I would like to sincerely thank you for taking the thousands of hours of your precious life required to reach that level of proficiency and using the resultant skill to add beauty and emotion to the human experience through your performance.
the harp doesn't get the recognition it truly deserves - almost like the forgotten instrument. But what a magnificent thing it is. It transports me back to another time and is sooooo relaxing. It's almost the insides of a piano turned on its' side - beautiful. Thanks for sharing this.
Yes, you translate in words what I realized too. It is not a common sound of this instrument, a common performance in harp, but it doesn't matter, because the presentation is simply magnific!
The really mindboggling aspect is that basically after the drums it's pretty much the most ancient instrument of them all. Basically the mother of them all. Drums, or anything hollow, is about rythm: the foundation of music. Then it is flute, or it's predecessors as wind instruments: breathing(whistling) is life after all. Then harp, as strings came along, with manufacturing and processing resources.
@@marrs1013 the first stringed instrument was probably a bow(archery) that someone strapped to a drum, as soon as they understood the concept of a resonance chamber they expanded upon the concept added more strings and voila, the harp is born.
That’s because it’s not promoted in the consumer mainstream. Only the educated and appreciative people who respect the arts will have been exposed at leas to some of the harp’s influence.
Being my favourite piece for organ, I wouldn´t use the word terrifying, but it is definitely overwhelming. It is so intricate and full of changes, flowing from one amazing "scene" to the next. Just when you think it has walked out like Columbo it turns around with another proposition. There is a particular version running around here performed on an organ that has to be the best out there. Last year I finally got to hear it performed on the Organo del Sol Mayor here in Marbella, something I had always missed out and it took the 50th Anniversary concert for it to happen. Anyway, the beauty of music is that there is something for everyone to love, and always a new way to love it even more. Have you heard this artist performing Clair de Lune?
Harmonics. The harmonics generated by a string instrument are overtones - higher in pitch. The harmonics generated by a pipe organ are undertones - lower in pitch. These produce entirely different moods.
At first, I thought, "You can't play this on a harp. It doesn't have the presence by itself required for this piece." Thank you for promptly correcting me. Magnificent. Simply magnificent.
@@amyturkharp Wow, thanks for replying! I have always very much liked the harp, but never imagined that it was possible to create such intense sounds like you have here on it. I play the organ, and just previously assumed that the harp was too light for this particular piece. But as you said, the bass is significantly more prominent than I have heard before, and you did an absolutely wonderful job with this in its entirety. Truly fantastic, and awe-inspiring to me.
The harp is pretty much configured as the piano, except the strings are plucked rather that being struck from pressing the piano key. But the actual physical mechanics involved for playing the harp look WAY more demanding. An incredible disipline. I wonder what happens to a harpist as they get older and their fingernails become more prone to chipping and breaking. They are probably one of the most cared for parts of their anatomy.
Eli Butterfield Well it just is kind of uncommon. I mean, I live in Greece, and to the best of my knowledge, there is no harp teacher in a 100km radius from my town.
Jeezargo yeah same here. Harp players are rare. My highschool music teacher said in the 15 years that he'd been there, there'd been only two harpists... and they didn't want to take his class.
So used to hearing it on the organ. What stands out is her speed she is playing the piece. You hear organists who tend to rush it, rather than enjoy the organ actually breathing the music as Bach intended it. Amy has managed to make it sound like an organ's breath. Very smart move. You have captured Bach young lady.
She got pretty much everything out of the harp that it can give to the song though i still say it is more imposing and impressive when played on an organ. The harp just misses the sheer volume of sound that the song needs.
After this performance, I am speechless. Just think of the 1000s of hours it took to get there, and the level of perfection reached, and how her fingers must be conditioned and protected to be able to practice day after day after day to remain flawless.
Being a classical guitarist, I was mesmerized by the incredible performance of this harpist, using a pedal while plucking strings, and missing not one string! The gracefulness of her arms was so beautiful, and the power in her hands gave the music even more loveliness…I loved every moment of this magnificent piece by Bach!
Unlocking new appreciation for one of my favourite classical pieces on an instrument i would have never imagined it played on... This is a performance to remember
@Uintabri NO! If you choose to play an instrument, then you must go with the more expensive since the beginning! You can't play beautiful sounds with a sardine can! Do you can? And don't try to contradict me or do you want I use the hot irons in your back? (Insert Family Guy, Peter's violin lesson citation here)
@@eternafuentedeluzdivina3189 There is actually an old Arabic saying (don't remember from which country...) among musicians, especially ney players, that you should master the hardest to play instrument first to become a great musician. If you can handle that instrument, you can handle all the other [similar] instruments with ease. So in other words; if you learn to play beautiful music on a shitty instrument, you will have a big advantage when later switching a better instrument. Or if you will; if you master how to play beautiful sounds with a sardine can, you will dominate any other instruments similar to the sardine can!
Eterna Fuente de Luz Divina I’m sorry but I’m going to say as a string player for 12 years, go with something not expensive.. consider renting even. You may desire and gain interest in playing an instrument, but it’s if you will continue playing that instrument with a good passion. I only bought my expensive violin after 6 years of playing... you don’t want to lose any money here
It takes 10 lives to have the soul, about 20 years to master the harp to that level, plus about a year to master this masterpiece and record it. Thats my estimate :)
The timing, the poise, the technicality, the heart/passion. This is a Master level piece. What a beautiful addition to the human race. Thank you for your dedication to your craft. Sharing your gift with the world is a service to humanity.
It's still boring to play something you've played a hundred times before. I get it's awesome, but put yourself on her shoes. It's just the same repetitive work.
Armchair Rockstar! That’s just a sour grapes thing someone who doesn’t know the pleasure of dedication and passion of practising an instrument. Also you can practice different pieces.........🙄
I saw the title of the video and thought to myself: ''There is absolutely no freaking way she plays that on a harp''. After finishing the video and watching her performance, I need medical assistance. My jaw is below ground level.
My jaw literally dropped when she got to the tone changes at like 4:50 because holy crap. The level of proficiency needed to play this in the simplest form is unreal, let alone the level she is playing at with the dynamic and tone changes. She captures the mood of the piece so well!
I saw this on my home page and immediately had to listen. This is where music transcends mere mortal experience. Bach himself would’ve listened in awe.
@@Kosekans That;s amazing, I think that;s what Xavier de Maistre does too. He said somewhere, that since he'd discovered how little has been transcribed for harp, he decided to transcribe as many pieces as he could.
It's a completely different, and very wonderful experience to hear this as opposed to the pipe organ. I'm a professional organist, and I can say that she is doing gorgeously musical things with this piece that I'm sure most organists wish they could do! I'm so glad I ran across this!
Love the different way harp needs to get the other notes too. I'm originally a keyboardist, so all the notes are there, but she needs to do the pedals to change the notes in the scale. Totally different way of thinking about it. Very cool!
I cannot imagine what it must be like to be this proficient on your instrument. One thing is for sure, there are hundreds/thousands of hours practise involved. Seriously impressive - absolutely flawless.
Not only proficiency on the instrument but the ability to translate the piece FROM A FUCKING PIPE ORGAN and replicate the textures of every chord, every musical idea, every echo from dissonance to resolution, and fucking own it
@@hectorcorkidi6067 It only takes 1,000 hours to become a master at anything, that includes instruments and indeed the harp. If you set aside 1,000 hours you would be able to play this piece.
This is far and away my favorite Bach piece. It's a real piece of work on the pipe organ, but to pull it off this well on the harp is quite an accomplishment.
It's an incredible piece that can sound remarkably good on multiple different instruments isn't it! I've also listened to beautiful solo violin and viola arrangements of it that sound godly. The Fantasia orchestral version still gives me goosebumps every time I hear it - every single time since I first heard it when I was 3 or 4 years old. The harp is such a beautiful instrument, isn't it!
To everyone complaining about 'histrionics', 'acting', or physical movement of any kind during this performance, I have to ask you - have you ever actually seen a performance of live music before? Or do you just sit stony-faced listening to midi sequences of Bach preludes in a dark basement all day with your eyes shut?
Good Sir, I am certainly _not_ one to complain about anything in this beautiful performance. But I must say that Bach sequences in midi _are_ excellent pastime.
More importantly have the complainers ever performed live music themselves? I doubt it (and yes, I have!). The complexity of this very piece and to transpose it to harp, I am sure JSB would applaud.
Some players move around a more than others. I don't believe there's any direct association with the quality of the playing. The whole original instruments / period performance thing 20 years ago does seem to have given rise to this idea that baroque music must be played ABSOLUTELY straight, no rubato, no Fortissimo, no fun...
Makes one wonder that if Mister Bach had heard Amy play this wonderful work of his on her harp, he may have thought to himself... "Damn... I wrote this for the wrong instrument!" 🤔🤣💖
Lets clarify, to not like is passive, these people for some moronic reason chose to actively dislike what is a display of mastery beyond their understanding.
