Scott Joplin - Bethena

[@VirginiaMac-vi2ii]

I first heard your version in the summer of 2007. I never tire of hearing you playing this beautiful piece. One can feel his sadness over the death of his wife in the melody.

[@CaliTrisha]

Thank you for treating this beautiful rag time waltz with the respect it deserves. Very well played.

[@kevindaroitbortoluzzi5910]

You made me discover this piece with this video eight years ago... It is very melancholic to me everytime I come back here, listening to your performance, hearing the exact sound that made me love Bethena, which is now one of my favourite Joplin's pieces to play with the piano... Nothing else to say but thank you.

[@burtv1610]

I agree. I learned this piece ten years ago thanks to this video. I only had a small keyboard, we were a poor family. I have moved so many times (at least 9) and some places I've lived had a piano. I would always relearn this piece and remember this video of the man who has a dog. It is special

[@Bessie99Big]

Beautiful tempo.Just beautiful.The key changes really work better at this speed.I loved it.

[@angelflot]

This is a wonderful piece you have shared. I listen to it every morning before I start my day as a classroom music teacher. My world is hectic and when I need to focus or just breathe a sigh of relief I play your video. Sometimes I have it playing when my students are coming into class. Phenomenal job for one not taking lessons. You play from the heart. Keep up the great work. More please. Do you take requests?

[@gimmedatstick]

I love it--perfect. Hauntingly beautiful. Please keep sharing!

[@oldgypsytap]

Absolutely beautiful! It's a rare treat to hear this poignant waltz played at all, let alone so beautifully. Very touching and lovely rendition. Thank you

[@Ragtime4]

This song makes me think of a peaceful day of travelling and seeing new places. Love the performance here.... not fast!

[@musicallyspeakings88]

I think you just might be the king of Scott Joplin music.

[@Nicktyelor3]

oh. my. god. this is probably the most beautiful joplin piece i've ever heard. amazingly played. love love love. i'm deffinaatly going to do this for my next piano recital.

[@danielsmith4]

By far the best rendition I've heard. Almost everyone plays Joplin too fast, despite the composer's frequent instructions to the contrary. Joplin may be a ragtime composer, but his melody and harmony are in the tradition of the Romantic period in which he was trained as a musician. Most of his pieces, his rags as well as his waltzes, when played correctly, have exactly this soulful quality to them. When taken too fast, the emotional content of the piece is lost entirely.

[@burtv1610]

You play it so nicely. People might think this is easy, but I think however easy or hard, the dynamics, rhythm and speed as well as emotion used is just fab! Almost brings tears to my eyes!

[@pljenkins522]

Excellent interpretation of this! I have seen this piece rushed time and again. This is a lot of depth to this that you cannot express playing it at the breakneck speed most people feel the need to play it at. Great job.

[@Liltle]

I always come back to this video just to hear the best version of Bethena. It's been 9 years and I still love yours. Thanks chocotiger!

[@Liltle]

*7 sorry not 9

[@ohiocowboypoet]

This one always reminds me of a silent movie soundtrack - none in particular... just the general "feel" of it... at any rate, the performance is outstanding; enjoyed it very much.

[@Mrshmlhpy]

Thankyou for the sentimental rendition, beautifull and slow... unlike many others.

[@philhewett1601]

Well played...you capture the sadness of Joplin after the death of his wife Freddie. You play the sadness of reflection and give glimpses of the love and love lost so well. Thank you.

[@jjabr219]

Scott Joplin is one of my favorite composers of all time and Bethena was one of my favorites from him. You played it well, great job.

[@oogieobanyon]

Thank you for this wonderful, and perfectly paced, version. Scott Joplin would be smiling. So many people today race through Joplin, Chopin, Debussy, everything; showy but empty technique over everything. Doing so, we lose the composers' intentions. You've technique, spirit, soul. Thank you.

[@RETROGEMS]

I love Scott Joplin, he is one of my favorite composers and I love hearing his work played so beautifully! Thank you!

[@mrjimbopalmer]

Excellent rendition! I love playing this song. I enjoyed hearing you play it just as much.

[@javipk7]

perfect decision! curious case & bethena very nice, i remembered this video while watching the nice movie.

[@chocotiger]

I haven't heard him play this piece, but i've heard some of his other recordings, and he's brilliant. I'm going to buy his 4-cd scott joplin box set, thanks for reminding me!

