F. Chopin - Ballade no. 1 in G minor op. 23 - Analysis. Greg Niemczuk's lecture.

#allchopin #chopin #chopinproject #lecture
Concert pianist describes and analizes Chopin's Masterpieces for the piano.
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[@liviane109]

this piece i think it represents the story of Chopin himself. The introduction is like a nightmare awake you in middle of the night (and it is just only the forte C alone, amazing), then come the sweet memories of childhood, then story goes on goes on and in the end, he is back to reality, the true nightmare (ill, he lost his family, poland...). Thank you for this video. Amazing. I'm learning it now.

[@gregniemczuk]

Thanks for watching! I can see you deeply understand Chopin. Good luck with this piece!

[@DavitMinasyan-rn3fv]

And the coda!!! His terrible death

[@salifscott4664]

For me, when it comes to his most autobiographical piece, it's his fourth ballade we're looking at.

[@pdomazin]

I've played Beethoven, Rachmaninoff, and many others but this Chopin ballade is really something else. Impossible to get bored playing this incredible piece.

[@wedemeyerr]

When you force me to take only one piece of music to a lost Island, i definitely would chose this piece! It's everything in this piece, emotions, energy, love, peace, hurt, dead...

[@christopherglontz8810]

even though this video is over an hour long, there is still so much more to this piece

[@gregniemczuk]

I totally agree!!! Do you know how hard it is for me to choose?? 🙂

[@rxboy]

For pianist and listeners alike, Chopin is both punishment and pleasure. I love how you express both, how difficult this is to play, and how difficult it is to listen to... My favorite piece ever composed.

[@davidnagi5099]

Ballade 1, waltz in A minor, nocturne in C Sharp minor, nocturne in B flat minor. Possibly four of my top 5 pieces for piano. How one man created all of these masterpieces is hard to believe

[@gregniemczuk]

Thanks for this comment 👍

[@jdmxxx38]

That video is not only very informative but entertaining as well. Thanks for the wonderful effort you made. Much appreciated.

[@gregniemczuk]

You made me so happy with this comment! Thanks and greetings from Poland!

[@hristotkun4067]

1 hour of pure gold information.Thanks again❤

[@gregniemczuk]

Thanks!

[@elisamartini1694]

I try to memorize it by singing the ballade. It makes me happy. Thank you Greg.

[@user-yw9tl5bi1h]

Think Chopin is delighted to have you as an interpreter. Thank you ever so much!

[@gregniemczuk]

Thank you! 🙏🙏

[@secretmission7607]

Much respect to you, sir. You shone much light in this video.

[@sizzlinglizzi1345]

I have watched many excellent videos on this piece but yours is on a different level ! Really inspiring , brilliant , thank you so much - I am really motivated to play now and bring your insights to my practice .

[@gregniemczuk]

Thank you!

[@mickizurcher8450]

This is a Master class on Chopin. Well done! Historic. 💐❤️‍🔥🙌

[@gregniemczuk]

Thank you!!!!!!!

[@santisav2]

Awesome Video Greg! I love the musical and biographical context you are giving to my favorite chopin's piece.

[@gregniemczuk]

Thank you!

[@Eukleides89]

This lecture is honestly so so wonderful and helpful. I hit a wall with certain parts of the interpretation and hearing your perspective helped me understand the piece a lot better. Thank you so much for this video.

[@gregniemczuk]

Thank you! Good luck with this huge challenge which always is learning this masterpiece!

[@grahammeintjes3313]

I've watched one third of this video so far: your analysis is rich with historical and musical information, and with insights about interpretation (question and answer versus statement and question!). I'm grateful that you've helped me to appreciate much more of the craftsmanship (or perfectionism) in this composition. I'm in awe of your skill as a teacher. Wielkie dzięki.

[@gregniemczuk]

Thank you so much! I really appreciate your words

[@ulrichstaab3459]

...I feel simply inspired by the great story you tell about the "piece everybody wants ro play" thank you so much!

