ELDAR - "Variations on a Bach Prelude"

[@JJamJ]

Astonishing talent. 👏

[@jamesmitchell6925]

This guy is from another planet. He is the BEST pianist alive.

[@FirstLast-cd6vv]

He's definitely a great pianist, but there are others.

[@miscellanyman263]

Purely effortless with no lag in tempo... exceedingly extra-ordinary. The Godfather of Improvisation, JSB, would be so ever delighted and astonished, himself. Kudos, Eldar -- from one of your biggest fans!

[@DihelsonMendonca]

💥 Eldar should record another 30 Bach Goldberg variations. It would be amazing, and he has the technique and the knowledge for that. 🎉❤

[@Santosificationable]

Closer to the true spirit of Bach than what a lot of classical pianists these days do with all due respect to their hard work. The Baroque keyboardists did not shy away from improvisation.

[@TinyMaths]

I remember hearing about Eldar many years ago and being impressed by his story, and even more impressed, or rather, flabbergasted by his playing skills. This was back in maybe 2004/2005 when I used to frequent a piano forum (genre was jazz) where there was a big fuss about him. Quite a few of the guys on the forum were complaining that Eldar's jazz playing was robotic and lacked emotion, to me his playing was so utterly flawless and electrifying that they couldn't actually come up with a real criticism. I think it was more about intimidation than anything else. I mean, the level at which he played jazz was staggering, it WAS intimidating. But he already had the admiration of numerous jazz masters so I figure the complainers were likely expressing their feelings of inadequacy, and I don't blame them for feeling inadequate if they did. I always figured he was classically trained, and watching this performance makes me realize why he is such a monster when steps into his jazz suit, watching him play still fills me with awe, and also a slight feeling of 'terror'.

[@EldarDjangirov]

Thank you for your thoughtful comment -- I appreciate it very much! Best from, Eldar

[@teddybrow]

Man, I totally agree. People calling virtuosic players "robotic" is such a tired and weak insult. It's wild impressive when pianists can play with robot-like precision at blazing tempos, and that absolutely doesn't mean they can't *also* play deeply-moving, slower pieces with heavy rubato and such. Eldar's take on the prelude here is obviously meant to be fun and flashy, which I love. There's room for all types of pieces in a musician's repertoire; it doesn't have to all be serious and contemplative 100% the time. Anyway, end rant :) Eldar kicks ass.

[@rik-keymusic160]

Where can you read his story?

[@michelcamachomusic]

Amazing speed and articulation.

[@c.l.7680]

Such gorgeous touch. I'd listen the hell out of an Eldar classical album.

[@nitathegooglegiggler.439]

Once more you tantalised me with you wonderful talent. Thank you. Nita.

[@LukeTheringMusic]

He has one!

[@teddybrow]

Coming in here way late, but, as Luke mentioned above, Eldar does have a classical album. The name is "Bach/Brahms/Prokofiev" and it's on Spotify. Definitely worth checking out!

[@c.l.7680]

@@teddybrow no such thing as too late. In fact, it feels like just yesterday I left the comment lol From one musician to another, thanks bro.

[@GeometryDashDyno]

This changed my life

[@jennifer86010]

Monstrous chops !!! Incredible technique !!! At times I think that Eldar is NOT a piano player. He is a "PLAYER-PIANO" !!!

[@Mettttie]

please do more variations on other classical composers :)

[@johnimusic12]

As a pianist myself, since the age of 3 with perfect-pitch and 30 years of jazz studies, my little brother here, Eldar, is the GOAT of my generation.

[@brumont7241]

Then, he's the GOMG.

[@rik-keymusic160]

He makes Bach sound hip again!!

[@johnimusic12]

@bill Bloggsyou seem serious and not very hip.

[@ltravail]

There is nothing this enormously gifted young man can't do on the piano! I've been in awe of him for years! Find me a contemporary pianist - in both the jazz and classical genres - who can match his virtuosity. In my book, he smokes them all...

[@FirstLast-cd6vv]

He's gifted, no doubt, but there are others.

[@tomjones2348]

I think Daniel Barenboim would give this a thumbs up. I'm 64, and been studying piano for 5 years. A good friend of mine (who's a superb pianist) just sent this to me for inspiration. Yes...I'm inspired.

[@LAOMUSICARTS]

Bach is the base of knowing where to put which finger and when! God bless Johann!

