Коробейники sight-read & improvised from a lead sheet by Tom Brier
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- Опубликовано: 22 сен 2011
- Sometimes called by the incipit "Коробушка" (Korobushka), this folk song (romanized "Korobeiniki") dates from the 1860s, though most people know of it from its use as the "Tetris A Theme" nearly 130 years later.
Here, Tom reads a simple lead sheet (just the melody line with the chord names written on top) and embellishes it into different styles, including changing the rhythm to 3/4 and 5/4.
The lead sheet Tom is reading from can be downloaded here: www.rmda.us/music.htm
Of course, you game fans may notice that the version in Tetris was in A minor, so this performance may sound flat to you as the lead sheet is in G minor (which is how Tom "runs out of keyboard" at the end since the lowest note on a standard piano is an A, so he can't hit that low G he wants).
The lyrics of the song are quite suggestive, about a peddler trying to peddle his wares to a girl who is not willing to pay the price at first. At least, that's what they mean at face value, but the implication of what the "wares" are and the "price" he wants her to pay is quite evident.
Anyway, sorry about laughing so much during the video. I hate doing that, but just couldn't help it! 
Видеоклипы
Who else is watching old tom brier vids to pass the time while he heals up, because you just know that no one can possibly match his skill in improvising or sight-reading songs on piano, so watching others perform Briers songs aren’t good enough for you?
ayy lmao me is
Me
Me ._.
wait, what happened to him?
@@Proki3012 Duuude wtf. Thats so horrible, poor tom :(
thanks for the answer dude, ill pray for his best wellbeing too
My Russian soul is satisfied like never before.
Алексей Федосеев I’m not even Russian and this is satisfying
Some
Алексей Федосеев I'm not Russian, but same.
@@coolguy-cd3fw Whole
@@thekarnyx Rye
This man is beyond absurd in the best way possible. As someone who took piano lessons for years, what he’s doing is extremely difficult and borderline savant status. You don’t get this exceptional by practice alone. This man was born with a gift. Bravo!
He has described music as like a language to him, because of having learned it at such a young age. So to improvise on a piece while reading it is just like reading a sentence in a super dramatic way or something. I also have videos of him just making up new music off the top of his head (tdub1941 has a couple as well). Look up "brier improvisation" or "brier makin' it up" and you should find a few different ones. He also makes up new strains to complement a single-strain piece, "Minato Mura".
This reply is 10 years late, but here's my 2 cents anywho... I know a lovely older lady who played piano for church but I don't think she once played exactly what was on the page. Instead, she'd riff of the main melody, futz around, fiddle and have a little fun. She was a joy to listen to; I'd sit next to her while she played and try to guess what would come next (I play piano too). She called it "gingerbread", this sort of playful and interpretive approach to a piece of music, and it reveals so much of the player's personality. I really adore all the gingerbread Tom's got going on in his playing.
"please do not allow children play on piano"
Note: Please Do Not Allow Children To Play On Piano
I find this insulting I would maple leaf rag the everloving sh*t out of them if I saw that
I'm pretty sure they mean 3 years old who don't know what the hell they're doing so they're smashing the keys randomly.
does 'play piano' mean a different thing from 'play ON piano'? I'm not english speaker though
There is a difference. To play piano means to play it like it in the video, but to *play on the piano* means to mess around and not be careful.
There certainly are others who can improvise off a lead sheet (jazz musicians), though Tom is pretty exceptional at it. He also has an uncanny ability to read a fully scored piece and play with embellishment the first time through. It's not unheard of, but there certainly aren't many people today who get that kind of training from a young enough age to do it that well. I've even seen Tom read things in one key but play them in another.
I love how at first he's getting in touch with the foundation of the tune, then it's like his processors boot up and he just goes.
A "lead sheet" would just have the melody without any of the left hand or improvisations -- basically what he was reading from. A full score of what he played... well... good luck transcribing it!
That person will not be me. I would try to play it.
Wish the piano had a MIDI reader then we might be able to see what he played.
@@GabrielJ.Fontenot The performance has been transcribed. www.keeper1st.com/music/tomkoro.pdf
@@happypiano4810 Then you're in luck. www.keeper1st.com/music/tomkoro.pdf
@@Keeper1st How is Tom Brier doing? I heard he is now in physical therapy?
I downloaded the partition and there is 2 easy lines. He just improvised from that ? This is the most amazing thing I've seen on a piano with la campanella.
