Suite from Forrest Gump, for piano - arranged by Charles Szczepanek - Live!

🎹 LEARN PIANO PRODUCTION from CHARLES: pianist-academy.thinkific.com...
GET THE SHEET MUSIC: www.musicnotes.com/l/7TgFQ
VIRTUAL TIP JAR: bit.ly/CharlesVirtualTips
SUPPORT ME ON PATREON: bit.ly/2vtzW70
SUBSCRIBE: bit.ly/2ci6Z1f
WEBSITE: www.charlesszczepanek.com
FACEBOOK: / charlesszczepanek
TWITTER: (@CSzMusic): / cszmusic
INSTAGRAM: (charlesszczepanek): bit.ly/2Lv6yDJ
"I wrote and recorded this arrangement of the Suite from Forrest Gump back in 2017 as a part of my "Keys to the Cinema" album. Despite this length of time, not only did no video of the piece exist until this, but I had never even transcribed the sheet music until December of 2019. I went back through the original recording, most of which I had improvised during the recording session, and wrote down, by ear, everything that I had played.
This performance was the live premiere of the piece at my "home" concert series, Arts at Ascension in Fountain Hills, AZ; January 10, 2020.
Here are my original comments on the arrangement from back in 2017:
The Suite from Forrest Gump, originally composed by Alan Silvestri, is his own compilation of some of the most important music from Forrest Gump, featured in one piece. The score heavily features the piano juxtaposed against string orchestra. Because of the original use of piano, the Suite lends itself favorably to solo piano performance. My arrangement focuses on maintaining the original intention of the orchestral score, interspersing piano flourishes to aid in conveying meaning and colors beyond simple harmony and melody."
#ForrestGump
#ForrestGumpSuite
#pianoarrangement
#pianocover
#solopiano
Musical Arrangement (C) Copyright 2017 by Charles Szczepanek. Sound Recording (P)(C) Copyright 2020 by Charles Szczepanek. Video Recording (C) Copyright 2020 by Charles Szczepanek. All Rights Reserved.

[@Guillermo-Hena]

Oh, it gives a rather different atmosphere listen to the piano version, it's like a different story from the original, with a more interesting contrast between chapters. .. very interesting your arrangement to the melody, it is very you... 👍 Gorgeous your version, and as Hans Zimmer says, "Music is basically a conversation, with questions and answers..." and you, my esteemed Charles, you generate some awesome and interesting conversations, thank you for that. 😁

[@CharlesSzczepanek]

Thanks! Glad you like the arrangement. It was a fun one to do, arranging what was originally strings for solo piano is a difficult but really rewarding task!

[@Guillermo-Hena]

@@CharlesSzczepanek Rewarding for you... and for us too!, thanks to you. 👍

[@sandyrausch1999]

My mom absolutely loved this movie, she passed away some 20 years ago, and it is almost her birthday. She was the one who saw to it I practiced everyday, and I thank her for it. Lovely rendition Charles.❤😊

[@CharlesSzczepanek]

I’m glad I could help bring back some good memories. Thank you for listening!

[@RobertMonroePlays]

This is gorgeous. So sensitive and the dynamics are moving. Thanks for sharing

[@CharlesSzczepanek]

Thanks for checking it out, Robert!

[@gillianbrant304]

Thanks Charles!!

[@thomasbrody1272]

Absolutely beautiful playing, and beautiful arrangement. Thank you!

[@CharlesSzczepanek]

Thanks, Thomas!

[@deborahpiacitelli176]

Such a blessing you are, Charles. This is so beautiful.

[@CharlesSzczepanek]

Deborah Piacitelli thank you! Hope you enjoyed seeing Ascension again!

[@johnnynice8158]

Just a beautiful arrangement. I had tears in my eyes. Thank you so much!

[@CharlesSzczepanek]

Thanks, Johnny! I'm glad you enjoyed it! Some of my favorite music of all time in there.

[@nineti2012]

Bravo!!! It is delightful to listen and watch you playing this!!!

[@CharlesSzczepanek]

Thanks so much, Maria!

