Prelude No. 15, nicknamed the “Raindrop” by Chopin’s gf George Sand, presumably because of the endless goddamn plunking on that A♭, which feels like rain. Of all the pieces in the classical repertoire, I think it would be fair to say that this is among the wettest. I’ve been playing it since I was about 14, but I still have to look at the music because I’m a hack and a grifter.
@lhpeacock13393 жыл бұрын
I always need to look at my hands when I type - you’re not alone.
@StarlitSophie3 жыл бұрын
you're a beautiful and amazingly talented goddess and i'm simping hard 🥰
@viomusardathefluffysealgas93473 жыл бұрын
Love you🎹💜💜✨✨🎶
@meabhmurphy90903 жыл бұрын
Reject: comfort of self-deprecation Embrace: acknowledgement of own hard work and talent
@purplekisssupremacyhours91233 жыл бұрын
MY QUEEN!!!!!!!!!!
@forresttoyne85593 жыл бұрын
"there are three kinds of pianists: Jewish pianists, homosexual pianists, and bad pianists." -Horowitz The Piano arch is the final confirmation of Natalie's lesbianism and we love that for her! Gold stars all around.
@Nooticus3 жыл бұрын
No kidding, I’m all three of those things... 😳
@BrassicaRappa3 жыл бұрын
SPEAKING of which - anybody who hasn't heard his take on the prelude definitely needs check it out!
@justin67773 жыл бұрын
I'm a half-jewish, bisexual piano teacher. I wonder where I stand.
@kling_sor60383 жыл бұрын
So according to Horowitz, Chopin was a bad pianist!
@Nooticus3 жыл бұрын
@@justin6777 😂
@Jamolah3 жыл бұрын
I'm honestly shocked that, with an army of stans so voraciously devoted, Natalie has to TURN HER OWN PAGES?! We have failed her.
@tvspy97703 жыл бұрын
Sheesh
@liamross3403 жыл бұрын
@Alex Ladon she could literally start a cult if she wanted she’s being very responsible tbh
@hi-hc3ms2 жыл бұрын
Natalie ??
@emmyturner7385 Жыл бұрын
This is unacceptable
@blakepruneau99703 жыл бұрын
Hey Natalie, I just wanted to say that from one pianist to another, I'm really loving these piano vids! Would love to hear more
@prtrainor3 жыл бұрын
More!!!!
@pikapuff1233 жыл бұрын
Agreed!
@soyborne.bornmadeandundone13423 жыл бұрын
I play guitar. And I KNOW you do too Contra! Bust out the les paul if you still got it woman!!!
@themoonfleesthroughclouds3 жыл бұрын
I think she would interpret the 15th movement from Messiaen's Vingt Regards well. There's something about it which is so intensely emotional towards the end. While the music itself is quite different to Satie's Gymnopedies/Gnossienes, both pieces make you feel the same way, kind of nostalgic, I suppose. This Chopin prelude also sort of makes you feel nostalgic as well.
@alexobery98133 жыл бұрын
Can you stop being so wildly entertaining, I can't stan any harder.
@nicolesong61993 жыл бұрын
can’t afford to
@pretty_saucy3 жыл бұрын
We say that, but we always manage to.
@clairewiebe34783 жыл бұрын
This calmed my cat down in the middle of her zooming around the house. Not sure if she is a Chopin fan or a Natalie fan. Either way, I appreciate the calm.
@alexobery98133 жыл бұрын
Nyatalie fan
@quantumastrologer55993 жыл бұрын
Maybe it calmed you and your cat took notice. Animals are emotional sponges after all. Take care of yourself to take care of your cat.
@heejinchung5793 жыл бұрын
OMG same thing JUST happened to my cats!!
@hiliterature2 жыл бұрын
Yep, same here. My Cleo is loving this 😻😻
@smunpologrungengis81973 жыл бұрын
i love the reclaiming of that random ass 18th century portrait as a picture of natalie
@stbananastein3 жыл бұрын
And now that lady is Natalie's gf in Ambition
@bpansky3 жыл бұрын
watches: regal, sombre, magnificent, elevated performance of art r e a d s d e s c r i p t i o n: "Dedicated to my virtual 18th century lover Élisabeth"
@ninja_goose43603 жыл бұрын
The portrait in the background stares into my soul and is the final judgement of my life's actions. She weighs my heart but does not tell me how heavy it is because she can not speak. She is a painting.
@themroc82313 жыл бұрын
It´s Élisabeth Vigée-Lebrun´s self-portrait. She was a badass lady.
