Marc André Hamelin: Tiny Desk Concert

Tom Huizenga | January 12, 2023
Marc-André Hamelin has a marvelous, curious mind. While we chatted before his Tiny Desk concert, he snooped around the CD shelves near my desk, commenting on a few rarities and sharing his own eclectic tastes, including a crazy YouTube mashup of all 15 Shostakovich symphonies stacked on top of each other.

The Boston-based Montreal native is regarded as one of his generation’s most technically astounding pianists, but he’s no empty virtuoso. His interpretations are probing, precise and warm — keen to bring out humor when necessary. He routinely performs the world’s most treacherous repertoire with his characteristic ease. I’ve witnessed him practically reduce a concert grand to matchsticks, and I’ve heard him tenderly caress a late Schubert sonata.

Hamelin’s colossal breadth of repertoire is on display in this smart set of pieces. He begins in the 18th century with the off-kilter antics of C.P.E. Bach — a rondo that stops, starts and swerves with the spirit of improvisation. His limpid rendition of William Bolcom’s “Graceful Ghost Rag” (from 1970) emphasizes the bittersweet harmonies with unhurried elegance.

Hamelin saves the rock and roll for last — a piece of his own based on what he calls “possibly the oldest popular song in existence.” Filtered through his lightning-fast fingers, the medieval tune “L’homme armé” struts mischievously, cascades swiftly and expands to a thunderhead of glorious sound.

SET LIST:
C.P.E. Bach: Rondo in C Minor
William Bolcom: “Graceful Ghost Rag”
Marc-André Hamelin: Toccata on “L’homme armé”

MUSICIANS
Marc-André Hamelin: piano

TINY DESK TEAM
Producer: Tom Huizenga
Director: Joshua Bryant
Audio Engineer: Josh Rogosin
Creative Director: Bob Boilen
Series Producer: Bobby Carter
Editor: Sofia Seidel
Videographers: Joshua Bryant, Sofia Seidel
Audio Assistant: Kwesi Lee
Production Assistant: Jill Britton
Tiny Desk Team: Suraya Mohamed, Marissa Lorusso, Hazel Cills, Kara Frame, Maia Stern, Ashley Pointer, Teresa Xie
VP, Visuals and Music: Keith Jenkins
Senior VP, Programming: Anya Grundmann

#tinydesk #nprmusic #markandrehamelin

[lolllololllo]

Hamelin in a Tiny Desk concert. Life is truly unpredictable.

[chrisv]

Amazing playing, rivaled only by that amazing sweater

[NatetheAceOfficial]

Shoutout to the sound team! The piano is SO crisp!

[DrSelfridgeMusic]

happy to see that Cookie Monster is enjoying this performance as much as I am

[elektrobits]

00:00 C.P.E. Bach: Rondo in C Minor
07:02 William Bolcom: “Graceful Ghost Rag”
13:40 Marc-André Hamelin: Toccata on “L’homme armé”

[brucegelman]

He has been the most technically brilliant and champion of unknown composers for decades.
Long live Marc Andre Hamelin.

[FadersAnd]

I’ve never heard a ragtime song move me like this - it’s heavenly

[HenriqueEisenmann]

The upright piano sounds like a fortepiano, perfect for the CPE Bach Rondo…. Smart repertoire!!

[elliotthayes]

Lifetimes of music have passed through this man’s fingers. Composers nobody’s heard of. Pieces only a handful of people could play with competency. And he’s far from finished. Unparalleled. So humble, down to earth.

[neconservatory]

We are SO lucky to have the amazing Marc-André Hamelin on the piano faculty at NEC! His talent is unmatched!

[TheGrouchDnD]

The precision is insane. Gets exactly as much sound out of each key as he wants.

[Parallelfifthsblog]

This is truly the beauty of these NPR tiny desk concerts…from Kirk Franklin, to H.E.R, Yebba, and now MA Hamlin, they really cater to all of our musical tastes! How blessed are we to listen and witness great music from every genre.

-Greetings from Bahrain!

[mariananarciso]

this environment is so warm and cozy. his loose sweater (looks so comfy!), the music, the shelves behind him filled to the brim... feels like walking into a very cool, intelligent uncle's house and listening to him play in his living room. absolutely great! so pleasant!

[kingconcerto]

He played Bolcom's "Graceful Ghost Rag" as an encore when I saw him perform the Paul Dukas Piano Sonata. That concert was the most incredible and emotional performance I've ever seen in my life, he finished the Dukas sonata and he had tears pouring out of him- it's the only time I've ever seen a pianist so emotional after a performance... The fact that it was Marc-Andre Hamelin sharing such a personal performance in such a small venue, performing one of the most incredible solo piano works ever written- it was truly a transcendental experience.

[dnnerknispel]

Wow he is insane! The dynamics and precision are breathtaking

[dylbot]

absolutely jaw dropping to see Hamelin light that upright UP. Bravo to NPR for always doing the best

[ianmoore]

OH MY GOODNESS I had no idea my favorite pianist would be here. This guy is one of the best there ever was!

[lePistolero]

One of the greatest pianists of our time.

[tianruixiao]

Nobody expects this but man he is such a good virtuoso pianist, and his taste in piano repertoire is so unique and electic. He's a truly great musician who can just weave music out of thin air.

[dustinlaferney]

Hamelin is the greatest living pianist IMO. So often he is always playing something rarely heard, but very interesting. Love the CPE rondo. He makes that modest upright piano sound so bright and expressive. Reminds me of Zakk Wilde shredding on a Hello Kitty guitar.