I can honestly say, selfishly speaking that I'm glad Virg didn't make the cut for Dream Theater. We may have very well missed out on ever hearing brilliant pieces of this amazing caliber. Can't touch this...... VIRGIL TIME!
All they wanted was a good drummer. So they picked Mangini before they shoot the reality talent show. The reality show was only for advertisement and to make it easier for the fans to accept the new drummer. They gave you the feeling that you're part of the process. Virgil is not for Dream Theater, he would overshadow everyone with his playing. I can't believe that he could adjust to the needs of the band, they wanted a hired gun, not someone with an opinion. So, Dream Theater didn't make the cut for Virgil!
Alexis Panou If Virgil can run with a pop act, he can run with Dream Theater. Of course, as we now know, it would likely have been a waste of his creativity.
I agree. Virgil Donati with dream theater would have been a complete waste of time. They would have probably kept him on a leash instead of turn him loose.
I was thinking the same thing that i was glad they did not accept him as a drummer because they knew he was too good for them, i mean you cannot replace Portnoy with Donati, it's a bad joke, completely overqualified for the job! Instead he got to release one of his best albums after that, which, of course , i have them all: Spinning Globe/In This Life/Beyond Turbines/Human Hardware.
I don't comment on anything. But honestly, every time I watch Virgil play, I'm confident he's playing a pattern or fill that NO ONE has ever played before. That's what inspirational musicians do, break new ground. This composition is beautifully odd and I can't stop watching it. Well done, mate, from a fellow Aussie.
Absolutely insane!!… wow!! He is just so on another level!! My god… there is so much going on at so many levels that it is practically impossible to even understand!! 😮😮
As gereationally a player as he is, he's also a PHENOMENAL composer. I really think that's what pushes his playing, finding new things to do with the drums against the music he hears in his head.
Virgil is the God of all drumming. Im scared to leave my room after watching this! The only way I can describe what I am seeing and hearing , Virgil is the Alan Holdsworth of drums! On a different dementia! I watch his parts hundreds of times in order to grasp what we are seeing! Peace from Detroit MI
To truly commit himself to not just drumming, but to the love of music in its entirety like he has is a herculean task. What an astonishing man, drummer, musician and composer. Virgil you have no equal, and to say that your contributions are paramount to any type of musician, is a massive understatement!! Keep up the omniscient writing and playing.
Dave Locke agree 100% ! These compositions REALLY make Virgil shine. All the work he put in for decades...he destroys this stuff. Perfect grooves / transitions / textures. Love the quintuplet groove. Next level GREAT.
Mind boggling. 25 years of graft on the kit and I’m no closer to figuring out how I can ever develop any where close to this sort of control and precision. The work that he must have put in over the years is quite a sacrifice I’d imagine.
AMAZING! F***ing INCREDIBLE! Jesus. That's one of the best drum pieces and compositions I've ever heard. VD is in my top 3 drummers of all time. He has really matured and his chops are still as good, if not, better than they were. Thank you so much for enhancing my life and giving me experiences you cannot buy. Had privilege seeing you live. Cheers, man. :)
I read a comment someone asked Virgil what is some of the hardest time signatures he plays in. His answer was 4/4 because he never plays in it. Lol pure genius
As much as I love Virgil’s playing, I almost feel like the star of this video is his composition and orchestration. He is a very sophisticated composer with complex harmonic movements based off non-major scale modes. But in ways that actually work musically and carry emotional weight. Bravo maestro!
reason i Keep playing drums. watching DV perform makes u want to be better at ur craft. amazing musician ahead of the rest . Supernatural machine beast master of drums = donati
FINALLY !!! It's been so long I waited that one of the most fabulous drummers of all time shows us that he was ALSO a great "classic" composer, able to crank out something else than this "Fusion" that he has offered us for years, always technically staggering, but too often demonstrative, sterile and boring. (Obviously, without questioning his sincerity and his real passion when he played it, as well as those of the amazing musicians who accompanied him...) But I didn't hear a Virgil's creation as impressive and original as this one since "Voice Of Reason" and "Highlights", which were a foretaste of what he proposes us here. Except that this Concerto is of an other level, and in my opinion, the most exceptional composition that he has ever written ! A powerful, fascinating and inspired score, where dramatic urgency and intensity reach heights thanks to splendid harmonies of strings and brass and where the rhythmic complexity is never useless, but put at the service of a drums demonstration as breathtaking as exhilarating ! Absolutely fan-tas-tic. Then PLEASE Virgil, continue on this way ! And thank you for this video and your impressive composition that I watch and listen in loop for three days...
demonstrative, sterile and boring? The first half of this video could have been on a PX record just as well. If it would have been played by a fusion band and "traditional" instrumentation, you'd be surprised how similar it sounds to stuff on f.ex. moonbabies.
