Bach WTC II Well-Tempered Clavier Book 2 Complete Live Performance - Thomas Schwan, piano
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 29 พ.ย. 2022
- J.S. Bach: The Well Tempered Clavier Book II Complete Live Performance - Thomas Schwan, piano
Official website: www.thomasschwan.com
Facebook page: / thomasschwanartist
No. 1 in C Major BWV 870: Praeludium 0:10 Fuga 3:02
No. 2 in C minor BWV 871: Praeludium 4:38 Fuga 5:42
No. 3 in C sharp major BWV 872: Praeludium 8:41 Fuga 10:32
No. 4 in C sharp minor BWV 873: Praeludium 12:57 Fuga 17:54
No. 5 in D major BWV 874: Praeludium 19:46 Fuga 23:24
No. 6 in D minor BWV 875: Praeludium 27:08 Fuga 28:39
No. 7 in E flat major BWV 876: Praeludium 30:52 Fuga 33:46
No. 8 in D sharp minor BWV 877: Praeludium 36:13 Fuga 38:57
No. 9 in E major BWV 878: Praeludium 44:34 Fuga 47:03
No. 10 in E minor BWV 879: Praeludium 52:30 Fuga 54:45
No. 11 in F major BWV 880: Praeludium 57:46 Fuga 1:01:20
No. 12 in F minor BWV 881: Praeludium 1:03:09 Fuga 1:05:30
No. 13 in F sharp major BWV 882: Praeludium 1:07:42 Fuga 1:11:31
No. 14 in F sharp minor BWV 883: Praeludium 1:14:29 Fuga 1:18:45
No. 15 in G major BWV 884: Praeludium 1:25:43 Fuga 1:27:15
No. 16 in G minor BWV 885: Praeludium 1:28:33 Fuga 1:31:39
No. 17 in A flat major BWV 886: Praeludium 1:34:48 Fuga 1:38:47
No. 18 in G sharp minor BWV 887: Praeludium 1:43:05 Fuga 1:45:19
No. 19 in A major BWV 888: Praeludium 1:52:44 Fuga 1:54:40
No. 20 in A minor BWV 889: Praeludium 1:55:58 Fuga 1:58:40
No. 21 in B flat major BWV 890: Praeludium 2:00:26 Fuga 2:04:44
No. 22 in B flat minor BWV 891: Praeludium 2:08:02 Fuga 2:11:34
No. 23 in B major BWV 892: Praeludium 2:18:22 Fuga 2:19:50
No. 24 in B minor BWV 893: Praeludium 2:24:07 Fuga 2:26:47
Thomas Schwan, piano
Live at SMU Caruth Auditorium
Dallas, TX
October 15, 2022
Das Wohltemperierte Clavier, Teil 2 - Il Clavicembalo Ben Temperato, Libro Secondo - Le Clavier Bien Tempéré, Livre 2 - El clave bien temperado, Libro 2 - เพลง
Here I can finally hear only Bach and no one else, not even the pianist. Thomas Schwan is an absolute medium for Bach's music. The sound is also out of this world. It is the first time in my 68 years (I am meanwhile 69 and in March 70) that I have heard such a clear, present and differentiated piano sound.
When I listen to this recording again now, I have a kind of transcendental perception of the whole event or happening, as if I were facing Bach and he was talking to me about his life experience, about his music and about humanity. This is a very intense emotional experience because I realize the true expression of a great soul like Bach in real life as Bach is living on through his music, played by Thomas Schwan. Today I realize for the first time that this recording represents such an intense life experience with Bach that I cannot hold back my tears.
Dear Paul, thank you for these extraordinary words! I am humbled! All the best to you, with blessings, Thomas
I can say exactly the same thing, and I've been listening to the WTC for 55 years now!
@georgesmelki1
Thank you wholeheartedly!
How true. Thank you for expressing my thoughts)
Thank you for this comment. Very true.
I feel this recording presents the Well Tempered Clavier both uniquely beautifully with each piece, with each set of pieces (prelude and fugue) and as an integral masterwork. It’s truly beautiful.
JS Bach is my favorite composer of all times. I breath with Bach. At my medical office there is always his music is playing overhead. Living in USA I have traveled 3 times to Eisenach to spend time at his house and museum. I know every performer who ever played Bach - from Richter to Gould, but since last year when I discovered Thomas performing WTC he became my favorite Bach performer with his absolutely new fresh air of Bach's music . with very new interpretation of Bach's music. I cannot listen to any other performers after Thomas. It is incredible that this crazy times still can bring to us such a performer and Bach lover like Thomas. Bravo, bravo , bravo....
Thank you for your incredible words! I am truly happy that these interpretations are meaningful to you. I can't imagine a greater reward for my humble efforts. Thank you wholeheartedly, all the best to you, with blessings! Thomas
Je me reconnais dans vos paroles : depuis toujours Bach, et maintenant, toujours Thomas, avec sa sensibilité, son tempo, sa délicatesse.
@marieclaude5360 Thank you for such wonderful words!! All the best! Thomas
I grew up listening to my father play WTC 1&2. He would often practice late at night as I was falling asleep. For years I tried to find an artist who played Bach in a way which reminded me of this memory, none were satisfactory until i found your videos. You are exponentially better than he ever was, but the tempo at which you play, and the feeling you embed into the composition is reminiscent of what I heard and felt as a child while he struggled to learn the pieces to his satisfaction. I often listen to this while i fall asleep at night, or anytime I need to relax. Thank you for making this old man's heart happy.
