Rick Wakeman - Close To The Edge (Solo Piano) 

I'm a beginner pianist at age 62, and a lifelong Yes fan. A few months ago, I worked out a right-hand-only version of the iconic guitar hook after the chaotic intro. It makes a great little exercise, and it also feels good playing my own version of even a small section of such a stunning piece of music. This solo piano arrangement is incredible, and obviously lightyears beyond anything I will ever be able to play. Still, it was thrilling to watch Rick's right hand move through that melody I know so well, launching from G-F# for the major side of the loop, G-F for the minor. It reminded me that we're both pianists, and that is a lovely feeling indeed. Thank you for inspiring me for half a century, Rick. Your music has changed my world.

There are many very good pianists - but here we enjoy a man who is also an extremely jolly good fellow, with sense of humour to match, great in telling stories, amusing people, such a nice contrast to a lot of hardly accessible musicians, full of pride and nose-up. When Rick sits behind a keyboard and a mic to speak to the audience, a splendid time is guaranteed for all.

I did not know this existed. I am happier now.

Rick Wakeman has been a musical bless to me since 1973. God bless this man in particular his magical hands.

No words apart from Thank you Mr Wakeman..

A classical piece for the modern world

RIck should get a Grammy for this.

As much as I love his keyboard work, I'll never get tired of hearing Rick on a real piano.

I've followed Rick since 1973. He's been a very big part of my Life. Bless you rick

One of the greatest rock keyboardists of all time.❤

"Was that something beautiful, amazing, wonderful, extraordinary beautiful?"

Wonderfull , another favourite of mine is the late Keith Emerson .

At his concert i Rome in 1990 I was below the stage just in front of him. The place was small so I was very close...and I can't tell how many fingers he has on his hands. One of the best concerts I've ever been to in my whole life. He pleyed the whole Journey to the centre of Earth (without the narrator) in one shot.

this is heavenly

One of the pieces I selected for my wedding ceremony in the church was exactly an extract from “Journey”. I asked the lady pianist: are you able to play that ? She replied: provided I have the music sheet… and she did it !! 👏🏼

Thank you Mr. Wakeman, for sharing that with us. Incredibly generous.

The song may be titled "Closer To The Edge", but I feel closer to heaven now...

Being so long ago, it's easy to forget just what great musicians these guys are.

What an incredible piano piece by an incredibly gifted pianist. This song helped usher me into my teens, during an era when progressive artists like yourself, Rick, set a high bar that has never even come close to being reached, let alone surpassed in the decades since. That was an amazing time for music lovers like myself, and this video is a poignant reminder of that. Thanks for your immense contribution to the soundtrack of my life.

You know what i picture when i close my eyes and listen? A leaf blowing in the wind moving from yard to yard doing a dance with the wind. ❤🌹

To me Rick Wakeman will always exemplify YES. When he sits at a Grand it becomes obvious what I love about his playing.

It is always a pleasure to listen to Mr. Wakeman play!

I remember when Close To The Edge came out & still have my original record & Rick was already well known in music circles for his work on other folk's records but he took the opportunity with YES to shine like super nova. I have the DVD from Yesongs 1972 which i believe was done at The Rainbow Theater & was watching that the other night & when Ricks turn comes round to do stuff off his first solo LP well that's just jaw dropping musicianship & still these days, he's lost nothing but a little hair & has a great sense of humor. I did get to see Yes in 73 in MD. & Live is nothing close to the DVD & a TV. Those were the days in the 70s when real playing was the important thing. In Rock they don't get much better than him. 🎹 I'm not a keyboard player but i do play guitar & have since the mid 60s. Thanks, Rick, for all the awesome things you've given over the long years.

Magic!!!!! With all Best regards a nd best wishes from Argentina. dearest Rick.

In some ways, this solo piano version outshines the original. And I love the original.

Amazing. He's playing every part except the vocals...effortlessly.

truly one of the greatest records ever made..... easily up there with "Dark Side of The Moon", "Sgt. Pepper", "Pet Sounds", "Queen II", "2112" etc.......

Rick n Chick. The best there ever was.