Utterly astonishing. Poetic interpretation + power + time-keeping. Not sure such talent is human. But perhaps that's it: all great art takes us above ourselves, beyond previous limitations and definitions of our capacity as humans.
He's getting better and better as everyone would expect , probably we are witnessing exponential development. One of the few artists on the musical scene that's coming up with something new every time. Glad to be contemporary with these musical events, as we should call them "events horizon" because we are as close as we can get to the apex of drumming in the last 100 years; very close to a mix of progression with perfection!
WTF! There is nobody and nothing on earth that comes close to this man! In fact I don’t believe that there has ever been or that there will ever be a better musician then Virgil Donati. He has done some Amazing things but this is something else.. My god wow!
Stone cold... umm Todd is good but there is about a 30 year gap between Virgil Donati’s level and Todd’s level. In all honesty and with all Do respect, Todd is not even in the same ball park as Virgil. I mean if you look at things in terms of technique, musicality and complexity Virgil is light years a head. In fact Virgil is light years a head of every other drummer as well. I know it is wrong to compare these greats as they are all marsters, it’s just that Virgil is a lot more advanced then everyone else.
Stone Cold.. Virgil needs to be in an environment that challenges him. Unfortunately the mainstream scene does not offer this for someone of his musical capabilities. He has toured with the likes of Steve Vai, Planet X and a heap of others. My original coment stated that Virgil is perhaps the best musician that has ever lived. This may not always relate to who one tours with or what bands they may or may not be in. However I understand that each has there own views and tastes on this type of topic so I appreciate your thoughts and comments.
It's going to take a few generations but be sure, there will be the evolution of Virgil to come. As long as there isn't nucleus holocaust or an asteroid we shall evolve. To make clear, he is the most profound talent to drumming I've ever encountered and I've seen them all.
Virgil is definitely one of the most technically skilled drummers ever, but calling him the best musician ever is really pushing it. He plays musically for sure, but only in the fusion/progressive metal style. He is clearly an accomplished classical pianist and composer as well, but I have never seen him play swing, latin music or any other style for that matter. I would say Milton Banana or Clyde Stubblefield are equally as good musicians as Virgil, and they have very few "chops" per say. The only thing that matters is playing musically, and all three of these guys do that in their own style.
Phenomenal as always, Virgil! There's a bit of variation between this run and the album's. It's great to hear a slightly new take from the studio version. You always impress and inspire me.
How has this performance NOT hit 20 million + views, with all these fake try-hard wanna be drummers on RUclips getting millions of views and RIGHT here is probably the most important Drummer of the last 30 years - and as of today 79,215 thousand views.
Because they were born with music in their blood and in their pasta lmao. Honestly Mediterranean drummers are the best haha. Germanic/nordic and African descendants are close 2nd
No one is the greatest drummer in the world or of all time. However, you tap into a mastery of time and kinesthetics that few do. There's something great about you. Be as humble as you want to be (as I know that people who are highly intelligent often see so many imperfections, weaknesses, or just potential for growth within themselves, which leads them to their humble nature even though they may be in the top fifth percentile in a given domain of skill), but you're great to many people, just know that. Please keep showing us what is possible. We'll be there to take it in. Peace. P.S. The music you are a part of is fucking beautiful. P.P.S. Ever since I heard you play paradiddles and the like on double bass when I was in high school (around 2003), I've been a fan.
I can honestly say, selfishly speaking that I'm glad Virg didn't make the cut for Dream Theater. We may have very well missed out on ever hearing brilliant pieces of this amazing caliber. Can't touch this...... VIRGIL TIME!
All they wanted was a good drummer. So they picked Mangini before they shoot the reality talent show. The reality show was only for advertisement and to make it easier for the fans to accept the new drummer. They gave you the feeling that you're part of the process. Virgil is not for Dream Theater, he would overshadow everyone with his playing. I can't believe that he could adjust to the needs of the band, they wanted a hired gun, not someone with an opinion. So, Dream Theater didn't make the cut for Virgil!
spot on
Alexis Panou If Virgil can run with a pop act, he can run with Dream Theater. Of course, as we now know, it would likely have been a waste of his creativity.
I agree. Virgil Donati with dream theater would have been a complete waste of time. They would have probably kept him on a leash instead of turn him loose.
