How to Listen to Classical Music (Emotion-Mapping)

Matching 10 composers with 10 different emotions.
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Edited and produced by Nahre Sol and Julius Meltzer. Additional graphics by Jonathan Hyman.
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As always, thank you so much for watching, and thank you to all of you that leave comments.

[@marhar2]

I can't think of anybody better to kick off their Creator in Residence role. I think there are so many people who are learning about and appreciating music of all kinds because of your work. Yay!!

[@frankfarklesberry]

I can't think of anyone better suited to fill this role, showing off the Elbphilharmonie. It takes a very special person. You've hit the ground running, as everyone expected. Perfect. BTW ... that room .... nice digs if you can get it. 😀

[@truecuckoo]

Thank you. Hearing Pärt again felt like a great reminder of something that I had almost forgotten. There's this certain purity and unwavering clarity in his music that is so hard to put into words. Eternity even. I used to sing in a choir many years ago, and we sang his piece called Magnificat. It left a huge impression on me. Will never forget.

[@fugithegreat]

I can't listen to Barber's adagio without crying. Such a powerful piece.

[@NicolaLarosa]

Same here. Devastation indeed.

[@lexusmaxus]

Apt choice for the movie ‘platoon’

[@3210vca]

Hey..... Gen Hirano's transcription and performance of the piece for piano is the ultimate for me!!!!!!!!! And considering Gen Hirano was a bodybuilder who performed the piece in a tank top.... it was just DEVASTATING!!!!!

[@IzzyJoBeeGee]

Joplin-Entertainer: Playful Vivaldi-Summer: Anxious Chopin-Nocturne: Longing Strauss-Zarathustra: Revelation Schubert-Erlkonig: Tension Copeland-Appalachian: Hope Bach-Chaccone: Agony Barber-Adagio: Grief Satie-Gnossiene: Curiosity Part-Fratres: Conviction

[@nicolasolkoski]

Exactly... You described it better

[@RijuChatterjee]

I like these better

[@bergkampdennis5673]

anxious??? intense heat and energetic not anxious lol

[@bergkampdennis5673]

bach chaconne- piety

[@RijuChatterjee]

@@bergkampdennis5673 I hear anxiety. Only heavy metal can depict aggression.

[@markdecker2112]

Congrats on the opportunity to work with the Elbphilharmonie.

[@WorldEverett]

Thank you, Nahre! Love the bite-sized videos about classical music, love your passion - greetings from Poland!

[@JohnTravena]

In the chaconne there is also deep conviction, determination, and faith. There are 13 variations that resolve to the major before returning to the minor. Menuhin once wrote that when he played it he felt he could eradicate all evil in the world.

[@cjsteinway5014]

Studied for years, through college, and had to discover these methods on my own. You are a more effective teacher than any I have studied with.

[@jameswalker4704]

Wow, your pallet of feelings is so rich. The Adagio strikes me as demonstrating transcendence. Takes me to the clouds.🎉❤❤

[@skane3109]

I am in near total alignment with your interpretations of the emotions induced by these 10 pieces of music Appalachian Spring for me is hope -and it also invokes a strong sense of personal freedom to explore the youthful horizons. Visually I imagine the Appalachian Blue Ridge Mountains as they pour from the western flanks to the seemingly endless flatland desert seen in your video. Thank you Nahre and to all your supporters who offer grist for the mill wheel ❤

[@1FunkyAsh]

Oh man, Fratres! I discovered this piece while picking out CDs somewhat randomly from the library. Tried to listen to it in the car but it was like, too emotional to drive to?? It made me think of how unique and precious it is to be alive but also made me achingly aware of being without those who’ve died.

[@henriwila3473]

The bach chaconne kind of represents the feeling of feeling empty after grieving for a long time for me. When you are still sad but you don't feel it sharply any more. There is the part in major, where everything seems heavenly. That makes me feel like the moment, where you have been in pain for so long that you just have to let lose and just out of exhaustion come to some kind of peace.

[@janniswildermuth1499]

Nice video and also a good demonstration of how much our own character affects how we hear music. To me, Barber's Adagio is not something sad but the ultimate form of beauty through observation, where each second more you spend looking at something increases your appreciation for it.

