people are as different as these variations - still they all follow the same theme and therefore they are united and will never be defeated. what a great piece of music
I first heard these many years ago in a small room in Huddersfield (not long after they were written) performed by Rzewski himself. An experience I will never forget. When the recording (Ursula Oppens) came out it did not leave my turntable for a week. A magnificent piece. Rzewski is one of the great composers of our time. Greatly missed. RIP
Is it entirely improvised, as in, live without prior preparation? Otherwise my understanding was that cadenzas could be otherwise thought-out by the performer and written into score for later performance.
@@__-fu5se don’t know if it was improvised, but it seems to just by listening to it. In any case, if we assume he followed the score, it says that the cadenza has to be improvised. Insane either way😮
@@__-fu5se Almost definitely worked out beforehand, I mean it makes sense. But the freedom is there to improvise it if you feel confident enough, some people would.
@@__-fu5se Can't confirm there was no prep or at least multiple takes but in his live performance the cadenza is completely different: Would ruclips.net/video/_OBeb694QII/видео.html&ab_channel=AprilYu
Hamelin's cadenza is WILD, it's amazing how much he captures Rzewski's sound. It doesn't just sound like an amazing pianist shredding, he's truly improvising on some of the super complex ideas in the piece, it's so far beyond what even some great improvisers could do!
He also has an amazing piano-player piece called 'circus gallop' which is quiet enjoyable even if it requires post-human playing capabilities. It only makes me wonder why mr. Hamelin doesn't compose music of his own since he clearly is very capable of it.
@@__-fu5se some of his compositions: 12 etudes in all the minor keys Pavane variée Variations on a theme of Paganini My feelings about chocolate Etude no.1 (bumblebee) Nokia waltz Cadenza for Hungarian rhapsody no.2 Minute waltz in seconds Cathy's variations Circus galop Corale transcription Toccata l'homme armée
In my view, these are the greatest piano variations ever written (Godowsky's variations on a theme by Schubert deserve silver medal). The composer was a civic-minded man who rose his voice against tyranny.
I think it’s tough to definitively say what the best variations ever are, but I do feel confident saying that these, Godowsky’s Passacaglia, the Goldberg variations and the Diabelli variations are the gold standards. They stand in a class of their own compared to all the others. Also, it’s incredible how politically relevant this piece is today 🇺🇦
@@dreamsdreams9493 Yes, the Reger variations are great too, but I actually think I like Brahms' Paganini variations the best out of his several sets. I suppose I also neglected the Schumann Ghost Variations - those are so tragic but touching and charming at the same time
I knew Frederic when I was a student at the State University of Buffalo. He was teaching composition there and I was studying piano with Yvar Mikhashoff. He was an extraordinarily gifted musician and fabulous company. Great sense of humour.
It is a flabbergasting, spellbinding work, floating between Keith Jarrett's 'Köln Concerto',Rachmaninov and Shostakovitch' piano works and Henri Pousseur-(who was a huge admirer of this work)-like avant garde. And Hamelin is of course amazing, the piano almost exploding in his own cadenza.
Dave Hurwitz mentioned this in '10 Masterpieces of the late 20th Century'. Wow, was he spot-on! From the very first note, my jaw dropped a few inches, haha. Wonderful!
I agree: these variations belong in the pantheon of "greatest sets of variations". You mentioned the Bach Goldberg and the Beethoven Diabelli variations; I would include Schumann's "Symphonic Variations", op. 13, Brahms' "Variations on a Theme of Handel" and his two books of Paganini Variations, the Copland Variations and Rachmaninov's "Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini". A developing composer would really benefit from studying Rzewski's variations to learn how to bring out maximum tonal color from a piano. There is a person on RUclips who absolutely *worships* the music of Sorabji. While taking nothing away from anyone who can actually play Sorabji, I would argue that Rzewski is *far and away* better music, and every bit as difficult to play as Sorabji.
Lmao you’re talking about toothless toe aren’t you. He knows how to get under people’s skin. I also wouldn’t forget about Alkan’s variation (Le Festin)
20th century masterpiece, I hope your posting will be a discovery for music lovers and pianists alike. I had a Wigmore Hall ticket to see Hamelin play it three years ago which was cancelled because of covid, I was gutted!
