Spencer Myer plays Beethoven Tempest Sonata (Mvmt 1)

[MrJeanpiano]

Amazing, rarely do I heard sych performances of a Beethoven's piece!

[bobon47]

Such Beethoven is clear for me.

[PeaceAndGloryMB]

This is one of the best performances of this piece I have herd. Thank you!

[radiootoo]

A fine pair of pianist's paws! just ogle those bones in close-up! talk about your basic fluid dexterity! WOW!

[phatterry1]

I could eat you with a spoon! Bravo! Bravo! Bravo!

[DIGIMONJK]

Beethoven and his sonatas and symphonies rule!

[boyspuros]

amazing

[Mitropoulosfan]

My brother believes that Beethoven was beyond the common human being nature. For him he is a kind of revelation of the Divine!

[Bognarfan]

So beautiful, played with a beautiful range of colorand emotion. The piano speaks! Bravo, Mr. Myer.

[st89365]

BRAVO!!

[wildejag]

The Poet speaks! Great Shakespere! Outstanding. Beethoven would approve;) The silence speaks the loudest.

[willworkforapplaud]

Beautiful.

[mojoxrisin]

Beautifully interpreted and played. I cannot express with words how much I love everything about Beethoven. His genius inspires me and discourages me all at once!

[Desmonddd2002]

I am very disappointed that no-one comment of this video for over a month

[GermanoDeppe]

Well done, Mr. Myer.

[lauramcmillanpiano]

I could watch and listen to you play all day. You are an amazing pianist, thank you! Unbelievable articulation, dynamics, tempo pedal use. Nothing better than Beethoven played well on a Steinway!!

[cellestialX]

He reminds me of Jorge Bolet. His personality; such caring towards the music, earnestness, such quality in all the details; never letting up.

[thepianist213]

I liked how he played the left hand, it had a lot a character. I think he got a top prize in that competition, like 4th place. He is a very good pianist!

[JacobRudduck]

Yeah, I was loving the little flicks of the wrist he was doing

[JacobRudduck]

Or would that be flicks of the fingers? :p

[niromaro]

just amazing

[kristypiper]

Hi Spencer! I love this sonata, but I always added an extra measure in the third movement when I played. I have no idea why, but my professors used to giggle when I played it! Hope that you are doing well.

[JacobRudduck]

Heh, I'm always making silly little mistakes like that ^_^

[cssst5]

Well done! This is the right tempo for this piece. I've seen so many people playing way too slow and torturing it. His playing reminds me Rudolph Buchbinder.

[cellestialX]

I like his playing; very dramatic.

[sakanapichipichi]

wonderful!! I want to listen to Mr,Spencer Myer's tempest （No2 and No3.）.....

[lazawrcat666]

very nice

[ultimathio]

obviously u have no talent in logic, so let me explain it to u. You are contradicting yourself in your comment. You say you never heard anyone interpret this movement appropriately. But IF thats the case, then you DO NOT know what is APPROPRIATE because you never heard it interpreted appropriately unless you are almighty and can travel back in time and hear wut beethoven wanted.

[lazawrcat666]

i think what he means is appropriate to his liking...or perhaps to what is written on the score, so he has never heard an accurate interpretation would probably be correct. But i guess we will never know, because he isnt really making himself clear

[jwjazz777]

Perhaps he heard himself interpret it correctly, or perhaps not.

Could we define "appropriate interpretation" as making musical sense? (I don't think that needs definition) This performance does not feel right. (aside from it being how Beethoven heard it or not) It's like when someone is speaking and what they are saying doesn't make sense.

I prefer Barenboim. But maybe there is no comparison anyway between the two artists.

[mukeshcuster]

Thats his point - We don't have a way of interpreting it without asking Beethoven.

[musicwriter83]

I have never heard anyone interpret this movement appropriately, and this performance is no exception, although it is one of the better ones I've heard.

[ultimathio]

h/o, if you never heard anyone interpret this movement appropriately, then how do you know whats appropriate.

[musicwriter83]

What kind of stupid question is that?

[filthysoap]

ultimathio, that's a very smart question haha

[mrlizard8]

This truly is a masterful composition by Beethoven. When I first started learning piano as a hobby I initially thought I would stick with modern pieces and play symphonic metal and similar things, but when I started learning my first classical piece I was taken aback, it was amazing I couldn't stop playing and learning until I got it perfect, in short this is an excellent job of playing a brilliant piece of music and serves as an inspiration not only for me but I'm sure for many others as well

[PutaCaliente]

extraordinary lightness of the fingers.  technically sound, musically sound in MOST places. sometimes one hand plays too loud and covers up the intended melody. sometimes theres a little too much pedal. but i love the feeling he puts into it

[akumanation]

im watching this video everyday < really very nice playing

[mikejones1770]

i am posting this text comment here..look folks i dont have good grammer but i know my beethoven..look this dude is playing his heart out here folks and dont put him down i mean my god this is good music

[galaxyrainguy]

The urtext is fine, but he doesn't deliver quite the art you would expect, he has to patiently think over his details. Good hands,if he gives himself a few years to develop expression and feeling, watch out.