+Ced c Yes. This later video shows what he was reading versus what he actually played (one of my subscribers transcribed his performance): ruclips.net/video/2YoFYac4NII/видео.html
thanks
And since you seem to answer comments, maybe you should look into a ragtime of Monkey island the theme song, or eternal harvest from final fantasy, although I don't feel like Eternal harvest would be great for a rag.
+Ced c +keeper1st Would love the Monkey Island theme!
Why why why why why why why why why is he so amazing?
+Perfected Storm Because of Training + Pure Talent :D
Sayed Fathee and a sexy beard
Tom Brier's neckbeard is the only acceptable neckbeard.
He learned before he was able to read probably so music is kind of a language for him
@@vincentmaltais507 wow that's amazing I never thought about it that way. So everytime I hear a new melody or rhythm in my head it's like I'm thinking in music? I'm definitely raising my kid to read music and play piano off the jump
The original Tetris came out in 1986. This improvisation is a true gem, with my favorite part being the 5/4, the incorporation of a short segment from Liszt's 2nd Hungarian Rhapsody also being very attractive; however the ending is a true showing of humour
Marco Melanson I must be deaf - I'm looking for the bit from Hungarian Rhapsody no. 2, and I just can't find it! Could you point it out for me?
Schlomo Finkelsteinmenngerschter It's in the left hand starting at 3:05
Marco Melanson As soon as I heard it I went *silent and low toned* OOOOOOOH and I got some really nice chills
Marco Melanson It came out in 1984.
It was 1984.
A criminally underrated man.
This man, either super-talented, insane, or just fucking amazing at piano.
+matt pink Or all the above XD
@@chibinekogirl101 haha that's exactly what I was thinking
100% dedication to his art, and genius produces these results.
Yes
Never apologize for laughing. You're there to have fun. Besides, it helps us musically less literate see where tom does something clever!
(and us musically literate too)
And it's nice for the musically literate to laugh along with Keeper when he does. LOL
Absolutely incredible, I have never seen (or heard) a better version of this song. I like to "play around" with songs on the piano and sometimes I get stuck and I think: "well there is nothing else I can add to this". These 6 minutes just made me realize how wrong I am and how many different possibilities there are to play any piece.
Thank you for posting the video.
I sometimes wonder how people like this sleep at night... It must be impossible to turn off the music!
people may think that but it kinda soothes the mind. I've played piano for about 5 years and thinking about how songs go actually helps me sleep.
Alan Estes unprofessional singer and whistler here... I really like ragtime myself, especially 1910s vocal ragtime, and I’m always listening to music. A lot of the time it’s in my head and sometimes I sing or whistle to let it out lol
@@BWHW1977
Would you consider a whistle version of Manuel de Falla's "Ritual Fire Dance", from 1915?
My minds ear never stops, and I have tinnitus. I manage.
Just sleep with it on.
How about giving more Russian folk songs to him like Kalinka or Katyusha?
I second this request.
All we can request of Tom now is that he survives. He was critically injured in a traffic accident this past weekend and is in a medically induced coma.
Keeper1st
Oh no, I had no idea. D: I hope he gets better. Traffic accidents are awful.
oh shoot, this is horrible... I hope gets better soon. :(
***** Tom's brother writes about Tom in this blog: www.caringbridge.org/visit/tombrier/journal
wow, his improv is so amazingly fluid, like the song has always been played that way. then your brain kicks in and says "no, no, those are new notes being added."
this channel is worth its weight in gold!
So, it's not worth that much? Data on the internet is pretty lightweight, especially something as small as a channel :P
*Plutonium
The Man In The Void As I recall plutonium has a negative market value, as storage costs are high and almost everyone tries to get rid of it.
Andreas Aristokrates not the Libyans
1.21 gigawatts!
i need tom back in my life
The version in Tetris is in a different key, and it itself is an arrangement of the original, so the melody is not exactly as it appears on the lead sheet of the original song that I gave to Tom, but it's still quite recognizable. Of course he's making up things throughout the video; it's only a lead sheet so it requires you to make stuff up in order to play it.
Tom is the best rag time player I've ever heard and is my favorite. I love his playing dearly. Thank you for documenting him. I hope he is hearing music in his head wherever and however he is.
Can he turn water into wine??
Tevin Behrens don't think he's Jesus
He's way beyond Jesus.
Into vodka.
Tevin Behrens And walk on it, too?
I believe it's vodka sir
Ну наконец-то нормальный кавер. А то все делают, но либо мало силы, напористости, либо еще теряют другие детали. А должно быть торжественно и лихо!
Досмотрел до конца. Это не то, что лучший кавер, это гениально!
