F. Chopin - Prelude no. 4 in E minor Op. 28 no. 4 - analysis. Greg Niemczuk's lecture

[@Flabfactory]

The passion with which this lad speaks on this topic is infectious. Amazing content.

[@gregniemczuk]

Thank you!!!! I love music and Chopin!

[@BRNRDNCK]

Hey Greg, I recently discovered your channel. You’re a real hidden gem on KZbin.

[@gregniemczuk]

Welcome! I'm so happy to have you here! I'm not doing these videos to have millions viewers, but I'm happy for every single one! Feel invited to watch my other videos when you have time and share with those who might be interested. Hope to see you comments sometimes here. Best wishes!

[@correasilvio2010]

I like this Chanel! My personal interpretation this Chopin Preludes kzbin.info/www/bejne/sKjUiJuAlKh7iaM

[@agnieszkanowacka8454]

Tak! Ukryty klejnot! Wspaniałe porównanie! Dla mnie już odkryty!

[@raminzoufonoun5029]

I second that. I’ve been watching, learning and recommending to my circle. Thank you, Greg!

[@richardyu4881]

Thank you for showing us how such a short and simple piece is considered by musicologists as one of Chopin’s pearls.

[@Manuela6947]

Desconozco el motivo, entre los muchos que tuvo Chopin en su vida. Pero es una bellisima manera de expresar su tristeza- que no desesperacion- porque la mano derecha marca de forma lumiosa su esperanza. Ciertamente una pieza musical, bellisima!

[@elisabethmartini8222]

Thank you dear Greg for this Prelude N°4 from F. Chopin. I learned this Prelude when I lived in Marseille. So, I have the partition. I will study it again., because I need to study it again. Your explanations are very useful. Thank you so much for citing poetry with Ferdinand Hoesic and Julius Slovatsky : Now i saw like an angel similar to a woman ..........In your videos, you motivate me to study. Thank you. Have a lovely Sunday.

[@Longtack55]

Beautifully played Greg!

[@micheltoscano5880]

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! I've been searching for this video for 10 years! You do good!

[@gregniemczuk]

WOw!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@joannawronska4100]

SO WONDERFUL AS ALWAYS AND IMPORTANT!!!!! Thank you for my favourite Chopin's Prelude known as "Duszenie Się" (such an amazing title, my first Chopin's piece I learned to play in my childhood) in an excellent rendition and for your analysis/tutorial, this great video will be helpful for many pianists, again my best regards, have a happy week. Joanna

[@nildarivellidulitzky7]

Guauuuuu, qué maravilla !!! Finalmente comprendí porqué esta obra toca las fibras más emotivas de mi ser. Imposible no llorar desconsoladamente. Felicitaciones por las explicaciones. Saludos desde Buenos Aires Argentina

[@gregniemczuk]

Muchísimas gracias!!!

[@SoulfulSpinning]

I am having so much fun binge watching your lovely videos. So illuminating! Your passion for the music is infectious. I am very grateful to have found your channel. What are your thoughts on Cortot? You remind me of the great pianists of the late 19th and early 20 th century. I’ve been searching out old recordings of late. 🌹

[@gregniemczuk]

Thank you so much!! Here you can find all the videos ( except the Mazurkas, there's a separate playlist for them). kzbin.info/aero/PLXV2RLvTljMgPBeJm3Ss81zi-yCccyBqT enjoy!!!

[@elisabethmartini8222]

Thank you dear Greg for this video. I closed my eyes and just listened and imagined the atmosphere it creates. Studying little by little. Thank you. Have a lovely week-end.

[@DanielMendoza-dt9ms]

Gracias. ❤🇲🇽

[@shawnwilliamson9267]

I played this at school for a class where we have to interpret a different piece every two weeks and the other students pointed out that my left hand was too apparent, which i was doubtful of

[@scalenescott]

Love that explanation about each chord's character!

[@elisabethmartini8222]

Good-morning dear Greg ! If only I could play it just a little bit like you. Thank you so much.

[@szymonskrabanek5327]

I'm learning this now and yours and Seymour's analyses are absolutely priceless! The one on Op. 28. Nr. 20 changed the way I heard it, not to mention play it. Thank you so much for putting these videos out! Also 14:12 love the meme-ish "Przypadek? Nie sądzę." :D

[@gregniemczuk]

Hahahahahah!!!!!

[@davidleyland3170]

What a wonderful poetic description.

[@victorb.6741]

The fading of life. Countdown of this few days. The last three chords are the last breathing.

[@claudiafernandez-davila4322]

It’s such a beautiful piece. I’m currently working on it but my left hand is too heavy. Need to keep practicing! Loved the poetry.

[@mary_asmr5]

One of my favorites for sure!

[@AndrewWilsonStooshie]

Beautiful and fascinating, thank you. I couldn't quite tell but were you doing much pedal work?

