There’s a new twist on visualizing music, and it’s hypnotizing. A pianist by the name of Rousseau has a YouTube channel where he uses some tricky software that gives a virtual light show to accompany his playing. He attached LED lights to his piano and used some very cool software to create this amazing visual effect that shows just how complex piano music can be. The collection has grown to include other pianists, and he not only plays classical favorites but some pop music as well.
Here are three of our favorites:
Rachmaninoff’s “Prelude in C Sharp Minor”
BONUS QUESTION*: Which pianist performed this as an encore at a New West Symphony concert in the past few years?
“La Campanella” by Franz Liszt
Bach’s “Toccata and Fugue in D Minor”
Here’s what Rousseau has to say about this piece (but he fails to mention where the 3rd arm comes from):
Here’s something a little bit different – Bach’s Toccata and Fugue in D minor, perhaps the most magical experience you can have in world of music, if you’ve never just closed your eyes and let Bach take you along for the journey, you are missing out. Written approximately 300 years ago, a piece as grand as this arguably wasn’t to be written until the next century with the grand symphonies of the romantic period, it’s quite easy to see how Bach was well ahead of his time and is, to this day, considered the grandfather of all modern music. I hope you enjoy the crunchiness in that intimidating introduction and the new patterned effects! This has been one of the most enjoyable videos to create in a long time 😀 For any organists, excuse the format (with the 3rd hand “pedals” and automatic registration), and a big thanks to my good organist friend for his guidance and advice.
*ANSWER: Garrick Ohlssen played this Rachmaninoff piece as an encore after he performed Beethoven’s “Emperor” piano concerto with New West Symphony in May, 2017.
Explore all of Rousseau’s works here.
