Prelude No. 15, nicknamed the “Raindrop” by Chopin’s gf George Sand, presumably because of the endless goddamn plunking on that A♭, which feels like rain. Of all the pieces in the classical repertoire, I think it would be fair to say that this is among the wettest. I’ve been playing it since I was about 14, but I still have to look at the music because I’m a hack and a grifter.
"there are three kinds of pianists: Jewish pianists, homosexual pianists, and bad pianists." -Horowitz The Piano arch is the final confirmation of Natalie's lesbianism and we love that for her! Gold stars all around.
I think she would interpret the 15th movement from Messiaen's Vingt Regards well. There's something about it which is so intensely emotional towards the end. While the music itself is quite different to Satie's Gymnopedies/Gnossienes, both pieces make you feel the same way, kind of nostalgic, I suppose. This Chopin prelude also sort of makes you feel nostalgic as well.
This calmed my cat down in the middle of her zooming around the house. Not sure if she is a Chopin fan or a Natalie fan. Either way, I appreciate the calm.
watches: regal, sombre, magnificent, elevated performance of art r e a d s d e s c r i p t i o n: "Dedicated to my virtual 18th century lover Élisabeth"
one of my favourites of Chopin. the turbulent "stormy" B section makes the return of the A section that all the more sweeter and softening. it really places the main theme into a new context. the story goes that this prelude came to Chopin whilst he was asleep during a rainstorm and the sound of the rain caused him to dream that he was drowning, trapped in a lake with the water washing over him. he woke up with a start and still shaken, ran to the piano and penned this to calm himself down. true story or not, this piece is a brilliant example of romanticism era musical symbolism and of Chopin's uncanny ability to invoke the bittersweet.
This painting holds a really special place in my heart. This is a self portrait by Élisabeth Vigée Le Brun, hangs in the National Gallery in the 18th century painting octagon room. It’s so majestic, you can’t possibly fathom the effect that this big sky has with the figure-subject; It really does feel as if Le Brun is moving towards you.The composition feels so familiar and alive; the colors are vibrant and technique is brilliant, the fabric which is so virtuosly done and her masterful use of chiaroscuro which here is so subtle yet sublime; but granted, it’s Le Brun we’re talking about!
I was listening to Satie alot today thanks to your highlighting of it. Thank you for these, love them so much :)
3 ปีที่แล้ว +2
It's amazing how creators like Natalie can introduce new things to people, in this case classical music ☺ the and TwosetViolin are doing great work on that front!
3 ปีที่แล้ว +2
If you'd like more, try listening to Debussy and Ravel as well!
The portrait in the background stares into my soul and is the final judgement of my life's actions. She weighs my heart but does not tell me how heavy it is because she can not speak. She is a painting.
I remember first listening this music when I was 12, during the movie _Prometheus_ . There's no day ever since I haven't listened or thought about this melody. I absolutely adore your rendition, Natalie. Thank you.
Honestly- playing this surrounded by lavish furnishings, while alone, and also as a poetic queer person, is like channeling Frederic's own spirit and probably way closer than a concert performance to how he wanted this piece to be experienced. C'est magnifique, chère Contra.
Chopin wasn't queer and let's be real, you don't know a thing about how he wanted 'this piece to be experienced' - you're just saying how *you* think it should be experienced.
@@helvete_ingres4717 there's some proof that he was, but those letters are kept mostly secret. And i have to say that no one can know what he wanted - not now after almost 200 years
@@helvete_ingres4717 Chopin wasn't from like ancient history it was only the 1800s, we know quite lot about his life including his intentions for his art in quite a lot of detail. It is certainly the case that playing in private living rooms and salons rather than concert halls was his preferred venue, and this is also clear from his musical style: Gentle, playing with the tone colours of a quietly played piano.
@@TheYopogo you describe his 'musical style' in caricatured terms, in exact complement to the common caricature of Liszt as nothing but a flamboyant technical performer which I'm sure is how it is in your head. 'Piano' is short for pianoFORTE, to make a general characterisation of 'gentle' is to characterise it as UNmusical, especially for as piano-centric a composer as Chopin who fyi wrote in forms like the concerto too. Listen to the actual top-tier of his piano writing, not just the tunes you'll hear in TV shows and such - say the coda of the first ballade, then tell me what is so 'gentle' about it
People often compare Chopin's music to the work of a novelist, and I think that's very appropriate. I also think, as weird as it sounds, that there's a parallel between that and the way Natalie uses TH-cam. At a time when music was becoming bigger and grander, concert hall culture was taking off, Beethoven was big, orchestras were getting bigger and louder and more complicated, Chopin went in the opposite direction. He often played in private homes for small groups and he wrote his pieces to be played that way. He also wrote at the time when mass manufacturing and printing were changing the nature of middle class homes. It was an iconic middle class achievement to have a factory built piano in the home, and a bank of printed sheet music; and it's that context that Chopin wrote for also. So instead of being structured around big blockbuster events like the performance of a Beethoven symphony in your city's major concert hall, knowledge of Chopin's music spread a bit like falling in love, one person at a time, usually because a friend told you about it or you read it in a periodical or something; just like how novelists' popularity spreads. That's like how Natalie's brilliant, kind, insightful, ridiculously well and beautifully made creations for TH-cam function, when compared to something like actual movies or major speaking engagements from mainstream public intellectuals.