[@FtWayneIN]

Love this performance! Absolutely beyond comprehension. My spirit it now renewed. The greatest gift you have shared.

[@chrisfischer9825]

this makes me like classical music again. Moving it forward and out of the museum where it has been languishing.

[@303qwertyuiop303]

Beautiful variation, stellar performance ❤️

[@besimqorri7351]

It's amazing...bravo Eldar!

[@SuperJazzhead]

God level playing

[@AshrafRezkmusic]

Incredibly beautiful as always! Your vocabulary and diverse variations are astonishing 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@fernandatralala]

Elder is such a force of nature! Perfection, always! ❤

[@p1anosteve]

Not usually my thing jazzing up Bach, but he plays so... well it's just fantastic!

[@thomastallis8819]

it may not be your thing, but jazzing up things, i.e., improvising, was the most common thing for Bach himself!

[@MrGom3zone]

i could cry 😥

[@josefzachariassen]

You are amazing, Eldar!

[@boonkiepup]

It's like God downloaded all the musical genius in the Universe into Eldar's brain.

[@EBCArts]

Eldar, you are absolutely AMAZING! I am learning your version of this from Rhapsodize by ear so that I can hopefully play it with your level of fluency, precision, and beauty…which I must say, is quite the challenging goal. You play with such virtuosity, emotion, and lyricism, and your improvisation is absolutely brilliant. I was listening to Straight No Chaser from your Blue Note record recently and your solo, as well as your trading with Roy Hargrove is out of this world. You are one of my favorite all time pianists, and such an inspiration. Keep making wonderful music!! Thank you for doing what you do -Eli

[@mirkocaserta]

And this is just the sound check you say? Jesus... 😳

[@HaloGirl67]

Love your take on this - wow!!! fabulous- this has always been one of my favorite preludes, too!! :)

[@Fanchen]

Would be glad if there was a transcription somewhere. I’d like to give this a try.

[@ErickJohn1404]

bom demais!!!!!

[@fredericog.siqueiracampos5127]

Fantastic, Eldar! Merry Xmas!

[@genio957]

Beautiful!

[@ricardolacquan]

Devastating performance!!!!Class E. T: Talent !!!!

[@MrRodF]

I am speechless... simply WOW

[@critojazz]

Simply amazing.

[@danielagreda1974]

Genial, simplemente.

[@joechindamo1948]

This is incredible and very beautiful. Wow.

[@jorgestramusic]

What technique, what ideas... Fantastic Eldar!

[@SoundDoctorGR]

You are genius 🙏💪🙏👍👍👍

[@turbofreddy]

Incredible

[@filistro]

Incredible. What a technique. Not a single wrong note..love it!!

[@victormanuelpadilla1845]

Felicitaciones! Al gran pianista talentoso de El dar Djangirov por su extraordinaria ejecución de estas variaciones en arreglo. Fantástica velocidad. Le gusta también el JAZZ! Es un extraterrestre!

[@curtisunit]

Nice one! I love hearing you do this. I regret that I never got to see you when I was in San Diego. Gilbert Castellanos used to tell me " I got a piano player you gotta hear. He's the ****! Real deal." I'm glad for YT. I don't know if you are big on playing classical and forgive me if you do and I haven't seen it, but I think you'd tear it a new one and put it to bed tbh. I love my jazz but I'm also a big fan of classical pianists and I was glad to find this. Stay well.

[@projectivesound5900]

Grande Maestro! Davvero grande! Non ci sono parole

[@ploufplouf8359]

That's so great Eldar. Thank you very much for sharing !

[@eleanorstoyanov6222]

Touched by God!!!

[@samilab9718]

Génial !!!

[@hacohenitay]

Brilliant!!!

[@lorfo5545]

Great right hand.....!

[@msilvio63]

Técnica apurada, Bach maravilhoso para ser visto e ouvido. beleza pura.

[@patricepascal4632]

....Tout simplement surhumain !!!!!

[@sergeimihhailenko6469]

Офигенто!!!! Спасибо за познание Вас и вашего таланта!

[@sandydileo5961]

so amazing!

[@jayw8726]

Somewhere in heaven, Bach says "Kids of this age eh!" and smiles happily nodding his head!!! 😁

[@clarencemendonca579]

Wonderful tribute.👌

[@RikMaxSpeed]

How is this possible?!!

