Sonora Rag, by Tom Brier, played by the composer at the 2016 Santa Cruz Ragtime Festival
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 20 ก.ย. 2024
- Originally Tom suggested I not post this because he struggled to remember the piece (he misheard Vincent Matthew Johnson at the beginning shouting a request for his popular "Blue Sahara" as "Do Sonora" -- a rarity indeed -- and in this video is basically making up a Trio section and then not doing a repeat because he couldn't remember how it's supposed to go), but since any video of Tom is golden given the terrible injury he suffered in August of 2016, I decided this actually isn't all that bad -- and it's not like this is a Brier piece that is heard in other videos!
Speaking of Tom and his condition, finally, after four years in a nursing home, he is finally being transferred to a neurological rehabilitation center to begin physical and speech therapies. Hopefully it is not too late for him to learn to speak and gain enough dexterity to use a computer at the very least, so he can communicate and write music again. Time will tell. (Time told. He was only in the center for a few months, then was moved into his parents' house.)
Tom's comeback will be the most legendary anyone has seen.
He most likely won't be able to play at this level again though.
@@danielrc14 yeah, but seeing him play anything at all would be so awesome
K1tsubi sir/ma’am you have sixty nine likes, I’m sorry but I can’t like your comment
If there is a god out there somewhere, he will let this HAPPEN
@@tree_0550 me a atheist: … just this once
Always nice to see Tom doing his magic , hope he gets well soon
...I’m new(ish) to the channel and I keep seeing this and I have no clue what happened can you please tell me
Minater 247 I believe he got in a car accident a couple years ago (I think a few years ago) and he hasn’t had a full recover. He can’t even play the piano, so we’re all hoping he gets better
@@minater247 As above, in August of 2016 he was nearly crushed to death in a car accident and suffered brain damage. Currently he is unable to speak without considerable effort, can not walk, his right hand is mostly paralyzed, and he has limited dexterity in his left.
@@Keeper1st
He's still here, so the Lord still has plans 🙏
@@Keeper1st Any nearby update video for him this august ?
Wow, this is the best news I've heard in a while! Finally he may be to talk and compose again
@@andoryuguen1273 read the description,in there it says that Tom will finally be getting physical therapy and speech therapy.
@@andoryuguen1273 yea read the description
He was doing this is 2016
@@andoryuguen1273
Please, stop being so Evil, Tom Nook!
Evil Tom Nook this video is from 2016, it was uploaded a month ago. the description is accurate
For how good Toms skills are, it’s a ridicule to only call him magnificent at playing. He exceeds far beyond the words of magnificent of how he plays that it brings me tears of joy to hear him Play music.
Yeah his playing was exceptional. It’s hard to find words to describe it. His tempos are always perfect, and he has great accuracy even while playing complex/fast parts.
It’s nice to hear good news about Tom. I’ll be praying for his recovery
Keeper --- thank you for preserving and sharing these videos of Tom!
I am so glad to hear about Tom's transfer, I really hope he can make the best recovery possible! Thank you so much for keeping us updated, and when you next see him, please thank him for me for all of his wonderful music
Written in 1996 when Tom would have been about 24 or 25, in the keys of D and G, not something you'd see too often in rags! A fantastic piece indeed. Never thought I'd see another video from this venue, either!
I was overjoyed to see this video show up in my feed and relieved to read about his progress. Thank you so much for sharing another of Tom's incredible performances. I hope to hear more about his recovery soon. I'm sure with his passion for music and enough therapy and support he'll be back to writing music in no time. Thank you for sharing Tom with the world. We're all rooting for you, Tom!
I am 41 years old and this Tom guy just makes me want to learn piano. I love seeing him play Yoshi's island athletic theme the most. Just hope he gets all right soon and comes to play the piano once again.
Did you end up giving it a go?
that's so amazing to hear about Tom! hope all goes well
He has so much willpower that the strings vibrate without him having to press the keys because they already shiver out of sheer fear
So amazing to hear that Tom is finally back on the road to recovery, as any good person deserves to be.
I miss his style so much! Thanks for sharing it! I hope he is recovering well, my best best wishes in the world for him. I can feel the joy to music in his performace each time.
When I learned the way his accident was being managed I was very upset. I talk about Tom all the time even though I've never met Tom.
