Melodies of Life - (Final Fantasy IX) Piano Opera rach3master 2026-09-30 | Melodies of Life - (Final Fantasy IX) Piano Opera
Chopin - Nocturne Op. 27 No. 2 in D-flat major rach3master 2023-09-14 | My teacher assigned me this piece many many years ago, and I learned it somewhat reluctantly. However, one way or another it ended up being a permanent fixture in my repertoire, which is saying something since pretty much all other pieces fall out of my fingers sooner or later.This is my 3rd attempt at recording this piece on the channel. I was never really fully satisfied with the previous interpretations, plus I've always wanted to record this Nocturne on a real grand piano, so forgive my indulgence if you've already heard the previous iterations. However, I think the playing is quite good this time around, so this will be my last recording of this piece.Recorded on a Steinway D in my living room.
Rachmaninoff/Gryaznov - Italian Polka rach3master 2023-08-28 | A fun and popular arrangement by Gryaznov, who wrote it in one night for a concert. The original work comes from a tune that Rachmaninoff heard while on vacation in Italy, and he promptly wrote it for two piano.I like that this arrangement gives the performer a chance to also explore some other emotions like tenderness, and maybe even a hint of darkness. The second half of the piece is technically challenging, but has to look and sound totally effortless to get the full effect. I just wish there weren't so many tenths in this piece, ha. There are probably some other things I'd like to try in an interpretation, but if I record any more takes my hands will surely fall off.Score: gryaznoff.com/works/published/rachmaninoff-polkaRecorded on a Steinway D in my living room.
Chopin - Nocturne Op. 62 No. 1 in B major rach3master 2023-06-25 | This is the first video featuring my new NY Steinway D. I must be allergic to bright pianos, because I more or less picked the mellowest one within a minute or two of testing all the pianos. The salesperson and technician also all predicted I would select this one. The tone sounds just right to my ears.For me, this nocturne carries a special spiritual or meditative power. I found it very difficult to interpret, because it requires some very refined playing. Chopin always requires elegance, but this piece I found it especially true. The piano writing is quite sophisticated, and it goads you into stopping to observe all the beautiful details, which can disrupt the overall momentum. I've actually been recording and re-recording this piece for over a month straight now, first on the Steinway B and now on the Steinway D. It is interesting to compare the differences from a month ago, not only in terms of the interpretation but also the piano itself. Maybe I'll upload it too if there is any interest. But in any case, I'm satisfied with the current recording and am finally ready to move on to the next piece. Maybe next time I'll actually aim the camera properly...
Final Fantasy XIII - The Promise (piano cover) rach3master 2023-03-29 | Composed by: Masashi HamauzuArranged by: Yui MorishitaAnother transcribed cover from Final Fantasy. This is one of the best main menu themes in a video game, in my opinion. I've thought about recording the Piano Collections arrangement before, but I don't find that one to be as compelling.No sheets, sorry!Recorded on a New York Steinway B.
Rachmaninoff - Prelude in D Major, Op. 23 No. 4 rach3master 2023-02-26 | A dreamy prelude with a sustained melody permeating throughout the piece. For me, the main challenge here was to strike the right balance between overall flow and rubato without sounding monotonous. Also, the uniform texture of this piece really makes uneven notes stick out, something which I am still getting used to on the grand piano. The Kawai digital hybrid piano was really forgiving in this aspect, as I had no issues with control.For this upload I made the recording very wet, in contrast to the last one, since the extra ambience suits this piece well.
Final Fantasy - Chocobo Theme (piano cover) rach3master 2023-02-22 | Composed by: Nobuo UematsuArranged by: KeikoA nice jazzy arrangement transcribed from Keiko's performance on the Square Enix Music Channel. It was a good opportunity to try recording my piano completely dry. Now I have a whopping 8-microphone setup.No sheets, sorry!
