As a person that mainly listens to Beethoven, Rachmaninoff, Liszt ect, it's nice to have a variety, especially when it's played by someone so skilled and intelligent like you. What beautiful and interesting music. Thank you.
Hello Adam, thank you so much for your very kind and thoughtful words. One of the reasons I am video recording the complete Iberia is because I am so passionate about this music and want to help make it known to more people. I think it is some of the most beautiful and amazing music, and I'm delighted to hear you think so too! I really appreciate your comment, and your wonderful responses to the music. All best wishes to you!
Hello Mario, thank you for your beautiful and much appreciated message! Your kind words move me very much, and speak to the essence of music making. All best wishes to you!
on this day that the 2019 version of the Aspen Music Festival concludes -after witnessing Bronfman , Lugansky, Sarah Chang and Jan Lisiecki - Sally ranks way up there with them
Hi David, wow, ... I am touched and honored to read your generous words! How kind of you to include me along with the great artists you heard at the Aspen Music Festival. Thank you for your thoughtfulness, and many blessings to you!
Hello Sally, It's so beautiful that we can listen to another great performance of Albeniz Iberia! Thank you. I very much enjoy it. The more I listen to it, the more I appreciate it. Your playing is amazing. I feel your enthusiasm--it's catching, love it..
Hello Ingrid, thank you for your enthusiastic and thoughtful words! I'm so glad you listened to the piece a few times to become more familiar with it. The form of this piece is quite unusual, because after the first few minutes, the piece unfolds and develops through a series of seven 16-measure phrases. At the end of each long phrase, there is a modulation to a new key area, and variations of material with each subsequent phrase. The melodies are often passed back and forth between crossing hands, like the weaving threads of a complicated tapestry. I thought you would enjoy following this the next time you listen to El Polo! Sending you all best wishes, and with your playing as well!
An absolutely mesmerising performance. You are a joy to watch, and you play with so much passion and character. I am working my way through all of your videos. You are unbelievably generous with your time and advice, you have inspired me tremendously. Such a beautiful person, which shines through in your playing. Thank you.
Hello Samantha, I am deeply touched by your kind, gracious, and heartfelt words! Especially during this time of social isolation, your generosity is all the more appreciated. Your enthusiasm and support is also a light for me, and encourages me with this solitary work. Thank you for letting me know the teaching and performance videos are a source of inspiration for you. I am sure you play beautifully being the thoughtful and warm person that you are! I wish you many blessings with your life and on your musical journey.
@@SallyChristianMusic Hello Sally, So wonderful to read your heartfelt reply, and words of encouragement. Music and connection with people is even more important in these testing times. Stay safe and well.
@@samanthakember3422 Hello Samantha, thank you! You are so right, more than ever, we see how fundamentally important our connections are with people and music! May we all stay safe and well!
Thank you for your wonderful words which are such a happy surprise for me! I really appreciate knowing that you love this piece, especially since it is generally not well known and is seldom played. It's one of my favorites as well. I wish the very best to you and with your playing. :-)
Sally, your performance is outstanding. I don't know how you do it! You play so skillfully, and you give the piece so much character and form. Thank you for your generosity in sharing.
Hello Roger, thank you for your wonderful words about this performance. I really appreciate what you have said, and particularly about the character and form. It is truly a pleasure and privilege to play and share this extraordinary music. With all best wishes to you!
Hello Stephen, thank you for your gracious and imaginative words! I agree that this music is a unique blend of classical virtuoso piano writing and "Spanish Impressionism." When I play El Polo, I often feel as if I am part flamenco dancer and part musical alchemist! All best wishes to you!
