I just got Marc-Andre Hamelins cd of The People United Will Never Be Defeated, I was wondering what everyone thought of this piece, and the performance? And is anyone working on this piece?

Mike

This is the modern day Goldberg Variations, if you will.

That's an outstanding recording!

I think the music is terrific (as is Winnsboro Cotton Mill Blues), I have no problem with the politics, and someday I'd like to pick up a score.

Yeah, I have listened to about half now and loving it. It sounds extremly hard though. I am waiting for Hamelin's new dvd to come in, that looks to be pretty good.

Mike

I love it and practice it from time to time. The difficulty seems largely in surviving the length.

It's a bit like the Hammerklavier. No single measure is all that difficult. But try playing them all in a row...

Kreisler:
I love it and practice it from time to time. The difficulty seems largely in surviving the length.

I have listened to it a few times (MAH[1] recording), following the score, and it does indeed have some really marvellous moments. And nothing that some judicious editing on the part of the composer could not have made a truly great work of, say, about half the length .

-Michael B.
[1] And doesn't he whistle well?

This is such a great piece.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=xMUrqYA-x44&feature=user

It ends with an optional improv!

I was looking at the sheets.

Lots of interesting notes such as (short cry, optional) and (like plucking some berries, you don't have to hit all the notes, and are allowed to hit some wrong notes).

Of the four pianists I've heard play this, Hamelin is by far the best whistler.

Strange that none of them plays the last measure fff, as indicated.

Even Rzewski doesn't.

I also like that Hamelin doesn't slam the fall-board down.

Hamelin's is my favorite, but I listen to Rzewski's at least as often.


Mel

I think I want to learn a few of these variations but I don't really want to learn 70 minutes worth of music!

Axtremus performs some wonderful excerpts from this at our piano get togethers. I can't get enough of him playing them! We heard them again just yesterday at the PWF get together in Lowell (see above right box for info and pics)

I have been learning and enjoying some variations as well. Doubt if I will ever have the ambition to learn the whole thing...there are too many 'other' things that distract me!

It amazes me that there are two impressive complete performances, by pianists I don't know, available at http://www.stage6.com/ or YouTube. I like the one from Bobby Mitchell the best, mostly because the sound quality is so much better than the one from Toros Can; both seem to be really good performances. Can's performance at Stage6 includes some preliminary comments (in Turkish, I believe).

Can

Stage6 - http://preview.tinyurl.com/2ywd32
YouTube - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jfMK-SkWYiY

Mitchell

Stage6 - http://preview.tinyurl.com/2ce23k
YouTube - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_s0H38-NJe8

is this really difficult? I'd love to learn it

Edit: I meant difficult up until the point where the women starts talking... so basically the main theme....Is it still really difficult?

Yes, this is really difficult from all aspects.

Oh I would still love to see the sheets...Is there anywhere where I can get the sheets that doesn't cost like 100 dollars?

Oh I would still love to see the sheet music...Is there anywhere where I can get the sheets that doesn't cost like 100 dollars?

Well, click on the sheetmusicplus link to the right, and it's listed there for $50.