@bdp81023 жыл бұрын
@@themroc8231 I truly believed it was a fan-made portrait of Natalie, the resemblance is uncanny
@lelemsays3 жыл бұрын
It's beautiful
@dyoopiter3 жыл бұрын
😭😭
@Uminekopop3 жыл бұрын
Listening to this while it is raining outside my window. This is a revelation
@tortis6342 Жыл бұрын
Ah, sweet crysalism.
@spacejazz62723 жыл бұрын
one of my favourites of Chopin. the turbulent "stormy" B section makes the return of the A section that all the more sweeter and softening. it really places the main theme into a new context. the story goes that this prelude came to Chopin whilst he was asleep during a rainstorm and the sound of the rain caused him to dream that he was drowning, trapped in a lake with the water washing over him. he woke up with a start and still shaken, ran to the piano and penned this to calm himself down. true story or not, this piece is a brilliant example of romanticism era musical symbolism and of Chopin's uncanny ability to invoke the bittersweet.
@turrelldebingen14643 жыл бұрын
Honestly- playing this surrounded by lavish furnishings, while alone, and also as a poetic queer person, is like channeling Frederic's own spirit and probably way closer than a concert performance to how he wanted this piece to be experienced. C'est magnifique, chère Contra.
@helvete_ingres47173 жыл бұрын
Chopin wasn't queer and let's be real, you don't know a thing about how he wanted 'this piece to be experienced' - you're just saying how *you* think it should be experienced.
@JsbWalker3 жыл бұрын
@@helvete_ingres4717 Shut up, let us romanticize our lives in peace
@aerad60343 жыл бұрын
@@helvete_ingres4717 there's some proof that he was, but those letters are kept mostly secret. And i have to say that no one can know what he wanted - not now after almost 200 years
@TheYopogo2 жыл бұрын
@@helvete_ingres4717 Chopin wasn't from like ancient history it was only the 1800s, we know quite lot about his life including his intentions for his art in quite a lot of detail. It is certainly the case that playing in private living rooms and salons rather than concert halls was his preferred venue, and this is also clear from his musical style: Gentle, playing with the tone colours of a quietly played piano.
@helvete_ingres47172 жыл бұрын
@@TheYopogo you describe his 'musical style' in caricatured terms, in exact complement to the common caricature of Liszt as nothing but a flamboyant technical performer which I'm sure is how it is in your head. 'Piano' is short for pianoFORTE, to make a general characterisation of 'gentle' is to characterise it as UNmusical, especially for as piano-centric a composer as Chopin who fyi wrote in forms like the concerto too. Listen to the actual top-tier of his piano writing, not just the tunes you'll hear in TV shows and such - say the coda of the first ballade, then tell me what is so 'gentle' about it
@elvirapomar76393 жыл бұрын
i got the notification for this video just as i was about to doze off... thank you for the most beautiful lullaby
@roiscavel39233 жыл бұрын
I remember first listening this music when I was 12, during the movie _Prometheus_ . There's no day ever since I haven't listened or thought about this melody. I absolutely adore your rendition, Natalie. Thank you.
@Makvandar3 жыл бұрын
Loving the self portrait in the background, she actually does look like you. 😊 Edit: A stunning performance, both visually and audibly.
@matteomagurno30683 жыл бұрын
This painting holds a really special place in my heart. This is a self portrait by Élisabeth Vigée Le Brun, hangs in the National Gallery in the 18th century painting octagon room. It’s so majestic, you can’t possibly fathom the effect that this big sky has with the figure-subject; It really does feel as if Le Brun is moving towards you.The composition feels so familiar and alive; the colors are vibrant and technique is brilliant, the fabric which is so virtuosly done and her masterful use of chiaroscuro which here is so subtle yet sublime; but granted, it’s Le Brun we’re talking about!
@anastasiab1066 Жыл бұрын
im dealing with some weird combo of grief and regret and guilt and all kinds of things right now and this song is really comforting me right now
@sophiethurston94743 жыл бұрын
I was listening to Satie alot today thanks to your highlighting of it. Thank you for these, love them so much :)
3 жыл бұрын
It's amazing how creators like Natalie can introduce new things to people, in this case classical music ☺ the and TwosetViolin are doing great work on that front!
3 жыл бұрын
If you'd like more, try listening to Debussy and Ravel as well!
@Alix777.3 жыл бұрын
Listen to Galina Ustvolskaya and leave those famous composers to the plebeians
@hansmahr86273 жыл бұрын
The greatest performance of this piece is by Sokolov, give it a listen.
@cybermammal3 жыл бұрын
Very beautiful and soul cleansing, thank you for sharing
@loram.88073 жыл бұрын
ahh Natalie you did the female arousal prelude!