Thank you wholeheartedly, Sir, I feel deeply moved by your comment. And thank you for sharing with me these incredibly precious memories! This really means a lot to me... Probably the greatest reward I can imagine. All the best, with blessings! Thomas
Your father had a good taste music.you are lucky .
Yes Thomas Schwan playes with a unique feeling, not like a machine but like a human with heart and soul! Thank you for your nice comment!
I have listened to this at least 100 times. It never gets old. Thomas Schwan plays Bach like no other. He is simply the best.
Thank you for your incredible words!... I feel truly humbled! And I am so happy you are enjoying so much this interpretation. All the best, with blessings! Thomas
I think that Mr. Schwan is not fond of being the best! He represents our new era which is based on heart and soul (and respects of other great performers!)
The auditorium ought to be completely full with people standing on the stairs. This is a unique performance. Thank you, Thomas.
Thank you for such kind words and for listening! All the very best to you! Thomas
Yes indeed my friend,but the reason for this empty auditorium is because the covid 19 virus in 2022 was active at that period.But i agree with you.This is outstanding music.
@@affectus942 Thank you for your kind words! I'd say the concert was only modestly advertised...
Très belle performance. Un jeu sensible et qui respecte le texte de Bach. Pour une performance Live c'est vraiment remarquable. Les gens qui n'étaient pas dans la salle alors qu'ils auraient pu y être ne sauront jamais ce qu'ils ont raté ...
@@stephaned.2135 Thank you very much, all the best to you! Thomas
E minor BWV 879: Praeludium 52:30 and Fuga 54:45, this is where Bach's discussion is so humorous, and where there is so much laughter as the different voices pose questions to each other.
Dear Paul, absolutely true, a wonderful observation! Thank you as always! Thomas
This is among the finest performance of Bach's WTC2 anywhere.
Thank you for your wonderful words and for listening - I am truly humbled!! All the best, with blessings, Thomas
This room should be full of people. . Thomas is absolute stunning.
Also respect to the sound engineer 👏🏼
Thank you so much for listening and for your kind words! All the best to you! Thomas
@@ThomasSchwan you are welcome, thomas. seriously : my deepest respect for your deep unserstanding of the true master j.s bach and this great performance of the book 2. warm regards from germany . Sebastian
@@stereodachs Thank you wholeheartedly! Thomas
Yeah, what's going on there? This is top quality music. I would have been there in a heartbeat.
@@davel4708 Thank you for your truly kind words! All the best, with blessings! Thomas
There is an old saying (by myself): "we LIKE to hear what WE like to hear".
I have come back to this page many many times. Why? because . I like this music the way Mr. Schwan performs it.
Thank you for your kind words, and truly happy you are enjoying this interpretation. All the best to you! Thomas
Holy smokes, I can't remember 4 notes I played the night before. This guy is playing perfectly extraordinarily complex music for 2.5 hours with no sheet music.
Thank you for listening! :) All the best to you! Thomas
@@ThomasSchwanWanna say something, I discovered that if I practice a piece by the time I have fully grasped it, its already in my memory. Now I imagine that its the same, at the time you were practicing these pieces, by the time you finished each of the pieces, they are already in your memory, even without actually trying to memorise them, and thats why you are now able to play every thing off hand, right?
@super_organist Hello! Yes, I'd say that is true; in a deep sense, I believe that truly grasping something and memorizing it are the same thing. And in a way, "knowing" something really means "becoming" that thing. So, yes, there hasn't been a specific "memorization" process separated from the practice process as a whole; although I also did a lot of mental practice to review all the pieces in a way that is not as physically consuming as playing them...
@super_organist and @thomasschwan I believe you are both gifted. I actually have the ability to draw and paint from memory but I cannot remember music very well. I am extremely creative with music, and sometimes phrases come back to me but even after 33 years with music as my life’s passion I struggle to play the same thing twice… Love what you said about “becoming that thing” … blessings to you both ✨🌌✨
@CobyComputer Thank you, blessings to you as well! Thomas
Your brain is connected to your heart by your fingers!marvellous
Thank you, all the best! Thomas
It is wonderful to hear an artist serve the music, instead of the other way around. A real master!
Thank you for your wonderful words, I am truly humbled! All the best, with blessings! Thomas
The human brain at its finest. From both, the composer as well as the performer.
Thank you for such kind words! All the best to you! Thomas
Very interesting and new interpretation of JS Bach. I love the way Thomas introducing Bach's WTC. Bravo!!!
Thank you for your truly kind words and for listening! All the best to you, Thomas
Wonderful.
Deeply impressed.
Lisning again and again.
Deeply happy to hear that - thank you for your kind words! All the best, Thomas
I've never tipped before on this platform but couldn't sit here listening to this wonderful performance for free. What a feat of athleticism and artistry to perform 24 preludes and fugues from memory and with such lyricism that truly embodies the spirit of Bach. I've listened to Gould and Schiff and this performance easily sits alongside these titans. Thanks for sharing.
