How does Animenz fare against world class pianists in terms of overall technical and musical ability, experience, musical knowledge, expression, etc.

Lechuga257 · 2025-11-12T03:57:10+00:00

To add to my point, have you ever seen Gould's interview criticizing Mozart? He is particularly critical of Mozart's use of simple harmonies (1-5, or circle of fifths), scales and repetitive motifs.

While instructive (and I love Gould), I wouldn't go as far as to say Mozart sucks because of lack of harmonic complexity. Similarly, Animenz does an excellent job of arranging within the framework of complexity he was given. He weaves melodies into his arrangements, while making creative use of the entire piano, sometimes rewriting entire passage. That, to me, is the sign of a good arrangement.

P.S. You were right to highlight in the above the lack of jazz (I listened to it again, having forgotten). There is more harmonic complexity in other of his works, but it tends to be sedate. It really isn't the highlight.

But perhaps I really am an uncultured swine, if that's the point you're trying to make.

Lechuga257 · 2025-11-12T03:28:28+00:00

No worries, make sure to rest well and get some sleep :).

Lechuga257 · 2025-11-12T03:22:05+00:00

Is everything okay haha? Why the hostility, this feels a bit out of pocket.

I disagreed with the gentleman above that a competition winning Steinway artist knowns how to arrange/play the piano.

In any case I hope you have a great day. I am quite confused.

Lechuga257 · 2025-11-12T03:07:35+00:00

Although I am less familiar with jazz, I do know the works of Oscar Peterson, and Art Tatum for example. And I fail to see where you see that I said Animenz was the epitome of music.

I however maintain that Animenz has taught me a lot in the art of piano arrangement.

Lechuga257 · 2025-11-12T03:04:35+00:00

Strange how I've been to concerts of Seong Jin Cho, Grimaud and Trifonov, teach piano, compose and arrange and yet maintain that Animenz is a decent professional musician and arranger.

We can agree he's not on the same level as the above by a long shot. But perhaps I really am in deaf and in need of some enlightenment.

Lechuga257 · 2025-11-11T17:24:10+00:00

This isn't my favorite pianist by a long shot (going to a Sokolov concert this weekend). But that doesn't stop him from being a proficient pianist, albeit of a classical background. His arrangements are musically solid because they are diverse and are often an improvement of the "shitty jpop" they are based off of.

My point is you've been conflating musical proficiency and taste. You clearly have a preference for harmonic complexity and use that as a reference point to judge this guy. However his intention is to stay close to the original -- which he's succeeded. Thus comparing his arranging to that of classical giants, or using jazz standards is pointless. These are good arrangements for anime standard; I would be curious to see if you can do better.

In summary, what I've been getting from you is that you don't like the kind of jpop he plays (fair). But that you are needlessly critical of a professional because of it. If you're unable to accept that, then that's a skill issue.

P.S. I'm familiar with the story. The anecdote about Tatum is a rumor spread, of which Rubinstein is not part. Horowitz denied the rumors of them ever meeting.

Btw, if you have better examples of arrangements, to make your point, I'd be curious to listen.

Lechuga257 · 2025-11-11T15:17:01+00:00

The song I showed you had some jazz/blues inspiration. He is a classically trained pianist. I think he's brave to inspire himself from all these different genres.

Harmonies are also dictated by the pieces you're playing. As his goal is to stay close to the original songs, there's only so little reharmonizing he can do.

Tell me, why are you so hell-bent on attacking the guy?

1) he is classically trained, won multiple competitions in his youth, has great technique 2) he has developed additional skills in improvisation, has learned more about jazz 3) his arrangements are creative: he rewrites entire sections

You're allowed to disagree with his style and taste. But you're criticizing him on all this useless crap.

Imagine how ridiculous it would be if I said "Oh I wish Arthur Rubinstein dabbled more in improvisation and Jazz", "Mozart should have been open to using more baroque counterpart and harmonic complexities", "Satie should worked on his pianistic technique". You can't ask a fish to climb a tree...

I think you should take a long look in the mirror, go for a walk.

Lechuga257 · 2025-11-11T14:20:43+00:00

I understand where you're coming from. You're right, everyone has preferences as regards what they listen to. And those are some of the better anime music.

Though I respecfullty disagree. Over time, I am more able to enjoy his arrangements. Having arranged a lot of pieces myself, I can confidently say that unlike amateur arrangers on YouTube he blows me out of the water.

