6 ways to depict water with a piano

I decided to compile a few piano pieces where different qualities of water are depicted, whether it be the shimmering texture in Ravel's Ondine or the tempestuous waters in Chopin's etude.
Ravel's Ondine (Grosvenor): • Maurice Ravel - Ondine...
Chopin (Sokolov): • Grigory Sokolov plays ...
Debussy (Richter): • Sviatoslav Richter - D...
Liszt (Arrau): • Arrau plays Liszt 'Les...
Ravel's Une barque sur l'Océan (Pisarenko): • Vitaly Pisarenko plays...

[@SoteriosXI]

I hate it when I go to get water from my fridge's dispenser and a bunch of stacked arpeggios fall into my glass.

[@acevaptsarov8410]

😂

[@TheCSJones]

My sink pipe burst. Was cleaning up 32nd notes for hours.

[@sugarmamasota_]

😹😹😹

[@coleozaeta6344]

I really hate when my friend gives me a handful of delicious chips, and I’m eating some, but as I’m walking, I stumble over and drop my chips, and then they all fall into some guy’s open asshole.

[@ace00060]

​@@coleozaeta6344Lmao what? 💀

[@FredericChopin-if5rn]

Now all we need is the earth, fire, and air depictions.

[@bazettssj4]

Scriabin 8th Sonata 😎

[@marcus4403]

Fire is Scriabin's Vers la Flamme and air is that one Debussy prelude...not sure what earth would be? Closest I can think of is Rite of Spring but that isn't for piano

[@Pianodude1997]

Do you mean....... Earth, Wind, and Fire? Because they've been around for a while 😎

[@ascendantDreamweaver]

@@marcus4403 valee d'obermann

[@DynastieArtistique]

@@bazettssj4I was about to comment this😂

[@MrCrompz]

Water has got to be the most interesting thing to display through music! It's so organic, but also has so many different qualities.

[@PiotrBarcz]

Agreed!

[@snorefest1621]

Liszt was such a master of the programmatic depiction water, even before the times of Ravel and Debussy

[@skylarlimex]

True revolutionary

[@deodatdechampignac]

for dumbies only

[@Medtszkowski]

All his Switzerland pilgrimage set is just great

[@toothlesstoe]

I think the latter perfected what Liszt started

[@toothlesstoe]

@snorefest1621 Not sure why you agreed and then disagreed in the same breath, but okay lol

[@Zenzith]

not the 62/84 time signature 😭

[@TelepathShield]

Ikr 😅

[@lanaritchie]

6/8 and 2/4 at the same time, not literally 62/84 😁😅

[@Teslav2_music]

Ravel: Easy for me

[@Tooaster]

Something that I always found fascinating is that Chopin never named any of his etudes, so he might have ascribed a completely different meaning to the etude we call the "Ocean" etude. Maybe he thought it sounded like a battle, or a terrible storm. (I will admit though, "Ocean" is quite the accurate title in my opinion.)

[@skylarlimex]

Thanks for mentioning that! I'll admit I didn't really think twice over that since like you said, it seemed so aptly named.

[@dwacheopus]

It's too fast for waves to move

[@themelancholyofgay3543]

Raging Seas,

[@segfault1361]

I learned that Chopin never gave specific names to any of his pieces because he claimed to hate making "program music" which is to make music that conveys a specific story or scene/setting, so he denied making those and all names like "Funeral March", "Raindrop Prelude" etc were given by others like publishers or other composers. It's ironic because nearly all of his Preludes and Etudes give listeners an impression of a specific setting or story.

[@Seleuce]

​​​​​​​​​@@segfault1361I was about to say that, but you said it before me. So I ad something. There are 2 books on Chopin's teaching method, one from Eigeldinger ("Chopin: Pianist and Teacher") who interviewed many of Chopins students and colleagues for the book and used Chopins unfinished method book, too. The second book is the collected letters of one of his best long term students, Friederike Müller. She wrote down all her lessons with Chopin for 6 years in report form in letters, including his instructions as he phrased them, so that she would not forget. (I highly recommend both books for any Chopin enthusiasts and/or pianists). Both those books give great insight into what Chopin was generally thinking about music. He thought any piece could sound different every day and interpreted in many different ways as long as the source material was respected. He was a master of subtlety both in composition and in playing, as well as a master improviser, an expert in expressiveness and suggestion without a need for clear guidances. He thought programme names hinder the musician in forming their own opinion about a piece of music and strongly limit imagination and creativity. He loved people having their own opinions about his music. Auditors and musicians likewise. So he doesn't actually belong here, although he wrote a lot of music that sounds "watery", or liquid. For a water feel I would not have chosen this etude (it let's me think of a snow storm). Nocturne op. 27/1, to me, feels much more "wavy". But that's very subjective! 😊

