Pauline Rovkah plays Nocturne no. 20 C# minor Chopin

This piece is my favorite by Chopin. I asked the mother of one of my friends to play it for me. She is a concert pianist for the Pittsburg area and also teaches piano at Chatham College. This is her sight reading only. There was no time for preparation. Perhaps this piece will mean more to you, give you a rich and poignantly sad look into this piece and the lives that it touches by knowing its background. It was published posthumously, that is, after the death of Chopin. This nocturne was the last song to be performed on Polish radio in Warsaw as the Germans invaded. When darkness fell over Europe so did it fall over the spirit of humanity. For 6 years such beauty was gone from the air. At the end of the war, as a testament to the survival of Poland, this piece was the FIRST to be performed on Warsaw Radio. As you listen to this song there is a very real quality to the music that makes you believe that being the last to be aired was no mistake. . . that it was no coincidence. You can feel the sadness and grief, but eventually the triumph of the jews and of Europe. The piece has a symbolic quality to it. To make this song more interesting and applicable to the era, mood, and bittersweet victory (almost non existent) of the people, is that the man who performed this piece for the last time on Polish air also survived to play it after the war. This man, Vladislaw Szpilman, was also one of the few Jews to escape from the Warsaw Ghetto and one of the few Jews to survive the war itself. The music takes on sentiments of power, struggle, strife, defeat and hope. I hope that this piece, for the many things that it represents, will become a timeless masterpiece for you.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Pianist
• Pauline
• Rovkah
• Piano
• Chopin
• C#
• minor
• WW2
• Poland
• Classical
• hope
• sadness
• resolution

[TheEricist]

I can't type in Russian, I'm at work.... no ya znayu ruski yazuik

But I'm Russian. And I knew that it was a Russian playing from the first 30 seconds.

[xochipepe]

Haha! Yes, I can see it come through!

[vanasticfantastic]

it is polish.:)

[xochipepe]

The piece is by a Pole (Chopin), but the performer (here) is Ukrainian.

[TheEricist]

ochen horosho?

is she Russian?

[xochipepe]

Yes, she is. Да, очень хорошо. Ты изучаешь русский язык?

[HellsMonster]

I grew up playing the piano... that was absolutely beautiful. Thank you for sharing it.

[gcarpani]

She was my piano teacher for a number of years and what a fantastic pianist - so passionate about music and so dedicated to the study and teaching of it. She brought out the best in my playing and is truly a pleasure to watch perform!

[gcarpani]

She was my piano teacher for a number of years and what a fantastic pianist - so passionate about music and so dedicated to the study and teaching of it. She brought out the best in my playing and is truly a pleasure to watch perform!

[RockerDuk]

I wish I could sight read that fast.

[moodymccabe]

I know Pauline Rovkah personally, from my time spent at the music department--I can honestly say that her performances are very touching to watch, and that she is an amazing pianist through and through. I only wish there were more video of her playing piano on YouTube.

[minimotzart]

It is a litle robottic in a way. It needs to be a bit faster. otherwise great playing

[spartan1081990]

I know this piece memorized, it gets kinda boring after you know it or if you play it without suffering or sentimentalism.

[milloselmejor]

mmm, are u missing the pedal? beginning?

[matthiasjones]

I, personally, like this interpretation of the piece. Most of the other ones are too..... bouncy, should I say? Why must any piece (though this one in particular) be played "in all possible haste"? You loose so much of the emotion and meaning behind the song this way.

And, if you truly just sight read this, I'd have to say that I am humbled by your skills. ^_^

Oh yes, and the recording quality is good as well (Yay!).

[3azifpiano]

so did u get the sheets yet ?