I was playing some Pete and Dud comedy for my housemate and it turned out that she worked a Dudley Moore piano concert. She says that all the staff of the venue had been very clearly told not to approach him bother him speak to him ask him to autograph anything -- she's at all of those things anyhow, she says, and he was extremely sweet and generous to her...
Bill Bailey, Dudley, Les Dawson (think about it - it's difficult to play wrong correctly) and Victor Borge - all pure joy! Thanks lads - we owe ye much.
Lots of comments on here regarding Dudley Moore's skills as a pianist. This is no surprise, he was a formally trained musician. He held the organ scholarship at Magdalen College Oxford, one of the most prestigious organ scholarships in England. He was a hugely talented and highly qualified musician.
@@charliemaguire2210 This is known. What is less understood is Dudley Moore's prodigious classical training to degree level at Oxford. He was awarded a scholarship at the Guildhall School of Music at age 11, was a professionally paid organist at the age of 14, and won the organ scholarship at the University of Oxford where he was tutored by the composer Bernard Rose. He then graduated with BA Hons (Oxon) later upgraded to MA (Oxon). He could easily have progressed through a successful music career with the top jobs at Westminster Abbey and St Paul's Cathedral. That is the true essence of Dudley Moore's gifted musical background.
@@ds1868 INDEED, i was merely adding composition to his bow,, all the classical training in the world doesn't automatically make you a good composer ( but it will help if you are ) but you are quite right to highlight his background. especially when you take into account his very humble origins in what was then metropolitan Essex shortly to be absorbed into London, & his childhood medical issues & operations. Both he & Cooky were very extraordinary talented people to say the least.
@@charliemaguire2210 Yes Dagenham. Just goes to show talent is everywhere, and if supported can lead to great results. I'm not sure if there is such support today, compared to the years when Dudley Moore was growing up. I think we've lost quite a few things in our country in recent years, without perhaps realising the true effect and loss.
When I die, if there’s a heaven, or at least, an afterlife/alternate universe/different dimension, I hope there is a club called The Establishment where, in the music basement, there is a concert grand piano and dear Dudley performing his heart out - if all this holds true, I’ll be found there!! He is sorely missed. What wit, what boundless talent. How I miss him - thankfully we have UA-cam!
I wonder what the 3 Stooges would think! A man of his talent didn't deserve his type of dementia. Nobody does, but I especially Iiked Duddley because he made the best, despite a club foot. He didn't let it stop him from acting or playing the piano.
Dudley Moore was organ scholar at Magdalen College Oxford, one of the most prestigious organ scholarships in England. He was a formally trained and highly accomplished musician.
Playing flying octaves with such accuracy of delivering comedic timing. Incredible talent, incredible entertainment. Well, at least we have Taylor Swift.
OMG! The only thing I knew this guy for was that movie where he played a drunk. Fantastic piano! And with an incredible, (un)- disguised sense of humor.
how this audience laughs, shows their extremely high level of cultural knowledge, almost as impressive as the performance itself. I wouldn't know where to find a whole room full of people with such knowledge about classical music
Nothing like Les Dawson or Victor Borge. A very erudite parody/pastiche with no wrong notes at all using all Beethoven’s mannerisms. A scholarly performance, and highly amusing and thrilling by turn.
I have a note-for-note transcription of this piece of Dudley brilliance! I can *follow* it, yeah, but PLAY it? Huh! Fat chance!! 😉 (So, how many of us heard the "Hernando's Hideaway" reference from The Pyjama Game ?)
I was blessed to see him perform with the original cast of "Beyond The Fringe" in London ... he (as were the rest of them) was amazing and very, very funny!!!
@@john1951w I am also a John, and I am sorry to disagree... I find Beethoven's endings to be short and abrupt, and I love it. That is except in his 5th symphony, last movement, which ends of 40 crashing major to minor chords. I have played it many times in the orchestra. Kind regards.
@@john1951w I would not be able to put into words the enrichment of my life that has come about by knowing the music of Beethoven... I am certain you will agree.
It’s easier to play a Beethoven piano concerto than it is to play this. I know, because I can play Beethoven, but I can’t play this! Absolute genius, musically and comically.
Couldn't agree more. This is technically very challenging, and although there are a few mistakes, deliberate, or otherwise, there's no doubting his proficiency. I've played most of Beethoven's Sonatas, but don't remember too many passages as challenging as these!
