Ben Folds Composes a Song LIVE for Orchestra In Only 10 Minutes

NSO Artistic Advisor Ben Folds composes a piece live with the National Symphony Orchestra and conductor Edwin Outwater during Sound Health in Concert: Music and the Mind, an initiative spearheaded by Artistic Advisor At Large, Renée Fleming, presented by The Kennedy Center and National Institutes of Health. Introduced by Dr. Charles Limb.

[@White-tq3si]

What this dude just did is the literal 'doing the homework while the teacher is collecting it'.

[@f3t586]

Underrated comment

[@krithiksimha2831]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@gxr7521]

😂😂😂

[@keromamangkhalata8384]

Actually while she's marking it

[@Lotschi]

me in math class…

[@formalChowd]

"so, here are your notes for the next concert" "but they're blank?" "exactly"

[@ic3man282]

Ahaha

[@titusbryantjr.6042]

That made me chuckle😂

[@gwc_garage]

I died

[@bitterthread6794]

That was awesome performance .

[@MarsLonsen]

"you're fired"

[@tomregan6979]

I love after he gives direction to the first few sections of the orchestra, and then starts saying 'double bass, you know what to do", and 'drummers, you know what to do"....trusting that professional musicians will 'find their way' after being shown in what direction this musical vessel is heading. Trusting others to 'fill in the gaps', that's really what a true band/orchestra does for many band leaders.

[@CheeseLordAlmightytheOneGod]

the writer cant make the music have the push the player must make it themself so letting them go losse help them cretea a power and drive and the emotion

[@xingli1337]

It helps that double basses basically get the same part in every four chord song ever, but yeah, rhythm section should be able to play with anything. A bit disappointed no solo trumpeter ventured out on his/her own!

[@julianajordan2660]

@@xingli1337 there's a little bit at 11:58 i think

[@hertenbergershenanigans]

Yes! Truly acting in concert or harmony with one another. Also picturesque for utopia or Heaven.

[@ubiquitous_plebeian]

@@CheeseLordAlmightytheOneGod i had a stroke reading this

[@madrooky1398]

I never memorize lyrics, but i will always remember that these spaces were designed to be flexible.

[@noobyplays7679]

Ye that line was beautifully done by him

[@samjam77]

best line in the song

[@Auzzy1012]

Gotta make sure the spaces are new

[@jacobs7764]

"If there's any trumpets who want to do a solo" Every single trumpet player in a 3-mile radius instinctively raised their hand

[@Finn-co4rb]

Some say the trumpet is still waiting for their queue to solo

[@nerdgeekcosplay909]

…I get it !

[@neilsmith3249]

Would’ve been icing on the cake if a trumpet player actually busted out a solo at the end!!

[@dixielandcrew7]

@@Finn-co4rb a legend to this day

[@joereadel]

@@neilsmith3249 I can’t believe we didn’t get s trumpet solo!

[@SheenCorp]

This is the musical equivalent of a speed run.

[@UltraMaXAtAXX]

"Trombones, we're going to save six frames if you play that C with a lighter articulation."

[@LucBoeren]

@@UltraMaXAtAXX I rate this comment 10/10

[@brunomcleod]

*And when you upload weekly at the same time, (say Saturday at 10 o’clock,) but you need suggestions of what to play, and someone suggest as song at like, 9-thirty, and you have to learn it in 30 minutes.* Some people may not get this but some people might.

[@Adrian-dl9nb]

Of a *blind* speedrun.

[@staylucky4727]

😂😂😂😂😂

[@leadcreekmusic]

I think the coolest part of this is that this isn’t a one time thing - Ben does this with basically every orchestra show he does around the world. Every time. New song each time, it’s great.

[@ILinTsai321]

Oh, where can I find his other performance with different orchestra? I‘m totally blown away

[@leadcreekmusic]

@@ILinTsai321 look up “Rock this Bitch” ben folds.

[@ashtonhashbrown6155]

@@leadcreekmusic lmao who ever wrote him that gets my respect

[@MrDrumzOrz]

"Fortissimo! FIVEtissimo!!" is an unbelievablely good line, god I love Ben Folds

[@godsgreengift3194]

I am disappointed that more people are not recognizing fivetissimo for the comedy gold that it was.

[@dipthongthathongthongthong9691]

For real! The musical improv with that layer of comedic improv is being shamefully underappreciated in these comments.

[@ItsAbrahamSamuel]

I do not understand the music terminology. I'm sure it would have been funny. 🙃

[@godsgreengift3194]

@@ItsAbrahamSamuel at 11:36 when he starts asking them to get louder, he starts by saying “Mezzo forte” which is a marking you would see on sheet music telling you to adjust your volume to moderately loud, he then says, “Forte” which means loud, and then says, “Fortissimo” which means very loud, and finally, “Fivetissimo” which was not a real term but everyone clearly understood the meaning of, “give it all you’ve got” sorta like the old “crank that amp up to 11!” When the volume knob only goes to 10.

[@dipthongthathongthongthong9691]

@@ItsAbrahamSamuel The play-on-words is “forte” (strong) in Italian and the number “four” in English. As mentioned, he’s directing them to play “stronger” in increments… to go to the next level. Imagine “four”-tissimo, then “five”-tissimo then “six”-tissimo and so on. 😆👍🏼

[@ryujinzzz6050]

Mozart: “I’ll just compose it the night before it premiere” Ben: _”I’m gonna do what’s called a pro-gamer move”_ edit: yo guys, chill! It’s just a joke. Look, I’m not trying to compare anyone to anyone here.