@@supasayajinsongoku4464 I know this is kind of a go-to answer for classical piano enthusiasts, but Prokofiev's Piano Concerto No. 3 because of the vigorous coda
What a great recording of what is one of (if not the) best compositions of the 20th century. Thanks a ton for this upload, Hamelin is amazing (as usual); and RIP Rzewski, he had an incredibly inventive and poignant mind!!!
Truly incredible stuff...I've been listening to this over and over again. If you had to choose a portion of these variations for a performance and didn't have time (or the ability perhaps) to learn all of them---which would you pick? I'm finding it very difficult to keep the list down. They are all so fantastic
My first time hearing this composition. That was INCREDIBLE! Thank you for sharing! Truly a classic and beautiful set of piano variations right up there with Bach's Goldberg Variations and Beethoven's Diabelli Variations.
they are miles better if we were to put them side by side and ask an honest question, "which is a better, more representative art?" However, most people will prefer the former as it dosent confront nearly as many different styles as this piece so brilliantly does, so one can understand why people would rather something else other then what this piece offers, but as i have said before, there is no doubt this is better art
00:16 Theme: With determination 01:37 Var. I Weaving, delicate but firm 02:28 Var. II With firmness 09:33 Var. IX Evenly 13:34 Var. XIII q = 72 30:21 Var. XXVI In a militant manner 32:39 Var. XXVII Tenderly, and with a hopeful expression [Cadenza] 37:02 Var. XXVIII q = 160 38:21 Var. XXIX q = 144-152 41:32 Var. XXXI (q = 160) 54:32 Theme
C'est une œuvre MAJEURE, trop peu jouée, Merci Hamelin ! Cela me fait penser que les compositeurs sont faignants , au regard de Rzewski ! Et les pianistes de même, en comparaison de Hamelin ! Quelle beauté, quelle imagination !
The beginning and main theme is a melody from polish prewar Drunken Tango ("Piłem, kto mówi że nie piłem? Butelkę wytrąbiłem!" - I drank, who says I didn't? All bottle!) with melody from "Esta noche me emborracho". Very usefull for unification and solidarity.
I see you on literally every video, even your own channel. I am just surprised how you and I seem to visit the same videos?! Oh and for your question…just make them listen again and again or give up.
@@supasayajinsongoku4464 Scriabin Sonata 8 is good. Protopopv sonata 3 is good. Feinberg sonata 3 is good. Anything on the MusicForever60 channel is good.
Well, I has incredibly unique form, also unique harmonic language, really developed texture and such. Imho it's one of the best variation pieces there are
I don't think the pandemic really united us much. With the whole mask vs no-mask and vaccine vs antivaxx stuff, we only got pulled farther apart. Unless you are referring to something else?
people are as different as these variations - still they all follow the same theme and therefore they are united and will never be defeated. what a great piece of music
Wow, never though of it like this!
Great way to put it!
I first heard these many years ago in a small room in Huddersfield (not long after they were written) performed by Rzewski himself. An experience I will never forget. When the recording (Ursula Oppens) came out it did not leave my turntable for a week. A magnificent piece. Rzewski is one of the great composers of our time. Greatly missed. RIP
My professor played this for us back in 1988 and the tune has stayed with me ever since-wow!
The improvised cadenza is insane! Hamelin is a real musician, not just a super virtuoso.
Is it entirely improvised, as in, live without prior preparation? Otherwise my understanding was that cadenzas could be otherwise thought-out by the performer and written into score for later performance.
@@__-fu5se don’t know if it was improvised, but it seems to just by listening to it. In any case, if we assume he followed the score, it says that the cadenza has to be improvised. Insane either way😮
@@__-fu5se Almost definitely worked out beforehand, I mean it makes sense. But the freedom is there to improvise it if you feel confident enough, some people would.
kinda unrelated but whats the most exciting piano piece you've heard this year?
@@__-fu5se Can't confirm there was no prep or at least multiple takes but in his live performance the cadenza is completely different: Would ruclips.net/video/_OBeb694QII/видео.html&ab_channel=AprilYu
RIP a great artist
Hamelin???
