I am ashamed to say that I had never heard of Lucille Gruber before coming across this by accident. But having done so I will never forget. Simply superb performance of this challenging and dramatic masterpiece
Thank you Lucille for this wonderful experience ! Some people are confused about performance instead to pay attention to the message of performer and the message of composer. We all tend to forget about time when something was created! Bravo!!
This is really a unique performance and a unique experience it is to listen to it. I am absolutely astonished how easy it looks as if she doesn't move her fingers at all. A whole life devoted to playing. Thank you for performing for us!
As a child, i used to listen to the Helma Elsner version of this from circa 1958-. It is such a lovely piece. You play it so well. at 4:56 i was thinking, wait doesn't this come to a cadence ? and then there it was. A very beautifully dramatic rendition.
A beautiful performance that melds heart and mind, feeling and interpretation. This is also a meeting of minds between the composer and the performer: the way it is supposed to happen!
Thank you Ms. Gruber, for this superb video. Especially the fugue. These days it seems in vogue to prefer the piano for the keyboard works of Bach. Indeed we have some wonderful pianists performing Bach. But to me, when you put Bach onto the piano it always seems to be about the piano. And the performer. On the harpsichord, it is about the music and Bach's transfer of his ideas and his faith onto the notes.
@Disguised Spy Clavichord, indeed. According to Forkel, who got his information from Bach sons, Bach's preferred instrument for private music making was the clavichord. Not the harpsichord. Very few of Bach's solo keyboard music not for organ specify harpsichord, and the few that do (e.g., the Italian Concerto and the "Goldberg" Variations and the French Overture) require a 2-manual harpsichord.
@@Egill2011 There's no evidence to support the claim that Bach composed all his solo keyboard music (other than the organ music) for harpsichord. The few solo keyboard works that specify harpsichord require a 2-manual harpsichord (e.g. the Italian Concerto, the "Goldberg" Variations, and the French Overture). But the Chromatic Fantasy and Fugue, the 2-Part Inventions, the 3-Part Sinfonias, the Well-Tempered Clavier, the Partitas, the "English" and "French" Suites, etc. -- all of which many people *presume* were intended for harpsichord -- do not specify harpsichord at all. According to Forkel, who got his information from Bach sons, Bach's preferred instrument for private music making was the clavichord. Not the harpsichord. According to another source, Bach tried out an early Silbermann fortepiano in the 1730s and is said to have admired the sound, but complained the upper register was too weak and the action too heavy. Presumably Silbermann made some improvements by 1747, when Bach tried out the latest Silbermann fortepianos at the Prussian king's Potsdam residence. At one time, the king owned 15 Silbermann fortepianos. In Bach's day, the fortepiano was regarded as a novelty of the rich. The piano is much improved since 1747. Based on the above account of Bach's assessment of an early Silbermann fortepiano, I think Bach would admire the sound of the modern piano and have no complaints about the upper register or the action.
4:13 I saw the tonebase short about this chord and I've been looking for recordings where it appears in this form, with the Gb in the bass resolving to F. I find it so beautiful like this and so ahead of Bach's time. Marvelous recording
This comment comes from a letter written in April 12, 1840 written by a student of Nickolas Forkel (who was himself a student of Wilhelm Friedemann Bach the son and student of JS Bach) named Friedrich Griepenkerl (himself famous for being the first person to publish the complete collected organ works of JS Bach. Quoting from this important letter: "Bach himself, his sons, and Forkel played the masterpieces with such a profound declamation that they sounded like polyphonic songs sung by individual great Artist singers. Thereby, all means of good singing were brought into use. No Cercare, No Portamento was missing, even breathing was in all the right places. Bach's music wants to be sung with the maximum of art". Of course we have Bach suggesting in the preface of the inventions that above all to inculcate a "cantabile" style of playing. Imagine if you can how much more beautiful and touching this performance would have been had you both sung your parts like individual great artist singers, both expressing the affects of the individual voices independent of the other?
