Probably the single most astonishing classical guitar performance I've ever seen--the range of timbres, the imagination, the musicality and virtuosity are unrivaled. Yamashita was a true pioneer and visionary.
Incredible! - I remember this in the year he played; some guitarists actually cried after his performance, saying: 'Where does the guitar go from HERE?' In Canada,I believe it was... It was just thrilling to my friends and me - Thanks very much for posting it and giving another chance to hear a part of it, Adil! Regards, Maria
Brilliant! Kazuhito Yamashita is one of my favorite classical guitarists. He is one of a kind. Met him years ago in San Francisco after a concert but he was no longer programming this piece. Great guy.
Most performers could spend a lifetime practicing and not achieve this level of mastery that Yamashita had already attained in early twenties. The simple fact that he was able to transcribe the original work for a solo instrument is amazing in and of itself. But, to play this piece with such exuberance, precision and dynamics is just astonishing. My ONLY criticism would be of the video quality. But, hey, this was recorded in the 1980's so...
I come here from time to time and I'm always amazed at the very highest point. His flawless technique, the variations in timbre that serve a clear purpose, in fact you can actually hear the orchestra perform through his guitar. It's safe to say, and I'm not saying this lightly, that this is one of the finest live guitar performances in history.
Kazuhito's arrangement and interpretation is "UNBELIEVABLE" and very touching and he sure deserved the German grammophone record award for it.! If you're after tone quality you should by his record, of course.
My guitar teacher told me that when the recording for this was first released the "experts" were claiming that it must have been overdubbed because there were parts that it's not physically possible to play! Stunning!
This seems to get better every time I hear it. It is difficult on the piano--seemingly impossible on the guitar. Yet, here he is, playing it with the most incredible dedication. The end of Gnomus is stunning. His colors in general are surreal. And perhaps more incredibly, he is aware of his intonation as he plays and continually re-tunes his strings (especially the lower one--guitarists, maybe you can tell which one). Bravo Encore!!!
even though the video quality is not great anyone who knows even a little bit about classical guitar/technique knows this is superhuman and beyond difficult to pull off. Look at how he moves from dolce to ponticello... amazing!
He is by far the most ambitious guitar player to live in the 20th century. I love this! All others stand in his shadow... Segovia, Williams, Romero, all can only look and wonder..
To sound this good he must really love the piece, I dont care what you play. This guy obviously has the skills. He can make this very beautiful melody come to life. To do that is quite an accomplishment because it is such masterpiece of a tune. It truly is a tribute to the composer to have such a talent perform this music. I can't believe that one instrument can render such sound. I still think, though, an entire orchestra is required to bring this piece into ones heart & soul. still bravo man!
Segovia was a great, no doubt! But Yamashita is other personality, other conception, other musician! No compare both, please! Yamashita represents a new era of the guitar, a new perspective, like Paco de Lucia represents a new in Flamenco!!! Congratulations Yamashita! I love this performance! You are the real innovative guitar player! People: Guitar is Guitar, Piano is Piano! Different instruments! Completely Differents!!! Yamashita...You Rocks!!!
I personally played this piece with the orchestra years ago. It was extremely interesting to play since it was originally written for the piano and arranged for the orchestra by Ravel. Yamashita can make the piece sound like both guitar and orchestra...quite an acomplishment! Excellent...
Kazuhito Yamashita is one of the greatest guitat players today, anyone saying he is full of shita is unrespecfull to the music and to one of the most talented nusicians today. Talent must be respected. He play in the guitar some of the most difficult clasical pieces and he is the one who transpose the arrangements for guitar. Very difficult job, you really need to know what you are doing...So you guys, please respect and SHUUT UP THE STUPID COMENTS
Exactly, no one ever think rearrange a symphony piece into a solo guitar edition before him. Yamashita arrange it and play it like an Orchestra. Huge respect.
well that must be why it sounds so good with a single instrument. the first time I heard this I was about 7 years old in 1965 done by the NY philharmonic with Bernstein conducting I'm lucky my mom was a amateur pianist and loved classical music.
