Ludovico Einaudi Compositions

[chaosemerald08]

Hi Piano Street friends,

I'm new here, so just wanted to introduce myself by sharing some compositions I have covered by Einaudi. Apologies for my poor technique in some videos, which I can only attribute to never having piano lessons, but I hope you enjoy the videos anyway Constructive criticism is very welcome, as are any requests for future videos.

Here is a link to my channel, where you can find covers mainly of Einaudi, along with a few others:

Thank you

Emma

[emill]

Hi Emma!!

Welcome to PianoStreet!! I am sorry I am not a pianist but has always been hooked to classical piano and music since I can ever remember.  There are good teachers here and I am sure you will be able to acquire substantial advice in due time. Just be patient, sometimes it comes in slow trickles!!

For me, this is an introduction to Einaudi and I find this particular composition of his easy to like and attractive.  You play it with confidence.  Are you Italian?

Thanks for posting and welcome again to PS!!

emill

[chaosemerald08]

Hi Emill,

Thanks for your warm welcome. You are right, there are so many good teachers on here, and it has already been so helpful to look through the forums and read their advice.

I am actually British, but fell in love with Einaudi's work the first time I heard him play. I have noticed there have been arguments on this forum regarding Einaudi, from users who either love him or hate him. But I am not here to start a debate; everyone is entitled to their opinion Personally, I find his music to be very relaxing and reflective, so I am pleased to introduce you to him!

It is nice to meet another fan of classical piano, so thanks again for the message.

Emma x

[malcolmwiss]

I love Einaudi's music!
Your cover on Andare was quiet pleasant. After hearing you play it, i also want to play it! Haha, Goodjob.

[dmauney]

Hi Emma,

I am also a big Einaudi fan.  I subscribed to your channel because I see you cover a lot of pieces that I also like (Tiersen and Roberto C. are favorites of mine along with Einaudi and Wim Mertens).

Thanks for sharing your interpretations.  I plan to listen to them all over time!

dave

[chaosemerald08]

Thanks a lot for your message Dave and for subscribing! It is nice to find others who share the same tastes in music. And thank you for introducing me to Wim Mertens, who I'd not heard of before. His style reminds me of Philip Glass, another favourite, and is a pleasure to listen to.

Malcolm - thank you, I'm glad you enjoyed listening. When I first heard Andare I had the exact same reaction as you, and had to learn to play it straight away!

Happy playing!

Emma

[dmauney]

Hi Emma,

Thanks for you reply to my PM...I sent you a response.

I do enjoy Phillip Glass as well, but find him a bit more "ambient" than Wim Mertens, Lucovico Einaudi, Yann Tiersen, Roberto Cacciapaglia, Giovani Allevi, Fabrizio Paterlini, George Winston, etc.  I enjoyed your cover of Truman Sleeps and thought it might be a nice one to learn seeing how simple the composition is by watching your hands.  Plus I already had the sheet music...

Thanks!

dave

[chaosemerald08]

The soundtrack for The Truman Show is one of my all-time favourites. You should definitely learn Truman sleeps. It would not take long as it is so simple, and it is always fun to learn something new

Emma

[thalbergmad]

You play well for someone who has never had lessons before. If you do get a chance to have lessons, it will assist you greatly for the future, albeit you appear to have developed sufficient technique to play this charming piece.

I too keep a toy on top of my piano. Don't know why, but it seems to help.

Thal

[dmauney]

Hi Emma,

I will definitely give Truman Sleeps a shot. 

Thanks!

dave

[chaosemerald08]

Thank you for your message Thal. Every now and again I feel very tempted to take up lessons. At the same time, I enjoy being self-taught and having the freedom to choose my own pieces. Maybe some day in the future I will seek lessons. Meanwhile, I am thankful to have this forum! And yes, it is great to have a cuddly mascot sitting on the piano to cheer you on!

Dave - good luck with the song! You should upload it when you've finished learning it!

[pianist88]

FINALLY!!! Some people besides me who actually like Einaudi and Glass! You know, I've met many Glass/Einaudi haters. And they have one thing in common- they are all arrogant, and dismiss you as having a bad taste in music. What Glass haters fail to realise is how influential he has been.