[@vaegris5045]

Great work, thanks!

[@josevila-verde5346]

This is the second time I've watched this video (it probably won't be the last). The passion and the way you analyze the piece turns into an excellent music lesson. I love Chopin's work, and this ballad is one of the best pieces of music ever written. Thank you for making me understand it better. Passionate.

[@gregniemczuk]

Thank you! For watching and for a comment

[@tonimikael]

Great video and analysis, thank you very much! 🙏❤️

[@danmark7352]

Thank you for the video. I really appreciate it. The Ballade brings me to tears when you play it. But even your explanation and interpretation brings me to tears. Because we feel what Chopin might have felt and experienced. And he suffered a lot.

[@gregniemczuk]

Thank you so much. You must have a very sensitive soul

[@danmark7352]

@@gregniemczuk I have, thanks.

[@antoniojarciniegas7749]

This is a fantastic analysis. Thank you! Masterful!

[@1NBLOG]

😍muchas gracias por estas grabaciones y todas las impresiones de la obra !!

[@ewaabuszyniec574]

what a fantastic lecture, dziękuję bardzo!

[@ylvaeliaeson4593]

I love it!🌺

[@chengyizhang1048]

Thank you so much for this video!! This really helped me with my interpretation of this piece and the way you described this piece was so beautiful and interesting!

[@tchabuapatchkoria]

Very interesting analysis! 👏👏👏 Thank you!

[@propianoplayer9104]

Well done!

[@RosannaDAgnillo]

Incredible. I learned so much. Thank you so much

[@jeglop]

It appears that this ballade is written in the sonata form? It has an introduction, two themes: #1 in minor, #2 in major, exposition, development (of theme #2), bridging and coda. Perhaps not a conventional sonata form, but main elements are present. Thank you for the analysis and an interpretation of the story! 🎉❤

[@ewapiano1222]

I listened once more and could notice something new each time..Thank you!

[@gregniemczuk]

Wonderful!

[@vulkanosaure]

Thank you so much. Balades + the barcarolle are my favourite works from him

[@richardyu4881]

Bravo! A tour de force analysis. You pointed out so many things that I would never notice myself. You help me to understand and appreciate this work so much more

[@gregniemczuk]

Thank you Richard!

[@elisamartini1694]

I love this Ballade. I discovered it in the movie The "Pianist" from Roman Polanski. I listen to it with great pleasure. It is very important to me to listen to your explanations. Thank you.

[@elisamartini1694]

Thank you and wishing you a good and beautiful concert for tomorrow.

[@rive0000]

thank you so much for this

[@nassol]

thank you for explanation! I really enjoyed it!

[@vripiatbuzoi9188]

Loved you insights and was captivated the whole time by it. Glad I found this channel.

[@gregniemczuk]

Thank you so much!

[@xdkozi6691]

amazing job bro

[@sampeng5216]

Love it!! Thought provoking..you really have mastered Chopinology. Thank you.

[@gregniemczuk]

Thank you for watching!

[@barbarafletcher121]

That was amazing!

[@gregniemczuk]

Thank you!!!

[@maximumsledge5070]

Excellent content. Well done! I did learn a lot. Thank. you - Bardzo dziękuję

[@gregniemczuk]

Thank you!! Bardzo proszę!

[@thecerquinhetes7453]

Very good analysis of this piece. Thank you.

[@gregniemczuk]

Thanks for watching.

[@musikompetent2644]

This small-interval-motiv that can be found here several times reminds me of nocturne op. 32 number 1. I'm playing this piece at the moment and this brought me to you channel. Thanks for your videos on all Chopin's music.

[@gregniemczuk]

Welcome in my musical world!! Oh, that's wonderful!! Thank you for this comment Yes, it is similar!

[@user-vs4ex1nb4p]

Das ist fantastisch, vielen dank! 😀😀

[@gregniemczuk]

Thank you!

