You don’t have to play the piano or know very much about classical music to recognize “Chopsticks.” The original name is “The Celebrated Chop Waltz” and is familiar because the opening melody is very catchy and simple. In fact, so simple, anyone can play those few chords.
So, when this young man takes his seat at the piano, adjusts his position, stretches out his arms and begins to play the ever-familiar “Chopsticks,” the audience laughs, expecting to hear something different. After all, it’s not a very unique or creative song selection and it’s one that has been played time and time again for years and years! What’s this guy doing?
Well, what’s about to follow in unlike anything I or the audience expected. What this performer did was take the time-honored classic and revamp it to encompass different styles and other well-known pieces. He arranged all these elements into one incredible piece of music. The man had a vision, and the way he sewed together these styles, influences and other pieces is beyond difficult as it is remarkable!
The talented pianist uses “Chopsticks” variations as his base. Notice how between the different styles and familiar classical pieces, you can hear remnants and transpositions of the famous melody. He’s incorporated bits from other masterpieces including, parts of Beethoven’s Piano Sonata No.14 Mov.3 (Moonlight) and Rachmaninoff’s Prelude Opus 3 No.2, Liszt’s Hungarian Rhapsody No.2 and Jerry Lee Lewis’ Great Balls of Fire. He builds speed and momentum and takes his audience on a whirlwind journey through his musical art in motion, at breakneck speed.
For the first five minutes, the pianist remains still and concentrated as his fingers fly across the keys, but at the 5:20 mark he wows everyone even more (as if he hasn’t done so enough already!) by standing up and hammering the keys with skill and precision! The crowd goes wild and he carries on like the piano rock star he is. He even uses his foot to perfectly hook on to the leg of the chair and sit back down. He carries on until his routine comes to a close, and the talented musician ends his performance the way he started. It’s an incredible showcase of talent!
Have you seen “Chopsticks” performed like this? Tell us about it in the comments!
Click below to watch this genius musician blow his cover!