Rachmaninoff/Gryaznov - The Night is Sad, Op. 26 No. 12 rach3master 2023-01-20 | This is my first video recording a New York Steinway model B that Steinway has lent me while I wait to pick out a Hamburg D later this year in Germany. This piano has a beautiful mellow tone that I find difficult to capture in a recording. I just about went insane for a month learning and experimenting how to record it with no prior knowledge whatsoever (literally didn't know how to attach a microphone to a stand before). It may not be Deutsche Grammophon audio quality, but I think this is pretty good for now. I also got a new camera, but for the life of me can't figure out how to bring the whole shot into focus.Any suggestions/comments about current audio quality greatly appreciated.Sheet music: schott-music.com/en/the-night-is-sad-noq25016.html
Rachmaninoff - Élégie in E-flat Minor, Op. 3 No. 1 rach3master 2022-10-06 | A piece that I listened to a lot growing up but never actually tried learning myself until recently. There is melancholy and a lot of raw emotion here.I had the opportunity to try out this piece on a freshly prepped Steinway D, which felt and sounded amazing. Planning to order one at the end of the month!Piano: Kawai Novus NV-10Piano VST: Garritan CFX FullMy current CFX settings: http://forum.pianoworld.com/ubbthreads.php/galleries/2700015/garritan-cfx-concert-grand-full-settings.html
Rachmaninoff - Melodie in E Major Op. 3 No. 3 (1940 version) rach3master 2022-08-23 | A short and sweet piece that Rachmaninoff rewrote in 1940, along with the Serenade in this set. An underrated gem, I think.Piano: Kawai Novus NV-10Piano VST: Garritan CFX FullMy current CFX settings: http://forum.pianoworld.com/ubbthreads.php/galleries/2700015/garritan-cfx-concert-grand-full-settings.html
Dependent Weakling - Official NieR Automata Piano Collections rach3master 2022-04-08 | The final boss theme of the game. I had this transcribed and printed long time ago, but never got around to learning it until now. The despair and anguish is in the arrangement as expected, but they're also surprising moments of tenderness. I tried to match the intensity of the orchestral score by playing at a faster tempo than the original.I lost the sheets on my computer, so I'll have to recreate them when I have time.Arranger: Mariko TaguchiPiano: Kawai Novus NV-10Piano VST: Garritan CFX FullMy current CFX settings: http://forum.pianoworld.com/ubbthreads.php/galleries/2700015/garritan-cfx-concert-grand-full-settings.html
Rachmaninoff - Prelude in E flat Major, Op. 23 No. 6 rach3master 2022-03-20 | A short and lyrical prelude from Rachmaninoff with none of his usual broodiness. Written right after the birth of his first child, Irina. From his set of 10 preludes, Op. 23.For me, the hardest part of this piece was to naturally incorporate rubato without disrupting the overall flow of the rippling 16th notes and turning it into a mushy mess (although admittedly I do like it with a little mush).Piano: Kawai Novus NV-10Piano VST: Garritan CFX FullMy current CFX settings: http://forum.pianoworld.com/ubbthreads.php/galleries/2700015/garritan-cfx-concert-grand-full-settings.html
Mahler/Gryaznov - Adagietto from Symphony No. 5 (for the left hand) rach3master 2022-01-05 | Probably Mahler's most famous composition, arranged for left hand. Intended to be a love letter to his wife Alma, this piece became a popular hit with audiences and is often performed standalone, including once at Robert Kennedy's funeral. It was also featured in the 1971 film Death in Venice. Since this movement was scored only for the strings and harp, the arranger's idea was to similarly limit the pianist's options.I have to admit, I was a bit skeptical about the idea of translating such a grand orchestral piece into one hand, and if I’m honest, I still think there are a few spots where the piano writing could be improved still with fuller textures. However, on the whole I feel the arrangement is quite an effective distillation of the core emotional content of the piece. I’m particularly impressed by the coda, which is about as awe-inspiring as you could ever hope to hear from a single hand.Buy the score here:gryaznoff.com/works/published/mahler-adagiettoPiano: Kawai Novus NV10Piano VST: Garritan CFX FullMy current CFX settings: http://forum.pianoworld.com/ubbthreads.php/galleries/2700015/garritan-cfx-concert-grand-full-settings.html