[@themelancholyofgay3543]

interesting way to learn theory

[@skylarlimex]

My videos are secretly clickbait to learn theory

[@Jacedamace]

0:07 oh thats how she got her name

[@tibby4503]

undertale?!?!

[@victinitron2000]

THAT WAS MY THOUGHT TOO LMAO

[@oddity404]

yes, undines are a mythological creature :)

[@perfectheart7010]

Never thought I'd see a reference to Undertale here..

[@Riis-Bro]

Brooooo they named their mythology off of Undertale??????????????????????????????????????????????

[@donotapply6202]

Ravel's music revolving water is truly lovely, I would expect Ravel's Jeux D'eau to be here but your selection is quite wonderful and diverse!!

[@skylarlimex]

Yes, definitely had that in mind but I didn't want to show off Ravel three times haha, so I opted for jeux d'eau's lesser known predecessor!

[@shimmereyes8984]

I feel Aquarium from the Carnival of the animals by Saint-Saens would fit this category, albeit I know it's not just piano, yet it inspires a completely oneiric and magical depiction of it through the long arpeggios. Fantastic selection and another proof of music's capacity to capture nature's essence both in sound mimic and feeling

[@skylarlimex]

Didn't think of that! It's definitely very apt

[@naalex132]

0:51 sounds like a calamity boss

[@austindavis2406]

Almost nobody that watches this video will understand what you're talking about, but I want you to know that I understand lmao

[@BerdlyGaming]

I would also like to let you know that I get it lmao

[@TelepathShield]

From botw?

[@bouxman2989]

@@TelepathShieldI dont know about a calamity in botw but I do know about calamity mod in terraria

[@monsieurnugai]

I like getting the reference but also i disagree with you

[@bp-lx7lf]

‘Ondine’ is my favourite representation of water in all of music, let alone solo piano rep. Just fabulously beautiful.

[@Mmbcll-qz1ku]

ショパンのOcean は、広大な海の偉大さと体が揺れるほどの風の強さ、そして同時に海面に差し込む陽の光の温かさも感じます。素敵なピックアップ、ありがとう😌

[@nourytime9804]

How to depict water in music : Arpeggios

[@skylarlimex]

Not wrong 🤣

[@Ribulose15diphosphat]

While I know no classic examples, as soon it goes under water, popculture (especially games) tend to use long notes and low pitches to mimic the acoustics under water.

[@knopfir]

​@@Ribulose15diphosphati think game OSTs prefer the image of calm and still water rather then the energetic and hectic portrayel shown in the video

[@mikebliss3153]

I'm sorry (not sorry), but Debussy's La Mer changed the game as far as how water is musically depicted. Before, everyone just did boring arpeggios. But the throughline in all of Debussy's works, really, is just how alive the sonic depiction of water becomes. Bodies of water like the ocean are not just a setting to him; they're fully fleshed out characters in their own right.

[@wasumyon6147]

His "La cathédrale engloutie" is another great example.

[@dj_koen1265]

Debussy in general was just a great composer who could bring life into his music

[@MicheleEngel]

Although I don't understand enough about musical composition to know if what you say is correct, you said it beautifully!

[@ikschrijflangenamen]

Alkan's madwoman by the seashore is also an interesting take. The soft repetitive bass of the crashing waves in the distance.

[@skylarlimex]

That's an excellent suggestion I didn't know about! Sort of predates Cowell's three Irish legends

[@jaypeej7830]

The best for me is the piano part of Schubert's famous song "Auf dem Wasser Zu singen".. It vividly depicts the shimmering waves of the sea.

[@skylarlimex]

Yes! I love that piece too. There's a piece by Grieg as well, Brooklet from his lyric pieces.

