Sleep - Eric Whitacre on Grand

[indicosa91]

Hey, I've loved your version!! I also play the piano, and I know that when playing piano you feel like playing the whole orchestra alone (or the whole choir in this case). It sounds loud, but I think that's part of the way to change a choir song into a piano song, you have to change things, and I think you've done it right! Is it possible to get the track somewhere? I would thank you a lot!! Goof luck with your musical carreer! :)

[bajsibyxan900]

You played well but ruined the song, sry to tell you but you did. Choir music can never be played on piano, no matter how talented the player is

[TruthInTheLieStack]

Not bad, though it was a bit loud and fast. There's a piano reduction of this song in the credits of the virtual choir video for Sleep, which could help you get a better feel for the speed of the piece. As for dynamics, just try not to bang the piano to death :P You'll find that soft and peaceful chords work just as well in areas you interpreted as overly powerful - highlight the voices, not the volume. Overall this was pretty good. Keep it up, sir.

[Ease555]

way to loud at some passages........

[tgioacchini]

I agree completely with JuyoNi.  Choir music is worlds different from piano music. I have played this on piano many times. The most effective way is to play it exactly as it is written/a choir would sing it. You add in strange stops which take away from the piece. Also, your playing is quite harsh... ease up a little bit. Another comment would be to let up on the pedal. It gets muddy in there. And finally, slow that climax down. It is beautiful... enjoy it like a choir would. Its coming

[matt22nesloney]

That was gorgeous. Thank you. :)

[ghostlat]

It was a decent performance, but you were way too harsh on the piano, and took it extremely too fast. Eric Whitacre himself has said it isn't about going "chord to chord", as you did, but instead "smoothly transitioning". Too much banging away to make this beautiful. Learn to make a more emotional connection with the piano.

[bassclarinetchick]

20 ppl doesn't like to sleep xp

[JuyoNi]

choral music is vastly different from piano... you did play the notes, but you have to change everything about it, im sure you have made another version by now, and i would love to see it:)

[Purenicotine]

@JuyoNi watch?v=P_Gm3H2CuVU

:)

[tubamarc8891]

Look, I really hate to get into someones interpretation of things. But, choral music is really all about phrasing. It has been two years since this video was posted so I'm sure your musical instincts have improved. But overall, this performance is very choppy and the musical phrases need more length and needs to be more definitave. Nonetheless I'm sure you are a very talented musician and wish you the best with all your future musical endeavors.

[iluvmusick09]

this is wonderful and all but I really feel like the piece was made for the voice or any instrument that can sustain a long note. Good playing though!

[Sacfusious]

Eh..I dunno man. Your expression, I'm not feeling it. Do you really get it? What it's about? Do you feel the chord, the music slip through your fingers? I'm not hearing it, you're not dragging me in.

[af2815]

either the recording device was really bad

or he doesnt know how to play a warm tone on a grand....

[johnrs651]

jesus.

people are assholes. teach yourself how to play the goddamn piano and then talk shit.

i thought this was well done and recognize that it takes talent to be self taught.

[tothemax91]

You've ruined it.

[tecko582]

I'm sorry, i didnt type "shit" into the search bar

[PatRibsey]

Your interpretation sounds like a drunkard walking along and intermittently tripping over..

[nonconformist12]

There are some liberties I wouldn't have taken, but overall, you've made quite a stellar rendition of the lush song.

[lyrestonehart]

That was beautiful. I could really see someone tossing and turning and then drifting off at last in my mind's eye. Well done.

[bdw803]

Did you learn this by ear though? If so it sounds great, and i think its awesome that you taught yourself

[bdw803]

I feel that after hearing the choral work, it sounds really good, but if you were just hearing this for the first time it wouldn't make sense.

[Barbershop666]

Very accurate comment, I agree.

And yeah, by ear, though I have seen the sheet music because I've sang this with more choirs than I can remember.

[Huictipoctli]

Everyone has their own interpretation, ya?