[@ThatOneGuyRAR]

For me, the piece that I hear the most complex emotion in is Ravel’s Pavane for a Dead Princess. It’s like the feeling of observing the memory of something that once was happy, but now is long gone.

[@digitig]

And the first first note of that is tied over, as in Barber's Adagio, giving that same sense of drifting in grief or loss.

[@fugithegreat]

Creator in residence! That's so awesome!

[@peterwolf8092]

Haha, I’m from germany and so glad to see you having a residency here. I love that concept.

[@rohanpuranik9690]

I would like to point out that it is surmised, that Bach wrote the Chaconne in the aftermath of the death of his first wife, Maria Barbara Bach. She had died suddenly and unexpectedly when he was away with his employer, and was shocked to find out she was dead and buried when he returned. She was the mother of 7 of his children, 3 of whom died in infancy. This was a man who had known grief intimately, and grieve, he did. What emerged from that grief is a testament to the intensity of the experience of _any _ human emotion, not just agony, which is basically unrivalled since. This is a theory proposed by Professor Helga Thoene, though it is a controversial claim. But if it is true, then the greatest Western composer to have lived wrote the greatest tombeau to have ever been written. If he intended it to be this way or not, is unknown. But there certainly was something powerful which drove him to create this. It's part of a larger Partita for violin, and if the whole partita is played end-to-end, the Chaconne takes up as much space as the rest of the four movements put together and forms the latter half the partita by itself.

[@malawianprogrammer]

I'm so excited for this new series! You're such a passionate and articulate explainer/explorer of music. With more people like you acting as an informed but approachable interface to classical music for the masses, classical music adoption might just become a lot more widespread :)

[@Scriabinfan593]

A video with Copland's, Part's and Satie's music? I feel like a kid on Christmas morning. Anyways, Fratres always felt like eternity, mysticism, and introspection to me. Whenever I listen to it, I always think of what it would be like to die and become pure consciousness and having my identity washed away and being able to see things from a completely removed and detached perspective. A lot of Part's music feels like that to me.

[@Siansonea]

To me Satie's Gnossiene No. 1 is like a sudden awareness of the passage of time. It calls out from the late 19th Century, to me in the early 21st Century, but it's still moving away, toward a future none of us will see. It's not even really about mortality in a personal sense, somehow. It makes me melancholy, but I love it so much. I love hearing it played on the piano, but also on the cello, Schrello Classic did a phenomenal version here on KZbin.

[@liltick102]

Check out Patricia Escudero’s Satie record - very different Anyway I agree

[@dclarkmusic]

Both the hope and devastation pieces made me want to cry just in the short previews you played. I guess those speak to me the most

[@jmarty1000]

So articulate and finely tuned are your observations and associations. And congratulations for your gig there, you deserve it and best wishes for greatest success!

[@soundtreks]

The Barber is an emotionally searing piece. He encapsulated both the pathos and rage of loss.

[@amorphis150]

When I hear the Arvo Pärt piece, I see always see the raw power of cyclical nature, like a cold winter/early spring pine tree forest with its slowly melting ice revealing the nature that has been long sleeping but ready to emerge for a new life. After all, this is how I imagine spring in Estonia where he lived.

[@JamesChaelim]

For me Satie is Melancholia as Victor Hugo defines it: The hapiness of being sad.

[@luytmiau1363]

these are my guesses: 1- happiness/joy 2- panic 3- sadness/dissapointment 4- extreme joy/great accomplishment 5- enormous pressure/fear 6- calmness/excitement 7- grief 8- confusion/depression 9- empty calmness/slight sense of a bad omen 10- extreme confusion/trauma/hopelessness. like if you are forced to do something atrocious you don't want to do in any sense.

[@motorbikeray]

Nahre is the perfect person for the "Creator in Residence" role at the Elbphilharmonie. Nahre's hair length and styling in the video is on-point.

[@oceanelf2512]

I couldn't agree more on the Barber Adagio. It sounds like devastation to me as well, and I have been there emotionally.