Dear Matthew, thank you wholeheartedly for listening, for your amazingly kind words, and for your donation. I feel truly humbled and grateful. All the best to you! Thomas
Ce pianiste est extraordinaire,,son jeu touche l âme
@@blondellemarie-jeanne3845 Thank you for such kind words! All the best!
Anyone who at least appreciates this performance should donate. The uniqueness of this Bach performance is just as valuable as the rediscovery of a lost work by Bach. Let's support the rediscovery of Bach music for human ears and souls by a pianist as unique as Thomas Schwan and support him financially for this achievement.
@@MrVincent537Thank you, dear Paul, what wonderful words! I am humbled! All the best, Thomas
Magnifique interprétation du Clavier bien tempéré, ma préférée avec celle de Hyun-Jung Lim.
Quel travail pour jouer de mémoire une œuvre pareille, quelle performance , quelle sensibilité, et quelle générosité de nous l'offrir!
Jean-Sébastien Bach, pour moi le plus grand, a composé une musique divine, qui apaise, nourrit et élève l'âme.
Vous le servez parfaitement.
Merci infiniment!
Thank you wholeheartedly for this beautiful comment and for listening! I'm happy you are enjoying this interpretation. All the best, with blessings! Thomas
So, Thomas: I reserved my comment for now, having had the privilege of hosting you in Boston and hearing you play the whole of Book 2 live in an incomparable performance of simplicity, beauty and integrity. It was also a privilege to play Book 1 for you on the pedal harpsichord. As an experienced Bach player for over 50 years, I add my voice to others here. You play this music as well as I've heard it played, making it effective on an instrument that Bach did not know, and projecting both his spirit and your own enormous musical insights. Bravo, thanks, and looking forward to your next visit! Peter Watchorn
Hi Peter: I have no words to express how honored I feel to receive these incredible words by one of the world's greatest musicians and most distinguished Bach interpreters. Beyond what I could ever possibly imagine. And I cannot wait to visit Boston again - these were some of the best days in my life!
As good as the greatest Bach interpreters.
@@beebeequail Thank you, I feel humbled! All the best, Thomas
Scarcely a higher recommendation to be found!
@@begshallots Absolutely: Peter Watchorn is a legendary artist!
AI will NEVER be able to replace this kind of genius! Mind-blowing
Thank you for your comment! I also deeply believe that all of the AI hype is absolute idiocy. Nothing, and not a machine, will ever replace that element of unpredictable frailty that is the ungraspable essence of humanity. All the best! Thomas
Raga (zzi) qui c'è Musica, fermiamoci un attimo davanti a Lui e ad un'interpretazione eccelsa, top.
Gentile Lorenzo, grazie di cuore per l'ascolto e per queste bellissime parole! Sono onorato! Un caro saluto, Thomas
Τhank you Thomas - your music is a gift, a real medicine!
Thank you for your wonderful words and for listening; I am truly happy to hear this! All the best, with blessings! Thomas
Yes this music is healing our whole existence!!! It should be presented in hospitals instead of television-junk!
as a lifelong listener/fan of the WTC i must say this interpretation is outstanding - amazing touch dynamically and appreciate your take on tempo. Mozart called the WTC his morning bread and butter or something along those lines.. here we are some 300 years after it was written and for me still a high watermark of human accomplishment/genius/etc. its life in a microcosm, beauty/fear/calm/hectic...pure genius!
Bravo Thomas
Thank you for listening and for your truly kind words! All the best to you, with blessings! Thomas
Every day is Bach's day ! Congratulations
Thank you! Thomas
This really is music-making of the first order. His interpretations declare themselves as very clearly his own, without being ostentatious about it, ala Gould or Richter.
Thank you for such incredible words, I am humbled! All the best to you! Thomas
@@ThomasSchwan You're welcome! You do realize that you now owe the world your version of Die Kunst Der Fugue, don't you?
@@CaldonianBoar Thank you for mentioning that! It is actually among my next projects! Hope to be able to share a recording as soon as possible. All the best! Thomas
WOW! I saw this in my feed, and could hardly believe anyone could or would undertake playing the entire WTC II from memory in front of an audience. Congratulations on your achievement and thank you sharing your art. The world is better for it!
Thank you for listening and for such kind words, dear Dustin, a truly wonderful comment - Thank you!! I wish you a fantastic Christmas time with your family! All the best, Thomas
Thomas didn't provide this himself so I will. Bk1 complete. th-cam.com/video/IImakFsEHL8/w-d-xo.html
@@scottson2 Thank you, I appreciate! All the best, Thomas
Svjastoslav Richter...
@@alisatabori2359 Dare I say Richter does not approach the clarity Thomas has achieved here.
Man wird in den Bann gezogen, kann nicht mehr aufhören. Hervorragende Wahrnehmung der Möglichkeiten des modernen Flügels.
Thank you so much again! All the best! Thomas
Ja, JS Bach liebte Fortschritte hin zu besseren Instrumenten und ist ganz sicher glücklich, wenn er die Darbietung von Thomas Schwan hört!!! JS Bach kommt voll durch, und es spielt keine Rolle, dass es zu Bachs Zeiten solche hochqualitativen Klaviere noch nicht gegeben hat. Hätte es sie gegeben, dann hätte er sie genutzt, weil er eben kein Kleingeist war sondern ein Welten-Genie, welches für immer und alle Musikliebhaber bleiben wird: Kurzum JS Bach forever!
it's is a rare thing when precision and nuance are both served
Thank you for your kind words! All the best to you! Thomas
Völlig unverständlich, warum der Saal fast leer ist. Faszinierende Performance eines großen Pianisten. Thomas Schwan made may day.