The beauty (or bane, if you will) of sleep is that it can be "a clanging alarm clock" if it so pleases. The music is wide open to interpretation - this is well-played, and, as any activity, can be improved variously through different prisms of interpretation. In terms of correctness of playing the notes in a manner conducive to beautiful sound, this rendition provides his interpretation. You want a diff. one? Play it yourself. Nice job for skill lvl

[Sieffadiddle]

The notes are correct, but the intent behind them still needs work. Excellent nonetheless.

[rivershade24]

Hey, woah man, this is really good. I wanna learn this aye. Did you just play the parts of the choral score? Or do you actually have a piano reduction of the song? I have the choral score, but cant really be bothered ruducing it lol

[musiqueprof]

Also, think about the shaping of your phrases. They should be broader strokes, not always LOUD-soft-softer-LOUDER-softes­t-LOUD. It seems very unnatural and it ruins the delicate image of the "evening hanging beneath the moon."

[Purenicotine]

Thanks buddy, but I see more of a challenge towards staying to my own true musical interpretation of a piece regardless of all the shouting and scolding voices on this youtube comment section, rather than supplicating all of you and shaping the dynamic line how someone else wants it to be shaped.

[musiqueprof]

Hey, I completely agree. Stay true to your vision of interpretation.

I respect your musical choices, as I do of my own piano students; however, I also do not hesitate to point out when more practice and study are needed for the piece truly to be effective. Good luck in your pursuits.

[Purenicotine]

And yes, that I agree with. This was a VERY long time ago, and I am not a trained, but self taught pianist. I suggest if you want a more accurate representation of my abilities on the piano, check out my more recent videos of Wedding Day at Troldhaugen and Hungarian Rhapsody 2.

[musiqueprof]

I look forward to checking those out. Do you improvise, compose, or arrange, or are you primarily interested in performing? Trained or self-taught, you clearly have a great deal of passion towards your music...the ability to care. In practical terms this may be the most important skill.

I had blast playing a New Orleans-second line type of 'Saints Go Marching In this (yesterday now already) morning at Mass. :)

[WhiteNitE521]

I agree with what musiqueprof is saying. Yes, it's true that you should maintain a style of your own liking, however, a lot of times, teachers tell their students what they might do to improve how it sounds, because although you may love what you are doing, that isn't always the case for your audience, I've had many of these cases myself, I am an aspiring Violist in college right now. Just take something a professor may say with a grain of salt, despite the negativity, good video!

musiqueprof

[rhapsodyinblue18]

@Purenicotine he's not telling you *exactly* how to shape the line, only explaining that it's coming across disjointed and sporadic. Is that the impression you are trying to give? Probably not. Thinking of the big picture would help as well as listening closely to how each chord connects (and especially because it's a piano, the volume the previous chord has died away to in relation to the next chord you're going to play). Perhaps try it on an organ using the swell pedal to control the dynamics?

[xlinwenx]

aw get over yourself. it's his musical interpretation, and it sounds awesome

[musiqueprof]

Not bad, but this version is less like a delicate lullabye, more like a clanging alarm clock! Soften up a little bit. Ok, a lot. If you have the score... check out the dynamics. The first mezzo-forte doesn't come until m. 14 ("Upon my pillow..."), and the first true forte isn't indicated until m. 51, bulding to the climax around m. 59. Yes, I'm being anal about it, but if you choose to accept the challenge, the piece will only get more beautiful!

[leedshunk]

the piano has a very bright timbre , and the playing didn't sound very sleep like to me i'm afraid , much too strident !!!

[JetsToReason]

it's probably more of the camera's internal mic than the piano. i'm sure it sounded a ton better in person.

[RevT1008]

very nice!

[born2broadway]

i think this is fabulous.

[soccer4life911]

Where did you get the music for this?

[tenure4solntz]

Very Beatiful. I just think it would be a bit better if you didn't hit the keys as hard as you did.

[lipsman92]

Lol those are some pretty sick chords :P

[makmegs]

where can i get the sheet music for this?

