Rachmaninov Prelude in C sharp minor

[@TomPauls007]

I'm a piano tech. I encourage customers to play the instrument after my work. One dude said "oh, I don't play well - just poke around on my keyboard in the back..." Then he sat down and played THIS!!! Yeah - right!

[@ua6523]

clearly he was crying for attention. gosh I've seen this so many times. After a point I just roll my eyes. I'm not even polite anymore.

[@ismaelnehme379]

I fucking hate those guys. "Oh I'm just okay man, I know how to play but not very well" *proceeds to play hammerklaiver 4th movement* He just wants you to kiss his ass, it's just sad.

[@sarahedvicakova7655]

honestly, this performance has so much feeling, so much tenderness and love in it that it doesn't matter whether there are mistakes! plus Rachmaninov's pieces were written with the knowledge they wouldn't be played flawlessly. it's the emotion that matters, not the precise notes on the sheet music.

[@BTLM111]

Sara Hedvicakova Art is emotion, is to stop the time.

[@vickiehorowitz1934]

It isn't a very difficult piece music.

[@linearmemories]

Rhodes' phrasing is unique; I have never heard someone perform this prelude in such a way. This timing though, it takes away from the urgency and relentless nature of the composition, which happens to be the most enticing characteristic. While reviewing the sheets, Rachmaninov does not play the piece as he wrote it. That is bona fide liberation to play the prelude under your own interpretation. Well done, Mr. Rhodes.

[@Siahvakhsh]

Its based on rachmaninoff piano rolls

[@wavetuning]

I really like this Steinway sound. So clear and distinct. I could spend hours in a row playing it.

[@mariarodriguezruso7522]

Impresionante interpretación. Es un gran descubrimiento para mi.

[@stevienicked]

He makes it possible to feel the music rather than just hear it, so that it isn't isolated as just a performance of notes. Wonderful.

[@IanBradbury]

I just love this. Powerful and with so much passion. Wonderful.

[@Randoppy]

I have so much to say about this but there are no words this performance is so touching

[@pinkangeljoyce]

Brilliant! Thankyou for uploading these Barbican vids. I was there, but being able to see the perfomances again makes my day! Thankyou james youre brilliant! xx

[@Madam_Satan]

You are wonderful to hear and watch play. Thanks for uploading these.

[@sarahedvicakova7655]

till this day my favourite piano piece to play. It's so incredible to hear it in the interpretation of my favourite piano player. So beautiful :)

[@06comment]

To be honest this is exactly how i would choose to play it (if i was talented enough to). The pacing and phrasing is exactly how I feel it should be played, really bring the whole thing out of its shell. Any others Ive heard ive felt instinctively like they were far too rushed and uneven.

[@davidfinklea7715]

I agree with Dan. I am just pushing through the nine measures of the last bit written in four staffs. Great piece. I love James's performance.

[@moog500]

I imagine a really nice cinematic scene of a really gory murder set to this music

[@eddiedecazalet6836]

moog500 yes, I agree, in an English Graveyard committed by 'The Devil' himself! This is 'the Essence of this short Masterpiece -

[@drewqq]

Good for you--your critique was right on the money. The pianist knows that Rachmaninoff was a teenager when he wrote this, but he doesn't realize Rachmaninoff struggled with severe depression. This piece, at the height of his angst, as about falling--Rachmaninoff makes us to fall with him in small increments and then faster into a widening hole. It's sad the pianist didn't give us any of that pain or grief. Good luck on your studies--I studied with Nadia Reisenberg at the Juilliard School.

[@hardboiledPhil]

Read about this guy - he is only alive because this music helped him through his depression

[@jacqueslahondere4649]

très bien joué; merci , j'ai passé un excellent moment

[@georginaandr3472]

This piece is one of my favourite and very special for the romantic season !