@orakachee3 жыл бұрын
I’m sure Madame le Brun (or dare I say Élisabeth) in the background is just as delighted by the beautiful playing as I am!
@letterclefs80753 жыл бұрын
Waking up this beautiful autumn morning, then drinking a warm cup of coffee while listening to this was absolutely magical! Thank you Natalie.
@mikhailagray75193 жыл бұрын
Can't wait for your rendition of "Torrent", which is far wetter than this...
@lmichaelgreenjr3 жыл бұрын
The ocean etude (Op. 25 No. 12) is definitely wetter than torrent
@pikapuff1233 жыл бұрын
@@lmichaelgreenjr Came here to say this
@mikhailagray75193 жыл бұрын
@@lmichaelgreenjr Touche
@jeremysmith46203 жыл бұрын
Just when we thought we couldn't get any more wet...
@ghalfsharp03 жыл бұрын
@L. Michael Green Op. 10 No. 1 "Waterfall" would also be quite wet, the first Godowsky version more so than the original
@chloewebb55262 ай бұрын
Of course I go on youtube to listen to this song and cry, and I see a Contrapoints video for the first time in years lmfao. Love you girl
@immortan-valkyrie903 жыл бұрын
Well this cured my postpartum depression. Thank you Natalie 💕
@TheYopogo2 жыл бұрын
People often compare Chopin's music to the work of a novelist, and I think that's very appropriate. I also think, as weird as it sounds, that there's a parallel between that and the way Natalie uses KZbin. At a time when music was becoming bigger and grander, concert hall culture was taking off, Beethoven was big, orchestras were getting bigger and louder and more complicated, Chopin went in the opposite direction. He often played in private homes for small groups and he wrote his pieces to be played that way. He also wrote at the time when mass manufacturing and printing were changing the nature of middle class homes. It was an iconic middle class achievement to have a factory built piano in the home, and a bank of printed sheet music; and it's that context that Chopin wrote for also. So instead of being structured around big blockbuster events like the performance of a Beethoven symphony in your city's major concert hall, knowledge of Chopin's music spread a bit like falling in love, one person at a time, usually because a friend told you about it or you read it in a periodical or something; just like how novelists' popularity spreads. That's like how Natalie's brilliant, kind, insightful, ridiculously well and beautifully made creations for KZbin function, when compared to something like actual movies or major speaking engagements from mainstream public intellectuals.
@ellllllayyyyy3 ай бұрын
These videos of Natalie playing piano make me so happy
@chloebangco37523 жыл бұрын
That page turn was slick AF. One art to master in piano is the art to flip pages without the flow of the piece breaking. This rendition as a whole is excellent!
@tormuse29163 жыл бұрын
Is this a regular thing, now? Natalie playing classical music? I could totally get behind that. :) Fantastic rendition of the piece. I love it. :)
@lmichaelgreenjr3 жыл бұрын
I came across your channel when you uploaded the Gymnopedies. I really admire your content and I’m glad you’ve decided to start sharing some of your musical passion too. I’m in University for piano now and composition now, and honestly I love your interpretations. Never stop doing what you love :)
@BombsGaspan3 жыл бұрын
Your music is the song of the nightingale from which the darkness of the night recedes, if only for a brief moment. Bravo.
@redactedname2473 жыл бұрын
Your journey as an artist and a person has been something quite special to watch. Your playing is lovely, the setting is exquisite and I hope you are doing well.
@PrincessMicrowave3 жыл бұрын
I don't know the music word for the middle part of songs, but the middle part of this never fails to make me weep desperately. Came here for a video to watch while eating breakfast and now I'm ugly crying over my toast and coffee.
@HoneyGlzedHam3 жыл бұрын
I love this song. I'm such a nerd that it always make me think of that Halo 3 diorama commercial. You played it wonderfully.
@unsc20603 жыл бұрын
Halo 3's Believe and Prometheus' David intro scene are two of my favorite uses of the piece.
@nathansky3 жыл бұрын
Yes! Maybe the best TV ad for a game I've ever seen, in large part due to this perfect song choice.
@wolandkorovievbegemot58693 жыл бұрын
lol I just commented the same thing - thought I would be the only one. I'm so glad there are more of us.
@hiirscotty3 жыл бұрын
This is the piece that got me into classical music. I love the journey it takes you on.
@espressonoob3 жыл бұрын
what a lovely steinway, the inside case looks beautiful.
@rory_wilson3 жыл бұрын
Beautiful playing of an amazing piece. That major modulation in the b section is what hope sounds like.