I remember in 1980, I was in 10th grade, a friend had just gotten a walkman and was listening to Fragile. His eyes were saucers, his jaw was slack. Song ended, he stopped it, took off the headphones. Started making noises about how mind-blowing the music was. I asked which song in particular, he said Cans and Brahms. Ah...another Rick Wakeman fan is born.

Thank you Rick. Opening up RU-vid to find this treasure is like finding an old bottle of Châteauneuf-du-Pape hiding under some boxes in my cellar. Remarkable.

While my fellow 15 year old guitarists were lifting the record needle back a thousand times trying to learn Steve Howe's licks on Close to the Edge, I was doing the same but learning Rick Wakeman's keyboard riffs on my guitar, instead. I based my entire lead guitar style on the melodic yet powerful four-note arpeggio that opens and closes the first side of the album. Those four notes have brought me joy for the past half-century. Thanks Rick and Jon!

I saw him this past spring, He's incredible

Yes!

Fantastico maestro Wakeman! Grazie sempre per la sua musica meravigliosa!

Rick Wakeman THE FINGERS. THE MASTER. FOREVER YES❣️❣️❣️🎹🎹🎹🎹🎹🎹🎹🎹🎹🎹🎹👍😎

Clip at least 25 years old --but still great..CTTE -greatest recorded song in history.

I’ve seen Yes 19 times, and his center of the earth tour in Cincinnati (gentle giant was opener) God bless you sir. And thank you for all the wonderful music and helping me keep my sanity, for all these decades.

learning to Listen.

now that was rather splendid

WOOOOOWWWW .. GRACIAS MAESTRO .. TENGO 65 AÑOS Y HACE MAS DE 50 QUE ERES UNO DE MIS COMPAÑEROS DE RUTA .. GRACIAS CRACK .. GRACIAS X TANTO .. UN ABRAZO GIGANTE DESDE BARILOCHE REPÚBLICA ARGENTINA 🇦🇷

Well, the video's out of sync but who cares, listening and watching Rick play is always a treat. Keith, Rick, John Lord, we all were so fortunate and did not realize it. Cheers!

The mastery of a piano/keyboard master. Amazing!!!!

Fuckin hell that's good. 🤘🧙‍♂🤘

Utter genius enough said .

Major soundtrack of the joyful moments of my life! Rick!

You are simply one of a kind Rick!!

September 1978, had front row seats for Yes at The Houston Coliseum with Rick Wakeman staying on stage for a solo performance during an intermission. Still one of my favorite concerts.

The first time I saw Rick play this live was 10-1-77 in Houston when I was 14 and have been a fan ever since!

STUNNING VERSION...¡¡¡😎😎😎

I love the sound of a Steinway and Rick makes it magic.

This man enchants me today as he did 50 years ago! Extraordinary!

I loved our chat here in New Hampshire USA.

Still amazing after all of these years! Thank you Rick.

Rick Wakeman, always divine music!

Random youtubealgorythm brought me here. After2times digging this melody my legs started to give me goosebumbs with no explanations. A gem this 1 is 2 me from now on. Thank you Rick.

Wonderful - wish the video was the same performance as what we hear.

Since I saw Rick play this live in Atlanta GA when it came out in the early 70s, I have to say that whatever your interpretation of CTTE is, is at time my favorite rendition of it. Thanks Rick...

O man, so beautiful. Made me cry. Thanks for everything you wrote and played.

Мелодика , ритм и гармонические последовательности этой импровизации очень напоминают фольклор народов Северного Кавказа, таких, как, грузины, ингуши, чеч енцы , кабардинцы, и другие. Это музыка гор, красивой природы диких, малонаселённых мест, где свободно обитают невидимые человеку духи.

Many thanks, Maestro!

Seen rick live several times and had the pleasure of meeting him after piano recitals evening in Lowestoft.. fantastic down to earthbloke with such entertaining stories from his life and my favourite keyboard wizzard ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

Beautiful Rick! More of that please!