I think those 2.4K ZEROS are headed where there are NO HARPS, and never will be! I'm an amateaur organist who never learned the basics of playing a hymnal let a lone the Sleepers Awake given to me to try and commit to memory....I failed to play music like I wanted too including this one.... but learn to "play" music on the radio spinning records and CD's 5 yrs before the death of my mentor an idol, E. POWER BIGGS, the ONLY true interrupter of Bach on the organ, and not the quack, Virgil Fox, Biggs was The clear outstanding Bach player of his own Interruptation of this piece, from Bach's notes, according to the Biggs Book I have. Many more true organists I heard from Williamburg to Seattle, including petite, Marie Claire Alain, twice, who recently passed a few years ago. So, I still got to "needle" people with an excellent spin of his music as a DJ. Only much later, taking Nina Rota's Love Theme from the movie Romeo & Juliett, that Mancini made famous, did I take the chord progressions and transposing electronically some, to make my own compositions of 8, in 3/4 time signatures, 6 recorded, but they have with their composer's freshman views and Mindfull of orchestra sound not played thru the keys, nor written down missing a chance to connect a midi interface to an apple scoring application, but also they suffered unfortuneately, their creators first time playing from memories, "sameness" good for some composers / performers and bad like me, with others with too much of a repetative orchestrations sounds and rollimg 3 note left hand fills in all 8 pieces and also with fixed chord.choir sounds to have 4 out of 8 of them, played with some fun themes and then some seriousness means, especially on the very last piece with it's 7:20 length about Birth, Life, Separation, and death. That last piece used more of the electronic coupling of 3 manuels (pedals included) and full classical organ sounds of "CHURCH" to finish the series out, ALL played on a Yamaha US-1 from a 1987 design. My instrument recently, not the one I recorded on in 1990 now gone, fell ill and no longer sings due to its 32 year old boards and aging circuits, dead or dying. $24k for an original and $500 and change for mine + $1.25k to ship from the east but didnt fix it when I had the chance.... Sorry Amy, that it took me so long.... I thought you did an outstanding performance! I can recognize a true artist. Live a long life and reach many to play and teach. I hope to be able to tell Bach himself that a fine Harpist is coming and she has great skills and Chops! Keep it up Girl! All the best. I'm going to be sending a lot of wood for that fire below, for those future 2.4k residents! They don'r deserve to hear the work you put into my favorite ckassucal piece behined Rhapsody in Blue, and Copeland's Appalachian Spring....and 'Adagio for Strings" by Samuel Barber, arguably his best known, from the 2nd movement of his String Quartet, Op. 11....an awesome piece performed by All Angels (England/Britt group) with choir Accapella. Intense and so beautiful! Good luck finding new pieces to play.
That has not been established and even now it is debated that J. S. Bach is the original composer. In fact, it would have been lost forever if not far a single surviving transcription by Ringk found a century later. Wikipedia has a fascinating history about it. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toccata_and_Fugue_in_D_minor,_BWV_565
Well hey, bud... when you have Actual Human Beings in an audience, coughs happen. Got a problem with that? Then go buy a CD recorded and edited In some sterile sound studio, and sounds completely artificial. I'll take the "real thing", thanks. And I have been as guilty as everyone else of "coughing" during stage performances during the past seven decades. So maybe I should have just committed Seppuku? 😲😆🤔 P.s.: It may have possibly escaped your notice, perhaps, that Amy and Ben recorded this at her home? Well, duuuuh... your bad.
Conrad In Hawaii You just might want to commit sudoku my friend... I was making the joke that I’m always used to hearing the coughs in performances, this performance is fabulous and clean and I was joking that she missed the cough usually heard and as such, not what I’m used to. I believe we just have a simple misunderstanding but, I appreciate you voicing your opinion. Take are.
Henk-Jan Bakker I agree. I give the guy some slack though.. it isn’t always easy to tell if someone is joking or not. You get comments of people being serious that you think are joking or the opposite. You take care my friend. I appreciate your comments.
Your brilliant technique aside, you are one of the few musicians on any instrument who understand how to phrase Bach, that there are a succession of phrases and not just a run-on bunch of notes. It is this understanding that enables you to put so much feeling into it. No one who sees this could continue to think that Bach is cold and mechanical. A world-class performance.
Wonder if it's something to do with the instrument itself? I'm not sure how but it might be easier to apply different pressure etc to each note than say a violin.
No, that's not what I'm talking about. Most players approach Bach as if the music is a string of notes which must be played as evenly (and rapidly) as possible from the beginning of the piece to the end, as if it consisted of one sole phrase. The closer to a computer rendition they can get the better they consider the performance. Try listening to Itzhak Perlman's Partita No. 2, or Caleb Hudson's Partita No. 1, both on youtube. In fact, there is a succession of phrases connected to each other by what are called dove-tailed cadences, cadences which overlap, but which are cadences (that is, conclusions, no matter how subtle) nonetheless. The give and take of these question-and-answer phrases is what music is all about, and it didn't just disappear during the Baroque period.
I prefer my Bach cold und precise, like my Kantian imperatives. If Bach wanted syncopation he would've invented ragtime. Bah! You've offended my Prussian sensibilities again!
Brava! As an organist who has played this particular work multiple times, it's refreshing and eye-opening to hear it performed in a new (to me) way. By sharing your musical expertise with others, you have enriched the human spirit. For that, you not only have my appreciation and gratitude, you have my RESPECT.
This is a beautiful way of describing music - by sharing her expertise, she has enriched the human spirit. Indeed, musicians do provide so much beauty that touches us in the deepest parts of our souls. Their passion enriches their own lives, at the same time as it enriches the lives of those who listen. Music is one of the most incredible and magical things that humanity is capable of. I wonder how many hearts J.S. Bach's music (in its various forms and arrangements) has touched over the last 300 years or so! And then there's all the great composers that were influenced by him too. Truly one of history's great geniuses.
+caveatemp She reminds me of Jaqueline DuPrez - that lady had the same intensity with her 'cello that Amy Turk shows here on her chosen instrument. A fantastic performance...and now I'm going to watch it again!
Oh. My. God. This is really astonishing - it’s going into my library of videos. I’ve got a version of this by an orchestra of thirty electric guitarists, and what they get out of it is a massive, exhilarating tsunami of raw power that flattens you against your chair with a grin on your face. What Ms. Turk gets is an exquisite tapestry of intertwining musical lines that bring out the clarity of each with subtle variations in volume that make you recognize the brilliance of Bach’s gift for melody that seems to get lost in experiencing the piece in other renditions - this is like Satie to the third power. Just yesterday I came across a quote by Bartok that fits. “Not all musicians believe in God, but all musicians believe in Bach.”
I stod up - alone in my apartment - and clapped my hands the first time i heard this (yesterday), i simply could not resist. The finesse, the utter respect for BWV 565, the perfect performance, the feeling, the beautiful sound. I am in awe... Thank you Amy!
Holy Heck! The mastery of timing, volume, and clarity! As someone else noted, you really play up the strengths of this piece and give it space to breathe. You make Toccata and Fugue sound like it was written as a harp solo! Excellent transcription and interpretation likewise!
Amy I absolutely love how you aren't afraid to "attack" the harp (for use of a better word). Alot of people think it's delicate and fragile, but you demonstrate it's true power. And the cinematography allowing us to see the pedal work was a great idea. Really allows us to see how much work and effort is really being put into the performance. I especially love the section were you switch between pres de le table and the heart of the strings frequently. Gives an edge to the piece that the organ/piano can't. Dread to imagine the blisters you got learning this from memory. So from a novice harpist... We'll done and Thankyou :)
***** but can an organ be played pres de la table? Haha All jokes aside you seem to have misunderstood my point. I was simply saying I thought it was clever how the transcription incorporates a good use of techniques specific to the harp... pres de la table allows a different timbre to be created. No instrument is better than the other, they all create the beautiful sound that is music. But if we're talking about "Edge" with regards to power and volume, then of course an organ would out perform any other instrument volume wise, after all, something that requires a whole building to itself isn't gonna be quiet now hahah.
David Bell Brougham Thanks so much for listening! Yes, I really do love to attack the harp, I love to play loud and to hear and feel the sonorities at the low end of the instrument. The section you mention with the alternating PDLT and normal positions is something I decided to do to replicate this moment in the original version, in which the organist switches between manuals to utilise different pipes and change timbres with each repeat of the figure. I really enjoyed working on subtle dynamic changes, long cresc/dims and so on in the fugue, that's really something I felt the harp could bring to this that the organ couldn't. Pretending to be an organ and playing as loud as possible is fun too, although obviously there is a limit to how much I can compete in sheer volume, but the impression of volume that you can get is effective enough, I think! Any excuse to play brutal harp really. :P
I managed to afford 6 lessons with a teacher a few years ago. She knew I would only be having that amount before going off and doing my own thing, so she stressed to me just how versatile and powerful the harp can be... for me you're proof of what can be achieved :)
I’m guessing 2.1k organist down thumbed this because they couldn’t play with this much power and emotion with 4 manuals and 75 ranks of pipes. This was truly amazingly rendered. I went in for a taste and stayed in awe of the soulful execution. I love the pipe organ for this piece but you brought this to a new level. Congratulations and thank you.
