johnnynoirman (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

hey nimrod keep up the good work!

arbiter220 (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

Yes, it is a keyboard.

arcturian627 (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

You could use a little more rubato to make it sound less mechanical. Otherwise, great, you nailed most of the chords ^w^

Puddingloves (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

Is this a digital piano? It can explain why the piece sounded mechanical.

robertlouisdunn (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

A bit methodical,as though it was being played blind off sheet music,instead of from the heart.IMO.

mairzyd (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

I agree: bloodless and mechanical playing, too marcato and also too fast. This music should be noble, profound and spiritually uplifting. However, because Gae41's written interpretation, posted below, is so much more expressive of this piece, his/her playing might simply be a function of clumsy technique, rather than any lack of musical feeling. He/she gets points for recognizing the beauty of the music, and for being brave enough to post it at all.

jkhalsa (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

The Barenboim/CSO version has been a lightning rod for political comment. I quoted your answer here up there, I hope you don't mind. I want people there to know solidly that there is so much to talk about this music per se, and the emotions and feelings it evokes, that there should be no tolerance for petty bickering over which country of the world or which race is supreme. I don't claim this Elgar is a panacea for what's wrong in the world, but it has given me hope and solace.

Keytaster (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

you're right, it's harsh, but true. It's so difficult to give music emotion and that's at least for me crucial if you want to play any piece. Regarding this wonderful music I think you have to play it gracefully and with elegance. and of course with grandeur. it's music that can raise you. you have to play it like that. good luck for learning this piece

jamesnorman1981 (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

That's a bit harsh! It can't be easy to express a full orchestra on just one instrument. However, if and when I learn this (sometime in the next couple of years or so on piano) I would try and put a bit more emotion into the rendition. Still, it's a fantastic transcription of a very difficult piece of music - I've tried it on the guitar and it certainly isn't easy!

Keytaster (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

sorry, but bloodless and mechanical