[jonnyboygq]

DUDE YOUR LEGIT.....

as another musician speaker obviously to a really talented one, i admire you and your obvious love of music!

I APPLAUD YOU!

[Howie262]

i agree with the hard hitting keys, but i think its just the accustics of the room.

i love how he put emoution into it!

fukin epic!

[copperjosh]

wow....from memory?

[makmegs]

its not that hard to play from memory, i can remember the third movement of moonlight sonata. After some time you just remember

[ScreamDemon08]

It was pretty good. But, you seems to be really hitting those keys hard at times...I just feel like it would be better softer.

[jeezmeg]

you're one talented young man

keep up the amazingness

and keep playing!!

it would be detrimental to the music world to have you not. :)

[musicallynclined11]

GREAT JOB

[smoekdacheeb]

inexpertly pedalled =( but not a bad rendition

[Mith4Dj]

"unto sleep" was waaaaay too fast. And you spike too fast to get loud, you should have played that slower and progressed to like a loud metzo forte or a soft forte, b/c that is the ultimate beauty of this piece. They way you played it is like," hey guys! we're skipping to sleep yay!!!!!!!!!!" but really "sleep" (my perseption of this) is implying "death" like dying in your sleep. Think about it.

[vaelrix]

"metzo"?

FAIL

"perseption"?

FAIL

[musicotb2]

vaelrix. you are a fucking dick. get over yourself...and do the music community some good by being supportive to fellow musicians...

[tyty6789]

Thank you!

[track9music2007]

i love this version of the song whitacre's music

[johngoforth77]

not to sound like a douche but why did you speed up at 2:30...seriously that killed it for me.

[bonviej1]

I've never heard this on the piano before but I liked it. I think the end should have more sustain for the chords but the rest sent chills down my spine. Keep up the good practice.

[zeppelinfreak51]

Phrasing

[jeezmeg]

breath taking WOW!

[robotkitty07]

I liked singing along :]

[Griceur]

not made for the piano :c

[steelvenom2003]

Sorry, but I'm going to be another one who comments on the decoration you've changed.

It's true that this piece wasn't written for piano, so some things need to be changed, but many times it just sounds choppy, and it even gets to the point where it sounds like you don't know the music and you're searching for the next chord. On top of that, it is in fact possible to play a piano quietly. "What dreams may come" was WAY loud. That should not have been changed from the original.

[unicornlunchbox]

bravo! I played this in band once...it was amazing. Where'd you get the piano sheet music?

[Purenicotine]

By looking at all four lines of the vocal score. For anyone asking for the sheet music of sleep, just get some lined paper and rewrite all the parts to treble and bass clef piano lines.

[fatisphat3]

the chord at 0:53 should be slammed like that, it is the most beautiful chord ever created and it's sad that the piano can't sustain it longer than that, but yes slamming was so just on the chord.

[LovelyInsane15]

haha, Yes. That was fun to read!

EVERYONE has their own interpretation of how a piece should be played. Slower, faster, piano, forte. Everybody's different =]

Great performance, by the way. I literally fall asleep to Whitacre every night.

You should Learn Water Night =] [and were on earth did you get the sheet music to Sleep???]

[lamuuule]

a battle between musicians?

intersting....fight :)

i love this piece and love whitacre ^^

[rpalmatron]

the piece is about wanting to sleep. It is supposed to be serene, emotional, but yet dramatic. I just don't feel that your accents are musically correct. As you said that you have sung this yourself, my advice is to go through the piece with the words and hear where your accents are. Some are at very peculiar moments, which is why it seems the dynamics are off.

[Purenicotine]

When I usually play this piece on piano, I usually accent a bit more than in this video. I took it down a notch for the youtube audience, but it seems you all still have a stick up your but. My accents are musically correct, because it is my interpretation. If you don't like it, make your own video where all the chords are played pp-mp in a not-very-interesting way.