Your journey as an artist and a person has been something quite special to watch. Your playing is lovely, the setting is exquisite and I hope you are doing well.
That page turn was slick AF. One art to master in piano is the art to flip pages without the flow of the piece breaking. This rendition as a whole is excellent!
I don't know the music word for the middle part of songs, but the middle part of this never fails to make me weep desperately. Came here for a video to watch while eating breakfast and now I'm ugly crying over my toast and coffee.
I came across your channel when you uploaded the Gymnopedies. I really admire your content and I’m glad you’ve decided to start sharing some of your musical passion too. I’m in University for piano now and composition now, and honestly I love your interpretations. Never stop doing what you love :)
Sweet! Love Chopin! My favorite dead musical artist from that era! People are more familiar with the "funeral" dirge then him, it's sad. He wrote such great pieces full of light and darkness sometimes in the same work. Natalie plays it so beautifully!
On one hand, I cannot help but deeply appreciate the beauty of this piece, as it is played by a literal based goddess, Natalie, and on the other hand… *flashbacks to Halo 3 intensifies*
I love this piece!! I also remember playing it as a teenager, and it was always the best when it was raining outside. I wish I had my piano with me rn😭😭
Ok so I work at an animal shelter, and I just realized that I recognize this piece because we play it for the dogs sometimes to help calm them down :’) Well played Natalie, beautiful ❤️
She makes classical music feel like a safe place. I've always felt like I didn't belong in that kinda music and always avoided it like the plague. I trust her taste and talent. This is good music!
Please keep posting this kind of content, lol I haven’t ever had much of a foot in the door on baroque/classical/pre-20th century music, and this is cool
I love this. The whole vibe. Feels like you could be a character in a book by Stefan Zweig, a poetic, quiet intellectual girl working on her piano while deciding which suitor to pick, the dashing young lieutenant from the garrison or the beautiful pastry chef from the shop on the square.
Thank you. What a delight to find out that I have somehow missed the creation of this new channel, and I have something lovely to brighten the end of this vexing day.
Beautiful! I love this prelude. This used to be one of my favorite Chopin pieces, but now I'd say Nocturne, Op. 9, No. 1 and Etude Op. 10, No. 3. Actually - it's hard to choose. It's all good.
Although I've never heard this piece before, based on your description you really capture the mood. There's melancholy and yearning, but also a gentle sweetness. I enjoyed hearing the repeated Ab that mimics raindrops falling.
Prelude No. 15, nicknamed the “Raindrop” by Chopin’s gf George Sand, presumably because of the endless goddamn plunking on that A♭, which feels like rain. Of all the pieces in the classical repertoire, I think it would be fair to say that this is among the wettest. I’ve been playing it since I was about 14, but I still have to look at the music because I’m a hack and a grifter.
I always need to look at my hands when I type - you’re not alone.
you're a beautiful and amazingly talented goddess and i'm simping hard 🥰
Love you🎹💜💜✨✨🎶
Reject: comfort of self-deprecation
Embrace: acknowledgement of own hard work and talent
MY QUEEN!!!!!!!!!!
"there are three kinds of pianists: Jewish pianists, homosexual pianists, and bad pianists."
-Horowitz
The Piano arch is the final confirmation of Natalie's lesbianism and we love that for her! Gold stars all around.
No kidding, I’m all three of those things... 😳
SPEAKING of which - anybody who hasn't heard his take on the prelude definitely needs check it out!
I'm a half-jewish, bisexual piano teacher. I wonder where I stand.
So according to Horowitz, Chopin was a bad pianist!
@@justin6777 😂
Hey Natalie, I just wanted to say that from one pianist to another, I'm really loving these piano vids! Would love to hear more
More!!!!
Agreed!
I play guitar. And I KNOW you do too Contra! Bust out the les paul if you still got it woman!!!