[@ambroseleung4730]

Thank you for posting your lecture. I didn't even know that ballade was a story. Very easy to get lost in the details and technical aspects without thinking of the bigger picture. Thanks for providing a lot of context

[@gregniemczuk]

Oh, really? That's the most important thing to know! I'm so happy it's so useful and so happy you came across this lecture. Feel invited to watch my other videos. By the end of this year I'll make videos about ALL Chopin's music!

[@christianjimenez2551]

Your understanding of this Ballade is outstanding. I can't disagree with almost nothing. I actually had very close thoughts about it, thanks for reinforcing them, as you are by far a better musician than me!

[@gregniemczuk]

Thank you so much!! I think you shouldn't say "better musician". Maybe different musician. Music inside us cannot be better or worse, maybe the technical skills can, but everything is possible to improve! Thanks for watching!

[@piano.player]

You did a great job with this video, one of the best lectures I've seen on this wonderful Ballade. Thank you!

[@gregniemczuk]

Thank you so much! I love that piece!

[@ThomasIrdor]

merci beaucoup monsieur

[@mirayozcan5705]

Awesome! thank you so much for this great analysis. I benefitted a lot from it for one of my assignments for my arts and humanities course at college:)

[@gregniemczuk]

Wonderful Miray! You're welcome to watch all my videos! There are more than 150 of them!

[@thaooo8906]

Thank you so so much for this video! I really enjoyed listening to you talking about this masterpiece and explaining the interactions between theme 1 and theme 2. I acquired a so much deeper understanding of this piece and it helped me a lot for my preperations for an upcoming piano contest. You worded your interpretation of the meaning behind the passages so captivatingly and passionately I couldn't stop watching! Again, thank you!!!!

[@gregniemczuk]

Wow, thank you so much!!! Good luck with your performance and the contest! And feel invited to my other videos as well! Best of luck from Poland!

[@ewapiano1222]

Thank you.See you next week.E

[@barbaragora6879]

Dziękuję bardzo za ten wykład. Właśnie przygotowuję tę balladę na egzamin LRSM, interesuje mnie bardzo jak różni pianisci interpretują ten utwór. Dziękuję Thank you for the lecture. I am preparing for the performance diploma LRSM and working on the g minor ballade, it has been very helpful to listen to the interpretation approach by different pianists. Many thanks

[@gregniemczuk]

Dziękuję za wysłuchanie wykładu! Powodzenia na egzaminie!

[@JarmilaXymenaGorna]

Very moving both the piece and the lecture. Thanks for helping us understand Chopin’s emotions and background. 🤍

[@gregniemczuk]

Thank you for watching!

[@NguyetLe-ob5vs]

Better than watching a movie bravo

[@sissi7746]

Well said! For me, watching Greg’s lectures is indeed way better than watching pictures. Each time.

[@TheElectricCheeseProductions22]

Man, I wish you stayed on the coda longer since it's my favorite part

[@gregniemczuk]

Sorry!!!

[@Mimikinm]

fantiastic! Huge thanks from Korea

[@gregniemczuk]

Thanks!

[@RaptorT1V]

I used your video for my own analysis of Ballade №1 for a music literature assignment in music college. Spent ten hours on the whole work. Many thanks!

[@gregniemczuk]

Wonderful!!! Congratulations!!!

[@neilgibs6673]

17:13 to me it sound like trying masking sadness, it happen as often personaly as to society no pain to me but sadness such a great difference

[@gregniemczuk]

Thank you for this comment. Beautiful!

[@chipesh]

I've spent the last 50 odd years trying to choose which Ballade I love the most between 1, 3, and 4 (I think the second is beautiful but not as good as its sisters). I think it's beyond resolution after so long. These Ballades are Chopin at the pinnacle of his art. Considering his other output there can be no greater praise.

[@kencrotty3984]

Khatia Buniatishvilli youtube plays this brilliant piece of Chopin's masterfully and sensitively. Good lecture!