But have you ever heard it played by a rock band? Well actually a classical/rock fusion band. That is just what the UK-based band SKY did, and the result can be enjoyed here: th-cam.com/video/QgbgUrp1a70/w-d-xo.html Personally i have loved every version of this piece that i've come across.
I'm an organist and can play this work on the organ. I've never heard a harp version before and I thought it was superb. I also think it must be far easier to play it on the organ. Apart from the medium of the instrument, she did full justice to the work musically, more so than many organists are able to do, including me.
@@ZL54JK8 I completely agree. My mother, a classically-trained and pianist and career church organist, played this beautifully on our church's two-register, full pedalboard electronic pipe organ, beginning in the late 1950s. I was with her as her page-turner and "gentle critic" during the many hours she spent learning it, many times on the verge of tears of frustration. No piece of cake, Mister Bach's masterpiece. But I know that Mom would have been amazed at Amy's absolutely beautiful original transcription and performance of this amazing work. I would not bet that it is any "easier" to play on organ, but you do, at least have ten fingers and both feet to accomplish it, whereas Amy has only her thumbs plus index and middle fingers and the heels of her hands as string dampers, plus two VERY busy feet on the seven three-position pedals to accomplish all of that. Sheeeeesh... 😲😊💖
This was one of those videos that just show up. It took 2 listenings,, close your eyes and let the music touch your center, a being. I would imagine Bach would have enjoyed this piece. Many thanks
As a rocker & guitar shredder I must say, this is one of the most impressive, inspiring, beautiful, emotional, and skillfully played pieces I’ve ever heard. I can’t wait to watch this again. And again.
@@markomarekovic6867 I disagree with you here. Yes they are "different worlds" but so are all "genres". They have a lot in common though...music! And Wolfman Curtis nailed it with his comment. In fact I wanted write something very similar. Amy Turks perfomance is dead on...the groove, the dynamics, technically supreme...so most impressive, inspiring, beautifull
ArchHighLordOmega -Revelation19:17,18 Bach did the liturgical accompaniment for the Lutheran Mass in the parishes in the City of Leipzig, which is used at St. Clement's Episcopal Church (Anglo-Catholic) in Philadelphia.
@@seejayjames Well now... since it is her Original transcription from Mister Bach's piano manuscript, I am just on the edge of my seat here waiting to hear how you would know the difference between "basically" flawless and Absolutely flawless here, unless you co-transcribed it with her when she was a Master's candidate at university. Please enlighten us all. 🤔🙄
@@conradinhawaii7856 -- LOL, well, saying "absolutely" about anything is asking for trouble, so I used "basically".......but really, I think that's splitting hairs. The performance of her transcription of the original, as I heard it, was freaking amazing. Full of passion and the technique is out of this world. Unbelievable. Though I'm sure she herself would list a bunch of what she considered "flaws" in the performance. Those are a lot harder for listeners (especially as very few people are harp players) to know. Even the most transcendent performances (to the general listener) can be critiqued by the performers. We say "that was awesome!" and they say "Thanks, but......." and there are lots of things they know they need to work on. There's no end to the levels of refinement in music, art, or anything else in life. Bachelors and Masters in music theory/composition, 35 years of playing music.
This harp rendition gives a lot of clarity to the piece ; somehow even more than a harpsichord one. Everything is crystal clear, a great way to admire how amazing the composition is. And the musicianship is brilliant, indeed.
Impressive. Great interpretation and mastery of the instrument. Don't really understand the thumbs down people. If you don't like it just move on, why dislike in such a sharp and uncompromising way all the work and all the soul that was put into interpreting this piece?
I thought the venue was awesome, great acoustics. Video, sound and production were great. But, what really stands out is the artist. I thought Amy brought new life to this piece. I sounds like Bach wrote it specifically for harp. Thank you for sharing.
A piece normally utilized on an Organ, requiring dexterity of hands and feet. Played on an instrument requiring the finest of reflexes and ears. This must've been a pain in the neck to make work--and it's done extremely well. This is phenomenal. Astounding. Wonderful work!
I spent the first few minutes thinking 'wow that looks really difficult,' and then realised she's doing stuff with her feet too?! That's crazy. Such an amazing performance :)
Yes, the pedals give the sharps, flats. Each note has a pedal: there's a C, D, E, F ,G, A and B pedal. Each pedal has 3 positions. Top position makes the note flat. Middle position makes the note natural. Lowest position makes the note sharp. Ex: if you put the G pedal all the way up, all the Gs will become G flat. Put the pedal in the middle position, all Gs become G natural. Put the G pedal all the way down then all Gs will be G sharp.
@@annschwankhaus3735 Thank you for explaining that. It's just incredible. I always wanted to play the harp. I sing instead, but man, if I could afford a harp and lessons - I'd practice hard and probably learn to play badly! hehe
Bach lives. He is timeless, literally... attached to the Voyager probes “The Sounds of Earth” record (including the Toccata). Bach may very outlive the human species. Thank you, Carl Sagan.
There is something I absolutely love about the harp. It’s angelic. Instantly calming. This musician is so accomplished. Thank you for your beautiful gift .
The harp adds a really interesting element to the dynamics that aren't really possible on an organ, I don't think--so that's really cool. Obviously it's not as powerful as a sound, but it brings out introspective moments in the music that I've never heard before. Great playing, thanks for sharing.
This work, though beautiful can be a bit heavy at times. The harp adds the perfect bit of lightness to elevate it to it's maximum potential aided by superb plaing and interpretation by Amy.
Such a truely beautiful comment ... and how so incredibly true - this is the sheer joy of experiencing the brilliance of Bach via Amy’s incredible talents ... luv the joy of enjoying most of the days week in total awe of such talent - cheers and take care
Bach is one of my favourite composers, but being a clarinettist, I've had to do a lot of my own transcribing in exploring his works. Before hearing this, I wouldn't have imagined such a natural fit on the harp, but you've done an absolutely incredible job. There is so much precision and power in your playing - those bass octaves knocked my socks off. Everything is exquisitely controlled and shaped. I could definitely see this as the pillar of a CD of Bach transcriptions for harp - I have listened to innumerable performances of the suites, partitas, sonatas, fugues and toccatas, and this well and truly sits among the best interpretations by the most revered Bach scholars!
I couldn't agree more. I always thought of the harp as a delicate instrument and to be honest I wasn't sure, before hearing this, that the harp would be capable of delivering the light and shadow this piece needs. After hearing this I'm a total convert and willnever under estimate the harp again.
I think I discovered this a week ago, and I have lost track of how many times I've watched it. It's the sheer.. intensity of it. I've always felt the harp is sadly underestimated as an instrument, but this is way, way beyond anything I could have imagined. Bravo, for the transcription and the performance!
Wow. That reintroduces the piece, and I am hearing it anew, aspects I have not heard on the organ, yet the power and urgency remain. I had goosebumps throughout. 🌹👍🍻
I like how she turns this piece into many little pieces each with it's own story. It's all awesome. But I've been watching this video over and over. I'd have to say my favorite part starts at 8:30. And what is so cool is how hard she is plucking the strings. Lots of volume. That takes a lot of strength must be tough on the fingers. And the drama with the arms at the end of the song - and the very beginning is absolutely captivating. Fitting for a piece that is played with so much focus.
+Bill Martin It's interesting that you refer to angels. When I first listened to the piece - nuances of her interpretation made me think of angels and art from the 1600s. Especially 4:20 to 5:00. I wish I could have that experience of listening to it for the first time again! From what I can tell she uses her nails selectively - not on every note - sometimes on the treble strings at 1:30 - more more regularly when playing in the lower register. But ya, it's mostly like you say with her using her bare fingertips a lot.
McLean Blades If she uses her nails selectively, I guess I'm in good company. That's the style I use on guitar. I feel ridiculous to even mention that in a conversation about such talent on what is justifiably thought of as the instrument of Heaven.
If he were here today I believe Bach himself would be leading the chorus of applause for such a performance. There is a true beauty in the restraint you show others I have heard performing this especially organist tend to almost get overexcited resulting in the performance feeling a little rushed. This is probably the finest rendition I have ever heard and am so glad you recorded it...a real joy 👏 👏 👏
Well said, John - those who have the technical skills but not the understanding of the emotions of this piece, often rush the silent portions- but the spaces between phrases and notes, are equally a part of this composition!!
It almost becomes muscle memory when you've practiced it hours and hours. And when you don't need the sheet music, you can really start to put your own expression in the music.