@@neorich59, purposefully making mistakes in classical music as part of the character of the piece, is generally speaking, much more difficult than making actual mistakes - it seems like the "mistakes", are part of the composition of the Beethoven themed arrangement of the River Kwai tune, and part of the mastery in the performance of the piece, by Dudley Moore, in this particular situation.
I saw him in a performance with the local orchestra where he played Gershwin's Concerto in F. And he nailed it. I think many never learned what a truly fine pianist he was. (My point of view is somebody whose mother was a professional concert pianist.)
To all those strange people who don't know why the audience are laughing: it's because it was both clever and funny. No cue cards needed. It helps if you're familiar with Beethoven. If you're not you can perhaps just admire his skill without quite getting the joke. And no, I don't think it was a wig. Believe it or not back in the day men sometimes had hair like that!
I'm sorry Mr Gray, I really don't understand your point. There seems to some criticism of the use of pseudonyms on the internet but after that you lost me. My old grandfather always advised me never to comment on UA-cam after a few drinks which I think is quite sound.
That was absolutely not why people were laughing. There was nothing funny whatsoever about the performance... It was musical genius but nothing funny. People were laughing because he is a comedian and they have got into the habit of laughing at him whatever he does. He could just shake his hands above his head and they would laugh. So for those who have never seen him it would look odd to see people laugh at a great musical performance.
I disagree obviously. Many things are funny about the performance and not only his clowning. The tune has slightly obscene connotations in Britain but is here treated seriously and developed as Beethoven might have. This contrast is intended to be funny and is.
@@Ferret1900 what is the tune? It seems to me like he rhapsodised on some famous tune, but what is it? It rings a bell, but I can't identify it and it's bugging me (I'm not british and I grew up listening to classical music only, so please forgive my ignorance)
I like it! It's kind of quirky and I don't know how many times I thought it was about to end and it didn't, quite yet, but then Beethoven was known for his rather dramatic endings. It was a brilliant parody of Beethoven's music. 👍
So many geniuses back then. No one would EVER EVER go through all that training, become that good, and decide to make people laugh and stand out doing that too. 10 was funny as hell
What surprises me the most is his body English. I am convinced he has a secret stash of Beethoven videos somewhere and his body English too is in the style of Beethoven or similar.
From 3:20 onward Dudley was really giving that right sustain pedal on the piano a brutal stamping - I've seen him before at this point using it, his right foot thumping on it time and time as he played the finale.
Brilliant...to say the least. I have heard it in his first appearance,. The video is black and white and of course, a much younger version of himselñf but such creativity and dexterity are amazing.
Ronnie Wood is a close friend. said he watched Dudley on stage once and he was so maganificent. that is, woods said he ws so goodas a pianist he could make people laugh just doing that ! what a compliment
I was playing some Pete and Dud comedy for my housemate and it turned out that she worked a Dudley Moore piano concert. She says that all the staff of the venue had been very clearly told not to approach him bother him speak to him ask him to autograph anything -- she's at all of those things anyhow, she says, and he was extremely sweet and generous to her...
Possibly the greatest piece of comic pastiche ever. But boy did he give that piano a kicking.
Bill Bailey, Dudley, Les Dawson (think about it - it's difficult to play wrong correctly) and Victor Borge - all pure joy! Thanks lads - we owe ye much.
Les Dawson was genius - and even better imo because of his hands - his fingers were like chipolata sausages
Chico Marx was another.
@@raymondo162 I think your brain is like chipolata sausages.
Absolutely!!! Couldn’t agree with you more Dave.
Lots of comments on here regarding Dudley Moore's skills as a pianist. This is no surprise, he was a formally trained musician. He held the organ scholarship at Magdalen College Oxford, one of the most prestigious organ scholarships in England. He was a hugely talented and highly qualified musician.
& a highly respected Jazz musician & composer also, just check out the score & music to Bedazzled for one.
@@charliemaguire2210 This is known. What is less understood is Dudley Moore's prodigious classical training to degree level at Oxford. He was awarded a scholarship at the Guildhall School of Music at age 11, was a professionally paid organist at the age of 14, and won the organ scholarship at the University of Oxford where he was tutored by the composer Bernard Rose. He then graduated with BA Hons (Oxon) later upgraded to MA (Oxon). He could easily have progressed through a successful music career with the top jobs at Westminster Abbey and St Paul's Cathedral. That is the true essence of Dudley Moore's gifted musical background.
