I'm so happy I found Alan Walker's channel yesterday and already watched 4 entire episodes and can't wait for the next. I am very surprised that his channel doesn't have as many viewers and subscribers as it deserves. Hopefully, more music & piano history lovers like myself will too come across this great wonderland & food for the soul. Thank you, Mr. Walker! I'm already a huge fan of yours, and a bit saddened that I didn't discover your channel sooner. 🌻
Alan Walker - your Chopin videos bring a depth of understanding and insight and scholarly detail to Chopin, the man and his music, that surpass everything I have come across before. You bring a humanity and deep appreciation that is quite moving. Thank you making these beautiful videos and sharing with us on YT.
Thank you for this great lecture. A small point to correct: they were indeed escaping from scandal as much as for Chopin’s and Maurice’s health, but George Sand was legally separated from her husband and took custody of their children already in 1835. So she wasn’t married any more when her affair with Chopin started. I believe it was more about trying to escape gossip, and Malefille, George’s previous lover who was threatening to kill Chopin (he was walking the streets of Paris with a gun).
I thoroughly agree that it’s a wonder Chopin managed to compose anything in those circumstances. That’s probably his most enigmatic trait as a human being and a genius: defying all the hardships that life threw at him, keeping dignity, moral superiority and manners to the last- rising above it all and even giving solace to himself and all other humans through the sheer force of his art.
Thank you. Having learned/played all the preludes, and knowing some of the history of this set of compositions, this is a fascinating insight into Chopin's life at the time.
Oh, one more thing......Vladimir Horowitz was of the opinion that the B minor Prelude was the true "Raindrop" Prelude. That was stated in the liner notes of his second all-Chopin album for Columbia Records.
MUSICOLOGY DEVOURS ITS OWN CHILDREN - words that should be carved above the entrance to every College and University Music Department. Consider that Chopin on the way to and from Majorca was probably breathing in dust composed of microscopic fragments of animal feces, dead and live mites that colonized their bodies, their fodder and who knows what bacteria and viruses, it must have done wonders for his tuberculosis. I had never seen several of the Maurice Sand drawings....yes, they are as fresh and candid as if a photographer had taken them. And out of the scores of reproductions of the (photograph of) the 1847 daguerrotype that I've seen, this is the sharpest and clearest. As the camera pans in, I feel like walking up and greeting him.
None of the 3 pianos shown in the video (20:38, 24:14, 24:25) match the piano that Maurice drew of Chopin playing to the audience after the arrival of the new piano (21:12). They all have legs in front but in the drawing there are no legs. Maurice's note on the drawing specifically refers to the new piano. Would he not have drawn at least a crudely accurate depiction of it?
So interesting! What I always wonder about is the tuning of the piano... Did Chopin tune his own instrument in such an isolated place? Or did he just suffer quietly...?
"Nobody enjoys the spectacle of renowned musicians caught up in a grand deception" ?? Speak for yourself, mate. I enjoy it hugely. It is salutary for all of us to remember that great figures have their dottiness and we should not treat them as special except within their own sphere.
Dear Mr Walker, have you ever seen the 1991 movie "Impromptu"? Although not entirely historical, it seems to portray Liszt and Chopin in a rather delightful way.
I'm so happy I found Alan Walker's channel yesterday and already watched 4 entire episodes and can't wait for the next. I am very surprised that his channel doesn't have as many viewers and subscribers as it deserves. Hopefully, more music & piano history lovers like myself will too come across this great wonderland & food for the soul. Thank you, Mr. Walker! I'm already a huge fan of yours, and a bit saddened that I didn't discover your channel sooner. 🌻
Alan Walker - your Chopin videos bring a depth of understanding and insight and scholarly detail to Chopin, the man and his music, that surpass everything I have come across before. You bring a humanity and deep appreciation that is quite moving. Thank you making these beautiful videos and sharing with us on YT.
You running through those folks admiring the wrong instrument was priceless. Bent over in laughter.