Superb. I love her approach, given in the intro, to play it as the mood takes her. What a piece..clearly based on the evolution of an extempore arpeggiated warm-up exercise as a toccata. We are lucky that Bach wrote this one down. Other composers would have left much of the music up to the individual performer with a figured bass line as guide but Bach wrote this one out in full. Certainly one of the peaks of Bach's keyboard work.
Transcendent emotive work, like Bach himself telling us about our souls. Thank you! I love your interpretation, clarity, touch and presence you bring to the work. Thank you!
A fine performance. This piece clearly is better for the harpsichord (rather than a piano). I especially liked your arpeggios (& chords) towards the end of the Chromatic Fantasy which convey the power of Bach's composition.
Considerei a fantasia tocada maravilhosamente, mas a fuga para mim perdeu um pouco do brilho e da força que ela tem em seus fraseados, ja que a intérprete não se utilizou muito do rubato e manteve o ritmo sem as variações que esses mesmo fraseados sugerem
fou le, As Lucille Gruber, explains her rationale for an improvisatory phrasing style, I find Your criticism, uncalled for. The performance is certainly NOT chaotic. It is very musically and lyrically phrased, and all the notes are in the right place. More than that she plays with a lot of feeling, and authority. I find myself in accord with Yuri !
Thank you for your comment. I always appreciate hearing from people who take the time to listen to my interpretations. As to the "pianist turned harpsichordist" comment the only thing I can say is that many harpsichordists changed course after studying music and piano and I admit it was some time before I truly felt comfortable and natural at the keyboard. It is all about lightness, and stroking the keys and it is about articulation and connecting notes. My instrument is very lightly quilled and so there is added risk at the keyboard but well worth it. I had my first lesson with Gustave Leonhardt in 1976, and have never played the piano since. I had not yet converted to playing at baroque pitch at that lesson and I so remember it well since, with perfect pitch, it was like transposing at sight playing that exquisite instrument.. You would have to be much more specific for me to understand your statement but I appreciate your interest.
I am ashamed to say that I had never heard of Lucille Gruber before coming across this by accident. But having done so I will never forget. Simply superb performance of this challenging and dramatic masterpiece
Lucille , du Traumfrau .elegant und ehrlich zu Bach . Alles Gute für Dich. Ich verehre Dich.
Lucille is a REAL poet!
I love the way you talk about music, lucille. Thank you so much for the light you shine.
For me this piece express the highest level of intellectual dept in art and music
What a beautiful presentation, what a phantastic piece. what a magnificent instrument. Thank you for sharing!
MARAVILLOSA INTERPRETACIÓN.
Merveilleuse interprétation.
Thank you Lucille for this wonderful experience ! Some people are confused about performance instead to pay attention to the message of performer and the message of composer. We all tend to forget about time when something was created! Bravo!!
This is really a unique performance and a unique experience it is to listen to it. I am absolutely astonished how easy it looks as if she doesn't move her fingers at all. A whole life devoted to playing. Thank you for performing for us!
wonderful, thrilling and strong interpretation!!!!!!!!! Pleasure to listen Lucille!!!
As a child, i used to listen to the Helma Elsner version of this from circa 1958-. It is such a lovely piece. You play it so well. at 4:56 i was thinking, wait doesn't this come to a cadence ? and then there it was. A very beautifully dramatic rendition.
A beautiful performance that melds heart and mind, feeling and interpretation. This is also a meeting of minds between the composer and the performer: the way it is supposed to happen!
One could say this composition, and performance, is totally rad :)
Clearly you remind me why Chromatic fantasy is definitely my favourite Bachs piece... thank you
Thank you Ms. Gruber, for this superb video. Especially the fugue. These days it seems in vogue to prefer the piano for the keyboard works of Bach. Indeed we have some wonderful pianists performing Bach. But to me, when you put Bach onto the piano it always seems to be about the piano. And the performer.
On the harpsichord, it is about the music and Bach's transfer of his ideas and his faith onto the notes.
Superb performance , thank you .would haved loved to see all of your georgeous instrument !