Dang... so inspiring... Didn't thought about jumping around like that while playing classical guitar. So much into playing, expressive! Wish I could see video of him playing Grand Overture (Juliani) at his full speed.
Hey! I was wondering the same. You could see the final part of the piece in which he imitates a choir with the guitar! A miracle of beauty I say. I tried a link I saved to that video and it said it had been removed due to infringement. But who in the world would remove a piece of such beauty from public view! Anyway, If anybody knows something else about these videos, or knows who post them, PLEASE, THE WORLD NEEDS THEM!!!!!
this guy is 1 of the best guitarist ever, did anyof u guys hear is la catedral? especially the 3rd movement? thats the best 1 ive heard and prolly the best 1 there is
No, the "song" is a 15 piece suite. There are three pieces that art directly based on a painting (Baba Yaga, Kiev and the Ballet of the Unhatched Chicks). In this video he plays the first promenade, Gnomus (the 2nd piece, based on a sketch), and then the second Promenade. The first three pieces. The Hut on Chicken's Legs (Baba Yaga) is distinctive and different and comes at the end.
It is a pity that the movie is undoing itself. Someone can tell me where can I find the cd of this to buy? I have an old record in tape record, in which the sound is not good anymore.
A beautiful guitar transcription of one of my all time favourite pieces of music. I prefer Vladimir Horowitz piano version, some prefer the Sviatislav Richter piano version, but Yamashita does a damn fine guitar version. I also like Jimi, JB, JP, and SRV, but have to say nice work Kazuhito :) Can I recommend Gareth Koch from Australia, does an amazing acoustic guitar version of Carmina Burana, originally written for full orchestra + 100 piece choir, Gareth does it on 1 guitar, live.
@ricointx Trevor Rabin did a guitar arrangement of this on his "90126" solo CD but it is extensively overdubbed with many many guitars. It's not a single person arrangement like this. Watching this, I'm astounded.
There's an arrangement of this for classical guitar for Powertab (a freeware tab editor.) I can't tell for sure, but I believe it is the same as this arrangement.
ESPECTACULAR.... sorprendente, la version de ELP con su parafernalia de sintetizadores es tambien excelente. Pero resumir todo a la guitarra y con este resulatado es ASOMBROSO
@gatsbi007 --- (part 2) I think the best example can be found in the blues. Lightin Hopkins is about as unskilled a guitarist as you can find yet he can give a thrilling performance that will give you goosebumps. When you reach the advanced stage of any instrument it is taken for granted that the performer will be able to play very fast so that means almost nothing and thats what Miles Davis understood as i said in my first post.
Just found my ticket stub to this show while cleaning out some drawers. Great show at the MacMillan Theatre for the tidy sum of $10. Is there longer and cleaner video of this show?
Uh dude it's Gnomus, not Baba Yaga. I have the CD with this and the Firebird suite, and with CD quality sound one can really appreciate what he's doing, very nice recording.
@gatsbi007 (part - 2) I think the best real life example can be found by listening to Jim Hall. The man has a long time reputation of not being able to play very fast yet he is considered one of the top jazz guitarists because he never wastes a note like the speed demons so often do. Rock guitarist Mick Taylor is another example. He may be limited in technique but what he does within his limitations is amazing. Good music is too mysterious to be easily defined.
![Pictures at an Exhibition (Modest Mussorgsky) Kazuhito Yamashita [Guitar] 展覧会の絵（ムソルグスキー）山下和仁 [ギター]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/DjOQ69JjTRo/mqdefault.jpg)
![Pictures at an Exhibition (Modest Mussorgsky) Kazuhito Yamashita [Guitar] 展覧会の絵（ムソルグスキー）山下和仁 [ギター]](/img/tr.png)
Probably the single most astonishing classical guitar performance I've ever seen--the range of timbres, the imagination, the musicality and virtuosity are unrivaled. Yamashita was a true pioneer and visionary.