[@lordsiomai]

LMAO

[@dissonanceparadiddle]

He would have loved ben😔

[@nffs6148]

You didn’t just compare Mozart with this guy

[@carpinchipedia7009]

@@nffs6148 He did and now I will compare this guy to Bach. Bach is better. Always. Infinitely. *perpetually more good*

[@davidcarcamo5010]

Mozart could hear music in his head, all he had to do was just write it down.

[@melodyho6794]

"if you can improvise slowly, you can improvise quickly"

[@zonomena9153]

He's doing the ling ling workout xD

[@KoruGo]

Sacrilegious boy

[@emilyanderson6123]

A living Ling Ling

[@youtubebinger5549]

Interesting

[@giammelledamias7900]

when twoset community got lost here

[@Kingjay814]

I have a long history in music. Playing trumpet for over 20 years in both a classical and jazz ensembles. This is absolutely insane what he just did. It's not just a little improvised thing on a piano but to turn that into a composition is nuts. I had know idea Ben Folds was on that kind of level. That goes beyond talent. Thanks KZbin algorithm for randomly recommending this one!

[@blazingstar9638]

Ben is 💪🙌🏆

[@rickstadel5285]

! ! ! Brilliant recommendation . .

[@lernesaxophon]

Would you aplaude that loud when a plumber an a woodworker build a kitchen? This is called "live arrangement" and is a very common method of teaching Music patternbased to childrenorchestras. There is absolutely nothing challenging for a professional musician about that. It is as simple as it could be. Everyone being so amazed, just shows how little is known about musicianship these days. It is taken for granted and since the Public doesnt understand how it is done, it seems so mysterious and awesome. It is nice to See you all so happy. This is what music should create. And i wish there was more acceptance for the work, the effort and the techniqur behind our craft. There is no Mysterie. Everyone(!) can learn that.

[@mattbosley3531]

@@lernesaxophon If they built a working kitchen in ten minutes, yes I would. At the very least I'd give them a large tip and recommend them to all my friends. I wasn't amazed by what he did (I studied music) but I am impressed by his ability to do it well and quickly under pressure. And, contrary to your opinion, music composition can be challenging even for a professional musician.

[@christaylor9095]

@@lernesaxophon did douching up the vibe make you feel better?

[@tarekabdallah6554]

I once read that his college friends used to watch him do this. That he would sit by the window of his dorm and write songs on the fly about people walking by. He's truly a musical genius, there is no doubt.

[@husnainali-gn8bo]

I feel like the musicians don't get enough credit here those guys have great ears

[@ytbvdshrtnr]

I would've forgotten the melody he gave my section by the time his fingers left the piano.

[@allyson4483]

agreed! everyone in this video has so much skill and talent

[@elfri1738]

@@allyson4483 You miss one note, and you are at risk of being scolded so hard. They can make almost as much as a league 3 or 2 football players. You have to be a respected musician it's a full-time job. Even for less famous orchestras in the States, the pay is astonishing: $81,892 (£47,500) for the St Louis Symphony, Detroit Symphony Orchestra's players take home an average salary of $82,880 (£48,000). As you can see from the video as well many orchestras make either audio or television recordings. The current AFM scale for a three-hour recording session (symphonic scale) is approximately $350.00 not including yearly residual royalty payments made to the individual musicians. The base scale pay for members of the top American orchestras (Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, New York, Philadelphia) is approximately $2000+/week (minimum guaranteed scale). These orchestras typically offer 10 weeks paid vacation, full medical and dental coverage, generous sick leave, a pension (after 30 years service or the "rule of 85" which provides a full pension to players whose age and years of service combined equal 85) of over $70,000/year, and many other excellent benefits. After passing an initial probationary period (of one to three years depending on the orchestra's policy), tenured members enjoy job protection and security as members of the American Federation of Musicians. Dismissal can only be made for the cause which must be proven to an arbitration panel, often made up of peer members of the orchestra. The work is demanding. Keeping in daily shape for performing in a major symphony orchestra is hard work. Personal warming up and practice time can occupy many hours a day. Even on vacation, musicians must continue to practice lest their musical skills diminish. When one is not at work, the need to continually keep in shape is always there.

[@platypuslord2399]

@@guillaumecerdan1429 Well you entirely missed their point.

[@AhrkFinTey]

For real, and they're able to immediately pick up on Folds' intentions without him needing to explain almost at all

[@thefuriousfluff2577]

Audience: “Give us an up-beat tune!” MC: “Ok, cool. In what key?” Audience: “A minor” Ben Folds: “..... guess we’re going to write a tragedy”

[@midknight1339]

He writes sins, not tragedies Edit: I just realized that I have sunk to the level of making Panic at the Disco references and I'm sorry. I have written the true sin here.

[@darklite18]

Stalemate Bread that PatD song, coincidentally, is in A minor haha

[@Kriddle1229]

@@midknight1339 you SHOULD be sorry. Yikes.

[@justinpunongbayan5637]

@@midknight1339 why? I personally like PatD dunno bout you guys

[@midknight1339]

@@justinpunongbayan5637 Eh I haven't been able to enjoy most of their songs. Though Dallon Weekes is amazing.

[@derek1525]

He is randomly composing in front of hundreds of audience! That is super talent right there! Good job Sir!

[@janatan9429]

Can we also talk about the fact that the orchestra is just as talented as Ben Folds here?

[@bariltrailette]

Yes i said inmy head he knows where he go.