Mr. Hobrecht, thank you so much for listening and for your truly wonderful words! I am happy you are enjoying this interpretation. All the best to you, Thomas
I have listened to this many times for months, and I will be coming back here many times for decades.
Thank you wholeheartedly for your wonderful words and for your donation! I am truly happy that you are enjoying this interpretation! All the best to you, with blessings, Thomas
Ich bedanke mich ganz herzlich für Ihre wunderware Interpretation Herr Schwan.
Thank you for listening and for your wonderful words! All the best to you! Thomas
I opened this intending to listen to the first prelude + fugue while waiting for something, out of curiosity, and here I am at the end of the entire book, absolutely gripped. This is true music-making of the highest quality. The level of control and the precision of the voicing is a joy to listen to and the beauty of the tone obtained from the instrument is exceptional. The interpretations feel sensible and well-placed, giving centre stage to the music above the performer. Truly magnificent.
Thank you for such wonderful words, and for listening! I am truly happy that you enjoyed this interpretation. All the very best to you, with Blessings! Thomas
I agree to each word of Mr Durrant. I'm a pianist myself and devoted to the WTC.
Marvellous interpretation, thousands of thanks, Thomas !!!!!!
@@roxanapri4 Thank you so much for your truly kind words and for listening! All the best!! Thomas
@@ThomasSchwan where have you been hiding all this time? Truly exceptional interpretation of this unique masterpiece!
@@georgesmelki1 Thank you for your wonderful words and for listening! All the best to you! Thomas
The playing of Bach music by Thomas Schwan is a unique musical light for the soul of the listener.
Dear Paul, thank you for such incredible words!!! All the very best to you, with blessings!! Thomas
Bravissimo. Il tuo Bach è meraviglioso. È melodia per la mia anima
@@usl612 Grazie di cuore per le bellissime parole e per l'ascolto! Un caro saluto! Thomas
@@ThomasSchwan when is your next concert in Dallas?
@@jeffc1736 As for solo, no precise dates or Dallas yet, but all will be posted on my website! (We'll have a two piano recital with my wife in November, though!) Thank you, Thomas
I have never heard the WTC played any better
Thank you, so kind! Happy New Year! Thomas
@@ThomasSchwan Thank you so much! Happy New Year to you too. Please keep up sharing your masterful playing, its so enjoyable and insightful! Do you have any CDs recorded one can buy?
@@L1102 Thank you again for such kind words! Alas I have no CDs out, at least yet... All the best to you! Thomas
@@ThomasSchwan Thank you, very kind. That is unfortunate i would love to hear more of you. I cant applaud you enough. I wish you all the best !
Toujours un émerveillement d écouter jouer ce pianiste, qui comprend si bien Bach.❤❤❤❤❤🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Thank you for your wonderful words and for listening! I feel truly honored! All the best to you, Thomas
A great interpretation. Never bombastic, always subtle and clear. A great performance!
Thank you for these beautiful words, I'm truly honored! All the best to you, with blessings! Thomas
Bravo! Mais quelle mémoire incroyable ! Je ne suis pas un grand musicien mais quelle belle interprétation.
Salutations depuis le nord du Québec,au Canada.
Thank you for your wonderful words and for listening! All the best to you! Thomas
One of the best performances of this work I've ever heard, up there with Gould, Schiff and Tureck. Thank you Mr Schwan you are a magnificent musician!
Thank you wholeheartedly, I am humbled! All the best to you! Thomas
After listening to the WTC for about the last 50 years, I thought I'd heard every great performance, every possible nuance, every hidden voice. Mr. Schwan, I bow to you in deep respect for enriching all of our lives with a fresh, sensitive and brilliant interpretation of this colossal opus. I look forward with great anticipation to your recording of Book I. Regards, david h.
Dear David, thank you for such incredible words, and for listening! I feel humbled! Also, you can find my 2019 live performance of Book I in my channel. All the best to you! Thomas
I felt the same as soon as I heard the first few measures>there is something special here. I hear it but only being a relatively minor piano player myself, (i.e. not a professional "pianist") i can not describe it from a true artists perception or description. Good luck to you all. I hope to see Mr Schwan in Los Angeles sometime
@rsjmd
@rsjmd Thank you for your wonderful words! :) All the best! Thomas
Such a futuristic presentation of the works by such a futuristic composer. Both are way ahead of their time. The intertwining melodies are, as you say, like voices crying out, digging deep into our emotions, attempting to get our attention with a message. Wake up! It brings back a childhood memory of the little tune who said, “You’re sitting on me”. And then Tubby got it and began to make the world a better place by playing the most beautiful tune ever written for a tuba.
@@ThomasSchwan Thank you!!