Incredible! - I remember this in the year he played;
some guitarists actually cried after his performance,
saying: 'Where does the guitar go from HERE?' In Canada,I believe it was... It was just thrilling to
my friends and me - Thanks very much for posting it
and giving another chance to hear a part of it, Adil!
Regards, Maria
Brilliant! Kazuhito Yamashita is one of my favorite classical guitarists. He is one of a kind. Met him years ago in San Francisco after a concert but he was no longer programming this piece. Great guy.
Most performers could spend a lifetime practicing and not achieve this level of mastery that Yamashita had already attained in early twenties. The simple fact that he was able to transcribe the original work for a solo instrument is amazing in and of itself. But, to play this piece with such exuberance, precision and dynamics is just astonishing. My ONLY criticism would be of the video quality. But, hey, this was recorded in the 1980's so...
I come here from time to time and I'm always amazed at the very highest point. His flawless technique, the variations in timbre that serve a clear purpose, in fact you can actually hear the orchestra perform through his guitar. It's safe to say, and I'm not saying this lightly, that this is one of the finest live guitar performances in history.
You are not alone 🎉! I am another one who will not stop coming back to this wonderful performance
Best guitar performance ever!
I'm too moved to so many tears to watch this performance. He plays the guitar with all his body & Soul. That's what music is all about.
truly amazing. Not only its is impressive technically but, and most important, its very musical. 5 stars.
Kazuhito's arrangement and interpretation is "UNBELIEVABLE" and very touching and he sure deserved the German grammophone record award for it.! If you're after tone quality you should by his record, of course.
My guitar teacher told me that when the recording for this was first released the "experts" were claiming that it must have been overdubbed because there were parts that it's not physically possible to play! Stunning!
This seems to get better every time I hear it. It is difficult on the piano--seemingly impossible on the guitar. Yet, here he is, playing it with the most incredible dedication. The end of Gnomus is stunning. His colors in general are surreal. And perhaps more incredibly, he is aware of his intonation as he plays and continually re-tunes his strings (especially the lower one--guitarists, maybe you can tell which one). Bravo Encore!!!
クラシック界では知らない人いないくらいの神様ですよぉ！むしろそのクラシックの先生達が崇めてる程の方です。
even though the video quality is not great anyone who knows even a little bit about classical guitar/technique knows this is superhuman and beyond difficult to pull off. Look at how he moves from dolce to ponticello... amazing!
He is by far the most ambitious guitar player to live in the 20th century. I love this! All others stand in his shadow... Segovia, Williams, Romero, all can only look and wonder..
I completely agree with this true opinion of yours.
Admirable la dedicación y la constancia, más allá del resultado musical
Impresionante Yamashita !! es como escuchar la orquesta o el piano! tremendo dominio guitarristico y musical, no se podria tocar mejor esta obra!!!
To sound this good he must really love the piece, I dont care what you play. This guy obviously has the skills. He can make this very beautiful melody come to life. To do that is quite an accomplishment because it is such masterpiece of a tune. It truly is a tribute to the composer to have such a talent perform this music. I can't believe that one instrument can render such sound. I still think, though, an entire orchestra is required to bring this piece into ones heart & soul. still bravo man!
これ当時現地で聞いた人はびっくりしただろうなあ。うらやましい。
I am thanking Japan for this genius!
Breathtaking!!
Appreciate the post.
Segovia was a great, no doubt! But Yamashita is other personality, other conception, other musician! No compare both, please! Yamashita represents a new era of the guitar, a new perspective, like Paco de Lucia represents a new in Flamenco!!! Congratulations Yamashita! I love this performance! You are the real innovative guitar player! People: Guitar is Guitar, Piano is Piano! Different instruments! Completely Differents!!! Yamashita...You Rocks!!!
unbelievable!!amazing use of harmonics and mistuning of strings
And the legend says many guitarrists took their own life after this concert
I personally played this piece with the orchestra years ago. It was extremely interesting to play since it was originally written for the piano and arranged for the orchestra by Ravel. Yamashita can make the piece sound like both guitar and orchestra...quite an acomplishment! Excellent...