I think she would interpret the 15th movement from Messiaen's Vingt Regards well. There's something about it which is so intensely emotional towards the end. While the music itself is quite different to Satie's Gymnopedies/Gnossienes, both pieces make you feel the same way, kind of nostalgic, I suppose. This Chopin prelude also sort of makes you feel nostalgic as well.
Can you stop being so wildly entertaining, I can't stan any harder.
can’t afford to
We say that, but we always manage to.
I'm honestly shocked that, with an army of stans so voraciously devoted, Natalie has to TURN HER OWN PAGES?! We have failed her.
I'm certain there's a good couple thousand of us who would dedicate our lives to turning pages on Natalie's behalf
Sheesh
@@alexladon9757 she could literally start a cult if she wanted she’s being very responsible tbh
Natalie ??
This is unacceptable
This calmed my cat down in the middle of her zooming around the house. Not sure if she is a Chopin fan or a Natalie fan. Either way, I appreciate the calm.
Nyatalie fan
Maybe it calmed you and your cat took notice. Animals are emotional sponges after all. Take care of yourself to take care of your cat.
OMG same thing JUST happened to my cats!!
Yep, same here. My Cleo is loving this 😻😻
i love the reclaiming of that random ass 18th century portrait as a picture of natalie
And now that lady is Natalie's gf in Ambition
watches: regal, sombre, magnificent, elevated performance of art
r e a d s d e s c r i p t i o n: "Dedicated to my virtual 18th century lover Élisabeth"
Listening to this while it is raining outside my window. This is a revelation
Ah, sweet crysalism.
i got the notification for this video just as i was about to doze off... thank you for the most beautiful lullaby
one of my favourites of Chopin. the turbulent "stormy" B section makes the return of the A section that all the more sweeter and softening. it really places the main theme into a new context.
the story goes that this prelude came to Chopin whilst he was asleep during a rainstorm and the sound of the rain caused him to dream that he was drowning, trapped in a lake with the water washing over him. he woke up with a start and still shaken, ran to the piano and penned this to calm himself down.
true story or not, this piece is a brilliant example of romanticism era musical symbolism and of Chopin's uncanny ability to invoke the bittersweet.
Loving the self portrait in the background, she actually does look like you. 😊
Edit: A stunning performance, both visually and audibly.
This painting holds a really special place in my heart. This is a self portrait by Élisabeth Vigée Le Brun, hangs in the National Gallery in the 18th century painting octagon room. It’s so majestic, you can’t possibly fathom the effect that this big sky has with the figure-subject; It really does feel as if Le Brun is moving towards you.The composition feels so familiar and alive; the colors are vibrant and technique is brilliant, the fabric which is so virtuosly done and her masterful use of chiaroscuro which here is so subtle yet sublime; but granted, it’s Le Brun we’re talking about!
I was listening to Satie alot today thanks to your highlighting of it. Thank you for these, love them so much :)
It's amazing how creators like Natalie can introduce new things to people, in this case classical music ☺ the and TwosetViolin are doing great work on that front!
If you'd like more, try listening to Debussy and Ravel as well!
Listen to Galina Ustvolskaya and leave those famous composers to the plebeians
The greatest performance of this piece is by Sokolov, give it a listen.
The portrait in the background stares into my soul and is the final judgement of my life's actions. She weighs my heart but does not tell me how heavy it is because she can not speak. She is a painting.
It´s Élisabeth Vigée-Lebrun´s self-portrait. She was a badass lady.
@@themroc8231 I truly believed it was a fan-made portrait of Natalie, the resemblance is uncanny
It's beautiful
😭😭
I remember first listening this music when I was 12, during the movie _Prometheus_ . There's no day ever since I haven't listened or thought about this melody.
I absolutely adore your rendition, Natalie.
Thank you.
Honestly- playing this surrounded by lavish furnishings, while alone, and also as a poetic queer person, is like channeling Frederic's own spirit and probably way closer than a concert performance to how he wanted this piece to be experienced. C'est magnifique, chère Contra.
Chopin wasn't queer and let's be real, you don't know a thing about how he wanted 'this piece to be experienced' - you're just saying how *you* think it should be experienced.
@@helvete_ingres4717 Shut up, let us romanticize our lives in peace
@@helvete_ingres4717 there's some proof that he was, but those letters are kept mostly secret.
And i have to say that no one can know what he wanted - not now after almost 200 years
@@helvete_ingres4717 Chopin wasn't from like ancient history it was only the 1800s, we know quite lot about his life including his intentions for his art in quite a lot of detail.
