Philip Springer, 94, plays Moonlight Sonata, First Movement for daughter’s birthday. He composed many songs, including the Christmas hit Santa Baby in 1953. From www.classicfm.... His autobiography: www.wikiwand.c...
My late husband was a trombonist and bass player. He also played the upright bass. He used to play the Moonlight Sonata on his electric bass, just for me. To hear this gentleman play this piece almost made me cry. I'm going to listen to this again and again. R.I.P. Rodney.😌😌😍
Even at 94 - his rhythm is like that of a metronome. Precise and on time. Absolutely amazing for a brain of that age. I enjoyed every second of his performance and I am a person who feels music as well as hearing it. The emotions are intense in parts and then more relaxed and soothing in others. I take my hat off and take a bow to you Sir, And then a round of applause.
piano must be his greatest passion in this life. even at this age, he still plays incredibly. perfect velocity on each note, excellent use of rubato. he's bringing pieces to life to this day.
He is drawing such powerful sounds from the depths of his 94 years of accumulated experience. There is a nuanced intensity to his well balanced ebb and flow. Stunning, may God bless him
I used to play it when I was a 12 old years girl. then I threw away my life and I forgot how to play piano. Now I am starting playing it again. God bless this man who plays piano wonderfully.
Actually that is a very patronising comment.they also have their lives and goals and are not just there to teach you about life.ageism alive and kicking here.how much have you to offer?
@@janestub not everytime, there are, for example in my city, many old people that only want money for his drugs addiction, old people that hates youngs and adults because they have better llifes and start to be rude with others, these old people don't want love or help, they're want drugs or young girls to touch. So be careful with the people, not only because they are old, they are now good people. If you don't belive me, come to Tijuana and look a bit.
@Ben Birchman a cover is really an imitation or near interpretation of an original performance. The idea is that it mimics the style of the original performers. Hence, “cover bands.” More recently it is used to refer to any performance of a popular song by someone other than the original performer, but that’s not really correct unless it’s at least somewhat of an imitation.
When the chords calm as if dawn were breaking after a difficult night, my eyes welled up and my heart sang with joy. This man has a marvelous gift, and I thank him for sharing it.
His old age adds a whole extra dimension of intensity and beauty and deep meaning to this piece. It's as if all those years of life experience flow through his fingers into the music. Absolutely beautiful
I love how this was played, i'm not a pianist but a listener, there was a lovely gap in the timing of each note of each chord with the left hand, like the chord was slowly dropped, the weight shared between fingers at different times, rather than being plainly hit. Beautiful and admirable.
@@louisa4725 Oh he does. Give him a break he is an older man who’s fingers don’t work like they used to. Assuming you have never touched a piano, I wouldn’t not judge others. :)
Прекрасное исполнение, несмотря на огромное количество версий лучших пианистов мира, это исполнение не уступает им , не теряется на из фоне! Прекрасное интонирование, глубокое проведение темы, баланс, чувство формы, энергетика!!!!!!!!! Достойнейшее исполнение!!!!
Philip Springer, who brought so many pop songs into the world, plays this piece with the grace of the musical genius he is. Thank you, Philip, for all your contributions, for taking the energy of the universe and translating it into something we can hear and understand. For following your dream and fulfilling what the universe called you to do.
Better than most professional recordings, that all play at the same funeral tempo, in the same style, and god forbid they ever press a key too hard. In his hands, the music is not just alive, but young.
Bruh, a tempo is consistently performed because that is what the people think beethoven was trying to express. Plus, professional recordings have much more nuance to them then you think
@@mpgodjr when playing music you want to be be one with your instrument show your emotions with the instrument if you make a mistake that’s fine because nobody is perfect
This man is amazing at 94 to play so beautifully and with perfection, you can't get better. I am sure he has played a lot of concerts in his day. I send 2000 stars out of 2000. Thanks for sharing this gentlemen.
His body may be withering but his hands are still strong and beautiful. His fingers full of determination. I'm grateful for stumbling upon this video. Please never take this down.
I agree that for his age it's nearly perfect, but you can clearly see his decline. Concentrate on his left hand. It doesn't move accurate at all. Addition: A pianist is supposed to keep his fingers "round". It produces nicer tones and gives much more dexterity. He can't / doesn't do this.
@@IchiganCS By the way, you are a dick. In my mind, you seem like the person to play a song with no love or soul and just let it slip away in time. He’s an elder. He is becoming more and more still, so he is unable to. You are here not enjoying the magnificence of his performance and criticizing what he can’t put to a halt. You are so rude.
Or rather the right brain neurones do not either and die as our creative power does not diminish like the rational analytical mind. Even senile dementia patients who don't know who they even are can still play perfectly
@foadahadi yeah that's kind of my point. You seem to assume he "might forgot a lot of things in his life...". I'm saying not every life is the same... just because he's old doesn't mean he's forgetful. Seems sharp as a tack to me.
