Les Cyclopes: Harpsichord Solo

[ish233]

This is great, the composition for the mythology, excellent

[ragwafouda]

wonderful

[Olvandi99]

2:37 ... god's melody

[Andytheminstrel]

I've never seen someone shred on the harpsichord. Flawless! Ever consider crossing over and joining a power metal band?

[yugoroth1]

this must be fun to play!

[pakatoxama]

i'm afraid ! she is very fast !

[lucasozzy]

Awesome!

[TheodenN]

I love the high frequencies of harpsichord. They are both very clear and transparent at the same time.

[ElricWilliam]

I see a battle, an epic battle, a Paladin, a cleric, a Bard and a Ranger is what i see fighting against a Evil king and his closest guards.

[heyckdiab]

Okay, you can play this piece, but you try to give you a style gesticulating anyhow, and it's not very nice ...

Also, at 2:12, you do not play the partition as it should, it's a pity ...

[gotohell714]

what was that at 1:59?

[georgemargaris]

perfect player on perfect harpsichord

[AoWGamer]

I like the sound of this Harpsichord. It is quite charming and this melody makes it even more adorable.

[ridgeline146]

Holy shit!!!  Love it...

[HoboSammiches]

She is really good, I mean god damn that was insane. And Jean Rameau is a great Baroque composer.

[tabre]

Everyone is talking about the instrument.. the song... castlevania... but did anyone notice what an outstanding player this woman is? That song takes incredible skill.

[lumdisumdi]

this is a unique piece of baroque music but very harmonious. No dynamics but still beautiful. Love the aggressive touch to it!

[oliviertroubat]

no charm ! non interest ! non music !



[CoeurDuPetitPrince]

this is so epic while playing super paper mario... :D

[doomcreptus]

I like

Both piano and harpsichord, but the reason i like harpsichord

Is

Due to the faster speed while retaining a

Sort of elegance.

[IamFouDGM]

O.O Oh my god, this is sooooo great!!!!

[jiffinbigles]

Jesus take it easy! this is amazing btw

[shakedavni1]

im in loveee with that instrumentttttttt

[saidtheslyfox]

Music like this makes me want to ride horses...

[FountainofFire]

michel kiener plays it better

[DasKloputzer]

@FountainofFire you have no idea

[D2Ci]

Magnificent.

Does anyone know which stops are used?

[SuigintouKitty]

oh my.... how can she play so fast =O and still sound so great o.O is she human...?

*loves this*

she plays so perfect omg... <3

[wilbur1960]

Interesting. I like how Elaine introduces the "swing rhythm" in the middle section. This music only lives through interpretation and performance. Who knows how Rameau played it himself ... we can only guess from his own book on theory and performance. Still a lot of fun to watch and listen to.

[somnynightin78]

@wilbur1960 actually it's not swing it's "notes inegales" a 17th and 18th century practice of making equal note values unequal. Swing originates here.

[crnobijeloja]

i just wanna my castle in transilvania and listen to this...

[victorsirecklavey]

la viejita es bien rifada xD

[otterboi26]

WOW!!!! Beautiful piece, the harpsichord has to be my favourite instrument.

[Bolognalegs]

Amazing performance and instrument. That harpsichord is really beautiful. I also like the fact that she is standing in the way that harpsichordists would have up until the late 1700's.

[BMSphoenix]

is there a reason to the reversed "colors" of the sharps and naturals? or is that just for fun?

[pericollo]

Cosa da pazzi!!!!!! Ma come riesce a muovere la mano sinistra così veloce? Alla fine uno diventaa matto!!!!!!!!!!!

[TheStatue1]

a talented professional at work.

[ObiTrev]

How did this instrument fall out of popularity in favor of the Piano?

[Tenifus]

@ObiTrev I wonder the same thing every day. From what I've heard, the piano took over & became more popular because it was able to do dynamics.

[hbmp88]

@ObiTrev I know right!? I wish I could invent an instrument that could harness the sound of the harpsichord and have sound levels. You see the harpsichord is worked by plucking strings, so there are only two sound levels (when both levels of strings are plucked is the louder). Thats what gives it the distinct sound though... Im a jealous pianist...

[ObiTrev]

@hbmp88 Personally I want to combine the attributes of a stringed instrument with those of a piped one.

