Viral pianist turns Jenna Marbles’ laugh into a genius Bach chorale

18 October 2019, 17:19 | Updated: 18 October 2019, 17:31

The infectious laugh of the popular YouTuber becomes a Baroque masterpiece. Because we’re so fortunate to live in a world of genius.

American vlogger Jenna Marbles has amassed billions of views on YouTube. And when you’re that viral, you will eventually become subject to a music geek’s particular interpretation.

Pianist Charles Cornell has been calving out a particular niche on the Internet with intrinsic arrangements and reharmonisation of the world’s most shared videos.

In his new video (watch above), Charles said: “Here’s Jenna Marbles scream laughing but I hear something else...”

And that something else was the arpeggiated instrumental accompaniment to Johann Sebastian Bach’s cantata Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben BWV 147, best known as Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring. And it works perfectly.

Charles’ harmonic interpretations have become a bit of sensation on Instagram, amassing millions of views.

And when his interpretations aren’t Bachian, he focusses on extended jazz harmony.

Watch more: Classical pianist adds extended harmony to Cardi B videos >

He told us: “The videos are a blast to make! It starts by finding a tweet or a video that I think is a good candidate... I just come up with a rhythmic cadence for the words and then put it to music!

“The response has been completely overwhelming. Jazz, as a genre, is not a particularly popular style of music in comparison to pop or rock. This project has given me a chance to apply some of my skills and knowledge as a jazz musician to something that is positive and fun for people to watch and enjoy.”

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