[@vr4ever645]

The emotions!🔥

[@kiaraeijo]

He’s a Great Pianist! I didn’t know about him until I saw The Joy of Rachmaninoff

[@Randoppy]

there are so many nasty comments on this video too I hope he never has to read them I've never seen so many negative comments on a piece of classical music played by someone like James Rhodes people are so nasty learn to appreciate the work that musicians put in to playing their instruments, even more emotional than physical

[@uzeyirveli]

+Chloe Randall Why do I HAVE to appreciate it? I didn't like his interpretation and I have my every right to say it out loud. Why is everyone so touchy? Just accept the criticism and think about it. Maybe you will agree too?

[@anonymaenb5799]

If you knew even a tiny little bit about classical music you would think otherwise; but, you do not. Have in mind that other people can be more knowledgeable that you; and that your judgement is not the measure for everyone's opinion.

[@classicalmusicanalysis]

Don't be hypocritical, you're proving yourself wrong by your own arguments. Don't bring up that someone else's point of view is not the only correct one and then say they should listen to you because you have more "classical music knowledge". To me, you're just an anonymous troll (like your username says). Prove me wrong. You must be some sort of complete music theory freak to think of yourself as you do.

[@グリム-t6v]

nice semi colon LOL

[@ibuprofen303]

Aw did people make nasty comments? We should protect everyone from nasty comments.

[@rolandmarckwort]

Stunning...

[@bealli247]

That is stunning. Beautiful piece of work. I love the way it rolls.

[@v.dargain1678]

bealli247 uh-huh . not so forboding a sound .

[@LoveSonjaXD]

I believe this version is my personal favorite on youtube.

[@prestons67]

This is awesome, makes me so reflective though. Sad even, not hopeless but melanchloic. I like it! Come and perform in the Midlands, please : )

[@rieko75]

Awesome interpretation! The piece used to be one of my favourites in my tiny repertoire. Miss it.

[@pchamney]

Gorgeous piece of music (I've always liked the Russian composers), beautifully-played. It's nice to put a face to your voice and tweets. Thanks so much!

[@JeM130177]

this is brilliant! :) *applauds*

[@mortvi]

Love this version!!

[@v.dargain1678]

cecilie fiva absolutely .

[@dan_zhang]

The amount of drama you get from this piece is really good value for it's difficulty! Which is to say that it's not as difficult as it sounds, while still being very much Rach's style. If you can do the first one and a half minutes, you can do the rest if you start slow and pay attention to form :)

[@TheGiantToad]

Incredible. That ending...I feel as if Rachmaninov's grabbing hold of my insides and whispering "Cry damn you!!" Too graphic? Regardless, that was brilliant.

[@hjkey3747]

I loved your documentary about Chopin and the female voice, thank you for that =) Though...I must say that just as there are dramatic, lyric and lighter voices in opera...I think you James are a lyric pianist, and this is a dramatic "role".

[@gorkgreg]

so beautiful. good job

[@DoubleAgent99]

WOW so much passion! Love it! :)

[@beacoll3938]

Wow!! You broke me, thanks!

[@ThePianoguy89]

He's an amazing pianist! I first saw him on the Art of Chopin.

[@MrJestay22]

Deep..Thank you

[@lulul.6548]

AMAZING you make it look so easy

[@danielorwin9275]

Not impossible by any means.......actually fingers fit very nicely on the keys and not at all awkward, sounds fantastic and very rewarding to have a go at it.......

[@dmbassa]

Dear James Rhodes, not all of us are born as geniuses. ;)

[@luisaperez5022]

Jimmy is really great!

[@sarahedvicakova7655]

the sheet music itself isn't actually that tricky. It's the interpretation and giving it all it needs emotionally that's hard :)

[@NoMoosic1]

Nicely done!

[@tiago3m]

Very very good!!! I would like to share my interpretation, although I still need a lot of training: Rachmaninoff Prelude in C-sharp minor

[@SDogan-ow9xw]

Opera

[@wizardvenom8500]

Great song. I've defo heard it before. Then I heard it again on Lost.

[@fosterhawkins32]

Nice performance, but I like it slower.

[@v.dargain1678]

fosterhawkins32 He put a tiny bit of happiness in his rendition . Different from the original , but GOOD .

