Zez Confrey: Dizzy Fingers (1923)

[zeppy13131]

Hi Phillip—

Swell tickling! Thanks for sharing. Young people today have so much amazing music to discover, and this is certainly one fun genre awaiting them.

BTW, when I saw the thumbnail of your video on the search-results page, I thought you were Dick Hyman... Not bad company to be in, eh? Cheers, Z.

[PSearPianist]

@zeppy13131 Thanks very much. A lot of young people play this, and it was recently on an exam syllabus here in the UK!

[tylerspiro1]

sounds good except for the swishing sound of turning the pages. It is unappealing to watch a pianist reading--amateurs do this.

[PSearPianist]

@tylerspiro1 In that caser, I suggest you should never go to a chamber music recital with piano - since almost all accompanists (collaborative pianists) play from music, and often turn their own pages!

[tylerspiro1]

@PSearPianist Your a terrific piano player but a soloist NEVER READS THE MUSIC unless their amateurs



[PSearPianist]

@tylerspiro1 Not true. Richter used music in his later concerts, and wrote a note for his programmes explaining why. Before Liszt, players normally used scores for performances. Some players who are capable of memorising prefer to use scores because it enables them to present a wider range or repertoire.

[tylerspiro1]

@PSearPianist It shows good brain power, control, mastery to memorize, what old men do or what they did 0ver 150 years ago doesnt change the fact that you are a better player without the music detracting from your skill.

[tylerspiro1]

@PSearPianist you obviously have no idea what you are talking about, name one famous pianist who brings music to a concert in lets say, carnegie hall ok?



[PSearPianist]

@tylerspiro1 A quote from a review of a Richard Goode Beethoven recital at Carnegie Hall in 2005: "Mr. Goode used a score and a page turner for the C minor Sonata at the end and in the process created the most beautifully managed and moving moment of the program...... (continued)

[PSearPianist]

@tylerspiro1(continuation) " ........ Audiences are used to solo concerts played from memory, but music on the music stand is not necessarily a sign of defeat or a mark of deficiency. Used for the right reasons, scores in front of players become a guide, a palpable corrective, even an external conscience. I would have gladly turned pages for the "Pathétique." (New York Times) Andras Schiff has also used scores to play Bartok concerti there.

[tylerspiro1]

@PSearPianist i was a little harsh i admit and i am not saying that its awful that someone uses music in a concert its just not very proffesional

[iTmcb]

@PSearPianist Well I think you won that argument :) And well played, considering this for Grade 8 rather than Prelude from Holberg's time (Greig) and Rondo No. 1 (Bartok), not decided yet though :S

[PSearPianist]

@iTmcb Thank you. Tylerspiro has a good point, and on this particular video, page turns were a real problem, just because I was playing from a large book. I don't know the Bartok, but I do commend the Grieg - I think I would rather play that in an exam than the Confrey, as there is more you can do with it, musically, and it is an easier piece to start on an unseen piano - but others will have different views!

[iTmcb]

@PSearPianist Yeah, I can see your point, but I had started Prelude and just don't really like the 'middle' section, my hands keep getting in each others way :/ However, I much prefer playing Ragtime-style pieces, such as this one (I've learnt Gladiolus Rag for the Grade already).

[iTmcb]

@PSearPianist In case you're wondering, the page turning is awful in the Alfred version, I'm just going to memorise the piece instead... (The turns are at 0:50 and 1:29 in the video)

The good news is that I have almost finished, I just need to get the second 'different' section up to speed.

[PSearPianist]

@iTmcb I recall that when I made the video I had to memorise parts and play from reprises of sections to make the page turns manageable at all!

[dollthatoverdoesit]

@iTmcb i did it for my grade 8, its quick to learn the notes, just had an issue with the speed, but i do quite like the prelude from holberg's time

[iTmcb]

@dollthatoverdoesit Yeah it is quick, but I'm quite good with speed, my normal problem is playing too quickly, or slowly speeding up throughout the piece... That shouldn't be an issue with this one though.

[fartalator2000]

WOAH!!! My teacher watns me to play this in 2 months and I'm 13!! I feel special :) You're really good.

[PSearPianist]

@fartalator2000 I wish you good luck with the piece - I am sure you could learn it in 2 months. There is a lot of repetition in the piece!