[@mechietje]

I was venting about people that were playing without any feeling or emotion in their piano playing. I showed some forrest gump covers to my boyfriend to show what bad piano playing is which have like 1-2 mill views. Then i joked: "let's take a look at this guys video with only 24k views. I'm gonna die internally if his playing is better and has way less views" guess what happened: this guy played like a complete legend, outplays all the other bad video's and i'm baffled that he only has 24k views. A lot of people have doodoo in their ears i guess. Dude, your talent is refreshing. I almost lost my hope in piano playing in this world. Thank you man. Lots of love from a piano music lover

[@CharlesSzczepanek]

Thank you! And thanks for giving the 'little guy' a chance! I hope you'll check out the rest of the music on my channel!

[@angelacarter6196]

Beautiful arrangement thoroughly enjoyed it. Thank you again ❤️

[@CharlesSzczepanek]

Thanks, Angela!

[@Aldebaran3339]

Beautiful arrangement played with velocity and sensibility Bravo!!

[@CharlesSzczepanek]

Thank you, Aldebaran! Glad you enjoyed this!

[@musicplusperlitafrago7400]

Love this movie, love this song, love your arrangement of this music.🙂🌹Thanks for making this video. I am glad to find it. Forrest Gump’s attitude towards life is very useful these days.

[@CharlesSzczepanek]

Thanks! It's a great soundtrack and it was a lot of fun to arrange so many pieces from it!

[@musicplusperlitafrago7400]

@@CharlesSzczepanekThe soundtrack’s great indeed. Thanks for this suite! But I love the first segment the most-the Feather theme.

[@AatroxDraven]

This is beautiful!!

[@CharlesSzczepanek]

Thanks, Variety!

[@lucyj.kszanak6793]

BEAUTIFUL

[@CharlesSzczepanek]

Lucy j. Kszanak thank you!

[@Irenam_art_yn]

This is so beautiful arrangement! 💙Congratulations 👏🏻

[@CharlesSzczepanek]

Thanks very much, Irena!

[@bountytracker]

Świetnie zagrane. Jeden z najbardziej romantycznych utworów nowoczesnych. Brawo!

[@CharlesSzczepanek]

Thanks! I agree, it’s a beautiful soundtrack and score. It was fun to arrange it!

[@gyropsi3828]

This was amazing to hear! Incredible arrangement, beautiful sound. It captures the same emotion from the original soundtrack.

[@CharlesSzczepanek]

Thanks, gyro! I love playing this one!

[@michaelmoore5032]

That was so amazing!! You're incredibly talented. I just started playing piano at the age of 44. I will be signing up for lessons, as it stands I can only play by memory because I can't read music yet. After hearing this arrangement I feel like it will take me 20 years to be able to play anything close to that amazing. Job well done I felt like I was in another world listening to that masterpiece!!

[@CharlesSzczepanek]

Thanks for listening, Michael! Best wishes for your new endeavor! It's never too late :-)

[@oldcornerSE]

You play with such playfullnes and energy. I love watching you perform this piece! ❤

[@CharlesSzczepanek]

Thank you, Jo Mo! Glad you enjoyed this!

[@mo3618]

Thank you so much Charles, i think this is absolutely outstanding! 🙂

[@CharlesSzczepanek]

Thank you so much, M O! Glad you enjoyed :-D

[@alexkliever4659]

This is fantastic! And the closest I’ve heard a solo piano arrangement get to the original soundtrack orchestration of the suite. You must have listened closely to that before/when preparing your arrangement, because you impeccably capture the different emotions in the various themes. Gave me chills/nostalgia, remembering seeing this film in theaters when it was first released and being moved by the score. I had learned the official published solo piano arrangement that you can find in music stores, but it just didn’t quite cut it. Plus it does not contain the second-to-last important section in B-flat Major. In your arrangement, one can hear most of not all of the harmonies (especially the subtle ones) that were in the original score, and that really makes all the difference. What a journey listening to this beautiful music. Thank you for arranging and performing this, keep up the great work, and keep these wonderful arrangements coming! All the best to you.

[@CharlesSzczepanek]

Thanks so much, Alex! Yes, I do all of my arranging by ear listening to the original soundtracks. In fact, it was the lack of 'quality' film arrangements that got me into doing this in the first place. You are most definitely right that nearly all of the 'official' published piano scores are missing considerable, and important, bits! Getting all of the subtleties takes quite some time, but it's worth it in the end. I've been wanting to do a 'proper' cinematic video for this arrangement, just haven't got the budget to do it justice yet. Hope you check out my other movie score arrangements!