[dmauney]

I agree!  Lately I feel like I am opening myself up to condescension if I admit to actually liking Einaudi.  But I appreciate the simplicity and repetition of minimalist music that many find so off putting.  To each his own...

[birba]

But i feel glass and einaudi are completely different.  While i enjoy the former and he  can drive me mad, i'm very indifferent to einaudi.  It's like bland.  Innocuous, perhaps.  I can see it being good for cinema.   But really, could you even begin to compare him to john williams, or nino rota, bernstein, moricone, etc.  No.  I do not like einaudi.  And i'm not arrogant.   

[birba]

And i'm not a snob, either.  I'm even learning jarrod radnich's pirates of the carribean!

[chaosemerald08]

Pianist88 - it is great to meet another Einaudi fan! Don't worry about what other people think, just enjoy your own tastes

Birba - I mentioned above I did not intend to start a debate. Everyone is entitled to like or dislike whoever they like How is Pirate's going? I attempted that a while back but am not ready for it yet!

Dave - Hi! Long time no speak! How did you get on with The Truman Show

[birba]

I think debates are healthy!  . I'd like to know if there are others who feel the way i do.

[dmauney]

Hi Emma,

How could anyone find Einaudi boring?

I enjoyed learning Truman.  I memorized all but the ending.  I need to go back to it and memorize that as well, but I really enjoy the parts I have learned so far and play them often.  I am working on Moonlight (again), Chopin Prelude 4 (again), Sillaba (again) and Everyday (first time) right now...I have a short attention span!

dave

[pianist88]

I'm a classically trained pianist (learning Beethoven's "The Tempest" Sonata) and am currently studying composition (at an honours level) at university. I played my supervisor some of Einaudi's stuff and he didn't like it at all. Many classical music "experts" who love the music by composers such as Stockhausen, Schoenberg ands Berg consider Einaudi's music to be "instrumental pop" . I can see where they are coming from, but sh*t, it's WAY better than all of the atonal music out there now. Minimalism actually influenced ambient music, which is why I love Brian Eno very relaxing stuff indeed

[chaosemerald08]

Dave - I personally can't understand it, because I admire him so much, but there are musicians other people admire that I don't like, so I guess it's all a matter of personal taste. Good luck with those pieces, and keep going! Sometimes, when you go back to a piece it will just 'click'

Pianist88 - I couldn't agree more, minimalist music is so influential and in my opinion often the best kind of music. It suits any mood, and is unchangeable.

Einaudi is on Jools Holland this evening at 11pm UK time for anyone interested

[pianist88]

Birba, no need to get angry, sorry if I offended you what I was meaning was I have MET (as in face to face) many Glass/Einaudi haters and pretty much all of them have been snobby and arrogant, except for the odd one or two. I'm not saying you're a snob; far from it.

I'm actually doing a dissertation for my Honours degree at university, it's about Minimalist music and its influence on other genres; and the genres I am writing about are techno, trance and ambient. It really is a fascinating subject. However there are some Minimalist composers I've never really cared for. Steve Reich's piece Different Trains is one of the most irritating pieces I've heard. I like some of John Adams's stuff. Short Ride In a Fast Machine is a classic. Simon Ten Holt- avoid like the plague. He is mainly cluster chords and is REALLY hard to listen to. Despite being a Glass lover, Einstein on the Beach was a mission to get through, and I've yet to listen to all of Music In Twelve Parts, but I simply haven't had the time. Emma, have you heard of a composer called Michael Nyman? He wrote the music for The Piano, Gattaca, and many others. I recommend him Sorry about the rant guys!

[ahinton]

I don't "hate" Einaudi, or Glass, or Nyman; I just have better things to do with my time than try to get out of their music something that is not present in it.

Best,

Alistair

[birba]

But i find glass to be an  innovator - well, he was at one time - while i find einaudi to be just a commercial innocuous composer.   Two worlds apart.

[suholm]

Hi Emma,
I note that you were a newbie in 2013 - I'm a newbie in 2014, I've have lessons and love every minute of learning to play piano - not very good yet but getting better all the time! Just been given Le Onde by Einaudi to learn - it's very beautiful. Not brave enough to post anything on you tube though!!
Regards
Sue.