トーマス スクワンさんの演奏でバッハの平均律曲集1,2を聴いています。音の一つ一つが鮮明てとても聴きやすいです。音の伸びや和音がとても綺麗です。私の心を癒してくれます。ありがとうございます。バッハの他の作品をも多数演奏されることを期待しています。ファンに成りました。ありがとうございます。
Thank you for listening and for your wonderful words! I am truly happy that these interpretations resonate with you. All the best, with blessings! Thomas
Ci sono due componenti nella musica del Clavicembalo ben temperato di Bach e che l'autore cerca di tenere insieme in perfetta armonia. L'anima dell'uomo di solito rappresentata dalla scala del soprano e l'anima di Dio di solito espressa nella scala dei bassi.
Nello sviluppo musicale emerge il delicato romanticismo dell'anima di fronte al misterioso abisso dell'incommensurabile cui l'anima va incontro, innamorata alla ricerca del suo creatore. Ecco che l'anima si muove allora come una ballerina sull'orlo di un baratro e non può essere che affascinata e spaventata al tempo stesso.
Bach ci porta in generale sempre sull'orlo di questo mistero che ha intravisto con ogni probabilità personalmente.
Lungo i 24 preludi e fughe l'indagine cresce di intensità e Schwan è bravo a tenere l'ascoltatore sempre vigile sul dopo, che ci sarà per tutti dopo l'ultima fuga.
È così.
Condivido appieno, con il cuore e con la ragione, quanto Stefano descrive.
Aggiungo lo stupore, la gratitudine di fronte alla meraviglia dell'armonia della bellezza.
Grazie per l'ascolto, e per questo commento veramente profondo ed ispirato; un caro saluto! Thomas
Well... that's not music... It's more... reaching a soul that is flying and blowing it to heaven. Many thanks for sharing. Huge thanks from Brazil. Please keep sharing
Dear Pedro, thank you so much for this wonderful comment, and for listening. I feel thrilled and humbled if you say that you perceived some of the spiritual aspects of this music in my interpretation. Thank you wholeheartedly! Thomas
Bach has a healing effect, and a exilir of the soul
I absolutely agree! Thank you for listening! All the best to you, Thomas
@@ThomasSchwan
Thankyou
I hope you are well
A corner of Tokyo
🇯🇵㊗️🗻⛩️🏯🏮🗾💮👘🎴🎎🎋🗼🍣👺🌊🌸🎍🍥🎌
Yes JS Bach is a healer also! Thank you for your short comment!
Over the last few months this has become my hallmark recording of the well tempered clavier. I listen to it every day. It’s just wonderful. Thank you Thomas.
Thank you for your wonderful words; I am deeply happy that this interpretation resonates with you! All the best to you, with blessings! Thomas
How can he have the stamina to do this?
Flawless, inspired playing that, for me, eclipses what for 50 years I had considered the ne plus ultra of Bach keyboard performance: Glenn Gould!
Superb in EVERY WAY.
The American Public is "Sans le gout." The 3/4 empty recital hall for his performance PROVES that!
Thank you for your wonderful comment and for listening! I feel humbled. As for the audience, it was just not a massively advertised concert... Thank you again, all the very best to you! Thomas
After not listening to this video with Thomas Schwan for a few months, I hear it like a completely new video that amazes my ears and my soul.I would have a lot to say about the music in this video again, but due to time constraints I'll keep it very short: There is no pianist in this world who has played or plays so musically expressive and 100% in the spirit of Bach. And where the hell are the microphones that reproduce such a brilliant piano sound?
Dear Paul, thank you for these wonderful words and it's great to hear from you again! All the best and talk soon! Thomas
1000 bravos for the boldness and preparation of the WTC book 2 for a LIVE Performance! Congratulations!
Thank you so much for listening! Happy New Year!! Thomas
Solide, fluide, courageux,belles fin des phrases, délicatesse dans un gant de boxe!
Thank you for listening and for such wonderful words - I am happy that this interpretation resonates with you! All the best, Thomas
This is the only piece of classical music I keep listening to over and over and over again on TH-cam. I mean this particular performance. The way you play just "makes so much sense" to a non-musician like myself.
Thank you for your wonderful words, I am deeply happy to hear this! All the best to you! Thomas
it is sound from heaven.
only Angel can play it so beautifully.
Thank you for your wonderful words, I am happy you are enjoying this interpretation! All the best to you! Thomas
Majestic ... can't say anything else
Thank you for listening and your kind words! All the very best to you! Thomas
There is NO OTHER pianist playing this Bach keyboard music, at least in the whole history of recording music, who plays this music as truthfully and pure as a river at its source as Thomas Schwan does.
Dearest Paul, once more, I feel incredibly humbled by your words. Thank you wholeheartedly! All the very best to you, Thomas
Comparable to Glenn Gould , Rosalyn Tureck , and Richter in the past century.
Incredible! I've been playing for over 25 years and can't imagine the amount of work that went into learning it all, much less memorizing it all AND being able to play it beautifully for an audience! Well done and Bravo!!
Thank you so much for such kind words and for listening! All the best to you! Thomas
impresionante.... tocar Bach de memoria....
Thank you for listening, all the best to you! Thomas
Excellent version ! I've listened to many versions and most people failed at it. I put yours amongst my favourite three with Gould and Schiff's.
Thank you for listening and for your truly wonderful words, I am humbled! All the best! Thomas
The most musical WTC playing I've ever heard, and a phenomenal achievement from memory. I don't normally like to compare but on this occasion I have to say this performance is on a whole level more engaging and beautiful than any other pianist who has attempted this massive undertaking. BRAVO!!!!