[@russellmoore8187]

That seems to be the main thing everybody is talking about actually

[@troliskimosko]

Just as talented is a stretch

[@estherpettigrew3042]

Different kinds of talent working together.

[@florencefarmer6371]

Yes, it's all those years in the past and present, studying and practicing in practice rooms and at home, consummate musicianship, at its best, that gave them the ability to be participants in this feat.

[@lnwlltt1]

"Double basses, you know what you must do" followed by quarter notes is the most relatable thing I've ever heard.

[@thainbowman3788]

As a bass player this brought me both relief and pain

[@post-modernspongecake2613]

True, but nice pfp Laynuel

[@anirudhnavin4568]

9:02 for anyone

[@cilliandaly2785]

@@anirudhnavin4568 🙌🏻

[@corporalclegg914]

@@thainbowman3788 - agreed, but we probably both Love our job in any ensemble & have a relatable plight. we’re the backbone & the lifeblood. the hot soloing players get the kudos, but the hips swing & the heads bob to our groove. that ain’t too bad

[@hardtma]

The dude who wrote the pamphlet must have not expected THIS haha

[@abandonedmuse]

Hardt Ma epic

[@jonpoon3896]

Buddy still waiting for his royalties

[@Jonah84848484]

or he did...(evil genius laugh)

[@kinglll2443]

The finished product starts at 9:55 but I suggest watching it all the way through, as it is a masterpiece

[@sleepy-girl]

I watched the thing the whole way through but I still appreciated the heads-up, so thank you 😊

[@datspookyleann275]

What’s the name of the song?

[@rampadmanabhan4258]

@@datspookyleann275 "These new spaces are all designed to be flexible." - Ben Folds, ft. NSO, and a kind audience member.

[@datspookyleann275]

@@rampadmanabhan4258 thank you!

[@Pointillax]

I love the fact that every skilled musician knows that the bass and percussions sections always know where to go once the idea is shaped. I remember when I started guitar in highschool the guys who told me "meh, start with basse, less strings, easier", or when I heared that "if you don't know how to play an instrument, just take drums, it's just hitting thing vaguely in rythm". Then I learnt that a good bassist and drummer knows and understands exactly what the piano is doing and where he's going, same with brass, etc. They're trully the backbone of any band or orchestra

[@chisakiaiko6678]

I realized how important and difficult percussion was a while back when lots of the percussion section were sick and missed a rehearsal, and it was just one of them left and he didn’t rlly know how to do it or what he was doing and the entire piece was just 100 times more complicated and unbearable to listen too. Hearing him struggle made me realize how many things can actually go wrong in percussion

[@sergeantseven4240]

"Trumpet player that wants to do a solo after I run out of ideas" seems like a legit music notation.

[@gagasaurio12]

You wouldn't believe the indications I've seen in contemporary sheet music.

[@lucienreles2321]

Gagasaurio My Friend goes to university in Toronto for classical trumpet, and the whack as notation he sends me is hilarious

[@mememanfresh]

@@gagasaurio12 what did you see

[@krysterio]

@@mememanfresh you should probably get rid of that profile pic

[@tateprevailsYT]

@@krysterio why?

[@ya_b0ye868]

"Sorry, this takes a second to create a whole song." Absolutley golden.

[@Huss_110]

Lol

[@rnggalp]

..for you" absolutely golden legend

[@due_consideration903]

5:54

[@puia991]

I didn't get that..?

[@puia991]

@huxxxak thanks..

[@Zerbey]

Did he really just do a jam session with a classical orchestra? That is amazing!

[@redheadblader]

'Sorry it just takes a second to create a whole song' 🤣 So awesome to watch

[@zeroblizero]

"And now double basses, you know what you must do" double basses: *aw shit, here we go again*

[@joshsabin4431]

Ok, I got most of the things, but this was the one I didn't understand. Is it because they always have to play those notes?

[@Bryanlols]

@@joshsabin4431 Double Basses are almost always used to help everyone keep the tempo. So basically they would rarely play anything faster than anyone else so everyone would listen to them while playing so they know how fast they should be playing themselves.

[@ipudisciple]

@@joshsabin4431 The double basses are playing the tonic of every chord. In this case, it's Am F C Em, so the basses play A F C E. Firstly, they can hear the tonic immediately, or they wouldn't have taken up bass. Secondly, this sequence isn't the _most_ standard (that would be Am F C G) but it's pretty close, and they've played it a _lot._

[@raidone7413]

@@ipudisciple ACTUALLY ITS Am F C E MAJ 7 b9 b13

[@ipudisciple]

​@@raidone7413 Thank you. Can't think why I wrote Em, but you're clearly right. BTW, I would write E 7 b9 b13 not E maj 7 b9 b13, because - at least in jazz - E maj 7 means the 7 is major, i.e. D#. But of course you were just emphasizing the G#. Nice to pick up on those b9 b13. For anyone else reading this, that just means F and C rather than F# and C#. Edit: I claim a bonus point for saying it's F (#11), not F. :)

[@BillyF2LJeffs]

"Drum set, you know what to do" Drummer - *Sits this one out and grabs a beer*

[@theviniso]

Like, what on earth is he supposed to do? haha

[@Vitriosi]

The best percussionists are the ones who know when not to play!

[@vitamin9165]

@@Vitriosi The best percussionists are those who know to avoid orchestra

[@oziicem]

Drummers always know what to do ;)

[@hamzasami8362]

@@theviniso drumming is a very fun job. You can very easily put a beat to any song if you know how to count!