Kazuhito Yamashita is one of the greatest guitat players today, anyone saying he is full of shita is unrespecfull to the music and to one of the most talented nusicians today. Talent must be respected. He play in the guitar some of the most difficult clasical pieces and he is the one who transpose the arrangements for guitar. Very difficult job, you really need to know what you are doing...So you guys, please respect and SHUUT UP THE STUPID COMENTS
oh my god.
oh my god.
this is unreal!!
wow!!!
Esto es lo que llamo la anti-tecnica al servicio del virtuosismo sublime! Yamashita es un raro genio de la guitarra unico en su especie!!!
this adaptation for guitar is simply the work of a genius
this guy makes eddie van halen look like a beginner. thanks for posting.
Exactly, no one ever think rearrange a symphony piece into a solo guitar edition before him. Yamashita arrange it and play it like an Orchestra. Huge respect.
Unbeliefeable ... wordless
激烈超絶技巧
his unique posture is .....unique
There can never be another.....
no words only amazing 5 stars and the second part??
And the legend says many guitarists took their own life after this concert. Goodbye Jimi we hardly knew thee!
Yeah I want the whole thing back online too!!! There was also a higher quality, separate performance up here for a short while!!! ARGH!!!!
Wow.. someone needs to digitally remaster this video.. 3:30 incredible!!!
well that must be why it sounds so good with a single instrument. the first time I heard this I was about 7 years old in 1965 done by the NY philharmonic with Bernstein conducting I'm lucky my mom was a amateur pianist and loved classical music.
Oh to have a high quality vid/sound of this performance! Oh to have been there...
an achievement for music in general not just guitar and to think if he was born in 1961 he was only 23 when he did this here... wow
simplemente bella y pieza a mi me encanta very good
Amazing,great man!
At that moment one with what is playing.
And 'he music.
Dang... so inspiring...
Didn't thought about jumping around like that while playing classical guitar.
So much into playing, expressive!
Wish I could see video of him playing Grand Overture (Juliani) at his full speed.
Damn, got goosebumps listening/watching him
Spectacular!
Inspirational!
Awesome
They have a 'Performance Notes' part which I hadn't read before my previous comment.
In the notes, it says that it is indeed Kazuhito's arrangement.
You are amazing
unbelievable. my jaw dropped at 4 minutes in.
Человек-оркестр! Бесподобно!
The history of the Guitar is divided this way:
BK/AK = Before Kazuhito/After Kazuhito
Excelent !
amazing imagination...........i remember when the album came out
Hey!
I was wondering the same. You could see the final part of the piece in which he imitates a choir with the guitar! A miracle of beauty I say.
I tried a link I saved to that video and it said it had been removed due to infringement. But who in the world would remove a piece of such beauty from public view!
Anyway, If anybody knows something else about these videos, or knows who post them, PLEASE, THE WORLD NEEDS THEM!!!!!
Maybe they don´t like the quality of the video, who knows. But how you said is perfect.
this guy is 1 of the best guitarist ever, did anyof u guys hear is la catedral? especially the 3rd movement? thats the best 1 ive heard and prolly the best 1 there is
That is very impressive!
Thanks for what you are doing for the classical guitar. Viva Yamashita! But I prefer the poetry of the guitar, Albeniz, Granados, Torroba, Ponce,etc.
No, the "song" is a 15 piece suite. There are three pieces that art directly based on a painting (Baba Yaga, Kiev and the Ballet of the Unhatched Chicks). In this video he plays the first promenade, Gnomus (the 2nd piece, based on a sketch), and then the second Promenade. The first three pieces. The Hut on Chicken's Legs (Baba Yaga) is distinctive and different and comes at the end.
Es increíble!
It is a pity that the movie is undoing itself. Someone can tell me where can I find the cd of this to buy? I have an old record in tape record, in which the sound is not good anymore.
He even did the best orchestra arrangement ever heard: New World Symphony by A.Dvorak. And of course, no ones can play it but him...
ehehe esse é louquinho!
i meen that the other parts was on the indernet too but now it says its removed....
