In the Hands
Paul Cantrell’s music
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Chopin Prelude 6

We live in a time of superhuman performers. The stars of the classical piano world do things that hardly seem humanly possible — certainly that are far beyond me — and people love it, demand it. It’s a mixed blessing: on the one hand, it’s amazing to hear the most difficult works performed with such ability; on the other hand, the emphasis on the performer, the great cult of the virtuoso, can make us forget about the music itself. Should hearing a piece of music be like watching somebody juggle 9 bowling balls on a tightrope, or like embracing an old friend?

It is often true of the composers dearest to me, Chopin first among them, that much of their finest work is their least virtuosic, and thus their most neglected. How many virtuosic pianists just gloss over a little piece like this one? (Yes, Martha Argerich, I’m talking to you.) But it is a masterpiece, not simplistic but simple, yet as wonderful as any music we pianists have the chance to explore — and painted in so few strokes, with such subtlety…. The world of music could learn from the world of math a reverence for the simple and elegant. Genius shows itself in simplicity.

So here, brave listeners, take a moment to forget about virtuosity and performers and Grammies and all that nonsense, and listen to the music itself as if it matters.

Prelude Op 28 No 6 (in B minor)

Comments

Kendall Helmstetter Gelner

That was lovely!!

I meant to put it on in the background and listen to it while I did other work, but from the start I was forced to stop all else and focus entirely on the music, sitting back with my eyes half closed…

You have a great point that perhaps in striving to show off what performers can do, that we loose sight of letting the genius in the composer show as well through works that might be simpler but are no less powerful to the audience in the end.

I can think of nothing better than camping in a remote wilderness, fire cracking and high mountains all around while the piano that our team of Llamas has carried across the slopes for us pours forth this very tune.

Kendall Helmstetter Gelner
Richard

A beautiful recording. It’s amazing how pieces differ with different peoples interpretation. When I play it, my teacher told me to control the tension, keeping it strictly in time. Both way’s I think sound lovely. A spectacular piece. Great site.

Richard
Paul

One page of music, one million pieces of music….

Paul
Jenny

I was looking around in my music library for a big, flashy, virtuosic piece to play on the piano when I came across this little gem of a piece. I was impressed by how genious this little piece is and I discovered how a piece doesn’t have to be a Rachmaninoff concerto to be a great piece.

So I decided to do a little research on this piece and I just happened to stumble across your website. I am so very inspired by what you’re doing! This is so cool!

Jenny
Darlene

I’ve been taking piano lessons for 4 years now. (I’m 44) My teacher gave me this piece to work on over the Christmas break. He told me to play it hands separately and we’d work on it together when we meet again after Christmas. I will shock him next week when I play the entire piece hands together. I found your site when I was looking to find a recording of it to ensure that I was playing it correctly. I am!! This is a great site!! Thanks!

Darlene
Ashi

I think the reason people gloss over this piece is because no one else plays it the way you do! This is one lovely version.

Ashi
yland

I have started my lessons only 7 months ago, but i have surprised even myself with an unknown talent in piano (what the heck?). I like those really profound, romantic pieces (chopin’s op.28 no.15 ‘raindrop’ is my favourite, just finished it) and this is just the thing ive been looking for. You play it amazingly, now i have something (or someone) to look up to as well! Thanx a lot.

yland
karma

i’m typically not a chopin fan (i don’t play piano either) but this is a great follow up to what i would say is among is best, prelude in e minor… it’s incrediable. it always transforms me to another place in time!

fran Langstroth

Thanks for this piece. I am studying it for my 8th grade exam, and my teacher keeps telling me to play it slower. Now I know how it is supposed to sound. And by the way, I am 70 now, and am working toward doing the first exam in my lifetime of playing. I love piano, and even the theory exites me. fran

fran Langstroth
Paul Palmer

Beautiful performance Paul - thanks for a satisfying experience! Your introductory remarks are spot on and your interpretation is impeccable. My only suggestion is to play the final measure as written - I feel the effect of your fermata, but the original two beats of silence are devastatingly effective. Whether the listener notices them or not, the performer should ‘not play’ them.

I discovered your site while researching this Prelude for a guitar transcription, which should appear within a week on YouTube (where I’m “freescorepaul”). Best wishes from one Paul to another!

yoshi xxx

I love this and am playing it myself!

yoshi xxx
Max

What other piece would compare with this? In areas such as technique, style etc. Thanks

Max