@@iiirdeyeheretik indeed, pretty common. Like practically de rigeur at her level of performance capability. I mean she is supremely talented. Why must appreciation of her awesome ability run to stupid hyperbole? It detracts rather than adds. I wish people would have more ability to keep their composure in the face of outstanding performances.
@@Leisesturm Yes, we all know that, but Phil Olson is obviously not a Classical musician, and memorisation is something to be admired. I remember my child-prodigy Perfect-Pitch father always saying to me: "Only mugs can't read music.", such that I relied too much on reading the music, so when it came time to memorise the first page of Bach's Prelude in C minor (Book 1) for my 6th Grade exam, it was a major effort to memorise that first page (so I wouldn't have to turn it). When I became an adult (sadly he died when I was 17), I realised: 'Hang on, he used his ear a lot!'. He played his own aural version of Grieg's Piano Concerto for me because I fell in love with it just before my 12th birthday; and when I began tackling it soon after (every day of the summer holidays, and sporadically for a few years beyond -- he shouldn't have let me jump so far ahead), and I got him to play it for me again, and I realised that some of his chords were slightly different, and wanting to make sure I hadn't misread the mss, I said: "Dad, you play it a bit different." He replied: "Oh, I don't have time to learn it." Me: "What do you mean?" Dad: "I'm playing it by ear."
2 minutes 30 seconds in and I'm thinking: "This is just about the most beautiful thing I have ever heard". 9 minutes and 30 seconds in... Yup, absolutely one of the most beautiful things I have ever heard. BRAVO!
So perfect, almost hypnotizing. I just felt myself deep into thoughts inspired by Bach's music. I think this is the mark of truly perfect performance - it makes you forget who is playing, on what instrument etc. Thank you.
I would like to sincerely thank you for taking the thousands of hours of your precious life required to reach that level of proficiency and using the resultant skill to add beauty and emotion to the human experience through your performance.
+wovefish Beautifully said.
+wovefish AMEN!
+Anticapitalist X honestly I was 6 and I play the harp. She's about grade 7 or 8 I'd say. No less.
search up Freya Plays The Harp :)
+wovefish wise words
this is the most polite conversation ive ever seen on youtube
the harp doesn't get the recognition it truly deserves - almost like the forgotten instrument. But what a magnificent thing it is. It transports me back to another time and is sooooo relaxing. It's almost the insides of a piano turned on its' side - beautiful. Thanks for sharing this.
Yes, you translate in words what I realized too. It is not a common sound of this instrument, a common performance in harp, but it doesn't matter, because the presentation is simply magnific!
The really mindboggling aspect is that basically after the drums it's pretty much the most ancient instrument of them all. Basically the mother of them all.
Drums, or anything hollow, is about rythm: the foundation of music.
Then it is flute, or it's predecessors as wind instruments: breathing(whistling) is life after all.
Then harp, as strings came along, with manufacturing and processing resources.
@@marrs1013 the first stringed instrument was probably a bow(archery) that someone strapped to a drum, as soon as they understood the concept of a resonance chamber they expanded upon the concept added more strings and voila, the harp is born.
That’s because it’s not promoted in the consumer mainstream. Only the educated and appreciative people who respect the arts will have been exposed at leas to some of the harp’s influence.
I think you might have it backwards. The harp came first. So a piano is a harp turned on it's side and hidden in a harp-shaped box. ^_^
This sounds terrifying on a big organ, but somehow on the harp it sounds haunting. It's beautiful.
What strikes me is that even at the harp the music is still that powerful.
Being my favourite piece for organ, I wouldn´t use the word terrifying, but it is definitely overwhelming. It is so intricate and full of changes, flowing from one amazing "scene" to the next. Just when you think it has walked out like Columbo it turns around with another proposition. There is a particular version running around here performed on an organ that has to be the best out there. Last year I finally got to hear it performed on the Organo del Sol Mayor here in Marbella, something I had always missed out and it took the 50th Anniversary concert for it to happen. Anyway, the beauty of music is that there is something for everyone to love, and always a new way to love it even more. Have you heard this artist performing Clair de Lune?
It's said that the last prophet of Islam warned of this instrumental being related and has power in the unseen world...
@@sagasdesbergers2273 fu₹₹ off with the religious bullcrap
Harmonics. The harmonics generated by a string instrument are overtones - higher in pitch. The harmonics generated by a pipe organ are undertones - lower in pitch. These produce entirely different moods.
At first, I thought, "You can't play this on a harp. It doesn't have the presence by itself required for this piece." Thank you for promptly correcting me. Magnificent. Simply magnificent.
Thanks for listening! The harp is full of presence, and has amazing bass - it's a big part of why I love playing it.
@@amyturkharp Wow, thanks for replying! I have always very much liked the harp, but never imagined that it was possible to create such intense sounds like you have here on it. I play the organ, and just previously assumed that the harp was too light for this particular piece. But as you said, the bass is significantly more prominent than I have heard before, and you did an absolutely wonderful job with this in its entirety. Truly fantastic, and awe-inspiring to me.
@@amyturkharp dont forget to answer Vinheteiro. A Master just admires you!!!! :-)
The harp is pretty much configured as the piano, except the strings are plucked rather that being struck from pressing the piano key. But the actual physical mechanics involved for playing the harp look WAY more demanding. An incredible disipline. I wonder what happens to a harpist as they get older and their fingernails become more prone to chipping and breaking. They are probably one of the most cared for parts of their anatomy.
@@jacktheripoff1888 you are my hero....
Impressive - I must confess, I did not imagine that the harp had such potential. Incredible performance
the harp is just as important or meaningful as the violin or cello.
it adds weight and variance to the piece.
Eli Butterfield Well it just is kind of uncommon. I mean, I live in Greece, and to the best of my knowledge, there is no harp teacher in a 100km radius from my town.
Jeezargo yeah same here.
Harp players are rare.
My highschool music teacher said in the 15 years that he'd been there, there'd been only two harpists... and they didn't want to take his class.
Eli Butterfield Yah, but, as we see here, the harp is a damn awesome instrument.
Is It Bad That I Play A Harp?
So used to hearing it on the organ. What stands out is her speed she is playing the piece. You hear organists who tend to rush it, rather than enjoy the organ actually breathing the music as Bach intended it. Amy has managed to make it sound like an organ's breath. Very smart move. You have captured Bach young lady.
Thanks for telling us how Bach intended it
@@dfarzan1234 Can you explain your comment further?
You should listen to Xaver Varnus play it in the Berlinner Dom. No rushing there.
She got pretty much everything out of the harp that it can give to the song though i still say it is more imposing and impressive when played on an organ. The harp just misses the sheer volume of sound that the song needs.
mikemather5 -- What a great comment ...
After this performance, I am speechless. Just think of the 1000s of hours it took to get there, and the level of perfection reached, and how her fingers must be conditioned and protected to be able to practice day after day after day to remain flawless.
Being a classical guitarist, I was mesmerized by the
incredible performance of this harpist, using a pedal while plucking strings, and missing not one string! The gracefulness of her arms was so beautiful, and the power in her hands gave the music even more loveliness…I loved every moment of this magnificent piece by Bach!
I lack the appropriate vocabulary to truly describe how beautifully she played this piece.
Well go to night school or summit.
lol, I'll just say that she's good and this is a cool tune too 😎
You did fine, buddy. 👍🏻
Nobody has that vocabulary
Right!
One of the most beautiful videos I've ever seen! Thanks for sharing!
Lord
Vinheteiro saludos capo
look it’s you
Maestro
Houla, muito gusstossa minha musica
Vinheteiro salve Lord
Hours, months and years of dedication go into a performance like this.
You got a 100
Decades
*lifetimes
And then it turns out they don’t have ears
Also... mind, heart, soul & some damn sore fingers!
Unlocking new appreciation for one of my favourite classical pieces on an instrument i would have never imagined it played on...
This is a performance to remember
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I have never in my life heard anything so dramatic and beautifully played as Bach’s Fugue on a harp. Outstanding
th-cam.com/video/HAi1pn3kBqE/w-d-xo.html
Try The Moldau by Smetana. I heard it In a cathedral in Prague and cried my eyes out
4 minutes in, and I've already considered buying a harp and taking lessons.
@Uintabri NO! If you choose to play an instrument, then you must go with the more expensive since the beginning! You can't play beautiful sounds with a sardine can! Do you can? And don't try to contradict me or do you want I use the hot irons in your back? (Insert Family Guy, Peter's violin lesson citation here)
@@eternafuentedeluzdivina3189 There is actually an old Arabic saying (don't remember from which country...) among musicians, especially ney players, that you should master the hardest to play instrument first to become a great musician. If you can handle that instrument, you can handle all the other [similar] instruments with ease.
So in other words; if you learn to play beautiful music on a shitty instrument, you will have a big advantage when later switching a better instrument.
Or if you will; if you master how to play beautiful sounds with a sardine can, you will dominate any other instruments similar to the sardine can!
