Jethro Tull, Bourée - A Classical Musician’s First Listen And Reaction
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 2 ม.ค. 2023
- My second time hearing Jethro Tull, this time it’s the Bourree! Knowing the original Bach version, I was very curious to see how it was used here, and I certainly wasn’t disappointed - it’s really great! Check it out and see what you think!
Here’s the link to the original song by Jethro Tull:
• Jethro Tull - Bourée
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Amy Shafer, LRSM, FRSM, RYC, is a classical harpist, pianist, and music teacher, Director of Piano Studies and Assistant Director of Harp Studies for The Harp School, Inc., holds multiple degrees in harp and piano performance and teaching, and is active as a solo and collaborative performer. With nearly two decades of teaching experience, she teaches privately, presents masterclasses and coaching sessions, and has performed and taught in Europe and USA.
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Credits: Music written and performed by Jethro Tull
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As usual, please write here your questions only.
This question is for Vlad. My good man, when are you going to introduce her to Focus?
th-cam.com/video/gKSrq_qjB_Y/w-d-xo.html
What composers insperd you to beginn playing harp?
Thank you for this! Your reaction gives us a taste of how other classical musicians might have reacted to such an arrangement. Has Vlad also suggested analyzing Jethro Tull's song "My God"? It features what is probably the most obvious example of Ian Anderson's "flute + vocalizations" in their studio recordings. Of course, when the band would perform live, he added even more vocalizations. 🙂
"My God" also features a more formal arrangement, like a short suite with parts.
If your intend to come back to Jethro Tull, pleasee listen to the live version of, My God. It´s like watching Ian Andersson having a jamsession of his own on his flute. The song it self is more of an prog rock song but watching Ian is really something. There are manhy pro flutists that didn´t knew it was possible doing stuff like what he does when they see his performence. So please do watch that
Listening to my favourite bands, while watching someone from a different background hearing these songs for the first time was already one of the most pleasant ways of spending my time. Your historical and musical knowledge along with your presentation style is utterly mesmerizing. Thank you so much for the work you are putting in, it's sheer joy.
only sad, that its only a music reaction, because he is one of the biggest stage beasts and you can see all the power of him...^^
@@seelenwinter6662 So true. I suggested she do just that.
Rush!
@@marslennon1 No worries. Karl is Canadian and I understand a HUGE fan. They are master musicians.
There's a classical Flutist youtuber called Heline, she's reacted to JT on a few tracks. Worth a look too.
I enjoy Virgin rocks reactions, nice to get that opinion from a completely different perspective.
And fabulous bass playing by Glenn Cornick!
The Jethro Tull band was named after Jethro Tull (baptised 30 March 1674 - 21 February 1741, New Style) who was an English agriculturist from Berkshire who helped to bring about the British Agricultural Revolution of the 18th century. He perfected a horse-drawn seed drill in 1701 that economically sowed the seeds in neat rows, and later developed a horse-drawn hoe. Tull's methods were adopted by many landowners and helped to provide the basis for modern agriculture.
Tull was a contemporary of Bach although unlikely would have met.
Are you trying to say IAN ANDERSON? I understand they are all playing but so many call Ian "Jethro"
@@mehansen1772 , I’m uncertain if you mistakenly replied on this thread when intending to reply to someone else. This thread is discussing the late Jethro Tull, who lived 300 years ago. We weren’t discussing Ian Anderson.
Yes, I'm sure the band's name was deliberately chosen to suggest "Elizabethan minstrels catapulted into the era of steam, noise and coal-smoke". As well as being snappy. Jethro Tull is a major part of the boundary between the old ways and the agricultural-industrial revolution.
Actually, Jethro Tull is the name of the band. The guy with the flute is Ian Anderson.
By the way, which one is “Pink”
As I understand the name "Jethro Tull" is from English folk lore. Ian adopted the name for his band. Like in Pink Floyd where there is no "Pink"
@@danwilcox7650 Pink Floyd took their name from the blues duo, Pink Anderson and Floyd Council. Quite frankly, I quite liked one of their earlier names, which was the Architectural Abdabs.....
@@danwilcox7650 Incorrect. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jethro_Tull_(agriculturist)
I always think of Jethro Tull as a folk/minstrel band, as if someone went back in time and gave King Arthur's court lute band modern rock instruments.