@@ds1868 INDEED, i was merely adding composition to his bow,, all the classical training in the world doesn't automatically make you a good composer ( but it will help if you are ) but you are quite right to highlight his background. especially when you take into account his very humble origins in what was then metropolitan Essex shortly to be absorbed into London, & his childhood medical issues & operations. Both he & Cooky were very extraordinary talented people to say the least.
@@charliemaguire2210 Yes Dagenham. Just goes to show talent is everywhere, and if supported can lead to great results. I'm not sure if there is such support today, compared to the years when Dudley Moore was growing up. I think we've lost quite a few things in our country in recent years, without perhaps realising the true effect and loss.
Without a doubt.
You really need to know your stuff to be able to do this. Genius.
Well, I knew he could play, but that was outstanding.
Dudley really was a natural genius of comedy through every medium. Sadly missed. RIP Dud 🙏
I loved him in Bedazzled with Peter Cook.
@@helenbailey8419 I loved Bo Derek with him in "10".
Such a brilliant mind and immeasurable talent….RIP cuddly Dudley❣️
Had crush on Basil Brush and Dudley.
What a genius,he practically makes the piano talk.What a talent.Roly 🇬🇧.
When I die, if there’s a heaven, or at least, an afterlife/alternate universe/different dimension, I hope there is a club called The Establishment where, in the music basement, there is a concert grand piano and dear Dudley performing his heart out - if all this holds true, I’ll be found there!! He is sorely missed. What wit, what boundless talent. How I miss him - thankfully we have UA-cam!
By any measure, that was great piano playing demonstration.
When he’s looking around and looking at the audience it’s almost like he’s on auto pilot. Insane!!!
O Dudley how The World needs you now. An incredible human being.
It’s funny in its own right, but he really sells it with the gestures and facial expressions.
"What do I miss most? Playing the piano. I love it so much and I miss it very much." - Dudley Moore.
A truly great entertainer -people with his music and comic ability are rare-a marvellous upload-thank you.
Brilliant comedian, brilliant musician. Genius does come in small packages.
and, dont forget wonderful, loveable comedian. !
In an odd way, this performance goes to underline what a fabulous pianist he was!!
Nothing odd about it, it's very obvious what an incredible pianist he was.
I wonder what the 3 Stooges would think! A man of his talent didn't deserve his type of dementia. Nobody does, but I especially Iiked Duddley because he made the best, despite a club foot. He didn't let it stop him from acting or playing the piano.
Dudley Moore was organ scholar at Magdalen College Oxford, one of the most prestigious organ scholarships in England. He was a formally trained and highly accomplished musician.
@@ds1868 I had heard he was a highly trained musician. Thank you for the information.
Why in an odd way?
I knew that Dudley could play piano but i had no idea Dud could play like this, so very impressive, beautiful, brilliant and funny. RIP Dudley.
Many people don't know that he could perform at the highest level. I once saw him in concert playing Gershwin's Concerto in F and it was outstanding.
Life without Dud will never be exactly the same. Brilliant as usual👍👌👌❤️
Great man, great life wonderful talent, we were blessed.
THIS is Absolutely BRILLIANT 👍
One of my favorite celebrities...He had so many talents...wish he was still here. RIP.
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Playing flying octaves with such accuracy of delivering comedic timing. Incredible talent, incredible entertainment. Well, at least we have Taylor Swift.
Haha
Absolutely genuine genius 👏 👏 wow dudleyD Moore, god take a bow.rip man.
Great actor, and a great musician, so sorry that he is not around anymore!
How refreshing to watch, no stress no aires just enjoyment
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That was the best performance of this piece on youtube and there are at least three.
OMG! The only thing I knew this guy for was that movie where he played a drunk. Fantastic piano! And with an incredible, (un)- disguised sense of humor.
Oh come on Dudley, now you're just showing off.
And I love it! ❤️👍
That ending was EPIC! RIP DUDLEY!!!!!
I counted 8 endings altogether in that piece.
I had no idea he could even play, never mind that brilliantly!