A world with less Tom is a world with less music. Of course we all hope he recovers, at least a little. It's just a little bit of hope, but nice because it's a little more than I had yesterday.
That's excellent news about Tom. Thank you for consistently sharing videos and updates!
I can't believe I missed this!!!!!! I live here in Tucson and I wish I had found this channel back then so I could have know about this and been able to see him in person.
Except this was in Santa Cruz, California. The piece is about Sonora, California too -- not the Sonora near you.
@@Keeper1st hahaha makes sense. There's so many things like businesses here named after Santa Cruz, that I've honestly forgotten about how it's not just here that has the Santa Cruz river. I still hope maybe someday I can see Tom play in person when he makes a recovery. I say when because I'm sure he will, and it's best to think positive.
Yay! I've been listening to Tom's videos on youtube for years and I am glad there is more footage of him performing.
I hope his therapy goes well.
Thank you for the video! Love his performances. I hope he is recovering well. Stay safe! 🥰😇
Oh wow, I'm so happy to see him play again. I hope he can play to this ability again some day soon. Only the best for Tom Brier, the greatest pianist I've ever seen.
Best wishes to Tom in rehabilitation! Hope he gets to do what he loves again very soon
I’m so glad to hear Tom is getting better now. Strongly hope that his condition become well continuously：D
I almost regret findig this amazing man becauose now I am so sad that he had the injury. I sure hope he will recover once😔. He deserves it😔
Thanks for sharing another video of Tom, I hope he continues to recover. Life can be so cruel sometimes 🙁❤️
Thank you for posting this, it's always so nice to see Tom doing what he does best. I'm also glad to hear about the update on his recovery, I wish him the very best.
The legendary ragtime piece for my hometown! Love it!
Best wishes for Tom from all of us
Tom doing what he does best!!
Many thanks FOR uploading!
Always nice to see, especially higher quality stuff 😍
so very glad to hear things are looking up for him, thank you so much for always keeping us updated and i hope you have been well too!
AWESOME!!! I am SOOOOOO happy to hear that Ron! That made my week! I hope it's not too late. Tom deserves all the help he can get. Finally, some good news! And yes, anything with Tom is gold. I enjoyed this immensely.
Thank you for the video and news on Tom!! The people of the world are rooting for him, and I for one look forward to learning his future compositions!
Thanks for updating us on Tom's condition! Prayers for that wonderful man's recovery!
Tom is such a skilled person and I hope he can get back to doing what he loves again. I remember finding old videos of him playing Mario soundtracks and then finding out what happened to him, so heartbroken. Makes me very sad, but I’m glad he will be getting the help he needs. Thank you for uploading this :)
I'm glad to hear that Tom has finally gotten transferred to undergo physical therapy. Thanks again Keeper for keeping everyone in the loop with this, and once again thank you for everything you do!
Beautiful and somehow serene in a way, thank you for posting this and hope Tom recovers as best he can!
It's been a long time since I've watched your channel (I made a new account for posting videos and didn't keep up with most of my old subscriptions) but I'm very happy to see this today... I hope Tom is doing well, thank you for continuing to share his work and all the other great music on your channel. It makes the world a little brighter.
After reading the description and rewatching the video, I think it is one of the funniest ones on this channel (not talking about the terrible accident of course) xD
And this piece is one of the most barnstorming ragtimes I've ever heard...
Thanks so much for posting this. That story in the description is hysterical.
God speed. Whether or not he performs again in youtube is secondary: I hope he is able to regain the social and emotional connections with his peers. There's so much joy from him in this shared love of music.
Tom's back! Hooray!
I had wondered if, after the horrific accident he was in, he'd ever be able to play again. Seeing this video actually made me tear up a bit, but in a good way. This was a good thing to see.
I wish him all the best, and a continued recovery. But man, this video really made me happy. Thanks for sharing!
Ah, darn it, reread the title and caught the year. I thought this was recent.
Still, I wish him well, and hope he continues recovering!
It's funny I dont even know Tom at all obviously, same as many commenters here, but I felt genuine heartwarming joy when I read in your description that he's been transferred to a new place and things are looking up.
