This composition is so mesmerizing that I couldn't resist myself from learning and playing this, even though I can't read sheet music and I don't have a keyboard :P I learned it myself using Synthesia with a midi file and managed to play on laptop with everything (keyboard, midi cable piano sound)'virtual'! Anyway, I just love this song and dream of playing it on a 'actual' piano. Comments appreciated.

Hey folks-- I saw this recording on the non-Pianist-Corner recordings section, and I suggested to Rupak that he post it here. Since we've been thinking about... um... non-traditional recordings, I thought this would be interesting. But let's be nice to Rupak.

That said, for starters, I'm only 90% convinced this is real. Although I can't imagine why he would have posted here if it were not, so it probably is. But how do you get that level of expression out of a computer keyboard?

-Jason

Well, I think, in a word, it's due to strong motivation Basically I practiced Indian classical music, especially vocal and Tabla (Indian drum) for about 13 years. Indian vocal music is usually accompanied by 'Harmonium'. So, I've fair practice on harmonium. My father who is a professional musician taught me about chords etc. on harmonium. After passing 10+2 level (education) I had no more time to practice Indian classical music due to academic pressure. Recently, I got interest in western classical music. So, I thought I can try something on computer until I can get a decent keyboard.

I used virtual MIDI piano keyboard (VMPK) and configured the key mapping to get a favorable finger position. The piano vst used is Galaxy Vienna grand piano. In VMPK there is a velocity controller, but you can't change it often. So, you have to play with a particular volume or velocity. But, the inherent tone and volume for individual keys in a piano vst with recorded piano samples are different. I tried many piano vst, soundfonts etc. and noticed that Galaxy Vienna's recorded samples are best suited for this particular composition. I listened the original song quite a lot of times to understand which notes are emphasized much and that somewhat matched with Galaxy Vienna's samples. That's all.

Anyway, I can send you the key-mappings I made in VMPK and anyone can try this out with a computer. Thank you very much once again for your kind advice.

Rupak,

Sorry to doubt you.

You're clearly *very* musical, and I'm sure your training in Indian classical music serves you well here. If you were able to produce this recording on a computer keyboard, I can only imagine what you will do with an actual piano keyboard (let alone a piano).

I understand that computer keys were mapped onto piano keys, but I still don't see how you adjusted volume. Did you have more than one computer key map to the same piano key at different volumes?

Or do you really not adjust volume at all, and the musical expression is just coming from timing?

-Jason

There is nothing to be sorry about, your criticism has encouraged me a lot. I'm really thankful to you.

What I understand, with my little knowledge, expression in piano music means control of timing and velocity or in a crude sense volume. There is no option to use different keymaps for different velocity in VMPK. Keymap is the same. But as I said, there is a velocity controller and there are two hotkeys: the 'End' button to increase velocity and the 'Home' button to decrease it. I changed the velocity only twice: near the end of this song. This controller is more like a volume controller. But as I said, the individual key sounds generated by Galaxy Vienna are not all same. So, even if you play with a fixed velocity, or rather volume, you can see that different keys don't produce same loudness. This is one factor and another factor as you have mentioned is timing which one can control even while playing with a computer. This has nothing to do with softwares. I listened to the original composition on youtube quite a few times and tried to maintain the timing as far as I can.

Why?

Sorry, I didn't understand. 'Why' what?

It sounds like Shelley typing his poems at a computer keyboard

Apparently because he loves the music and wants to play it. And he's playing it the way he can, without a piano. I remember when I was pretty young trying to play the Dvorak cello concerto on a funny old electronic organ with a mildly convincing string stop, because I loved the music and just wanted to do something more than stick a record on. So it wasn't Casals - but I enjoyed it, and actually learnt quite a bit in the process.

Are you the same guy that played the Moonlight Sonata on computer keyboard?

Rupak, you have astounded me, I know just how difficult this must have been, HOW DARE anyone ask "why"
It's obvious, Rupak loves the music so much that he found a way to defeat the adversity of not having a keyboard with "real" piano keys.

Many folks use the laptop keyboard as a midi controller for programs like ableton, but usually only to play a few notes or chords, as it is extremely difficult.

With that much dedication Rupak, you deserve to have a keyboard, well done. I hope someone may have one they dont need or use and send it to you.

+1





I would have doubted it too, because I never would have thought such a thing were possible. If I had just heard this without being told what it is, I would have guessed it was a very very old recording on an actual piano, like from maybe around 1910.

And I have to say, this isn't just masterful use of the technology, unless the capabilities of the programming are more elaborate than I realize; it's fine musicianship. For example, the pacing of the trills.

Yes, that was me. But that performance was horrible

I hope you don't seriously think so.
(It's not -- it's very good!)

I'm overwhelmed with all of your encouraging comments. I've got the best rewards of my life. I'm really very very thankful to all of you!!!!

Hopefully many more are yet to come.

No, I really think so, at least compared to this one. Beethoven moonlight sonata deserves lots of expressions and I couldn't achieve even 5% of it. Even now I can't play it fully accurate (at least pressing the correct notes )

Anyway, thank you

Bravo Rupak !

This was just amazing. I can't wait to hear you perform on here once you have a midi keyboard!

I know there are those who doubt this is for real. But Rostoskys video did explain your tools pretty well and I do believe you did what you said. Some people are just extremely talented and you are one of them.

My question is how did you learn to play it if you can't read sheet music? Did you just listen to it over and over and figure it out on your own? And how long time did it take to master your layout to play it this well?

Thanks for sharing!

Thank you very much! It's still very very hard to me to learn some piano piece just by listening. I use a software called 'Synthesia' which can load midi file and play visually showing which notes are to be played on a 88-key piano keyboard layout. I downloaded a recorded midi of this song from the internet and loaded it to synthesia to learn this song. Of course, I listened to the original song played by master pianists quite a lot of times to understand the expressions and tempo. It took me almost a month to learn this song.