How wonderful!
how this audience laughs, shows their extremely high level of cultural knowledge, almost as impressive as the performance itself. I wouldn't know where to find a whole room full of people with such knowledge about classical music
I think this is a laugh track, if you listen it it again it’s the same laugh repeated.
Well classical music has a massive audience on UA-cam...
I knew he could play piano but didn't realize he was that accomplished.. !
He was a child musical prodigy.
He was an organ scholar at oxford
God I’d have loved to see him in concert.
You were a genius Dud, God bless.
Gods are fictional. Just like your infantile false name.
That’s what Joan Crawford used to say !
@@petesmith9472 What about Greta bl00dy Garbo?
Dudley Moore was a gift Frome God 🙏 good night , sweet prince ; this world was never meant for one as beautiful as You 💖
I love Dudley Moore and his acting. Also his music. A Genius.
Nothing like Les Dawson or Victor Borge. A very erudite parody/pastiche with no wrong notes at all using all Beethoven’s mannerisms. A scholarly performance, and highly amusing and thrilling by turn.
i learned more about music here than in 50 years of listening to pop
A comic and brilliant musical genius. Gone well before time; greatly missed.
I have a note-for-note transcription of this piece of Dudley brilliance!
I can *follow* it, yeah, but PLAY it? Huh! Fat chance!! 😉
(So, how many of us heard the "Hernando's Hideaway" reference from The Pyjama Game ?)
I also heard the Universal monsters theme from Son of Frankenstein
An actual genius.
I was blessed to see him perform with the original cast of "Beyond The Fringe" in London ... he (as were the rest of them) was amazing and very, very funny!!!
Amazing.he passed with same disorder my mother inlaw passed away with.....what an Amazing person such a beautifull talent....RIP
He was a brilliant performer
Karen, you wrote just what I was going to say!. What and amazing musician and wonderful actor.
I wasn't expecting this at all lol. Too good!
A genius from Dagenham, much missed!
Brilliant!
Great heavens I know Beethoven inside out, and for many years, and this sounds EXACTLY his piano composition style! how clever is this?
Beethoven's endings were often annoyingly dragged out. Dud nails it. Brilliant!
@@john1951w I am also a John, and I am sorry to disagree... I find Beethoven's endings to be short and abrupt, and I love it. That is except in his 5th symphony, last movement, which ends of 40 crashing major to minor chords. I have played it many times in the orchestra. Kind regards.
@@antoineduchamp4931 Fair enough. A different opinion.
@@john1951w I would not be able to put into words the enrichment of my life that has come about by knowing the music of Beethoven... I am certain you will agree.
A Divine Imp! I miss him so much.
Ludwig van finale are always very long. He never knew how to stop. This is exhilarating and a piece of art.
playing his ass off, the multiple resolutions always get me.
...he could have made a career as a concert pianist-his technique was great and his phantasy knew no limits! RIP !
It’s easier to play a Beethoven piano concerto than it is to play this. I know, because I can play Beethoven, but I can’t play this! Absolute genius, musically and comically.
Couldn't agree more. This is technically very challenging, and although there are a few mistakes, deliberate, or otherwise, there's no doubting his proficiency.
I've played most of Beethoven's Sonatas, but don't remember too many passages as challenging as these!
@@neorich59, purposefully making mistakes in classical music as part of the character of the piece, is generally speaking, much more difficult than making actual mistakes - it seems like the "mistakes", are part of the composition of the Beethoven themed arrangement of the River Kwai tune, and part of the mastery in the performance of the piece, by Dudley Moore, in this particular situation.
I can hear , Moonlight, Appassionata , Waldstein and Eric Morecambe in there!!
@@JustSad66 I love the little trip into Hernado's Hideaway. Brilliant.
😂such a talent!
Very talented man
I saw him in a performance with the local orchestra where he played Gershwin's Concerto in F. And he nailed it. I think many never learned what a truly fine pianist he was. (My point of view is somebody whose mother was a professional concert pianist.)
Brilliant he should return and do MOORE OF THIS!
Absolute genius who was taken from us too early 💜
Love the snippet of Hernando's Hideaway he tucks in there
Correction Hernando's Hideaway - senility!