[@MarkSeibold]

This is definitely the most spectacular analyzing of this Chopin piece that I've ever witnessed. I've always felt that Chopin was portraying a conversation when he wrote this composition. Possibly a conversation with a lost lover in his life. As you indicated the question and answer exchange that occurs several times. I especially enjoyed the way you showed the thematic lines repeating throughout the movements, that each time there is a variation on the theme. I've had a recording of This by a French woman for about 20 years that I've enjoyed listening to over and over. With all due respect to Bach, Mozart, and Beethoven, I've always felt that Chopin was so unique and genius in his compositions that he stands alone as possibly the greatest pianist with the most compassion, sympathy, and emotion portrayed in his compositions, in which he expresses a closeness to real life experiences in his composing. If one searches to read, say, the Wikipedia chapter on Chopin's life, you can see the amount of experiences that affected his music. A tremendous life that only lasted 39 years , as only slightly longer than Mozart's. Thanks so much for posting this KZbin video for all of us to enjoy. [As a semi professional astronomer I've always found great classical piano as probably the second greatest appreciation of my Visual Arts Accomplishments, Music, and Sciences. Just discovering your video here today for the first time confirms my desire to further studies of eventually learning to play piano better, and to go beyond my ambient dabbling that I've only accomplished on the instrument so far in life. A lady friend of mine that passed away some years ago by age 50, I had requested her to play this piece for me on her grandmother's grand piano in her home. It was amazing to watch it played up close for the first time, and I realized at that point how difficult this piece is to play well.] I've never seen it performed with such compassion and emotion that you displayed in your video here. Krystian Zimerman is another one in the videos that shows a great performance of this. His has been considered the greatest recorded video performance of this piece, but now I've decided that yours is showing much more energy, expression, emotion, and compassion. I look forward to seeing more of your videos soon.

[@gregniemczuk]

Wow, I'm so grateful for this rich and beautiful and so enthusiastic comment of yours! Thank you so much! You have a lot to watch, as I made videos about every single Chopin piece of music! Welcome to my musical world and thank you for appreciating my love for Chopin and my crazy enthusiasm for sharing it with the world!!

[@minae1960]

Wow,,, you don’t stop amazing me with your knowledge of Chopin’s Ballades, I was amazed by your interpretation of Ballade no 3, but you keep doing the same amazing job for this Ballade. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge with the world. The world appreciates this, but I am sure Chopin himself is smiling from heaven and praising you. 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@gregniemczuk]

I hope so! I hope that one day I will be able to talk to him.... Thank you for watching and for your comment!

[@sebastiancampbell2907]

Imperfection makes this piece perfect for me.

[@orkhangulmammadov2225]

Perfectt

[@naTure-vs2ef]

I wonder why u dont have enough subs...ur videos are superb spectacular i swear💝 i enjoy every second of it litteraly,i hope soon u do waltz in a minor b150

[@gregniemczuk]

THANK YOU!!! I'm not promoting this channel, maybe that's why. I appreciate your words! Share it wherever you can! But you know if I had much more subscribers it'd be impossible for me to answer your comment, hahaha

[@naTure-vs2ef]

@@gregniemczuk 😂😂😂💝yea right ! Well i wishh all the luck for you i really love ur videos really i also smile and laugh sometimes when i see how chopin did compose...for example in his Nocturne c# minor for his sister almost many parts from is from his concerto no2 as u said ...how fun😁🌷

[@rintaro2682]

I have always thought the opening octaves sound just like the musical chime of a clock when it strikes midnight, maybe Chopin meant to bring us with him to the night, or maybe he is trying to say he was awakened at night and felt all this emotion.

[@pranveraasllani4389]

I want to see you performing this! Please!

[@gregniemczuk]

There is a home performance available: www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=ar-ar.facebook.com/g.niemczuk/videos/278603917393336/&ved=2ahUKEwjVt73qgPfxAhWhtYsKHc_jDssQwqsBegQIBRAD&usg=AOvVaw2t3Z-LbZlCrQatUEwyeyNI Not perfect but you can watch!