[@kathybramley5609]

The orchestra being able to follow him was also amazing! Their skills definitely deserve credit!!

[@potatoesindrag4095]

As sound engineer this was amazing, and the clarity of instructions to the different parts of the orchestra was spot on. Took me years of doing broadway and local theater to get all the sections in order, but there a thing to be side with gifted people.

[@juanpena9400]

11 minutes before concert Whole orchestra: wait, we need another song for the end Ben Folds: hold my beer

[@guntherduelfer2325]

THAT was great :)

[@DavisStillson]

Ha! for sure....

[@laistab1916]

Pretty much aye xD lol

[@FirstnameLastname-kn5sw]

But Ben you have no beer I can hold?! *Ben quickly improvises an aged stout*

[@apairofreeboks1601]

What an original and funny comment

[@smartereveryday]

As an engineer that doesn’t understand musical vernacular, this is amazing.

[@aaron1fy389]

It’s a surprise to see you here, but a welcome one

[@Venslix]

And as a musician, I have no idea either

[@wesselvandenberg6114]

What's this guy doin here? lol

[@artiemilano378]

As a musician with perfect pitch that comes to me incredibly easy, it amazes me that somebody as smart as you could say such a statement. Love your videos. I learn so much from you

[@vapnn]

what u doin here lol, hi anyways

[@josiahwilson9621]

I loved watching the conductor play off of Ben's lead. Such an impressive feat by every musician on stage!

[@weirdraccoonman998]

This sounds like an open world game soundtrack! And it sounds beautiful.

[@LeonZoc]

the speed of the Orchestra interpreting, digesting and playing back what Ben is telling them, almost instantly shows how insanely sharp their brains are. too bad most people can't see or appreciate the size of these brain muscles.

[@chonk_memes7300]

@ben Folds lol, this is the worst fake I have ever seen

[@jakemac6814]

@ben Folds Ben Folds replies?

[@fernandoprado9259]

Believe it or not people who play an instrument have much better memory when they get older lesser chance of getting alzheimers.

[@bruceli9094]

@@fernandoprado9259 dats raxist

[@fernandoprado9259]

@@bruceli9094 ?

[@matsual]

Damn an orchestra is literally filled with astounding musicians.

[@zooarmy23]

no shit..

[@JoseOrtiz-qj9uf]

Nop ..thats beyond outstanding..

[@briankelly3568]

What did you think they did

[@HEADSHOTPROLOL]

bro what no way wtf fr fr?? nah bro u fucking with me, an orchestra is literally filled with astounding musicians?? no way bro no cap that's unbelievable man, I always thought orchestras was literally filled with below average hobbyist musicians and that's it but your discovery is crazy man, insane, I can't believe it. Next you're gonna tell me water is liquid or something

[@TheSIAOfficial]

@@HEADSHOTPROLOL bro what no way wtf fr fr?? nah bro u fucking with me, water is literally a liquid?? no way bro no cap that's unbelievable man, I always thought water was literally a solid and that's it but your discovery is crazy man, insane, I can't believe it. Next you're gonna tell me penguins cant fly or something

[@UrbanCohort]

I feel like the biggest credit here is that complete masters of their instruments were able to not only set aside their egos, but also lend their skills to this entire creation process.

[@kedronmallia939]

Seeing the conductor give slight finger instructions when they're trying to find the note brings me such joy for some reason

[@isaiahmurray2742]

"So what DAW do you use?" "The National Symphony Orchestra"

[@riverjuniper]

Underrated comment

[@benngoma537]

😂😂😂😂😂😂😁😁😁

[@DJSidhu24]

😂🤣👌

[@calebclunie4001]

I want to tell my MIDI, in Ableton, "You know what to do...". "...and Quantize, if you're feeling it, just a shuffle back. Yeah." "Sample Of Birds Chirping, can we get you, to just take the middle third, and crop that, and take it down three octaves? Good." "Now, we need 'Forrest Floor' reverb, and to make sure it doesn't get too choppy, bring in a compressor, and slide down to 6.28...just the right side." "DJ Tools, all the way Wet, just bring the high pass filter up to 70, and sweep back to 40, every half measure." "Drum Loop, do your thing 35 times, and fade out." "We're done."

[@wakizashithecaster]

Ahahahahahahhahahahahaja! I'm dead!!! LMAO!!!! As a starting producer i appreciate that joke!

[@ccramit]

Ben wrote an entire orchestral part in 10 minutes. Back in my garage band days, it'd take us weeks to finish a song and it was nowhere near as complex as this. And people wanna say he didn't deserve a Grammy. Pfttttt.

[@barnold23]

Who says that? And why?

[@alexandero9936]

I mean, they give out these things to people like Cardi B so they don’t really mean anything.

[@beanbean9990]

@@alexandero9936 im shook and offended sir, how dare you Besmerch the name of the lovely Dumbarse I mean queen and her wonderful and awe inspiring songs about drugs and wet donkey kitties. I CHALLENGE THE TO A DUEL!

[@wonderboy9200]

Why care about the grammys anyway

[@alexandero9936]

@@beanbean9990 And duel we shall, name the location and weapon.

[@askbatguy]

i love that the orchestra have absolutely no problems in just going with the flow and being that awesome in doing so.

[@Denuto]

my brain is unable to process how impressive this was.

[@vigilanteboi]

I don't think people actually realize how much effort, and brain power goes into this kind of thing. It takes so much knowledge of music theory from not only Ben, but EVERYONE else on stage. Truly magnificent!

