Bach's first solo cello suite looks deceptively simple on the page. It doesn't call for virtuosity as such, but to sound like more than an étude requires someone like Pablo Casals.
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Casals plays Bach
Category: Narcissistic self-involvement
Posted on: July 12, 2010 7:05 PM, by PalMD
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Comments
Gorgeous. I miss playing the piano so much it hurts.
Posted by: Candid Engineer | July 12, 2010 7:19 PM
Amazing. I've recently hit sort of a classical music phase, but I haven't branched much past Chopin and Debussy yet (I've been leaning more towards piano solo). I've generally not been fond of Bach, but this piece (as played) is one that I can appreciate.
Thanks for posting this!
Posted by: Josh J | July 12, 2010 7:19 PM
You can't beat a good bit o' Bach:
"I would vote for Bach, all of Bach, streamed out into space, over and over again. We would be bragging, of course, but it is surely excusable to put the best possible face on at the beginning of such an acquaintance. We can tell the harder truths later." Lewis Thomas
Posted by: Toast | July 12, 2010 8:12 PM
I genuinely admire Yo-Yo Ma, but I never missed Casals so much as while seeing Ma in concert.
Posted by: Cuttlefish, OM
| July 12, 2010 11:17 PM
Oh. I miss my cello so very much. I listened to the whole thing. If only to remind me of who I used to be. What a treat. I love Casals. None of the dramatics of Yo Yo Ma. The soul is in the music. Not in the showmanship. Sigh. I miss it so, so much.
Posted by: k8 | July 12, 2010 11:59 PM
Casals is fantastic. Thanks for finding this video.
Posted by: David | July 13, 2010 7:25 AM
Damn you, I have 12 h of work to cram into a 9 h day, and all I'm doing is surfing youtube for more Bach. Tocata and Fuge playing right now. Evil PAL!
Posted by: Mu | July 13, 2010 9:52 AM
My dad loved Bach. He was more into the violin pieces though. This piece of music is one of my favorites. I play it when I need a pick me up. My recording, though, is of Rostapovich. Not too shabby himself on the ole fiddle, as my aunt calls it. She used to play cello for the Seattle symphony.
Posted by: gaiainc | July 13, 2010 11:05 AM
It's been a long time since I listened to Casals. Thanks, Pal. This performance reminds me that the quality of a performance is not merely equal to the sum of its expressiveness and technical mastery. Sometimes a little sloppy bow-work is just what the doctor ordered.
k8-- right there with you.
Posted by: madder | July 13, 2010 2:05 PM
Thank you for posting this. My daughter is a cellist - I am going to show her this video.
I wonder if she can talk her teacher into working on this in the fall!
Posted by: 24fps | July 13, 2010 7:28 PM
Thanks for this.
On February 1st, 2003--the day of the space shuttle Columbia disaster--I had tickets to see Mstislav Rostropovich play with the Pittsburgh Symphony. The house was absolutely packed, with folding chairs added for extra seating. Before the concert proper began, Rostropovich came wordlessly onto the stage, alone, and played this very piece. When he finished, he stood with his cello. The audience stood, no applause. We all stood there for a long silent minute.
And now we've lost Slava as well.
Excuse me; I think there's something in my eye...
Posted by: SKM | July 14, 2010 8:37 PM
Rostropovich... not Rostapovich. Gah!
Still a beautiful piece of music.
Posted by: gaiainc | July 16, 2010 2:16 AM
always good to hear one of the greats at work.
Thanks.
Posted by: DLC
| July 17, 2010 3:38 PM