It is certainly the case that playing in private living rooms and salons rather than concert halls was his preferred venue, and this is also clear from his musical style: Gentle, playing with the tone colours of a quietly played piano.
@@TheYopogo you describe his 'musical style' in caricatured terms, in exact complement to the common caricature of Liszt as nothing but a flamboyant technical performer which I'm sure is how it is in your head. 'Piano' is short for pianoFORTE, to make a general characterisation of 'gentle' is to characterise it as UNmusical, especially for as piano-centric a composer as Chopin who fyi wrote in forms like the concerto too. Listen to the actual top-tier of his piano writing, not just the tunes you'll hear in TV shows and such - say the coda of the first ballade, then tell me what is so 'gentle' about it
ahh Natalie you did the female arousal prelude!
Very beautiful and soul cleansing, thank you for sharing
I’m sure Madame le Brun (or dare I say Élisabeth) in the background is just as delighted by the beautiful playing as I am!
Can't wait for your rendition of "Torrent", which is far wetter than this...
The ocean etude (Op. 25 No. 12) is definitely wetter than torrent
@@lmichaelgreenjr Came here to say this
@@lmichaelgreenjr Touche
Just when we thought we couldn't get any more wet...
@L. Michael Green Op. 10 No. 1 "Waterfall" would also be quite wet, the first Godowsky version more so than the original
Well this cured my postpartum depression. Thank you Natalie 💕
People often compare Chopin's music to the work of a novelist, and I think that's very appropriate.
I also think, as weird as it sounds, that there's a parallel between that and the way Natalie uses TH-cam.
At a time when music was becoming bigger and grander, concert hall culture was taking off, Beethoven was big, orchestras were getting bigger and louder and more complicated, Chopin went in the opposite direction.
He often played in private homes for small groups and he wrote his pieces to be played that way.
He also wrote at the time when mass manufacturing and printing were changing the nature of middle class homes.
It was an iconic middle class achievement to have a factory built piano in the home, and a bank of printed sheet music; and it's that context that Chopin wrote for also.
So instead of being structured around big blockbuster events like the performance of a Beethoven symphony in your city's major concert hall, knowledge of Chopin's music spread a bit like falling in love, one person at a time, usually because a friend told you about it or you read it in a periodical or something; just like how novelists' popularity spreads.
That's like how Natalie's brilliant, kind, insightful, ridiculously well and beautifully made creations for TH-cam function, when compared to something like actual movies or major speaking engagements from mainstream public intellectuals.
Is this a regular thing, now? Natalie playing classical music? I could totally get behind that. :)
Fantastic rendition of the piece. I love it. :)
Waking up this beautiful autumn morning, then drinking a warm cup of coffee while listening to this was absolutely magical! Thank you Natalie.
Your journey as an artist and a person has been something quite special to watch. Your playing is lovely, the setting is exquisite and I hope you are doing well.
These videos of Natalie playing piano make me so happy
I love this song. I'm such a nerd that it always make me think of that Halo 3 diorama commercial. You played it wonderfully.
Halo 3's Believe and Prometheus' David intro scene are two of my favorite uses of the piece.
Yes! Maybe the best TV ad for a game I've ever seen, in large part due to this perfect song choice.
lol I just commented the same thing - thought I would be the only one. I'm so glad there are more of us.
That page turn was slick AF. One art to master in piano is the art to flip pages without the flow of the piece breaking. This rendition as a whole is excellent!
Your music is the song of the nightingale from which the darkness of the night recedes, if only for a brief moment. Bravo.
This is the piece that got me into classical music. I love the journey it takes you on.
I don't know the music word for the middle part of songs, but the middle part of this never fails to make me weep desperately. Came here for a video to watch while eating breakfast and now I'm ugly crying over my toast and coffee.
Natalie you are SO talented never stop posting these performances!
Thank you for inspiring us
Astonishingly beautiful. Thanks Natalie.
Her genius is only matched by her beauty and grace.
I came across your channel when you uploaded the Gymnopedies. I really admire your content and I’m glad you’ve decided to start sharing some of your musical passion too. I’m in University for piano now and composition now, and honestly I love your interpretations. Never stop doing what you love :)
Oh hell yes. Probably my favorite Chopin prelude.
I love Chopin's preludes, beautifully done.
This is a very beautiful performance. Thank you for sharing.
This is my favorite Chopin song . I used to listen to it all the time to study or smoke weed.
Perfect background music for my puzzles
Sweet! Love Chopin! My favorite dead musical artist from that era! People are more familiar with the "funeral" dirge then him, it's sad. He wrote such great pieces full of light and darkness sometimes in the same work. Natalie plays it so beautifully!