[@tomnowlin7396]

This is beyond music theory:)

[@kingbobb8389]

It’s One thing to create a piece in the chord. But to add on all these moving parts is wild. He really Made it work amazing

[@skimbeeble6143]

I'm studying music theory right now because I'm playing bass guitar. He has 100 times more knowledge on it than I could ever dream.

[@uncompleteboy5540]

The best of the best

[@OtakarAtLJ]

Pretty basic chord sequence and standard string techniques. It is pretty hard for most viewers but it is fairly easy for professionals. It would be impressive to see this happen without a conductor though.

[@aids_x1645]

Swear I could hear that poor trumpet player trynna lead into his solo ;(

[@jockebaah9183]

hahahaha

[@NeoMK]

They would have but Ben stole it away from them.

[@p3drozroom]

Trumpet player: Oh boy, it's my finally my time to shine! Ben: *yoink*

[@selender42]

The only time u can’t hear the trumpets blaring over some band or orchestra

[@tommyruppert9340]

WHY u say this now I heard it :/

[@Kamehadouken]

The amount of timings and notes and melodies and plans Ben has to hold in his head at any given moment throughput the entirety of this is breaking my brain just to ponder...

[@rallerufs]

This is what happens when you, not only have immense talent, but hard work, dedication combined with true passion and love for ones craft. Extremely impressive.

[@crazypomp927]

"Fortissimo! Fivetissimo!" That's my new favorite music joke ever. I'm literally dying. 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@Robb3348]

you should probably get out more

[@yoshilover765]

My thoughts are with your family I'm sorry for their loss

[@jingomcbright3687]

I had never heard this joke before. But still I recognized it as probably the oldest joke in conducting an orchestra

[@chelseasleep6769]

I caught that too. Using it

[@feliciathomas4632]

That was a hoot!!!

[@laurenjudd2782]

Two days after watching it, and I was humming to myself "these.. new.. spaces.. are all designed... To be flexibleeee"

[@zeinm.7391]

Hahaha oops

[@dougimmel]

same.

[@32SQUID]

That's B.S. Lauren

[@castlebravocelestial4846]

Hahahahaha

[@KimTmomof3]

Haha, in Nashville last year he made up a song about respecting the process during his Paper Airplane tour--and now I often sing "respect the process" when a situation warrants. ;)

[@benimanah]

I find it impressive when 1 person does something like this on a daw but when it's this many individual people working together it's incredible

[@chrishannon9500]

How amazing would it be to have a whole professional orchestra at your disposal. Unreal

[@msreen269]

Ben really proved that “These new spaces are all designed to be flexible”👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽

[@everettmusicdojo]

And the guy who wrote the pamphlet is like omg wtf.

[@zwsh89]

The architect who designed the spaces to be flexible must be having a field day tho.

[@omgvague]

For those without any musical background: Music theory is like learning a universal language and its the reason these performers can all play so well together with an impromptu piece.

[@cchamborant207]

Not completely universal. Could he play with an Indian or chinese traditional orchestra ?

[@jaxonklaus838]

@@cchamborant207 Actually probably yes. Music is universal

[@cchamborant207]

@@jaxonklaus838, no, he couldnt. That's a myth.

[@draylexdoom9243]

@@jaxonklaus838 it isnt,western music is,eastern culture has different ways of using music,the "universal" music is all western culture

[@tymur2044]

@@draylexdoom9243 music theory isnt just for western music

[@randybrown1318]

Ben folds is going to be remembered for centuries like all great composers before him.

[@starsonapollo5281]

The lyrical work in Over the Hedge is unmatched, no other animated movie will be the same

[@ElVicTeLoConto]

As a rock band self instructed musician, this is a common way to compose with your partners in a band... jamming. But with formed classical musicians is very very hard because they always need the guidance or the specifications of what to play (key, tempo, mood), that make them play "by ear" or just improvise altogether is a real quest! My wife does play piano and there's no way I can make her join into a jamming xD So, a big round of applauses to Ben for being able to do this!

[@thebearontheroof]

If I was a classically trained musician, this would be the wildest concert night of my life.

[@brianzane5748]

My girlfriend is a flutest and got to play in the orchestra with Ben and did just this! She said she was so nervous 😆 I can imagine!

[@Versul1]

They all have the skill to do this though. Sure most of the time they are reading their music. All of them however have been ear trained in school. They all know that Ben is in the key of a minor so all they need is relative pitch.

[@shouldhavenotshouldof2031]

@@brianzane5748 Your girlfriend is a flautist. Show some respect.

[@brianzane5748]

@@shouldhavenotshouldof2031 😂

[@cloudoftime]

Why do you say that?

[@bdstudios6088]

having the nerves to do this demanding exercise LIVE in front of an audience -- composing spontaneously, conducting, and performing with humor, all done smoothly at a fast pace with no panic -- is the most impressive part. many musicians can make a song off stage, but Ben's on-stage skills takes an incredible amount of experience!!

[@wintilator9595]

And fun!!! Don't forget about the fun. You felt the Joy and pride in every second. Loved it. THANK YOU! Coming to a point where all those hardly earned and mastered exercises through out the years brought every musician to a day like this must be one of the best Feelings ever!!! Well done!

[@bhaumikdave8965]

This is the one of most qualitative comment I have come across on KZbin

[@memberizeme]

To be fair he'd been doing this for years. Probably has a library of templates. Look up 'Ben Folds rock this bitch'

[@TwistedxGamer101]

@Sudipto Bhattacharyya that's a fake account my guy

[@mateivanea2111]

Greatness.

