Rediculous Piano Player

Rick Wakeman has always been awesome!

 

He is clearly an EXCELLENT pianist, very fast fingers, but there are many who can play that fast, what I find more impressive is that he probably composed that as well.

 

What, are you a critic now? He was part of one of the most legendary progressive rock bands of all time.

 

quite rightly... cheers



best

 

ZeN Yo

 

Is there something wrong with criticism? No. And I did say he is excellent... but Vladimir Horowitz for example is better.

 

what's with asking a question that you are going to answer yourself??

 

You're going to compare apples and battleships now? Vladimir Horowitz to Rick Wakeman?

BTW, did you call your grandma and ask her who her favorite pianist was?

 

Pretty damn amazing. I think his fingers were going so quick that the camera wasn't picking up all the keystrokes.




Speaking of strokes.....

 

He's like the "Yngwie" of the ivories. Mullet and all. Pretty cool though.

 

Why would you even say that anyone is "better" than him? A large amount of jealousy perhaps?? Just enjoy it, comment positively if you wish, but why compare?

 

Read my original post. I did comment positively, I said he was excellent but I said what was more impressive was that he probably composed it. There are many great pianists but not many good composers these days, I was praising his ability to do both.

FYI one of my majors is piano performance and I've been playing since I was five. It sure doesn't make me an expert and I'm sure Wakeman is a million times better than me, but I think I would know a little more on this topic than you. F**king idiot. And merry christmas to you dumbass.

 

QFT

Not very classy for a piano major......

 

quite rightly



best

 

I understand your frustration but you know you are not to circumvent the censoring controls placed on various expletives. I edited it out of your post.

If it were any day other than Xmas you would be taking a 24 hour break.

 

Webby owes an apology......

I mean, this is a music thread for Christ's sake!

 

even though this is his what? 3rd or 4th offense for the same thing?

 

Yup. Only because it is xmas and because the attack was not one sided. Webby's first response in this thread is not unreasonable and then two people jumped all over it simply for the sake of doing so.

 

My ears have long since been enmeshed in a love affair with the piano... I wish my hands would have, at some point, followed suit...

"YES", Wakeman is quite the pianist... A great clip for sure...

Lastly, it's "ridiculous"...

 

i thought it was recockulous?

 

You've been talking to Mark PDX too much...

 

Strings are better....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3OMDtX2tH0


go to about 6 min to see the live performance

 

I agree with Webby. I've been playing piano for nearly 2 decades and have seen, heard, and played pieces that are more difficult and/or sound better. Check out some Rachmaninov Preludes or Concertos, Schumann Sonatas, or Liszt pieces.

But piano is just like sex in that fast and loud doesn't necessarily mean better. The true artistry that separates professionals from amateurs is how they can interpret the piece and the personal emotion that they make evident through their performance, regardless of the technical level of difficulty. I just couldn't get any feeling for what he was trying to do other than show off how fast he can play. That piece seemed to consist mainly of arpeggios strung one after the other, not to mention the fact that quick passages are easier to play on spring loaded, light-weight, synthesizer keys. Many pianists use similar exercises to warm up. Never heard of this Rick Wakeman guy, but if that's his greatest performance ever, then it isn't a mystery why I haven't heard of him. I'll have to find some other stuff he's done to get a better idea what he's about. I would have liked to see him expand and develop what he had going around the 5 minute mark. What exactly is progressive rock anyway? And just because his band is legendary doesn't mean that everyone has to praise him.

 

I agree with you on some parts of your post. Yes, this is a flashy solo that does not have a lot of technical left hand playing and no it's in no way as difficult a piece to play as many classical or jazz players attempt regularly. But stating that the true artistry that separates pros from amateurs is how they interpret a piece has nothing to do with what Wakeman is doing. He doesn't need to interpret his own playing because it's his own playing. The problem with many of the snobby classical players is that they can only play what's written out. When put in the studio with a band and told to come up with a part while the record button is pushed most fail miserably. I worked with a classical pianist/organist who was highly respected and very well known in the classical world who asked to work with a very well known rock band. His timing when playing with just a click track was horrible, but that paled in comparison into his trying to figure out what to play for the song and he left very depressed. Wakeman and Keith Emerson from ELP were very instrumental in developing the whole prog rock in the late 60's/early 70's. Bands like ELP, Yes, Genesis and Gentle Giant fused rock with classical and jazz influences and brought them to the masses. I will never state that Horowitz, Oscar Petersen or even Chick Corea will find what these bands were doing to be very difficult for players of their level. But they had a huge influence on a great many keyboardists and became multi-millionaires doing what they love. Wakeman wrote great parts to songs that were actual hits and Yes filled arenas for 30 years. He didn't learn other people's songs. Whether your interpreting the great classical pieces or playing in a Doors cover band you are still playing covers. If Chris and others feel it is the greatest solo to them, then it is the greatest solo to them. Music is not about speed, technical ability or even technical correctness. It's about bringing enjoyment into one's life. Wakeman obvoiusly hit the mark with many people. I also feel that the solo is alot like an exercise of scales and appreggios but he wrote many great parts and has many better pieces on his solo records.