Beautiful, I actually cheered! Hats off to Mr Duckett, the first pianist on UA-cam to give a complete performance of Marigold! Was very impressed with the tremolandi in the B section- I think it's one of the most difficult passages ever written and he makes it sound effortless!
Thank you, Chris for this marvellous performance of "Marigold". I'm glad Billy Mayerl's music is being played still in 2009, and to this standard. It brings back many memories for me; I remember my father (a good amateur pianist) playing this number back in the 1950s, but I have to say, your version is the best I've heard. John.
Since hearing Chris Ducket's superb rendition of Marle's Marigold, it inspired me to work on this piece. Initially I spent time working out the best fingering which helps me to play the piece at the tempo set by Chris which makes the melody swing better and come alive. Thank you so mush Chris, its a GEM! Colin from Wakefield.
Yes, it is one of the most difficult pieces to play. This rendition betrays none of those difficulties. It flows from the heart through the fingers with a spring and apparent ease, in faultless delivery. Thanks for posting. It was really well enjoyed.
I love the lightness and rhythmic continuity of this performance. In fact, it's my favorite performance of this piece, and I've owned two commercial recordings plus listened to many others.
I worked out the most efficient fingering I could come up with, and after about a week of slow practice with a relaxed hand, it came together surprisingly well. I won't be playing it as fast as Mr. Duckett, but he is at the fast end of reasonable range of tempi. Even a shade slower is significantly easier. A lot of comments here seem to overstate the difficulty of this piece. I'm not an expert in grading piano pieces, but I figure anything I can play reasonably well is intermediate, not advanced.
Top class performance of this rather difficult piece, with only a couple of very minor slips (or perhaps they are misreadings) in the LH bass notes, which is great going for a live performance. Can't help thinking it is too fast though.. the score says "Slowly and lightly". No complaints on the "lightly", but this not anywhere near "slowly". I am reminded of Scott Joplin, who marked most of his pieces "slow", and repeatedly wrote "It is never right to play ragtime fast". Not that this piece is ragtime, but it's a bit similar, and I think that argument is valid here as well.
It's ironic that Billy Mayerl so fastidious in his scores would indicate a slow tempo but play this even faster than here! I can't help but think he was trying to say "no one can play faster than me!"
@forwardtenth What does your comment mean? Who should post again with it done in their own style. I am confused. Is someone getting a ticking off here!
Sorry Ralph Hayes, but you won't hear this piece played better, other than by Billy himself and he's not around any more. Though I bet you can play it. If so, post your performance on UA-cam and give us all a treat.
Definitely the best rendition of Marigold I’ve heard. Brilliant ❤
Bravo!. My mum played this piece all the time.
Pity I didn't appreciate it at the time. She was a pit band pianist for a silent cinema.
Divine! My dad played all Billy Mayerl's gems. Happy days.
This piece makes you realise how a piece doesn't need to be fast to be unbelievably difficult
Beautiful, I actually cheered! Hats off to Mr Duckett, the first pianist on UA-cam to give a complete performance of Marigold! Was very impressed with the tremolandi in the B section- I think it's one of the most difficult passages ever written and he makes it sound effortless!
Mayerl wrote some really interesting piano pieces, the titles were quite well matched too!
Thank you, Chris for this marvellous performance of "Marigold". I'm glad Billy Mayerl's music is being played still in 2009, and to this standard. It brings back many memories for me; I remember my father (a good amateur pianist) playing this number back in the 1950s, but I have to say, your version is the best I've heard.
John.
Since hearing Chris Ducket's superb rendition of Marle's Marigold, it inspired me to work on this piece. Initially I spent time working out the best fingering which helps me to play the piece at the tempo set by Chris which makes the melody swing better and come alive. Thank you so mush Chris, its a GEM! Colin from Wakefield.
Yes, it is one of the most difficult pieces to play. This rendition betrays none of those difficulties. It flows from the heart through the fingers with a spring and apparent ease, in faultless delivery. Thanks for posting. It was really well enjoyed.
Bravo! Your lightness of touch is creditable, as is your feel for the treacherous Mayerl syncopation.
Well played indeed.
I love the lightness and rhythmic continuity of this performance. In fact, it's my favorite performance of this piece, and I've owned two commercial recordings plus listened to many others.
AGREE!
Well played. It's a difficult piece, but a joy to listen to.
Beautifully played.
Very nice. Many thanks for this performance.
Love it!
Wonderful....!!!! FANTASTIC
Chris: You play better all of the time. Wonderful, Keep up the great work, and Thanks Mike for the postings!!
Aknabea
John
Fantastic playing. It's not the syncopation that makes this piece difficult - it's all those runs of perfect fourths!
I worked out the most efficient fingering I could come up with, and after about a week of slow practice with a relaxed hand, it came together surprisingly well. I won't be playing it as fast as Mr. Duckett, but he is at the fast end of reasonable range of tempi. Even a shade slower is significantly easier. A lot of comments here seem to overstate the difficulty of this piece. I'm not an expert in grading piano pieces, but I figure anything I can play reasonably well is intermediate, not advanced.
jUST BEAUTIFULLY JOYFUL!!!!!
Wow! Outstanding interpretation.
Magnificent
Top class performance of this rather difficult piece, with only a couple of very minor slips (or perhaps they are misreadings) in the LH bass notes, which is great going for a live performance. Can't help thinking it is too fast though.. the score says "Slowly and lightly". No complaints on the "lightly", but this not anywhere near "slowly". I am reminded of Scott Joplin, who marked most of his pieces "slow", and repeatedly wrote "It is never right to play ragtime fast". Not that this piece is ragtime, but it's a bit similar, and I think that argument is valid here as well.
It's ironic that Billy Mayerl so fastidious in his scores would indicate a slow tempo but play this even faster than here! I can't help but think he was trying to say "no one can play faster than me!"
Lovely and it's now on my ipod
The last time I saw piano grades, it was at grade 6. I certainly wouldn't like to try it!
Bravo .
Any girl born in the 1930s to London society parents and christened Marigold probably owes her name to this song. Including my dear mother in law!
My mother was born in 1932 in Croatia. She was named Nevenka which is slav for Marigold. I love all things marigold.
Chris is just about the only one who is able to play it. Marigold is so incredibly difficult. It is on par with Liszt for complexity.
nice touch
@forwardtenth What does your comment mean? Who should post again with it done in their own style. I am confused. Is someone getting a ticking off here!
Would anyone be able to tell me what grade this is roughly? I'm currently working towards Grade 8 ABRSM, but would love a challenge! :)
Amelia Pendragon it's about the next grade beyond grade 8. It is on the repertoire for the LCM diploma.
Bliss
Haaha I thought he played the M2U Marigold XD
Too fast and no marigolds!
Sorry Ralph Hayes, but you won't hear this piece played better, other than by Billy himself and he's not around any more. Though I bet you can play it. If so, post your performance on UA-cam and give us all a treat.
This is as fine of a version of Marigold as any of us will probably ever hear. Period.