How wonderful to hear Bach played on the PROPER instrument!
Yes, indeed. As a Bach admirer, I don't very much like pianos. Harpsichord is the instrument Bach knew and wrote his music for.
You said it so I didn’t have to.
It wouldnt be played on the Harpsichord today if it werent for Harpsichordist Wanda Landowska th-cam.com/video/H2FbbAUzCYA/w-d-xo.html
@Disguised Spy Clavichord, indeed. According to Forkel, who got his information from Bach sons, Bach's preferred instrument for private music making was the clavichord. Not the harpsichord. Very few of Bach's solo keyboard music not for organ specify harpsichord, and the few that do (e.g., the Italian Concerto and the "Goldberg" Variations and the French Overture) require a 2-manual harpsichord.
@@Egill2011 There's no evidence to support the claim that Bach composed all his solo keyboard music (other than the organ music) for harpsichord. The few solo keyboard works that specify harpsichord require a 2-manual harpsichord (e.g. the Italian Concerto, the "Goldberg" Variations, and the French Overture). But the Chromatic Fantasy and Fugue, the 2-Part Inventions, the 3-Part Sinfonias, the Well-Tempered Clavier, the Partitas, the "English" and "French" Suites, etc. -- all of which many people *presume* were intended for harpsichord -- do not specify harpsichord at all.
According to Forkel, who got his information from Bach sons, Bach's preferred instrument for private music making was the clavichord. Not the harpsichord.
According to another source, Bach tried out an early Silbermann fortepiano in the 1730s and is said to have admired the sound, but complained the upper register was too weak and the action too heavy. Presumably Silbermann made some improvements by 1747, when Bach tried out the latest Silbermann fortepianos at the Prussian king's Potsdam residence. At one time, the king owned 15 Silbermann fortepianos. In Bach's day, the fortepiano was regarded as a novelty of the rich.
The piano is much improved since 1747. Based on the above account of Bach's assessment of an early Silbermann fortepiano, I think Bach would admire the sound of the modern piano and have no complaints about the upper register or the action.
Thanks for giving us this beautiful interpretation, sublime !!
4:13 I saw the tonebase short about this chord and I've been looking for recordings where it appears in this form, with the Gb in the bass resolving to F. I find it so beautiful like this and so ahead of Bach's time. Marvelous recording
Thank you for the video!
I love the sound of this instrument - and your playing, this makes me feel so happy, this music, so exuberant and life-affirming ❤
Just mesmerizing!
This comment comes from a letter written in April 12, 1840 written by a student of Nickolas Forkel (who was himself a student of Wilhelm Friedemann Bach the son and student of JS Bach) named Friedrich Griepenkerl (himself famous for being the first person to publish the complete collected organ works of JS Bach. Quoting from this important letter: "Bach himself, his sons, and Forkel played the masterpieces with such a profound declamation that they sounded like polyphonic songs sung by individual great Artist singers. Thereby, all means of good singing were brought into use. No Cercare, No Portamento was missing, even breathing was in all the right places. Bach's music wants to be sung with the maximum of art". Of course we have Bach suggesting in the preface of the inventions that above all to inculcate a "cantabile" style of playing. Imagine if you can how much more beautiful and touching this performance would have been had you both sung your parts like individual great artist singers, both expressing the affects of the individual voices independent of the other?
Woooh ! Magnifique, profond et brillant. C'est vrai que cette oeuvre sonne mieux au clavecin qu'au piano. Superbe. Merci à vous !
Great interpretation, nice introduction!
Superbe interprétation, une des plus proches de l'original compte tenu de l'instrument.
Pure, superb cerebral enjoyment!
Maravillosa interpretación!!
Gracias.
Great music!
Godlike playing, I love this work so much. Thank you!
Awesome interpretation
I can listen to Bach all day. Thanks
Superb. I love her approach, given in the intro, to play it as the mood takes her. What a piece..clearly based on the evolution of an extempore arpeggiated warm-up exercise as a toccata. We are lucky that Bach wrote this one down. Other composers would have left much of the music up to the individual performer with a figured bass line as guide but Bach wrote this one out in full. Certainly one of the peaks of Bach's keyboard work.
