J.S. Bach 'The Goldberg Variations' Benjamin Laude, piano Performed Live February 21, 2016 Bard College Conservatory Faculty Recital Annadale-on-Hudson, NY
How can any human being memorize so much music and play it so flawlessly under stressful conditions? This is an astounding tribute to mortal achievement.
The Goldberg Variations are probably among the easier (large) Bach pieces to memorize because of the variation form. Effectively the same bass line and harmonic pattern repeated throughout. Much harder to play than it is to remember. I found, for example, the E minor partita harder to memorize. Or any fugue.
Hi Ben, thank you for sharing this great performance! Do you have any tips for someone tackling this incredible work on their own? I'd love any insights on how you went about breaking down the task into achievable chunks, and what sorts of things to make sure to focus on, etc. Thanks :)
An incredible performance with only one strangeness: the lack of consistency with the repeats. I’m sure Mr Laude has a logic for this. In a very pianistic version at the opposite spectrum of the harpsichord’s capabilities, he shows us an incredibly intelligent use of voicing as well as the necessary variety in articulation, reminiscent of the harpsichord, in lieu of added ornaments which, for the most part was extremely well thought out. IMO, as a pianist having studied but never performed this masterpiece on the harpsichord as well as piano, there is a lot to be said concerning the simplification of the Aria at its return, but for me it was almost too distracting by bringing out inner voice lines that made it sound almost like a 33rd variation instead of the repetition of the beloved theme. Bravo, Mr Laude.
Definitely way better than mine! Haha. Only watched a video with the first few - and enjoyed it a lot (rest was behind a paywall). I'm hearing good things from friends so I'll eventually sit down with it.
I just listened to the aria and v1 in his Tiny Desk Concert. Now need to hear his recording. Sadly I could have heard him play live two weeks ago had I known.
I think Ben is capable of playing much better than this academic version. To me it sounds like he is playing the way he thinks someone else told him Bach should be played. It is choppy with no stylistic risks. He has plenty of technique, but I have an overall sense of playing safely - sort of like "just get me through this marathon piece."
@@benlawdy @benlawdy I just discovered you from your essay on Gould's performance of the Brahms D minor concerto with Bernstein. You're a badass. From age 7 through high school I memorized at least one Bach piece per year (not a behemoth like GV obviously), and my teacher from that time basically just said two things with Bach: make all the 8th notes staccato and keep the pulse consistent. IMO Gould's 1955 record, as opposed to the 1981, is more consistent with those rules even though certain variations are fast as hell. Bach wrote this monster for harpsicord ffs. With that being said, despite being a now full-time jazz and pop pianist, and my personal preferences with Bach interpretations being more "traditional", I agree with you and @shvartze. I look forward to a "Ben" version some day, even if it's just an excerpt ❤ (and no, I can't really play classical anymore, it's left my brain. I gotta get my chops up again lol)
One is not (yet) forbidden to dream: Laude and Gould could well have recorded a master class about the Variations - after all, Gould was five years younger than Seymour Bernstein.
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I felt how much you love music. Thank you for your wonderful performance. ❤
A fantastic performance!
How can any human being memorize so much music and play it so flawlessly under stressful conditions? This is an astounding tribute to mortal achievement.
Claudio Arrau performed all of Bach's keyboard works as a young man in Germany. I assume from memory.
The Goldberg Variations are probably among the easier (large) Bach pieces to memorize because of the variation form. Effectively the same bass line and harmonic pattern repeated throughout. Much harder to play than it is to remember. I found, for example, the E minor partita harder to memorize. Or any fugue.
@@benlawdy thanks. You belong among the Olympians. I, a mere mortal, would be proud to just play the theme without a wrong note or memory lapse.
Well, I don't want to spoil the enthusiasm but it wasn't flawless if you listen very pedantically.
@@teckyify yeah, it didn’t go amazingly. I guess it has its moments. But thank you for listening. One day I’ll do it better.
Very enjoyable 👏👏👏🥂
Hi Ben, thank you for sharing this great performance!
Do you have any tips for someone tackling this incredible work on their own? I'd love any insights on how you went about breaking down the task into achievable chunks, and what sorts of things to make sure to focus on, etc. Thanks :)
An incredible performance with only one strangeness: the lack of consistency with the repeats. I’m sure Mr Laude has a logic for this. In a very pianistic version at the opposite spectrum of the harpsichord’s capabilities, he shows us an incredibly intelligent use of voicing as well as the necessary variety in articulation, reminiscent of the harpsichord, in lieu of added ornaments which, for the most part was extremely well thought out. IMO, as a pianist having studied but never performed this masterpiece on the harpsichord as well as piano, there is a lot to be said concerning the simplification of the Aria at its return, but for me it was almost too distracting by bringing out inner voice lines that made it sound almost like a 33rd variation instead of the repetition of the beloved theme.
Bravo, Mr Laude.
just got the sheet music and realized i ain't reading that essay.
what do you think of vikingur olaffsons newest work with these?
Definitely way better than mine! Haha.
Only watched a video with the first few - and enjoyed it a lot (rest was behind a paywall). I'm hearing good things from friends so I'll eventually sit down with it.
I just listened to the aria and v1 in his Tiny Desk Concert. Now need to hear his recording.
Sadly I could have heard him play live two weeks ago had I known.
@@murdo_mck it’s so good 🤤🤤
@@insight827 The complete recording is available on his own channel as a playlist! (courtesy of UMG)
I think Ben is capable of playing much better than this academic version. To me it sounds like he is playing the way he thinks someone else told him Bach should be played. It is choppy with no stylistic risks. He has plenty of technique, but I have an overall sense of playing safely - sort of like "just get me through this marathon piece."
Thank you and I agree. This is half-baked Gould wannabe stuff. I hope one day to come back to it with original ideas and more conviction.
@@benlawdywe will be eagerly waiting for that day! ❤
@@benlawdy @benlawdy I just discovered you from your essay on Gould's performance of the Brahms D minor concerto with Bernstein. You're a badass. From age 7 through high school I memorized at least one Bach piece per year (not a behemoth like GV obviously), and my teacher from that time basically just said two things with Bach: make all the 8th notes staccato and keep the pulse consistent. IMO Gould's 1955 record, as opposed to the 1981, is more consistent with those rules even though certain variations are fast as hell. Bach wrote this monster for harpsicord ffs. With that being said, despite being a now full-time jazz and pop pianist, and my personal preferences with Bach interpretations being more "traditional", I agree with you and @shvartze. I look forward to a "Ben" version some day, even if it's just an excerpt ❤ (and no, I can't really play classical anymore, it's left my brain. I gotta get my chops up again lol)
One is not (yet) forbidden to dream: Laude and Gould could well have recorded a master class about the Variations - after all, Gould was five years younger than Seymour Bernstein.
Wow, that kinda put into perspective how tragic his early passing was. Regardless, let us dream! :)
😭
If only it hadn't been recorded with a potato...