Chopin and Liszt are the only composers who have made me rage quit during my practice hours 😂😂😂 like full on headbutting the keys, sobbing, tearing my hair out, flipping off the air hoping that somehow, somewhere, their ghosts can see my pain
I so loved hearing this because my mum (who died this year aged 98) was a brilliant pianist and I sometimes really miss hearing her play pieces like this... she loved the dramatic and difficult composers! Thank you.
Hrand mom or mom? I hope my grandma or my mother reach that golden age too! Rip, your mum had a wonderful time here in this world and I hope you overcome this moment.
@@Xandrous_Drumz My Mum. Or Mom if you prefer! Yes she lived to a grand age... sadly she couldn't play in the last few years due to back pain. Thank you xx
Excellent! Thank you for posting it. Chopin died at only 39 years old. We'll never know what other masterpieces he may have still had in him, had he stayed healthy, of course. He was obviously at a level few reach.
@@Name-bm2bg Sorry, i don't speak in english só well... So i answer you in portuguese ok? Quanto a sua performance sim , eles podem se equipararem a Chopin, mas em termos de emoção, criatividade melódica e harmonia , na minha opinião não!!!!
Chopin is a bucket list "never gonna happen" sort of composer, and one of my most favorite. You performed that with incredible dynamic and feeling. Thank you for sharing your gift!
Actually there are some accessible pieces for players less gifted and accomplished than this young man. Some of the Preludes and Waltzes. I'm more into Baroque, but I like the occasional foray into easier Chopin.
@@CetandiBolger You make a very good point. Actually, a bit of self realization. I'm primarily an electric bass player, and in many senses I have reached that level after 31 years of practice. There is no reason I couldn't accomplish the same with the requisite effort required. Thank you for the perspective shift!
This guy really out here making professional sounding recordings with the context and commentary for newcomers to classical music just because he can. Great stuff
@@Vyyy290 ? Why does that matter? Better audio quality means a better reception to his playing anyway. We can hear more nuances, dynamic contrasts etc.
I agree with the responses to this comment. The mic is noticeably bad. The failure to pick up quiet sounds and just noise-reducing quiet sustained bits away, plus the high register fuzz, and generally muddy sound (like having a blanket stuffed into the piano) are all pretty atrocious. I'd bet he's using the native camera mic.
It always amazes me how pianists of this caliber can memorize such complex pieces like this. They must become one with the composer and the composer must be in them. I memorized a 22-page Beethoven piano sonata. Took me a year. I'm not trained. Learned on my own. Tough business, so I stuck with painting houses.
@@eddyvideostarThat is just simply incorrect, Lang Lang is flashy and whilst technically great he is severely lacking on the emotional front. His interpretations are bland and monochromatic.
@@Slalamandre: Lang Lang's technically great, flashy performance is bland and emotionally lacking? Your computer comments call for comprehensive clarity.
Honestly this is one of the most profound pieces which you can use to check a piano’s timbre. The opening is so iconic and simple that you can recognize minute differences and colors.
So the composition is also a diagnostic routine for the pianoforte? Nice. I think I'll add the opening lines to my basically non-existent "other people's music" repertoire 🤔
Only hearing Chopin and Elgar makes me cry. They just get you right in the ticker everytime, if you're actually playing it, Chopin breaks your fingers as an added bonus. Brilliant performance. Thanks for sharing the beautiful horror of playing it.
Wow. Just…wow. Chopin with his scales and grace notes. Brutal but oddly enough I always find that despite the difficulty it is easy for me to slip into a flow state when playing Chopin. It just flows so beautifully that your brain wants to hear the next bit and just kind of compels your fingers to make it happen. Brain says YES, fingers say “wait. WHAT!?” You nailed this piece. Played it so beautifully with so much emotion.
True. I’m more impressed that you can really hear how much effort he takes to learn this piece. Every section is developed individually but he still manages to tie every section together to one piece again.
What an amazing interpretation of this piece! What an underrated great pianist on yt! Some people would skip right to the end for the powerful ending but damn you got me engaged the entire piece. Nice work, also the map on the side with the subtitles as always is a touch that makes your content quite original. Keep it up!
Me who literally just skipped to the coda to see if he was actually any good 💀(was pleasantly surprised, usually the people that advertise like that aren't that good,)
@@randmgenericname5077 well, I try to be as good as I can, but I still can't hold a candle to the professionals. But I do practice and research for the majority of my days, and this is one of the pieces I'm currently immersed in.