Eterna Fuente de Luz Divina I’m sorry but I’m going to say as a string player for 12 years, go with something not expensive.. consider renting even. You may desire and gain interest in playing an instrument, but it’s if you will continue playing that instrument with a good passion. I only bought my expensive violin after 6 years of playing... you don’t want to lose any money here
As I told: the most expensive model so your teacher& dragon mom/tiger dad could do this:
th-cam.com/video/361iJH0sS7Q/w-d-xo.html
Play something on a hair-comb first and if you decide it's too hard - don't buy a harp.
*Can't image how much practice one needs to reach this level of divinity!* ❤️🏆
40 hours a day
@@masshysteria1757 accurate if you lose the 0.
It takes 10 lives to have the soul, about 20 years to master the harp to that level, plus about a year to master this masterpiece and record it. Thats my estimate :)
@@mialotusmusic its all in the head, depending on the person it can take 10x more or 10x less
@@TruthLord1 yes and no . Its also in the fingers if you want to record it. Plus... soul is not your head ;)
Idk why but good harp playing makes me cry and this made me cry. It's like a cathartic experience.
this sound its scary in a diferent point of view
It starts off rough, but quickly improves..
I struggle with Metallica one on a six string.. lol
The timing, the poise, the technicality, the heart/passion. This is a Master level piece. What a beautiful addition to the human race. Thank you for your dedication to your craft. Sharing your gift with the world is a service to humanity.
It is truly a service to humanity. She is a lighthouse.
Hyperbole
Indeed so beautiful in many ways
It's still boring to play something you've played a hundred times before. I get it's awesome, but put yourself on her shoes. It's just the same repetitive work.
Armchair Rockstar! That’s just a sour grapes thing someone who doesn’t know the pleasure of dedication and passion of practising an instrument. Also you can practice different pieces.........🙄
Amazing. I used to play it with a piano but cannot imagine it can be played by a harpist. Fantastic skills. Music of heaven.
Russians in the chat
th-cam.com/video/jzR2429G7cY/w-d-xo.html
What's the word I'm looking for? What's the word...? Oh ya, Amazeballs! :O)
I saw the title of the video and thought to myself: ''There is absolutely no freaking way she plays that on a harp''.
After finishing the video and watching her performance, I need medical assistance. My jaw is below ground level.
As a medical practitioner, i would send you straight to heaven for your condition. No cure to harp
My jaw is on the floor,too! No words left to say... calling that performance "awesome", "fantastic" just isn't enough to describe.
My jaw literally dropped when she got to the tone changes at like 4:50 because holy crap. The level of proficiency needed to play this in the simplest form is unreal, let alone the level she is playing at with the dynamic and tone changes. She captures the mood of the piece so well!
I saw this on my home page and immediately had to listen. This is where music transcends mere mortal experience. Bach himself would’ve listened in awe.
🤣🤣
Как хорошо, что есть интернет.Наше тв только развращает, отупляет, ничего путного не показывает.спасибо за такую музыку и за талантливых исполнителей.
Как раз одного путного и показывают, что не очень хорошо сказывается на ментальном здоровье :-)
@@Alexsoft76 Это точно. Чуть ли не из каждого утюга по двадцать раз на дню, чтоб не забывали солнцеликого.
Fantastic! She's playing it as if the piece was written for a harp. She doesnt cater to expectations, making it "her own". Loved it!
As far as I understand the video description, she actually transcribed it herself for harp.
@@Kosekans That;s amazing, I think that;s what Xavier de Maistre does too. He said somewhere, that since he'd discovered how little has been transcribed for harp, he decided to transcribe as many pieces as he could.
th-cam.com/video/HAi1pn3kBqE/w-d-xo.html
Bought the song on iTunes for .99 cents 🥰
I'm a clarinettist, and after seeing you perform this difficult piece on a harp has made me realise that I must practice harder.
It's a completely different, and very wonderful experience to hear this as opposed to the pipe organ. I'm a professional organist, and I can say that she is doing gorgeously musical things with this piece that I'm sure most organists wish they could do! I'm so glad I ran across this!
Love the different way harp needs to get the other notes too. I'm originally a keyboardist, so all the notes are there, but she needs to do the pedals to change the notes in the scale. Totally different way of thinking about it. Very cool!
@@seejayjames Harps have pedals too, I learned something new today!!! 😁
If course it shows the pedals 10 seconds after my comment lol
I am totally speechless. My God Ms. Turk. you are incredible.
Какие талантливые люди есть ещё, просто удивительно. Красивая женщина!
th-cam.com/video/HAi1pn3kBqE/w-d-xo.html&si=r5tPgpIzQ338pfCx Эта мне больше нравится.
Things like this just show how bloody amazing human beings just are.
To me it shows how amazing our Creator Yahuah is 💕
Yeah, credits to us, wooo! XD
Amy is an amazingly talented human 👑 ❤️
You're privilege is unbelievable
@@thememeoverlord.1949... Your* 😬
I cannot imagine what it must be like to be this proficient on your instrument. One thing is for sure, there are hundreds/thousands of hours practise involved. Seriously impressive - absolutely flawless.
Genetic lottery. I ripped my ticket and threw it in the trash.
At least 1,800 to 2,000 hours of practice a year I'd say. Then say it takes some 20 years to get to that level.
Not only proficiency on the instrument but the ability to translate the piece FROM A FUCKING PIPE ORGAN and replicate the textures of every chord, every musical idea, every echo from dissonance to resolution, and fucking own it
@@hectorcorkidi6067 It only takes 1,000 hours to become a master at anything, that includes instruments and indeed the harp. If you set aside 1,000 hours you would be able to play this piece.
@@katejay9786 Lets not get two over the top, music theory teaches us how to do this. Get in 100, or 1,000 hours in to an instrument yourself.
This is far and away my favorite Bach piece. It's a real piece of work on the pipe organ, but to pull it off this well on the harp is quite an accomplishment.
It's an incredible piece that can sound remarkably good on multiple different instruments isn't it! I've also listened to beautiful solo violin and viola arrangements of it that sound godly. The Fantasia orchestral version still gives me goosebumps every time I hear it - every single time since I first heard it when I was 3 or 4 years old. The harp is such a beautiful instrument, isn't it!
Theme song for Roller Ball movie in the 70's.
@@Kateyangyuqing True! There really is no music more versatile than that of Bach.
Who knew that Toccata and Fugue in Dm could be played so wonderously on a harp...Outstanding skill from this young lady...Bravo
she’s completely in the ZONE! feeling every note in her soul.
To everyone complaining about 'histrionics', 'acting', or physical movement of any kind during this performance, I have to ask you - have you ever actually seen a performance of live music before? Or do you just sit stony-faced listening to midi sequences of Bach preludes in a dark basement all day with your eyes shut?
Good Sir,
I am certainly _not_ one to complain about anything in this beautiful performance.
But I must say that Bach sequences in midi _are_ excellent pastime.
@@stalhandske9649 to be honest with you it does sound like a lot of fun
More importantly have the complainers ever performed live music themselves? I doubt it (and yes, I have!). The complexity of this very piece and to transpose it to harp, I am sure JSB would applaud.
I don't criticize performances, but I do listen and edit a lot of midis and also uploading some to youtube :(
Some players move around a more than others. I don't believe there's any direct association with the quality of the playing.
The whole original instruments / period performance thing 20 years ago does seem to have given rise to this idea that baroque music must be played ABSOLUTELY straight, no rubato, no Fortissimo, no fun...
Personally I think Johann Sebastian would have been very happy to hear this. Superb, more please!
I'll bet Beethoven would've loved to hear it to! 😂
@@evolutionglitch4739 also einstein.
@@evolutionglitch4739 Something that powerful would give enough vibrations he could feel, especially if he was up close.
My thought exactly! What if Herr Bach could have enjoyed the transcription for harp as performed by this most talented artist, Ms. Turk. Brava!
Makes one wonder that if Mister Bach had heard Amy play this wonderful work of his on her harp, he may have thought to himself... "Damn... I wrote this for the wrong instrument!" 🤔🤣💖
Holy-smoke, what a beautiful performance ❤.
The most impressive to me is her internal metronome. The timing and pacing are immaculate. Supremely good!!!
How can 2.4K people not like this?! Obviously it has different feel to the original organ version but it's a stunning interpretation.
They are jealous they can't play harp.
So True!
Lets clarify, to not like is passive, these people for some moronic reason chose to actively dislike what is a display of mastery beyond their understanding.
I think, that this people are Bach and his relatives.