Thank you wholeheartedly for these incredible words: I feel truly humbled. And I am truly happy you are enjoying this interpretation. All the best to you, with blessings! Thomas
People in Texas ought have yet to come in bigger numbers to appreciate Bach and this beautiful performance.
Thank you for your kind words - all the best! Thomas
Phenomenal. Bach ..like his music should be. Pure as spring water, flowing free of unnecessary emphasis and expression and flourish.What joy .. tone and technique and musical intellect thank you 🙏 the hall should have been full. What a performance .
Thank you so much for your wonderful comment, your truly kind words, and for listening! I feel humbled! All the very best to you, with Blessings! Thomas
“Pure as spring water…” what an apt description!
Отважный ты парень, Thomas Schwan!
Thank you! :) All the best, and Happy New Year! Thomas
How wonderful to see that this performance got half million views!
Thank you for listening and for your kind comment! All the best! Thomas
Great clear voicing. It’s so easy to follow the fugue lines.
Thank you so much! All the best to you! Thomas
Sublime et méditatif....je reviens constamment à cette vidéo
Merci 🙏
Thank you wholeheartedly! All the best to you! Thomas
I've been playing and replaying both Book 1 and Book 2 for months. I keep coming back for more because you've merged yourself with Bach and produced one of the clearest, cleanest, soulful performances, equal to the best of them. Thank you so very much, Thomas.
Thank you for such extraordinary words, I am more than happy that you are enjoying this interpretation! All the best to you! Thomas
Bravo! I especially love the daring speed of the E Major fugue, which was our wedding music!
Thank you for listening and for your kind words. How great to have had that fugue as wedding music. It is, indeed, about love. All the best, with blessings, Thomas
Yes, Thomas Schwan is the first performer of these 96 master-pieces who gives much feeling to every detail!
Amazing musician!!! The music comes first! And the piano, just the instrument for the music come to us. Respecting the tempos and the dialogues. Finally, FINALLY someone who knows and shows to the young ones that you should be an artist, a musician, and then, after, play works like this. Bravissimo and wish you that everybody can listen to you.
Thank you for such beautiful comment - I'm truly honored! And thank you for listening! All the best, with blessings, Thoams
Very respectful and concentrating audience. The whole is just a wonderful meditation.❤. Today I will listen to you playing Book I.
Thank you for listening and for your truly kind words! All the best to you, with blessings! Thomas
Why are so many seats empty? Because of the price, fear of illness, etc? I cannot believe it. No young people interested in classical music?
Sublime interpretation!❤
Thank you for your kind words! I guess it was just modestly advertised... All the best! Thomas
Il mondo del secondo libro ora lo sento ascoltato. Quando si accede a certi livelli interpretativi si assume la responsabilità del dialogo senza tempo tra il compositore e l'umanità. Grazie
Grazie di cuore per questo meraviglioso commento, sono onorato da queste gentilissime parole, un caro saluto! Thomas
A true joy to hear this musician play this music.
Thank you so much for listening and for your kind words!! All the best, Thomas
You have to be brave enough to perform 24 prelude and fugues in one concert 😯😯😯. WOW!!!!
Thank you so much, sir, for listening and for your kind words!! :) All the best! Thomas
Exceptionnel d’abord de mémoriser tout cela puis de le jouer avec passion,précision !!
@@jeanlucchapelon Thank you, dear Jean-Luc, for such kind words and for listening!! All the best! Thomas
A truly wonderful performance. I'm ashamed to say I had not heard of this remarkable pianist before. His rendtion of the F sharp minor fugue (one of my favourite pieces) was truly sublime - the perfect tempo. Thank you!
Thank you for listening and for these splendid words! I truly appreciate! All the best, Thomas
I was really astounding by the way he played the preludes no.6,14 and 24,in the exact way of interpretation i always liked. he is really a miracle pianist. Bravissimo
Thank you for listening and for your incredible words! I am humbled, and I am truly happy that this interpretation resonates with you! All the best, with blessings! Thomas
debussy843!!!!! For me and many other thousands of people who have heard Thomas Schwan in this video, the other pianists play Bach rough or boring. If our ears and soul don't count for musical judgement, then what should count? A Buldoser noise as a benchmark??? The world is 100 times more subjective than objective and without subject there is no world, so there is no Bach music either. I can define the playing of Thomas Schwan in two words which are pure objectiv: pure love. Evey time I heare his playing I feel pure love expression and am on the verge of crying as if Bach was playing before and for me. This is a great expereience which by no means I don't get by other pianists playing the same Bach music.
Thank you dear Paul - deeply appreciate! All the best to you, Thomas
Yes, Mr. Vincent, you are right when you say that Mr. Schwan is playing with pure love from his heart! This makes him competent to present these master-works of our beloved JS Bach!
Exquisite. A magnificent performance.
Thank you wholeheartedly! All the best! Thomas
When I listen to your performance, I say to myself: “Aha! Now I understand!”❤🎉
Thank you for such kind words and for listening! Once more, all the best to you, and all blessings! Thomas
Nowhere to hide here Mr Thomas. A joy to watch and listen. 10/10.
Thank you for listening and for your truly kind words! All the best, with blessings! Thomas
You're welcome.!