Sally makes me shiver (and here in Sardinia we have 36 degrees) :-) I can't understand how you can control the pedal in such a perfect way !! excellent recording of the Steinway. A Rossinian greeting ... Brava Bravissima
Hello spadiu, how lovely to see your thoughtful comment, and thank you for your gracious words about this recording and performance! I especially appreciate your mentioning the use of the pedal. So much of the unique beauty of El Polo comes from the harmonic "clusters" Albéniz writes, and how these are enhanced by the use of various pedaling techniques. In other instances, a chord will begin as a dissonance, but as only one note is quickly released, the remaining holding notes transform into a consonant chord. This is done without any pedal at all, and can be heard at 2:24-2:28. I've rarely (if ever) seen this technique of note bending written in the classical piano literature. Albéniz takes such meticulous care in notating exactly what he wants, creating a new exotic language! Thank you for your interest and support, and all best wishes to you!
Hello musicalintentions / James, I agree with you, it is a tangled web for sure! I don't think he could have written it any other way and still get all the chordal and voice combinations he does. This, along with the wide range of registers he covers simultaneously makes it more like orchestral writing. His mind and imagination are truly awe inspiring!
At 6:54 I started seeing double. Need to have my eyes checked. Oh wait... They're okay now. I would not understand the technicalities of this piece if I had two lifetimes to study it. However, as always, I can certainly enjoy hearing you play it.
Hello Dwight, I am so happy to hear from you and see your delightful comment! Thank you for your amusing words about seeing double! El Polo is in F minor, but here at 6:43, Albéniz begins a big section in the parallel key of F Major. This part of the piece is truly an acrobatic tour de force. The left hand is really juggling 3 different parts: the tuba-like low single bass notes, the middle register pairs of staccato notes, and the very high pairs of staccato notes a piccolo might play. And all of this is dancing around the melodic line of the right hand. I have never seen another piece written quite like this one! I'm so glad you enjoyed watching and hearing this seldom played piece! Thank you for your appreciated comment- it's really a pleasure to hear from you again. I hope you are doing well, and I send you all best wishes! P.S. I have not forgotten about the book you suggested I write. :-)
Dear Sally, SO WONDERFUL AS ALWAYS!!!!! Thank you for your favourite Spanish composer (lately my favourite too) and for an excellent performance, my new big "like-thumb up-upvote"46 and as usual I've added this great video to my public playlists called "Sally Christian" and "My Favourite Classical Music", today this Thursday in my country Poland it's a church holiday called "Boże Ciało" and we have a very long weekend, so I can listen to music every day, Btw. again my suggestion/recommendation, Sara Larikka from Finland, an excellent concert pianist/composer/teacher of piano, of course, absolutely such a very underrated channel, only 78 subscribers (very sad and shoking), lately I have my new public playlist called "Sara Larikka", 11 videos, Sara reads the comments, her English is very good (in the contrast to my English), I think her music deserves more attention, as every day my best wishes from Poland to America, have a happy week. Joanna
Hello Joanna, thank you for another wonderful comment, and for selecting El Polo for your public playlist featuring my performance videos. El Polo is a very unusual dance. The "sobbing" motive can be heard throughout as this dance cycles through numerous times, (eight 16-measure cycles) all building in harmonic complexity, key changes, and intensity. I do wish to one day give a teaching video on this piece, as it is so seldom played. Sending many best wishes to you. :-)
Hello James, thank you for your insights and musical sensitivities. I do hear similarities to Ravel's La Valse. Once the waltz section begins, El Polo is one continuous mesmerizing waltz to the very last flourish! I send very best wishes to you and your students.
Hello Luke, thank you very much for your lovely comment! Regarding your suggestion, I do not think it is possible to put the title of the piece in the RUclips thumbnail. It automatically appears in the text to the right of my thumbnail as you see: Albéniz Iberia Book III: El Polo * Please let me know if you have information to the contrary. Thank you, and best wishes.
As a person that mainly listens to Beethoven, Rachmaninoff, Liszt ect, it's nice to have a variety, especially when it's played by someone so skilled and intelligent like you. What beautiful and interesting music. Thank you.
Hello Adam, thank you so much for your very kind and thoughtful words. One of the reasons I am video recording the complete Iberia is because I am so passionate about this music and want to help make it known to more people. I think it is some of the most beautiful and amazing music, and I'm delighted to hear you think so too! I really appreciate your comment, and your wonderful responses to the music. All best wishes to you!