I've listened to this more than 1000 times over the past 10 years. Miss you so much, Tom.
Very good improvisation! Russian guy approve)
Very good folk music, American guy approve.
"Very good" is a little understatement, really. It's a miracle.
@@jb_1971 You mean “It’s miracle”.
@@vuffovuffoni2691 Isn't "miracle" countable?
@@jb_1971 Yes, but Russian doesn't approve of article.
These are under apreciated gems, deserving of billion views each!!! Ending is so funny!!
Theres no Piano player in exsistance like Tom
I just dream of tapping into Toms consiousness from a multi verse, listening to him continue playing, playing instead of a mer dozen gems a I have rewatched million times... actual 10,000 videos of him improve all the most charming video game & movie theme ect... tunes ever
Exactly! This man is a Bach, a musical genius of our generation and he went completely underappreciated. I just hope more people find his stuff
i am so impressed and satisfied with this
You'll find here a theme and 12 variations. Also variation #5 is in 5/4 time. I'm calling genius on this one. The guy worked a full time job as a software engineer. What a treasure. Crying shame we've lost him. If there's anyone else been caught on film operating at this kind of level, please link.
We haven't lost him -- just his physical abilities.
He changes the rhythm to 5/4? What a madman...
Tom, you are the best pianist I have probably ever seen. Sure, anybody could sit down, practice for a little while and play a song, maybe even sight read it, but you are really good at improving after looking at a sheet for next to no time :)
This is amazing. The complexity of the left hand part, considering he improvised it is astounding. Some bits sound like folk, others like Bach. I don't think most people could get near this quality, even if they spent a year arranging it.
Aboslutly. There's just no way any living pianist can do anything similar.
@@bencarter8324 Agreed, nobody that I have heard does it like this, Tom is unique. I've really got into Kristen Mosca rag music. She does some great original stuff and arrangements, but not making it up like this on the spot, it's astounding. Such a great loss to the world that Tom had his accident.
@@PreservationEnthusiast I discoved Ragtime through Kristen Mosca's videos as a middle schooler. I then discovered Tom about a year later. Tom's abilites are/were so intensely impressive I've been amazed since. I think this video is the best example of Tom's improv, and you're aboslutely right saying a composer would struggle to create something similar even given a months.
I even struggle just trying to learn it lol. It’s crazy to think how he came up with (mostly) all of this on the spot
Truly it only got better and better! 🎉🎉🎉 Thank you Tom for this talent ❤
amazing talent. 18th century would have been a composer like handel, 19th century a rock star like liszt, 20th century in vegas like liberace, 21st century a youtube oddity
I am a sucker for russian music, this is hands down the best music I've ever heard. There is just no way for me to linguistically explain how hard this music hits me.
this music hits u as hard as my dad does to me
@@scrotie4198 tetris
"Please Do Not Allow Children To Play On Piano"
This video is amazing. They way Tom creates a whole piece out of seemingly one page of sheet music is absolutely insane. I can only wish to play as good as him, let alone be able to compose anything this quick. Best of luck to Tom, I hope he gets to play again one day.
Rock'n'roll started from 2:19, and especially those bass things.. epic) cheers from Moscow ;)
Where skill, effort, and pure genius meet
Definitely some of the best improvisation I've ever heard, great job Tom
"I'm epic win"
Yup that's definitely 2011.
tom is a true genuius! this video blew me away! there is no other like him!!!
this is absolutely beautiful to hear.
J'ai du voir cette video ded centaines de fois et toujours le même résultat, impressionnant ce type à un don savant
3:25 that left hand is amazing
I've been playing this song (from time to time) for about 3 years now, and I still cannot come even close to that Tom casually did at once, it's just astonishing
i simply cannot believe that some ppl are this much talented - stuff like this are literaly godlike - you simply have to be insanely talented and dedicated to be able to pull off something like this - as a former pianist im in real awe of this improvisation.
I come here once in a while and each time is like the first time I'm hearing it.
Not only this is the best version I've heard of this sound, he's also improvising it. That's some super human shit.
im just gonna call this guy “piano jesus” from here on.
Thanks. It's fascinating to hear how Tom worked those East European and Russian melodies into that; even the Tchaikovsky/Rachmaninov ending. Beautiful and highly amusing. ;-)
We hope that Tom will be able to return to similar standards of playing one day. 👏 👏 👏 👍 👋
Tom, you created a real masterpiece!
Awesome ending as well!
