Chopin, Prelude, opus 28 #5, D major, Piano Solo

[Kentodragon]

I always enjoy your unique interpretations smalin.

[pastromthor]

I'm seriously confused by the tempo chosen for this interpretation. There is a significant dance-like quality to this piece that gets lost in this plodding pace. This is closer to a funerary pace than Molto Allegro.

[smalin]

@pastromthor Yes, you can play this piece like a dance ... but there are other ways to play it, too. In my interpretation, is it more like people having a discussion, asking questions, considering alternatives and, in the end, reaching a conclusion. Chopin doesn't say "play this like a dance," he just says "Allegro molto" --- which is open to interpretation. This is mine.

[pastromthor]

@smalin No offense intended, I'm just curious about your reasoning for the choice. You describe the effect quite well, and that certainly satisfies my curiosity. Like others have said below, the quality of play is very good. It's just that I found it hard to even identify the piece. All that being said, +1.

[smalin]

@pastromthor I don't think I could do it in 500 characters.

[frits020]

Yes! It's twice too slow... Molto allegro indeed!

[liammccabe05]

Was their music? The colors were so pretty I got distracted o_o

[canikostar99]

fact about me: i am naturally attracted to colorful videos and yours is very interesting to me i really like it :)

[gotbass33727]

Thank you for this.

[TheMagicBolt]

Who needs sex when you have this??

[BlackSunSerenade]

I just realized I'll never write a good song

[BassicStorm]

smalin thank you so much 4 all these great videos! :)

[Dabeph]

this is easy compared to circus galop XD LOL



[tsouik]

beautiful work...!

[labosh33gost]

jazzy chord at 0:14

[Adjuni]

Too cheery IMO. Makes me depressed :(

[nycolas1712]

Excellent.

[waxinazz]

A lovely interpretation...it allows you time to appreciate the beauty of the piece.

[Zodiarkz]

I'm all for freedom of interpretation but it doesn't sit right with me to hear a piece played at a different tempo then the one indicated by the composer. Don't take offense to this but if Chopin heard this (and it is interesting) he'd be furious. I believe Chopin once told Liszt to play the piece as he had written it or don't play it at all. I wouldn't say it that rudely but I share that opinion with Chopin. Still the piece sounds.....different this way, nice job on the playing too.

[samman7324]

I know it is a difficult piece to play, but the Heroic Polonaise would be wonderful to watch and listen to, if you have time to create a MAM video for it. Thanks :)

[maryninny4398]

i love chopin!!! he is the best!!!

[mahler151]

I honestly think this tempo is much better for the piece. Just blowing through it takes the nostalgic air to it out.

[1113agm]

I agree 1000%! I've heard many recordings that are much faster and they are not nearly as beautiful or lyrical.

[brightsideoflife64]

Cubist music. It sounds a little like Scott Joplin in places; even though I know Chopin was first! (before someone points this out).

[manictiger]

Wow, I used to like Chopin, but now I'd say he's my all-time favorite. Jazz before jazz existed. Amazing!

[MattieSongbird]

Have you listened to Bach?

[manictiger]

@MattieSongbird

Of course, lol. My most current favorite is Scriabin. Didn't know about him until recently and it's almost like his songs were designed for me, as pretentious as that might sound.

[MattieSongbird]

Not at all. I heard a Scriabin piece today that reminded me of Thelonius Monk. Do you know which piece I'm talking about?

I believe Bach was the first to really begin opening doors for jazz improvisation. And he swings. Have seen the concert, "Swinging Bach"....it's wonderful

[manictiger]

@MattieSongbird

Not really.

Anyway, I thought you were talking about stuff I liked, hence the seemingly random mention of Scriabin. I know he doesn't sound like jazz. I'm not deaf, you know? Lol!

Anyway, the Jazz thing was just something I noticed in this particular song. Your observations on Bach never occurred to me. I'll have to keep my ears open for it.

[MattieSongbird]

No prob manictiger, I just heard it for the first time today and the first thing that came to my mind was Monk.

Anyway, when you get a sec, lookup "Swinging Bach" here on youtube. I think you'll find some delicious stuff. Cheers!

[uhtrsst]

On the contrary, Chopin would be honored and grateful to know that somebody went to the trouble to break it down and point out the sophisticated moves of this piece. I'm sure that he is more than delighted to have people still interested after so many years.

[Zodiarkz]

Chopin would be soo mad at you for playing at a tempo he didn't indicate lol! He was very strict about playing at the right tempo and keeping the beat. But I agree with you that the piece sounds very different at this tempo, excellent work!

