Haydn Harpsichord : Elaine Comparone plays Sonata in E minor, #34, Presto

[@bikkies]

This is wonderful. I don't think I've ever heard a better performance of this. Perfect variation in colour, texture, staccato, legato, rubato and above all else, constant forward motion. This has it all. Anyone who thinks the harpsichord lacks expressiveness should watch this.

[@ElaineComparone]

I appreciate your taking the time to comment so warmly!

[@caesarsneezer6992]

The memory of a savant genius to be able to reproduce multiple pieces in perfect reproduction. Thank you Elaine Camparone

[@ElaineComparone]

Thank you, Doug Chertoff, for your kind remarks!!

[@Lucius_Chiaraviglio]

Wonderful artistically, and in addition, an excellent demonstration of the often-ignored use of the two manuals to get varied dynamics.

[@joaopoppel9898]

How could one dislike this performance! Wondrous,beautiful and igniting!

[@matchbox2736]

Joao Pöppel because it's not good. She doesn't follow many things the composer wrote in the notes, she doesnt have a certain articulation that she follows through the whole piece, she throws many thingsand many more things. And don't even get me started on the tempo.

[@yizhansun5231]

@@matchbox2736 bruhhhh

[@magentuspriest]

I really like the improvised trills and rubatos you did.

[@ElaineComparone]

Thank you! I'm happy you noticed them!

[@KingMusicalMel]

Thank you so much for your videosd Elaine. You truly are a master of the Harpsichord!

[@ElaineComparone]

Thank you so much for your comment!!

[@irishelk3]

That must be so satisfying, stepping up to one of the finest instruments in the world and playing it like mad.

[@ElaineComparone]

Yes, it is indeed!

[@josepalomogomez9865]

Una maravilla. Gracias

[@chickpeas_and_squats]

Wonderful playing! You did this piece justice.

[@ChristianJiang]

That's amazing, as always! This gorgeous music gave me goosebumps!

[@roberthcampbelljr3517]

Love the Harpsichord sound and music. Especially Hayden and JS Bach

[@albatros44444]

It seems to me that it must be extremely tricky and complicated to play this music. You are very experienced and manage all without failing. Compliment!

[@yuyinwang6036]

This piece comes to life and make so much sense to me now.

[@ElaineComparone]

Thank you for telling me! I'm glad!

[@Afroddox]

bravo!

[@ElaineComparone]

Thanks!!

[@ПётрЗеленин-л9у]

Обожаю клавесин.

[@joeerickson516]

"Such elegance?"

[@blakestilltippin]

You are very talented most people these days wouldn’t know what you are playing and I’ve only just figured it out myself sounds amazing though and I love the harpsichord sound

[@ShirleyKirsten]

Well done!

[@BachFlip]

Is Elaine okay?! Somebody has written on another video that she is no longer with us! Surely not???!

[@ShirleyKirsten]

Elaine is alive and well! She had a computer shutdown, and needs to replace. She will be back once the Mac is up and running. Thanks for your concern. Shirley K

[@BachFlip]

Oh, I am relieved to hear that! Thanks Shirley! (What on earth were they talking about then, I wonder??!)

[@rufuscoppertop330]

Fantastic.

[@na3044]

It makes hy headphones sing, thanks a lot. :)

[@ElaineComparone]

My pleasure!!

[@mk45316]

Wow! What a powerful instrument!

[@ElaineComparone]

Thank you! Glad you think so!! I tried to reply to your other comment about the piece I play at the beginning of the long video but couldn't find a way to do it. So I'm happy to tell you here that It's Couperin's "Les Baricades Misterieuses" ! A but of a chestnut----and for good reason!

[@mk45316]

@@ElaineComparone oh thank you! I found a comment answering the question, so I deleted mine just to save you some time. But thanks for the speedy reply!

[@ElaineComparone]

@@mk45316 You're welcome!

[@lord.of.tamarindo]

Wow! You're very talented! I love your stuff! I'm just curious how long have you been playing harpsichord for?

[@ElaineComparone]

Since my college years. That's a very long time-----many years!! But I started piano as a five-year-old and later studied organ in high school. So I've been keyboarding for a long time, as I said before.

[@caesarsneezer6992]

@@ElaineComparone Everyone thanks you for devoting your life to the majesty of the harpsichord. The organ thanks you as well

[@tompommerel2136]

Wonderful pianistically-based technique. But is this appropriate on a harpsichord with only one manual like the classic Flemish Ruckers before the French expanded them to 2 manuals with the disposition of 2x8' & 1x4"?

[@sooth15]

Elaine, I noticed that in most (but not all) of your performances, you rarely have sheet music. Are these pieces that you just know by heart, or are they played by ear?