Hiromi Uehara - Somewhere (piano cover) rach3master 2021-12-06 | "When someone who is very important to you passes away, you feel sad and lost. Actually, the person is always around you even after they are gone, always looking after you, wishing for your happiness, forever as a spirit." - HiromiHaven't been active recently since I was practicing carelessly and injured myself, so just taking it easy for now until I recover fully.The sheer amount of jazzy runs in this piece was something I wasn’t used to dealing with, given my classical background, so I had to experiment quite a bit to try to play them stylistically. Hopefully they don’t come across as sounding unnatural.Sheet music: amazon.com/Hiromi-Place-Be-Piano/dp/0739075608Piano: Kawai Novus NV10Piano VST: Garritan CFX FullMy current CFX settings: http://forum.pianoworld.com/ubbthreads.php/galleries/2700015/garritan-cfx-concert-grand-full-settings.html
Debussy/Gryaznov - Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun rach3master 2021-09-08 | Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune.I was actually introduced to this remarkable arrangement first before hearing the original orchestral work. I recall that my initial impression was that it was a very strange and elusive piece. After many repeated listenings I did warm up to it enough for it to become one of my favorite compositions. Last month, I learned this on a whim for a piano lesson with no less than the author of the arrangement himself, which I found to be quite an interesting experience.I didn't notice the dust on the piano before I started recording :(Buy the score here:gryaznoff.com/works/published/debussy-faunPiano: Kawai Novus NV10Piano VST: Garritan CFX FullMy current CFX settings: http://forum.pianoworld.com/ubbthreads.php/galleries/2700015/garritan-cfx-concert-grand-full-settings.html
Hiromi Uehara - Green Tea Farm (piano cover) rach3master 2021-04-23 | I wanted to try another Hiromi piece after enjoying the last one, so I picked this ballad. From what I understand, this was written in dedication to her parents, who are green tea farmers back in Japan. I transcribed and transposed some sections from her duet with Akiko Yano, so there's no sheet music for this exact version. From her album "Brain".Piano: Kawai Novus NV10Piano VST: Garritan CFX FullMy current CFX settings: http://forum.pianoworld.com/ubbthreads.php/galleries/2700015/garritan-cfx-concert-grand-full-settings.html
Hiromi Uehara - Firefly (piano cover) rach3master 2021-03-23 | A lovely ballad from the amazing jazz composer and pianist Hiromi Uehara. Her style is a bit out of my comfort zone, but the obvious passion in this piece makes it easier to pull it off. I shaved off some repetitive sections in the beginning, which in my humble opinion improves the overall balance of the piece. From her third album "Alive" released in 2014.When I listen to this I think of sad goodbyes. Sheet music: spgrqq.stores.jp/items/59660add3210d5258b003866Piano: Kawai Novus NV10Piano VST: Garritan CFX FullMy current CFX settings: http://forum.pianoworld.com/ubbthreads.php/galleries/2700015/garritan-cfx-concert-grand-full-settings.html
Hamelin - Etude No. 7: after Tchaikovsky (for the left hand alone) rach3master 2021-03-01 | A beautiful one-handed Tchaikovsky arrangement by the great contemporary pianist and composer Marc-André Hamelin. I found it somewhat awkward to play since I don't have monster bear hands like Mr. Hamelin, who is ruthless with 10th chords in this piece. From his collection of 12 etudes in all the minor keys.