I was thinking the same thing that i was glad they did not accept him as a drummer because they knew he was too good for them, i mean you cannot replace Portnoy with Donati, it's a bad joke, completely overqualified for the job! Instead he got to release one of his best albums after that, which, of course , i have them all: Spinning Globe/In This Life/Beyond Turbines/Human Hardware.
To write this music and then to digest it, remember it and play it this expertly is mind boggling. Truly from another planet!
This guy is the Beethowen of drums. INCREDIBLE AMAZING
I don't comment on anything. But honestly, every time I watch Virgil play, I'm confident he's playing a pattern or fill that NO ONE has ever played before. That's what inspirational musicians do, break new ground. This composition is beautifully odd and I can't stop watching it. Well done, mate, from a fellow Aussie.
Agreed.
2/5/21 and I've watched it so many times my eyes are bleeding. I can't believe any human can be this good.
He has never played the same exact thing twice. Infinite.
Truly one of the great minds of our time !! How Awesome would be to witness this with full Orchestra ! Wow !
Absolutely insane!!… wow!!
He is just so on another level!!
My god… there is so much going on at so many levels that it is practically impossible to even understand!!
😮😮
I rate this as probably the greatest pieces of drum music ever
The entire performance is utterly remarkable but from 5:20 to the end is the greatest achievement from any human in the history of all mankind.
it's depressing most people won't ever even comprehend the level of insanity and human achievement this man represents
As gereationally a player as he is, he's also a PHENOMENAL composer. I really think that's what pushes his playing, finding new things to do with the drums against the music he hears in his head.
I meant to say generationally...apologies
Man Virgil is the total package. Visionary, Pioneer, innovator. Doesn't get much better than this.
Virgil is the God of all drumming. Im scared to leave my room after watching this! The only way I can describe what I am seeing and hearing , Virgil is the Alan Holdsworth of drums! On a different dementia! I watch his parts hundreds of times in order to grasp what we are seeing! Peace from Detroit MI
VIRGIL IS THE DRUMMER FROM ANOTHER WORLD.
👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍
To truly commit himself to not just drumming, but to the love of music in its entirety like he has is a herculean task. What an astonishing man, drummer, musician and composer. Virgil you have no equal, and to say that your contributions are paramount to any type of musician, is a massive understatement!! Keep up the omniscient writing and playing.
I honestly didn't know that this type of playing was even possible. This leaves me speechless. Time to sell my drums.
This is amazing. Just incredibly complex and perfectly executed. 20 years after I fell in love with Virgil's playing he's still blowing me away
Virgil has taken things to yet another level again. Superb. So inspirational and yet at same time makes you want to give up ;)
Dave Locke agree 100% ! These compositions REALLY make Virgil shine. All the work he put in for decades...he destroys this stuff. Perfect grooves / transitions / textures. Love the quintuplet groove. Next level GREAT.
Don’t give up. Just break it down slow. It IS incredible,though...
Mind boggling. 25 years of graft on the kit and I’m no closer to figuring out how I can ever develop any where close to this sort of control and precision. The work that he must have put in over the years is quite a sacrifice I’d imagine.
This entire album is the best thing I've let into my ears.
IamScythed where did u get the whole album?
Bought it online.
We are witnessing a master at his peak. Undoubtably he will go down as a ground breaking musical genius.
WHAT DID I JUST WATCH? THATS PRETTY UNREAL!! Virgil, you`re really pushing the boundaries for what a human can do on the drums, simply AMAZING.....
AMAZING! F***ing INCREDIBLE! Jesus. That's one of the best drum pieces and compositions I've ever heard. VD is in my top 3 drummers of all time. He has really matured and his chops are still as good, if not, better than they were. Thank you so much for enhancing my life and giving me experiences you cannot buy. Had privilege seeing you live. Cheers, man. :)
wow, could feel the story in that song, whoever wrote that piece is an absolute genius....the best thing I think ill hear in a while
Virgil wrote it 🙌🏻
Congrats Mr. Virgil Donati. Your works will be written in music history of 21st century.
Most amazing piece of drummer I have ever seen An immortal of the drumming world in my eyes
I’d love to see the entire album released like this. I’d definitely pay for it.
I believe it is .......
This piece is on the album "The Dawn of Time," available on Virgil's website (and I'm sure elsewhere).
I think what Make Weird Music means is a video play-through of every song
Oh yes, I think you're correct. I misread "the entire" for "an entire." Apologies.
Me too... 💪✌👍
This is absolutely MINDBLOWING. Virigl you outdid yourself. I cant wait for the album.
