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Download the MP3 for FREE here: http://www.thepia... (limited time only)...
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Download the MP3 for FREE here: http://www.thepia... (limited time only)
Purchase "Somewhere over the Rainbow" here: http://thepianogu...
SUBSCRIBE to our YOUTUBE Channel here: http://www.youtub...
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Story behind the song:
Jon Schmidt and Steven Sharp Nelson were booked for a Piano Guys show in Hawaii. How could we resist filming our next video in the land of Aloha -- beautiful beaches, green mountains, and fresh pineapple?? We went to our Founders and Facebook fans to ask what song they wanted us to play there. "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" was the nearly-unanimous response. But you know how we are ... we couldn't "just" do this tune by itself...so in the studio we found a made-in-heaven matchup in the timeless melody from the Shaker Hymn "Simple Gifts" written in the 1800's (also used by Aaron Copland in his Ballet "Appalachian Spring"). We feel it's an especially appropriate mash-up because of our profound love and respect for the Hawaiian culture -- a people who are so good at finding happiness in simplicity. As you probably could hear we borrowed a lot of ideas from Iz's version which has become the stuff of legend.
Getting a piano onto a sandy beach and then onto a big hill in a famous ranch within the SAME day (we only had 8 hours to film) was no small feat. The only thing harder would be to be predict Hawaiian weather, which ended up being our biggest challenge.
We had a little extra help on this one. Steven Sharp Nelson's mother, Lynne Sanders Nelson -- a main source of his inspiration for pursuing music -- passed away early in life from the effects of a brain tumor. She was an incredibly-gifted musician and taught Steven to play music passionately rather than just playing "notes" on a page. "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" was one of her favorite songs. We finished this arrangement on what would have been her 70th birthday. Somehow she helped.
Thank you so much to the Kualoa Ranch who bent over backwards last-minute for us and provided us such a beautiful place to shoot. Visit their site at http://www.kualoa... -- when you visit Hawaii be sure to stop by and take a tour -- its where dozens of huge blockbluster movies/tv shows have been filmed.
This song is dedicated to
Lynne Sanders Nelson, The Hill Family, J. Mueller, & the people of Hawaii
Filming locations:
Beach Scene:
Pounders Beach, North Shore, Oahu Hawaii
Finale:
Kualoa Ranch, North Shore, Oahu Hawaii (This is the place to go for sightseeing on Oahu!)
Toll Free: (800) 231-7321
Tour Desk: (808) 237-7321
http://www.kualoa...
Credits:
Over the Rainbow music written by Harold E. Arlen in 1939 for the movie "Wizard of Oz" -- originally performed by Judy Garland
Published by EMI Feist Catalog, Inc.
Inspired, in part, by Israel Kamakawiwo'ole's cover
Simple Gifts written by Joseph Brackett in 1848
Arrangement written and produced by Al van der Beek & Steven Sharp Nelson
Video produced by Paul Anderson and Tel Stewart
Piano: Jon Schmidt
Electric/Acoustic Cellos: Steven Sharp Nelson
Vocals: Al van der Beek
Percussion: Steven Sharp Nelson & Al van der Beek
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KThalman favorited a video
(3 days ago)
Want to become a Piano Guys founder?
Click link for all the exciting det...
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Want to become a Piano Guys founder?
Click link for all the exciting details http://www.thepia...
Be first to receive our Limited Edition PianoGuys album! (Youtube hits) here: http://www.thepia...
Get this song on iTunes here: http://itunes.app...
Get Dubhouse remix on iTunes here: http://itunes.app...
Get this song on Amazon here: http://www.amazon...
Behind the Scenes:
http://www.youtub...
Follow The Piano Guys at:
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For Sheet Music to Moonlight, go here:
http://www.steven...
Moonlight was inspired by the great composer Ludwig Van Beethoven and his masterpiece "Moonlight Sonata," written for piano. It was written for piano, of course, because the electric cello had yet to be invented...
I used both of my 5-string electric cellos (one tuned extra high and one extra low) and the acoustic cellos to give this piece a unique feel and a high level of emotion.
I used another melody from Beethoven -- try and guess what it is (guess before you scroll down to the credits where it is listed!) It starts at 1:21 and reoccurs throughout the tune. This melody happened spontaneous in the studio and saved the tune from a bad case of writer's block.
Sheet music and minus track coming soon.
Credits
Written and performed by Steven Sharp Nelson
Inspired by Beethoven's "Moonlight Sonata" and the melody from Beethoven's 7th Symphony, 2nd movement
Music produced by Al van der Beek & Steven Sharp Nelson
Engineered by Al van der Beek at ToyVan Studios
Video produced by Paul Anderson, Tel Stewart, and Shaye Scott of the Piano Guys
Locations:
Salt Flats, Utah
The "Enola Gay" Airplane Hanger, Utah -- courtesy of Jim & Tom Petersen
http://www.wendov...
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KThalman favorited a video
(3 weeks ago)
Butterball the Pembroke Welch Corgi. His attempt to go down the stairs a...
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Butterball the Pembroke Welch Corgi. His attempt to go down the stairs and crying at the same time.
I believe sxephil's used some clips of this video on one of his vids and called him wiggles. His true name is Butterball.
Don't worry, he is perfectly healthy and everyway
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KThalman favorited a video
(3 weeks ago)
Yumi the 10 week old Pembroke Welsh Corgi, trying to get comfortable.
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KThalman liked a video
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Stacking 36 treats on dogs nose!
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