[@cocosanel2627]

awesome❤💚💜

[@pranexian]

Глубины и русского надрыва нет. Красиво играет свое представление о тех страданиях, которых не испытывал. Но, красиво.

[@Bored4280]

Ох уж настрадался Рахманинов в свои 17-18 лет, когда написал ЭТО:)

[@TheKrazyLobster]

Now I see why Simmons used this for a storm scene at the beginning of Hyperion

[@kellymathews6615]

Exactly!!!!

[@StephanieL180]

I just started reading Hyperion, and have switched this video on for that very reason. Perfect mood music. :)

[@martingeg341]

I'm in that mood

[@mariorossi9655]

Finale very good.

[@ClairePiano2011]

beautiful playing... bravo!!

[@Saqpisuk]

This is my favourite piece But I do have to say that he need to put it louder

[@JumpDiffusion]

He loves it, many people love it too....the rest is dust

[@SylvainGuinet]

nice, bravo

[@diegomesa3978]

brilliant

[@poorboydeluxe]

inpatient delivery

[@drkk7257]

Better than an outpatient delivery.

[@telmacardoso565]

you are beautiful, perfect

[@graeme011]

Very nice!

[@v.dargain1678]

graeme011 Ditto .

[@piancamax]

Rachmaninoff Prelude Op 3 No 2 in C Sharp minor

[@maddoxrealejo1379]

In my opinion needs to be much louder. Remember, Sergei Rachmaninoff marked this piece as loud as sffff! Just keep in mind this piece is supposed to very powerful.

[@oysteinsoreide4323]

The nice thing about music is that people are allowed to try out their own interpretration. Things that are different from original composer intention works often very well.

[@jordan98127]

Yes but in what interpretation is sffff not damn near as loud as you can possibly go

[@pikapokalol]

Sublime.

[@Mike-pg8fh]

WOW

[@MrCorfuz]

Its simple.... If you like it, then you like it. If you don`t, then you don`t. No one is more qualified to say what they like, than themselves.

[@hubertserafin3432]

The rhythm was very sloppy at 1:53. I don't think anyone who played this piece before will enjoy this performance.

[@ihunterx59]

Awsome

[@matthewmaus]

It's wonderful! However, I've played drums for 32 years, and some fools have described me as a virtuoso etc. Just goes to show, all percussive instruments are equal, but some are more equal than others,xxx

[@stuartbrookes7785]

I'm enjoying these comments stating the pianist showed no pain or grief. Do some research into James Rhodes, then make your mind up.

[@rottenbleach174]

Most of people here doesn't know that Beastie Boys used this as a sample to their song "Intergalactic" back in their days

[@gordonfrew]

Wow :-)

[@modesturgell8322]

Frankenstein no está llamando a la puerta en esta versión. Sensual.

[@BenjaminLiraLuttges]

It's not that hard! I Actually learned it some time ago, and I was very afraid of the part in the middle. You can do it, It just takes some patience playing it all reaaaally slowly in the beggining.

[@nono9085]

Benjamin Lira Luttges The whole piece is pretty easy. Let’s divide it into three sections. The main difficulty of this piece is reading it. The first is only octaves, which are very repetitive. The second part I’d consider the easiest. The second is only arpeggios and is also very repetitive. The chords at the end of the second section seem difficult and are definitely the flashiest part in the piece, but I reality is also easy. When you look closely it is only the arpeggios in the part between the slower arpeggios and the faster and more angry arpeggios, except in chords and a little more repetitive. The last section is the first section, only now you add a fourth note and a difference in the placing of the chords. Then the end off the piece is extremely easy, take it slow and calmly, only soft chords.

[@Ballet-ester235]

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@v.dargain1678]

Deneb235 yup .

[@drkk7257]

There's a wrong note. at 2:53 or so. You can barely hear it. ;)

[@No-Mars]

Check "face the flames" by The Wiseguys

[@Jeffparanormia]

I mastered this one in my senior year, but would probably hurt myself if I attempted the Presto section.

[@mariorossi9655]

Good touch but the phrasing is just a mess, makes the rhythm sound inconsistent.