Ian Anderson was self-taught and re-learned flute after years of playing due to his daughter leaning flute and pointing out he wasn't doing it correctly.
Even before I start watching may I say that this lineup of Jethro Tull was their finest. And nobody in Rock had a more imaginative and diverse portfolio as Jethro Tull. Especially their first 5 albums
This lady is absolutely delightful. I really enjoy listening to her and she totally gets it. There's more than one way to relate to a piece of music. I get the vibe she really knows what she is talking about.
I think that Jethro with this piece walks us from folk / classical, to jazz, to rock, and back again showing that it can be both beautiful and fun in any age. And...in doing so...that it's ok to have a childlike sense of play and to never lose it... It's both showing freedom and a genuine respect and love for the original music.
This music caused me to become a flautist at 12. I tried to play the way Ian Anderson does, and subsequently discovered classical music. So Jethroe Tull definitely altered my life's trajectory.
Ian Anderson had actually only been playing the flute for just about three years when this was recorded. He was also completely self taught.
And he didn't do drugs, which was one of the reasons Frank Zappa liked him.
@@markschattefor6997 Its also probably one of the reasons why he's alive and mostly healthy today (apparently he has a little COPD).
@@markschattefor6997 Well, Zappa also liked Don van Vliet, and he definitely did drugs. But he generally didn't allow his musicians do do drugs.
It was probably only two years as it was recorded in May 1969!
@@GeoffCB April 24, 1969
Just subbed! Huge fan of music theory, as well as Jethro Tull!
Didn't realize the connection to classical with this particular piece!
Great content, btw, to bridge the audiences of classical and other genres, such as rock!
"It starts of nicely, then descends into a kind of despicable cocktail-lounge jazz..." Ian Anderson, introducing this piece at a Mozart tribute. He continued to get better & better over the years. I've never seen Jethro Tull, but I've seen Ian twice, and both were overwhelming performances. He's an amazing guitar player, and that gets overlooked because of the flute novelty. He brings a LOT to the table. He's much better than the commercially oriented "singles" suggest.
Maybe you didn't see him, cause he died back in 1741. (Sorry, this joke had to be made 😓😂)
“Flute ‘novelty’”
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
🤔
I've always loved Ian's guitar playing and I agree that that aspect of his musicianship is sadly overlooked.
Только не Моцарту, а Баху...
@@user-mw8ld6mf2h The PIECE is by Bach, yes. The Tribute concert is Mozart themed. Ian just chose to play this because he thought it might please the crowd, I suppose.
Thank you for being open minded, Ian Anderson & Jethro Tull are a personal favorite of mine for over 50 years now.
The genius of Jethro Tull brings tears to my eyes. Ian Anderson is a reincarnated wizard from mid evil times come to share his magic of music and the joy it brings.
You must mean 'medieval'!? At least I hope so! 😅
@@mightyV444 Yeah, that's what I meant. Thanks.
@@dsgp7835 - No worries 😊 And I agree with your comment otherwise! 😀👍 The "mid evil" bit gave me a little fright, though! 😉 But there probably actually _was_ a lot of evil around during those times, too! 😅 Happy New Year! 😀🥂🎉
@@mightyV444funny though XD. Full evil wouldn’t come to fruition until the XXth century.
Yeah, Ian was a remarkable composer and some are just songs so perfect they do bring tears of joy to me as well.
You may find it interesting that Emerson, Lake & Palmer has also reworked some classical pieces, such as "Pictures at an Exhibition" by Mussorgsky, and "The Barbarian" by Béla Bartók.
Emerson Lake and Powell did Mars, Bringer Of War.
And do not forget their fantastic interpretation of Aaron Copland 's Fanfare for the Common Man , specialy that live one : th-cam.com/video/c2zurZig4L8/w-d-xo.html
I've always felt that Emerson, Lake, and Palmer was my introduction to classical music.
As did the Nice, Egg , Rick Wakeman and many more of the early prog rock band's .
Also, I think you've hit the nail on the head with the appeal of these reaction videos. It's unimportant whether you get what I get from a piece of music. My reaction will always largely be the same but hearing in detail what someone else gets from a piece is what is so fascinating. Especially when it's from someone with such a depth of knowledge and experience.
Jethro Tull tied together 2 generations in my family. My older teens and all the old relatives…it became a feature at all family reunion. Let’s go listen to some Jethro Tull. All generations would gather.