[@WoutDC]

Indeed musically quite a challenge, have been working on this one for about a year (only been playing the piano for about 3 years), and I'm getting there, slowly but surely. Thanks for the video, I especially found the link to the first prelude and the idea of finding a character or colour for every chord very interesting! See you again today :)

[@gregniemczuk]

Thank you and good luck!

[@correasilvio2010]

I agree! My personal interpretation kzbin.info/www/bejne/sKjUiJuAlKh7iaM

[@isntitrich000]

Hi! Random question but is it offensive if a not-so-advanced pianist who only has surface level knowledge of piano as an artistic expression plays an advanced/classic or emotionally mature piece such as this? Yes, I’m talking about me; I am the not-so-advanced pianist. I just really enjoy the raw emotion that I get from playing it. But given that I only have a year of experience under my belt, I get conscious sometimes. I don’t want to come off as pretentious.

[@siro_8603]

I say go for it. This is how you improve your expressiveness

[@sunareekaewnat8967]

Why do you believe that the prelude is best expressed as a vigorous declaration of suffering as opposed to a suffocated (as if in total physical and emotional exhaustion) declaration of suffering? If one prefers the latter interpretation, wouldn’t the appropriate technique be to slow the left hand chords and create the impression of length (by requiring the listener to listen more intently) by reducing the dynamic in the right hand. My impression is that this is what Richter was trying to accomplish in his 1954 Warsaw recording, which may be way to slow for your taste. Again thank you for this wonderful project and dealing with commenters who may ask difficult questions!

[@andrewanderson6121]

This prelude is often considered easy. In reality it is one of the most difficult. It was elaborated by stephen heller as an elegy.

[@ricardoromeromartinez8656]

En español? 🥰 Estás en todo, gracias 👏👏

[@gregniemczuk]

Si!!! Trato de adivinar subtítulos españoles también!!!!

[@ricardoromeromartinez8656]

@@gregniemczuk lo tienes todo,buen pianista,buen pedagogo y buena persona

[@marioteodoropizzorno3721]

Chopin e Django Reinhardt, sono Grandissimi per la loro sensibilità, per le loro composizioni, oltre ad essere tecnicamente superlativi, Django non conosceva una sola nota di musica, però... $$$$ Chopin and Django Reinhardt are great for their sensitivity, for their compositions, as well as being technically superlative, Django didn't know a single note of music, but... Ciao, sei bravo. Teo da Genova. Hi, you're good. Teo from Genoa.

[@gregniemczuk]

Thank you!!!!

[@Henk_H]

Mr. Niemcsuk… Thank you for your “tutorial” on this prelude. Love the rubatos in your interpretation. I have to ask you.. please.. I don’t use any other social media, not Facebook, not instagram. Is there an email address I can send a copy of a question that is nagging at me over C’s Op 72, No 1 Elinor Nocturne? I have sent to two others, one of which is a Columbia University professor at least 1.5 weeks ago. To date, I have not received answers. I would love to send you copy (so, I don’t have to type all over again.) Thank you Henk H.

[@gregniemczuk]

Hi! Thank you very much. Yes! [e-mail] !

[@Henk_H]

@@gregniemczuk momentarily.. thank you

[@Henk_H]

@@gregniemczuk two different email copies come your way…

[@justinjames2436]

what sheet music do you use?

[@gregniemczuk]

Jan Ekier's

[@erosquaranta8185]

The best performance of this prelude has been done by Katya Buniatisvili

[@gregniemczuk]

She plays everything gorgeously

[@kendysoto2693]

Cuando regresas a Perú

[@gregniemczuk]

No se!

[@ericrakestraw664]

The E minor prelude of Chopin is similar to the first movement of Beethoven's "Moonlight" Sonata in that both pieces are written in 2/2 time and many a pianist plays both pieces much too slowly by emphasizing four beats to the bar instead of two, as the composer intended. Also, in both pieces the harmonic progression supersedes the melody, which is rather mundane.

[@gregniemczuk]

Yes exactly! Wait for my recording which will be published soon on Spotify. I recorded it on 2/2

[@jumperstartful]

Was this prelude called Suffocation? And I think Chopin wanted it played at his funeral. That kind of colors it!

[@gregniemczuk]

No no, Chopin never gave titles to his pieces.

[@andrzejwysocki407]

Chopin przewidział holokaust.

[@ludwigbooth4882]

Slop

[@akiblue]

I thought I was the only one who thought his playing was sloppy. Left hand hesitating, right hand too heavy, hands together not in sync. It's surprising because this guy is a master concert pianist.

[@ludwigbooth4882]

@@akiblue And he still has to sight read this piece? Hmmmm...

[@Strawberryfreak]

​@@ludwigbooth4882 because he has little to no time to prepare and its not the point of this video? You can watch his other videos and you will understand