@timelordofinfinitehugs8933 Жыл бұрын
Ive been watching your videos for comfort with my depressions and it’s been helping a lot. And now this? Playing my favourite composer? I’m dying
@adrielhernandez40733 жыл бұрын
I love Chopin's preludes, beautifully done.
@AG-ni8jm3 жыл бұрын
Natalie, not only are you entertaining and funny, but you have wonderful, tasteful talent. Bravo 😀
@LyraGluten3 жыл бұрын
Natalie you are SO talented never stop posting these performances! Thank you for inspiring us
@rachelzitomer5081 Жыл бұрын
I don't know much about piano playing but i find it amazing how much subtle control you have over the volume of each hand separately- it makes it so that repetitive "raindrop" line somehow connects all the phrases together. Really contemplative
@fryfry3775 ай бұрын
I enjoyed the plunkiness. It's a pleasure getting to hear you play.
@HowlingSaguaro973 жыл бұрын
On one hand, I cannot help but deeply appreciate the beauty of this piece, as it is played by a literal based goddess, Natalie, and on the other hand… *flashbacks to Halo 3 intensifies*
@rachumsmcone91843 жыл бұрын
Sweet! Love Chopin! My favorite dead musical artist from that era! People are more familiar with the "funeral" dirge then him, it's sad. He wrote such great pieces full of light and darkness sometimes in the same work. Natalie plays it so beautifully!
@smartdeedee013 жыл бұрын
This is a very beautiful performance. Thank you for sharing.
@Minam03 жыл бұрын
You got the print of the Madame Le Brun portrait people say looks like you! I love it!
@Tine_of_Nice_Dreams2 жыл бұрын
The plunking of that A might be annoying to you who is playing it but it really does sound like the gentle rain. I loved it. Thanks for sharing the calm.
@RenzoMassari3 жыл бұрын
Each time, more sublime. Thank you.
@camrynallard55853 жыл бұрын
I seem to find these when I need them most. Thank you for sharing your talent and your love for playing beautiful music.
@mushpurple3 жыл бұрын
This is my favorite classical piece being played by one of my favorite you tubers
@mattbrandenburg5883 жыл бұрын
Her genius is only matched by her beauty and grace.
@austinporter24843 жыл бұрын
This brought some peace to the chaos. Thank you!
@Cjbcampbell3 жыл бұрын
Astonishingly beautiful. Thanks Natalie.
@austin47683 жыл бұрын
This is the first piece I learned how to play on the piano, and the one that inspired me to learn. Love the dramatic middle section!
@NBghostie3 жыл бұрын
Ok so I work at an animal shelter, and I just realized that I recognize this piece because we play it for the dogs sometimes to help calm them down :’) Well played Natalie, beautiful ❤️
@LaurenAnne63 жыл бұрын
When I sing, I am always looking at the sheet music in my mind. I visually memorize it and have I running through my head as I sing.
@MGHarris9 ай бұрын
I love this. The whole vibe. Feels like you could be a character in a book by Stefan Zweig, a poetic, quiet intellectual girl working on her piano while deciding which suitor to pick, the dashing young lieutenant from the garrison or the beautiful pastry chef from the shop on the square.
@esr14123 жыл бұрын
Yesss!!! I'm so happy ContraPianos is here to stay! Keep 'em coming!
@scarlettdavis93363 жыл бұрын
Nice piece. I appreciate your use of dynamics throughout. It really added more depth and emotion. Thank you.
@ThatDeadGuy2343 жыл бұрын
My all time favorite piece of classical music. Thank you for the performance. ❤
@ingridrichter46813 жыл бұрын
I’ve always loved the music she puts in her videos, so it’s super cool to hear her perform music too
@lelemsays3 жыл бұрын
There's a playlist on Spotify, it's so perfect
@kelath55553 жыл бұрын
I was just looking at that painting the other day! How lovely to see it here with your music.
@elenagramellini78653 жыл бұрын
This piece was my gateway drug to classical music
@archeleon18353 жыл бұрын
Thank you. What a delight to find out that I have somehow missed the creation of this new channel, and I have something lovely to brighten the end of this vexing day.
@jackiec21713 жыл бұрын
That was lovely Natalie.💐
@kirstikouvo21398 ай бұрын
So very beautiful,thank you so much !
@anonymouse77733 жыл бұрын
I love this piece!! I also remember playing it as a teenager, and it was always the best when it was raining outside. I wish I had my piano with me rn😭😭
@15clank3 жыл бұрын
This is my favorite Chopin song . I used to listen to it all the time to study or smoke weed.
@ngrace113 жыл бұрын
Although I've never heard this piece before, based on your description you really capture the mood. There's melancholy and yearning, but also a gentle sweetness. I enjoyed hearing the repeated Ab that mimics raindrops falling.