[@СтепанКучуров]

This sokolov perfomance is definitely the best of all. Always used to start my morning coffee when I Was 14, not long time ago. Just so refreshing and something like what Liszt would probably have played

[@luisrocha26]

All of them are great, but I just love Ravel's and Debussy's renditions! As for Reflets dans l'eau, I can oerfectly picture a great lake, with water slowly moving and tiny rain droplets!

[@areyounatz]

Debussy's La Mer takes the cake for an orchestral depiction.

[@TSO01]

Apocalyptica's "Rage of Poseidon" was quite good at depicting storm...

[@f0rm0r]

I was waiting for une barque sur l'ocean and there is was!

[@skylarlimex]

Couldn't have missed that one

[@avawspotter]

I love that Chopin's 'Ocean' looked like waves in the sheet music

[@KatM26]

the e flat major bit towards the end of reflets dans l'eau very cathartic to play feels like drinking nice refreshing glass of water hydrated refreshed

[@joepollockbass]

There's a recording of Jaco Pastorius' big band playing "Dolphin Dance" by Herbie Hancock. The piano player who begins the song paints a picture of clear, shimmering water to me. I can't quite explain it but the way he plays these licks make it sound like perfect water to be dancing with dolphins in.

[@balladin9200]

Water exists Ravel: free real estate

[@Dodecatone]

Hey, thanks for linking to my video of Grosvenor's incredible Ondine! I remember seeing the livestream and thinking "this is perfect, I need to share it with everyone" - now it's found a new audience ❤

[@skylarlimex]

It's an incredible recording, thanks for posting it!

[@camisonline]

That specific recording of Grosvenor’s might be the only one I feel does any justice to the final segment of Ondine, when it resolves after the unbelievable climax. He really takes his time on the white and black key glissandos where others don’t, and the small moment after those might actually be my favorite moment in the piece just because of the emotion and temperament he applies. Just fantastic. Thank you for posting that recording, I’ve been obsessed with it for a little while now.

[@owenbishop6544]

Great video. Another example I thought of was Liszt’s 2nd Ballade, the first theme that recurs throughout the piece can be interpreted as waves in the Greek myth of Hero and Leander

[@skylarlimex]

Ahh I didn't know that! Thanks for sharing

[@owenbishop6544]

@@skylarlimex Sonata Secrets did a wonderful video on it. Completely opened my eyes to the piece

[@CanAlternateLostTape]

Or the 2nd Legend, St. Francis of Paola Walks on the Waves

[@Coconut_tree5378]

The frutiger aero of classical music

[@spiker1923]

bro what

[@Coconut_tree5378]

@@spiker1923 it’s like a subculture ( i don’t like to use the word aesthetic) that reminisces on the tech of the 2000s and how it was inspired by all things aquatic and water. And so they have playlists and music inspired by this subculture that’s mimics and evokes water.

[@Vingul]

@@Coconut_tree5378​⁠​⁠it’s more of an aesthetic than a subculture though, lols. It was a thing before people started reminiscing about it.

[@Coconut_tree5378]

@@Vingul true true. Idk y i just really don’t like using the word aesthetic.

[@Vingul]

@@Coconut_tree5378 I can understand, it is overused. I like it as a word in itself though.

[@fwuffcat]

next time my music teacher asks me “how does the music help portray an image of water” i know where to go

[@daniel.friedrich]

Another great addition would've been the raindrop prelude, although your selection is stellar in its own right!

[@hymnodyhands]

As a composer I especially appreciate this ... I've done 2-3 of these in different pieces, but it is wonderful to see them all together for study!

[@DeltaPixelite]

Genshin's music from the fontaine region is also a great example of depicting water, both literally water and my tears.

[@urphakeandgey6308]

I can't imagine playing some of these on the piano. It's impressive compositionally, but also as a performance.

[@LyleLylefr]

Cat - C418 is a really good example of a water effect

[@DragosDomnara]

Scriabin's Sonata Fantasy should be here too, he was also directly inspired by the ocean when writing it. The first movement reminds me of the water rippling in the sunlight while the second movement depicts an ocean storm

[@jonathanDstrand]

came here to say this

[@abcrtzyn]

Another water song from Debussy, the sunken cathedral. Being underwater, he uses a lot of open chords and very low notes to show how vast and deep it is.