[rpalmatron]

having your own opinion does not mean we have a stick up are arses. It just means we have an opinion, I wanted to give advice from one musician to another, as I personally like advice, it makes me a better musician, the more critique the better. I never said the accents weren't correct, they were peculiar in this sort of piece.

[Purenicotine]

Seriously? Back to back contradiction? Look at what you just said.

"I just don't feel that your accents are musically correct."

And then,

"I never said the accents weren't correct, they were peculiar in this sort of piece."

Thats a hoot. Anyways, I like advice, too, just not the same generic comment that I disagree with over and over again. Scroll down, you'll find that everyone's saying the same thing, completely unnecessarily. It doesn't need to be reworded 12 times by other users.

[rpalmatron]

then listen to what everyone is saying rather than ignoring it. It is not just trying to be mean, it is trying to be helpful. Because this piece is called sleep, not the stomp of the elephants. Even though this has been transcribed for piano you have to keep the spirit of the piece. I will not comment again after this, because I feel that I don't want to talk to people who can't take critique. End of conversation.

[KevRus]

What's wrong with different ways of saying the same thing? It's good to get feedback, even if some of it is repeated. Anyways, I completely agree with rpalmatron.

[actorboy2]

I agree with this comment mostly, but this isn't about wanting to sleep. The music was written for Robert Frost's Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening, which is very poignant poem about death and dieing. The words it has now were written by Charles Anthony Silvestri who wrote the words while watching his new born son go to sleep. The combination is a beautiful juxtaposition of life and death. The emotional depths of this piece are endless, explore them more.

[rpalmatron]

hey, good on you to put it on grand piano.

However I felt it wasn't really appropriate to the piece. This is about sleep, and i felt you made it too accented. I agree about the fact of interpreatation, that you have to take other people's interpretation's into consideration, but you do also have to follow the composers notes. Eric Whitacre is the composer, it is up to you to interpret the piece within the dynamics, as he didn't put them there for you to do something else.

[Purenicotine]

If this were true, every conductor/musical director I've worked under are frauds and are breaking the "Musical rullessss" because they've changed a dynamic marking or added an accent in the score.

[rpalmatron]

ok, i probally didn't explain myself properly. What I meant was that you still have to have the spirit of the piece there. You are supposed to follow dynamic markings, because that is what the composer wants. If you disregard them then there is no point you having them there in the first place.

Also in personal experience, the only time the conductor/director has changed them is because they're different in the score that they are using.

[Purenicotine]

Then you've had very limited experience of 2-3 directors of similar grits. Because directors change, remove, or add musical markings to scores all the time, to make the interpretation of the piece special.

[rpalmatron]

i have not had this 'limited experience' that you talk of. I have grown up with a musical family myself, performing with a wide range of directors, so please do not assume that everyone isn't as good as you. People are just making comments to give their opinion on the piece, like an audience in a concert.

With this piece, I personally think it should be played as if you are singing it, and then I think it would be making musical sense.

[bandfreakxx]

honestly, is there a point in criticising this much? let him have his interpretation. after all it is HIS interpretation of the piece. you all agree it's not whitacre, so why continue with all this nonsense? i do feel as if there was a little too much sudden accents, but that's his choice. stop trying to degrade eachother as musicians and just go on with your lives. if it is truly as bad as you all say, then stop listening to it. thank you. :)

[ThatCrazyRocker]

its too rough

should be lighter

if you know what i mean

[JPSaxMan]

Very beautiful...much better than your previous rendition.

[JPSaxMan]

If I were to offer you any advice at all, it would be to just maybe consider drawing out some of the tension chords a bit more. For example in the climax, when the sopranos resolve to the minor second, then resolve that...its a powerful moment in the piece, so you could bring that out more. But other than that, I really enjoy your interpretation of the piece. I assume you'll post other renditions of Whitacre's pieces?

[u1zha]

I second that minor second :) Missed it, and some other movements too.