I think those 2.4K ZEROS are headed where there are NO HARPS, and never will be! I'm an amateaur organist who never learned the basics of playing a hymnal let a lone the Sleepers Awake given to me to try and commit to memory....I failed to play music like I wanted too including this one.... but learn to "play" music on the radio spinning records and CD's 5 yrs before the death of my mentor an idol, E. POWER BIGGS, the ONLY true interrupter of Bach on the organ, and not the quack, Virgil Fox, Biggs was The clear outstanding Bach player of his own Interruptation of this piece, from Bach's notes, according to the Biggs Book I have. Many more true organists I heard from Williamburg to Seattle, including petite, Marie Claire Alain, twice, who recently passed a few years ago. So, I still got to "needle" people with an excellent spin of his music as a DJ. Only much later, taking Nina Rota's Love Theme from the movie Romeo & Juliett, that Mancini made famous, did I take the chord progressions and transposing electronically some, to make my own compositions of 8, in 3/4 time signatures, 6 recorded, but they have with their composer's freshman views and Mindfull of orchestra sound not played thru the keys, nor written down missing a chance to connect a midi interface to an apple scoring application, but also they suffered unfortuneately, their creators first time playing from memories, "sameness" good for some composers / performers and bad like me, with others with too much of a repetative orchestrations sounds and rollimg 3 note left hand fills in all 8 pieces and also with fixed chord.choir sounds to have 4 out of 8 of them, played with some fun themes and then some seriousness means, especially on the very last piece with it's 7:20 length about Birth, Life, Separation, and death. That last piece used more of the electronic coupling of 3 manuels (pedals included) and full classical organ sounds of "CHURCH" to finish the series out, ALL played on a Yamaha US-1 from a 1987 design. My instrument recently, not the one I recorded on in 1990 now gone, fell ill and no longer sings due to its 32 year old boards and aging circuits, dead or dying. $24k for an original and $500 and change for mine + $1.25k to ship from the east but didnt fix it when I had the chance.... Sorry Amy, that it took me so long.... I thought you did an outstanding performance! I can recognize a true artist. Live a long life and reach many to play and teach. I hope to be able to tell Bach himself that a fine Harpist is coming and she has great skills and Chops! Keep it up Girl! All the best. I'm going to be sending a lot of wood for that fire below, for those future 2.4k residents! They don'r deserve to hear the work you put into my favorite ckassucal piece behined Rhapsody in Blue, and Copeland's Appalachian Spring....and 'Adagio for Strings" by Samuel Barber, arguably his best known, from the 2nd movement of his String Quartet, Op. 11....an awesome piece performed by All Angels (England/Britt group) with choir Accapella. Intense and so beautiful! Good luck finding new pieces to play.
Just imagine J.S. Bach was 17 or 18 years old when he wrote that beautiful music.
That has not been established and even now it is debated that J. S. Bach is the original composer. In fact, it would have been lost forever if not far a single surviving transcription by Ringk found a century later.
Wikipedia has a fascinating history about it. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toccata_and_Fugue_in_D_minor,_BWV_565
who cares? we’re all retards now
@@machtschnell7452 BUT I think it is from Bach! Period!
Golly, Superman.
@@alpinemaximus7085 Your choice.
Undoubtedly, J.S.Bach is the Einstein of the classical music.
It’s missing a random cough in the audience but, otherwise close.
LOL. I knew it was missing something.
Well hey, bud... when you have Actual Human Beings in an audience, coughs happen. Got a problem with that? Then go buy a CD recorded and edited In some sterile sound studio, and sounds completely artificial. I'll take the "real thing", thanks. And I have been as guilty as everyone else of "coughing" during stage performances during the past seven decades. So maybe I should have just committed Seppuku? 😲😆🤔
P.s.: It may have possibly escaped your notice, perhaps, that Amy and Ben recorded this at her home? Well, duuuuh... your bad.
Conrad In Hawaii You just might want to commit sudoku my friend... I was making the joke that I’m always used to hearing the coughs in performances, this performance is fabulous and clean and I was joking that she missed the cough usually heard and as such, not what I’m used to. I believe we just have a simple misunderstanding but, I appreciate you voicing your opinion. Take are.
@@TylerLL2112 Some people take life to seriously. Specially when it comes to sudoku, art, venting and Godwin's law.
Henk-Jan Bakker I agree. I give the guy some slack though.. it isn’t always easy to tell if someone is joking or not. You get comments of people being serious that you think are joking or the opposite. You take care my friend. I appreciate your comments.
Your brilliant technique aside, you are one of the few musicians on any instrument who understand how to phrase Bach, that there are a succession of phrases and not just a run-on bunch of notes. It is this understanding that enables you to put so much feeling into it. No one who sees this could continue to think that Bach is cold and mechanical. A world-class performance.
Wonder if it's something to do with the instrument itself? I'm not sure how but it might be easier to apply different pressure etc to each note than say a violin.
No, that's not what I'm talking about. Most players approach Bach as if the music is a string of notes which must be played as evenly (and rapidly) as possible from the beginning of the piece to the end, as if it consisted of one sole phrase. The closer to a computer rendition they can get the better they consider the performance. Try listening to Itzhak Perlman's Partita No. 2, or Caleb Hudson's Partita No. 1, both on youtube. In fact, there is a succession of phrases connected to each other by what are called dove-tailed cadences, cadences which overlap, but which are cadences (that is, conclusions, no matter how subtle) nonetheless. The give and take of these question-and-answer phrases is what music is all about, and it didn't just disappear during the Baroque period.
I prefer my Bach cold und precise, like my Kantian imperatives. If Bach wanted syncopation he would've invented ragtime. Bah! You've offended my Prussian sensibilities again!
th-cam.com/video/-7eFB8R-Yvc/w-d-xo.html
Stiffening your spine might help you get through this.
What a savage
Brava! As an organist who has played this particular work multiple times, it's refreshing and eye-opening to hear it performed in a new (to me) way. By sharing your musical expertise with others, you have enriched the human spirit. For that, you not only have my appreciation and gratitude, you have my RESPECT.
This is a beautiful way of describing music - by sharing her expertise, she has enriched the human spirit. Indeed, musicians do provide so much beauty that touches us in the deepest parts of our souls. Their passion enriches their own lives, at the same time as it enriches the lives of those who listen. Music is one of the most incredible and magical things that humanity is capable of.
I wonder how many hearts J.S. Bach's music (in its various forms and arrangements) has touched over the last 300 years or so! And then there's all the great composers that were influenced by him too. Truly one of history's great geniuses.
The most beautiful version of this piece I have ever heard ❤
I never saw such fierce intensity on the harp. I'm amazed.
+caveatemp She reminds me of Jaqueline DuPrez - that lady had the same intensity with her 'cello that Amy Turk shows here on her chosen instrument. A fantastic performance...and now I'm going to watch it again!
+Jonathan Peden Thanks for the tip!
caveatemp Enjoy beautiful music and Happy New Year to you!
+caveatemp If you enjoy an intense harp maybe you should have a look at the south-american harp tradition. Maybe check Edmar Castaneda.
andramoie tks!
Oh. My. God.
This is really astonishing - it’s going into my library of videos. I’ve got a version of this by an orchestra of thirty electric guitarists, and what they get out of it is a massive, exhilarating tsunami of raw power that flattens you against your chair with a grin on your face. What Ms. Turk gets is an exquisite tapestry of intertwining musical lines that bring out the clarity of each with subtle variations in volume that make you recognize the brilliance of Bach’s gift for melody that seems to get lost in experiencing the piece in other renditions - this is like Satie to the third power.
Just yesterday I came across a quote by Bartok that fits. “Not all musicians believe in God, but all musicians believe in Bach.”
I stod up - alone in my apartment - and clapped my hands the first time i heard this (yesterday), i simply could not resist. The finesse, the utter respect for BWV 565, the perfect performance, the feeling, the beautiful sound. I am in awe... Thank you Amy!
Музыку исполнила сама Муза, спустившаяся с небес. Браво
Holy Heck! The mastery of timing, volume, and clarity! As someone else noted, you really play up the strengths of this piece and give it space to breathe.
You make Toccata and Fugue sound like it was written as a harp solo! Excellent transcription and interpretation likewise!
Amy I absolutely love how you aren't afraid to "attack" the harp (for use of a better word). Alot of people think it's delicate and fragile, but you demonstrate it's true power.
And the cinematography allowing us to see the pedal work was a great idea. Really allows us to see how much work and effort is really being put into the performance.
I especially love the section were you switch between pres de le table and the heart of the strings frequently. Gives an edge to the piece that the organ/piano can't.
Dread to imagine the blisters you got learning this from memory.
So from a novice harpist... We'll done and Thankyou :)
***** but can an organ be played pres de la table? Haha
All jokes aside you seem to have misunderstood my point. I was simply saying I thought it was clever how the transcription incorporates a good use of techniques specific to the harp... pres de la table allows a different timbre to be created.
No instrument is better than the other, they all create the beautiful sound that is music.
But if we're talking about "Edge" with regards to power and volume, then of course an organ would out perform any other instrument volume wise, after all, something that requires a whole building to itself isn't gonna be quiet now hahah.