Nvm I am dumb.
That sudden black screen at the end of the video was just perfect. What a wild ride this piece is.
Dude, you did an amazing work. RIP Frederic Rzewski.
Hamelin's cadenza is WILD, it's amazing how much he captures Rzewski's sound. It doesn't just sound like an amazing pianist shredding, he's truly improvising on some of the super complex ideas in the piece, it's so far beyond what even some great improvisers could do!
He also has an amazing piano-player piece called 'circus gallop' which is quiet enjoyable even if it requires post-human playing capabilities. It only makes me wonder why mr. Hamelin doesn't compose music of his own since he clearly is very capable of it.
@@__-fu5se He does compose music of his own: see his etudes!
@@__-fu5se some of his compositions:
12 etudes in all the minor keys
Pavane variée
Variations on a theme of Paganini
My feelings about chocolate
Etude no.1 (bumblebee)
Nokia waltz
Cadenza for Hungarian rhapsody no.2
Minute waltz in seconds
Cathy's variations
Circus galop
Corale transcription
Toccata l'homme armée
@@tommasozucol4160 godowsky study no44a (incomplete) i think, completed by Hamelin
@@arno_grnfld455 thanks!!! Didn't know about that one
In my view, these are the greatest piano variations ever written (Godowsky's variations on a theme by Schubert deserve silver medal). The composer was a civic-minded man who rose his voice against tyranny.
I think it’s tough to definitively say what the best variations ever are, but I do feel confident saying that these, Godowsky’s Passacaglia, the Goldberg variations and the Diabelli variations are the gold standards. They stand in a class of their own compared to all the others. Also, it’s incredible how politically relevant this piece is today 🇺🇦
@@jackcurley1591
Don't forget Brahms' Handel Variations and Reger's Bach Variations.
@@dreamsdreams9493 Yes, the Reger variations are great too, but I actually think I like Brahms' Paganini variations the best out of his several sets. I suppose I also neglected the Schumann Ghost Variations - those are so tragic but touching and charming at the same time
Don’t forget Sorabji’s Sequentia Cyclica! Though this one indeed has more meaning behind it
I can certainly tell you I don't agree with that view.
I knew Frederic when I was a student at the State University of Buffalo. He was teaching composition there and I was studying piano with Yvar Mikhashoff. He was an extraordinarily gifted musician and fabulous company. Great sense of humour.
Part 1
0:16 theme
13:34 variation 13
Part 2
22:48 variation 19
30:21 variation 26
31:28 variation 27
37:02 variation 28
Ending
48:09 Hamelin’s cadenza
54:32 theme returns
55:51 coda
It is a flabbergasting, spellbinding work, floating between Keith Jarrett's 'Köln Concerto',Rachmaninov and Shostakovitch' piano works and Henri Pousseur-(who was a huge admirer of this work)-like avant garde. And Hamelin is of course amazing, the piano almost exploding in his own cadenza.
I love that tiny fugal section at 37:32
Dave Hurwitz mentioned this in '10 Masterpieces of the late 20th Century'. Wow, was he spot-on! From the very first note, my jaw dropped a few inches, haha. Wonderful!
I agree: these variations belong in the pantheon of "greatest sets of variations". You mentioned the Bach Goldberg and the Beethoven Diabelli variations; I would include Schumann's "Symphonic Variations", op. 13, Brahms' "Variations on a Theme of Handel" and his two books of Paganini Variations, the Copland Variations and Rachmaninov's "Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini". A developing composer would really benefit from studying Rzewski's variations to learn how to bring out maximum tonal color from a piano.
There is a person on RUclips who absolutely *worships* the music of Sorabji. While taking nothing away from anyone who can actually play Sorabji, I would argue that Rzewski is *far and away* better music, and every bit as difficult to play as Sorabji.
In my view, only Godowsky's variations on a theme by Schubert come close to these master variations.
@@dreamsdreams9493 I beg to differ.
That Sorabji roast -_-
Lmao you’re talking about toothless toe aren’t you. He knows how to get under people’s skin. I also wouldn’t forget about Alkan’s variation (Le Festin)
@@patricknyman727 who is he?
