to find on YouTube, yet. The only other one I've liked is Ashkenazy's. You are the first person I have heard (besides him) who brings out a strong melody in the first repetition of the melody. I'm still struggling to get that to happen when I play - it's hard with all of the eighth notes trickling over the melodic line, but you pull it off beautifully!

[aeonsonance]

Thank you :)

[FerencLiszt]

You're never satisfied because you're finding your self in usual events of your life, and so, as you said, every time it's different!

Try only to think of S.Rachmaninov and his life, and the moment when he wrote this piece.

Maybe you will be satisfied ^_^.

[aeonsonance]

Where was Rachmaninoff in his life when he wrote the piece?

[FerencLiszt]

I have no idea. But this is the method that i enjoy when i'm never satisfied.^_^

[gatesurfer]

Really quite lovely, even with the recording quality. You might try getting a separate mike to plug into the camera. A good condensor mike makes a big difference, even using a typical cam's recording capability.

I'm just throwing this out there, but I think the only thing I might question is the amount of rubato you use. Perhaps some of the frustration you're encountering is in trying to create and maintain a flowing quality? Your tone quality and phrasing are otherwise excellent.

[gatesurfer]

I'd also say that this is one piece where I think it's OK if it comes out a bit different each time. I'm working on it too, and every time I practice it I found there's so many interesting things about it--voicing, how to connect the sections, whether those jumps should be grandiose or have a sense of yearning. It's a wonderful piece that adapts to whatever your mood is. That's probably where the frustration comes in; you can't say everything fully all at the same time.

[aeonsonance]

Thanks. Yes, I've been struggling with instinctual rubato and proportion.

[sergyag]

I like your rendition the most. I learn this piece myself but it seems the sheet music I have is different somehow. Could you be kind enough and tell me which sheet music you used? Who is the publisher, etc? Or what interpretation? Thanks a lot in advance. Have a great day.

[aeonsonance]

Thanks. I used Schirmer's edition. I also have the Dover. What do you use?

[babyeinstein12]

Oh my. Weren't you in the documentary Beyond the Practice Room? (the first prize, I believe?) I always watch it when I need to feel inspired. :) What was the name of the piece that you played in the opening?

Anyway, wonderful Rachmaninoff. My favorite composer, and a beautiful rendition.

[aeonsonance]

Yes, I was in that documentary :) The opening piece I played was Chopin Etude Op. 10 No. 1. Thank you :)

[medtner1970]

Just Rachmaninoff from Your hands, all the culminant points at the right moment. I am used to hear Richter's version, and I think that, even if not so perfect, Your interpretation could be heard lot of times without any loss of interest. Hope You'll have a good future in piano playing.

By the way, You can also count on a beautiful sembiance.

[aeonsonance]

Thank you :)

[poisonalien]

Your hands are in stress all the time, try to learn how to put the fingers closer while not playing with them.

all-time spread is obviously not a right way to relax, no matter how hard you push your body or show that you are impressed, all useless work, waste of energy

[aeonsonance]

Actually, I am quite relaxed here. Though you have a point. I do try to conserve as much energy as possible. You also need to understand that I have small hands that span a little more than and octave. I wouldn't be able to reach and get around things if I didn't spread my hands. But thanks for the advice.

[opeeum69]

and u felt the need to explain because......???!

[sshuck]

opeeum69 is defending the pianist, folks.

[haydn4ever]

OMG! Beautiful! How long have you been playing and how long have you worked on this piece? It's incredible! Please say you've been working on this for a few years!!!! LOL!!

[aeonsonance]

Thank you :) This was a year ago. I don't remember how long I had been working on it for.

[slicejl152]

you are amazing

[aeonsonance]

thank you

[doriotclaine]

could you possibly list the fingerings for the 16th notes in the left hand from, i think, measures 61-63. if you could. that would be fabulous.

[aeonsonance]

for measure 61, 1432

measure 62, 2131

measure 63, 1432

Not too sure. for 61 and 63, it's possible to use 1321. It also depends on whatever is most comfortable to you and whatever sounds better with your hands.