I didn't check through all the comments, but in my opinion... almost all music can be adapted for a good pianist, but it should make use of, well, arpeggiation, decorating passages, some musical substitute for vocal feeling, fill instead of sustain, explicitly fix whatever doesn't lend itself to reproduction - you know. So that it doesn't scream "alien" right out. Not simply read the written notes fighting with dynamics.

[spifflord308]

fantasic like reallllyyy and listen christoperfect music is about doing whatever you want with it. This interpretation was great and it moved me and others as well so if you didnt like it just be nice and keep it POLITELY to yourself

[PerogoNess]

Music isn't "about doing whatever you want with it." That's just silly. Especially when you're covering another person's piece, you need to understand the piece of music. This guy obviously doesn't understand "Sleep."

[spifflord308]

meh i disagree

[PerogoNess]

I don't want to be a dick like christoperfect but I really think you'd have a better understanding of the piece if you spent some time studying choral performances of it and both of the texts it was a setting for. You might understand the pacing better. . . and the dynamics. . . and the point of the song.

[Paperxcutxsuicidex]

That was gorgeous.

[singerguy93]

i love how people who leave "musician to musician" comments complain about your interpretation of this song. i think that this was a GREAT interpretation of this. i like some of your stressed notes too very much actually

and if these "musicians" complain about someones interpretation, they must not be a REAL musician if they cant appreciate it. haha

[AustinTCV]

This Dude Is Genius

[christoperfect]

This dude is NOT a genius. Eric Whitacre, however, is. True a piano cannot mimic the dynamics of a choir, but this guy is just demolishing the beautiful voice leading and shimmering tonality of Whitacre's music with his random accents and complete lack of *phrasing*. (Phrases rise and fall, not rise, JUMP, fall, drop, SCREECH) I'll learn this on piano and upload in a few weeks for people to see what it SHOULD sound like. (And I'll take the piano/choir contrast into consideration.)

[Sethord]

"yep, and if you have the words memorized or the score to follow along, his accents are often placed very odd in context with the diction, like accents on sil-VER. idk i have to say i agree, this is a very mindless interpretation."

I AGREE COMPLETELY

[Purenicotine]

I own 3 complete vocal scores of sleep, I've sang this with 3 different choirs that did professional performances, one of them being a choir generated solely for the event of a choral convention featuring most of his work, and that choir being directed and conducted by Eric himself. Whoever's comment you quoted from was an attempt to disqualify me in having a say in terms of interpretation, when the reality is that my credentials leave me more than qualified.

[christoperfect]

I've analyzed the piece and can sing all of the parts at any given time (including the soprano)... I'm really not a fan of what you've done to my FAVORITE, delicate, beautiful piece of music.

[Purenicotine]

If you're trying to build the idea that you're supposedly a superior musician, you're wasting your time.

[christoperfect]

Not a superior musician... Just not THIS musically stupid. :)

I'm a piano major. Just wait for the video post.

Have a loooooovely day!

[Purenicotine]

I take it you aren't a fan of Lang Lang then.

You're a piano major.

[christoperfect]

Look I'm not trying to start and argument. I just think you need to SERIOUSLY keep up the piano lessons if you think the accents you used were appropriate. Just musician to musician. I respect you for learning the piece, but polish it. Appropriately. Before someone goes out and imitates this. o_O. And dude...

Wtf was the Lang Lang business all about? lol

[Purenicotine]

There's no use trying to explain it to you. I don't allow myself to be musically deluded by musicians that have settled to teach others to tell me how things are supposed to sound. Just like you. Sounds like you teach as well.

And there's no point trying to explain to you the lang lang reference.

[christoperfect]

Hahaha ok whatever. I'm sure Whitacre would probably be disgusted with this as well. So play on, ignorant musician. This kind of playing conveys nothing.

[Purenicotine]

Find my myspace, scroll down a few pages in the comments. He left me one a month ago telling me his appreciation for my musical experimentation with his works. I'm a well known acquantance of his, and we've been involved in musical projects together in the past.

[simone623]

yea a little tooo hard...