Jethro Tull are one of the most underrated bands of all time. Check out any of their back catalogue at random, and just sit back and listen!
They aren't underrated. Their numbers prove it.
I always felt their second album "Stand Up" was their best.
Jack, it might be better to say that they are underrated now, as they were never underrated in the 70's. Not a lot of young people know them at this point in time. In 1972, "Thick as a Brick" was breaking records for sales. The only other prog-rock band at that time that was seeing success was 'Yes' with their 'Close to the Edge' album.
They are only underrated by the Rock and Roll Hall of fame.
For a time, in the early to mid seventies, Tull were the biggest band in the world, especially in the States.
I love the walking bassline in this song along with the haunting flute.
Do you know of any other music that captures this sound? Its so awesome!!! Yes love the walking baseline with haunting melody!!!
@@UnityFromDiversity No - there is nothing else like it! And it's so satisfying to listen to as well!
@@tullfan2560 Also check out Dieter Folks and sons work, also 12 dances with God by IAN Anderson, ASLO flautist Thjis Van Leer solo albums but checks out the songs Rondo 1, Rondo 2, and Rondo 3. Very Tullian.
@@UnityFromDiversity Just found this Tull cover. Very good. th-cam.com/video/mtTyROdNOGI/w-d-xo.html
You've got to give it to Glen Cornick. What an inspired bass part! Such an influence on bass players everywhere. Pity he couldn't have stayed with the band.
I've never really been able to hear the bass in any song in anything other than an addition in the background but here I can appreciate it as an entity unto itself and I can appreciate it so much that I want more. Many songs have drum solos but bass solos not so much. Just my observation of admittedly limited exposure.
This will likely echo many other comments, but I will say it anyway. Watching your reactions, hearing your brilliant takes, along with your naivety of the band or artists I have listened to all my life is so much fun. I keep clicking on the next one, then another and another. I find myself telling myself, "self, you should really start listening to music you've never heard before too". Thank you for the inspiration to begin doing so.
I've always loved Jethro Tull's treatment of this piece. I'm thrilled that somebody with a background in classical music enjoys it too. Very insightful to hear your comments, it makes me appreciate the song even more. I was wondering what you think of the bass guitar in this song. It's very important for the song's jazzy sound, but it's so far removed from Bach's original music that it's probably the thing classical music listeners are going to dislike the most.
Actually bass was very important in Bachs music and in the first part of the song the bass guitar counterpoint was close to what Bach would have written.
@@nyobunknown6983 Bass is very important in Bach's music indeed, but the sound of the bass guitar is very different to the left hand on the organ or harpsichord. My experience is that it's the sound, not the notes that classical music listeners dislike. Sorry for not stating that more clearly.
As a lover of classical, melodic jazz, blues, and quality rock n roll, I would say that the more you know about all of the genres, the more you get out of Bouree!
I’m happy to see you chuckle while listening to Tull. There is definitely an element of humor and sarcasm, and it’s something that people either get, or miss it completely. Similar to Zappa.
Delighted that you chose to react to this piece!
It's interesting to note that Ian Anderson was entirely self-taught in the flute. He has a unique style because he didn't know any better. When his son began learning the flute, Ian tried to correct his son's fingering, only to learn that he'd just been doing it "wrong" for 20 years or so
It might also help to contextualize Jethro Tull with a disclaimer that progressive rock, arguably the most prevalent genre of their catalog, is very much characterized by its jazz influences
So this is a jazzy homage to Bach, by a musical genius without much clue about what he's doing, and it's wonderful
Actually, it was his daughter....
Ian Anderson does not have a son. He has a daughter. She is married to the actor who starred in the original “The Walking Dead”. They have 2 children intern grandchildren to Ian Anderson. His daughter was the one who also became a flutist.