[@ElaineComparone]

I don't "just know" them by heart. And I don't play by ear. Wish I could!!! I made a point of memorizing them so I could get at their essence. I don't feel I can really do that when I'm still reading the music. Once you completely digest the music, you can play it like it's yours----like you've composed it. I started memorizing rather late in life. I was 25. My childhood teachers ( parents and others) didn't require me to memorize. When I made a decision to become a recitalist, I decided I needed to memorize whatever I was playing so as to truly get at the heart of the music. Kind of like an actor memorizing a role. You won"t see a Shakespearean actor, or any other kind of actor for that matter, using the script. I kind of feel like it's the same thing. By the way, I meant to get in touch with you! I was happy to get your comment about the Bach "Loure" I put up. So I looked at your page. Thanks for showing all the beautiful clocks! I immensely enjoyed the tour around your place and your explanations of each clock. Ditto for the dulcimer! Are you snowed in presently? We've had very little snow this year.

[@sooth15]

Elaine Comparone Memorizing the music makes a lot of sense, but I don't know if I could manage it, haha. I'm terrible at memorizing things, even something as simple as a 5 minute presentation back in high school. Thanks for the comments about my clock collection. I need to make a new tour, since I'm not even living at the same place anymore, and I have some new pieces. As for the Dulcimer, much like your harpsichords, it goes out of tune all the time. I don't play it often enough, and every time I feel like playing, I have to spend a lot of time tuning it. You would think it's not too bad, since it only has 4 strings (the two first ones being tuned identically simply for volume) but I built the instrument using violin pegs (which are very hard to tune up/down) and I haven't spent money on an electronic tuner. I had planned to eventually build another one (even fancier, with inlay decorations, etc) and use mechanical tuners on it, but I currently have too many other projects.

[@sooth15]

Elaine Comparone Also, no, not too much snow currently. There's about 2 inches of icy crust on the ground and that's about it.

[@ElaineComparone]

sooth15 The extent and variety of your projects is amazing! Did you ever finish decorating and painting that other house? I look forward to seeing your new ticking acquisitions.

[@sooth15]

Elaine Comparone No, I'm not done working on the house (which is where I'm living currently). I wasn't sure which video(s) you saw, but some of the "tour of my clock collection" videos were taken back at my old apartment. I need to make an updated house tour video, showing some of the progress. I still have several large projects to do (redo the kitchen, one complete bedroom, refinish the main floors, replace the main staircase, etc).

[@Oboefan1632]

What a great example of Austrian music :)

[@LordSandwichII]

How do you get the loud notes? Is there a stop activated that we can't see?

[@ElaineComparone]

mackat4ck I prepare the lower keyboard by engaging in advance the 4' and 8' stops. The upper keyboard operates only a single 8' set of strings. The purpose of having two keyboards is so you can alternate as well as combine different sounds. In this instance, the louder sounds on the lower keyboard come from the addition of the 4' to the 8'. Then when I go to the upper keyboard, the contrasting sound of the single 8' is softer. I operate the "stops" with the small gold knobs (above the upper keyboard, one on the right, another on the left.) I set them up before each movement. In the slow movement, I change in the middle between repeats.

[@LordSandwichII]

+Elaine Comparone Very Interesting! :) And this produces the effect where every note that you play is like an octave chord? Edit: I just watched your video about where you talk about your harpsichord and how it works, and you explained the 4' stop there! :) I'd love to get the chance to play a harpsichord someday, but I've never even seen one in person! :( Perhaps I could find a church or school that has one and beg them to let me have a little go on it! :)

[@blakestilltippin]

If you could help me figure out which songs I’m looking for specifically (typing this as I am watching) I would appreciate it I’m looking for the Haydn and Handel versions played in this family guy scene I’ve found them long ago but can’t remember them (listening further this song you’re playing sounds similar not sure if I’m right ?) here’s the clip kzbin.info/www/bejne/eZjNc6SGfrWVjLs

[@blakestilltippin]

Been trying to find these for a long time in specific minor etc

[@ElaineComparone]

Hi! I listened to the clips and, to tell you the truth, I think they're just imitations of the real thing. If they're not, they're way too short for me to place them in a piece I 've heard before or know. Sorry I can't help more!!

[@caesarsneezer6992]

I didnt know Haydn used the harpsichord. Was it transposed?

[@teodorlontos3294]

Haydn most likely played some harpsichord, but it is much more likely that he performed most of music on the clavichord/early fortepianos.

[@dmstjq92]

아 합시코드에서는 다이내믹을 이렇게 조절하는거였구나

[@WorivpuqloDMogh]

This is how i feel when i am dressed exquisitely 😌

[@ElaineComparone]

What a lovely comment!!

[@peteacher52]

:-)

[@jirikleker3133]

She's playing very amateurisch.

[@ElaineComparone]

Thank you very much!