I read a comment someone asked Virgil what is some of the hardest time signatures he plays in. His answer was 4/4 because he never plays in it. Lol pure genius
His touch and virtuosity is something that no one can achieve.
I just want to tell you that your creativity is from another galaxy, thanks for share your magic.
I can´t explain how I enjoyed this!!!
As much as I love Virgil’s playing, I almost feel like the star of this video is his composition and orchestration. He is a very sophisticated composer with complex harmonic movements based off non-major scale modes. But in ways that actually work musically and carry emotional weight. Bravo maestro!
Yet another mind blowing journey from the MASTER 🧠👌👌
And my IQ increased another 10 points. Great piece!
Alper Sönmez I lost 20 trying to figure it out
;)
From 10 to 20?
John Doh "Oh he said 'another', let me quickly edit my stupid comment." :)
Alper, IQ could also be negative ... but don't worry, that's all above your head.
Yeah, I was aware of the possibilty in theory, but now I know there actually is an example to it. Thanks.
Simplemente... INCREÍBLE!!
Sir. Virgil Donati you are motivating!! 🙏🏻
Amazing work! A living legend
legend!!! no words!
😌Wow! MASTERPIECE!! Beautiful arrangement and playing!! Yeah!!! 😁
Reminds me of a Claus OGERMAN orchestral piece! 🙂
5:19 onwards... incredible speed, accuracy & volume control. Mind = blown. What an outro.
Incredible. Beautiful piece.... beautiful!
Absolutely amazing!!
Gargantuan performance. Stellar.
reason i Keep playing drums. watching DV perform makes u want to be better at ur craft. amazing musician ahead of the rest . Supernatural machine beast master of drums = donati
What an incredible composition ………..
Genius at work
Absolutely superb.
Virgil, you're an inspiration to many musicians, myself included.Thank you.
Listened to it 3 times in a row
I feel passion for this incredible drummer. Congratulations for your work and thanks for your music.
FINALLY !!! It's been so long I waited that one of the most fabulous drummers of all time shows us that he was ALSO a great "classic" composer, able to crank out something else than this "Fusion" that he has offered us for years, always technically staggering, but too often demonstrative, sterile and boring. (Obviously, without questioning his sincerity and his real passion when he played it, as well as those of the amazing musicians who accompanied him...) But I didn't hear a Virgil's creation as impressive and original as this one since "Voice Of Reason" and "Highlights", which were a foretaste of what he proposes us here. Except that this Concerto is of an other level, and in my opinion, the most exceptional composition that he has ever written ! A powerful, fascinating and inspired score, where dramatic urgency and intensity reach heights thanks to splendid harmonies of strings and brass and where the rhythmic complexity is never useless, but put at the service of a drums demonstration as breathtaking as exhilarating ! Absolutely fan-tas-tic.
Then PLEASE Virgil, continue on this way ! And thank you for this video and your impressive composition that I watch and listen in loop for three days...
demonstrative, sterile and boring? The first half of this video could have been on a PX record just as well. If it would have been played by a fusion band and "traditional" instrumentation, you'd be surprised how similar it sounds to stuff on f.ex. moonbabies.
Amazing!!!!!
So great ... more of this and thanx ... and all what you do i love it ... inspirator
This is amazing!! Mind blowing performance, thanks for sharing this. RESPECT!! 👏👏👏👏
Been waiting a while to see him play this masterpieces
you are a true master, thanks for the inspiration mr Donati
It is a very beautiful music... Great contemporary music composition.
Thank you so much M. DONATI.
Best regards from Dunkerque
Phil.
I almost have to cry, what you are doing is so beautiful and crazy.
Thank you my friend!
Virgil Donati = a legend forever!!!!
This is so amazing! I just can't stop watching you play. You are my biggest inspiration Virgil!
This is freaking amazing.
what an amazing trip through space and time
This is a masterpiece..
Wow!! Incredible VD.
A true musical giant! Those DWs sound and look awesome too.
impresionante! ! .. saludos desde Argentina!
just speechless...I hope I get to see this live with a full orchestra.
Stellar performance!
Happy belated birthday, Virgil. And thank you for your seven years of inspiration, mate. ^_^
Utterly astonishing. Poetic interpretation + power + time-keeping. Not sure such talent is human. But perhaps that's it: all great art takes us above ourselves, beyond previous limitations and definitions of our capacity as humans.
Virgil without a doubt. The greatest drummer in my life.
He's getting better and better as everyone would expect , probably we are witnessing exponential development.
