Viva La Vida (2 pianos)

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Details

Viva La Vida by Coldplay (Chris Martin, Gus Berryman, Will Champion, Jonny Buckland), arranged for two pianos by Greg Anderson / Full score / Difficulty: Very advanced / Duration: 5 mins / Pages: 12 / Copyright: 2012 / Work number: 063.1

Note: The arrangement culminates in an optional audience sing-along on the song’s iconic refrain, a tradition Anderson and his duo partner Elizabeth Joy Roe have incorporated into performances around the world. The result is an enthusiastic response that turns the boundary between performer and audience into something much more communal. An alternate fade-away ending is also included for pianists who prefer a purely instrumental conclusion.

Notes

For a song about a king who has lost everything, Coldplay’s “Viva la Vida” has an uncanny ability to bring people together. Years after its release, it remains one of those rare songs that audiences seem to know by heart.

This arrangement for two pianos embraces that spirit of collective celebration. The piece opens with an unusually restrained version of the song’s famous refrain before suddenly bursting into motion. Throughout, the two pianists trade interlocking rhythms, driving grooves, and towering chords that transform the song into a joyous display of pianistic firepower.

— Greg Anderson