***** fair point, can't argue with that :)
David Bell Brougham Thanks so much for listening! Yes, I really do love to attack the harp, I love to play loud and to hear and feel the sonorities at the low end of the instrument. The section you mention with the alternating PDLT and normal positions is something I decided to do to replicate this moment in the original version, in which the organist switches between manuals to utilise different pipes and change timbres with each repeat of the figure. I really enjoyed working on subtle dynamic changes, long cresc/dims and so on in the fugue, that's really something I felt the harp could bring to this that the organ couldn't. Pretending to be an organ and playing as loud as possible is fun too, although obviously there is a limit to how much I can compete in sheer volume, but the impression of volume that you can get is effective enough, I think! Any excuse to play brutal harp really. :P
I managed to afford 6 lessons with a teacher a few years ago. She knew I would only be having that amount before going off and doing my own thing, so she stressed to me just how versatile and powerful the harp can be... for me you're proof of what can be achieved :)
***** Are you an organ manufacturer or something? What are you trying to achieve here exactly?
I’m guessing 2.1k organist down thumbed this because they couldn’t play with this much power and emotion with 4 manuals and 75 ranks of pipes. This was truly amazingly rendered. I went in for a taste and stayed in awe of the soulful execution. I love the pipe organ for this piece but you brought this to a new level. Congratulations and thank you.
But have you ever heard it played by a rock band? Well actually a classical/rock fusion band. That is just what the UK-based band SKY did, and the result can be enjoyed here:
th-cam.com/video/QgbgUrp1a70/w-d-xo.html
Personally i have loved every version of this piece that i've come across.
I'm an organist and can play this work on the organ. I've never heard a harp version before and I thought it was superb. I also think it must be far easier to play it on the organ. Apart from the medium of the instrument, she did full justice to the work musically, more so than many organists are able to do, including me.
@@ZL54JK8
I completely agree. My mother, a classically-trained and pianist and career church organist, played this beautifully on our church's two-register, full pedalboard electronic pipe organ, beginning in the late 1950s. I was with her as her page-turner and "gentle critic" during the many hours she spent learning it, many times on the verge of tears of frustration. No piece of cake, Mister Bach's masterpiece. But I know that Mom would have been amazed at Amy's absolutely beautiful original transcription and performance of this amazing work. I would not bet that it is any "easier" to play on organ, but you do, at least have ten fingers and both feet to accomplish it, whereas Amy has only her thumbs plus index and middle fingers and the heels of her hands as string dampers, plus two VERY busy feet on the seven three-position pedals to accomplish all of that. Sheeeeesh... 😲😊💖
@@BertGrink
ANY time John Williams is playing guitar, it is worth stopping and listening, carefully and repeatedly. 😊💖
This was one of those videos that just show up. It took 2 listenings,, close your eyes and let the music touch your center, a being. I would imagine Bach would have enjoyed this piece. Many thanks
At the highest level the instrument and musician seem to become one,her heart, soul and total emotion are in that piece, absolutely heavenly
Earthially
When was a kid I always thought that Harp was a heavenly instrument... I still haven't change my mind till now.
What
What do you mean?
You make no sense
I think you mean "even now." Saying "till now" means that you have now changed your mind.
Meaning God likes this instrument because it’s music just puts your soul at peace
As a rocker & guitar shredder I must say, this is one of the most impressive, inspiring, beautiful, emotional, and skillfully played pieces I’ve ever heard. I can’t wait to watch this again. And again.
With ya.
not to mention again!!! i will be here for a while with Amy wow her timing is impeccable
Wolfman Curtis ,rock’n’roll and classical,especially baroque music have nothin in common. Those are different worlds.
@@markomarekovic6867 I disagree with you here. Yes they are "different worlds" but so are all "genres". They have a lot in common though...music! And Wolfman Curtis nailed it with his comment. In fact I wanted write something very similar. Amy Turks perfomance is dead on...the groove, the dynamics, technically supreme...so most impressive, inspiring, beautifull
@@markomarekovic6867 Rock music, beyond the obvious origins in blues and jazz has always gained a large piece of it's style from Classical music.
Speechless. So well performed. Beautiful 😍
If Bach were alive, he would give you a great applause
You are not Bach. You do not know whether he would be impressed.
ArchHighLordOmega -Revelation19:17,18 Bach did the liturgical accompaniment for the Lutheran Mass in the parishes in the City of Leipzig, which is used at St. Clement's Episcopal Church (Anglo-Catholic) in Philadelphia.
I agree for sure.
yeah no shit
Michael Park please shut up, you're making yourself look so dumb right now.
she's actually flawless. precision and perfection. I admire her to say the least
This was basically flawless. Probably the best performance I've seen.
@@seejayjames
Well now... since it is her Original transcription from Mister Bach's piano manuscript, I am just on the edge of my seat here waiting to hear how you would know the difference between "basically" flawless and Absolutely flawless here, unless you co-transcribed it with her when she was a Master's candidate at university. Please enlighten us all. 🤔🙄
All of that. ☺💖
@@conradinhawaii7856 -- LOL, well, saying "absolutely" about anything is asking for trouble, so I used "basically".......but really, I think that's splitting hairs. The performance of her transcription of the original, as I heard it, was freaking amazing. Full of passion and the technique is out of this world. Unbelievable.
Though I'm sure she herself would list a bunch of what she considered "flaws" in the performance. Those are a lot harder for listeners (especially as very few people are harp players) to know. Even the most transcendent performances (to the general listener) can be critiqued by the performers. We say "that was awesome!" and they say "Thanks, but......." and there are lots of things they know they need to work on. There's no end to the levels of refinement in music, art, or anything else in life.
Bachelors and Masters in music theory/composition, 35 years of playing music.
First time I have ever heard this famous piece on the harp.
Thank you Amy, for such a beautiful performance!
All that wonderful music played by ear not a sheet of music is sight… fantastic bravo😊
that was my first emphasizing no muzicsheet.!
The volume control alone is mind blowing, fantastic!
10+ performance ! She showed what the harp can do in the hands of a serious professional musician.
You made that sound as if Bach wrote it for your instrument.
+alipitogen Agreed, simply amazing!
+Amy Turk Yes, it is, but it is also true.
tecso47
True things that are also lovely are my favourite.
maybe he did, c; doesnt get any better than this
The single most enjoyable Harp performance I've ever heard. Wonderful.
This harp rendition gives a lot of clarity to the piece ; somehow even more than a harpsichord one. Everything is crystal clear, a great way to admire how amazing the composition is. And the musicianship is brilliant, indeed.
Impressive. Great interpretation and mastery of the instrument. Don't really understand the thumbs down people. If you don't like it just move on, why dislike in such a sharp and uncompromising way all the work and all the soul that was put into interpreting this piece?
They're all just bitter organ players who couldn't get it to sound this good on their instrument.
I thought the venue was awesome, great acoustics. Video, sound and production were great. But, what really stands out is the artist. I thought Amy brought new life to this piece. I sounds like Bach wrote it specifically for harp. Thank you for sharing.
A piece normally utilized on an Organ, requiring dexterity of hands and feet. Played on an instrument requiring the finest of reflexes and ears. This must've been a pain in the neck to make work--and it's done extremely well. This is phenomenal. Astounding. Wonderful work!
I spent the first few minutes thinking 'wow that looks really difficult,' and then realised she's doing stuff with her feet too?! That's crazy. Such an amazing performance :)
Yes, the pedals give the sharps, flats. Each note has a pedal: there's a C, D, E, F ,G, A and B pedal. Each pedal has 3 positions. Top position makes the note flat. Middle position makes the note natural. Lowest position makes the note sharp. Ex: if you put the G pedal all the way up, all the Gs will become G flat. Put the pedal in the middle position, all Gs become G natural. Put the G pedal all the way down then all Gs will be G sharp.
@@annschwankhaus3735 Thanks, that's exactly the info I came to the comments to learn!
@@annschwankhaus3735 Thank you for explaining that. It's just incredible. I always wanted to play the harp. I sing instead, but man, if I could afford a harp and lessons - I'd practice hard and probably learn to play badly! hehe
@@annschwankhaus3735 Thank you 😊
@@annschwankhaus3735 Amazing. What a wonderful way to address and simplify different keys. I bet it makes frequent key changes a nightmare, tho!
That was amazing. I can’t even imagine the hours of dedication this lady has put in to achieving this level of expertise. Well done, BRAVO!
I believe this would make Bach smile. Beautiful!
Doubtless :)
Perhaps …. Tears of talented appreciation … this is emotionally uplifting
Такую музыку на таких инструментах надо по всем каналам включать
Bach lives. He is timeless, literally... attached to the Voyager probes “The Sounds of Earth” record (including the Toccata). Bach may very outlive the human species.
Thank you, Carl Sagan.
Mesmerizing. Once you start watching, you become unable to stop.
I was able.
Virtuoso. A masterpiece performed by a magnificent Lady.
Thank you for these incredible minutes of music.