Can we all imagine the power of music to keep us believing in emotions and be constantly concious of where we are and how happily we live. Bless Him and people like him.
He seemed to awaken the longer he played. His face showed a memory, a passion, and the longer he played the more it seemed to come out. That's how I saw it. Very well done.
Oh wow! That was an amazing performance! You play with such feeling, and to still be able to play like this at 94 is truly inspirational. I am a pianist and composer myself and I was deeply moved by this rendition of the Moonlight Sonata. I was moved to tears. Bravo Maestro ❤👏
And now he's 95 years old and I pray he can still play because I'm sure he'd be sad if he couldn't. This is just beautiful. 🎼🖤 Thank you for sharing this video with us.
I listened to many pianists playing this on Spotify. He somehow makes the piece sound so much more meaningful, it touches me deeply where with the others it was just really beautiful. This pianist somehow tells a story.
It's true. This piece can't be done properly without feeling your way through all of it, from beginning to end. If it doesn't capture your soul as you play it, something is wrong. It's one of the greatest compositions in all of music. That said, this is the 1st movement. The other two movements really make it complete, but like his 5th symphony, we all too often get just the 1st movement. Not knocking it at all, though; he does a great job of it here. Really glad to have found this! Fred
Age and experience add beauty that youth cannot. This is why I am no fan of orchestras that purge out the older players. The young learn from the old as has always been and always will be.
The only thing I don’t like is the Tempo (a little too fast for me) and sometimes the grace notes are too accentuated (long) for my taste. Listen do Valentina Lisitsas Version
94 year old composer Philip Springer playing the Moonlight Sonata ❤ ✡️ 🙏 ❤ ✡️ 🙏. I have never seen anything more beautiful musically in life. My tears are naturally running down my face everytime I see and listen to this gentleman playing his piano and especially how he plays it and express his entire love for this music. This beautiful and timeless classic masterpiece - Moonlight Sonata - was composed between 1801 and 1802 and is one of Beethoven's best known and most popular piano works. Philip Springer’s incredibly soulful, loving, romantic and completely intimate way of expressing and playing this classical and legendary piece of music with his beautiful hands, his entire face and body tells a unique life story of the highest professional, musical genius and a true mensch by definition with unlimited amount of life experiences. I wish each and everyone of you a very nice, loving and peaceful Shabbat shalom and Yawm al-Jum'a and everyone else a very enjoyable and relaxing weekend 💐 ❤️ 😊 🙏
I had to remember to breathe through silent tears as I watched and listened to this performance. It was truly breathtaking and evidence of one magnificent soul speaking to another across centuries. Thank you for sharing. Incredibly touching.
😭 i wouldnt call myself a pianist coz i learnt playing piano only for 4 years as a kid and rarely practice now. But it still touches me, basically feels like he put his whole soul into this piece he played
@@bourbon_sketcher My father had dementia. It is heartbreaking what it takes from a person, you have to celebrate every win. This was a huge win for this man.
Watched this with my son last fall, but lost the video before I could comment. In the previous year, he lost a grandfather, a cousin, and our dog. Emotions were high. I remember looking over and seeing tears in his eyes. At 5, music had always been fun and goofy, but the emotion that came through this rendition was, and still is, an now forever will be, just that damn powerful. Thank you for sharing this with the world.
Moved to tears by the beauty and depth of feeling in his playing. Though his body is 94 years old, his soul and talent will be young forever and ever. Thank you!!💕
I saw his name on album covers. And yes, it was printed in the liner notes of the Rock'n Roll Christmas album (CD). I love reading liner notes found inside or outside the covers of albums. ❤ Mr. Springer played this piece in such a perfect timing. It was mesmerizing. Well done, sir. Beautifully played with such perfect nuances in each touch. Oh my, what 94 years old pianist can recall the notes to play such classical piece! How divine t'was. ❤❤❤ p.s. Happy 97th year birthday (5/2023). May God bless you good health and many more blessings. ❤
Такого звучания я не слышала даже у великих пианистов. Божественное исполнение. Он не просто исполняет Бетховена. Он играет свою жизнь в этом произведении.
This made me practice longer than usual. I want to be able to play like him if I ever live to that age. I've only been learning the piano for 2 years and I'm almost 23. There is a whole universe of music I want to learn.
I guarantee you that Mr. Springer learned this piece as a child or young adult. The music you memorize at an early age stays locked in memory. I would advise you to absorb as much as you possibly can while you are young and best able to learn.
At your age , yes you should be able to get as good as him, for me I'm 66, so only have 28 years to do it. So far I know the first 12 bars, so should be able to play it all by 94, but as good as him, no not got enough time :(
“Then let us all do what is right, strive with all our might toward the unattainable, develop as fully as we can the gifts God has given us, and never stop learning” - Ludwig van Beethoven
It reminds me of the passage in romans 11 that says “For the gifts and call of God are irrevocable.” You can see even dementia patients still able to play incredible pieces impeccably! And this is absolutely no exception.