[@hoopshank]

Personally, I think it's not his phrasing that is at fault but perhaps the acoustics or the recording. I think his rhythm is just fine.

[@mariorossi9655]

hoopshank I agree. The lower register notes sound far too soft in the recording. And seen as they close each phrase it certainly affects the end result. But I think the phrasing problem is also caused by some uncertainty when "jumping" to the lower chords in the introduction. One wrong note on those chords will stand out even to the untrained ear.

[@NicoleMariaLage]

Maravilhoso !!!

[@greezly1976]

It sounds differently from in Vladimir Horowitz :) But it is also charming.

[@thecommidor6653]

I find it so bizarre that when reading through the comments on so many piano vids it manifests into religious debate. And does anyone know where I can find a synthesia of this slowed down? After 1:40 it's a bit of a fucking nightmare

[@Pdnorell]

Actually it's pretty easy up through about 2:15. You THINK it's hard at 1:30 because it seems so rhythmic, but really it's quarter notes in the left hand and arpeggios in the right hand. Slowly, it's simple. Practice makes it faster. 2:15 seems difficult because it seems faster but it's still not awful. It's when you get to 2:21 that the A theme from the beginning, which was split between the two hands, is then put into BOTH hands individually (2 separate grand staffs are used. like wtf).

[@lequintdickey9640]

He's actually tatooed ''Sergey Rachmaninoff'' on his arm. Kinda sick xD

[@mufelo]

So overt it's covert

[@emogaboxx]

Correcto.

[@angelicbaby92]

It is very nice. But it could be way better. In music, I believe contrast is the most important thing. the beginning was too fast, not expressive enough, and not as gentle to contrast the second part. The second part wasn't fast enough to contrast the last slow finale part. I'm a pianist myself, so I understand these things and the gitters of performing public. But it could have been better.

[@vanishy0urself]

I know all the more pretentious elitists will scoff at the notion, but I'd love to fight a danmaku shmup (videogame) boss with the bullet speed corresponding to the music speed. It would've been so epic.

[@julienm1841]

Well played, but too much Rubato kills the Rubato :) personal opinion .

[@Chigüiro_Herrera]

You should listen to rachmaninoff's recording, this one is soooo close to it

[@marcmeunier280]

Can you answer this comment with an artist/composer/musician's name who gave you a comparable feeling to the one you had, listening to this masterpiece?

[@chriskennedyck]

+Marc Meunier DEAFHEAVEN

[@RyficEntertainment]

Wait. Wait. I play this song. I do think Peter Norell is right. It is not that hard. It only seems hard. XD. I do not care what you reply to that.

[@stelaregina8968]

Gilel's version much better but it's all depend on the interpretation from the pianist but my lento isn't that fast

[@nickcastle9201]

C'est de la bouillie !

[@ponykuhxyz5984]

He plays like a drunk sailor... I am exhausted listening to this... Too much rubato

[@classicalmusicanalysis]

An analysis almost as good as the one Zac Porter did.

[@hectorguilermowierna7705]

P/D. Quise poner: " ....Es un preludio en do.........."

[@lollihigh]

씁쓸한 커피 마시고 싶네요

[@goemd1]

Critics are the ones who can't do it themselves!!!

[@TB-ih7bg]

Well that is the stupidest thing you're likely to read on a comment section for a classical music video.

[@amj.composer]

@@planetyam6044 Doesn't*

[@jazzdaniels18]

The first section was played too fast. Otherwise very beautiful.

[@AirbusA380rox]

so true haha!!

[@caraceleste6904]

Do you turn left or right?!

[@ChrisMiggells]

This music has always grabbed me by the soul! I love what you have done James. I have just released a video of this piece too, it would mean the world to me if you could visit my channel and watch me play it. Thank you so much for your support, it is greatly appreciated.

[@carlosgosalbez2338]

Parece un sonajero… no hay comprensión de la pieza en absoluto

[@telmacardoso565]

:)

[@ablicly]

You did so good until the end..you skipped so many

[@DomTechN]

he played the start way too fast...it should be more legato and then speed up.