This is the best version, better than the ones recorded by the composer himself.
RIP Rzewski
Eh…
20th century masterpiece, I hope your posting will be a discovery for music lovers and pianists alike.
I had a Wigmore Hall ticket to see Hamelin play it three years ago which was cancelled because of covid, I was gutted!
That’s so terrible to hear! I hope that one day you will have another chance to hear this work performed live!
Thank you, I hope so too!
The Dream Theater variation XXVII is pure genius!
kinda unrelated but whats the most exciting piano piece you've heard this year?
@@supasayajinsongoku4464deez nuts
One of the greatest pieces that represents 20th century music
kinda unrelated but whats the most exciting piano piece you've heard this year?
Hamelin is an amazing pianist. I love this work and he does it Justice.
kinda unrelated but whats the most exciting piano piece you've heard this year?
Grande bellissima opera. Grazie
Frederic Rzewski - The People United Will Never Be Defeated (Hamelin)
Ok but when
That cut to black on the last chord is just perfect. Amazing work.
There's an eye(ear)opener, what a fantastic piece and performance. Thank you.
24:17 reminds me of the opening of Grieg's Piano Concerto
kinda unrelated but whats the most exciting piano piece you've heard this year?
@@supasayajinsongoku4464 I know this is kind of a go-to answer for classical piano enthusiasts, but Prokofiev's Piano Concerto No. 3 because of the vigorous coda
You have no idea how much I appreciate this upload, and it's hamelin, which is even better. Thank you!
What a great recording of what is one of (if not the) best compositions of the 20th century. Thanks a ton for this upload, Hamelin is amazing (as usual); and RIP Rzewski, he had an incredibly inventive and poignant mind!!!
22:22 autumn leaves
Oh shit, This is AWESOME
RIP great composer
About 10 years ago, there was same video that were splited in 6~7 parts and were made by T.K.. I'm so happy because of this merged video.
Interesting Sound World. Glad to hear this. Like others, I first heard U Oppens’ recording of work.
Big thank you for uploading this with score -- a very big undertaking. I'm lost for words, both for the music and for Hamlin's superhuman performance.
56:38 I've never heard a climax more... climatic than this one.
rip
Truly incredible stuff...I've been listening to this over and over again. If you had to choose a portion of these variations for a performance and didn't have time (or the ability perhaps) to learn all of them---which would you pick? I'm finding it very difficult to keep the list down. They are all so fantastic
My first time hearing this composition. That was INCREDIBLE! Thank you for sharing! Truly a classic and beautiful set of piano variations right up there with Bach's Goldberg Variations and Beethoven's Diabelli Variations.
they are miles better if we were to put them side by side and ask an honest question, "which is a better, more representative art?" However, most people will prefer the former as it dosent confront nearly as many different styles as this piece so brilliantly does, so one can understand why people would rather something else other then what this piece offers, but as i have said before, there is no doubt this is better art
VAR 1 reminds my of Weberns „Variation for Piano“ 3. Part
The displacement of register, I like that ^^
00:16 Theme: With determination
01:37 Var. I Weaving, delicate but firm
02:28 Var. II With firmness
09:33 Var. IX Evenly
13:34 Var. XIII q = 72
30:21 Var. XXVI In a militant manner
32:39 Var. XXVII Tenderly, and with a hopeful expression [Cadenza]
37:02 Var. XXVIII q = 160
38:21 Var. XXIX q = 144-152
41:32 Var. XXXI (q = 160)
54:32 Theme
C'est une œuvre MAJEURE, trop peu jouée, Merci Hamelin ! Cela me fait penser que les compositeurs sont faignants , au regard de Rzewski ! Et les pianistes de même, en comparaison de Hamelin ! Quelle beauté, quelle imagination !
Based
We all die together. We all live together.
Hamelin and Rzewski is a match made in heaven. Also, that cluster chord in your profile pic makes me hot. 😂 Thanks for sharing this!
Stunning and very interesting. My don't more pianists include at least some of these in their recitals?
Var 13 is probably my favorite, amazing harmonic rearrangement...really beautiful!