Correction: I did not know that Ian Anderson had a son. Nice information to finally know. The thing is is that I have not followed a whole heck of a lot for a couple of decades on Ian Anderson and Jethro Tull. Back in the 60s and 70s and a little bit in the early 80s I followed them religiously along with my brothers who originally got me onto them. One of my brothers has seen Jethro Tull 32 times. That’s how fanatical they were back in the day. I even have there VCR tapes that they put out when Ian Anderson purchased his estate back then to start his fish farm and a state hunting venture when he purchased that a state to live on. That was the 20th anniversary of Jethro Tull. That’s how long ago I was following them on a more close basis. Ian Anderson did not talk about his family a whole heck of a lot even in interviews so I was totally unaware that he had a son only a daughter because I remember the interview when he talked about having his daughter. That was decades ago. I’m in my 60s and quite frankly I do not get fanatical over a lot of bands anymore. Also, his son if he’s in the limelight now or had been at one point it was long past the time that I followed the band religiously. Some people keep themselves to themselves, and I was totally unaware of the fact that he had a son. I knew he had the daughter and I just by happenstance saw the interview or reference of who she was married to when that guy from The Walking Dead was doing an interview on a news show. From what Ian Anderson said, in an interview, talking about the fact that he did not hold the flute traditionally, and why that was at the time that he performed with Tony Snow right before he passed away. And he made that remark concerning the fact that he had been for so many years, holding the flute, and using the finger movements in a flat manner for so many years, it was difficult for him to curb his fingers in the proper manner. Did most often he ended up, still holding the flute and his curve structure for his fingers, the old way that he taught himself. So excuse me for making a mistake for the fact that I don’t follow bands religiously anymore because I’m not young and have nothing else to worry about. At this point in time I’m more worried about, dealing with making sure that I have enough for when I eventually retire in a handful of years. This is satisfy everybody that I made an Oopsie mistake. This is why I rarely make comments on anything anymore and when I do, there’s always gotta be somebody who’s got to prove that you’re wrong, or you made a mistake. I hope you’re all happy. Goodbye🤪🙄
Ian has taken lessons on the flute in the early 90's.
@@jacquelinehogan8021 correction. Ian’s firstborn was his son James Duncan Anderson who doesn’t play flute but drums. His daughter played flute and taught him how to play flute correctly.
Ian is unique in his talent with many instruments. He picked up the flute as a secondary instrument when he realized he would never be as good as Clapton on the guitar (his quote). And he doesn't read music. He composes and performs everything by memory.
Ian heard the Bach piece incessantly from the room above his as a guitar student practiced it and decided to persue it. A very similar version was first played by Rashan Roland Kirk the famous Jazz woodwind player.
Fun story, Ian has said that he originally did this to annoy a neighbor who was playing this on cello (badly) when he was trying to sleep. He'd return the favor by playing the song when the neighbor started as loudly as he could. The more he played it the more he found ways to pump up the song, it became sort of a warm-up song for him and morphed into what you hear now.
Have you ever listened to Andreas Vollenweider? That man's approach to the harp is unreal. There are so few men who play that instrument.
I also think you would find Gentle Giant interesting, when introduced to a friend, he said it sounded like medieval rock music.
Gentle Giant - Pantagruel's Nativity, Knots, Experience, On Reflection.
You should listen to/ review Emerson Lake and Palmers version of Ginestras Tocatta now you go in this direction. Its from their album Brain sallad surgery. Ginestra was still alive when they where allowed to make their version of it. And he absolutely loved it.
And this is why I love Jethro Tull!
And why you need to listen to the "Songs From The Wood" album.
In particular you should save "Ring Out Solstice Bells" for the next holiday season. That would be an absolute gift!
Great album.
I think she would love Velvet Green
@@samuelecallegari6117
Absolutely!
My favorite song from that album is "The Whistler." I can't keep still when I hear it.
~ Jethro Tull is the name of the band. "He" is Ian Anderson.
there is a strong influence here from a song called Swinging Shepherd Blues by Canadian jazz flautist Moe Koffman
I have listened to this piece for 50 years or so, your enjoyment is obvious. Thanks Mate.
You gotta admit, the flute was no mere gimmick for Ian Anderson, he could play that thing... and at the same time he stretched the boundaries of the instrument. Frequently he vocalized through the flute, but as you say, it works so well 🐱
Actually Ian Anderson could not play the flute. He did it all wrong and had a wonky pinky that made it difficult to play certain notes. It drives flute teachers crazy when students try to play like Anderson did in the early days. It was not until way later that he learned how to properly play the flute. However that is what made his playing even more remarkable. He mastered an instrument that he kind of did not know how to play. Most flute players can't do what Anderson does, because of their formal training. He was kind of the Jimi Hendrix of flute. Hendrix was left-handed, so his guitar was upside down and backwards.