[PSearPianist]

@AikikoAngel Thank you. I can't remember how long it took me to learn the piece, as I actually worked on it quite a few years ago and brushed it up for the video. However, I do remember that it took me a long time to sort out the page turns for the video (almost impossible!). I practise about 2 hours a day - sometimes less, often more!

[TheCase236]

Thanks for posting this n_n i loved it!

[PSearPianist]

@TheCase236 I'm delighted to hear that!

[elettrofisa]

Complimenti eccezzionale esecuzione, a presto, Gennaro.

[PSearPianist]

@elettrofisa Mille Grazie!

[Pochkigena]

Not sure how I discovered you but really gald I did ... am not a musician but greatly enjoy all piano music ....this piece is, to me, beautifully executed .... love watching your manual dexterity / agility .... Have put you in my favourites box and will return regularly to you permormances ....thank you....John

[PSearPianist]

@Pochkigena Thanks for that - I hope you enjoy some of my other vids too!

[jbdmb41]

man i seriously just got home and felt like you watching you play...definately enjoy it

[PSearPianist]

@jbdmb41 Thank you!

[jbdmb41]

man i think i saw you play you play cpe bach solfiegetto a while back, great job!!!

[PSearPianist]

@jbdmb41 Thank you! You did indeed see me play Solfeggietto - I like variety!

[ramiq27]

I like how you flip the pages haha.

[PSearPianist]

@ramiq27 Th epage turns on this piece (in my edition at least) are challenging!

[asmendong]

where can i download this music piece. can anyone help me pls send it to asm_endong@yahoo.com

[PSearPianist]

@asmendong I can't send it to you as it is still in copyright in the EU, where I live. If you search online for it you should be able to buy a copy - it is widely played in the US.

[LonelyElf1]

Great! To be able to play that long a piece without mistake is pretty skillful, especially considering how difficult the song is. One of my favourite pieces too; great job!

[PSearPianist]

@LonelyElf1 Thank you. I can't remember, but I may have done an edit in this - I sometimes do when recording longer/harder pieces otherwise the process can become stressful!

[asmendong]

sir can i ask for a copy of the music sheet. how can i down load, its for my sons piano recital

[MrPikachu888]

That's is VERY GOOD!!!!!!!

[PSearPianist]

@MrPikachu888 Thank you!

[valericsson]

me and my students loved your version! makes us dizzy too... it's a compliment!

[PSearPianist]

Thank you very much - I am really glad you and they enjoyed it!

[JamesPriceJohnson]

i like the victor arden version

[PSearPianist]

I don't think I know that.

[puffyjoe123]

it seems kinda easy for a grade 8 one, but i don't take trinity guildhall...

[PSearPianist]

I think Grade 8 is the right level for it because of the stamina and finger strength needed to do a reasonable performance.

[SpecialAPB]

I love this piece so much. I played this piece in a competition at my school a month ago. Although I find that I much prefer your recorded version to my own!

[PSearPianist]

I have just seen your video of it. Congratulations on winning the competition, and I'm sure Chethams would have been impressed. Actually I really liked your version and gave it 5* - however you seem to use a different text because you arpeggiate some accompanying chords to the main theme - or is that artistic licence?

[SpecialAPB]

Thank you very much! I actually did have the music which sounded how you played it. I challenged myself to try and learn as close to how Zez Confrey actually played it. I listened to the actual recording (or at least I hope it was) which I bought, and noticed that there were a few alterations in the way he played it. I hope that it was the origional or else I was just playing a load of rubbish! Anyway thank you for watching my video and rating it!!!

[PSearPianist]

That's a good approach to take!

[angelyanggg]

dammn, ur good .

[PSearPianist]

Thanks. I'm glad you enjoyed my interpretation!

[PSearPianist]

If you can play it as fast on guitar as I can on piano, I'm impressed!

[Erunno89]

Awesome! Fun piece.

[PSearPianist]

It is certainly fun to play - and not as hard as it sounds!

[PSearPianist]

Thank you!

[Babejuda]

Bravo&Bravu!!!

[PSearPianist]

Thanks!!

[aznboiij0sh]

awesome as always!

[PSearPianist]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[littlemissteena]

(: Sounds funky.

Could you do some Grade 9 piano exam pieces?

[PSearPianist]

Let me know what exam board has a grade 9 (in the UK the grades only go up to 8, and then you are into diplomas!)