[@divinefeminine7012]

Czesc, Greg. With all sincerity, all of the descriptions in this video were thought provoking. Whether or not you are observant of Astrology or not, since Chopin was born on March 1st, his sun sign was in Pisces. Most people with Pisces in their Sun sign for instance are amazingly mystical (have in depth dreams), psychic and emotionally intensive . This is exactly why Chopin's spectrum dream interpretations, as well as his deepest and more than likely most of his repressed emotions, such as emotions he wouldn't even verbalize to people that he loved (from pleasant to angry), were expressed through his compositions. You're truly a genius and speak much more competent English than most if not all Americans that I know of. Kind regards.

[@gregniemczuk]

Thank you so much for this rich and interesting comment! I didn't think about it that way!

[@divinefeminine7012]

@@gregniemczuk Thank you for acknowledging my insights and for being incredibly open minded with other people who may be less competent than you are in Classical Piano (speaking truthfully). Yes, I felt incredibly passionate about Chopin's compositions the moment after I discovered his 1st Ballade in G minor. Nonetheless, never will I ever stop loving most of Chopin's compositions.

[@provermeg]

Oooh thank you i just started to learn this piece after finished with making Christmas presents, i didnt play anyting in this period. But now I know i have what I need, from the app and also from you 💖💖🎼🎼🎼🎼 i listen alot to this on Spotify, didnt see you published it yet. (I know I will like yours best😄😄) I listen to Krystian Zimerman. And no.4 I listen to Leiv Ove Andsnes. Maybe I get different view of how it should be played from you.😄👍 Best regards❤ i havent heard this yet, I found it just now 😍 but I know I love everything you play. Godt nyttår til deg og dine 💖💖🎼🎼🎼🎶🎶🎶🎵

[@gregniemczuk]

Thank you!! It's good to listen to many different pianists records of the same piece! Good luck!!! 😊😊😊

[@timothyalan34]

Wow, I don't think I noticed it before because I've never heard the bridge at 54:59 played so slowly and isolated, but the left hand plays a more jovial version of the initial bridge Chopin wrote earlier at 31:44. One of the things that fascinate me about classical music is the Easter eggs that a composer can leave for the listener. Something as simple as a reprise of a tiny theme in an otherwise gigantic, intense piece really adds depth to the experience.

[@gregniemczuk]

Wonderful!!!!!!!

[@masamune81]

Great analysis! I know this piece very well, but I have learned a lot throughout the video. One thing though. I´m pretty sure the first melody, the first question is when the first C minor chord appears, and then the motive responds in the new Moderato tempo. I mean, the melody doesnt start with the response, it starts in the previous bar. If you play that part of the introduction fatser, it sounds exactly the same as the other questions (it only has one more note)

[@gregniemczuk]

Wow, indeed!! That's fantastic!

[@itsmyaccount1153]

It is about the 1830 uprising, for sure. Dziekuje for this.

[@organman52]

How exactly is the Fantasie in C minor connected to the Sonata in C minor? Similarly, what is the relationship between the A minor Rondo and the A minor Sonata?

[@chessematics]

I dont understand this particular phenomenon. On my very first hearing i heard that awfully sweet melody right after the 2nd theme as just a jovial alteration of the 1st theme. It never occurred to me that it could be a different melody with hardly any connection to the 1st theme. I couldn't notice a lot of other connections at the first time, like I couldn't recognise the 2nd theme when it appeared for the 2nd time, for example. But that melody has always been to me a temporarily changed 1st theme. It even suits it if you build the storyline around it, like the sad person, on being compelled by her lover, regains some livelihood and becomes joyful for some time until grief hits her again. I even wouldn't mind going that far to say that the beginning of the coda is made up of the torn up nerves and sinews of the hopeless lover, when he finally gives up and at the end we hear the demise of the sad person, covered up in impenetrable mist of grief and suffering, with one last shriek of the 1st theme. It all rounds up to me. Thanks for the great analysis anyway, you never fail to amaze and inspire me!