[@noyanorra]

Anyone else feels like the mood of the intro was like the Downton Abbeys? This performance was amazing by the way. 👍🏻

[@flavorfrontier]

5 years later, this is still one of the best videos EVER! Ben Folds is a legend!

[@martinlymer9535]

Search Ben Folds Rock This Bitch. There’s a bunch of them

[@flavorfrontier]

@@martinlymer9535 oooooh thanks Martin!

[@AhadShuja]

This is my first Ben Folds experience. I've been living under a rock.

[@stevenaguilera7]

Same man

[@calebclunie4001]

It was a "Brick", but close enough.

[@calebclunie4001]

He'd been around, for a while, before I caught up, in the mid 90's.

[@wakizashithecaster]

Same here man

[@Forcoy]

Same

[@jkid1134]

The new garage band update is looking really good

[@ZavRed95]

jkid1134 😂😂😂😂 I was thinkin the same

[@testsubjectt001]

garage band vr IDEA

[@neonshadowhand8634]

Bruh I’m ded

[@uniqhnd23]

I don't get it

[@testsubjectt001]

garageband is a music creation program on mac computers

[@aryisweird]

the euphoria I feel as a violinist and a composer, This is happiest I’ve been 😭

[@slk2597yo]

I'm a singer, so I'm used to being in a room full of singers and we do this. But I have NEVER seen this done with an orchestra and I'm throughly impressed!!!! Love this! 💕

[@odei.]

do you guys know a key that ben can work in? random guy in the back: *J*

[@odei.]

i know they probably said G and then A but it sounded like they said j dont bully me

[@bluwolf098]

@@odei. Bruh i would probably be that one person to say a random letter xD

[@Someone-ig7we]

I think they had an accent and say G lol

[@logitechg29ps4steeringwhee2]

@@Someone-ig7we it was someone saying g and another saying a

[@turbogranny5525]

i heard it lmaoo some deep voice guy stood out with the J

[@nissandriver433]

can we just appreciate how amazing this conductor is, he's always on the same page with ben and communicates so well with the orchestra

[@Comdev11]

Is that you, conductor?

[@lordsiomai]

that's the beauty of music man.

[@adrianprice7959]

They are paying more attention to him then Ben hahah

[@__w__o__w__]

Almost as if they're a team

[@WhyAreYouGayLOL]

How come ray mark is not here?

[@_thevuefinder]

I'm imagining this song as a part of intense journey across a landscape filled with sights and wonders. What amazing creative minds and talented people can create is absolutely amazing. Bravo!

[@gobluechung]

One of the coolest shows I've ever seen was Ben Folds at West Chester University. I was probably the least high person in the crowd and I can still clearly see Ben Folds playing the piano, ON the piano, NEXT to the piano, BACKWARDS from the piano and slamming hit piano bench on the keys all in perfect timing and harmony. Brilliant.

[@LeoStaley]

I would pay lots of money to see a show like this live.

[@debaclark]

He does what he calls "Paper Airplane" shows where he just plays whatever people send up to him. It's fun and creative.

[@NickTV12]

Saw him do this live in Omaha a few years back. Was a steal at like $30 a ticket 👌🏼 👌🏼

[@collamore]

Well not exactly classical but Marc Rebillet might interest you

[@EuphoniaPooch]

You would have to I think. I was lucky to see him in the early days touring on his first album and then in the Reinhold Messner era. Last I checked his ticket prices (a show with the local symphony) they were so high I've blocked out the actual number from my memory. Can't really hold it against him though. He's had a great career.

[@EatingHotIceCream]

All of my funds 😭

[@Anatiks69]

This actually feels like a full on adventure with an audience that is laughing at every joke like a friends cast

[@giulio_g_]

but here every joke is actually funny

[@conkrcstf6405]

Clicked view replies because it's so goddamn predictable that it would be a criticism of friends. Really hot take, what a refined palette you have.

[@adventure002006]

I have heard quite a few performances on line from Kennedy Center but this was one of the most entertaining. This show what can be done with such a skilled Orchestra. Kennedy Center is now on my bucket list.

[@shoutg]

Ben enfolds us in his realm of magical composition all within 10 minutes. He is a genius.

[@pattmahiney]

"Give me a key" "F double sharp diminished"

[@bobbyforce1957]

@@TheErikMan ? 😵

[@pedrosilvamusician]

That doesn't really work like that. The key is still F

[@pattmahiney]

@@pedrosilvamusician F double sharp is not an F at all -- only in note value. It would be a G diminished scale, buddy.

[@pedrosilvamusician]

@@pattmahiney are we talking about keys or scales? thats what im saying mate

[@pattmahiney]

@@pedrosilvamusician a scale is just a key played at a certain interval. So Fx diminished would have all the same notes as a G diminished scale written down a whole step with two sharps added. The Bb becomes an A#, the G is an Fx, etc. Then you take the accidentals and it becomes the key that you play in.

[@blonded0532]

The most incredible part is that the song is actually amazing. Could work as literally any outro to any show ever.

[@watchbabe5479]

amazing? It's extremely basic. It sounds about what you can do in 10 minutes :P

[@ladywifi4089]

@@watchbabe5479 not just anyone can make a song in just 10 minutes. It takes years of practice and kills to be able to write a complete song. You don’t have any notes. You don’t have any lyrics. You have nothing, so to be able to make this song from starting with nothing is mind blowing.