[karenny05]

Hi I would like to externalize my opinion regarding the smalin channel is very interesting

[masterastros]

This is probably me, but this sounds Dissonant on parts like the very beginning. But still beautiful. I wonder when the first Pianola Rolls were made, I now Debussy made some, but chopin? They have only 50 years separating them.

[Jaydoggy531]

Heh, do you take requests? It's so unique to see/hear music like this.

[smalin]

see the FAQ

[Edenhyde246]

This is lovely and the timing is perfect.

[smalin]

I wish I could hear how Chopin played this. He put so much subtle stuff into the piece, and I've never heard a performance at the indicated tempo that let it all be heard.

[3cplantin]

@smalin Yes, indeed. Many pianists make this prelude into a speedy etude, when it is a poem that needs to be savored.

[duyagetme]

THANK YOU once again.

[smalin]

You're quite welcome, Crikri.

[evaengineer]

noice.

[looney1023]

better slow than fast i think

[IceIceBabby]

The thing about music is when you listen to it you should start feeling the music. This definetely is imperssionism or did i call it right. Tons of mixed sounds to make a beautfiul piece. I don't know why i imagined a running horse..

[zolani13]

very cool, nice job!

[apple1231230]

sweet

[koemata]

brawo Malinowski

[Lyss27PIVI]

very beautiful I love Chopin hes one of my favorite composers

[sergeflousier]

Very nice playing ! I follow your channel but i didn't know that you played too... is there other pieces that you actually played ?

thx fr your work on those many pieces... it's terrific.

[smalin]

yes, I've played most of the piano music ... it usually says who is playing ...

[Niffiwan]

I think this one doesn't gain as much as some other pieces on your channel from being visualized like this, because so much of the effect is dependent on what isn't shown (the emotions of the player).

[smalin]

I agree, there's a lot of important stuff in this one that's not made easier to perceive by seeing the patterns. I only made it because I liked the piece and thought other people might enjoy hearing it played slower than usual.

[cVlman]

derpderpherp! herpdurrherp durr hurr hnngggghh!!! bravo!

[smalin]

I ran that through my translation tool ...

... and all I can say is ...

Watch Your Language!

;-)

[bachaddict]

two days - 646 views. says something about your popularity!

[smalin]

Something good, or something bad? Some videos get no views in their first few days, and some get millions. My most popular videos get ten to twenty thousand views a day, and the least popular ones hardly get any. So to me, this seems pretty average.

[Blashyrkh22]

Beautiful playing! Do you think you could upload some more fugues in a minor key? Those have been my favorites :)

[smalin]

Half of the fugues in the Well-Tempered Clavier are in minor keys, and I'm planning to do all of them eventually (see my to-do list).

[Blashyrkh22]

Thanks! I would greatly appreciate it!

[PrismLightwave]

The title says it's in D major, but the description says it's in A... ?

[smalin]

Ooops, sorry, that's a cut-and-paste error; in this video, the tonic (D) is green (the lowest note in the final chord).

[swupstik]

Hey you actually played this? You're very professional!

[smalin]

It's my interpretation, which I made in real-time using the conductor program (see that page on my web site if you're interested in that).

[swertyuiop310]

sweet

[mindygrahamkrauth]

delicious...

light, soft, melodious.

perfect job... thanks!!!

[smalin]

Always nice to hear from you, M.

[dougjmusic]

very nice to watch and listen... discovered your stuff last week. I have been composing on a tablature program called Tabledit. Now that I downloaded your software, I can export my tunes to your player and 'see it' in a whole new way. Thanks!

[3cplantin]

Nice! Better than merely "nice," though. At first I didn't understand why you chose the low tempo, but it does allow us to hear things that otherwise just fly by. There's plenty going on. The dynamic details are clearer and it's possible to do more with agogics. 23 to go!

[hexachordal]

agogics is one of my favourite words of all time. :D

[smalin]

>23 to go

There are definitely others I want to do. #3, I assure you, I will not play slowly.

[kpunkt]

very original interpretation! I like the reduced tempo, one can hear the harmonic changes so much better!!!

[SCL0PS]

That was just great! Keep making videos.

[arequipa1]

very nice

[B8Av3]

Very very nice! keep doing what you do, and i'll do the same, lul xD

[smalin]

You mean, you'll keep watching?

[B8Av3]

I compose music if your interested. I have music on my channel. so yea, thats what i ment.

[Gothguy47]

Very vivid, beautiful