[TehBrettster]

I fail to see why you're so dissatisfied with yourself.

[aeonsonance]

Thanks.

[cyberwilliams]

I love the slow preludes by R. This is beautiful. I'll search for more of your videos.

Some spots the piano itself sounds slightly out of tune? I dunno.

[aeonsonance]

Yes, the piano was out of tune. Thank you.

[Jackissimus]

I want to marry you!

[mrmonkeybuns]

i got dibs, on the marrige thing

[vnsn72]

Good Job!

You are beautiful

[aeonsonance]

Thank you

[Satanal]

You're so great! Every day i listen to your interpretation... and every day i find something new. Thank's!

[aeonsonance]

Thanks :)

[Satanal]

Adorabile. Interpretazione dolce e sognante che mi è piaciuta moltissimo!

Congratulazioni!

[aeonsonance]

Grazie!

[st3v33wunda]

nice sounding out of the melody within the rest of the harmony

[aeonsonance]

thanks

[cgosnell]

As long as you don't forget the beauty and innocence of music like this, you'll be a great pianist soon.

[thomaskoo]

Yea, not everyone gotta be a technician to become a pianist. There are other qualities which are equally important in music.

[aeonsonance]

Indeed.

[aeonsonance]

Thank you :)

[CrossroadsofTwilight]

I listened to this as I wrote my research paper (late into the night) : )

[aeonsonance]

Sweet of you =)

[CrossroadsofTwilight]

Are you sitting on a book?

[aeonsonance]

Yes, I am sitting on music. The adjustable chair is in use for the other piano.

[aeonsonance]

thanks

[aeonsonance]

Thanks! Keep working!

[aeonsonance]

Thank you.

[Ichimaru91]

great. You're expressive and put your own interpretation into this piece. Good job :)

[aeonsonance]

Thank you :)

[DonFrankos]

amazing! thanks for posting this :)

[aeonsonance]

thanks for listening =)

[4444matthew4444]

you should hesitate in the climax...the longer it has time to build the more suspense...allow the melody to be in control...beginning is amazing you have know idea she is really fantastic and this is not a comment from a 'normal non pianist' youtuber..your tone is fantastic....you should play some debussy seriously...maybe one of the books of images...no joke...it was fantastic=]

[aeonsonance]

Okay. Thank you.

[martbrahms]

I think this is great, and i guess theres no such thing as being satisfied, its a never ending process :)

[aeonsonance]

True =) Thanks.

[iablaik07]

An inspiring performance. Made me rush out and buy a Preludes CD but yours remains my favourite. I am also trying to learn by watching your technique. Great honest music from the soul - thank you! ( The top of my piano is like yours too! )Please post more of your talented playing.

[aeonsonance]

Buy Constance Keene's set if you can. She's extraordinary. Thank you =)

[AlfieJ06]

very nice; the most clear and emotional version i heard on youtube so far! nice piano.

[aeonsonance]

thank you.

[ejskater]

I love this prelude. Your voicing on the second page is excellent -- I always have trouble bringing out the lower half as much as I'd like to.

[aeonsonance]

Thanks. Yes, this prelude is great.

[skg1991]

This sounds very nice! Good choice for a piece!

Now, you say that can never play it "just right." I think I have a good solution for you! As I'm putting the final touched on this piece myself, I find myself not willing to just play it, but to express Rachmaninoff's feelings to those of my own. He wrote this piece as he got married and was in extacy; try to *feel* the same.

[aeonsonance]

Ah I see. Thanks.

[skyblue999]

Are you a professional pianist?

Very emotional performance!

Thanks

[aeonsonance]

I'm still a student. Thanks!

[rwong403]

Very nicely done. Yea, you could be heavier going into the climax. Lovely piece, well done.

[aeonsonance]

Thanks.

[ugnex3]

You touched my heart with the first bar of this piece. One thing I would comment on is that you seem to be holding back a little in the climax, which I think if you did go full out, it would've sounded terrible on such crappy audio quality. But I would LOVE you to hear you live, with an all-out climax and everything!

[aeonsonance]

Thank you.