This piece was my gateway drug to classical music
what a lovely steinway, the inside case looks beautiful.
Natalie, not only are you entertaining and funny, but you have wonderful, tasteful talent. Bravo 😀
Yesss!!! I'm so happy ContraPianos is here to stay! Keep 'em coming!
On one hand, I cannot help but deeply appreciate the beauty of this piece, as it is played by a literal based goddess, Natalie, and on the other hand… *flashbacks to Halo 3 intensifies*
When I sing, I am always looking at the sheet music in my mind. I visually memorize it and have I running through my head as I sing.
Each time, more sublime. Thank you.
Oh, one of my favourites.
My all time favorite piece of classical music.
Thank you for the performance. ❤
This brought some peace to the chaos. Thank you!
I’ve always loved the music she puts in her videos, so it’s super cool to hear her perform music too
There's a playlist on Spotify, it's so perfect
This is my favorite classical piece being played by one of my favorite you tubers
Beautiful playing of an amazing piece. That major modulation in the b section is what hope sounds like.
You got the print of the Madame Le Brun portrait people say looks like you! I love it!
I enjoyed the plunkiness. It's a pleasure getting to hear you play.
So very beautiful,thank you so much !
I love this piece!! I also remember playing it as a teenager, and it was always the best when it was raining outside. I wish I had my piano with me rn😭😭
Such a delight!
Nice piece. I appreciate your use of dynamics throughout. It really added more depth and emotion. Thank you.
I seem to find these when I need them most. Thank you for sharing your talent and your love for playing beautiful music.
I thought this was a stream and clicked instantly but this is nice too ❤️
This is the first piece I learned how to play on the piano, and the one that inspired me to learn. Love the dramatic middle section!
This is really peaceful to listen to while I draw :)
Nice. One of my favorite classical compositions ever.
Chopin again helping me vicariously catharsize. Thank you, Contra
Thank you for reintroducing classical music into my life ❤️
my favorite Chopin prelude! And my favorite youtuber!
So nice, so chill, very attractive. *applause*
Ok so I work at an animal shelter, and I just realized that I recognize this piece because we play it for the dogs sometimes to help calm them down :’)
Well played Natalie, beautiful ❤️
She makes classical music feel like a safe place. I've always felt like I didn't belong in that kinda music and always avoided it like the plague. I trust her taste and talent. This is good music!
Please keep posting this kind of content, lol
I haven’t ever had much of a foot in the door on baroque/classical/pre-20th century music, and this is cool
I love these new piano videos, they are always so well made :D
Beautiful, thank you Natalie.
Beautiful.
your tempo is less restrained here, more musicality and less metronome compared to the satie. thank you you for this lovely rendition
This is absolutely beautiful.
I love this. The whole vibe. Feels like you could be a character in a book by Stefan Zweig, a poetic, quiet intellectual girl working on her piano while deciding which suitor to pick, the dashing young lieutenant from the garrison or the beautiful pastry chef from the shop on the square.
Ive been watching your videos for comfort with my depressions and it’s been helping a lot. And now this? Playing my favourite composer? I’m dying
I was just looking at that painting the other day! How lovely to see it here with your music.
I love you and Chopin. Thank you for finally combining the two into a beautiful youtube entity.
Lovely, thank you.
Thank you. What a delight to find out that I have somehow missed the creation of this new channel, and I have something lovely to brighten the end of this vexing day.
Beautiful! I love this prelude. This used to be one of my favorite Chopin pieces, but now I'd say Nocturne, Op. 9, No. 1 and Etude Op. 10, No. 3. Actually - it's hard to choose. It's all good.
Thank you, Natalie.
Absolutely beautiful!
Thanks for reminding me of how much i love this melody
Gorgeous . You are so talented !
As always, thanks for what you do Natalie
I used to love playing this when I played piano. I miss playing terribly. bravo 👏👏👏
I could hear you play the piano for hours.❤️
I loved this. Your talent blesses all that listen and see you. Thank you.
This is lovely. Thank you for sharing this beauty.
I really love that you're sharing these. Thanks Natalie.
Beautiful
That was lovely Natalie.💐
Very relaxing after a long day at work. Thank you.
Listening to this as it's raining outside, lovely as always Natalie
Keep on keepin on u! We love ya!
Although I've never heard this piece before, based on your description you really capture the mood. There's melancholy and yearning, but also a gentle sweetness. I enjoyed hearing the repeated Ab that mimics raindrops falling.