Lubomyr Melnik?

[cuberdrift]

Has anyone here know/has heard of this guy?

Melnyk is noted for his continuous music, a piano technique based on extremely rapid notes and complex note-series, usually with the sustain pedal held down to generate overtones and sympathetic resonances. These overtones blend or clash according to harmonic changes. Most of his music is for piano, but he has also composed chamber and orchestral works.

Furthermore, he is said to be the "fastest pianist":

In 1985, Lubomyr Melnyk set two world records, documented on film and with full audio, at the Sigtuna Stiftelsen in Sweden. He sustained speeds of over 19.5 notes per second in each, and played between 13 and 14 notes per second for one full hour.

Here's an interesting article about him.

Nothing has happened with the piano for 300 years – since 1650, nothing....(w)hat Scarlatti was doing, Rachmaninoff and Prokofiev were still doing, 300 years later. ...(f)inally something new has happened in the world of the piano. It's terrible to think I could be the first and the last to do this.

What do you think of this guy?

A genius...or yet another controversial eccentric along the likes of BachScholar, Richard Kastle, or Glenn Gould himself?

Here's a short video on YouTube of him:

Regards,
cuberdrift

Edit: Oops...sorry, it's a "MelnYk", not "Melnik".

[dogperson]

IMHO, there is nothing musical about this.  Just another gimmick which will soon be forgotten among all the other gimmicks.   Labeling it 'Kung Fu technique' is apropos. ... may it rest in peace

[ronde_des_sylphes]

That's not impressive at all. Anyone with decent arpeggio technique (and by definition that pretty much includes concert pianists and good conservatoire graduates) should be able to do what he's doing in the clip at that tempo and very possibly do it more cleanly. It's not new either: Liszt could have written stuff like that but he wasn't a bad enough composer to write in such an uninteresting manner.

[georgey]

What do I think of this guy:

Based on your description of what he does, I chose not to listen.  I don’t have an interest in this kind of thing.  I might be able to set a new record as the world’s slowest pianist:  Play 1 note an hour for the next 20 years for a total of 20*365*24 = 175,200 notes.  I’m sure if I did this and it was documented well, there would be a very few people interested in this also.  I might argue that this beats his 14 notes per second for 1 hour: 14*60*60=50,400 notes which is less than my 175,200 notes.  

I have no problem if someone is interested in this guy though.  This just isn’t for me.

[spektralist]

Better than Einaudi LMAO.

[dogperson]

Better than Einaudi LMAO.
Jokes aside,the way he's presented is actually much worse than his music. He came to my country a few times, to play in some of the biggest halls with some crazy ticket prices, and even though I still cringe about the video and for those who actually enjoy his music, the problem is about the guy, not the specific technique. Had a piece with say a bel canto melody over or a harmonic progression presented with continuos arpeggiation been written by some minimalist composer -just once though, not a hundred times-, would have the reception been the same? Op. 25-1 or 12 anyone?

It depends on how Op 25-1 or 12 were played.  If like this example of Kung Fu piano, as fast as possible, with blurred articulation and no melodic line..... the reception would be the same.  It is difficult to say if Melnyk is capable of better (or not).  As is, he demonstrates no musical ability on this video clip and no assumption can be made that he is capable of better....  but a heavy weight to the assumptive  side of 'he can't do better than just raw speed'.  I would have to be shown, and my personal reaction to this clip is so negative,  I'm not sure if I would hang around to see if there is something better.   Live by the gimmick, die by the gimmick. ...that is the 'branding' he has chosen for himself.

[visitor]

"They said i could be and play anything i wanted. So i became a midi file"

[dogperson]

"They said i could be and play anything i wanted. So i became a midi file"

Ah, but a midi file could keep going ad infinitum, without tiring.  Even a loss as a 'midi file'.

[visitor]

Ah, but a midi file could keep going ad infinitum, without tiring.  Even a loss as a 'midi file'.

true so true.

As for the music, there are better ways to present a barage of notes in a modern setting for piano. Especially when  spiced up with ensemble, but piano still shines.

Ie

[dogperson]

true so true.

As for the music, there are better ways to present a barage of notes in a modern setting for piano. Especially when  spiced up with ensemble, but piano still shines.

Ie

Thanks so much for posting-- this was excellent!   

[expressman70]

If you really want to get into this guys soul, here you go: https://www.lubomyr.com

I love his first quote that appears:  first there came Franz Lizst .....
then came LUBOMYR - 


IDK, Too deep for me.


Cheers.

[visitor]

Thanks so much for posting-- this was excellent!   

glad you liked it. He is freaking awesome!

[ronde_des_sylphes]

It is sacrilege to compare the two but here is what might also be considered "continuous music", only played by a true master and with far greater variety of figuration and control. Imo Cziffra's greatest paraphrase with the possible exception of William Tell.

[minor9th]

Fast minimalism taken to a musical low.