[@ElbphilharmonieHamburg]

Brilliant as always! 🎶🫶

[@viv2199]

Nahre, you have expanded and deepened my understanding and appreciation of music more than I ever knew. Thank you for this gift!

[@ayarezk8684]

Vivaldi's Summer conveys escalating overwhelming heat, both emotional and literal heat. Thus Spoke Zarathustra radiates grandiosity. I can add the feeling of some nostalgia remembering sweet memories on top of hope and awe in Copland's piece. Gnosienne makes me think of the mystical unknown and throws me into existential angst. I agree with you on the rest of the pieces, and I haven't got a clue on how to feel about Avro Part's piece 😂

[@a.modestproposal2038]

I find Daniel Brown's label for the prevalent emotion in Bach's music spot on: "To talk about nonstandard chords in Bach is to talk, in the main, about dissonance. It's hard to overstate the importance of dissonance in Bach's harmony: more than a feature of it, it's the climate of it. But this climate isn't the stormy one you might expect. Bach rarely uses dissonance for dramatic effect; it permeates, more than punctuates, his writing, yielding not heightened moments of sorrow or pain so much as a sustained profundity."

[@knasigboll]

When I was a kid I always wondered why summer sounded so scary and sad, until I learned that summer in the south of Italy has a lot of thunderstorms. In that context it makes alot of sense!

[@xinzhihuang728]

Thank you, Nahre Sol. You're one of my saviors guiding me to the music world. I'm so happy to watch this.

[@lillypad0205]

Great job with this video !! Amazing descriptions and music choices.. no. 10 as "fragile yet powerful conviction" just took the words out of my mouth

[@donkeyfacekilla1]

awesome idea for a video! Cant wait to watch this! Love your channel youre so talented!

[@JohnTussey]

Thank you Nahre and Congratulations!

[@haithamkarajay2460]

Another amazing video 👌Thank you Nahre !

[@chasvox2]

Congratulations on your new gig, young woman. You are exceptionally talented and I have always admired your perspicacity and commentary. You remind me why I compose music...thanks again.....

[@Traderbear]

Loved your video 😊 I look forward to your future work

[@madonobel]

I started learning piano and music 2 years ago, and I know your channel since first start looking on piano on youtube, this video is the best you made a mini piano encyclopedia in 10 minutes, I liked this heavily much, keep on, greetings, 45 Cairo, Egypt ❤

[@DorothyOzmaLover]

Luv it when Nahre showcases her skills which are top!

[@aman-mn5kc]

Really good job on this one!

[@kikukarun]

love this video!!!

[@andy-jupytermoon]

Superb. One of the best videos I have ever seen. Thank you so much. Nahre, you are special.

[@Shost7]

That was amazing!

[@5000IU]

Loved this episode! Please do more of these!

[@elevate-academic-club]

To receive the emotion expressed by both the composer and performer of a musical work and then to interpret it in the context of one's own human experience is one of life's greatest joys. But then what a challenge it is to re-express those emotions into words

[@matthewjamestaylor]

Wonderful video! Thanks for sharing. Cheers.

[@Hopefoust]

I love you!!!!! As an instructor, this is so helpful to explain emotions and the importance of theory (even simple theory) behind expressing deep (sometimes unexplained) emotions. You’re helping blossom my love for classical, to share with the younger generation. Thank you!

[@profsjp]

Informative and revealing 👏🏻

[@LauraValcarcelRodriguez]

Hi Nahre, I love your videos and feel true admiration for your work, I wish I was so talented and knowledgable like you, I can see your passion and years of hard work and dedication, looking forward to seeing your next videos!

[@edbuller4435]

Great stuff. And Congratulations on your new Job in Hamburg x

[@sjbreen]

Excellent video!

[@zecamagalhaes]

Loved this one, thank you 🎉

[@ariskoerniawan4215]

Beautiful ❤. Thank You

[@jamesfrearson9630]

Thanks for making this simple. So needed.

[@splashesin8]

Very much enjoyed this and congrats on your new adventure.❤😊

[@jimmypes3111]

Wow! What a great video! I love how you taught music theory concepts while explaining how the music was conveying the emotions….all in a non-condescending way. Brava! I’m looking forward to your future videos!