The fact that he VERBALLY RECOGNIZES that this is a folk song and not just a game theme
I appreciate that so much omg
People who can enjoy his playing on a regular basis are so blessed.
The place and ambience is way better than any concert hall, fits perfectly.
I've been playing the piano for over 20 years, but when I see Tom do stuff like this it just baffles me. I wish I could reach the tips cup from over here!
This is genius level improvization
I'm still getting my weekly dose of Tom Brier, while I'm binge watching piano videos early or late in the day.
Tom Brier?
Korobeiniki?
AM I IN HEAVEN THIS IS LITERALLY PERFECT
what an absolute legend. this was epic and super impressive!
Honestly, this is probably my favourite one so far.
Casually turns Tetris into a rag
A good improvisation is one you can jam to without having heard it beforehand
This is perfection.
I can't even play these songs and he can sight read and improvise on the spot. I wonder how many hundreds of hours he has played
Tom casually playing while he's chatting to you are little details that make watching these absolutely amazing to watch for years just for all the small details.
Simply amazing. There are some people who really impress me with their talents.
This man certainly is one of them.
GoldenNorway1 Same here.
This man has spontaneous creativity! Absolutely brilliant!
And this my friends, is what inspired me to play the piano about 3 or 4 years ago, because of this man right here, at that time, I am now a self-taught pianist.
I've watched this video and your other videos over and over again and I'm still amazed and speechless. You are definitely one of the most amazing pianists I've ever seen. Keep up the good work! :D
This is the best piano player i have ever seen!! Keep up the good work
"rEALLyH?" I love that _really_
Tom is just such a perfect soul. I am in awe of his talent but it's the snippets of just him before and after playing that makes me so desperately sad about his current condition.
God bless Tom Brier and may he recover fully to bless our ears with his incredible, once in a lifetime talent on the piano✊
This man is unbelievable, I love Tom since I discovered him on your channel, hope to hear good news soon
You can really tell he had a ton of fun with this one
Супер. Отличная импровизация на тему Коробейники (Коробочка).
Updated the link... found the original lead sheet that I gave to Tom, even, so it's an even better link as now you can see exactly what he was reading.
3:05
A little Hungarian Rhapsody?
Silavite nope. Not at all
Wrong. Most definitely there is a little Hungarian Rhapsody in there.
If you saying about Franz's piece, you are right.
The Coding Composer That’s definitely a reference to Hungarian Rhapsody 2
I also noticed some Rachmaninoff-esque thing in there, a bit more subtle perhaps, but I felt it was there
If there's one thing I never get tired of, it's how he never just ends a song. It makes for the funniest song endings I've ever heard.
0:09 I love the 🎵Really?🎵
Get well soon Tom 😥
I'm sad to run into this in 2020 knowing this man's a literal God on tickling ivories. I could've used this when I still wanted to pursue music
This guy is legendary
This may very well be the most beautiful thing I've ever heard.
Imagine being able to improvise songs in 5/4 time while sight reading it. Absolutely legendary.
I'd do damn near anything to hear this guy do "Vampire Killer" from Castlevania.
Back again, this is still something I'd say is one in a million. You'd have to parse through one million people, if not more, just to find the sheer talent alone to do something like this, and then you'd have to parse through another 3 million to find the talent and the *ability* of a person to do what Tom Brier could do.
thx for uploading and sharing all these awesome songs with us!!!
keep on filming^^
This is just the best ragtime i've ever heard. It is so sad that he isn't able anymore to play the piano due to the car crash that happened to him
What a legend
I'm very impressed with Tom's skill!
Every time I come back to this video I’m more impressed.
How did I know this was going to be the iconic Tetris A Theme when I saw the title of the musical piece in question? 😜
My jaw is on the floor.
thats awesome this is Tetris on lvl 100
He is incredible, incredibly incredible... I can believe there are other talented people but that does not disminishes his own in any way. He is skilled and well deserving admiration!
Spoken like a true artist, this improvisation is a masterpiece by the way.
Thanks for uploading this I really enjoyed it :D
Waltz and Ragtime, from a single sheet he improvised off of. I swear there was some Jazz to that as well if im not mistaken.
These videos are so much fun!
my my! can't even imagine THAT many ways of playing tetris. Tom is incredible as usual)
Well, it never can be completely tuned as some of the pegs don't work anymore... Right now (not when this video was recorded, but the ones I've been posting in the past couple weeks and will be posting in the next few weeks) it's missing a few strings as well. The A-flat above Middle C has only one string now, which I found very disconcerting when I played it! It will have new strings before the festival in August, I'm told.