[iamnotmadeline]

hannah... you play with such passion and beauty that only someone as beautiful as yourself can.

made me cry.

miss you.

-madeline

[aeonsonance]

aww thank you, madeline. it touches me that you said that. miss you too!

[lprules]

wow... im playing that for my exam...

wish it sounded this well -.-

good job!

[aeonsonance]

thank you... good luck

[aeonsonance]

thanksssss

[aeonsonance]

thanks. i've played since i was very little. i don't play any other styles, but i'd like to learn.

[otto6891]

Beautiful job... I wish I could play like that. If I may offer a humble opinion/advice, it would be to focus on the pedal. All the notes/fingering are there and come through wonderfully. Rachmaninoff said "the pedal is the soul of the piano." You may want to listen to HIS recording of it (from the 1930s I think).

[aeonsonance]

Thanks very much for the advice.

[abarrutia]

you reached my heart with your music. Beautifull interpretation of this piece...

[aeonsonance]

Thank you so much

[conmon88]

This piece is a lot harder than it sounds.  You do a really nice job :]

[aeonsonance]

Thanks :]

[klimeci]

awesome....you're so so cool. i like your style.

[aeonsonance]

thanks!

[jjp009]

Very masterful! You did a wonderful job and should be proud. I have struggled with this one for months before giving up and you were perfect in all the toughest spots. Don't be so hard on yourself!

[semme01]

awesome interpretation

i really liked your skill and the way your hands moved over the piano.

dont criticize yourself so much, really

[aeonsonance]

thank you

[prongated]

Wonderful voicing. You played quite sensitively in some spots - more of these please! Otherwise very expressive performance throughout.

You are very talented. I hope you will continue and discover your very own personal 'voice' someday.

[aeonsonance]

Thank you very much.

[Manamika]

This is one of my favourite pieces. ^^ I enjoyed hearing what you play. Love the song and enjoy playing it. I believe that someone finds the way you play 'just right' for them :)

[aeonsonance]

Thank you =)

[aeonsonance]

Thank you for your support and help.

[lisiiichka]

never satisified with it?? that was more beautiful than the recordings you have on cd's!! really beautiful! =) well done!

[aeonsonance]

oh thank you =)

[PianoDream]

Hannah you are amazing. You go girl :-)

I hope to hear you at Carnegie soon!

[aeonsonance]

Thank you =)

[aeonsonance]

Thank you for the advice and the comment =)

[isaacharvey]

what a lovley piece beautifully played, i wanna learn it now :)

you'll find most cameras have inbuild limiter/compressor for the audio (basically automatic gain setting to avoid clipping). to avoid it killing the dynamics it's best to record the sound with a computer and mixing the vid and sound together in video software (i havent bothered recording and uploading any songs yet because i havent had the chance to do this, and you gotta have those dynamics right?!)

thankyou for your hard work!

[aeonsonance]

thanks =) thanks for the help.

[KenSkaii]

well played. keep up the good work!

I love how you managed to play those chords that would usually require big hands to play.

[aeonsonance]

thanks!

[bobbyjoe104]

beautiful. absolutely beautiful. i played this prelude last year but it definitely wasn't as perfect as your playing. great job, and thanks for posting.

[aeonsonance]

thank you.

[crazypianistik]

My parents saw this video and were amazed. Huge compliments! Do you have any recordings of yourself? I know recordings don't show much, but they show something. I really want my teacher to hear you play.

[crazypianistik]

Hannah! I'm disappointed at your attitude! Nothing can be "perfect", the beauty of playing music is that everytime it's different. I'm sorry, I sound kinda well you know, anyway, beatifully played. I think it sounds amazing.

[aeonsonance]

I know nothing is perfect. Indeed, every time it is different, but I wasn't... satisfied, like, one day, I hope to play this... and feel good/happy about it. Thanks though =)

[grodob]

I think your playing is fantastic, I wish I could play this as well as you. Well done

[aeonsonance]

Thank you.

[loves2listen]

even if this is just too beautiful, i like you more :p

[aeonsonance]

thank you =)