-----"The initial idea to make an arrangement of Tchaikovsky's Lullaby op.16/1 came because of my performances of it as a pianist in the original version for voice and piano. My transformation of it simply came about after the song started rolling around in my head insistently one day, to the point where I had to do something about it.In composing for the left hand alone, I contributed to a long and noble tradition, but one which the music-loving public is unfortunately ill-acquainted with. Unlike some composers, I don't regard writing for one hand as an opportunity to display pianistic proficiency; instead I consider it a fascinating compositional constraint. Such writing presented me with quite a challenge; indeed, there is not much point in composing for one hand unless one tries to make the textures as rich as possible, and it is a special delight to try to make one hand sound like two. This is precisely what is attempted here, and for this reason I would say that the chief difficulty of the piece resides in the proper control of the pedal. Only the most careful handling of it will ensure the seamlessness and the richness of texture that ultimately creates the illusion of two-handed playing. In order to get the right texture, I would suggest practicing using both hands at first so that one can imprint the right result in one's ear, especially in regard to all of the interlocking slurs.As a matter of interest, I had originally envisioned presenting this piece in two versions. Both of them would have consisted of the étude as it is now, but in the second one, the right hand would have joined in toward the middle of the piece with some ethereal arabesques. As promising as this idea seemed, I quickly realized that there was no need for this as the one-hand version was complete on its own.Although I had been aware of Rachmaninoff's (two-handed) arrangement for many years before I wrote this one, I had never actually heard it. Not until after I had finished mine did I patiently wade through Rachmaninoff's seven-flatted forest." -Marc-André Hamelin-----Sheet music: edition-peters.com/product/12-etudes-in-all-the-minor-keys/ep68235Piano: Kawai Novus NV10Piano VST: Garritan CFX FullMy current CFX settings: http://forum.pianoworld.com/ubbthreads.php/galleries/2700015/garritan-cfx-concert-grand-full-settings.html
Words Drowned by Fireworks - (Final Fantasy VII) Piano Opera rach3master 2021-01-25 | A gentle, romantic piece played during the Gold Saucer date (unless you somehow got Barret).Composer - Nobuo UematsuArranger - Hiroyuki NakayamaPiano: Kawai Novus NV-10Piano VST: Garritan CFX FullMy current CFX settings: http://forum.pianoworld.com/ubbthreads.php/galleries/2700015/garritan-cfx-concert-grand-full-settings.html
Rachmaninoff - Lilacs, op. 21 no. 5 rach3master 2020-12-26 | I first came across this while listening to Rachmaninoff playing his own works in the album "A Window in Time", which has served me well during many long car rides. A very dreamy and uplifting piece, capped off with an exquisite final flourish. Originally written for voice and piano.Set to the poem by Ekaterina Andreyena Beketova:In the morning, at daybreak,over the dewy grass,I will go to breathe the crisp dawn;and in the fragrant shade,where the lilac crowds,I will go to seek my happiness...In life, only one happinessit was fated for me to discover,and that happiness lives in the lilacs;in the green boughs,in the fragrant bunches,my poor happiness blossoms...Piano: Kawai Novus NV10Piano VST: Garritan CFX FullMy current CFX settings: http://forum.pianoworld.com/ubbthreads.php/galleries/2700015/garritan-cfx-concert-grand-full-settings.html
Rachmaninoff/Gryaznov - Zdes khorosho (How Nice It Is Here), Op. 21 No. 7 rach3master 2020-11-17 | Another arrangement of Rachmaninoff's beautiful song Zdes' Khorosho. Unlike the original, the melody begins in a lower register here. Also of note is an original counter-melody that moves stepwise throughout the piece, culminating in a passionate climax.Buy the score here:gryaznoff.com/works/piano-solo/rachmaninoff-how-peacefulPiano: Kawai Novus NV10Piano VST: Garritan CFX FullMy current CFX settings: http://forum.pianoworld.com/ubbthreads.php/galleries/2700015/garritan-cfx-concert-grand-full-settings.html