This book was life changing for me
Chopin to najpiękniejsza spuścizna dla ludzkości ❤️
Wonderful lecture. Thank you, Mr. Walker.
Thank you for this great lecture. A small point to correct: they were indeed escaping from scandal as much as for Chopin’s and Maurice’s health, but George Sand was legally separated from her husband and took custody of their children already in 1835. So she wasn’t married any more when her affair with Chopin started. I believe it was more about trying to escape gossip, and Malefille, George’s previous lover who was threatening to kill Chopin (he was walking the streets of Paris with a gun).
I thoroughly agree that it’s a wonder Chopin managed to compose anything in those circumstances. That’s probably his most enigmatic trait as a human being and a genius: defying all the hardships that life threw at him, keeping dignity, moral superiority and manners to the last- rising above it all and even giving solace to himself and all other humans through the sheer force of his art.
This is outstanding. And the Pollini recordings work very well with his presentation.
Thank you. Having learned/played all the preludes, and knowing some of the history of this set of compositions, this is a fascinating insight into Chopin's life at the time.
Chopin's music may not be program music, but it makes one tell stories in one's own head while listening to it.
Excellent and thank you Mark; Allan is a briliant researcher and writer!
Oh, one more thing......Vladimir Horowitz was of the opinion that the B minor Prelude was the true "Raindrop" Prelude. That was stated in the liner notes of his second all-Chopin album for Columbia Records.
Profound and moving vignette. Thank you!!
Thank you for this fabulous lecture. I was greatly moved and will certainly be buying the book!
You won't be disappointed - it's a phenomenal read!
A marvelous lecture!
MUSICOLOGY DEVOURS ITS OWN CHILDREN - words that should be carved above the entrance to every College and University Music Department. Consider that Chopin on the way to and from Majorca was probably breathing in dust composed of microscopic fragments of animal feces, dead and live mites that colonized their bodies, their fodder and who knows what bacteria and viruses, it must have done wonders for his tuberculosis. I had never seen several of the Maurice Sand drawings....yes, they are as fresh and candid as if a photographer had taken them. And out of the scores of reproductions of the (photograph of) the 1847 daguerrotype that I've seen, this is the sharpest and clearest. As the camera pans in, I feel like walking up and greeting him.
Very enlightening.
Brilliant and engaging. Perfect!
A really inspiring documentary. I listened with great pleasure. Thank you...)
A superb conference, thank you
Thank you for this amazing video!
Thank you!
Inspiring lecture, as always!
Thank you so much for this!
Very moving indeed...Thank you
I previously read this book at the suggestion of a friend. Loved hearing this lecture nonetheless. EB
Lovely and Pollini is magnificent!!
Very inspiring!
None of the 3 pianos shown in the video (20:38, 24:14, 24:25) match the piano that Maurice drew of Chopin playing to the audience after the arrival of the new piano (21:12). They all have legs in front but in the drawing there are no legs. Maurice's note on the drawing specifically refers to the new piano. Would he not have drawn at least a crudely accurate depiction of it?
🤔# observation!
So interesting! What I always wonder about is the tuning of the piano... Did Chopin tune his own instrument in such an isolated place? Or did he just suffer quietly...?
Alan Walker is a very fine writer ... or should we say he is the Chopin of biographers ...?
I’m a Byron Janis documentary he claims to play on the piano the Bb minor sonata was composed on… does this piano still exist, or is it lost?
"Nobody enjoys the spectacle of renowned musicians caught up in a grand deception" ?? Speak for yourself, mate. I enjoy it hugely. It is salutary for all of us to remember that great figures have their dottiness and we should not treat them as special except within their own sphere.
And you are speaking for yourself, indeed.
Dear Mr Walker, have you ever seen the 1991 movie "Impromptu"? Although not entirely historical, it seems to portray Liszt and Chopin in a rather delightful way.
Liszt referring to Chopin as "the Polish corpse"
What is the song played in opening, please?
Prelude in C Major, Op 28, no. 1 by Maurizio Pollini