18 is also very interesting!
and 27 minimalism xD, very cute
27 cute yes
My fave is 26 but it's more solidaritatslied than El Pueblo lmao
The transition from var 17 to 18 was stuuuupidly smooth. Wow.
Monumental! I wonder if variations 27 or 29 inspired any of Yoshimatsu's Pleiades Dances...
The beginning and main theme is a melody from polish prewar Drunken Tango ("Piłem, kto mówi że nie piłem? Butelkę wytrąbiłem!" - I drank, who says I didn't? All bottle!) with melody from "Esta noche me emborracho". Very usefull for unification and solidarity.
Fantastic, with a good number of climaxes
Interesting channel!
Amazing
What the 🅱️oulez is Variation 10
I swear there are even some quotes to him
Rzewski is as good as if not even better than godowsky, the two polish legends, RIP Rzewski
This recording is doomed, set this video as unlisted before they take down your channel!
No, private it
@@joshscores3360 Yeah, you're probably right, caution is never too much...
I'll take the risk temporarily; I'll eventually unlist or private it after some days
@@scriabinismydog2439 I hope for you that there will be enough days....
@@scriabinismydog2439 s o m e d a y s
Is it my imagination or does the pianist make a passing reference to 'Wish I could be like David Watts' during the cadenza?
I'm practicing this and my family does not like the piece... How do I convince them otherwise?
I see you on literally every video, even your own channel. I am just surprised how you and I seem to visit the same videos?! Oh and for your question…just make them listen again and again or give up.
Persist with vacations !
any piece recommendations that sound mostly like the 13th variation?
A lot of William Bolcom works are kind of like that. Maybe try the Bagatelles.
giga based
Do you have anything valuable to comment or do you just spam "based" on every video you click on
45:40 Holy
The theme sounds like the coda from the first movement of Beethoven's 9th
Var. X is akin to any great painting by Jean-Paul Riopelle : calculated, precise and very violent.
Maybe I'm not familiar with this kind of modern music yet.
I can't understand var.10.
You haven't listened to var. 13 then
Var. 10 fucking slaps
Yo var 10 is a banger
sounds like my puppy trying to get the lunch I left on the lid of piano.
How did he ever write all this down...
With a pencil and music paper, I presume. ;)
Is anyone able to transcribe the Hamelin cadenza?
37:38 epic win
Hamelin's rendition is significantly better than Oppens' rendition. He just had better overall control. (You can get an idea from Var 27)
Anyone up for transcribing the cadenza for us?
how does he play var 23 like that
never
Ok Guys can I ask in the Superchat where are the fugues and the Giant Steps?
Var 27 + 28 !!!
Where the hell pedal goes! Help I need somebody help 😭
Lopez Sandra Young Gary Anderson Richard
26:44
35:54
Molto lunghe ma belle.
Thomas Donald Martin Brian Harris Kenneth
34:48
37:59
Thompson Sharon Clark Patricia Walker Deborah
13:35
10:35
Allen Deborah Williams Donald Taylor Elizabeth
Var. 10 = Stockhausen
I’m having trouble understanding why this is a good piece. Can someone give their opinions as to why it is?
It sounds cool :D
do
Obvious he learned a lot of variation techniques from Beethoven
dude, I offended by that name
Why did people say this was the greatest work in piano literature
one of the greatest i guess, it's big and good
@@segmentsAndCurves whats the most enjoyable piece in your opinion. Im kinda bored but im too lazy to find good pieces pls help suggest
@@supasayajinsongoku4464 Scriabin Sonata 8 is good. Protopopv sonata 3 is good. Feinberg sonata 3 is good. Anything on the MusicForever60 channel is good.
Well, I has incredibly unique form, also unique harmonic language, really developed texture and such.
Imho it's one of the best variation pieces there are
@@nikitalvov40 chopin op2 variations tho?
White Lisa Rodriguez Robert Lee Karen
best piano variation in my opinion personally don't quite like hamelin's cadenza though, too far away from the mood
음역 갇히지 않은것 보기
Defeated? They sure were in 2020
I don't think the pandemic really united us much. With the whole mask vs no-mask and vaccine vs antivaxx stuff, we only got pulled farther apart.
Unless you are referring to something else?
Lee David Thomas Timothy Williams Eric