Rachmaninoff/Volodos - Andante from Cello Sonata Op. 19 rach3master 2020-11-01 | A very elaborate solo piano arrangement of the beautiful 3rd movement from Rachmaninoff's Cello Sonata. The heavy texture gives the piece a different flavor from its original form. There are some brain teaser-like moments in this arrangement when you need to juggle the piano melody, the cello melody, and the accompaniment across both hands. Glad I was finally able to record this after 3 months of very slow progress.Transcribed by Christian JensenPiano: Kawai Novus NV10Piano VST: Garritan CFX FullMy current CFX settings: http://forum.pianoworld.com/ubbthreads.php/galleries/2700015/garritan-cfx-concert-grand-full-settings.html
Ahead on Our Way (Final Fantasy VII piano cover) rach3master 2020-09-27 | I've been playing FF7 Remake lately, and was reminded of its great music. I came across this creative arrangement randomly last week, and promptly transcribed it for myself. The jazz fits this nostalgic theme perfectly.Composer - Nobuo UematsuArranged by Zorsy - youtu.be/-QQgKkodxmUSorry, no sheets.Piano: Kawai Novus NV-10Piano VST: Garritan CFX FullMy current CFX settings: http://forum.pianoworld.com/ubbthreads.php/galleries/2700015/garritan-cfx-concert-grand-full-settings.html
Relax and Reflect - A Fading Summers Eve (Final Fantasy XV piano cover) rach3master 2020-07-29 | The peaceful campfire song from FFXV. This arrangement has an improvisatory quality to it and veers into virtuosic territory in the middle section. I remember learning just the notes for this piece a year ago and giving up because of the impossible rhythms. I gave it another shot about 2 months ago, and only after endless metronome work did it finally begin to make sense. It's a pity this didn't make it into the official Piano Collections, as it's the most successful (and fun) arrangement in my opinion.Composer: Yoko ShimomuraMusic Arranger: Takuro IgaTranscribed by Alistair Mithras: youtu.be/G2Lo3iwNLgAPiano: Kawai Novus NV-10Piano VST: Garritan CFX FullMy current CFX settings: http://forum.pianoworld.com/ubbthreads.php/galleries/2700015/garritan-cfx-concert-grand-full-settings.html
Rachmaninoff/Wild - In the Silent Night, Op. 4 No. 3 rach3master 2020-06-15 | Another Rachmaninoff song transcribed for piano by Earl Wild. I shortened the transcription roughly in half to match the length of the original song. The fancy flourish at the end is a pure Wild invention, but I think it works well here.Score: http://www.ivoryclassics.com/sheetmusicPiano: Kawai Novus NV10Piano VST: Garritan CFX FullMy current CFX settings: http://forum.pianoworld.com/ubbthreads.php/galleries/2700015/garritan-cfx-concert-grand-full-settings.html
Eternity ~Memories of Lightwaves~ (Final Fantasy X-2 Piano Collections) rach3master 2020-05-25 | Finally got around to uploading another video. This piece is probably the most popular track from FFX-2, as the title screen music. This arrangement is improvisatory in nature and takes some unexpected and creative turns. It's especially fun to play through the middle section building up to the huge climax, since I take it at a very aggressive and risky pace.Stay safe everyone!Piano: Kawai Novus NV10Piano VST: Garritan CFX FullMy current CFX settings: http://forum.pianoworld.com/ubbthreads.php/galleries/2700015/garritan-cfx-concert-grand-full-settings.html
Everyday World - Oregairu S2 ED (Animenz piano cover) rach3master 2020-02-19 | Apologies for uploading a piece I've already done before (my first one, in fact), but the original interpretation lacked a bit of polish in my opinion, so I decided to give it another shot, purely for my own satisfaction.It was interesting revisiting this after over 2 years. I lost most of the muscle memory for the fast runs, so it was a bit more difficult than I anticipated to relearn it.In my opinion, this is one of Animenz's best arrangements.Piano: Kawai Novus NV-10Piano VST: Garritan CFX FullMy current CFX settings: http://forum.pianoworld.com/ubbthreads.php/galleries/2700015/garritan-cfx-concert-grand-full-settings.html
Kapustin - Sunrise (Daybreak), Op. 26 rach3master 2020-01-21 | A fun jazzy piece by the contemporary Nikolai Kapustin, whose style skillfully blends classical and jazz elements. Although a relatively unknown composer, his works have started to gain mainstream attention in high profile international competitions, while also being championed by notable pianists such as Steven Osborne and Marc-André Hamelin.With complicated piano figuration evocative of Scriabin or Rachmaninoff, a solid technique is needed to undertake most of his oeuvre.Sheet music: sheetmusicplus.com/title/sunrise-daybreak-op-26-sheet-music/20451989Piano: Kawai Novus NV10Piano VST: Garritan CFX FullMy current CFX settings: http://forum.pianoworld.com/ubbthreads.php/galleries/2700015/garritan-cfx-concert-grand-full-settings.html