[@arindamsarkar1862]

Really mesmerizing.

[@CharlesSzczepanek]

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed!

[@yuliasha7004]

Случайно нашла то,что давно искала!Обожаю эту мелодию,спасибо за дивное исполнение❤❤❤

[@CharlesSzczepanek]

I'm glad you stumbled here, Yuliasha!

[@kakan147]

Beautiful performance, beautiful arrangement. Bravo!!

[@CharlesSzczepanek]

Thanks so much!

[@michaelkraft218]

Exquisite. I really felt like I was listening to Sensuround on the big screen. Love your dynamics and key changes and delicate notes.

[@CharlesSzczepanek]

Thanks so much, Michael!

[@jmopiano]

Love this!! I just uploaded my version of this cover on my channel, but I wish I had stuck to a more traditional cover. You did a superb job!!

[@CharlesSzczepanek]

Jon Michael Ogletree thanks!!

[@soniabooquareyes9192]

Just divine Charles!!!!

[@CharlesSzczepanek]

Thank you, Sonia!

[@scorpion9248]

At 1st… I was like wtf!! Timing issues all over the place but then I realized… This is a live performance and your dynamics are unbelievable! I actually fell back in love with this piece! Thank you so much for this! Your amazing!

[@CharlesSzczepanek]

Thanks, scorpion! And thanks for taking the time to comment!

[@Markovic_Seka]

Soul emotion ! Thanks

[@CharlesSzczepanek]

Thank you!

[@tonykulikovsky]

Very nicely played, soothing and relaxing

[@CharlesSzczepanek]

Thanks, Tony!

[@briancurtis1384]

Wow this is truly amazing. you r so talented

[@CharlesSzczepanek]

Thanks, Brian! I'm glad you liked it!

[@leocremonezi]

Amazing 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@CharlesSzczepanek]

Thank you, Leonardo!

[@SteveBonomolo]

Bravo, maestro ! Way to go, Sir. Charles…

[@CharlesSzczepanek]

Thanks, Steve! Missing ya in Colorado!

[@alattinates4287]

My God thats so good, thank you for This one😢

[@CharlesSzczepanek]

Thank you, Alattin!

[@1984aok]

Amazing thankyou

[@CharlesSzczepanek]

Thanks for watching!

[@peechykern9705]

Charles, what a talent you are. Really enjoyed this! Just beautiful. Thanks for posting!!!!

[@CharlesSzczepanek]

Thanks for listening, Peechy!

[@peechykern9705]

@@CharlesSzczepanek The pleasure was all mine Charles! Are you classically trained if I may ask? I watched your hands closely, you have excellent technique (not that I’m in anyway judging you or anyone else, it’s more admiration!)

[@CharlesSzczepanek]

@@peechykern9705 Yes, I am! I did both my Bachelor's and Master's degrees in classical piano performance!

[@vonianascimento7329]

Thank you. 👏

[@CharlesSzczepanek]

Thanks for listening, Vonia!

[@atsuko.k.2470]

Just beautiful ,,, elegant and witty , classical ,,, much more color of music. I am lucky for find you Thank you so much ❤️‍🩹🎹

[@CharlesSzczepanek]

Thank you, Atsuko!

[@firefoxpaolo9248]

Bellissima armonizzazione, bravissimo!

[@CharlesSzczepanek]

Thanks, Paolo!

[@oldcornerSE]

I need my weekly dose of Charles piano :)

[@CharlesSzczepanek]

Haha, thanks Jo Mo!

[@sebastiansfeir3185]

Perfecto!!!! Saludos desde Argentina!!!!

[@CharlesSzczepanek]

Thank you, Sebastian! Greetings from Colorado, USA!

[@renatopizzingrilli7840]

Ciao😊 sei un grandissimo genio ❤

[@oridoron7]

Wow!

[@CharlesSzczepanek]

Thanks, Ori!

[@pepper3110]

Brilliantly arranged and played!

[@CharlesSzczepanek]

Thanks Pepper! BTW, love your user pic! Huge Trekkie here!

[@pepper3110]

@@CharlesSzczepanek Live long and prosper (and keep on playing piano!)

[@CharlesSzczepanek]

@@pepper3110 haha, thanks! and good luck on your kobayashi maru!

[@musicplusperlitafrago7400]

I will share this with my FB friends.🙂🎶

[@mattfriel2724]

Bravo.