I profoundly idmire you and I won't stop hearing your Bach.....A million times thank you.
Thank you so much for such kind words and for listening, I am truly happy that you are finding joy in this interpretation! All the best to you, with all my blessings, Thomas
Fugue in E major BWV 878: what a transcendental journey. Wonderful performance.
Thank you so much! That is one of the most beloved and profound moments in the cycle to me, as well; it is truly satisfactory for me to hear that in your opinion I managed to serve the spirit of the music decently well. All the best to you! Thomas
Wow. The slow tempo of this performance enabled this wonderful performer to allow time for listeners to hear the intricacies of the polyphonic entries and relationships throughout this stunning work of creative genius--with strettos and paired layers of polyphony. Bravo! This composition was my go-to piece to perform for 5 months after hand surgery, giving me the strength to move beyond a personal trauma (as a pianist) in 1989. Thank you, Thomas. Thank you!
@@gregorycarroll6341 Thank you for sharing this and for your truly kind words! I deeply appreciate! All the best to you, with blessings! Thomas
Sehr gut. Manchmal dachte ich, ich höre nicht Thomas Schwan, sondern Bach selbst.
Thank you wholeheartedly - what an amazing comment. All the best to you, with blessings! Thomas
Ja, Sie bringen es auf den Punkt!
Ребят, всегда удивлялся: как можно ЭТО выучить? Ну ей-богу! Мне удалось всего несколько из 1 тома за много лет... Томасу огромный респект!
Thank you for listening and your kind words, all the best to you! Thomas
THOMAS SHWANN your soul is like that of Bach himself. You are what they call in Russian a blagodushniy chelovyek - a person with a great soul who is capable of lifting human beings to a higher level of humanity. You combine perfection of form with exquisitely expressed lyricism.
Apologies- It is Schwann
Dear Nick, what tremendously kind words you have for me!! Of course I truly appreciate these sensational words, but I am very much an ordinary man with the problems of an ordinary man, nothing special!! Anyway, I so much appreciate these words and I am truly happy that you are enjoying this interpretation. Finding a point of balance between form and lyricism has been very much my hope and my focus, and I recognize that it is extremely hard with Bach, as the music can become either too personal or too objective, if one steers too much in either direction; if you perceive this kind of balance in my playing, it is a tremendous achievement to me. Thank you! All the best to you! (P.S. My name is Schwan, with one N, it literally means "Swan" in German... no big deal)
tochno spasibo!
Truly a phonological performance thank you
Thank you wholeheartedly! All the best! Thomas
Book 1 was pure metaphysics. I'm on the edge of my seat for this now ...
Thank you so much for such kind words, and I so much appreciate your presence at the premiere this afternoon! It was a great pleasure to share this musical moment with you. All my best! Thomas
I find myself listening to this over-and-over. How can anyone tire of Bach? And these pieces are so interesting.
Thank you for listening - all the best to you! Thomas
Yes, these 96 pieces are interesting one by one; one gets never tired to listen one by one. It is a unique wonder given by the divine source Himself through the servant of god named JS Bach!
Play the entire WTC is “per se” an titanic achievement for any pianist, for any human brain!
But here, this is the last in the series to admire. Before such musical purity, such a sensitive, sincere, inspired and inspiring interpretation, the only words that can be said are a big, heartfelt THANK YOU!
Thank you wholeheartedly for being there this afternoon, for listening, and for such generous and wonderful words!! Honored to have shared this musical moment with you. All my best! Thomas
I would describe Thomas Schwan as "anti-Glenn Gould" in the most positive way possible. Mozart always said he wanted his work to sound like "flowing" oil smoothness. This is completely putting aside the impossible ability to actually memorize these works for performance level.
Thomas, this is beyond beautiful. I have no idea how you were able to accomplish this.
Sanjosemike (no longer in CA)
Dear Mike, thank you wholeheartedly for your wonderful comment and for these generous words; I feel truly grateful and humbled! All the best to you, with blessings! Thomas
Ja, Thomas Schwan macht keine show wie manche seiner "berühmten" Vorgänger sondern besticht durch seine einzigartige Authentizität! Danke schön für Ihren erhellenden Kommentar!
This is one of the best interpretations I have heard of Bach's Well Tempered Clavier, it is completely authentic. The amazing technique is only the starting point.
Thank you for listening and for such kind words! All the best to you! Thomas
Вы - великолепны! Я с самого детства в музыке Баха и многое играла сама. Но так, как вы передаете музыку, я слышу впервые. Мне кажется, в какой-то момент я перестала дышать. Особенно в тех произведениях, которые играла сама. Даже слезы навернулись на глаза. Вы талантливый, прекрасный пианист с тонкой душой и глубоким смыслом! And yes, I could write my comment in English, but I am afraid, that I can't find such words to express my thoughts...
Dear Anastasia, thank you for your wonderful comment and for your incredibly kind words. I feel truly humbled and honored when receiving words like these; and I feel truly happy that you are finding joy and meaning in this interpretation. All the best to you, and thank you again for your kindness, Thomas
Dear Thomas, I want to emphasize to you a million times over and over again that you are the very best Bach player of all time. After I discovered you, out of curiosity I looked up all sorts of other Bach interpreters on youtube even more intensively and even if I was pleasantly surprised at some at the beginning, very soon it began to really stink of rigidity and "conceptual" interpretation. Your playing of Bach music means not only for me, after what others also write about your playing on TH-cam, the absolute liberation of Bach music by letting this music sound the way it was conceived by Bach: simply expressing music without disturbing factors of any kind. Bach was unique and you render in your playing his uniqueness in the minutest detail, your whole rendering of Bach music being so complex and at the same time so selfunderstood and natural as the roots and the branches of a big old tree.