Rachmaninoff/Wild - Dreams, Op. 38 No. 5 rach3master 2019-12-29 | One of Rachmaninoff's songs transcribed for solo piano by the American pianist Earl Wild, who also made transcriptions of 13 other Rachmaninoff songs. This happens to be my favorite one.Score: ivoryclassics.com/collections/transcriptions/products/rachmaninov-earl-wild-br-dreams-br-op-38-no-5Piano: Kawai Novus NV10Piano VST: Garritan CFX FullMy current CFX settings: http://forum.pianoworld.com/ubbthreads.php/galleries/2700015/garritan-cfx-concert-grand-full-settings.html
Yunas Ballad (Final Fantasy X-2 Piano Collections) rach3master 2019-10-28 | Here's an official arrangement of a theme from Final Fantasy X-2. It's a nice melancholic song that would work as background music, but I tried to elevate the interpretation to make it stand out more. The Piano Collections for this game offered some very interesting arrangements, and the overall quality, in my humble opinion, remains unsurpassed out of all the FF series.I haven't been uploading much recently, and I admit I've been distracted by other things. There are some classical pieces that I've been learning and planning to upload, but my progress has been slower than expected. Currently I'm trying to figure out how to learn pieces more efficiently, so hopefully I'll be able to upload a little more frequently from now on.Piano: Kawai Novus NV10Piano VST: Garritan CFX FullMy current CFX settings: http://forum.pianoworld.com/ubbthreads.php/galleries/2700015/garritan-cfx-concert-grand-full-settings.html
Orange - Your Lie in April (piano cover) rach3master 2019-07-31 | The 2nd ending song to the popular Shigatsu wa kimi no uso (Your Lie in April) anime. I admit I love the unapologetic sentimentality here, and had this on loop for a month while I was learning this arrangement. This song is about saying goodbye to those you love.On a side note, when I first started this channel, I thought I'd only be doing anime covers, but my interests evolved, and these are now few and far between...Adapted and slightly modified from James Chou's arrangement.Original artist: 7!! (Seven Oops)Piano: Kawai Novus NV-10Piano VST: Garritan CFX FullMy current CFX settings: http://forum.pianoworld.com/ubbthreads.php/galleries/2700015/garritan-cfx-concert-grand-full-settings.html
Final Fantasy XV OST - Disquiet (Piano Arrangement) rach3master 2019-06-20 | or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the ArpeggioA dark, moody piece that didn't make the official FFXV Piano Collections, but is quite worthy in my opinion. The last minute or so gave me PTSD flashbacks to my student years practicing Chopin's Winter Wind etude.Transcribed by ThePochaccos: youtu.be/99x8pEY1C2EPiano: Kawai Novus NV-10Piano VST: Garritan CFX FullMy current CFX settings: http://forum.pianoworld.com/ubbthreads.php/galleries/2700015/garritan-cfx-concert-grand-full-settings.html
Rachmaninoff - Etude-tableau Op. 39 No. 2 in A Minor rach3master 2019-04-15 | A dark, moody, somber piece. Rachmaninoff revealed to his friend that the inspiration behind this piece was "the sea and the seagulls", represented by the triplets in the left hand and the duplets in the right hand, respectively. Also prominent in the left hand is the Dies Irae chant that Rachmaninoff was obsessed with throughout his life.Piano: Kawai Novus NV-10Piano VST: Garritan CFX FullMy current CFX settings: http://forum.pianoworld.com/ubbthreads.php/galleries/2700015/garritan-cfx-concert-grand-full-settings.html
Final Fantasy XV Piano Collections: Somnus - Dreaming of the Dawn rach3master 2019-03-11 | I'm 2 years late to the Somnus party, but here's my interpretation of the Piano Collections piece. I must admit, I wasn't a huge fan of this version at first, but it's grown on me.Composer & producer: Yoko ShimomuraArranger: Sachiko MiyanoPiano: Kawai Novus NV-10Piano VST: Garritan CFX FullMy current CFX settings: http://forum.pianoworld.com/ubbthreads.php/galleries/2700015/garritan-cfx-concert-grand-full-settings.html