[@CharlesSzczepanek]

Thank you, Matt!

[@betaniafranklinmelo8715]

Beautifulll 🌷👏👏👏👏👏👏👏🇧🇷

[@CharlesSzczepanek]

Thank you, Betania!

[@MPM-73]

Fantastic 👍😎

[@CharlesSzczepanek]

Thanks, Matthias!

[@Francisco-wu8xy]

Very good i like it❤

[@CharlesSzczepanek]

Thanks, Francisco!

[@fabiencourtoistapping]

great !!!!!!!!!!!!

[@CharlesSzczepanek]

Thank you, Fabien!

[@contributor7219]

I'm a huge fan of Rachmaninov's exaggerated rubato when he performed his own piano compositions. Normally I'm not a fan of playing or listening to contemporary music, but I love your Rachmaninov-esque rubato and the way it brings your arrangement to life. Utterly gorgeous - Bravo! I might have to buy myself a copy of your arrangement I think.

[@CharlesSzczepanek]

Thanks! Yes, I really prefer music that ebbs and flows. If you listen to the great pianists of the 20th and 21st centuries, I think most of them play with at least some of that Russian influence, even Rubenstein from time to time. Also, a whole slew of my own teachers were Russian or Eastern European.

[@contributor7219]

@@CharlesSzczepanek I agree completely about the Russian influence on expressivity. My teachers were Eastern European too and I credit their teaching with my appreciation of performances like yours.

[@moniquedandoy212]

Vous me faites rêver, je vous adore

[@CharlesSzczepanek]

Thank you, Monique!! Glad you enjoyed this!

[@jimmylee2211]

Very good... Nice play

[@CharlesSzczepanek]

Thanks, Jim!

[@starsailorhd]

너무 좋다...

[@CharlesSzczepanek]

Thanks! Glad you are seeing more around the channel!

[@sethmedina6451]

5:07-5:33 is my favorite part. Just beautiful

[@CharlesSzczepanek]

Thanks, Seth! That's one of my fav's too!

[@kellycoleman715]

Very nice! 👏🏻👍🏻

[@CharlesSzczepanek]

Thanks so much, Kelly!

[@kellycoleman715]

@@CharlesSzczepanek I am a new fan of your music. Your talent is amazing and I can tell you out a lot of hours into your playing and writing.

[@CharlesSzczepanek]

@@kellycoleman715 Yay! Thanks so much. I hope to continue to see you in the comments around the channel!

[@martinakovacova8968]

Super. :)

[@CharlesSzczepanek]

Thank you!

[@Housebeast]

Really strong emotional and deeply Heart wounded :*

[@CharlesSzczepanek]

Germano Masculus thank you! Glad you like it!

[@andersonaiquipahuamani9070]

Tenías muchas canciones :) Pero esta será la indicada para ti mi buen amigo. Tony...ahora estas en un lugar maravilloso.

[@CharlesSzczepanek]

Thanks for listening, and I'm so sorry for your loss!

[@MarianoStatelloPiano]

amazing! we are listening with my 1 year old baby!

[@CharlesSzczepanek]

Mariano Statello thank you! And awesome to share music with someone so young!

[@gillianbrant304]

Charles, you are an amazing pianist. Loved the arrangement, so much feeling and emotion put into it. You have such a bright future. What software are you using for the music?

[@CharlesSzczepanek]

Gillian Brant thanks! Love that you always come back for all of the new songs I release! I’m using forScore for iPad with a Bluetooth foot pedal to turn pages!

[@edstud1]

Nice arrangement!

[@CharlesSzczepanek]

Thanks, and thanks for finding your way around the channel! I hope to continue to see you around!

[@edstud1]

@@CharlesSzczepanek I will!

[@knabljohann9710]

Thank you

[@knabljohann9710]

♥️

[@CharlesSzczepanek]

Thanks for watching!

[@fulcherpj]

Sounds good! What size Mason and Hamlin piano is this?

[@CharlesSzczepanek]

Thanks! It's a BB (7') built in 2012 with the WNG carbon fiber action. Such a beautiful instrument!

[@Culture_888]

Wow.... Truly beautiful. I couldn't help but notice the pages were turning by itself- what software is that? I have never seen it before.