The fluctuations in dynamics and tempo of your Bach playing are so genuine for Bach music that they seem to me to be as inseparable from Bach music as the sides of a sheet of paper. Every time I hear your Bach playing, my awareness of this music you play expands like yeast into warmth and moisture. And also the pauses between the individual pieces are so organic to the whole music as everything else in your playing.
Dearest Paul, once again, I feel humbled and profoundly honored by your words. They are invaluable to me, more than I can say. All the very best to you, with blessings, Thomas
Hello! ive been listening to so many versions of No. 2 in C minor BWV 871: Praeludium on youtube and yours is the one that resonates the most! Thank you!
I'm happy that this interpretation resonates with you! Thank you and all the best! Thomas
Beautiful performance... Best wishes from India!
Thank you for your kind words and for listening! All the best to you! Thomas
Einfach nur bewundernswert! Vielen herzlichen Dank für diese wunderbaren Interpretationen! Unglaublich, dass man diese Perfektion und diese ruhige Natürlichkeit auswendig UND live erzielen kann! Das ist einfach genial.
Thank you, I deeply appreciate your immensely kind words - I am truly humbled - and thank you for listening! All the best, with blessings, Thomas
Виртуозу, исполняющего Баха с казалось бы неповторимой легкостью сложнейшие вариации БЛАГОДАРНОСТЬ безмерная! Поклон и тем, кто выставил ролик в Ютубе! ВСЕМ ЛЮДЯМ СЧАСТЬЯ И ПРЕКРАСНОЙ МУЗЫКИ!!!
Dear Olga, thank you so much for your incredibly kind words, and I am happy you are enjoying this interpretation! All the best to you, Thomas
🍒MERVEILLE🌟
mais si peu de gens se déplacent pour CECI❓
alors que combien de fois pourrons nous l'entendre encore jouer de cette manière ❓
CECI fait très certainement
Partie de la musique sur- humaine🙏✨
@@ThomasSchwan 💫
MERCI pour l'Art sur Terre,, le reflet du Diamant !🙏🌿💜
The more I listen to this recording of Bach with Thomas Schwan, the more I think that this performance of Bach's music, through the myriad subtleties of musical expression down to the smallest detail, is actually the culmination of everything I've heard in Bach keyboard music in my entire life so far. Not only do I never tire of listening to this music over and over again, but each time I hear it, I feel more and more enriched by new musical experiences that I only become aware of when I listen to this music again. For example, I have just discovered that the theme of the fugue in F-sharp minor is the same theme in the first part of the Fourth Symphony by Johannes Brahms. Only a sensitive playing like that of Thomas Schwab can make this kind of paralells possible. In order to really realize what I am writing here, you can listen to the same fuge with Glenn Gould in the following link. In my opinion it is a scandal, an insult to Bach's music, a shame:
th-cam.com/video/pjnKuhcfB6U/w-d-xo.html
Dearest Paul, thank you for these incredible words, as well - that is true, I hadn't noticed the similarity between the F sharp minor fugue theme and Brahms' 4th! All the best, with blessings!! Thomas
@ThomasSchwan ky thank you Thomas for your flawless and emotional performance. I keep on listening to your music.
@angelicafriasmd Thank you for your truly kind words and for listening! All the best to you! Thomas
Thank you for this gem of a recording... this is very a refreshing take on both Book 1 and 2. Phrasing and articulation is really very good. Have been listening to you recordings multiple times now. Also thanks to the recording engineer for getting the tone just right.. warm but defined. Wondering if Royer 121 ribbon mics were used here
Thank you for your kind words and for listening! Actually, I used two simple Zoom cameras to record the sound; I placed one at the further end of the piano and one on the left side (exactly as you see in the video), and later mixed the two into one. It turned out as a warm and moderately reverberant tone... Again, thank you so much for listening and all the best to you! Thomas
A beautiful, serene, yet exhilarating performance.
Thank you for your wonderful words - all the best, with blessings! Thomas
Only took about a minute of the first prelude for me to say to myself, "Yep, I'm watching the full 2 1/2 hours of this."
Thank you, so kind!! I truly appreciate your kind words and I am happy you enjoy this interpretation. Wishing Happy New Year to you and your family! Thomas
What a great pianist!!
Thank you, you are so kind! :) All the best, Thomas
Now I know only this - like in the days of my youth, I will listen to Bach now, but only in the performance of Thomas
Thank you, I feel deeply humbled - all the best to you, with blessings! Thomas
Majdnem két es fel óra kotta nélkül... Elképesztő! Bach él benne. Egy igazi géniusz. Erre születni kell.
Thank you wholeheartedly! All the best, with blessings! Thomas
This is truly an enriching find to my ears. Bach. Protect this artist at all cost!!!
Thank you, I deeply appreciate your words, and I am happy you are enjoying this interpretation. All the best to you, with blessings! Thomas