[hbmp88]

@ObiTrev I was just thinking, a combination of all keyboard instruments, man that would sound godly.

[20somethingstories]

@hbmp88 MIDI sampling can accomplish this. I use physically impossible variations on the harpsichord in my own music all the time but of course, it changes the character of the sample significantly.

[Soulmodelmusic]

@ObiTrev Lol I know what you mean, but I'm sure you know the piano does more. Gotta love the harpsichord though.

[ImAdamXII]

@ObiTrev Pianos are alot more practical, and have a larger range of sound.

[Radzjah]

@ImAdamXII Also, I think most people prefer pianos because they have a warmer sound, especially nowadays, the harpischord sounds like a haunted mansion kind of instrument, no matter how you play it

[cymagen]

@ObiTrev seriously im thinking the same exact thing.

[mmrrjjoohhnnyy]

@ObiTrev the piano was a great discovery in its day seeing as it was the only instrument in its time that could play from "piano" all the way to "forte". "Piano" and "forte" meaning "quite" and "loud" in Italian and is a reference to the volume one is to play in specific music.

[MorkaGraven]

@ObiTrev Variable volumes, sustain, etc etc. There are more options when writing for a piano, therefore more complex music and ultimately greater composing ability.

I do like the harpsichord though, I am fond of Baroque music more than any other period of classical music.

[somnynightin78]

@MorkaGraven well you have to understand that given the limitation of the harpsichord and it's uni-dynamics you have to figure that the more keys played at once the fuller the sound, and the less keys the more open and less cluttered sound, you have to also take into consideration at what speed the piece is to be played. With all the limitations it makes it more difficult to compose effectively than a piano and thus requires more ingenuity. Piano is easy comparatively.

[ewoutvm1]

@ObiTrev

I like both instruments very much, but the only thing they have in common is the keyboard. The piano has a far more rich sound-pallet. You can change the sound almost indefinitely and not only in volume. Much more an instrument for the romantic time. On the contrary the cembalo can produce the only sounds that the piano can't: the plucked sounds. And the beauty of that instrument lies just in its limitations: timing becomes much more vital.

[STIYE101]

@ObiTrev God, I know right?!?!?!

[STIYE101]

@ObiTrev plus the organ is also gone basically :(

[EmperorCQX]

@ObiTrev I have no idea..... it is a mystery to me too.

[scotchy1786]

@ObiTrev the piano is able to produce a large range of dynamics depending on how the key is struck; at the time this was seen as making it a far superior instrument, but to me the harpsichord still sounds cooler.

[omoshiroidayo]

its not being pronounced "lasy clopp"

[SuperRedSmile1]

i love this musik

[jonklaus]

Elaine -- Could you say something about the harpsichord in this video? I can read "Boston" on the name batten, but not the builder's name. It looks like Zuckerman papers in the keywell, but that doesn't necessarily mean anything!

[urmomandad]

I WANT A DAMN HARPSICHORD IN MY ROOM!

ever since I heard the solo part in Brandenburg Concerto 5... forgot which movement specifically >.< This is amazing too.

[420fungi]

holy shite....i love harpsichord SO HARD.....fucking great! good shit, it is amazing. hard to describe the awesomeness....

[Mattguitarman1234]

It wasnt a sharpened twig it was like a sharpened tree.

[Signifer82]

Lazy clop? Lazy clop?... oh! les Cyclopes!!! xD

[LaPopliniere]

Mais où est passé Rameau ?

Pourquoi un jeu si syncopé ?

Qu'est-ce que c'est que ces ornements atroces ?

Rameau est l'homme qui a su pour notre plus grand bonheur mêler la subtilité de la mélodie avec la beauté d'une harmonie réflechie et plus qu'appropriée. Pour une claveciniste qui se prétend de si bon niveau un tel massacre relève du sacrilèg et si je m'emportais un peu, j'irais même jusqu'à crier au paricide ! Revoyez vos années de conservatoire madame, vous en avez bien besoin !

[paolop2207]

Esecuzione semplicemente orribile!

[RawbThatPunk]

lets get her to compose castlevania tracks

[gararmis]

Superb!

[ryanemm1001]

Outstanding

[nferraro1337]

where can i get this onto my iTunes???