[@DankAlighieri]

@@watchbabe5479 then do one. It's not only about the Complexity. Its about the feeling

[@ssmith9745]

In other words, he's doing what hundreds of thousands of composers do every day! Every piece of music you've ever heard started from nothing at some point!

[@braulioacosta6816]

it's cool and all but it's pretty basic like the other fella said.

[@johnD0e0990]

quite possibly the most beautiful thing ive ever watched

[@sarahruth1417]

Saw this dude literally play piano w just his feet live in concert when I was in high-school.... one of the most amazing and brilliant performances I've ever seen!

[@fouramicrolndes2744]

challenge: Make a song in 10 minutes 9:50 : Song starts Absolute legend

[@iamartbeats]

Was searching for this only

[@Ghozer]

Plus didn't start until around 1:30 mark ;)

[@CherBug]

Thank you for this

[@robertm346]

This says more about trained symphony musicians than it does about composers, despite how coherent Ben's choices are.

[@Samuel-H]

Robert M not that I disagree, but I think this says much about both composers and the symphony. Just watching Ben think about each note for each instrument is just as impressive as the the musicians being able to know each thing Ben was talking about and convert it to beautiful music

[@DaveDexterMusic]

+Sam Hagene There's a _lot_ of palette smearing going on here. The woodwinds basically figure out their parts amongst themselves from a very simple basic description. I see harp, trumpets, horns and timpani who just get on with it without any assigned parts. The only real orchestration comes in the strings. I could shout a chord sequence at an orchestra and a similarly impressive result would happen. It doesn't stop it being impressive for people who can't do it themselves, but he composed five parts for a short looping string section, a tiny bit of woodwind, and that's it.

[@jwtrio]

Fully agreed! He didn’t compose anything for flutes, oboes, bassoons, Horns but they were all playing and improvising TOGETHER. Again, not taking anything away from Ben as a composer, but those were simple harmonies. I was hoping he would do more of what he did with the first loop of cello Arco notes

[@turnercariker7578]

@@jwtrio He had ten minutes!

@@turnercariker7578 Good enough for a four chord progression. It actually takes LESS time to do it with musicians than it takes to do it in the computer, for example.

[@TheAccidentalViking]

When I clicked on 'new to me' I didn't realise the algorithm better than I new myself. I studied music for 8 years when I was a child. I don't visit that part of me near enough. And I live in a city with a national orchestra.

[@Don.tKillTheMessanger]

The algorithm is a mind reader. That's the magic of it. It knows us better than our God does.

[@daddy7860]

Dude the experience and famliarity needed to bring together and compose all the different complexities involved with those 3 theme plus at least 11 different instruments into a 30 second piece within 10 minutes is insane. Imagine if he had an hour.

[@TDo280199]

What strikes me the most in this video is how powerful the piano is. The instrument allows you to easily come up with and play chords, harmonies, melodies, basslines, what have you. As far as writing music is concerned, nothing beats the piano as a composing tool.

[@meestuinier4486]

This piano sounds great. It has a bright kinda sound. Is is Steinway or Bosendorfer?

[@JJRicks]

@@meestuinier4486 Steinway

[@meestuinier4486]

@@JJRicks yeah I see. I already was thinking Steinway because of the sound but my resolution was low😅

[@catsforhire9116]

I was thinking that too. The piano is a very ambidextrous instrument.

[@yodada2858]

Exactly 💯

[@danielthrasher]

Still one of the coolest videos I've ever seen. Ben Folds is a legend.

[@sungvin]

Правду молвишь

[@Ethmanz115]

Daniel Thrasher I love you denial

[@TheKnightLikeGamer]

Ethan Salazar denial? xD

[@monotoneyay9108]

Oh, hey Daniel. Never expected you to be here

[@theosullivan6975]

Does Ben Folds deserve to be on the talent show?

[@vijaymalagimani]

Music is a language... And its incredible to see how the musicians are putting words into a sentence.... Wow...kudos to the musicians who make it sound amazing...

[@thatdnahero]

Ben is easily the most underrated musician.

[@peteridukai7010]

1. BEN FOLDS IS A LEGEND. 2. THIS WOULD BE THE MOST EPIC TV SERIES INTRO.

[@ZheeYoYo]

Reminds me of a BBC period drama

[@PhiZelak]

Would fit perfectly in a police or medical drama. Amazing!

[@schmeetsonbeetson7168]

@cDb if I see one more "jojo" in another comment section...I will lose it

[@ecIipsed]

@@schmeetsonbeetson7168 Wait till you go to king crimson comment sections

[@STSGuitar16]

It already is lol ever seen Downton Abbey?

[@magictrout2947]

Me in my bathroom " These new spaacess are all designed, to be flexiblleee"

[@Kriddle1229]

So you forgot the lyrics already?

[@nikolovell]

I laughed

[@LandinngGear]

When he let a trumpet take a reign for a solo, and then none tempted the task, ah I was hoping. This was amazing as a whole, i was doubting but they got 'em in the second half

[@rabbitsondamoon]

I am enthralled. The TALENT. Amazing, amazing group of people.

[@daniel_wilkinson]

A great deal of credit goes to the orchestra that can keep up with "you know what you have to do".

