I asked 5 concert pianists to play a Chopin Nocturne WITHOUT musicality

0:00 What is “musicality”?
0:38 Aurelia Shimkus
2:46 Aristo Sham
5:31 Dmytro Choni
8:10 Darío Meta
11:12 Tony Yike Yang

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[SaimoodPianoVersions]

It's hard to make it bad when you are learning for years to make it good :D

[CodyHazelleMusic]

It's funny... I often play this exact piece when showing my students the difference between musicality and no musicality. One thing I think these fine musicians missed is that their left hands are still soft in the unmusical version, and their pedalings are also too clear. The melodies still come out instead of sounding like a muddy mess of notes. Like they can't untrain themselves :p But I especially use this piece to demonstrate how important a soft accompaniment is.

[lisayoshihama]

If you wanna hear "unmusical" Chopin, just listen to a midi version reading off the sheet music.

Midi doesn't sound terrible for all music, but it definitely does for Chopin

[mayiask]

All the "unmusical" versions here sound way more musical than my most musical attempt...😄😄
Btw: would have loved to hear Seymour Bernstein in this compilation
🙂

[mikerotchburns]

"Unmusical" is playing exactly what's written. "Musical" is adding contextual interpretation to each note in the piece. It's similar to telling a story. Speak monotone and you'll lose the audience. Speak with a bit of enthusiasm and you'll capture the audience. The same story is being told, but one way better conveys emotion.

[JownMusic]

The biggest eye-opener for me was when I was learning some of the Bach inventions. When I had finally learned and could play through one of them it still sounded so bland and incoherent, really just like a big mess of notes. But when my teacher played it for me it was like an entirely different piece, suddenly so full of life and energy, and you could tell that it was a piece carefully crafted with precision down to the last note. It really showed me how magical music can be, and just how different the exact same notes can sound like from two different people. Later as I got more confident in the inventions I could finally bring some life into them with my own playing 😁

[Efalleur]

Almost without exception, the “musical” version has the pianist breathing with the phrasing. It’s an under appreciated aspect of good music, even with non-wind instruments!

[seheyt]

Yike Yang really nailed the "unmusical version" in that it didn't accidentally make it "bad". His "unmusical" version was still very beautiful, and professional. Just not... musical!

[nintendianajones]

"Chopin is the greatest of them all, for with the piano alone he discovered everything."
- Claude Debussy

[williambunter]

The young lady at the beginning is so SWEET! That lovely smile!

[thegreenpianist]

As Garrick Ohlsson said on this very channel: "Chopin even when played bad still sound kinda nice, if you don't listen too hard."

[Michael-Oh]

This piece is actually quite difficult to play un-musically. I think some pieces just set the performer up and that's a testament to the composer.

[Stanvansandt]

Tony Yike Yang seemed to have a hard time playing it unmusically! I had been waiting for someone to play it with some dynamic nuance, and he did that even in the first version. In the second version he brought out some inner voices that added some hints of contrapuntal juice that none of the others hinted at, as well some variation in tempo (not just rubato) that added some urgency to the melodic line. In some ways his "piggish" version was even better! I suspect he was trying to push the interpretation beyond the bounds of good taste, but couldn't quite bring himself to go that far. His second was the only performance that I wanted to continue, so that I could enjoy what else he might have to say in the rest of the nocturne. I'll watch out for this kid.

[ProgettoMemoria]

Let's admit that Tony's "un musical" was the best interpretation. He chose a beautiful sound (thus already "musical") and all the rest made sense inside a coherent atmosphere.
Sometimes less is more.

[pjr-asian-art-songs]

It is very difficult to play Chopin "unmusically" if you are a skilled pianist. One of the key facets of Romantic piano music is how the melody is expressed. Key elements include the use of rubato, effective pedalling, and thoughtful and expressive use of dynamics. In this excerpt in particular, the most "romantic" place arguable is the high D towards the end. For me, the suspense (slightly delayed preparation), which is characterised by rubato, a delicate touch and a cantabile tone, together with precise pedalling, all contribute to a "musical" performance.

If I was to play it "unmusically", then I would not let the melody sing, try to strike each right-hand note the same with no variation in tone or colour. I would bash out the left-hand chords, making them ragged, untidy and overwhelming the melody. I would also refrain from any use of pedalling and accept any breaks in the line wherever they fell (whether natural or not) whilst trying not to produce a musical line. Inappropriate use of dynamics.

But I should imagine, when you're at the piano your instinct is to play musically even if you think it isn't!

Some of the so-called "unmusical" renditions were actually musical!

[randyedward]

Musicality: With heartfelt expression and emotion, true to the composer's intent for the piece. That is, dynamics, correct tempo, natural interpretation from the heart...❤️

[wuwupiano]

I have a confession to make. I used to love listening to Bach and Mozart on 1990s midi because it was so pure.

[petertyrrell]

Historically, Chopin's idea of rubato meant left hand in time, but the right hand having a disconnect between it and the left hand; this is actually written out as groups of 13, 9, 17 notes, or whatever. When he wanted a speed-up or slowing-down, he would indicate it. Some of the "unmusical" versions were probably closer to the real Chopin style than the "musical" versions. I think a slower performance is also required to make it a real "andante", and you wouldn't have to slow down for the ornaments or groups of faster notes. At the usual tempo at which it is played, it almost sounds like a slow waltz.

[droidean]

Chopin's music naturally oozes with such musicality and heart that it is truly difficult to play it without any of that.

[quarkraven]

Aurelia's first rendition was funny. The second, goosebumps by beat 2 for me. She is special