[@StephenALS2002]

The chromatic part of the coda gets me every time no matter how well I play it

[@elisabethleroy4271]

Hi Greg! A big congratulations for your analytical work which helps me to better understand the music of "Fryderyk" Chopin. I am a french beginner pianist so I do not play Chopin but I listen to his music with passion and I place it above all others. About the Ballade n°1, I have a question concerning measure 206: on the handwritten score as well as on the printed score I have, Chopin indicates for this measure "il piu forte possibile", including for the 5-note chord that begins this measure. What do you think of this indication which never seems to be respected literally by any performer? Thank you for your answer and all my respect for your work.

[@naTure-vs2ef]

I believe deeply that the part u played at 58:21---58:44 is the best interpretation i ever heard,in my opinion its better than zimmerman no joke...💝

[@gregniemczuk]

Wow!!! I so much appreciate your words!

[@user-pc8hs7zy8c]

Following your previous lecture on Prelude op28 no18, also composed in g minor, i can verify evidence strongly associated between structure of this very prelude and the tremendous coda (presto con fuoco) of Ballade op23 no 1. G minor, though not defined from the beginning of this master-piece, is perhaps the most suitable tonality to express human soul in torment and love. When i was younger, i read Guy de Pourtales' biography of Chopin, characteristically stating that the two chromatic climaxes ending the ballade, are ineffective efforts of the "anonymous hero" or even efforts by Chopin himself, to expel drama, before the final avalanche drags everything in its path. It is also not to be forgotten that the piece was composed before Chopin leaves Poland for good. It is perhaps a first intuition of what was to come ... Regarding "The pianist", a film directed by R. Polanski, i can only say that cinema has its own rules, as just everything in the field of art. But what impressed me the most, is your breath which inevitably is also recorded and heard during the interpretation of the first part, which is something so inextricably linked to the sound of music. Words are insufficient to express perfection, Mo Niemczuk !!!

[@gregniemczuk]

Thank you! Is it really so hearable? Well, emotions in this piece are extreme!

[@user-pc8hs7zy8c]

@@gregniemczuk Real emotions suggest truth and chastity. They must be always declared and heard anywhere, by any human being. Music is perhaps one of the most proper tools aiming at bettering ourselves. Your interpretation of this first theme is, at least, amazing !!!

[@gregniemczuk]

@@user-pc8hs7zy8c I appreciate your words and feelings!

[@ewapiano1222]

Sherry Grant, where are you?Greetings from Poland, Warsaw, Chopin's townE

[@mediumsizedgrape]

I can't believe this is for free.

[@gregniemczuk]

That's my goal!! Thanks for your appreciation! I decided that if it were a paid content, much less people would decide to watch it

[@ewapiano1222]

Hello again after very hard day!!how nice to listen it!!How can yo do it, mr Greg?GreetingsE

[@gregniemczuk]

It's really hard work...

[@ewapiano1222]

@@gregniemczuk I know but with really pasion

[@ewapiano1222]

**passion

[@taorent3022]

Hi maestro Grieg, I came across waltz in A flat major op 69 no 1 and I found that the pattern of the first few bars are quite similar with second theme at 52:38. Is it possible and reasonable that Chopin quote it from the waltz intentionally as he think of the waltz he wrote for Maria Wodzinska which is known as farewell waltz?

[@gregniemczuk]

Interesting! We don't exactly know what was written first. Maybe the Ballade? So maybe Chopin intentionally quoted the Ballade in his Valse? We will never know I guess... But it's interesting! Thank you for touching this topic!

[@taorent3022]

After watching your analysis for almost one year, I am influenced and focus on the structure of music when listen to a piece of music. Thank you very much for your videos which made my 2021 so fun and meaningful.

[@Liam-vs9vg]

Well, op69 no1 is a posthumous work, and, I'm not sure, but Chopin wanted to throw away all of his posthumous pieces. So I think if he didn't like these works, I'm not sure they would be an inspiration for him.