Song of Four Seasons (四季歌) - arr. by V. Gryaznov rach3master 2019-02-05 | This is a Chinese folk song arranged by the incredible pianist/composer Vyacheslav Gryaznov (check out his channel!), who was kind enough to share the score with me. Really fascinating textures throughout.Also, it's a complete coincidence that I managed to get this recorded on Chinese New Year.Piano: Kawai Novus NV-10Piano VST: Garritan CFX FullMy current CFX settings: http://forum.pianoworld.com/ubbthreads.php/galleries/2700015/garritan-cfx-concert-grand-full-settings.html
Chopin - Nocturne Op. 27 No. 2 in D-flat Major (2019) rach3master 2019-01-21 | Nowadays, I prefer a more subtle interpretation of this nocturne, so I re-recorded this piece to better match my taste. I deliberately limited my dynamic range to no louder than mezzo-piano for most of the piece, in an attempt to mitigate the natural brightness of the Yamaha CFX VST sound. Even after playing this piece for 7+ years, I'm still not completely satisfied with my interpretation. Perhaps one day...Piano: Kawai Novus NV-10Piano VST: Garritan CFX FullMy current CFX settings: http://forum.pianoworld.com/ubbthreads.php/galleries/2700015/garritan-cfx-concert-grand-full-settings.html
Silent Night (piano) - arranged by N.G. Lienhard rach3master 2018-12-21 | Here's a nice arrangement from the Steinway Christmas Album, originally performed by Jeffrey Biegel.Original composer: Franz Xaver GruberPiano: Kawai Novus NV-10Piano VST: Garritan CFX FullMy current CFX settings: http://forum.pianoworld.com/ubbthreads.php/galleries/2700015/garritan-cfx-concert-grand-full-settings.html
Tchaikovsky/Volodos - Lullaby in a Storm, Op. 54 No. 10 rach3master 2018-11-12 | Here is another great arrangement for piano by Volodos. I only discovered this piece recently, and found it quite enchanting. Volodos takes a rather simple song and transforms it into a pianistic delight, full of complex harmonies, interesting figurations, and of course, a dash of virtuosic flair.Sheet music here:scribd.com/doc/192990116/Tchaikovsky-Volodos-BerceusePiano: Kawai Novus NV10Piano VST: Garritan CFX FullMy current CFX settings: http://forum.pianoworld.com/ubbthreads.php/galleries/2700015/garritan-cfx-concert-grand-full-settings.html
A Beautiful Song - Official NieR Automata Piano Collections rach3master 2018-10-26 | 😀🙃😀🙃😀🙃😀🙃😀🙃😀🙃😀🙃😀🙃😀🙃😀🙃😀🙃😀🙃😀🙃😀🙃😀🙃😀🙃😀🙃😀🙃😀🙃😀🙃😀🙃Music by Keigo Hoashi
Rachmaninoff/Volodos - Zdes khorosho (How Nice It Is Here), Op. 21 No. 7 rach3master 2018-09-22 | This is an arrangement of one of Rachmaninoff's songs by the genius pianist Arcadi Volodos. There are a lot of satisfying pianistic effects in this piece.Piano: Kawai Novus NV10Piano VST: Garritan CFX FullMy current CFX settings: http://forum.pianoworld.com/ubbthreads.php/galleries/2700015/garritan-cfx-concert-grand-full-settings.html
Melodies of Life (Final Fantasy IX Piano Collections) rach3master 2018-09-04 | Here's another classic tune from the Final Fantasy series. This arrangement is from the Piano Collections series. There is another arrangement of the same song from the Piano Opera series, which I've also recorded here:youtu.be/GSGtMGSJX1oI do prefer this arrangement though.Also, this and all future videos will feature the brand new Kawai NV10 Novus digital hybrid piano. Sound-wise, I'm still using the Garritan CFX VST; however, the key action is much better compared to my old Avantgrand in my opinion.Piano: Kawai Novus NV10Piano VST: Garritan CFX FullMy current CFX settings: http://forum.pianoworld.com/ubbthreads.php/galleries/2700015/garritan-cfx-concert-grand-full-settings.html
Chopin - Nocturne Op. 27 No. 1 in C-sharp Minor rach3master 2018-07-19 | I've been wanting to upload some more classical pieces for a while now, and this one made the cut.This nocturne contrasts quite nicely with its more famous Op. 27 No. 2 brother. Whereas that one is sweet and dreamy, this one is mournful and agitated throughout. Only at the end is there a bit of a silver lining. I actually didn't like it very much while I was learning it, but it's grown on me. I might even prefer it to Op. 27 No. 2 nowadays, which I was also learning at the same time.Also, you'll have to turn up the volume higher than usual for this video.Piano: Yamaha AvantGrand N1Piano VST: Garritan CFX FullMy current CFX settings: http://forum.pianoworld.com/ubbthreads.php/galleries/2700015/garritan-cfx-concert-grand-full-settings.html