1:47
Moments like this one show me what a pure musician you're.
Hello Mario, thank you for your beautiful and much appreciated message! Your kind words move me very much, and speak to the essence of music making. All best wishes to you!
on this day that the 2019 version of the Aspen Music Festival concludes -after witnessing Bronfman , Lugansky, Sarah Chang and Jan Lisiecki - Sally ranks way up there with them
Hi David, wow, ... I am touched and honored to read your generous words! How kind of you to include me along with the great artists you heard at the Aspen Music Festival. Thank you for your thoughtfulness, and many blessings to you!
Hello Sally, It's so beautiful that we can listen to another great performance of Albeniz Iberia! Thank you. I very much enjoy it. The more I listen to it, the more I appreciate it. Your playing is amazing. I feel your enthusiasm--it's catching, love it..
Hello Ingrid, thank you for your enthusiastic and thoughtful words! I'm so glad you listened to the piece a few times to become more familiar with it. The form of this piece is quite unusual, because after the first few minutes, the piece unfolds and develops through a series of seven 16-measure phrases. At the end of each long phrase, there is a modulation to a new key area, and variations of material with each subsequent phrase. The melodies are often passed back and forth between crossing hands, like the weaving threads of a complicated tapestry. I thought you would enjoy following this the next time you listen to El Polo! Sending you all best wishes, and with your playing as well!
Sally, thank you. Interesting, I will follow this. I also like your interesting information about the "note bending" technique.
@@inga9788 Thank you, Ingrid!
An absolutely mesmerising performance. You are a joy to watch, and you play with so much passion and character. I am working my way through all of your videos. You are unbelievably generous with your time and advice, you have inspired me tremendously. Such a beautiful person, which shines through in your playing. Thank you.
Hello Samantha, I am deeply touched by your kind, gracious, and heartfelt words! Especially during this time of social isolation, your generosity is all the more appreciated. Your enthusiasm and support is also a light for me, and encourages me with this solitary work. Thank you for letting me know the teaching and performance videos are a source of inspiration for you. I am sure you play beautifully being the thoughtful and warm person that you are! I wish you many blessings with your life and on your musical journey.
@@SallyChristianMusic Hello Sally, So wonderful to read your heartfelt reply, and words of encouragement. Music and connection with people is even more important in these testing times. Stay safe and well.
@@samanthakember3422 Hello Samantha, thank you! You are so right, more than ever, we see how fundamentally important our connections are with people and music! May we all stay safe and well!
It's my favorite piece!♡Thank you⚘
Thank you for your wonderful words which are such a happy surprise for me! I really appreciate knowing that you love this piece, especially since it is generally not well known and is seldom played. It's one of my favorites as well. I wish the very best to you and with your playing. :-)
Sally, your performance is outstanding. I don't know how you do it! You play so skillfully, and you give the piece so much character and form. Thank you for your generosity in sharing.
Hello Roger, thank you for your wonderful words about this performance. I really appreciate what you have said, and particularly about the character and form. It is truly a pleasure and privilege to play and share this extraordinary music. With all best wishes to you!
Amazing
Hello Oscar, thank you so much!! 💕
Bravo !!!
Thank you very much!! 🌹 Best wishes to you. 🎵
Genius in motion: a performance wonderfully blending classical technique with spiritually free-form Latin rhythm!
Hello Stephen, thank you for your gracious and imaginative words! I agree that this music is a unique blend of classical virtuoso piano writing and "Spanish Impressionism." When I play El Polo, I often feel as if I am part flamenco dancer and part musical alchemist! All best wishes to you!