[@TaiTchubi]

I love this song... It's one of my favorites on the ballet class ;D Thanks for posting it!

[@lolzi100]

This song always makes me cry because it makes me remember the good times i had before when i was a child

[@jlswedberg]

Thank you, thank you, thank you. That was just beautiful. So many of the people who play ragtime just don't have a feel for it, but you do. You make good choices.

[@miyamiyaba]

I must admit that I'm pleasantly surprised to hear this song played at this speed. I think this really reflects how Joplin's mentality took a more somber tone after his wife passed. Very nice work!

[@mrtoastey]

thank you. i love this only second to Solace. Joplin's melancholy is under-represented… and glorious.

[@viniciusmiki3686]

You play with the heart brother! Amazing performance. Tkj for this!

[@extremecalling]

From one musician to another: nice job! Some have been complaining about the tempo, but I agree with GLTiernan; the conductor with whom I am playing this piece (I'm a violinist accompanying the pianist in the orchestra) said that most people think Joplin should be played faster, but the valse tempo at which you played it is perfect. Bravo! Nice musicianship and taste in your playing, keep up the great work.

[@andrewcothran2829]

What is to dislike about this ? Simply wonderful..

[@flordepitanga]

Man, you play beautifully! This one is special, you gave soul to this piece.Thank you!

[@sharkxie]

flordepitanga 好好好

[@medeforest]

I just love the emotion you put into the music.

[@goesfastandfar]

That is a very lovely tune and beautifully played!

[@MickeyYahoo]

Lovely! You capture the oft-neglected beauty of the ragtime genre here.

[@osokoni]

Ole Joplin lost a wife and was experiencing some major pain in his life when he wrote this. Many thought it was incredible and the best of classic rag. However, it did not stop an even larger tragedy. This songs gives what his legacy is.

[@Parmesana]

this is one of Joplin's best pieces..in honor of his wife. You did a wonderful job. I love the hauntingly beautiful tune.

[@KizetteandTotoro]

Beautifully melodic. Loved it. Thank you..

[@silverweezingbus]

A very beautiful piece very beautifully played. I've been wondering what the piece was since I saw Curious Case of Benjamin Button, and how thrilled I was to find such a marvelous recording of it in its entirety! Thanks again.

[@Dimmify]

Such wonderful musical playing!!

[@SariaMew456]

You played this beautifully... thank you for posting it.

[@Lord_Vinheteiro]

This is a concert waltz

[@peedrinker3575]

Ok

[@DimapeloManual]

MEU DEUS DO CÉU VINHETEIRO

[@rgoodwyn]

its very easy to feel that way about something u liked before it was popularized. i dont know all that much about this type of music but i became instantly obsessed with this song when i saw the movie. i like the movie alot but i may like the song more. :)

[@arrrs4944]

absolutely beautiful. wonderful pedaling, perfect tempo!

[@mrgrinch8540]

hey, wanna add me on roblox, i wanna test your knowledge on jopin pieces

[@gd2u2]

very beautifully played, I like your interpretation of what I have seen so far. Keep up the good work.

[@Honeykissfire]

I've been looking for this song for the longest. I remember hearing it when I was watching a Great Performances on PBS featuring the Martha Graham Dance Company. They were preforming Maple Leaf Rag and this song was in the middle of that performance. You play it wonderfully! ^_^

[@airindiana]

That is just beautiful. What a gift you have

[@lilimili89]

i like this too, and i was so happy to hear it in the movie!

[@LouieNeira]

beautiful, yet slightly sad and melancholy, almost like a memory of a past love lost and not quite yet healed.

[@yergaderga]

That's a lot like Joplin's actual inspiration for this song, in fact.

[@calmamatheuzinho]

this was my first joplin experience. Choco, making me love joplin since 2008.

[@StephenDaviesESWR]

watching now--I can tell you feel it; nice playing.

[@burtv1610]

i cried even before it started :c) you play Bethena so flipping well! I wish people like you could give me your talent - you're too good!

[@MVirgiinia]

Hermosísima pieza, y más hermosa con la delicadeza uqe la ejecutas. Gracias !!!

[@Patrick160692]

Excellent play. Astonishing performance.

[@NikePau91]

I love this piece! I've started learning to play it but it's so hard.

[@oldcremona]

Love the languid tempo. It really lets the piece breathe. You are an artiste, sir!

[@NKhatesYOUatNIGHT]

It was riveting! Absolutely riveting!