[@PacoRiosCadiz]

Maravilloso!!

[@jtauber]

If Jacques Loussier and Oscar Peterson combined into one...

[@ogdTo]

No, not Jacques Loussier. Eugen Cicero please.

[@fellasg]

Does any one has the sheet for this variations? Thanks

[@muserik]

Bravo!!!

[@MarcoBarboni]

Great

[@UdobiMusic]

🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@jamilamirov5244]

SUPER !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@trm1361]

Way better than scales!

[@Dontaking2008]

This sounds like what Bach meant to write. Technique is every thing. 👍🏾

[@fotistsantekidis]

Космос 🎹✈️🎹✈️🎹

[@smagsmag2052]

Do I have a chance to see your teaching videos?

[@lorfo5545]

Left hand is a second right....!

[@bendameron9922]

MMMMMMM!!!!!!

[@gemArsen]

How?

[@dyllus]

In my opinion he would win the Chopin Competition

[@dmitripolevoi4473]

Гений

[@jackwilloughby239]

Well I think this puts two questions to rest: Did Bach Swing? and Who the greatest Jazz pianist is. Move over O.P.

[@benjaminsmith2287]

Bach has "motor rhythms." It's not "swing," but it is a driving, steady energy to his music. And this piece, "Prelude in C-sharp Major," does have a syncopated melody in parts. This is taken at a very quick tempo.

[@jackwilloughby239]

@@benjaminsmith2287 Hey, that's an interesting idea. I played Bluegrass as a teenager and the Idea of Timing was Central to that Music. I have a pet theory which I don't know how to resolve, but it's based on A Pendulum with a Longer Period. A Pendulum with a longer Rod or String. The Steam Engine and the Locomotive are Environmental sources of a Swing Like Rhythm. But Bluegrass and Baroque, based on Dance rhythms, are also based on Environmental Rhythms of walking Horses (or Mules). That same Rhythmic idea was just Speed up when the Automobile was introduced. So the Swing isn't every Measure, it's more like every 16 bars. I don't want to sound racist or anything, but I am a White(?) guy and I know that I am definitely not as sensitive to these things as the people who grew up in those Rhythmic Environments. Not even Bluegrass, cause I grew up on the Plains of Kansas. Cheers!

[@benjaminsmith2287]

@@jackwilloughby239 Yeah, makes sense. I feel rhythms of trains when I listen to Beethoven but I don't know if Beethoven had any connection to them.

[@jackwilloughby239]

@@benjaminsmith2287 Yes, Sir! One of those last Piano Sonatas has everything from Ragtime to Free Jazz! I'm convinced some kind of factory was in the area using Steam engines.

[@fellasg]

Do you have the score for this?

[@medeaarabidze3913]

[@williamsvilae]

Fucking master !

[@johnlindstrom9994]

A lot FASTER than Brad Mehldau!

[@paulmayerpiano]

Yeah, Eldar recorded it first, too.

[@РасулАбдулазизов-н4ъ]

Гигантище!

[@Dontaking2008]

What if Bach heard this...we'd probably be studying Eldar in Music History classes

[@jayw8726]

Bach would be happy, to say the least!

[@gaudetjaja]

It is of course an amazing skill and talent of a virtuoso pianist. But I don't think this prelude should be played THIS fast. But yeah it's a variation of course I guess so hey why not.

[@ikaikatecson2985]

Where does it start not being Bach??? XD

[@uraharamitchell7250]

Why? Why did I click on this video? I feel so useless as a keys player now...

[@robyartic]

Don’t be feeling like that! You think about Puccini or Emerson or Bill Evans or simply Queen or Genesis....they have done the history of music with magic compositions and nobody of them was really able to play like him (Emerson apart)! Do not confuse music with technique, please!

[@benjaminsmith2287]

Just express yourself on the keys. Pianos can sing. I actually like to play slower now than when I was younger. And take pauses. Breathe.

[@uraharamitchell7250]

@@robyartic These words are profound, thank you for sharing them. My initial statement I confess is one of melodrama, no matter the terrifying displays of the Goats like Eldar, Tigran, Andre Sims and Cory Henry...I shall keep on chugging. Keys open doors.

[@uraharamitchell7250]

@@benjaminsmith2287 Sir yes Sir!!!