Tenho acompanhado a carreira de Mr. Wakeman desde 1973 quando eu tinha 13 anos de idade. Ele conseguiu uma sequência de pelo menos 8 grandes albuns solos, além de sua importante participação no YES. Embora com altos e baixos, principalmente nos anos 90-2000, ainda consegue contribuir, com o seu talento, com a música no mundo. Sempre muito respeitoso com os fãs, Wakeman não se nega a dar autógrafos e a ter um contato mais próximo. Gostaria que alguém pudesse entrevistá-lo adequadamente algum dia desses e ouvir toda sua história, que deve ser riquíssima, mas não a do personagem Wakeman, e sim da pessoa/músico/compositor/produtor/administrador/empreendedor Richard Wakeman.

Absolutely 💯 brilliant, as always !!! Thanks Mr Wakeman !

No one would ever know, hearing this, it's rock and roll. Phenomenal.

So beautiful! Your music has been a consistent refuge and inspiration to me for nearly 50 years now. Thank you so much for enriching my life, Mr. Wakeman! However, please know my wife does blame you for my analog synth collection!

An amazing piece of music by 5 very blessed Musicians that just happened to call themselves "YES" "Seasons have passed me by" ! I get up every time I hear "Close to the edge".

Great reduction! Saludos desde Buenos Aires.

Brilliant work, Rick. The piano version gives new life to this now over 50 years old YES music.

That Steinway is proud to make this music with Mr. Rick Wakeman, yes.

❤The Master of Masters.

The keyboard wizard!

Vida longa ao Rick !!🙌

J'écoute ce trésor musical au milieu de mes plantes, dans le soleil du matin, et tout est merveille. Merci Rick Wakeman, merci Yes !❤

Saw Rick when his Journey to the Center of the Earth album came out and left totally speechless after the amazing concert I had just witnessed. He is what people call a MUSICIAN…period!

Major fan since I was a small lad, Yes was my first concert in Cleveland around 1973. This piece is the most amazing solo, rivaled by only Beethoven or Mozart. I suddenly can see the genius in all the albums clearly, and more vividly. Thank you for this gift.

masterful

Thank you, Rick. My music collection wouldn't be the same without your contributions. Be well, sir!

BRAVO...That touched my heart!

Thanks Mr Wakeman , brilliant as always , music in my soul forever

Just brilliant; what a star! Great band, great music, great musicians, but this is a unique version of one of their greatest songs. Thank you sir!

I attended a Yes concert as a student at Notre Dame and right afterwards I bought an album. Can't forget the long-haired pianist in the wizard gown surrounded on 3 sides by keyboards.

Hope Venerable Rick Wakeman continues to perform his best until the end of his life.

I've always loved this song. It's so interesting to hear the pure piano version as played by the master himself.

Thank you, Maestro.

Simply beautiful!

Rick, youve heard every compliment in the world so I will simply say.....Thank You

Masterpiece, Master Rick Wakeman

God Bless you Rick fan over 50 years your music will be heard for 500 years or more.

Thanks Rick.. - cheers

Exquisite.

Very nice. I first met Rick backstage at a Yes show with my friend and colleague Ed Sciaky. I had followed Rick's work with Yes and the Six Wives album, and as a kid who grew up listening to music on the Angel and Seraphim labels, I knew right away that Rick was the real deal. One of the commenters below said that Rick is fighting cancer. Tell him that he is on my prayer list as of today. I enjoyed seeing Rick talk on the 700 club. Also, I decided to start learning piano at age 68, so it is never too late. I have vivid memories of sitting with Ed at the Spectrum in Philly, as the speakers carried the Firebird Suite out over the audience while the band moved onto the stage to take their places, and Rick would swell his keys right into Siberian Khatru. Thank you, Rick.

Thank you forever, Rick. 🙏🏽❤️

One of my all time favorite keyboardists!

THIS IS SOOOO FREAKIN GOOD. WILL YOU PLEASE DO AN INTERVIEW WITH RICK BEATO!!! YOU ARE SO IMPORTANT TO MODERN MUSIC!

Simply beautiful and amazing…

Simply the best. Thank you, Rick, for sharing this treasure piece of music to the world. Cheers from Indiana. God bless you, Sir.

Wonderful to watch a master at work, thanks so much for sharing and bringing back so many happy memories of my youth

A ray of cosmic sunshine on my high school years. What a record this was

tremendous-Terrific!! 💫