[@CharlesSzczepanek]

JC Kret thank you!! Glad you enjoyed it! I have a Bluetooth pedal on the floor that you can’t see in the video. I can turn back and forth with that. Software is forScore for iPad!

[@CharlesSzczepanek]

@@dannyweiss9701 It's a must have for any musician these days! I was surprised how well this one (and also Pure Imagination live) have done on KZbin. I was expecting a single camera angle with no movement to not be all that interesting to most viewers, but I started to put out the live content for the fans that like a lot of stuff. But then, this video started to take off and it's actually my 3rd best performing video every day. Here I was thinking that I needed to shoot everything like Schindler's List to get views, and then this happened. It really made me think that shooting in the studio with just a few angles would be just fine! It also proves to me that despite my work, I still have no idea what the KZbin algorithm likes and doesn't haha!

[@dannyweiss9701]

@@CharlesSzczepanek together, we'll figure it out, my friend...I'm ALL IN, with helping your channel to Take Flight !!I love your work, and your playing...and I learned a new phrase from one of your other followers..perhaps you used the phrasewith him or her, EBB and FLOW...another way of saying push and pull and how that style originates from the Russian greats, and our Eastern European pianists and teachers, which I think you said, where the type you learned from....I think i need to move to Russia..lol..Oh my, how i love that style..too me, it makes the instrument, and the performance...taking both to a much higher plain....transcending all others...IMHO

[@CharlesSzczepanek]

@@dannyweiss9701 Thanks!! Oh yes, while my main teachers were American, one of them spent a little time studying with Horowitz, and nearly all of my 'summer' teachers or masterclasses were with Russian, Georgian, or Ukrainian pianists.

[@paulvannessspianoworld1724]

Very nice arrangement, and beautiful playing. The piano i⁹s obviously a Mason & Hamlin. I feel that it is too bright, and the strike point is "off" in the high treble. Not unusual. I am both a pro pianist and a concert technician. I also worked for M&H years ago and own

[@CharlesSzczepanek]

Thanks for the comment! Do you know Kirk Burgett? It's always hard to tell what someone means by "bright" in the context of tone. I've heard people call NY Steinway "bright" when I think it's incredibly dark usually. And I typically think of Hamburg Steinway as bright, but I've heard others say dark... The Hamburg tone that I've experienced is typically my favorite. I've played 4 in various parts of the US and to me they are usually the best of the "American" sound paired with the "purity" of the European sound. That said, I'm actually endorsed by Mason & Hamlin, but I've yet to be able to afford either a new BB or new CC! I'd be interested to hear your take on my current home studio instrument which is a modified Kawai RX 5. Last year, we put on Renner Blue Point hammers with WNG shanks and flanges. You can take a listen here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/innHZGmho5etlZI. This was recorded after about 4-6 months of playing the hammers in.

[@bobjoe7505]

I love your music, especially your cover of dance monkey and I'll be buying the music sheet for it. I really hope you blow up on youtube! ps also hoping you do a cover of run by joji!! Best of luck!!

[@CharlesSzczepanek]

Thanks Bob! I'll check out Run and see what's up. Glad to see you hanging around the channel!

[@isaacparra2071]

◑ 🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊 ◐

[@CharlesSzczepanek]

Thanks, Isaac!

[@CatHarington]

too fasst for my taste

[@CharlesSzczepanek]

Sorry that it's too quick for you, Cat!

[@CatHarington]

@@CharlesSzczepanek wow, that's pretty rude... The beginning was a bit fast... I didn't say that it was horrible or something... It was pretty good actually...

[@CharlesSzczepanek]

@@CatHarington it was a sincere apology for it not being to your taste. I hope that’s not rude... Didn’t mean it that way.

[@lenghea]

Beautiful arrangement with only caveat the tempo… it should be played much much slower.

[@CharlesSzczepanek]

Thanks, lenghea! I’m only maybe about 5bpm faster than the original soundtrack, so I might have played it slower without the adrenaline of having an audience, but I can’t imagine it any slower than the original!

[@OmluTerong]

You are an amazing pianist.It's very beautiful.But you know what, from the side you look like Theodore Herzl.Founder of Modern Day Zionism.Around hundred years ago, He tried to buy Jerusalem from The Last Sultan of Ottoman Empire, Sultan Abdul Hamid The Second.No offense.

[@CharlesSzczepanek]

Haha, none taken. I'll have to look up a pic of Theodore!