[mmccarn]

man he makes piano look so easy. makes me want to put aside the viola and violin and play piano

[Hemitris]

years of practice my friend, and you can make the violin look easy

[tammeosacchi]

bravissimo!!!! finalmente uno che suona le note scritte dal maestro...

[koobird]

Doesnt he look a little like that guy from Beverly Hills Cop (one of the white cops not Eddie Murphy)?

[tornadosouls]

funny comment

[nekrorider]

great articulation!

[laffeycaffey]

Nice interpretation, but he didn't follow all of Beethoven's directions. Too much pedal, but effective.

[FuNkySpH]

i know him, he's my cousin's friend. he looks really different with his hair like that.

[liszt85]

Is the note at 4:45 a C or a D flat? He seems to be playing Dflat, lower Dflat, and then 2 C's. Its D flat, lower (middle) D flat and the same Dflat repeated, in my score.. can somebody please take a look and tell me whether I'm right. Which edition of the Beethoven sonatas is supposed to be reliable and where can I find the book?

[BleedingLlama]

Dude, a semi tone is gonna make sod all difference, change it as YOU find it suits it best.

[liszt85]

Aren't you even curious to know what Beethoven found best? :P

[LMJ314142]

I have the Henle Urtext, and it shows it the way he plays it.

[akumanation]

Bravooooo very nice 1 i love it

[nekatsemanllaton]

tuplets all right hand

[PianoMan8912]

The only person who deserves to say anything about this interpretation is Daniel Barenboim.

[Didacusss]

I'm studying this sonata... it requires so much strength to bed played... great sonata and great interpretation.

I'm actually trying to avoid crossing my hands and the tuplets... kinda hard ^^"

[Didacusss]

on*

[ttuConSpirito]

Excellent interpretation of this great Beethoven Piano Sonata.

Also hear and enjoy, when Wilhelm Kempff plays the 3rd movement of "The Tempest". Just wonderful.

[jadeeye28]

Awesome playing, dude! I love your interpretation. Sounds much better to my ear than the recording I have of this piece.

[PlatypusofCalifornia]

That was really awsome. He looked like he just saw a ghost when he finished, but thats what usually happens when you play something that you really feel. I liked it, probobly the best version on youtube.

[flessibile]

the ghost look may be true, he plays so beautiful that beethoven may have come to listen to him... and i agree,probably the best version

[PlatypusofCalifornia]

Heheh nah I tend to space out like that all the time after I play something like this. You gotta love music. Its annoying in my case though, because I do violin, and I've been known to miss the conducter's cue to put my violin down more than once...

[Khufwy]

I have never seen anyone play this sonata this gorgeous. This is so fulfilling; technique is great, speed is great, (this is allegro!) almost everything is great. If you are wondering a missing in this case, you can count on that chair.

[Ella1203]

I heared this pianist's playing since the beginner hobbyist, until now, I think I could said, I like the way he touches the keys to perform the notes, it makes sense and you're expecting more clear or confirmed description from his music.

Love classical music:)

[Phantapia]

that's great! simple, clear, passionate...and just beethoven wrote!I love it

[gallianofromturkey]

fazil say best

[PlatypusofCalifornia]

Fazil say has the passion but I think he doesnt have a good interpretation, IMO hes a noob at beethoven. He tends to take very passionate loud and fast approches to most things. His interpretation of THIS movement is fairly decent, but spencer is still better...

[ShanksLeRoux87]

best performance of this 1st mov on Youtube, just amazing.

[jonwithjen]

very good job! I love the Tempest! Perfect!

[Leery83]

when i play this movement i cross my hands too, because at 1:01 it's impossible to cover up 5 notes with the right hand.

[janiannparsons]

Actually, in this mvt. Beethoven has particularly instructed not to cross the hands over in the exposition tremellos. In fact, if you look closely at the writing there are several repeated notes in the tremellos that make it virtually impossible to play with the cross overs. The way he is playing it is not EXACTLY what Beethoven wanted...although it is very good playing, and full of passion and character. It has nothing to do with his LH being better and you CAN avoid crossing over at this part!

[gcampa]

I can imagine what was great Ludwig van thinking when he wrote this: "Why make it easy if we can make it more difficult? Let's not cross hands..."

[Jon3re]

i think this piece was wonderfull played he is of course a excellent pianist but i would like to know wh does he cross his hands 59-1.03?

[cziffra1980]

why not?