It's rare for me to listen to a full youtube pianist recording. But this was so technically clean, and your interpretation of the piece was delightful. You knew how it was supposed to sound and didn't let the technical elements overpower the feeling of the ballade. Well done!
Holy guacamole. That’s just pure emotion. All over the place there is no such thing as a single or never changing emotion and you played it so PERFECTLY. 20 thumbs up standing ovation with my feet.
I love the second round at 5:51 where Chopin channels the insane amount of tension build up from the A theme to the B theme without a transition. My favorite section of the piece.
Can we just give this man props if you didn't notice he memorized all of that Edit: Please shut up with your 🤓 sounding selfs saying stuff like "well actually memorization is very improtant and you would know if you played an instrument as sophisticated as the piano" I love the piano but you are not him just because you play it. Sorry about that I know memorization is important and very normal I do it as I am the first chair tuba in one of the best bands in my state. I have to memorize music to keep up with the actual prodigies in the trombone and euphonium sections as I also play those at a similar level to them so please stop saying things about how I would know how easy memorization is if I played an instrument because I play four and no piano is not one of them
@@greyshadow6576 Could be, but I'm pretty sure Chopin enjoyed these footnotes as much as I did. 😁 Sry, I forgot: !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! BOM BOM
Brilliantly executed and by memory...but can we also appreciate his running commentary. I don't think I've listened to a classical piece while reading the pianist's own thoughts as he's playing through specific portions. I was laughing the whole way at the end coda from the "OH NO OH NO..." awesome job!! 🤣
Man I loved that you played those beautiful parts in the beginning/middle of the piece at a conservative speed. In most pro recordings and concerts I find them unnecessarily fast, and no matter how soft someone can play the piano, it just takes part of the beauty away. Very nicely done, bravo!
I was hooked on Chopin the first time I ever heard his music, I know nothing about music but I can tell his music is the best, way better, super human. His pausing makes you feel with anticipation and his light and dark takes you through a journey. I thought you were amazing playing this piece, you gave alot of people alot of pleasure, thank you.
Funny, that's how I feel about Bach. For 35 years, I fell asleep listening to the Goldberg Variations played by Glenn Gould . ( although if I could only have one piece of music on a Desert island it would be a toss up between Bach, and Jacqueline Dupre playing the Elgar concerto)
My granddaughter loves classical music , I can’t wait to show her this tomorrow. It was a great honor and pleasure to hear you play this incredible ballade. I enjoyed reading your commentary and appreciate you sharing how you feel when you play it. We don’t usually articulate it but we listen to music because we feel it and I bet often think of it as a story. More than any other genera Classical music soothes me. It feels like a roller coaster ride if I close my eyes and focus on feeling it. The images bring me right into a dreamworld. Just lovely. I’ve heard this ballad many times and it always takes my breath when it’s played because no matter if they are technically spot on, it’s the emotional experience that’s lovely. Like even if they fail, it’s like the second place winner being sad, when in reality they did so well, ❤. You clearly loved the challenge and won.
The commentary in the video cracked me up so much 😂 As a fellow pianist, I'd say you gave it a pretty damn good shot - I wouldn't even attempt replicating his brilliant madness 😅👏🏻
I first came across this piece in the anime "Shigatsu Wa Kimi No Uso" (Your Lie in April) & I must say your interpretation & comments here has solidified why this piece was the best for the scene it was used in the anime. Since then, this piece has never failed to move me that I even made a poem inspired by it. Allow me to share the line I wrote for the last part of the ballade: The music seemed to stop for there was no more of you, But I begged for a few more notes, an encore for you. Though with all my might as I play those final notes, You never did come back, and there I played my last note. Absolutely loved the commentary & the playing! Thank you so much 💜💜💜
I also came across this piece from YLIA, as well as many others like Liebesleid, the anime really makes you feel the emotions in those pieces on a whole different level T_T . Also, I LOVE that verse you wrote, it's so beautiful, would you be willing to share the rest of the poem? I'd love to read it! If not though, don't worry. >_
This has completely blown my mind.. I'm literally in tears..! This is some kind of alchemy for sure! I've never experienced such an effect from music before. I'm only familiar with a handful of classical pieces but this has left me in a state of amazed shock! Played with such grace and calm control while virtually conveying insanity, at times. Thank you so much for that experience - your skill is as astounding the piece. Standing ovation!