There is something I absolutely love about the harp. It’s angelic. Instantly calming. This musician is so accomplished. Thank you for your beautiful gift .
A 9 minute performance memorized without sheet music? At this level and complexity? Virtuoso at its definition.
A top concert pianist will typically have 100 hours of music memorised. Probably similar for other instruments like violin, cello etc..
@grodhagen they can play 100 hours of music from memory, its memorised.
@grodhagen he never made a distinction between different types of memory. youre just getting into semantics
@grodhagen youre ego is bigger than your bite.
@grodhagen the irony
Watching the fingers of this great musician, I learned a new thing : harp is piano without a keyboard.
TV Oommen yeah! with a bit of stringy feel.
+Pixelson Way easier ?.......I see there are pedals to be done with ........I am not sure.
Everytime, "hey this instrument doesn't look too hard to learn !" suddenly, *pedals*
watch "a night at the Opera"
The harp is way harder than piano, even without pedals.
The harp adds a really interesting element to the dynamics that aren't really possible on an organ, I don't think--so that's really cool. Obviously it's not as powerful as a sound, but it brings out introspective moments in the music that I've never heard before. Great playing, thanks for sharing.
throwscats, I'm full agree with you. I think that strings instruments played with fingers get warmest sound, they have human touch 😀.
Wonderful. I love the fact that she allows the resonance to subside before she continues
This work, though beautiful can be a bit heavy at times. The harp adds the perfect bit of lightness to elevate it to it's maximum potential aided by superb plaing and interpretation by Amy.
Perfectly said!
Imagine being married to a harpist. When you have trouble sleeping they will send you to heaven..
I am so memorized...
And neighbors to hell
I am married to a hooker, she don't need no harp.
Paulo Fortza :: for sure!!
lol
8.5 million views, gives me hope that the world is not totally lost.
Such a truely beautiful comment ... and how so incredibly true - this is the sheer joy of experiencing the brilliance of Bach via Amy’s incredible talents ... luv the joy of enjoying most of the days week in total awe of such talent - cheers and take care
turn you damn TV off the world my spin a woooble here and there but the sun will come up tommorrow! and yyyeeeessssirebob 8 and counting!
8 billion at last count, so 1% appreciates the arts.
Fr
There are a lot of great people with great tast but you have to find them.
OMG! To a layman's ears, this transcription is PERFECT, and her playing is absolutely masterful!! :^D
Bach is one of my favourite composers, but being a clarinettist, I've had to do a lot of my own transcribing in exploring his works. Before hearing this, I wouldn't have imagined such a natural fit on the harp, but you've done an absolutely incredible job. There is so much precision and power in your playing - those bass octaves knocked my socks off. Everything is exquisitely controlled and shaped. I could definitely see this as the pillar of a CD of Bach transcriptions for harp - I have listened to innumerable performances of the suites, partitas, sonatas, fugues and toccatas, and this well and truly sits among the best interpretations by the most revered Bach scholars!
+Soundole VGM Covers
Couldn't be better explained
Soundole VGM Covers lessons on the harp please, including the cost of R.Enting or buying one.
I couldn't agree more. I always thought of the harp as a delicate instrument and to be honest I wasn't sure, before hearing this, that the harp would be capable of delivering the light and shadow this piece needs. After hearing this I'm a total convert and willnever under estimate the harp again.
the bass blew my speakers off
Beautiful interpretation. Would have never thought of this piece being played on a harp but you nailed it. Bravo!
th-cam.com/video/HAi1pn3kBqE/w-d-xo.html
Very fine... Brava!! 🎉
I agree with you.
Who picked barabas?
How she simulated a full blown organ recital is amazing she is an musical angel.
Wow.
When I saw Toccata and Fugue FOR THE HARP I just had to look.
And I have not been disappointed!
That was Rock and Roll baby!!
Fabulous.
I think I discovered this a week ago, and I have lost track of how many times I've watched it. It's the sheer.. intensity of it. I've always felt the harp is sadly underestimated as an instrument, but this is way, way beyond anything I could have imagined. Bravo, for the transcription and the performance!
This is a slice of heaven! She's absolutely amazing!
Delightful! I am in awe of how you became so absorbed into this piece. A living, breathing performance!
The closing about left me in tears. Such a treasure to find someone with such a mastery of her chosen instrument!
beautiful to witness isnt it c:
Wow. That reintroduces the piece, and I am hearing it anew, aspects I have not heard on the organ, yet the power and urgency remain. I had goosebumps throughout. 🌹👍🍻
I like how she turns this piece into many little pieces each with it's own story. It's all awesome. But I've been watching this video over and over. I'd have to say my favorite part starts at 8:30. And what is so cool is how hard she is plucking the strings. Lots of volume. That takes a lot of strength must be tough on the fingers. And the drama with the arms at the end of the song - and the very beginning is absolutely captivating. Fitting for a piece that is played with so much focus.
+McLean Blades She could probably drive nails with those fingertips... But I prefer that she play the harp. Like the angels only wish!
+Bill Martin It's interesting that you refer to angels. When I first listened to the piece - nuances of her interpretation made me think of angels and art from the 1600s. Especially 4:20 to 5:00. I wish I could have that experience of listening to it for the first time again! From what I can tell she uses her nails selectively - not on every note - sometimes on the treble strings at 1:30 - more more regularly when playing in the lower register. But ya, it's mostly like you say with her using her bare fingertips a lot.
McLean Blades
If she uses her nails selectively, I guess I'm in good company. That's the style I use on guitar.
I feel ridiculous to even mention that in a conversation about such talent on what is justifiably thought of as the instrument of Heaven.
Angels, yes, if a person's name has 'an' in it they are related to angels.
Eth-AN. Take me to the madonna!
If he were here today I believe Bach himself would be leading the chorus of applause for such a performance. There is a true beauty in the restraint you show others I have heard performing this especially organist tend to almost get overexcited resulting in the performance feeling a little rushed. This is probably the finest rendition I have ever heard and am so glad you recorded it...a real joy 👏 👏 👏
Well said, John - those who have the technical skills but not the understanding of the emotions of this piece, often rush the silent portions- but the spaces between phrases and notes, are equally a part of this composition!!
Wow...wow ...wow. Have never heard the Harp as a stand alone instrument before but what exquisite mastery is this. Brava brava brava.
"This video helps me focus on the positive things in life and stay away from the negative."
Absolutely brilliant I have never heard that played on a harp before. It must be wonderful to be able to do that.
Absolutely beautiful, amazing. How I wish I could play the harp... It’s truly a magical sounding instrument.
Close your eyes and open your mind... The nuance with which she plays is amazing.
Bach would hug you, speechless. I am too. Incredible achievement.
Just beautiful! The harp definitely has quite large dynamic range, and Bach was undoubtedly a true genius. Beautifully played.
The Harp is a Vertical Piano with no keys to press.
The Harp is a vertical piano of which the keys require a great force to press with very precise accuracy.
What’s even more
Incredible is that she has memorized it with it without any sheet music. Wow!
Pretty common though. Musicians generally memorize music like this for video recordings.
It almost becomes muscle memory when you've practiced it hours and hours. And when you don't need the sheet music, you can really start to put your own expression in the music.
@@iiirdeyeheretik indeed, pretty common. Like practically de rigeur at her level of performance capability. I mean she is supremely talented. Why must appreciation of her awesome ability run to stupid hyperbole? It detracts rather than adds. I wish people would have more ability to keep their composure in the face of outstanding performances.
@@Leisesturm Yes, we all know that, but Phil Olson is obviously not a Classical musician, and memorisation is something to be admired. I remember my child-prodigy Perfect-Pitch father always saying to me: "Only mugs can't read music.", such that I relied too much on reading the music, so when it came time to memorise the first page of Bach's Prelude in C minor (Book 1) for my 6th Grade exam, it was a major effort to memorise that first page (so I wouldn't have to turn it). When I became an adult (sadly he died when I was 17), I realised: 'Hang on, he used his ear a lot!'. He played his own aural version of Grieg's Piano Concerto for me because I fell in love with it just before my 12th birthday; and when I began tackling it soon after (every day of the summer holidays, and sporadically for a few years beyond -- he shouldn't have let me jump so far ahead), and I got him to play it for me again, and I realised that some of his chords were slightly different, and wanting to make sure I hadn't misread the mss, I said: "Dad, you play it a bit different." He replied: "Oh, I don't have time to learn it." Me: "What do you mean?" Dad: "I'm playing it by ear."
Like Ida Presti.
2 minutes 30 seconds in and I'm thinking: "This is just about the most beautiful thing I have ever heard". 9 minutes and 30 seconds in... Yup, absolutely one of the most beautiful things I have ever heard. BRAVO!
Admittedly very captivating and such a beautifully haunting sound!
So perfect, almost hypnotizing. I just felt myself deep into thoughts inspired by Bach's music. I think this is the mark of truly perfect performance - it makes you forget who is playing, on what instrument etc. Thank you.