Flight of the Bumble Bee
(1899-1900)
(1899-1900)
by Russian composer Rimsky Korsakov
Originally an orchestral interlude for the opera The Tale of Tsar Saltan.
Now popular as a stand-alone virtuoso piece for piano.
Also transcribed for other instruments.
Characterized by torrents of cascading chromatic semiquavers,
representative of a buzzing bumble bee.
See Wikipedia entry here for details and background.
Originally an orchestral interlude for the opera The Tale of Tsar Saltan.
Now popular as a stand-alone virtuoso piece for piano.
Also transcribed for other instruments.
Characterized by torrents of cascading chromatic semiquavers,
representative of a buzzing bumble bee.
See Wikipedia entry here for details and background.
__________
ORIGINAL VERSION
(ORCHESTRAL)
Russian National Orchestra (2008)
Melody taken up by strings and then flute.
__________
NON-PIANO INSTRUMENTAL VERSIONS
MUSANIM
Musanim (2013)
Excellent visualisation.
Shows clearly symmetry of the musical structure.
Excellent visualisation.
Shows clearly symmetry of the musical structure.
BASS GUITAR
Simon Fitzpatrick (2014)
Expertly played.
Note the picking is done close to where the fingers press the fingerboard.
Expertly played.
Note the picking is done close to where the fingers press the fingerboard.
VIOLIN
Ben Lee (2014)
Played by British violinist Ben Lee.
Billed as the fastest violinist in the world.
On a diamond-studded carbon-fibre violin!
Ben Lee (2014)
Played by British violinist Ben Lee.
Billed as the fastest violinist in the world.
On a diamond-studded carbon-fibre violin!
DOUBLE BASS
Lev Weksler
An unlikely candidate instrument for this piece.
According to some, the left hand would have
travelled a few kilometres after playing this on the Double Bass!
Notice how chromatics are fingered by sliding the left hand thus requiring less effort.
Lev Weksler
An unlikely candidate instrument for this piece.
According to some, the left hand would have
travelled a few kilometres after playing this on the Double Bass!
Notice how chromatics are fingered by sliding the left hand thus requiring less effort.
XYLOPHONE
Andy Zhang (2010)
Very accurate and skilful performance with good dynamics.
Andy Zhang (2010)
Very accurate and skilful performance with good dynamics.
ACAPPELLA
Team Lachey (2007)
From Clash of the Choirs.
Surprisingly effective results.
INVERSION
By Drawkcab (!)
By Drawkcab (!)
A true inversion: actual time inversion of the audio track.
Because of the symmetrical nature of the musical figures
this sounds quite recognisable and almost similar to the forward version.
Because of the symmetrical nature of the musical figures
this sounds quite recognisable and almost similar to the forward version.
__________
PIANO VERSIONS
ORIGINAL PIANO TRANSCRIPTION BY RACHMANINOFF (1929?)
The standard piano version of this piece.
Possibly even more well-known than the original orchestral version.
Distils the essence of the original orchestral work.
The standard piano version of this piece.
Possibly even more well-known than the original orchestral version.
Distils the essence of the original orchestral work.
Paul Barton (2014)
With running score.
With running score.
Carl Miguel Maldonado (2012)
Front view of keyboard.
Shows finger positions clearly.
Clean articulation, and a light touch.
TWO PIANO VERSION
Sonya Belousova and Arturo Cardelus (2014)
Duel in a piano shop!
PIANO TRANSCRIPTION BY CZIFFRA (~1950+?)
Transcribed by legendary virtuoso Gyorgy Cziffra.
Even more difficult than the Rach transcription.
Even more difficult than the Rach transcription.
Lots of interlocking octaves.
Gyorgy Cziffra (1954)
Played by Cziffra himself.
With running score.
Ironically a large part of the score is shown
on one stave in spite of the complexity.
With running score.
Ironically a large part of the score is shown
on one stave in spite of the complexity.
OTHER PIANO TRANSCRIPTIONS AND TWEAKS
Arcadi Volodos (2008?)
With his own tweaks to make it even more difficult!
Look out for the hidden melodies
Look out for the hidden melodies
Yuja Wang (2008)
The fabulous and glamorous Yuja Wang!
Chinese piano prodigy.
At the 2008 Verbier Festival.
Perfectly executed.
Chinese piano prodigy.
At the 2008 Verbier Festival.
Perfectly executed.
PIANO TRANSCRIPTION BY MARC-ANDRE HAMELIN (1987)
Interesting treatment.
The latest piano transcription, many years after Cziffra.
Appears deceptively simple - each hand plays only one note at one time -
but extremely challenging to play.
Higher order harmonic structure, complexity and dissonance.
Interesting use of hexachords, and clever hidden motifs.
Some parts reminiscent of Poulenc's use of a melody requote a major third down.
Interesting to note that piano transcriptions by
Rach, Cziffra and Hamelin were written about 30 years apart,
the last of which was about 30 years ago.
It's about time for another transcription!
Feodor Amirov (2016)
A crisp performance.
Interesting treatment.
The latest piano transcription, many years after Cziffra.
Appears deceptively simple - each hand plays only one note at one time -
but extremely challenging to play.
Higher order harmonic structure, complexity and dissonance.
Interesting use of hexachords, and clever hidden motifs.
Some parts reminiscent of Poulenc's use of a melody requote a major third down.
Interesting to note that piano transcriptions by
Rach, Cziffra and Hamelin were written about 30 years apart,
the last of which was about 30 years ago.
It's about time for another transcription!
Feodor Amirov (2016)
A crisp performance.
_____
(added 17 Oct 2017)
TRANSCRIPTION FOR FOUR HANDS
Scott Brothers (2008)
Jonathan and Tom Scott
Interesting arrangement for four hands.
(added 17 Oct 2017)
TRANSCRIPTION FOR FOUR HANDS
Scott Brothers (2008)
Jonathan and Tom Scott
Interesting arrangement for four hands.
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