Sibelius - 'The Spruce' from The Trees, Op. 75 No. 5

[@louispearson8306]

Today I took my Simba to be put down after 17 years together. I used to hold him in my arms when he was a kitten and I held him one last time as he moved on from this world. I will never love another pet like him, he was like a child to me and it hurts so bad I can barely speak. I've been learning this song after watching your performance last week and It helps the tears flow and makes me think of all hours he spent on my lap while learning difficult pieces. I will always love you Simba my baby.

[@ClareHammondPiano]

I am so sorry to hear that you have lost Simba and hope that the SIbelius helps a little. Do take care.

[@juanjomorales5608]

This is the most noble, sensitive and honest performance of this piece that I've found. The phrasing is beautiful, the inner tempo allows the music to shine and you make sense of the fast sections, integrating them seamlessly in the whole piece. This video moves my heart every time, thank you 🙏🏻❤️

[@thomasladd3731]

Everything about this is beautiful. The music, the performance, the recording, the video…

[@BrucknerMotet]

I played this today on my upright as "the sapin" and finally realized it is "the spruce" after thinking it was "the fir." Your tempos, dynamics, and phrasings are just how I like them.

[@Itapirkanmaa2]

Yes the piece has sometimes been mistranslated as "Fir". In fact we have no firs growing in Finland unless they are planted, so it's the Norway spruce (Picea abies).

[@ernestoa.fagerlund4696]

Yes, it’s either in english (the spruce) or in french (le sapin)

[@paulprocopolis]

Very sensitive playing and lovely to listen to late in the evening.

Beautiful production!

[@PaulWhite743]

A very beautiful performance with a wonderful singing tone and tasteful flexibility of tempo and dynamics, creating a mood of peace and harmony.

[@noriemeha]

And to think that back in the 60s when I first started to listen to the Finn a pro-Sibelius critic praising his symphonic music, said his piano music was "...poor, indeed very poor..." implying no reason to go there. How wrong. I have discovered lots of little gems amongst it and find it delightful.

[@brandex2011]

Just anything Sibelius!

[@keiththomas795]

Everything about this performance is beautiful.

[@richardrhees7157]

A beautifully heartfelt, poetic interpretation.

[@平林新太郎]

good!

[@rutikuiwa7133]

Lovely morning and lovely Clare 🌹

[@classicsbycandace]

Gorgeous piece! Love your performance! 💛

[@oliviachung1422]

As an intermediate piano student, I’d like to say this is such a pleasing and heartfelt interpretation. It has really inspired me, listening to you play. Thank you.❤

[@ClareHammondPiano]

That is really lovely to hear. Thank you and good luck with your piano studies!

[@anetteprstnielsen4686]

Beautiful performance! The best version of this peace.

[@PercivalC]

I've listened to a handful of versions of this song, and this is by far my favourite. Well done! You play with such noticeable passion.

[@stalkerstomper3304]

@F3lixD Weiker Wtf does that comment even mean? "It's a piece". No shit. I would've thought human beings were naturally capable of more advanced communication, but congratulations!!! You just set a new bar for all of the dummies in the world to try to achieve. Great work! Your moron status has leveled up to Super Legendary Tard level infinity!!!

[@knox2685]

Have you ever listen this kzbin.info/www/bejne/eGaomXiuisiIla8

[@joejolliffe]

@@f3lixdweiker582 haha that was my reaction too!

[@lexietrout6578]

Such a good piece, has to be one of my favorites!

[@eyesack4083]

It feels so good when you just stumble across a beautiful piece out no where

[@МаринаГоленкова-г4ш]

Спасибо,очень понравилось!

[@anuvergnu]

Watched your performance in "The Lady in the Van" last night and, thinking it beautiful, tracked you down on KZbin and found this - absolutely wonderful. Thank you.

[@olgakviatkovskaia4587]

Very beautiful performance!! Bravo! 🌹🌹🌹🌹

[@ardarico]

I love this performance.

[@Jarowsky]

She had found Finnish soul. Well done. She touch me.

[@gigi0618]

Beaucoup de sensibilité dans le toucher de cette virtuose!

[@nayeongm]

I love love love music~!!! Thank you~^^🥰 Your play is very love~^^

[@gilbertovazquez570]

Beautiful music, great interpretation

[@tabibito-vr1ee]

Fantastic,bravo!!

[@DedovaSvetlana]

So ein schönes Stück...

[@Batshik]

such mousicali, such touching, such professional, I like, good work

[@sara.kdoost2243]

Do relaxing with this great performance

[@johnsguitarmusicanddemos]

True talent!

[@f1refall]

That was exquisite, thank you

[@deziderbalog8725]

Bravo..bravo..bravooo..version of this song..

[@adaypiano]

beautiful ❤❤❤

[@yumisery]

beautiful playing! ♡__♡

[@waggishsagacity7947]

If you guessed that this lovely piece was by Sibelius, you are more familiar with his compositions than most people, I think. If you said that Clare Hamond played it exquisitely, I will absolutely agree with you. It's a totally surprising and unfamiliar Sibelius: More Romantic than ever. Thanks for uploading.