He really has touched many people with his music and persona
Thank you for the update Keeper. All the best. Tom never leaves our thoughts
Such good quality! Thank you for blessing us with another one of these
So glad Tom's going into rehabilitation! I hope he can play again eventually
This is amazing news! Overjoyed to hear he’s finally getting the treatment he needs. Tom and your channel inspire me to appreciate rag more and more every video. I’m not a great musician, but I am a Nintendo fanboy and I love music. Tom’s gaming sightreads are what really introduced my into loving this genre, as unknowledgable as I am in it. So happy to hear he’s taking steps to get better. Did we ever find out why it took so long for him to get more therapy? Godspeed man ✊🏽
Is there a place we can buy sheet music for Tom's compositions? I'd like to learn some of his pieces.
There’s a handful on musescore.com
Plans are in the works to have the remaining stock of Tom's sheet music sold online. It'll probably be mentioned on the westcoastragtime.com site when it happens.
@@Keeper1st Has this already happened yet? (I can't really figure out past announcements on that website you mentioned) If not, do you have any idea of what songs it would include?
@@sethpennell250 They have a web site up but ordering is not functional. Tom's family is not at all tech-savvy (they've no idea what an iPad is, for example).
It's never too late. Don't give up. Tom is hiding somewhere behind the debris waiting to come out. Humanity is incredible in what they can accomplish when determined.
Wow... I have seen just a few videos of him and he's already an inspiration to me and knowing what happened to him it's great to see that he is gettin' better. I Wish him wll!
All prayers for him. May his family make the best decisions for him.
I'm a bit late to the vid, but as a fellow musician, I'm so happy to hear Tom is going to be getting help. I wish him the best and that maybe someday down the road maybe even be able to hear him do something on the piano. It sounds like a lot, but I know that if Tom were to ever come back, it would be an amazing tale. Tom getting on the road to recovery might be the single best thing 2020 has brought us.
So incredibly talented. I sure do miss hearing him!! He inspired me to continue playing piano and to venture into ragtime when I thought I’d have to throw in the towel.
Best wishes for Tom. Thank you for this, best regards from Chile
Even if people don't completely stop to listen, watching them at least walk by and smile is nice to see :)
Tom DOES remember his original trio in this video and DOES play it THREE TIMES (once mis-remembered, and twice correctly):
The first (made-up / couldn't remember) trio is at 1:43,
which starts out correct, but within about 3 or 4 bars goes from 'remembered' to 'made up'.
Then, after the (remembered) 'dogfight' or interlude at 2:00,
Tom DOES remember the correct trio and plays it at 2:08.
In fact, he is so determined to get it right that he plays ANOTHER dogfight at 2:26,
and then one more EXCITING, RAMBUNCTIOUS and CORRECT version of the trio at 2:34.
It's truly wonderful!
I know which is correct because I have his CD "Generic" on which Tom recorded this (on a Yamaha synthesizer) along with many other tracks. I believe that home-made CD was issued about 1997 or 1998 and I bought it from Tom early on at one of the festivals...probably before 2005.
@@andrewbarrett1537 can you record the original song? I can’t find it anywhere.
@@andrewbarrett1537 yeah I looked and looked but there's no sheet music for this online, or even a recording, so it'd be great if you could share this recording
I will consult a friend about this and if it seems OK, will post. This would not be for profit, but so everyone else can hear this tune. The last time I tried my copy of the (homemade) “Generic” CD, it was unplayable, but maybe I can still get it to work. I recall that Tom had this self published as both a standalone single sheet (with cover art), and it was in one of his sheet music folios, I think maybe #2 or #3, which I don’t have (I only have Volume 1 and Constellations; there is also a Blue Sahara folio to go with the CD, but I don’t have that, either)
Having seen the printed score to Sonora, I seem to recall that Tom typeset it in small font to fit entirely on only two pages of music, like one of the late Stark Music Co. publications from the WWI era. This is what I recall; not sure I have a copy of the score but will dig around for it.
Life can deal you a terrible hand at any random moment, I hope he can find some semblance of the happiness he once had with piano.
great to hear Tom is doing better!
I remember it was quite a battle to get Tom out of that nursing home and into therapy. Better late than never!
Okay, now this is epic.
love from australia
BTW here's Tom playing in Australia (Adamstown, NSW) 11 months before the accident: th-cam.com/video/4s8EjWCOj58/w-d-xo.html
Great that he is finally getting treatment. Hope it means a series of breakthroughs will follow!