[@bluepearl4806]

Thank you very much again for your delightful video full of such important valuable explanations!!!You explain so beautifly!!!😊😊💐💐💐💕💕💕🌺🌺🌺🌺💐💐💐💐💐 I would like to share my humble personal interpretation of this peace with you too...I used to think that the first line at the begining describes or depict a sad past event..that event begiins brave but ends very sad discouraging..or dissapointing....therefore brought some fear into the composers hearth...after experiencing this sad event the composer or hero of the story search for happiness again but could not reach it easily...he first wanted to dans with life again, takes a step... then hesditates.. ( this is the part you describe as statement and questioning that statement..I feel that this part has the character of waltz..I mean dans) But he tries again then hessitate again..and stops again...with several inner fights he reaches a happy brave point and a peaceful stage of mind...but something inside scares him or makes him sad again kind a treetening way...the whole piece to me is this inner fight with sadness against searching for happiness and blocking fear...But eavh time braveness and love and dans with life gets stronger and more profound braver and to me the piece finishes with victory..victory and joy of overcoming that fear and the hero can make that waltz again..the dans woth life..or dans of life...At the end there is no waltz motive ofcourse but rather victory motives..power bravery etc.......joy is not the right word here..I meant enthsusiasm..strong..positive brave feelings....happines vins the fightBut this happiness wil always remember that sad past ..it is not a childish happiness...it is like...Yes I am happy again but yes nothing will be the same as when I was a little innocent child..like happines...including a bit anger..ready to fight again if something same happens again ..

[@gregniemczuk]

Thank you so much for enriching this video with your beautiful, personal comment. I love it!

[@bluepearl4806]

@@gregniemczuk I am so so happy you love my idea I do thank you so much😍😍🙏🙏💐💐💐💕💕💕💕💕💕🍀🍀🍀🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

[@RaptorT1V]

1:07:56 Actually, on a Chopin grand piano, the highest note was the note "A," not "F.

[@gregniemczuk]

Are you absolutely sure about that? I always had the information that it was F

[@gregniemczuk]

A was the last note on later pianos.

[@erggish]

I find it funny when one plays the notes while saying "these notes should not be here"... :D great analysis thanks.

[@gregniemczuk]

Thanks!!!

[@Zerovolt0V]

Impressive analysis and understanding of the piece. It will really help me to play it with a much better understanding. I'm really happy about you making these videos! Great work :) I'm a composer so knowing these things also helps me introduce these interpretations in my compositions(mostly when making cutscene, movie like compositions)

[@gregniemczuk]

Thank you! Nice to meet you here. I also think that analyzing a piece of a genius is inspiring for composers! Also for me, as I also sometimes write music. Feel invited to watch my other analysis!

[@Zerovolt0V]

@@gregniemczuk Thank you for the reply 😊🎶 Chopin is my favorite composer of Romantic Era, and I agree he is a genius. Just look how much information you can get with his music, It's really impressive, and the way you explain it with the relation of Poetry just gets me to the same conclusion, no matter what language a person(or even an animal) knows, music is a universal language which I believe everyone can understand If listened carefully. I'm surely be watching more of your videos. Also want to say that I know you from the time (I believe 2019) when you played on Perú. I'm Peruvian and you came to my university to play many chopin pieces, it was a great experience. Te puedo hablar español si gustas 😎

[@gregniemczuk]

@@Zerovolt0V claro! Que bueno! Escribes muy lindas palabras. Me gustaría escuchar tu música un día. Un abrazo!

[@Zerovolt0V]

@@gregniemczuk un abrazo igualmente! Esta es una de mis más ambiciosas composiciones kzbin.info/www/bejne/qXazmnpnrJZ7mbc bueno allí también tengo una playlist si en caso te interesa escuchar algunas más kzbin.info/aero/PLLykVEzlnzf53rxenvqV1XWe8VnJvvlXv

[@gregniemczuk]

@@Zerovolt0V Gracias!

[@ewapiano1222]

Hello!