To all those strange people who don't know why the audience are laughing: it's because it was both clever and funny. No cue cards needed. It helps if you're familiar with Beethoven. If you're not you can perhaps just admire his skill without quite getting the joke. And no, I don't think it was a wig. Believe it or not back in the day men sometimes had hair like that!
For those of you adults who are puzzling over why you cower behind a fake juvenile "name": the answer is plain.
I'm sorry Mr Gray, I really don't understand your point. There seems to some criticism of the use of pseudonyms on the internet but after that you lost me. My old grandfather always advised me never to comment on UA-cam after a few drinks which I think is quite sound.
That was absolutely not why people were laughing. There was nothing funny whatsoever about the performance... It was musical genius but nothing funny.
People were laughing because he is a comedian and they have got into the habit of laughing at him whatever he does. He could just shake his hands above his head and they would laugh.
So for those who have never seen him it would look odd to see people laugh at a great musical performance.
I disagree obviously. Many things are funny about the performance and not only his clowning. The tune has slightly obscene connotations in Britain but is here treated seriously and developed as Beethoven might have. This contrast is intended to be funny and is.
@@Ferret1900 what is the tune? It seems to me like he rhapsodised on some famous tune, but what is it? It rings a bell, but I can't identify it and it's bugging me (I'm not british and I grew up listening to classical music only, so please forgive my ignorance)
Great Video! Love it!
now, this is TALENT !
Beethoven could have written this. It has a lot of his signature "rifs".
He even looks like a classical composer. He's the reincarnation of Purcell or Haydn or one of them
Mind blowing brilliant! 👏
Without a shadow of a doubt, the greatest musical comedian of all time, with all due respects to Victor Borge and Peter (P.D.Q. Bach) Schickele!
Yes Victor would be hard pressed to be this funny here! I am with you 100%!
And Les Dawson?
This bit and Victor Borge both great. Do we really need a GOAT?
Improvisation was an important part of his organ degree.
Have a listen to Bill Bailey. He is another incredible comedian musician.
ua-cam.com/video/AcPTFXzh0LQ/v-deo.html
I never knew about his skills as a pianist, very talented man.
He was a formally trained musician. Magdalen College Oxford.
Miss Dudley…….one of my favorite comedic and pianist.
CFAZY in love with this!
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I like it! It's kind of quirky and I don't know how many times I thought it was about to end and it didn't, quite yet, but then Beethoven was known for his rather dramatic endings. It was a brilliant parody of Beethoven's music. 👍
Ehmmm... that's the joke.
Brilliantly clever and funny - even at the twentieth time of watching !!
I wonder how many people today would realise he is playing the Colonel Bogey march,or would even know the tune.of its time but still brilliant
So many geniuses back then. No one would EVER EVER go through all that training, become that good, and decide to make people laugh and stand out doing that too. 10 was funny as hell
What surprises me the most is his body English. I am convinced he has a secret stash of Beethoven videos somewhere and his body English too is in the style of Beethoven or similar.
Prodigious talent!
Pure magic brilliance
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Excellent
Yes he was a lovely genius.
Bloody marvellous.
Brilliant. Just superb
Im equally as impressed as to how he stood up so quick
Incredible!
the traditional "stretched out" Beethoven ending taken the "next level"!
From 3:20 onward Dudley was really giving that right sustain pedal on the piano a brutal stamping - I've seen him before at this point using it, his right foot thumping on it time and time as he played the finale.
That was amazing
TY ✌🏼🥰
Holly Dudley! I didn't know he was such a pianist!
Brilliant...to say the least. I have heard it in his first appearance,. The video is black and white and of course, a much younger version of himselñf but such creativity and dexterity are amazing.
Genius at work.
He was soooooo great this little man
Bloody talented
Ronnie Wood is a close friend. said he watched Dudley on stage once and he was so maganificent. that is, woods said he ws so goodas a pianist he could make people laugh just doing that ! what a compliment
That is fantastic
I had no idea Dudley was such a brilliant pianist.
😃😃👍🔥🔥
He was a brilliant pianist first. He was also an actor.
He was a musician (many Jazz recordings) and composer (many film scores).
Organ Scholar at Magdalene College, Oxford if you please.
@@phillipecook3227 it's said that his organ teacher said Dudley was the most talented musician he ever taught.
Genius!
Mind blowing
Genius.
His left hand is pretty unbelievable - among other things...