It's good to read that he is finally at rehabilitation ^^
Glad to hear Tom is getting better. I wish him just the Best:))
This is tied with "Elephant Tracks" as my absolutely TOP favorite Tom Brier rag (not novelty piano solo; I have some favorites there too!).
I think this piece is a work of genius and compares favorably with other genius rags like "Eugenia" by Scott Joplin and "Red Peppers" by Imogene Giles.
I don't say that lightly.
It's too bad Tom forgot part of the trio here, BUT having myself heard it on his (now LONG out-of-print) CD "Generic" in a wonderful synthesized version (over and over again... my copy of the CD is nearly unplayable today), I can attest that this trio, of this rag, is VERY intricate and more like a bebop (or swing) jazz solo, than like many ragtime melodies... at least in the long-form and slightly abstract conception of the flowing melody... somewhere between classical and jazz I suppose. Tt's DEFINITELY a ragtime melody but is very 'classic' or 'advanced' and NOT a typical 'pop' ragtime melody. He even has a jazz break in the middle of the trio.
I would say this piece is more-or-less in Tom's idea of the Scott Joplin style (A and C themes), but with modern touches, and additional classicism. The B theme is great too, but less Joplinesque and more like some of the other era great composers (like Chas. N. Daniels). Overall, a wonderful and well-balanced piece.
I think I did hear Tom play it (on request from me) once at one of the festivals, many years ago. I'm sorry I didn't think to record it at the time.
Glad to hear him play it again; thanks for posting!!!
Also glad to hear of Tom moving to the new facility; I hope this means he's finally on the road to recovery!
Happy to hear Tom is finally recovering, even if I only saw videos of him years after the accident.
I hope Tom is okay! I just love watching him play
I really really hope he will be up and playing his piano like he used to be!! Tom Brier is a piano hero!
Praying for Tom, he's a legend in my world.
I've learned to improvise and play ragtime because of Tom, he inspired me to become a better pianist. I hope one day he will be able to play again, I wish him the best.
Get well soon, Tom!
bless u guys man
Love you, Tom!
I really hope Tom gets better! Breaks me heart to see this man unable to enjoy life
thanks for the video and the update.
I'm glad to hear Tom is finally getting the help he needs
To God be the glory! Be well, Tom, and all of us!!
Awesome rag like always. Sending my love to Tom Brier ❤️
His transferral is wonderful! Just as wonderful as his playing of course....
Was this recorded at the same time as the The Entertainer video was recorded?
Chronologically this was between the performances of Red Roadster Rag and The Entertainer, yes.
@@Keeper1st Good to know. Thank you.
@@Keeper1st could you upload the entire performance, or is said video already on your channel?
@@ultimatewarrior733 Entire performance of what?
@@Keeper1st The performance including this video and the entertainer video.
damn, i was happy for a second until i read "2016"
You shouldn't expect to see any "new" video of Tom. There's one unlisted video that shows his post-accident state of ability. You can tell he is able to come up with musically intelligible countermelody, but he is physically not able to do much about it. th-cam.com/video/8ruENxAWiXE/w-d-xo.html
Tom is truly a legend I hope he gets better
Thank god that he is about to get speech therapy, I hope he can learn to speak again and recovers completely if possible.
Go Tom!!! We are all rooting for you :)
I missed this, nice one !
Nice to see that he still has his skills i hope he will be fit again 😊
Well, in January of 2016 he did still have his skills.
Absolutely incredible.
I LOVE YOU TOM GET WELL SOON YOU ARE A GOD AMONG MEN
Thanks for the update
Good to know that Tom is going to get proper treatment!
I am so happy to hear the news that Tom will be getting much needed therapy after all this time!
Thanks, 1st! I can remember when this came to pass and what about that little goomer zooming all over the place! Thanks again! Good old Tom!
I wish he would've placed the jar directly behind him so it would be more visible to the passers by
I do hope he gets better. Please send our regards.
Glad to hear Toms finally being transferred to rehab
This makes me happy
Good wishes to Tom
Give our respects to Tom, @Keeper1st
First time i see Tom not sightreading some pieces
Brilliant and beautiful!
Oh wow I forgot I even subbed, what a pleasant surprise
Wow, _finally_ they get him into rehab. Took their sweet time, but great news.