@@robinblackmoor8732in other words he DOES know how to play. To play an instrument, one needs to be able to reproduce a piece of music recognisably. It has NOTHING whatever to with HOW the notes are played. He may not have been able to play like a trained flautist, but then a trained flautist would have great difficulty playing like he does. To say he couldn't play because he doesn't do it the way you think he "should" is purest snobbery and elitism. Music has enough of that...... no need to add to the pile.
I agree that you can't say that someone doesn't know how to play an instrument unless he plays it with proper technique. Speaking of the guitar, possibly the two greatest jazz guitar players ever were Django and Wes. The first played with just two fingers of the left hand, and the second just with the thumb of the right. Not exactly what Segovia recommends. That being said, it's not simply the way "he" thinks that the flute "should" be played, it's just the way anyone who is a competent flutist thinks the flute should be played (including Anderson, probably). There is a reason why the classical technique is classical.@@catzkeet4860
@@robinblackmoor8732 is called improv and creativity. No one played with the power Ian did.
@@catzkeet4860 My comment is the same as yours. We both stated he could not play as a properly trained flute player. I also said his playing was remarkable. Is English a second language for you?
Emerson, Lake, and Palmer have a tune called “Knife Edge” which has a Bach interlude which is really excellent. Would love to hear if you think there are other parts of the piece which are borrowed that I am ignorant of.
This is perhaps the first tune that made folks stand up and listen to Tull. 1968 I believe. Ian Anderson now describes it jokingly as a loathsome bit of cocktail lounge jazz. And he still plays it in concert.
From their second album "Stand Up" released in 1969.
I like so much to see your faces during listening these pieces. I like a lot how did you enjoy how these your feelihgs. I am 64 years old and heared this theme long years ago when I was very young and most of our frieds we liked this piece of theme performed by the genial Ian Anderson ant Jethro Tull. Congrats from Chile.
I've been listening to Jethro Tull for over 50 years, have heard every one of the albums many times over. You have opened my mind to see new things in their music! Thank you!!!
This exactly. Could not agree more.
Yes I was weened on Aqualung too.
As always, you are an accidental find. But you listening to something I first heard when I was fourteen (1969), and the contrast to your training is proof that Bach still plays. Jethro Tull is at the beginning of the progressive rock era. Thankfully, I grew up with my dad's love of big band swing and the bop era of jazz here in America. Different time signatures and tempo changes marked that era. Rush, Emerson Lake and Palmer, Yes and The Moody Blues were heavy influences for me. I'm glad I found this.
Wonderful insights as always! One point...
"Jethro Tull" was the name of the band. Ian Anderson was the creative genius behind the compositions of the band. Over the 4+ decades of Jethro Tull, many talented musicians came and went but Anderson was the only constant from beginning to end.
I made the same mistake for years, by the way... Ian Anderson was/is one of the great composers of modern, "rock" music IMO. "Progressive rock" is the genre most often applied to his work.
"Thick as a Brick", an early album of theirs, is probably my favorite "rock opera" of all - a genre not heard much these days.
I had fun too, thanks again for sharing. I do love Bach's Bourree, and Jethro Tull's improvisational piece.
As always, love Amy's interpretations and reactions. Also, always liked how Jethro Tull would give the songs a medieval sound to them.
Glenn Cornick was taking the bass for a jazzy walk.
Listen at timestamp 4:40 -- Her laugh conveys the joy of musical surprise so genuinely -- and although I've known and loved Bourree since 1971, I laughed with her in mutual recognition of that surprise. If anyone doubted whether this was her first listen-through, the laugh of recognition proved it was her first. So very much enjoyed this commentary and analysis. It was her first listen; I've treasured this piece since 1971, I can practically sing every instrument's part from memory 😀.
Fab as ever. Come on dear Amy!...when are we going to hear your take on pre - 1975 Genesis? It's got to happen😉. Tracks choices from me are 'The Musical Box', 'Cinema Show' and 'Suppers Ready'. Go on... You know you want to. Ps: Happy New Year x
Glenn Cornick the bassist on this track was Barrow in Furness my home town, I do remember Jethro Tull doing and almost acoustic session with Alan Freeman for the Rock Island album where Dave Pegg of Fairport Convention played on a great version of Bouree.