When I listen to Chopin I always end up silently screaming in a pillow or at the air after a piece is finished, because i’m left in SO MANY DIFFERENT EMOTIONS EVERY FUKCING TIME.☺️☺️☺️ YOU DID AMAZING💐💐💐YOU FOR REAL SLAYED EVERY PART OF THE PIECE, ESPECIALLY THE CODA. Good job. So proud of you. 👍🏻
It's really too bad that your ears that were created to hear such beautiful composition are condemned along with your potty mouth "he will cast both body and Soul into Hell fire"
I am addicted to this piece ! Determined to play it at speed before I die [ I am already 70 so wish me luck on that ]' I can play all the slow bits ; I can even play the fast bits as long as I play them slowly , so I just need to speed up ...ha ha . Your playing is absolutely brilliant in so many ways - I think I will model my playing on this version, you are my new favourite . The written commentary is so funny it has me in stitches as well as being very informative . Bravo , thank you so much .
I can hear Krystian Zimerman's influence in your interpretation and your technical ability to plow through the dreaded ending (which would be far easier to play were humans to have 3 hands) is on par with his. Even Ashkenazy and Kissin, two of the most talented pianists in history, struggle with the "never-ending" ending and you can hear it in their recordings. You moved through it like you were playing a Mozart piano sonata. I can see why you decided to post this - it's a remarkable performance. Any audience would have been on their feet after that.
Thank you so much for giving me this moment of wonder and excitement! I could write an entire book or make a movie based on this ballad, as it really tickles my imagination! What a brilliant mind it takes to write this piece, and even more brilliant to play it like you did! You are awesome, brilliant!!
this is by far my MOST FAVOURITE piano piece that i listen to almost 24hrs a day, back and firth from school to dinner, BUT ITS FRUSTRATING THAT I CHOSE THIS AS MY FAVORITE CUZ I CAN NEVER PLAY IT. KUDOS TO U WHO HAS GAINED A NEW SUBSCRIBER
Of the dozens of recordings and performances I've seen of this in my life, you're the only one who keeps the meter/tempo in the A theme and even notices the > accent. I loved it.
This is absolutely fantastic! I love your commentary! I had a composition professor at North Texas State university who would use a very similar system in analyzing many other works! It just made all the sense in the world to me! I look forward to watching more of your videos! I teach piano and singing, and I have made sure to share yours with my students, it has opened a whole new world to them, and how to listen to music!
A pianist of your caliber and a piano of this quality deserve a more regular tuning schedule!! My favourite Chopin Ballade and your interpretation of it certainly did not disappoint!
You are fantastic AND hilarious! The thumbs up at the end (when I was expecting you just to slump lifelessly over the piano keys!) was sublime! Bravo and God Bless the work of your Gifted hands x
I wouldn’t say flawlessly, but it was an excellent performance. If you want to see flawless go check out Paul Barton’s rendition. Best pianist on yt imo.
Here's a flawless interpretation. The speed of the coda is insane. But Will is not a professional pianist, and Lisiecki is not exactly your average pianist. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-ERnCo-2DP8o.html&ab_channel=%EC%9D%B4%EC%98%AC%EB%A6%B0
@@maxloddo8200 yeah that shit was incredible. His speed is a little too much for me but I can tolerate it. Paul Barton is a youtuber though not a professional concert pianist.
That last coda❤ I’m not able to listen to it ever without breaking down in tears. I’ve tried. It’s so absolutely emotionally charged. I’ve played the piano since I was a toddler, but there’s no way I’d ever attempt this piece, even though I think I’d fall in love with playing it. Hands down my favorite piece he’s written.
I loved your playing. It transported me when I needed to be transported. My dog is dying as we speak and my heart is broken, but you made me forget for a short time and I thank you so much. I love that piece, and your comments were great, but so was your playing.
Thank you so much for a great performance and a wonderful way of presenting. I loved it. Lifted my spirits at a difficult time. Most grateful for your superb skills.