Suteki da ne (Final Symphony Encore piano arrangement) rach3master 2018-07-04 | I'm taking a small break from NieR stuff so I don't get burned out. In the meantime, I found this very rare arrangement of Suteki da ne (the love theme from Final Fantasy X) from the Final Symphony concert series. To my knowledge, it has not been written down, so I just transcribed it myself. It seems unlikely that it'll ever get published, so I've uploaded my sheets here:musescore.com/user/29175942/scores/5154026I was too lazy to write down dynamics or tempo changes, and some of the notation is probably a bit sloppy, but note-wise it should be pretty accurate to what I've played.This is a rather elaborate arrangement. In the beginning you're playing 3 voices at once, while juggling the melody between both hands, which makes controlling dynamics rather challenging. The arpeggio section near the end is quite fun to play. Piano: Yamaha AvantGrand N1Piano VST: Garritan CFX FullMy current CFX settings: http://forum.pianoworld.com/ubbthreads.php/galleries/2700015/garritan-cfx-concert-grand-full-settings.html
The Tower - Official NieR Automata Piano Collections rach3master 2018-06-09 | Halfway done with this album!
Peaceful Sleep - Official NieR Automata Piano Collections rach3master 2018-05-29 | This could work as a lullaby. There are some neat jazzy passages in the middle.
Vague Hope - Official NieR Automata Piano Collections rach3master 2018-05-21 | Here's the song that people seem to like the most in the OST. Hopefully I did it justice.
Voice of No Return - Official NieR Automata Piano Collections rach3master 2018-05-09 | Here's another transcription of a piece from the NieR Automata Piano Collections. This arrangement isn't particularly interesting, but it can be charming in its simplicity.
City Ruins - Official NieR Automata Piano Collections rach3master 2018-05-05 | Here's my second video of the NieR Automata Piano Collections. This one was pretty straightforward to transcribe and learn.
Weight of the World - Official NieR Automata Piano Collections rach3master 2018-05-01 | This is the first video of 12 where I'll learn and play the entire NieR Automata Piano Collections, although not necessarily in the album order. I transcribed this myself, since no sheets currently exist elsewhere. Hopefully by the time I get to the hard pieces, the sheet music will be released.Now about this arrangement itself - I think it works pretty well here. I like that it gradually increases in intensity throughout the piece. Though, I can't say I'm a fan of the left hand chord spam near the end. Oh well.Original album: amazon.com/Piano-Collections-NieR-Various-artists/dp/B07CJS4561
In the Bleak Midwinter / Un Sospiro rach3master 2018-03-24 | Hopefully I won't get arrested by the Christmas police for playing this one out of season. It's a pretty clever mashup of Liszt's "Un Sospiro" and Holst's "In the Bleak Midwinter". No sheets since the middle section was transcribed by ear. Actually, this was the first piece that I ever legitimately transcribed by myself, at least partly.Originally performed by: Jeffrey BiegelComposer: Franz LisztComposer: Gustav HolstArranger: Carolyne M. TaylorA Steinway Christmas AlbumPiano: Yamaha AvantGrand N1Piano VST: Garritan CFX FullMy current CFX settings: http://forum.pianoworld.com/ubbthreads.php/galleries/2700015/garritan-cfx-concert-grand-full-settings.html
Grandma - NieR Gestalt & Replicant Piano Collections rach3master 2018-03-05 | Don't let the calm beginning fool you!This was recorded a bit quietly, so you may want to increase the volume somewhat for "maximum impact."Arranged by Masato KodaPiano: Yamaha AvantGrand N1Piano VST: Garritan CFX FullMy current CFX settings: http://forum.pianoworld.com/ubbthreads.php/galleries/2700015/garritan-cfx-concert-grand-full-settings.html