This is actually a very mainstream version of how jazz treats classical pieces. Some of it -- the "notes inégales" and improvisation -- are completely within the baroque tradition. The harmonisations and blue notes and chord progressions and walking bass line are very traditional jazz.
Are you familiar with Trio Jacques Loussier? They are the all-time masters of jazz arrangements of Bach, and well worth a listen or 27.
Supposedly Ian Anderson had a neighbor who was learning classical guitar and played Bach's Bouree ad infinitum. Ian wrote this as an answer or retort. Brilliant.
Add your attention to the band Focus and Thijs Van Leer solo albums. Its beautiful progressive music with huge classic influence
Mrs. Shaffer is an absolute cutie and I really enjoy her analysis of contemporary music, especially when she is musically engaged to the point of gushing over an unexpected twist in the composition. I will continue to watch her reviews most especially for those moments.
What an excellent reaction to this piece, one of my favorites by Tull. If you do more Tull, I'll throw my vote in for 'Velvet Green' - as others have already suggested.
Please do not abandon this format for the deep dives into Pink Floyd and the History series. At least not before you get to the gigantic 'Pictures at an Exhibition' by Emerson Lake and Palmer. Love your insights! Stay Healthy!
I know I should be doing something, "but I'm having so much fun." Cannot think of higher praise. Glad you like this song like I do.
Simply put: A beautiful song rendition that spans musical interests including Classical, Jazz and Rock...
Jethro Tull is a group. Ian Anderson is the flutist. Excellent group. Excellent, intelligent, informative critique.
Never knew it was Bach at all - far as I know this is the only piece of music that sounds like the artist eats his instrument when it's done.
16:20 "maybe you wish I would get it too" - that's the thing many don't get, it's a shared experience with multiple perspectives of the same artifact, which we then get to talk about in the comments section wherever someone knows a different tidbit - that's the beauty, each video functions as a tribute to the music even if the reactor dislikes the piece, because someone in the comments will love it. Even when it's objectively trash lmao
Ian Anderson is a very unconventional flutist and he learned to play it for very unconventional purposes. Jethro Tull is such a fantastic band there is so much to explore in their catalog. Amy you are Best, thank you.
My brother and I used to play this on bass and guitar whenever we were having a jam, along with dueling Banjos. That's if we could get to the end without falling over laughing. Chuck the sheet music (instruction Manual) away and just go for it. ✌️♥️🇬🇧
It's Ian Anderson playing . Jethro Tull was a agricultural science forerunner in the Middle Ages who proposed crop rotation and the seed drill.
First of all: I want to thank you for taking rockmusic "serious". There's some phantastic stuff around. I am a rock musician and have been listening to classic, jazz and other kind of music eversince I've started playing music. I soon realized that the genius and creativity of the classic composers was the basic for the developement of music to its state of the art today. (In view of rockmusic for me especially the work of J.S. Bach)
Very interesting to follow the impressions and explanations of a classic musician.
Wouldn't it be funny to turn things round and let a rock musician react to and analyse a classic work? ;-)
How about "Brandenburg Concerto no. 3 in G major, BWV 1048"? A real piece of ancient rock music!
The baseline is mesmerizing.
The approach is the same as most jazz of the 50's and 60's:
Theme, then improvisatory solos based on the same chord changes, then back to the theme and possibly a coda.
Just a note: Jethro Tull is the name of the band. Ian Anderson is the name of the composer, band leader and plays the flute, guitar and many, many other instruments. He favors Baroque style a lot, or he emulates an olde style "minstrel". There is a live version of this, done ~40 years after the studio recording:
th-cam.com/video/2u0XXpVGUwk/w-d-xo.html (Jethro Tull: Bourée) He does not do the vocalizations much anymore as he messed up his vocal chords doing it so much when younger.
When I was in high school, I elected to do music/band classes, and choose the flute. Ian was of course my hero, and I learned many of his tunes and solos - amazing my classmates as Ian's works and style is rather challenging. I saw them live in may 1973 whilst in high school - not only amazing music, but Ian Anderson is an incredible showman too.
I reiterate my belief you should endeavor to do a full listen to the concept album, "Thick as a Brick" by Jethro Tull. It is one piece of music, not unlike a symphony with various movements, transitions etc. You could do an analysis of say 5 or 6 segments or movements of the whole piece, to break it up into manageable chunks. He really is a modern day "Master" in my view, among the likes of a Bach or a Beethoven.