I listened to this piece many, many times that I had been immune to feeling any emotion when I listened to this in the background but it all changed when I had depression and had to ignore all other genre except classical because it felt like my only safe haven... I was at my friend's house enjoying my time playing and reading... My friend had not seen me cry but I just told him I have depression but of course, to someone who never experienced it, he does not understand how hard it is to admit it... As my routine, I often listen to music when reading. Mostly Chopin since his Nocturnes and Ballades are making me aware and awake. Due to depression, I often ruminate/daydream about past experience... Basically anxiety but on a level that I am unable to control... This piece was playing while I had to stop reading in order to control myself from a panic attack... To my surprise, I made a story using this piece as like the emotional basis where each climax was a significant event in my life... The first dash here for me represents my joy as a student being as happy go lucky as any teen is... The second dash here is my depression, the start of the triggers, the various events that haunts and traumatize me for almost half a year, every single day up to now... The exclamation points... Is my future... And there is only 2 possibilities... One is my suicide, and the other is my growth Hope the latter will come and the former never😞... Thanks for reading
Thank you for sharing your story. You are part of the world. Growth will come by finding a deep friend in your own and feeling connected to what is around. I wish you the best❤
If you do decide on the prior option, which I hope you do not, can I keep your stuff? Not to be a jerk, but it would just be there wasting away if you weren't around... Just kidding. Been through depression myself. I did a lot of drinking. Eventually I became numb to even being depressed. My life is still relatively sh** to what it once was & now I have to deal with serious health issues, but I don't let it get me down anymore. If I have a short life ahead of me, I'm not going to be wasting it feeing sorry about myself. I have my family & I have my piano & guitar. I want to be able to play this piece before I go. Maybe leave some good compositions behind too. That's what keeps me from becoming depressed again. When life gives you lemons, you've got to make lemonade with what you got. Feeling bad is useless.
I know and really understand. I strive to get motivated and self discipline myself but i still need a lot of work. And before I go, i also want play this piece. One of my greatest ambitions is to play it or to sit and watch this piece played by an outstanding performer in any concert hall. Just needed at least a string to hold on, i think to play the piece is good and strong reason since the difficulty already makes it long and hard to attain. I'll use it! Hope to make it real no matter how long it takes! Thanks❤️
Chopin leaves no emotions untouched in this piece.. A mysterious blend of darkness, serenity, ecstatic bliss, elegantly curved dancing melodic lines, humor (I used to not like the Looney Tunes section but now I see it actually adds balance and it doesn’t last long anyway), and then dropping us off the precipice in most dramatic fashion at the end. A truly grand adventure and still my favorite Chopin ever since hearing it in “The Pianist”.. thanks for the great performance and your amusing perspectives/analysis! My fingers were sweating just watching 🖐💦
Your channel popped up as recommended and this is the first piece I've heard. Absolutely outstanding. Your commentary at the bottom brings so much interest to the video. I immediately subscribed. Thank you for sharing your gift!
This. Is. GOLDEN!! Not sure how RU-vid knew to place this video in my recommendations... but I'm glad it did!! I appreciate this VERY REAL analysis of this unbelievable piece of music! I'm a pianist from "way back", I guess you could say. I haven't devoted time to it in many years, but Chopin has always been my favorite composer, so I LOVE stumbling across videos that feature his work. Thank you for this most enjoyable upload!
If that didn’t catch your attention, then nothing will! I’m not a musician, but this certainly both entertained and educated me about how to listen more intently to Chopins wonderful piano compositions! Thank you so much, it was most enjoyable!
This piece is my no.1 favourite piece for these 4 years My current no.1 choice of interpretation is still Krystian zimerman. The emotions I felt within from sad n depressed slowly in to anger n frustration then serene and calm. Makes this piece so wonderful. Chopin piece always felt elegant no matter in what mood😘
Beautiful and touching. Heart Rendering and Wonderful. Your playing is amazing. And the way you present this piece with all of the nuance and tidbits of information make it alive. I've heard this piece over and over and yet never quite heard it like you share here...Thank you! Bravo!
I mean .... Wao! You are playing faultlessly, heavenly. Thank you for making me understand what you musicians feel in your interpretation of a music peace... I am always amazed that you can memorize long music pieces without missing a single note ...
I use a couple of hacks for the coda - 9:40 The melodic G - and subsequent occurrences - I take in the left hand as part of the chord (this means the pinky isn't holding the C anymore, but it's in the pedal anyway). Since the G is still played by a thumb you can bring it out easily and sing the line. I find it makes this corner a bit more fluid. 10:10 The descending Gm scale can be split between hands (I stole this one from Horowitz - it adds velocity and force to the scale which I think is necessary to motivate the ascending scale afterwards). Hope that helps someone somewhere!