[@chessematics]

Chopin probably met a violinist under full bloomed cherry blossoms and his life had begun to change.

[@gregniemczuk]

A singer!

[@chessematics]

@@gregniemczuk whom?

[@gregniemczuk]

@@chessematics Konstancja Gladkowska

[@sunareekaewnat8967]

And did Rachmaninoff get inspiration from the G-minor Ballade to begin the C-Sharp Minor prelude with several octaves, before immediately contrasting them the chords on the right hand?

[@gregniemczuk]

Who knows? He knew the Ballade for sure

[@Mimikinm]

hello i'm so much inspired by your analysis video so I wanna add Korean subtitle to show your video to my fellow Koreans. Could you change your setting to allow other people to add subtitle?

[@gregniemczuk]

Yes!!! Wow!!! This is absolutely amazing. How to do it?

[@sunareekaewnat8967]

I agree with most of your analysis, but not about the evolving theme representing love. I think the important question is whether this work is biographical. In some ways, the ballade is similar to the first movement of Beethoven's Apassionata sonata, which clearly was, with Beethoven's despair over his deteriorating hearing set in contrast to his hope of overcoming it. The problem with the theory that the ballade it biographical is that by 1835-1836, Chopin was very well established in Parisian society. I suppose it could be a retrospective exposition of how he felt in 1830 and 1831, and if so, the evolving theme might not represent love, but rather self confidence in contrast to the lingering doubts about his ability of his ability to achieve success and fulfillment outside of Poland where he had achieved such early acclaim and for which he was nostalgic and anguished over the course of political events.

[@gregniemczuk]

Thank you. Frankly I don't think it's biographical. It's a Ballade - a Romantic, fantastic story. Not connected with the reality. Just like Mickiewicz's

[@sunareekaewnat8967]

I think an interesting aspect of the ballades was the decision to end them with extraordinarily difficult codas, although I would argue that the music before the coda is more important. Most of the etudes were written before the G minor ballade. I was curious whether much is known about its performance history other than cy Chopin or Liszt and from your perspective whether mastery of the etudes would have been sufficient for Chopin's students to perform these codas well. @@gregniemczuk

[@gregniemczuk]

@@sunareekaewnat8967 yes, definitely the Etudes were and still are good preparatory. In the cosas of the ballads we have always emotional climax. This can explain these difficulties

[@sunareekaewnat8967]

@@gregniemczuk Greg given your strong feeling regarding loyalty to the score, I wonder how you feel overall about Pollini’s approach to Chopin. I think there is no pianist I can think of who was as precise in observing every detail Chopin made. This produces excellent etudes, but when you listen to his ballades and noctournes, are they emotionally convincing to you?

[@gregniemczuk]

@@sunareekaewnat8967 thanks for this question. For me he is too cold. But the pianist who is even more dedicated to the Chopin's score is Murray Perahia whose Chopin I strongly recommend

[@pergolana]

Terrible, way over the top, too much pathos, on the edge of hysterical. Far beyond the goal as Chopin has mend it to be. Chopin certainly I bet, would have never played it like that. And the in debt analyses and 'explanation' is close to absurd. You may be a concertpianist, playing like this I couldn't stand much longer than 30 seconds

[@gregniemczuk]

Thanks for this comment. That's the beauty of the music that everyone can have his/her own taste and opinion. Chopin is dead so nobody is right, you cannot "bet". But just think of the fact that this music was written in the first half of the 19th century. Not in the 20th or 21st century. Artistic world was different and there was a lot of pathos and Romanticism. Much more than now. Anyway, stay with your taste and opinion and find your favorite pianist who plays it differently. Thanks for watching anyways.

[@Eukleides89]

I want to see how you would interpret this then... His interpretation is as valid as anyone else's. Isn't what matters most in music the meanings we can take away from a piece rather than completely accurate reproduction of Chopin's vision?

[@GM-yb5yg]

Who hurt you? Obviously this is about your own problems and not about Greg.