Sally makes me shiver (and here in Sardinia we have 36 degrees) :-) I can't understand how you can control the pedal in such a perfect way !! excellent recording of the Steinway. A Rossinian greeting ... Brava Bravissima
Hello spadiu, how lovely to see your thoughtful comment, and thank you for your gracious words about this recording and performance! I especially appreciate your mentioning the use of the pedal. So much of the unique beauty of El Polo comes from the harmonic "clusters" Albéniz writes, and how these are enhanced by the use of various pedaling techniques. In other instances, a chord will begin as a dissonance, but as only one note is quickly released, the remaining holding notes transform into a consonant chord. This is done without any pedal at all, and can be heard at 2:24-2:28. I've rarely (if ever) seen this technique of note bending written in the classical piano literature. Albéniz takes such meticulous care in notating exactly what he wants, creating a new exotic language! Thank you for your interest and support, and all best wishes to you!
What a tangled web Albéniz always seems to weave with the hands. :~)
Hello musicalintentions / James, I agree with you, it is a tangled web for sure! I don't think he could have written it any other way and still get all the chordal and voice combinations he does. This, along with the wide range of registers he covers simultaneously makes it more like orchestral writing. His mind and imagination are truly awe inspiring!
At 6:54 I started seeing double. Need to have my eyes checked. Oh wait... They're okay now.
I would not understand the technicalities of this piece if I had two lifetimes to study it. However, as always, I can certainly enjoy hearing you play it.
Hello Dwight, I am so happy to hear from you and see your delightful comment! Thank you for your amusing words about seeing double! El Polo is in F minor, but here at 6:43, Albéniz begins a big section in the parallel key of F Major. This part of the piece is truly an acrobatic tour de force. The left hand is really juggling 3 different parts: the tuba-like low single bass notes, the middle register pairs of staccato notes, and the very high pairs of staccato notes a piccolo might play. And all of this is dancing around the melodic line of the right hand. I have never seen another piece written quite like this one! I'm so glad you enjoyed watching and hearing this seldom played piece! Thank you for your appreciated comment- it's really a pleasure to hear from you again. I hope you are doing well, and I send you all best wishes! P.S. I have not forgotten about the book you suggested I write. :-)
Dear Sally, SO WONDERFUL AS ALWAYS!!!!! Thank you for your favourite Spanish composer (lately my favourite too) and for an excellent performance, my new big "like-thumb up-upvote"46 and as usual I've added this great video to my public playlists called "Sally Christian" and "My Favourite Classical Music", today this Thursday in my country Poland it's a church holiday called "Boże Ciało" and we have a very long weekend, so I can listen to music every day, Btw. again my suggestion/recommendation, Sara Larikka from Finland, an excellent concert pianist/composer/teacher of piano, of course, absolutely such a very underrated channel, only 78 subscribers (very sad and shoking), lately I have my new public playlist called "Sara Larikka", 11 videos, Sara reads the comments, her English is very good (in the contrast to my English), I think her music deserves more attention, as every day my best wishes from Poland to America, have a happy week. Joanna
Hello Joanna, thank you for another wonderful comment, and for selecting El Polo for your public playlist featuring my performance videos. El Polo is a very unusual dance. The "sobbing" motive can be heard throughout as this dance cycles through numerous times, (eight 16-measure cycles) all building in harmonic complexity, key changes, and intensity. I do wish to one day give a teaching video on this piece, as it is so seldom played. Sending many best wishes to you. :-)
Bravo
Thank you! 💖
❤❤❤❤
💃🏻💕🙏
What an ending! Brava!!
This piece reminds me, in a way, of Ravel's La Valse.
Hello James, thank you for your insights and musical sensitivities. I do hear similarities to Ravel's La Valse. Once the waltz section begins, El Polo is one continuous mesmerizing waltz to the very last flourish! I send very best wishes to you and your students.
Wonderful!
Can I suggest putting the title of the piece in the RUclips thumbnail?
Hello Luke, thank you very much for your lovely comment! Regarding your suggestion, I do not think it is possible to put the title of the piece in the RUclips thumbnail. It automatically appears in the text to the right of my thumbnail as you see: Albéniz Iberia Book III: El Polo * Please let me know if you have information to the contrary. Thank you, and best wishes.