[qwhisdjnzdz]

@nferraro1337 Try emusic.com and search for Trevor Pinnock Rameau Complete Works for Harpsichord

[teplipes]

i would give my both hands to play like this

[xXNorDakXx]

I cant even imagine this in stereo .

[dadcallsmelala]

Fantastic!!!

[savageandpoet]

Lovely playing The sound is so inspiring for us pianists who attempt this literature. I agree with the above that this represents the Cyclopes forging the steel with hammers in Vulcans furnace, not to a battle. Look for my soon to come Video of this work on the piano.

[TheRuddyGuitarMan]

truly Shiite like ma poo poo

[Hightower2804TP]

She's too slow...Joke

Perfect job

[occultfish]

Play at my castle in austria?

[fruitsbluv]

just amazing..simply amazing

[Parashooter24]

Can you play for me sometime :)

[MrJoedf]

Watch out, ground--here comes my jaw!

[KillerMoustache]

Superb

[MrPignolet]

Pauvre clavecin...

[BagofDeadChimps]

i wish i could play a harpsichord i love how they sound :(

[Darkboy2525]

I could listing the holl day to you Elaine .. ..

[you2bepwned]

sweet. your really good

[georgesorosisgay]

wow! YOU ARE AWESOME!!!

[11mrpm]

you teaaaaaar on te harpsichord braaavoooo

[sarasmind27]

i shall eat thy shroom now

[monsieur1jourdain]

Belles croches inégales... Époustouflants comme toujours, les Cyclopes. Bravo !

[xxmanuelvaldesxx]

holy sh**** my jaw is touching the floor

[chalgot]

J'aimerais savoir qui est Elaine ! Elle joue merveilleusement bien cette pièce de Rameau que je joue moi-même, mais sur piano et parfois sur un piano électronique qui donne l'illusion du clavecin.

[augustin6666]

Divine playing, divine sound, divine everything.

Thanks for this video.

[cousiwa09]

this is simply divine... and your playing is excellent... i love the sound of the harpsichord, its just radiates this feel of  'opulance' and of the finest things in life..... LOVE IT!

[videocircus]

I just adore the whole left hand jumping over the right parts. It is so Harpsichord and I love it.

[baalhaophanim]

I think the tematic of the pièce is not about Poliphemus, but about the cyclopes that used to made the arms to Zeus, and the pièce shows the incessant tiptops of their task, Les Cyclopes, not le Cyclope...

[epar1628]

I really want to learn this piece. How is it compared to the scarlatti's cat's fugue (I already know that one ^^ )

[ILikeToShred]

we're not worthy! We're not worthy!!!

[freddieandthedriller]

One can see straight away why Rameau is so respected as music innovator, not just composer - those hands and fingers crossing are not to be seen when somebody plays a basso continuo for baroque sonata on harpsichord :-)

Grand merci, Elaine!

[blueslystone]

I'm working on this piece right now. Hands down the most difficult piece I've ever worked on for harpsichord. Lovely interpretation of it here--the "inegal" timing works well.

[tunglour]

Really impressive, this is the most awesome playing I've seen from you!

[Audiolink]

amazing playing, but is it just me or does this harpsichord sound a little constipated...?

[rupertinit]

I swear she plays some of the regular quavers as dotted quavers

[thornmastro]

You're positively beaming with divine grace, excellence, and talent.

[chorister88]

So gooooooooooooooood!!! I'm in love with this composition :) and my gf :D

[enarchay]

This is just amazing.

[flyingcatlara]

the most amazing harpsichordist ever. Gosh dang it! No sheet even! Her hands are so fast and no mistakes ... O.O Best part from 0:54 to 1:04 .... holy mother of god..

[bamboozel1234]

shes amazing!

[tirius66]

omg she is playing it without music sheet! Amasing O.O

[Trommeslagter]

This is simply great! Magnifficent! Spectacular! When i get rich, i'll hire you to play in my castle!

[areposo]

@Trommeslagter instead of learning how to play the harpsichord

[thestsho]

@Trommeslagter yeah right mr when i get rich!!!

[crakersandcheeze]

@Trommeslagter

you got a castle?