Insightful and engaging, as always. My other favorite Jethro Tull adaptation of a classical piece is Faure’s Pavane from their Christmas album. That album includes a different take on Bourée as well.
Love listening to this lady’s comments very knowledgeable and open minded. Plus a Tull fan, I am hooked!
I was introduced to Tull in 1970. Bouree was the first. I thank my friend Stewart Allen. You haven’t started your score markup yet, but I couldn’t wait.
Paul McCartney claims that misremembering this piece is the basis of Blackbird. He was playing duets with George and they were playing by ear but couldn't remember the whole piece. They would have heard Segovia on the radio playing the classical guitar version. It is now a standard piece for classical guitar and is a great way to show off because it's not too hard to play fast.
THANK YOU! Someone finally did the best song they EVER did. Saw this live in 1970 & have never forgotten it.
Credit to the electric bass in this number and the driving rhythm in Locomotive Breath
The first year The Grammys included a category for Hard Rock/Metal, the ceremony featured a performance by Metallica. They had just pushed farther into the mainstream with their hit single One. They performed the song live, shortly before the inaugural winner was announced. Every one expected Metallica to walk away with it.
Which is why everyone was shocked when the award went to Jethro Tull.
I was delighted, I loved the album Crest of a Knave. Have it on vinyl.
Ahh 1989, just like yesterday.
Anyways, great breakdown. I was hoping you'd possibly played the original before and was thrilled to hear how familiar you were already with the source material.
🤘🧙♂️🤘
Rich the Ancient Metal Beast
This piece, along with two other classical music instrumentals, "Pavane" and "Greensleeves" are on Jethro's Tull's Christmas Album.
The Bouree on th Christmas album is terrible though
It is not often I see someone who has a joyous delight in hearing music. You cannot fake this joy because it flows from the eyes and all muscles of the face involuntarily.
Ian anderson mastered theflute , he had to sing while he played that flute . Growling , and making sounds to breath , in between vocals . This song is a master piece
I am the greatest estimator of J.S. Bach he is untouchable but I tell you this performance is brilliant I am totally entertained. 👏
I remember when this album "Stand Up" came out. I liked this song, along with every other song on the album. I had no idea it was an arrangement of a classical song, let alone one by Bach. Thanks for enlightening me.
In the 60s 70s were quite some bands which transferred classical music to rock music. Try King Crimson, Ekseption, Emerson, Lake & Palmer or Electric Light Orchestra.
I'm watching this and then heading to your interpretation on the harp. I'm guessing that you're younger than me by quite a bit, Amy. I used to stick thumb-tacks into the felt of the hammers of my Mother's piano to try to make it sound like a harpsichord. Mum was disgusted I was scolded for doing this. I ended up trying to do it covertly. I was always caught in the act. To be truthful, it never sounded right anyway, but it never stopped me from experimenting. The other option was to try and find a grand piano where I could pull it to pieces and make a harp out of it. That never happened and I found myself disillusioned by Harpo Marx and the way he was able to do it on screen! 😁
What a great video. This is a much loved Tull piece. My father was a Bach fanatic, and he bought, and LOVED, Switched on Bach by Wendy Carlos. All synthesizer Bach works. I hope that's on your reaction list. My father used to say Bach would have approved the Carlos work.
I’ve seen JETHRO Tull live many years ago and they played this piece and it was great - Ian Anderson used to play the flute standing on one leg ( he resembled fagin) and was very very animated a great showman and very expressive ,fantastic live performance, he was a guitarist originally- one day he saw a flute in a shop window and apparently purchased it on the spur of the moment and taught himself without tuition and so developed a very unorthodox style - years later his daughter ( she was studying the flute ) informed him that his fingering and his general style was completely wrong - so he learned to play in a more standard way .
I knew as soon as I saw the title that you would enjoy this one! I've always considered Jethro Tull's song to be a set of variations on Bach's original piece - each variation repeated only a few times (less than is expected in a more classical set of variations, I think?). Anderson begins (and ends) with only minimal variation, then gets more and more divergent until the bass solo portion - which then reaches a high-energy point and stops almost suddenly ... the bass then returns to the original "walking" bass from the first variation, and the band replays the first section's minimal arrangement to finish the song.
Lute Suite.