[jaressloo]

It's not terrible, but I have to agree and say that you hit the keys a little hard. This song is called "Sleep." Also, you should take it a little slower and more rubato.

[Purenicotine]

Sleep was not meant to be performed on a grand piano. If I were to take your suggestions, it would be soft, robotic, plunking that would FADE away until the next notes were to be reached. I am not going to mimic the recommended musical artistry for an acapella chorus, because a piano does not have the ability to crescendo into the half note chords as you move into the next parts of the melody. I had to improvise.

[cp5698a]

yeah not gonna lie son, you hit those keys a bit hard... chill on that... otherwise, lovely.

[fatfreak3593]

note so hard on the keys bro...

[BasketballLover52]

I love this song so much and I think you interpreted it very well.

My choir class is singing it in class.

[DeckChimp]

very impressive :)

[mirandacansing13]

It's called an interpretation...

Please stop being Youtube hawks by criticizing what he played if he didn't ask for the criticism. Simply take this version for what it is...peace.

[KevRus]

Why would you post a video to youtube and not expect criticism?...There's nothing wrong with criticism... :\

[MurderdollsDevil]

I think this is absolutley beautiful. I don't think the song could've been exicuted better than you did. The loud and soft chords are called personality that pertains to the song people, and they're put in the right place.

Great job

[Ozarkeus]

dude the piano your playing on is great, but like someone else also said you play loud chords and soft chords at random and you also play it way too fast. Especially during the buildup to the climax and through the climax of the piece. I can play this song also and i know it's hard but you also have to play the right notes during the climax if you dont you miss out on the feeling that it should express. Learn to roll the chords in your left hand instead of not playing the right notes.

[xhatefultruthx]

poopie in your butthole.

oh yea come visit =P

[KevRus]

Don't play chords so loudly at random...It's one thing to phrase with a crescendo to a chord...but you just play random chords at practically triple forte, and then others at pianissimo...

[xokristeenuhox]

I agree with this. I'm sure your intent is to add expression and emotion to the piece, but if you compare the beginning of the notes with the vocals, it doesn't match at all. Their voices are strong yet calming. That's the whole point of the song, hince the name "Sleep." I think it would be better to keep it at one volume then the banging you're doing to add dynamics. It's really unnecessary to be honest.

[pianomatteo]

yep, and if you have the words memorized or the score to follow along, his accents are often placed very odd in context with the diction, like accents on sil-VER. idk i have to say i agree, this is a very mindless interpretation.

[OblateSpheroid]

Bang bang bang.

[RossShaddick]

Much better and cleaner on piano - would love to hear any classical repertoire - People have commented on your pianistic hands - totally agree!

[killercrabs]

Wow. Really, thank you so much for posting this. I really have been waiting a long time to hear a clean version of this, your other one is great, but without the effects makes it seem so much cleaner.

You are spectacular, thanks for sharing your talent :)

[WENCHINGTON]

Instead you post some incredibly easy chord shit.

[Purenicotine]

This was recorded before I knew how to play Wedding Day at Troldhaugen, I just hadn't uploaded it yet.

[WENCHINGTON]

You said this was recorded upon request so I assume you are lying. It also looks as though you have found a "quality" piano, so why haven't you uploaded it yet? HMMM?

[Purenicotine]

If you look at my original "Sleep Eric Whitacre" video, those requests were made months, almost a YEAR ago. And I have had this recording for quite some time, just hadn't uploaded it yet.

Secondly, this piano I recorded on was at central university, which is a couple hundred miles away from where I live. And this visit was quite a long time ago, back when I was still learning wedding day, therefore I did not record it, as it was not ready.

[WENCHINGTON]

I don't really care, you are at a crappy unprestigous and not noteable college for music, but it should at least have a decent piano, so just upload it and stop making excuses.

[drumrdude707]

just shut up for fuck's sake.

[WENCHINGTON]

Ok, i'll do it for fuck.

[maw065]

You're such a fuck...die

[ToxicPopsicle]

This makes my heart smile.