[@tamillaibadova9363]

you are playing very nice

[@leonardokremer4493]

I HATE the part at 2:45 ;(

[@samtchen]

Beautiful . You are the first one , i hear on youtube, who plays actually a in bar 23 and not a sharp .Delicate choice , but it is in the score .The others seem to be scared to sound wrong . How is that possible ? Has our eartuning changed over the centuries ? ;) Maybe this measure needs a super long fermata to sound reasonable .

[@HLireneLi]

♡ Pretty nice play 🎹

[@shin-i-chikozima]

Her performance is beyond description ， immeasurable , unfathomable and full of admiration , acclaim and deep emotion ， and comfortable to the ear and the mind From Tokyo of the Land of the Rising Sun 🇯🇵

[@Allegria1977]

Perfect..

[@martinwest2538]

I'd like to add to the earlier comments about the main melody, I think the problem with the sixteenth note after a sixteenth note rest is that the 16-note is too sloppy in this performance, making it almost a fast eight note in duration. Using the pedal at the same time (which Sibelius hasn't indicated!) takes away the rest, losing the feel of an inhalation or a little "skip" just before the "da -daa". I also agree on the sloppy articulation of the "storm" part (the middle section), you should be able to hear the melody in the upper voice and the rumbling wavy movement, too. It should in my opinion feel like a swaying spruce in a strong wind. The overall tempo is also a bit on the faster side, rushing with the phrases and missing some tasty details in the score. This is played here as a "valse lente", which it's not intended to be. The tone is beautiful, though, and it's as such very well executed, said things excluded. And yes, I would rather gladly put my own version to be heard, but unfortunately I had to quit playing piano more than ten years ago due to a nerve problem in my left hand, making the weaker fingers unusable. It was operated, but with no success. I still have opinions and ideas, though, which I gladly share to those wanting to hear. I am an educated music teory teacher also, and a hobby composer for the drawer.

[@alecrechtiene558]

I love this music, I love Sibelius, and I love spruce. I feel spruce are something special we have in the north since we can’t have palm trees.

[@rutikuiwa8427]

Bravo!

[@vexi63]

👏👏👏😍

[@HLireneLi]

❤

[@little_swan07]

I’m proud to be finnish

[@RJPaul-px6vt]

I wish I was Finnish.

[@justakfii1]

Great version of this piece. As finnish person I'm also interested have you ever been in Finland.?

[@popolvuh69]

[@makosy6500]

0:04

[@pacificnorthwestpilots6050]

Such graceful playing

[@imkamusicanddancecompetition]

🎼🎻👸🙆❤🎻❤

[@lucdavin285]

0:10.2

[@josephlaredo5272]

Nicely played, but two carps from me: there is a rest in the 'main theme' (da-dee-da-da [rest] da-dee), which surely gives this melody its shape and character, but which Ms Hammond plays (or pedals) through every time. And the middle section, marked "Risoluto" means nothing at this speed; all we hear is the bass line, whereas in fact there is a melodic line in the top note of each right hand broken chord (D, C#, E, D#, F#, E, etc.), which is lost here.

[@mcbainst]

Joseph Laredo you sure like using this particular comment. Please post your own performance of this since everyone else's doesn't cut it for ya.

[@highphysics3617]

@@mcbainst Yeay! Let's hear Mr Laredo's version. Nit picking to the nth degree!

[@astrosandorbits5532]

Most versions ive heard of this song leave out the rest in that melody line. I wonder why. There is supposed to be separation in that melody line. Nonetheless it was a great performance and well played.

[@noriemeha]

I like it with or without "the rest"

[@palmerplantagenet]

I enjoyed your playing. Am wondering how much of your body's non-playing apparatus is necessary to channel into the music, without being needlessly wasted energy? (A serious question.) I am also wondering what Sibelius might've composed, had he seen our Redwoods and Sequoia trees? Hope to hear more music from you.

[@robinceuleers]

This sounds lil bit Jazzy 🎹

[@olakolade6656]

my teacher is making me learn this :D It’s very nice!

[@Anonymousa228]

Очень красиво но быстрая часть не понятная ❤

[@stalkerstomper3304]

I had lost almost all heart and hope... and then, through a hole in a blown out cave, I walked in, and behold! A beautiful woman with wings and a fairy wand appeared with this heavenly tune being played on her celestial harp. I tried to approach slowly out of respect and reverence, but being so desperate for life, I ran towards her while she floated upon the glistening water... the water of life. She just smiled and bathed me in the water. A water so warm and invigorating that I wanted to draw in as much of it as I could, but alas, she wished me farewell having saved my life, and all I could offer her were some gems and a butterfly net. Upon exiting the cave, I was transpoted back to the Light World, and turning around, lo and behold my sweet princess was waiting with arms opened to greet me. Someday, I'll make her my wife, and we'll be wed within the fountain of life among the Fairies. ---- Signed, Link

[@svenpoletka5236]

I don't like her interpretation. It's supposed to be about a tree in Finland and she makes it about tapping on the piano.

[@lubosschelepak7032]

Tree is a metaphor..

[@svenpoletka5236]

@@lubosschelepak7032 thanks for your 2 cents

[@lubosschelepak7032]

Please 😊 but that was your opinion.

[@ryogachi]

0:05

[@DimmyB-l6v]

2:14