One of the few artists on the musical scene that's coming up with something new every time. Glad to be contemporary with these musical events, as we should call them "events horizon" because we are as close as we can get to the apex of drumming in the last 100 years; very close to a mix of progression with perfection!
Sensacional Virgil Donati eita pegaaaa toop lembra-se bateras unidos jamais serão vencidos 🥁
Virgil Donati first of his name, master of the stick, commander of the beat, guardian of tempo, long life for the king of drums lml
Mind blown to pieces.
Magnificent!
I really love this classical project.
Wow...incredibile questo Concerto. Superrrr Virgil
WTF! There is nobody and nothing on earth that comes close to this man! In fact I don’t believe that there has ever been or that there will ever be a better musician then Virgil Donati. He has done some Amazing things but this is something else.. My god wow!
Stone cold... umm Todd is good but there is about a 30 year gap between Virgil Donati’s level and Todd’s level. In all honesty and with all Do respect, Todd is not even in the same ball park as Virgil. I mean if you look at things in terms of technique, musicality and complexity Virgil is light years a head. In fact Virgil is light years a head of every other drummer as well. I know it is wrong to compare these greats as they are all marsters, it’s just that Virgil is a lot more advanced then everyone else.
Stone Cold.. Virgil needs to be in an environment that challenges him. Unfortunately the mainstream scene does not offer this for someone of his musical capabilities. He has toured with the likes of Steve Vai, Planet X and a heap of others. My original coment stated that Virgil is perhaps the best musician that has ever lived. This may not always relate to who one tours with or what bands they may or may not be in. However I understand that each has there own views and tastes on this type of topic so I appreciate your thoughts and comments.
It's going to take a few generations but be sure, there will be the evolution of Virgil to come. As long as there isn't nucleus holocaust or an asteroid we shall evolve. To make clear, he is the most profound talent to drumming I've ever encountered and I've seen them all.
We all love Todd, but dude...Come on.
Virgil is definitely one of the most technically skilled drummers ever, but calling him the best musician ever is really pushing it. He plays musically for sure, but only in the fusion/progressive metal style. He is clearly an accomplished classical pianist and composer as well, but I have never seen him play swing, latin music or any other style for that matter. I would say Milton Banana or Clyde Stubblefield are equally as good musicians as Virgil, and they have very few "chops" per say. The only thing that matters is playing musically, and all three of these guys do that in their own style.
This makes me smile. It reminds me of some music from Ace Combat. But with badass drums. Bliss!
This is the new standard for drumming and music.
Not just an awesome drummer, but an exceptional composer, too!
Great Great ~~ amazing drummer ~~
A true legend
Phenomenal as always, Virgil! There's a bit of variation between this run and the album's. It's great to hear a slightly new take from the studio version. You always impress and inspire me.
Amazing Máster, saludos from México City!!!
Drumming magic.
How has this performance NOT hit 20 million + views, with all these fake try-hard wanna be drummers on RUclips getting millions of views and RIGHT here is probably the most important Drummer of the last 30 years - and as of today 79,215 thousand views.
Unbelievable...just brilliant playing and imagination...not to mention this is his composition?!?!
Thank U Virgil, for reminding us that we must keep practicing
Legend,precision,groove,power,timing.
Aussie as well like me
Why are drummers with Italian background ahead of the game?
Because they were born with music in their blood and in their pasta lmao. Honestly Mediterranean drummers are the best haha. Germanic/nordic and African descendants are close 2nd
As a non American i would say with the exeption of Virgil ,American drummers are the best looking at the history.
Fantastic Virgil!!! your are the best..
Awesomness!!!
Muito bom Virgil, grande sacada!
Its such a joy to Virgil play! 🙏🙏❤
very nice!
Wow !!! 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏
SuperVirgil...
Greetings from Guatemala City!
MASTER FOREVER !
increible!!!
Sem condições.
MAESTRO!
Che dire,... uno dei migliori al mondo, insieme a weckl, e colaiuta..
No one is the greatest drummer in the world or of all time. However, you tap into a mastery of time and kinesthetics that few do. There's something great about you. Be as humble as you want to be (as I know that people who are highly intelligent often see so many imperfections, weaknesses, or just potential for growth within themselves, which leads them to their humble nature even though they may be in the top fifth percentile in a given domain of skill), but you're great to many people, just know that. Please keep showing us what is possible. We'll be there to take it in.
Peace.
P.S.
The music you are a part of is fucking beautiful.
P.P.S.
Ever since I heard you play paradiddles and the like on double bass when I was in high school (around 2003), I've been a fan.