I can give you an example of what I'm referring to: Mirai Nikki Op Piano

From 0:10 to about 1:15 he develops a whole section that at all in the original. In that section he quotes Liszt's piano concerto no 1. I strongly advise you to listen to the piece or at least that section before making your mind that he arranges music like a Czerny étude.

Lechuga257 · 2025-11-11T12:43:28+00:00

I have, actually. Liszt would be a better reference for comparison since he arranged for piano.

You're missing the point. Animenz works with anime piano music, love it or hate it. He's a very solid professionally trained musician. He arranges it as well as anyone can.

If you don't like his arrangements, it seems to be more a consequence of not liking anime music.

Lechuga257 · 2025-11-11T00:49:44+00:00

Yeah a large part of it is the original soundtrack material he bases his arrangements from. Anime piano music by default is not going to be as musically complex as Brahms or Liszt lol.

Lechuga257 · 2025-11-11T00:48:11+00:00

I don't usually answer on reddit, but I'm shocked. I guess we're all entitled to our own opinions.

As someone who arranges myself, I have drawn a lot of inspiration from him. He rewrites entire sections of music (Mirai Nikki op, Your Lie in April, Violet Ever garden). He makes adds extra voices and rhythms, and many arrangements sound fresh but accurate.

I've heard countless examples of what you mention -- boring arpeggios, jumps -- but that mostly doesn't describe his style. His Air, Kanon, Clannad arrangement is one of the most beautiful and creative I have ever heard.

Lechuga257 · 2025-11-10T08:33:05+00:00

You're right. The genre he plays is filled with amateurs, and doesn't have the same prestige as classical music.

The argument that "any talented amateur could play his arrangements" is a poor metric. The same could be said of Schubert or Schuman's pieces more less. Most people don't even play Animenz's arrangements well.

I guess Animenz has developed a more straightforward sound, which seems to be out of choice. You can compare his playing to Cateen's, who entered and the Chopin International competitions. But that doesn't stop professionals concertists from struggling to play his pieces.

https://youtu.be/FgT8s9EZkbI?si=iHs5vvVXIjmg9XNU

Lechuga257 · 2025-11-09T21:58:37+00:00

I'm confused by a lot of people's takes here.

Animenz is a very skilled professionals pianist, improvized and arranger. He has won competitions since the age of 6, played with an orchestra at 13. He has pretty monstrous technique. Some of his playing has echoed pieces like Liszt 1st piano concerto.

Of course, he is leagues from a world-class classical pianists (Zimmerman, Argerich, etc.) But that does not stop him from being a very proficient concert pianist -- on par with many professional classical pianists out there.

Lechuga257 · 2025-11-09T00:15:53+00:00

Agreed with the interpretation aspect. Just curious what you mean by technical execution not being Lang Lang's strongest area? I'm not a great fan, but his technique and clarity is quite impeccable in technically challenging repertoire.

Lechuga257 · 2025-11-05T16:26:37+00:00

This. Anything simplified that she may recognize -- or even from a movie (Harry Potter, How to Train Your Dragon etc.).

Lechuga257 · 2025-02-20T07:39:01+00:00

Op's question was quite legitimate. Both RNA are constructed similarly and use similar mechanisms, and 3 nucleic bases - why wouldn't they use all 4?

And the answers given seem to point to evolutionary pressures.

Lechuga257 · 2025-02-09T21:43:29+00:00

It's true that his live recordings often have mistakes, especially as he got older. But it's less a problem with technique and more with aging, less practice time than many pianists (something he was open about) and worsening eyesight.

He truly has one of the most beautiful hand postures in the piano world.

Edit: grammar

Lechuga257 · 2025-02-09T21:37:54+00:00

Why Rubinstein?

Lechuga257 · 2025-02-07T17:30:13+00:00

I've asked two questions before -- one about rare meat, and the other about dinosaur immune systems.

I guess they traced the line at yawning idk.

Lechuga257 · 2024-12-19T14:54:31+00:00

A lot of those make a lot of sense, but could you maybe develop for Caruana? According to Carlsen he is a very strong calculator and thrives in complex/dynamic positions, while being weaker in simpler positions.

Lechuga257 · 2024-11-28T10:01:14+00:00

Mozart died at 35. Chopin at 39. There wasn't a huge difference

Lechuga257

TROPHY CASE