@DeviantOllam3 жыл бұрын
Lovely, as always. 💚
@juls_krsslr79083 жыл бұрын
Beautiful! I love this prelude. This used to be one of my favorite Chopin pieces, but now I'd say Nocturne, Op. 9, No. 1 and Etude Op. 10, No. 3. Actually - it's hard to choose. It's all good.
@DrewForGames3 жыл бұрын
That was really beautiful. Thank you. It’s been a long day, and that was so lovely and calming.
@AS-jm1lw3 жыл бұрын
my favorite Chopin prelude! And my favorite youtuber!
@ReadyEddielicious3 жыл бұрын
This might be the most basic opinion out there, but "Raindrops" has always touched me deep to the core. It's the very first piece I've heard from him (knowing it was his), and ever since it's brought up goosebumps, and almost always brought me to tears. For me, the proper nickname to this song would be "Teardrops". Natalie's playing didn't change this emotion it inflicts, I felt a personal interpretation with it. I have nothing but respect for Natalie's skills, I'm certain Berklee would've done wonders to already ample skills. I have a friend who flew from here in Finland to train drumming in Berklee himself, and I have the impression it's an intimidating, but exciting opportunity. It's no wonder if you feel overwhelmed by the skill level with people there. But my love for Natalie's work is here, in this channel. I'm glad I ever found this channel, and fell in love with the video essays - even the terrible gaming streams with A+ entertainment, yet C- gaming skills.
@95north903 жыл бұрын
I'm not very into classical music (literally only know one by name and thats moonlight sonata as I sometimes listen to it going to sleep) and as far as I know I've never heard this before but it made my heart ache, it's such a beautiful piece of music but there is something so lonely about it to me... Maybe that's just the last 18 months colouring my experience though!
@veggiedragon10003 жыл бұрын
So nice, so chill, very attractive. *applause*
@Larryboy27013 жыл бұрын
Oh hell yes. Probably my favorite Chopin prelude.
@adamc15993 жыл бұрын
She makes classical music feel like a safe place. I've always felt like I didn't belong in that kinda music and always avoided it like the plague. I trust her taste and talent. This is good music!
@ZIMMERTRAXX2 жыл бұрын
I could hear you play the piano for hours.❤️
@ren57183 жыл бұрын
Chopin again helping me vicariously catharsize. Thank you, Contra
@awisecar95403 жыл бұрын
Please keep posting this kind of content, lol I haven’t ever had much of a foot in the door on baroque/classical/pre-20th century music, and this is cool
@emmarossignol44453 жыл бұрын
QUEEN GO OFF MORE PLEASE. I would love a piano album just saying...
@Ash.MR.3 жыл бұрын
This is absolutely beautiful.
@AbdulHannanAbdulMatheen3 жыл бұрын
👏🙂 Magnificent
@Madame_Anarchy13 жыл бұрын
Love to hear you play ❤
@ryandavis2803 жыл бұрын
Thank you for reintroducing classical music into my life ❤️
@mimknax3 жыл бұрын
I love these new piano videos, they are always so well made :D
@killerdonut11943 жыл бұрын
I thought this was a stream and clicked instantly but this is nice too ❤️
@grandunification3 жыл бұрын
Perfect background music for my puzzles
@jaredcollins853 жыл бұрын
I love you and Chopin. Thank you for finally combining the two into a beautiful youtube entity.
@henrykirkland35103 жыл бұрын
Lovely, thank you.
@vilutti3 жыл бұрын
Thank you for these. A gift. I've experienced something similar - that I find it hard to get back to something that once was a passion. This gives me hope, I'll get there someday. I miss it.... and I hate it, fear it at the same time.
@Maria-vg6bx2 жыл бұрын
beautiful bit, thanks for sharing :)
@Odiemaji3 жыл бұрын
Such a delight!
@sebbie7253 жыл бұрын
Listening to this as it's raining outside, lovely as always Natalie
@MochaKimono3 жыл бұрын
Nice. One of my favorite classical compositions ever.
@cliffridenour66753 жыл бұрын
Thank you, Natalie.
@internalfugue163 жыл бұрын
your tempo is less restrained here, more musicality and less metronome compared to the satie. thank you you for this lovely rendition
@DaltonGoesSlow3 жыл бұрын
what an excellent outlet, not only for your playing, but for videography as well. well done on both!
@roslandbjoern3 жыл бұрын
Hi Natalie. You have inspired me to start learning playing piano. Started a few months ago and progressing :)
@VinceWhitacre3 жыл бұрын
I really love that you're sharing these. Thanks Natalie.