[@Jman0163]

between this video and Earth, Wind, and Fire we've got all the classical elements down pat.

[@jacenarsenault8223]

I recommend listening to Mompou's El Lago from him Paisajes, it fits this list very well!

[@redallover_]

Liszt's depiction of tempestuous waves in his second ballade also fits this category; it's simpler and less beautiful than these examples, but it definitely works for the piece. Thanks for making this compilation! I've always been enchanted by program music. The excerpts are beautiful, and this video has inspired me to finally explore the impressionists' music!

[@Egajor]

1:04 Debussy's music is magical.

[@NerdCloud-IT]

You can see how they flipped the normally low chord progressions to high shimmery notes, And the main movement comes from the lower notes. Just like how it sounds muffled under water

[@skylarlimex]

I love that analogy

[@karlsengupta7185]

Delightful! Brief enough to view between classes, yet sufficient depth to require multiple viewings. Refreshing. Captivating.

[@skylarlimex]

@@karlsengupta7185 You're very kind, thank you!

[@lighthouse6543]

YESSS reflets dans l'eau my favorite Debussy piece

[@MetalheadSapling]

This is a wonderful video, and I just want to also mention that I have often heard John Paul Jones' piano on "No Quarter" by Led Zeppelin described as "Like water singing"

[@JustAFlutistThatLovesBubbleTea]

Omgg i absolutely loved how this was explained. I enjoyed every second of this wished it was longer❤❤

[@MicheleEngel]

This was very instructive. Thank you!

[@foo0815]

Strange how Ravel avoids writing subcontra G# at 2:36 and 2:46 (not available on standard pianos, but harmonically required) and writes A instead. But finally at 2:56 he actually writes the impossible G#...

[@douwemusic]

This has always really bothered me lol

[@SomeLilGuyMeow]

Wow I thought this was a real train at first! I gotta learn this technique!!

[@penand_paper6661]

Between you and me, look up the song "Flowing Water" on the Guqin. One of the most fantastic representations of water in music I've ever seen. Four sections, each associated with a season. A stream flows and changes with the seasons.

[@eleveri11]

Extremely cool

[@cookiemonsterrr9436]

I don't know anything about classical music or music in general, but this is so cool!!!

[@bartremmelzwaal5775]

Ravel 🐐

[@blakesorenson8766]

This is something I’ve been studying for a while. Two composers who I think have captured water perfectly have been Messiaen in “Fête des belles eaux” and Viñao in “Water”

[@skylarlimex]

I love that Messiaen piece.

[@AlainArvelo]

such a great video with great examples. I am a bit surprised you didn’t include the beginning of Wagner’s Das Rheingold! Was the first place my mind went as an opera nut.

[@skylarlimex]

Oh that one will definitely come out in the orchestra version!

[@bachouvenn3563]

2:06 that continued unresolved chord in the right hand (or whatever it’s called) kinda reminds me of the 2nd subject (the jumpy part) of Scriabin’s 5th sonata

[@123eldest]

this was a great overview. I particularly like the portrayal of water in Griffes The Fountain of the Acqua Paola.

[@hadrieneverard8121]

I instantly recognized, Sokolov's version of op 25 no 12 lol. A man of culture I see

[@chuchu9649]

I can't hear Ravel's piece without thinking of Call Me By Your Name since that was the first place I'd heard of it

[@SuperKripke]

Schubert's impromptus also have an evocative way of capturing babbling brooks, especially number 3.

[@dibidubu4168]

i really enjoyed this! thank you

[@skylarlimex]

You're very welcome!

[@averageclassicalmusicenjoyer]

Oo my favourite recording of the chopin!

[@raynmoderosling1284]

Also an interesting idea is to come up with the way of depicting the rain with piano. Like in "Riders on the storm" by The Doors

[@usurpationofmusic4596]

i learned liszt's 2nd legend recently and the water depiction in that piece is insane

[@seawolf1366]

Another AMAZING example of this by Liszt is his Saint Francis of Paolo Walking on the Waters! Great for showing stormy and turbulent waters

[@averageclassicalmusicenjoyer]

I know there are lots of comments about earth wind fire etc, but it would be fascinating to see any depictions of these other elements in music!