[ganggod1234]

i think he is left handed. he's left hand is his better one. he chosses to play te complicated party with it

[Jon3re]

Ah ok thanks xD

[Deceipher]

To be honest in this occasion it doesn't matter what your best hand is; it will be easier to play it like this anyway. Since the majority of notes is played on the left side, it makes more sense to play that with your left hand and jump over to the right then vice versa.

Either way, you can't avoid crossing hands at this part.

[rainbowmania]

That's what Beethoven said to do in his manuscript. He's simply following the music :)

[cutenixie2004]

I cross my left hand over when I play this as well... It's in the piece I use...

[Phantapia]

I am sure he can play it without crossing the hand!but in the tremolo, with the thumb kept down,with 2nd and 4th ,the hand has more balance then any fingering with the left hand, and so you can play it helped by the rotation of the arm without play it too loud...it's simply easier.after tried many fingering I chose this

[defiancy]

One of the best interpretations of the first movement I've heard. I wish that at the crescendos and forte sections of the music though that he really puts that passionate energy in. His fortes need to be louder in opinion.

[sofi1506]

beautiful performance

by the way,the piano bench is awesome ...

[Beethoven1216]

beautiful He has  excellent technique I really enjoy ... Beethoven is a genius what a beautiful music.....

[Dedboy43]

Beethoven's genius really came from thinking that he actually was... and that the rest of us arent

[berenboim]

very good sustained with color entry into this first movement! think spencer played it very steadily... however the not now, not now, not now and then NOW never came.. boring and technical in parts but liked his rubato.. arpeggios lingering.. nice broad expression!! concert fingers can have good tricks to finish arpeggios with finger placement for final notes... a good performance overall!!! Bravo

[herbatadom]

I'm just wondering why he is wearing a tie instead of a bow tie to a concert!!

[jannokas85]

Maybe he had a business meeting to attend afterwards? :D

[OleAdrian]

Oh, come on. What you wear does not influence how you play!

[BeammeupSpotty]

One of my favorite parts is at 5:06. I wonder why Beethoven didn't make more of this thought.

[Likeafoxow]

because it's really more of a beethoven trademark than a 'tempest' trademark. he does similar things in a few of his other sonatas, for example the moonlight mvt 3 (also used near the climax or at the climax of the piece). but anyway, how bout this performance? i thought it was a superbly accurate portrayal of what beethoven actually wanted the piece to sound. pretty good stuff...

[edrihan]

Beethoven despite being a clear virtuoso, did not make a point of being one. He seems to have avoid sheer technicality in favor of musicality

[TomBarrister]

Excellent technique. A bit faster in some places than I would play it, but a valid and good interpretation.

[warmperson2007]

I think that this performance is brilliant.

[cutenixie2004]

gawd, this is the piece I'm supposed to play during our recital competition?...I don't think I can play it this well!...i'm scared....

[EPENAEED]

...I'm also scared too but the 99.99% of the people playing that piece they play it at....almost half speed! :-D

[exidense]

Something about his playing the highest octave of the arpegios with a single finger cracks me up. And the looking out into space for the final note. Not that it takes away from this awesome performance. Am i the only one who finds this funny? Because if not...being easily amused is REALLY NEAT

[keinnameuebrig]

jaanmikolas, no idea of playing piano, right?

[SkaTheLast]

just played too fast in my opinion and...pedal's made to be changed not to be kept down all the time. confused sound...bwahahah

[jaanmikolas]

another smart ass..he plays it very good.brilliant technique,in my country we call it american way..

it's not bad,it's usually very good,but something from one's soul is missing.

[jaanmikolas]

i meant this as an answer for SkaTheLast

[hedgewytche]

A truly wonderful performance, nothing short of brilliant, and played from the heart and soul! All I would like to say is thanks, and encore!!! :-)

[smithsherman]

I very much liked how he seemed to drift into vast

space in the intro structure as it appears.

I liked a kind of controlled jutting wobbliness

in his passagi articulations.I liked his

"luminescent"pedaling.I missed the playing of

the hands against each other.I also missed

the sense of unpredictability in the conversational

structure of the fast sections.

[mayelajay]

Bravo! Muy bien!

[joyheart]

WOW.....

[johnyymega]

I really want to see this guy playing the 3rd movement of the sonata.

[dsamogray]

excellent! a true musical talent!!

[perlstels]

wow great playing... and great musicianship..

good job:)

[lourak]

Beautiful performance! - Yet - I will allow myself one small critical comment. At 01:08 thru 01:14 you lose your tempo - if anything, it should slightly accelerate until you reach the E Major cadence - but you probably are aware of this already. Bravo!

[ekleve]

Spence, that was awesome!

By the way, my mom taught him to play the piano! :-)

[sabian1979]

wow~ this is how we suppose to play~

right dynamics and great tempo for this piece