Flute Suite.
Tout de suite.
Toot Sweet.
It was adapted, by Tenacious D, as the intro, to "Classico".
Jack Black sings, about Kyle Gass, with these lyrics:
"Can't You See, He's The Man.
Let Me, Hear You Applaud.
He Is, More Than A Man.
He's A Shining Golden god."
The rest of the brief song, follows a bit of Beethoven's "Fur Elise", and Mozart's tune, "Eine Kleine Nachtmusik".
Kyle is, in good company. I'll leave it, at that.
I was aware, this was by Bach, before hearing Bouree.
I play it, on the piano, almost every time I touch one...so extremely often.
So glad, that this version is in your memory.
It's one of my favorite songs, from Jethro Tull.
С этой вещи я влюбился в Jethro Tull в начале 70-х и слушаю Ian Anderson до сих пор. В этом году Ian порадовал новым альбомом, советую всем послушать.
I think Bach will love this...
I know you have a lot on your plate right now, but I really hope you get to Jethro Tull's Thick as a Brick at some point. A whole 45-minute album that consists of only one suite (split in two parts due to the technical limitations of vinyl records). Ian Anderson intended it as a parody of the grandiose progressive rock compositions, but it itself became one of the most celebrated prog rock albums of all time.
That…. would be…. SPECTACULAR‼️ Thick As a Brick, side 1 & 2. W.O.W!
Thick as a Brick is a great album. One for the ages.
One of the coolest things is that Anderson had only been playing the flute for about a year at this point. Pretty good for just one year on a new instrument
Another group's re-interpretation of a famous classical piece you should check out would be Emerson, Lake and Palmer's cover of Aaron Copeland's "Fanfare for the Common Man".
Or even Pictures at an Exhibition...
Anderson certainly gave the piece a very jazzy spin.
Love that version from Jethro Tull. Love that group. I have also heard classical musician play the piece, lute, classical guitar and it is beautiful. I love in Jethro tull version how it moves from Barock to Rock to Jazz. It is so playful. The bass has such a good tone and I love how the drums swing. Jethro Tull have played in different styles of music. I think you should check out two records (Songs from the woods/Heavy horses) where they more than ever (because they have kind of always done that) build on English folk music and like in this Bach music are innovated and the music interesting. A great band with many, many good records. His flute playing became more professional as time past. His signature thing was standing on one foot while playing. Anderson is self-taught on the flute. You can see how much better he is at his playing later but he obviously was very quick to learn to play the flute. As a musician he is simply very natural talent.
Yes ,they shifted from progressive to more folk rock with those two albums.Heavy horses is maybe the best Jethro album ,for me
Thank you for returning to Jethro Tull and Ian! Wonderful memories.
Gee. I must say that I adore what you are doing here. It's like looking at pieces of music I love from another perspective, and learning something new simultaneously. Thank you!
I was a youngster when Tull released this and it was great because I realised a bridge between classical and rock is possible. It even made classic music sound cool :)
I’m really glad you enjoyed this jethro tull classic, and I am excited to see your breakdown. Ian Anderson is an interesting musician. Also, never mind the haters. They would make all the earth theirs and theirs alone, and music especially cannot be made an object of possession.
I totally agree on your comment about Bach being the first jazz composer. That is what I think of when I listen to Bach. He plays with the notes around the progression of the chords just like jazz musicians do. I have often wondered if Donald Fagen of Steely Dan listened to Bach.
Just one thing: Jethro Tull is the name of the band. The flutist/singer/main composer is Ian Anderson.
Seen him three times over the years starting in 1971. One of the best concerts ever. Full of energy and good music. Not a boring moment.
You should watch one of their live performances, Anderson is quite the interesting stage performer.
Yes definitely. They were an incredible live band and Ian was mad as a hatter
While I agree with your use of the word "quite", I really think that he is more "off the wall", idiosyncratic and at times bizarre than just "interesting"!
@@johnjones4825 I would go so far as to say cringey sometimes
Perhaps "Variation on a theme by Bach" would be the most appropriate? That change of rhythm "notes inegales" is a form of what's known in jazz and rock as syncopation. It adds a lovely swing to the piece. I love the way the bass carries the original sound of the piece through and allows the flute to float over the top. And well said about "getting" music!
I like how you try and succeed in finfding apropriate words to describe any part of experience.