[@rolandschmitt3692]

The hardest part isn't even that he created a song within 10 minutes. The hardest part ist that he did it ON COMMAND I'm a musician myself and sometimes songs come together veeery quickly, but sometimes you'll need several sessions with weeks of pause in between to get the song done bc you're stuck at one point

[@asgeirsoe]

He got the lyrics and a key, though 🤣 Much is already done at that point. 😛

[@fathermahler1078]

@@asgeirsoe ahh yes choosing a key amd taking lyrics from a book carried his performance.

[@Haylem]

I can create songs on the spot... BUT making it to where I like it? Never lol

[@AstrumG2V]

"Be productive right now", "You got it boss"

[@wolframheldmaier727]

@@asgeirsoe and he got one the easiest and most commons keys by „hazard“ from the audience.

[@LordTimothious]

Dude just used an entire orchestra for his personal studio. Life goals!!!

[@mynewname7830]

Holy... These are truly professionals.

[@simonockas]

Fun fact: This is the guy who composed the soundtrack for Over The Hedge.

[@jaden6464]

the soundtrack made me cry once, ben is so good.

[@simonockas]

@@jaden6464 yup

[@jeremiahnoar7504]

I couldn't figure out why his name sounded so familiar!

[@V1NTERVALS]

Also sings for ben folds five "brick" is a tear jerking song and his voice is amazing

[@hi_im_cj]

@@jeremiahnoar7504 Could also be that he's a talented, respected musician that has been producing music for 30 years

[@mehwhyausername1]

I was promised a trumpet solo, but it was stolen by Ben for a fivetisimmo joke!

[@thesoundsmith]

I, too, was interested to see if the trumpet player could improvise. In the Air Force band back in the sixties, we had a trumpet player that could sight-read anything, but when he tried to improvise in our dance quartet, Fred the bassist and I would sing three-part harmony with his improv attempts.

[@FirstnameLastname-kn5sw]

That was a fiVe 5tar joke though. At least I cinq it was fün(f). Would have been a sin(co) not to do it.

[@anonymous-de3mn]

@@FirstnameLastname-kn5sw You're trying too hard, buddy.

[@jeepersmcgee3466]

@@anonymous-de3mn he's having fun with it. Why would you discourage that?

[@dev_manduca]

666 + 1 = 667

[@FlerdaMan]

the fact ben folds composed the music in over the hedge just proves how awesome not only he is but how awesome that movie was from the soundtrack alone it added so much emotion to it

[@lily3307]

"ah, sorry, this takes a second to create a whole song for you--" ABSOLUTE KING

[@enduser178]

Everyone on that stage is fantastic. Some crazy bearded guy is going, "ok, do 'da de da didada' and they just _know what he means_ and _all do the same thing_.

[@erexford]

But Ben told them the specific notes to play: A , E , F, etc. They remembered the patterns that he showed them.

[@sammysam465]

You'd be surprised how easy it is to play anything by ear.

[@KingFiveHead]

I expect professional musicians to be able to play by ear, especially when they're being given leading notes to start them off and they already know what key they're in.

[@erexford]

Xamio I see. My experience as a semi-professional classical musician is different. Very few of my colleagues have the ability to play well by ear. We are wedded to the printed parts. We can easily play music by Tchaikovsky or Bach, but are put to the test if they have to play Happy Birthday!

[@simonhitchenson]

My experience with classical musicians is very similar. They can read and play the most complicated, beautiful and emotive music from the page but you ask them to improvise a simple tune in C and they freeze. I have always found this fascinating, although a classical pianist I know once gave her excuse as her not being familiar with popular and jazz harmonies. I also knew a guitar teacher who was in charge of teaching improvisation at a top London conservatoire - basically teaching the greatest classical guitarists in the country (who by his own admission were far, far better players than he) to play things off the cuff. Crazy.

[@nicksipich1024]

“Double basses, you know what you must do.” LMAOO

[@Metafelle]

"yooo wtf???"

[@gamerboyss5310]

ol boring shiet we get

[@momsaccount4033]

@@gamerboyss5310 Question mark?

[@evanblalock9744]

Ayo is that a phantom regiment pfp?

[@nicksipich1024]

@@evanblalock9744 you know it

[@br1ann88]

this could EASILY be an iconic piece.

[@jaewonkim279]

This seems similar to street performers like DubFX who can creates a song on the spot using a loop station, but instead using his voice and an effects processor to create the various symphonies, Ben utilizes an orchestra. It seems like Ben does what DubFX does, just at the very highest level possible.

[@al6243]

I think one of the reason this was really great is because all those musicians are very skilled as well. They're like high quality ingredients and Ben Folds is the chef that knows how to create an awesome dish from them.

[@C4CH3S]

I always wanted to eat a cellist

[@linjix]

I always wanted to eat a cellos

[@ellemariea2620]

violinists tastes delicious yum

[@zacharibarbarian9253]

i like the way you worded it because it definitely is the truth.

[@Shazar789]

@@linjixo no IP

[@143yaknow]

LET"S MILK IT, MEZZO FORTE, FORTISSIMO, FIVETISSIMO! I'd wear that on a shirt haha

[@Southamericangirl42]

Do I hear a DIY t-shirt project coming? 😉

[@wilsoncrocker]

some victor borge stuff right there lol

[@emmanuelmakinde7694]

he sound double forte

[@ryanmc8112]

Me too

[@13191215]

I wish I had sheet music of the part he plays between 1:52 and 2:10. It's simple but I LOVE that part.

[@eduardoperez864]

Same

[@Wilkins325]

Try and transcribe it yourself bro. Practicing transcription helps you

[@sarahfryirs1888]

Amazing talent! Fortissimo! Fivetissimo! had me in stitches