I dont think using left hand is that good idea since you are playing the following melody with right thumb anyways, I feel like you can bring forward more just as single note focus, also there is no risk in messing the jump. But hey, everyone prefers something different and has own interpretation thats the beauty after all!
@@lordgothajix527 I played as written for years but found (with my hand structure etc.) it helped me bring out the line more effectively. Everyone's different of course! Hopefully this might help a few people with similar hands, or at least open up ideas for alternative approaches.
Here're some tips on how to play the coda from the great Garrick Ohlsson: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-7H8rLN8iE4U.html&ab_channel=tonebasePiano
Chopin has been my favorite composer for the 86 years of my life. (Well, at least from, say, age 8 upward.) I am such a fan that my friends called me Chopin. I know this Ballade well, but can play only parts of it-but it’s fun trying. As you know, it’s universally “required” in Chopin (and other) virtuoso piano competitions. Your captions were right on, and humorous in the right spots. (And If you didn’t nail it who could tell the difference? Marvelous!)
You knocked this one right out of the park, mate! You ACED it! Having played piano since I was 3, not only did I enjoy your performance of this piece and the comments you've placed, but also having an ear for tune and pitch (yes, i'm always the one listening for wrong notes or sharp/flat notes) and you did this FLAWLESSLY!!!! What is even more impressive is that you've played the entire piece without the sheet music in front of you! Be blessed mate and don't EVER lose your talent!
Thank you for presenting this in such a wonderful way. Your beautiful rendition, but also displaying the written music, which astounds me that sound is written, and I enjoyed your commentary as a musician.
I consider the coda of the 4th ballade more difficult, I absolutely LOVE the adoration you have shown (and shared) to the masterpiece. A love letter to the piano!
What I find amazing is musicians memorising a whole piece. I played piano until around 14. I had no idea how I remembered some pieces by heart! I barely remember what I did yesterday, Especially with such intricate pieces and played with such relaxation and ease is always so impressive to me, BRAVO!
Excellent job Wills. Ive heard this many times over the years, but I learnt so much today by following your comments 🙂 And you played with your heart, a really beautiful rendition of this very taxing work. Very good job indeed Wills.
I feel so much pain from Chopin in this piece, really hits hard (especially going through trying times myself… though nothing like Chopin did so there’s that!). Love your performance and there’s so much on screen I know I’ll be back to watch it again and totally focus on other parts!
Thank you for EVERY aspect of this presentation. I loved the key to the left, the music at the top, your running commentary at the bottom - and OF COURSE - your brilliant performance !!! Bravo !!!! What an amazing gift and the dedication you have to perfect it - what a blessing to all listeners. Thank you again !!!
Ballade no. 1 finally dropped!! Definitely worth the wait! The little "map" is super useful and the text is as well! It helps understand the piece even further and enjoy the piece even more! (Which I didn't think was possible 😜)
I have listened to this so many times and each time I love it, I've compared it to so many other pianists. You have created something special - clear, crisp, articulated with great modulation. I've been listening to Horowitz play this - and, frankly, I think you blow him away.
You're the MAN!! What an awesome and exciting performance! Your running commentary was also hilarious and informative to a retired piano player! Thanks!
Shame you can't hear me applauding you - bloody brilliant! I thoroughly enjoyed every second of your playing PLUS I loved your commentary - such humour - LOL. Thank you for sharing your amazing talent - you made my day - no, my week!
That was absolutely intense!! My eyes are full!! I have never sat through such a well presented break down of a piece of music!! Thank you!! And BRAVO👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏!!! WELL DONE!!!!👏👏👏👏👏👏ENCORE👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Bravooooo 🗣 omg this piece is just insane 🤯 And I loved the intro 🥺✨️ it really felt like I was at a concert hall waiting for the concert to start🥺 (sorry for the bad english but anyway, I loved it ✨️ you're amaaa~zing)
How beautiful and well done. I’ve only played for 7 years but am so glad I was introduced to such intriguing pieces. Thank you! And I love your captions…. They help me and HOLY COW!!!
Dude, that was amazing!!! You're right, the score IS terrifying and you make it look so easy!! Thank you for playing so beautifully and THANK you for putting the score up so I could read along! My sincere respect!!
You were awesome, playing so brilliantly. I am so glad that you included the sheet music with this, allowing those that can read to follow along and marvel at your performance and that those that can not read to get a glimpse into what makes up this brilliant music. I wish you only the very best. You are quite talented.
