John Williams - Sakura Variations (Improved Audio)

[hafination]

How do I find the music score? Please anyone help me. I really need this for my education purpose.

Sorry for my English.

[AfonsoTelesGuitar]

Monotone isn't a good word to describe this interpretation, but I don't think it's a good one for that matter.

Listen to Xue-Fei Yang's for more expression, legatto and dynamics on the theme, more virtuosity on the first variation (which is supposed to be a lot faster that Williams plays it) and a better Greg Smallman tone, not as exaggeratedly mellow as Williams's.

However, I'll admit, in the end, it all boils down to opinion.

[Boylieboyle]

@AfonsoTelesGuitar Jesus Christ that's the most mature comment I've ever seen on Youtoob. Thumbs up if sanity can coexist with technology?

[soullessSiIence]

I can even hear his shirt against the guitar right in the harmonics variation.

[erock1986]

@ditman333 2:25 is my favourite part. Those touch harmonics a just brilliantly played. Flawless.

[erock1986]

This is what they play in Heaven.

[MrJinti]

wow, i can hardly listen to this recording.

This song has so much soul and beuty when played with empathy.

This version is so monotone.

[brkdaice]

@MrJinti Well please enlighten the rest of us. What rendition do you recommend? If this is "monotone" I would certainly love to hear whatever version you are listening to! =)

[MrJinti]

@brkdaice

I'd love to! My personal favourite version of this song is perfomed by andantelargo. Basicly, just search for sakura and it'll be almost at top. Maybe i posted the flamy comment because i was so sick of practicing this song for hours and was just tired of the song at the moment :) make sure to watch it later on when i upload btw :) Best regards!

[Dreamside91]

@brkdaice Considering how many different techniques and little tricks he's doing to get different sounds, "monotone" is the last thing that come to my mind.

Let's see you pull off palm muting on a classical lol

[ilkovsky]

@brkdaice He must have written that comment on "opposite day" :)

John Williams is an absolutely brilliant musician. 

[fyafyta13]

@MrJinti I find that with a lot of John Williams' pieces.

[utupoe111]

reminds me of diablo 2 for some reason.

[subshrub]

well, my 2 cents is that it's played too fast. the guitarist is just fabulous of course, but i like this song slow, subtle, to emphasize the profound beauty.

[ditman333]

1:40 is the best part anyone agree? =)

[anisiye]

初めてこの曲が良いと感じた！

[ditman333]

I cant find the sheet music anywhere for this song... Is Sakura the actual name for this?

[wisesatyr72]

the Samurais shouldve joined allies w.the Mongols and besiged the rest of continents back in 1300

[priestswearseatbelts]

Spiderman spiderman, does what ever a spider can!

[TheDGuitar1]

Where can i find scores or can someone send them to me?please response

[joe62293]

Does this lack a variation??

[XianXiuHong]

@joe62293 It's missing the 3rd variation

[jodawara]

Thanks a lot. Classic Japanese entry piece for learning instrument called 'KOTO'

But Mr Williams is amazing throughout. The one and the only.

Arigato. JOdawara/Japan

[mayorde18]

that guitar sounds expensive T.T

[MrGayItUp]

@mayorde18 Yes, made by luthier Greg Smallman. I wish I owned one of those; it is charming.

[speedy2343]

beautiful audio :)

[focl2003]

Thank you very much brkdaice, John Williams in my opinion has always been the best classical guitarist in history, naturality, sound, elegance, everything.

[RandomMocker]

@focl2003 I seen him in concert on Friday night. He was technically amazingly accurate. But his Villa Lobos preludes and Brouwer's El Decameron Negro were pathetic. I've heard them played better in student concerts at my university. There was absolutely no passion or emotion at all. I can't stress how disappointed I was. His Barrios was okay, nothing special though. I would normally think it was due to his age but his technique was still flawless so I don't think it was that.

[focl2003]

I agree partially, I've heard that his Smallman is not ideal for certain music and I agree again, however he was born for the guitar and he respects his limitations, e.g: Bream playing Capricho Arabe plays very strong vibratos at the beginning which would be necessary in some chords (but impossible), Segovia playing Etude 1 Villalobos at the middle slows down because he can't keep the same speed, the same happens to Yepes, another issue are faces, many pros make faces all the time which I hate

[soullessSiIence]

@focl2003 "Making faces" is part of the music. I you play like a rock steady then you can't perform at all. I don't understan people like you. Music is expresion, so does making faces.

[focl2003]

By the way my mother tongue is Spanish, I live in Oaxaca Mexico.

[weskoki]

@RandomMocker Don't you think you would get bored playing Lobos for 40 years???

[RandomMocker]

@weskoki Yes, I almost certainly would. At which point I wouldn't even consider putting them in a concert programme I have to perform. Why didn't he?

[limns1]

dislike the dislike of this video

whoever did it was most likely an uncultured bogan who doesn't know real music if it hit them in the face

[charleseladas]

@limns1 I didn't dislike but I think his interpretation is way too fast in the begining. The piece is sakura, which means cherry blosom, which is a flower that comes in the begining of spring, and The Introduction is supposed to be slow at the begining, because it makes me feel like its the morning and its how the flower will start her day. besides that, the theme was a little fast. He skipped the 3rd variation. Also, people can dislike because they dont like the interpretation.

[ceili]

I bought this on video years ago and wore the tape out cause i played it so much, John Williams actually left out a variation!

[DCdabest]

what this vidoe has one dislike?!! thats just retarded!!!

what god accursed phillistine did that!!!!!!

[pravolub8]

I can play this song except the 4th variation. I can't do tremelo...my right (picking) hand is very slow due to my M.S. ...though I wish I could!

[JacksonTheGod]

@pravolub8 yar me too : / tremolo needs months of practice to get the optimum speed

[pravolub8]

@JacksonTheGod I've been playing guitar (now) for 31 years. In 2000 I got whammied with Multiple Sclerosis, which wiped out my memory and my ability to play. I've rehabilitaed myself as much as I can...I'll never be able to play tremelo...but I can play again (thank God!)

[JacksonTheGod]

@pravolub8 ouch i feel sorry for you :( good thing that you still have the spirit of the guitar in you : )!

[darkfey1963]

I first heard this melody in the film "Teahouse of the August Moon" and liked it very much.Saw this video on an Arts cable channel and recognised the melody at once;thanks so much for sharing it!

[xR00KxAK]

... Wow... I can't wait to learn to play this

[10CentHead]

I've seen this countless times, and doubt I'll ever get tired of it. It's such a beautiful melody, and his execution is so effortless. One of my all time favorites...

[kayj80]

Seems to me, the most likely reason why he would skip that 3rd variation is that it is the only contemporary sounding section of the composition.  Without that variation you can close your eyes and almost imagine this being played on a Koto in a traditional Japanese garden.

[MSElabE]

Great song!

[AlbertoRodriguez91]

Cheater!!! He skipped the third variation! Lol.

Awsome performance as usual with Williams.

[njevren]

very nice song :)

[ZaMoogleSamurai]

Thank you very much for posting. The audio is indeed improved which adds to the enjoyment of this fantastic video. Its been of great help to play the song correctly (well, at least know how it -should- sound like...)!

[brkdaice]

No problem, it was my pleasure.

This piece is definitely one of a kind..

I showed it to my friend and now he wants to learn it. haa

[ditman333]

@brkdaice What is the name of this song? i cant find it anywhere, its as if it doesn't exist... i search Albeniz Sakura sheet music and i get nothing, please help me

[xMyDangerousMindx]

@ditman333 it's the Sakura theme and variations by Yuquijiro Yocoh :) <3