Matt Herskowitz - The Banjo (Gottschalk)

Louis Moreau Gottschalk's "The Banjo: Grotesque Fantaisie", composed in 1853, is based on African-American banjo playing from his native New Orleans, specifically using West African banjo techniques and musical structure. As acknowledged in the title, it's like he took those techniques and blew them up by 5,000%! It is truly unique in the piano repertoire. Warning: this piece can cause spontaneous and uncontrollable laughter!

[@marypatcooney593]

I always hold artists to the standard of Eugene List's performance of Gottschalk. No one has ever come close...til this. Mr. Herskowitz - You nailed it!!

[@matthersk]

Thanks Mary! I'm honoured you think so :)

[@MrPfeffer93]

Clean! Even with the gradual increase in tempo, I love the clarity and intonations. Good to hear and see something with higher quality audio.

[@Evanpianomaster]

Jeez, this is an incredibly clean performance of the Banjo!!

[@Gamerwithalife111]

This is so good, I can't find a performance quite like this one of this piece. Incredible.

[@ginnychudgar9088]

Wonderful!

[@ebrakus]

Left me in tears. Heard maybe 20 renditions of this piece. This beats them all.

[@matthersk]

Thanks Ed! Glad you enjoyed it :)

[@FirstGentleman1]

Impressiv.

[@italiamata]

splendid !

[@fchau6019]

Incredible!

[@pianoplayrpiano99]

Yikes that tempo! My hair is on fire!

[@newyorkslim2001]

It's a great tempo... strong technique... great contrasting volume... but oddly rushed in transitional passages.

[@pianoplayrpiano99]

@@newyorkslim2001 yes, I thought sections were rushed as well.

[@tubingtubing1]

This version rips!

[@jonm2969]

Personally, I like Ivan Davis' less schmaltzy rendition much better! Don't mess with Gottschalk and play what's in his score!!!