Peter Bispham plays Brahms Rhapsody in B minor

Brahms: Rhapsody in B minor Op. 79 No. 1.
Recorded for 2009 Van Cliburn YouTube Piano Contest.

Sorry about the piano being out of tune. I found out when I got to the venue with all my recording equipment (it isn't my own piano). Too late to record anything else before the competition deadline!

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Classical
• Steinway
• Piano
• Amateur
• Pianist
• Great
• Britain
• Van
• Cliburn
• Competition
• 2009
• Audition
• Contest
• Brahms
• Rhapsody
• Zoom
• H2

[friend1823]

When you get a distance from "classical" music, you can see more clearly in a way. Many classical musicians need to get out and listen to folk music, etc. - though it might take years to clear out the cobwebs. Bravo to you for being a real musician.

[friend1823]

At last, someone plays this like music. I haven't played classical music for a while and it is interesting to hear this piece played by many other well known classical players who, with no apparent awareness, walk all over the music but seem to be satisfied with a certain clerical exactness.

[PhillipLWilcher]

Dear Peter : I agree with Raymond's comment (rsmullyan) below. I have no real problem here with the piano being out of tune - you should hear mine! Real musicians can listen through anything to the overall intent anyway - yes?

I adore Brahms, the somewhat structural ambiguity and his entwining ideas, their content always commensurate with their length. You understand his temperament well, his introversion, his conversation with self. B minor also happens to be my favourite key! A pleasure Peter!

[chrstfntc2875]

i understand, don't feel as if i'm insulting, i was simply trying to give you some pointers since i know you're in it for the van cliburn competition - pretty stiff competition, anyway, i hope you do well, i wish you all good luck

[chrstfntc2875]

by the way, all your transitions are by complete silence, experiment with something different, the transitions need to be smoother, around 708 more left hand, although it may be the recording quality, around 727 keep up your energy, you start this section all fiery and then lose your energy, the scales should be more like waves of sound than scales, although you

[chrstfntc2875]

dont bang at 221, 245 careful, are your wrists relaxed? it would help with clarity of notes around 3 30, its very musical, i like your phrasing for the most part, its boring around 530, contrast your phrases, or make the phrases part of one giant phrase,

[chrstfntc2875]

tune your piano before you record, it sounds horrible,

[doelman]

Nicely done!

[jes9015]

What beautiful playing! Immensely musical, no doubt due to your impeccable pacing and phrasing. Thanks for this performance.

[wildejag]

Beautiful expression. I enjoyed listening. Your phrasing is very relaxing to listen to. You speak like a poet. Crisp pedaling... I prefer it in this piece maybe more than say Op. 119 #1.