[@maximuscraig8222]

Love this!

[@Transterra55]

“ Appalachian Spring” by Aaron Copland reminds me of homesickness… The soft, melodic passages have a sense of nostalgia with memories of home, whereas the intense passages are the pangs of being homesick.

[@_Newname_]

I watch any of your videos and I feel pure joy and excitement how you manage with piano and analyze music! Wow! You're awesome! Keep doing what you do! ❤❤❤

[@pianistlover2008]

Your narrative is a perfect musical transcription for each emotion.

[@IvoryMadness.]

That was great!

[@apassingsoul-pianomusic]

Wonderful video, great concept👍

[@pookz3067]

I think you’re underestimating the complexity of the emotions you consider less complex. The simplest of emotions and lines can be played with enough nuance to feel as complex as needed.

[@MotifMusicStudios]

What a special video from start to finish!

[@thesleepykeys951]

Loved this

[@0956y]

Exactly why I am subscribed

[@jamescorey7467]

So much emotion in such a short video. Great choices.

[@johanwestman5198]

Love your videos. Keep up the good work!

[@prod_yuugo]

Love your work, love your videos. Please make more of these types of videos where you link the emotions to a piece while explaining how the composer do to make you feel this type of emotions. I find it really helpfull !

[@sofiarozada7067]

Thank you for this videos! They are very original, as well as interesting!!

[@chipang_shorthand]

Congratulations on your new endeavors! 🌞

[@alex_harold]

I loved listening through this but it goes to show the subjectivity of music. Even #2 Vivaldi has always given me a great sense of not anger but passionate delight.

[@iainmackenzieUK]

Congratulations on your new position. Great to see your well earned progression. I found the music very emotional but struggled to match most of your suggested themes. I guess I need to listen more and deeper. Best wishes iain

[@pjdahmen]

Great Tutorial!

[@mikehibbertmusic]

Thanks so much for the tip about the #4 ! very nice flavour indeed!

[@TwelfthRoot2]

congrats nahre. we are all very happy for you. you are so well-deserving :)

[@deniseneddermeyer3165]

Thank you, Nahre. Love this. Greetings from Brazil

[@plootyluvsturtle9843]

I was just introduced to Der Erlkonig through Sideways and it’s quickly become one of my new favorites of all time. happy you brought it up!

[@davidcalveto]

thanks for this master class !

[@analyticequals]

Good job Nahre....

[@kopperbunny]

Congrats on being the artist in residence at such a wonderful place!!

[@amiezwag]

Love your videos Nahre!

[@hotzeplotz83]

Buah, nice view!! I think you deserve this place at the Elbphilharmonie very much! Enjoy!!

[@ahmadsaeid]

I absolutely love your videos. They tell me things I didn't know I didn't know. Thank you.

[@j-fmusique3032]

Merci beaucoup, c'est fantastique!

[@jeffhammel4305]

Thank you, Nahre. While I don't have a simple emotion for Part-Fratres, it feels like to me that one is seeing parts of a much larger universe than one knew existed.

[@dafost3r]

Love this! Thank you! 💕🎼🎻🌹🕊

[@CalvinLimSH-ld5le]

Nice Composers analysis by emotion - that's why we still hear and play these classical pieces after all these years

[@MarcoMeatball]

Fantastic video.

[@tljmusic]

This video is awesome! My goal lately in trying to write music has been to tell stories with varied emotions within the same song. I know I’ll be referencing this video a lot.

[@leiferickson3183]

Congratulations!

[@user-vd5gl8rm2f]

I love how you explain music. 이번 영상 보면서 행복했어요!

[@slummymind6169]

adaggio for strings always gets me. this peace is really hard core.. I really like these videos dealing with different composers and their aproaches.

[@amaikawa369]

Love this. ❤

[@SuperWave86]

I love this emotional music analysis makes me think about my own compositions and technical notes and chords that translate to emotions! Great job Nahre ❤️ keep up with making more videos in Germany 🇩🇪 about music 🎼

[@thunderbird4586]

Deep stuff bro.