[@skylarlimex]

Wind might be feasible. Chen Qigang has a piece based on elements

[@musodave]

@@skylarlimex Chopin Winter Wind étude

[@thatdoggo5254]

Not me, a Pump It Up, player realizing that Poseidon was just a rendition of Chopin's "Ocean" 🤯

[@Organico0]

so nice

[@the_eternal_paradox]

I would also like to volunteer Chopin's Barcarolle... what gets me is how various tiny imitative phrases make it sound like sunlight catching on successive ripples of water :)

[@beachboysandrew]

Another great example is most of Sunken Cathedral by Debussy!

[@beachboysandrew]

great video btw, you've earned yourself a subscriber!

[@cliffpinchon2832]

For something a bit different, the opening of Eonta by Xenakis is also meant to depict flowing water...

[@pretzelkch8322]

Love the late Liszt, very under appreciated piece. Recommend Abel Decaux’s Clairs de Lune no. 4: La Mer as well, interesting take on water, evokes more murky and ominous feelings of the sea.

[@AdrianMartinez-ik6jl]

"Lo que dice la lluvia" from Seru Giran its a great example in "modern music" in my opinion

[@stubbsmusic543]

This is a really lovely subject for a music video. Thanks for doing this.

[@skylarlimex]

I'm really happy with the subject too, thanks!

[@SuperKripke]

Moonlight sonata movement 1 also is an incredible example of the darkest type of water. A lake illuminated only in moonlight.

[@johnopalko5223]

Too bad that's not what Beethoven called it or, most likely, intended.

[@Abraxaz]

This is absolutely mesmerizing 🥴

[@malik-a-creeper]

Love this examples and analysis. Thank you so much!

[@alberteinstein6816]

You forgot the probably most watery one: "Carnival of the Animals: Aquarium"

[@ClassicalRaritiesChannel]

You forgot to include Grieg's Brooklet!! 🙂 A great vid

[@skylarlimex]

Trust me when I say I wanted to!

[@cgnotes]

insane tempo to take ondine at oh my god

[@sandeegrey5977]

Franz Liszt mentioned! Wooo!

[@ShelbyBryant]

Great idea for a post! I enjoyed this lots- thank you!

[@dino_rider7758]

❤️ love this

[@wcsxwcsx]

A favorite of mine is the first movement of Scriabin's second piano sonata.

[@DavidTregoning]

and don't forget Camille Saint-Saens' 'Aquarium' from Carnaval Des Animaux

[@ZalexMusic]

Schubert's Gb impromptu depicts a brook. Great video!

[@trongdung1306]

Holst's Neptune, The Mystic suit here too I guess

[@hahhaaackerrrnanyaa]

I desperately need someone to make a guitar version of this😭

[@cathy7382]

Relaxing and beautiful

[@Astrelynx]

These were all stunning, but I can’t believe you didn’t include Bedrich Smetana’s Vltava.

[@user-lb4ew7gr2j]

great

[@Jack-l5f6e]

Great video! I was wondering when you could do L’isle Joyeuse. It’s one of my favourite pieces and I would love for you to analyse especially the climax at the end. Thank you!

[@BlackHermit]

Water is very good, I think.

[@holluly]

i can't help but think of Zora's Domain from BOTW/TOTK lol

[@TelepathShield]

The time signature at 2:04 💀 💀

[@ryangriffin5362]

I think it's 6/8 next to 2/4, not 62/84.

[@TelepathShield]

@@ryangriffin5362 well what would two time signatures next to each other like that mean?

[@ryangriffin5362]

@@TelepathShield It means the bars alternate between the two times.

[@davidecretarola2401]

Hey buddy, your analysis video are just amazing, and a great reference while studying! Would be great to have you analyze some works by the (unfairly) underrated and ungodly Janáček (such as his String Quartets - my God, the first one, what a freakin’ masterpiece - and the Sonata for Violin and Piano); go ahead with your fantastic work!

[@Joey7Z7Horror]

It’s not piano-related but composers like John Williams using harps to represent the ocean like in JAWS 1 & 2 is totally goated

[@monatooo]

Thanks for the video that was cool! :))

[@Beatsbasteln]

now we just need a million allpass filters, comb filters, modal filters, vocoders, chroma and pitchmap in parallel and it becomes fully water

[@ronl7131]

Great examples.