[1latrommI]

@crakersandcheeze when he get rich^^

[Nfx1963]

@Trommeslagter For the moment, you're very poor, and I'm talking of your ears. This is not the rythmical pattern Rameau demands on the score !! This is not a syncopated piece of music !! Atrocement mal joué, as a French player would put it - Go listen to Scott

[MOnsabre]

Excuse me, I don't understand. It's "Les cyclopes" or "Lazy club". hahahahahaa

[pasmoressj2]

wow, so on key!

[mrAltan9]

amazing!

[tua12536]

Wonderful interpretation!

[toni88vp]

Más de un youtubero lo tenemos comprobado. Es coger esta señora una pieza barroca del compositor que sea, da igual q sea francés y pomposo o italiano y vivaracho... Todo le acaba sonando a cartón de Recreativa de cuando eramos pequeños y jugabamos al PANG o al SuperMario. Se supone q es profesional? no he visto a nadie q toque así este repertorio, nadie medianamente conocido.

[HARMONICO101]

Actually seeing this being played... looks obscenely difficult.

[kwangmyongsong]

Actually it's not hard at all, just looks that way.

[sapasoulph]

it should be lastat song

[GavriloPresto]

Bravissima!

[toddao70mm]

Extraordinary !

What a pleasure seeing you playing with virtuosity and a breathtaking precision of rhythm. BRAVO Elaine !

[godforthepenis]

realmente sublime, impactante,insuperable, realmente maravilloso, la mujer que toca lo hace verdaderamente regio estupendo...

[baroquegeek]

Oh I love this piece SO much!

[MagnoliaHigan]

WONDERFUL

[TheVCaraveo]

Incredible, y could also be used in a vampiric libretto....

[fingaz000]

OUCH!! Truly nasty.

[LazlosPlane]

Must be frustrating not to be able to achieve any dynamics. 

You're amazing.

[buffoon12345]

Excellent playing. The music actually refers not to Polyphemus, but to the a different group of Cyclopes, who hammered out lightning bolts for Zeus. Due to their bolt having killed one of Apollo's proteges, Asclepius, he slew them, which made Zeus very upset. The busy figures in the music and the hammering batteries actually don't show the battle between Ulysses and Polyphemus, but rather are musical representations of the Cyclopes busy at work in their blacksmith hammering out a thunderbolt.

[luigiperso]

@buffoon12345 , wow.....thank you, very interesting story

[Dudin4tor]

@buffoon12345 Your name doesn't imply such knowledge as this.

[Noshirm]

Brava, Elaine! A great introduction and a magnificent performance! (:-D)

[ShinyVampGirl]

wow....her hands were moving really fast...lol...i wonder if my music teacher can play that....probably not....good song

[Pepinoli]

I'm sure that mine cannot... xD

[Mistermagoo77]

I have never head anyone "swing" this piece quite like her. I am so used to listening to Pinnock play this but she is neat! :)

[pmonnerat]

Absolutely splendid!

[madisonthing]

Thank you so much, one of y favorite pieces by Rameau.

[sauterio]

MARAVILLOSO!

GRACIAS POR SUBIRLO

[Markohoppis]

Why do people do that expression with their hand when they speak Italian or French.

[Markohoppis]

Kind of has that Scarlatti quality to it.

[tkarmakid]

My favorite piece by Rameau. She is very good. Its cool to see how she plays the part between :55 and 1:05, bouncing her left hand back and forth, looks difficult. I have not heard a version of this with so much 1/8 note swing, sounds good though. I would rather hear a skilled musicians interpretation than someone playing tight to the metronome, like a computor.

[1234wtf1234]

Incredible...

[hauptwerkian]

Excelente!!!!!!!!

[sandyhackney]

Wow!! Beautiful and many thanks.

[sooth15]

Wonderful as always Elaine!

[mradaChris]

You are absolutely amazing! So I don't understand why the upper keys move while you play the lower ones. I am not familiar with how a harpsichord is designed.

chris

[SFChristo]

Hi Chris, she has coupled the upper keyboard to the lower one. This allows two sets of strings to get plucked everytime she hits a key. I've put up a vid on my channel that explains it in more detail (harpsichord 101)

[mradaChris]

Thanks!  I figured that was going on but it was peculiar to see it operate that way.

[reverseengine]

i'm really speechless. this is just stunning!

[reverseengine]

wow.