[@oldcremona]

Quite lovely. I think one could argue that "popular" music peaked during the ragtime era.

[@samdulmage]

I am working on learning how to play this... been working on it for six months and I can play the first three of seven pages (I'm a beginner) but it's a really lovely piece with lots of delightful surprises in it. Too many people play Joplin too fast!

[@cutthroooat]

Very, very pleasant. I really enjoyed listening to and watching you play. Well done!

[@charrmmee]

just beautiful. u'r playing is a joy.

[@tetyanachorna8139]

Well done! Perfect temp

[@2Tall2BAShorty]

Love S. Joplin!! You did a great job!

[@aberg210]

that is an amazing song glad i stumbled upon it after i found "the entertainer" that you played. i'm getting the notes for it as soon as i can and learning it

[@CalifaJohn]

nice to see that people value more of the ragtime music than just The Entertainer and Maple Leaf Rag.

[@rohitrao6729]

This piece I think is best produced by you, with the tempo, crescendo and decrescendo, and dramatic playing. I like to listen to it while working.

[@pacerdanny]

Hey, I'd love to see that performance on KZbin. Always nice to have different takes on a great piece.

[@javipk7]

very nice, man! so likely to other joplin's songs, as always but this is so relaxing keep up the good work! ^^

[@musicinthewoods]

You played this beautifully!! I forgot all about "Bethena" which is such a contrast to "Maple Leaf Rag"..Now I will definitely have to play this on the piano. Keep up the GREAT piano playing!!! :-)

[@heijie]

You really played it in a beautiful way! Very nice!

[@rebeski]

wow, i wish i could play as brilliantly as you, it is brilliant.

[@Brandtstifter1]

you have the ragtime feeling! great!!

[@warriortaco]

i'll bet this gets a lot more hits since benjamin button..great piece

[@1Pianiste]

This is, by far, my favorite version of Bethena. You play it nearly perfectly. Instead of playing it quickly and dryly, you play it slowly and expressively. I love hearing the melody sustained, for once. Good job!

[@geologydotcom]

Wonderful. Thank you!

[@HelenaSchyzophrenia]

absolutely fantastic.

[@johnferguson3801]

This is a fabulous rendition of this piece. I like your tempo and handling of it. Well done my friend.

[@Moushindeimasu]

BEAUTIFUL!

[@aczajka74]

Your tempo is perfect. It captures the mood of the song.

[@benjaminshinobi]

THIS IS MY FAVORITE SCOTT JOPLIN SONG A+ 10 YOU'RE EITHER IN OR YOU'RE OUT AND YOU ARE In!

[@iltonjardim]

you are great! very sweet and touching interpretation!

[@TtheCrazy]

As am I...yet it's absolutely superb work I must say.

[@johne7345]

My first reaction was "too slow," but your rendition grows on me, and this is certainly one Joplin piece (one of his finest, I think) which should never be played fast.

[@45454mjkjhkhn]

fantastic playing

[@GypsyRainDrops]

iam learning this song now! you perform it amazingly!

[@5L0wCu63]

the 1st time i heard this song made me cry :'D not many things do

[@lelandb123]

I ALWAYS played this song too fast and my piano teacher always has to tell me to slow down to the tempo you're at. Fantastic work!

[@scorekeepn]

Well done! One of Scott's tamer pieces

[@darvasquez]

GREAT! i was writing a song on my keyboard today and ended up learning bethena. :] ur ultra coolio.

[@MrDisetti]

top player indeed, and great piece

[@MrsMcMusical]

its so sad because Joplin made this after his dearest wife died 2 months after their marrige but this is a very nice one and good job

[@lemonsnlimes333]

this song is my life theme song, it makes me melt, ahhhh.

[@merlegos]

thats just the right speed =) nicely done

[@situation900]

Choco u are the best men ^.^ I really enjoy that song ..

[@TotallyAmazingVideos]

Great Job Playing. Great Song

[@sirrliv]

A beautiful piece, and beautifully performed. I'm especially pleased that you didn't rush the tempo, as many other people tend to do, although I think you might have taken it a bit too slow, but only a bit. Anyway, great performance! 4.5 stars out of 5!

[@rainsnow1411]

i'm sooooooo moved by your performance

[@seacaptain72]

wow, great playing. Really something...

[@saraks10]

fucking amazing, totally my fav song scott joplin did

[@jjoe5467]

Amazing job!