Transcendent emotive work, like Bach himself telling us about our souls. Thank you! I love your interpretation, clarity, touch and presence you bring to the work. Thank you!
Thankyou for this little 15 minute lesson. Great to see your hands at work :-)
A wonderful delivery! I immediately thought to myself- Leonhardt pupil. I look forward to listening to your other performances!
A fine performance. This piece clearly is better for the harpsichord (rather than a piano).
I especially liked your arpeggios (& chords) towards the end of the Chromatic Fantasy which convey the power of Bach's composition.
I like the austere appearance of the Wilson instrument.
I love this performance!
Very nice interpretation.
Excellent performance. I would have liked to see the upper keyboard with much less volume so it contrasts more when you switch between them.
Bravo madame, great performance.
beautiful!
Wow now that's how Bach should sound! Just wonderful. I can almost imagine it's Johann playing this.
Lucille Tears Here I Play this But All New Thanks and God Bless You
Brava!
Always nice to have a "brava". Thank you
Sublime e fantastica!
The best intereption i have ever heard
(Sorry about my eingliah)
プレリュードで世界を駆け巡り、フーガで宇宙へ昇華する。
Respect because she memorized this. Did anyone else notice that the tuning is in C#minor? Makes it really hard to play along to for me.
Baroque pitch, A415
Please , we read english but is difficult for some of us understand the audio, plis give us subtitled this beautiful passage, explainde by the lady.
The real thing! This is how it is supposed to sound, with the original instrument.
Wow
Start time: 2:08
Half the views on this video are mine. This is some thrilling music.
i like how its not so overly fast played.-
Leo bastante bien el ingles, me es dificill entenderlo hablado, por favor subtítulos, gracias
8:45
Is that a Dulcken?
Most performances of this incredible work play it too fast. However, in my opinion this is as near to a perfect performance as could be.
Rodriguez Donald Hernandez Carol Davis Jeffrey
BACH = M X C (squared)
La viole version est la meieur ;je pense.
Considerei a fantasia tocada maravilhosamente, mas a fuga para mim perdeu um pouco do brilho e da força que ela tem em seus fraseados, ja que a intérprete não se utilizou muito do rubato e manteve o ritmo sem as variações que esses mesmo fraseados sugerem
A proper instrument don't exist.Every KB is proper . Exempli gratia a Steinway Gran Coda!!!
bestimmt, Bach, . . . aber leider wenig Emotion
No
apperently women find medievil music creepy, yet, they are the best interpreters of it!
The Rob TV this is hardly ‘medieval’...
chaotic and sometimes explicitly wrong performance
I look forward to hearing your performance of the work, as well as reading your theses explaining the correct manner for playing this composition.
fou le, As Lucille Gruber, explains her rationale for an improvisatory phrasing style, I find Your criticism, uncalled for. The performance is certainly NOT chaotic. It is very musically and lyrically phrased, and all the notes are in the right place. More than that she plays with a lot of feeling, and authority. I find myself in accord with Yuri !
Thank you for your comment. I always appreciate hearing from people who take the time to listen to my interpretations. As to the "pianist turned harpsichordist" comment the only thing I can say is that many harpsichordists changed course after studying music and piano and I admit it was some time before I truly felt comfortable and natural at the keyboard.
It is all about lightness, and stroking the keys and it is about articulation and connecting notes. My instrument is very lightly quilled and so there is added risk at the keyboard but well worth it.
I had my first lesson with Gustave Leonhardt in 1976, and have never played the piano since. I had not yet converted to playing at baroque pitch at that lesson and I so remember it well since, with perfect pitch, it was like transposing at sight playing that exquisite instrument..
You would have to be much more specific for me to understand your statement but I appreciate your interest.
I agrede with She, but there is a word missing: ¡¡corageous!!
Wow