Super human.
A beautiful guitar transcription of one of my all time favourite pieces of music. I prefer Vladimir Horowitz piano version, some prefer the Sviatislav Richter piano version, but Yamashita does a damn fine guitar version. I also like Jimi, JB, JP, and SRV, but have to say nice work Kazuhito :)
Can I recommend Gareth Koch from Australia, does an amazing acoustic guitar version of Carmina Burana, originally written for full orchestra + 100 piece choir, Gareth does it on 1 guitar, live.
legendary
the most complete guitar player ever!!!!
impresionante
@ricointx Trevor Rabin did a guitar arrangement of this on his "90126" solo CD but it is extensively overdubbed with many many guitars. It's not a single person arrangement like this. Watching this, I'm astounded.
There's an arrangement of this for classical guitar for Powertab (a freeware tab editor.) I can't tell for sure, but I believe it is the same as this arrangement.
Hetakes the guitar to an other level.
ESPECTACULAR.... sorprendente, la version de ELP con su parafernalia de sintetizadores es tambien excelente. Pero resumir todo a la guitarra y con este resulatado es ASOMBROSO
amazinnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnng
fav movement is always the promenade
@gatsbi007 --- (part 2) I think the best example can be found in the blues. Lightin Hopkins is about as unskilled a guitarist as you can find yet he can give a thrilling performance that will give you goosebumps. When you reach the advanced stage of any instrument it is taken for granted that the performer will be able to play very fast so that means almost nothing and thats what Miles Davis understood as i said in my first post.
Onde consigo a fita cassete ou algo parecido desse concerto? alguém possui ?
pls i want all record.. i have at home audio tape, but i must see all video!
一言。「展覧会の絵」全曲をクラシックギタ－で弾ける人は山下さん以外いないと思います。曲の途中、何度か４弦や６弦を、ＥからＤなど転調しながら弾くテクニック、音量には神がかり的としか言いようがありません。映像を見る限り、おそらくギタ－はラミレスと思います。また、音量からハ－ドテンションの弦ではないですかね。ご存知の方、コメントください。
他にも弾ける人います。ラミレスの特製
か？弦はハナバッハ
かも……？山下の編曲
が凄いんです。
you should try listening to Pavel Steidl, i've seen him live twice now and he still blows me away, hes amazing!
maravilloso es el tipo de obra que te deja pensando cuando empieza la música ???
really good I put my hat off
Nossa!!! Perfeito!!! Põe ele a tocar com o ELP!!!
esse é loco!
Gênio !!!!!
Just found my ticket stub to this show while cleaning out some drawers.
Great show at the MacMillan Theatre for the tidy sum of $10.
Is there longer and cleaner video of this show?
The entire score is 40 pages long. His transcription is excellent.
It's amazing but I always wondered why this was the only recording with him playing this.
He's totally crazy!
Wow! Shame about the background noise though. Anyone know if there's a better recording available?
i simply don't understand why there is a dislike-button on youtube!
This was 25 years ago. Has anyone else tried playing this piece? I am beginning to think that only he has the technique play these pieces.
Hi Friends!
Send me a personal message if you want Yamashita's Scores.
@ricointx Jorge Caballero plays this too. He plays it perfect.
there where more parts of this videos and they are all gonne......anyone knows something????
Uh dude it's Gnomus, not Baba Yaga.
I have the CD with this and the Firebird suite, and with CD quality sound one can really appreciate what he's doing, very nice recording.
We all BOW before the genius of Yamashita!
sanjosemike
@gatsbi007 (part - 2) I think the best real life example can be found by listening to Jim Hall. The man has a long time reputation of not being able to play very fast yet he is considered one of the top jazz guitarists because he never wastes a note like the speed demons so often do. Rock guitarist Mick Taylor is another example. He may be limited in technique but what he does within his limitations is amazing. Good music is too mysterious to be easily defined.
artist name is modeste mussorgski