We live in such amazing times. To press a button and summon these spectacular performances that used to be exclusively for Kings and Queens and the aristocracy. Truly miraculous that we all have such easy access to such glory. Thank you All Bach for making us all Kings and Queens by bestowing such treasures on us.
Agreed. I often here modern people lament that they were born in the wrong time (when they hear some modern garbage on the radio). People forget that not everyone in the past could access music of this caliber. We really are truly fortunate to live in times like these where it’s all just a click away.
Dear Mr. Mortensen!!! Once - many-many years ago a young Mr Mortensen, for a very brief period - was my piano tutor at Musikakademiet, in Copenhagen. He looked at my hands and encouraged me to take up harpiscord. I did - and enjoyed it for some years - until, because of trouble playing relaxed, I sold my instrument to Mid-Zeeland school of Church Music. They admired its qualities: a long, rich bass and a clear bell-like discant area - and my own Ruckers-decor of the soundboard. I have access to a Feurich grand now - in a club and I have been fortunate enough to have had operation of my rotator cuff syndrome in both shoulders, so now - no problems rotating forarms and keeping hands horizontal. Fantastic.... but I am beginning to miss my harpsicord. Well, it would hardly match Chopin :-D
Rarely are we privileged to listen to a musician whose overarching concept of how to approach the interpretation of a piece is in and of itself flawless. Lars Ulrik Mortensen has clearly devoted his combined energies to presenting the listening world with a corpus of Bach interpretations that are not only without peers, but will continue to shine forth in the future. Lars Ulrik Mortensen is one of those rare artist of the highest order.
A true living legend, mr. Lars Ulrik Mortensen, one of the most greatest performers of Bach's music. Impressive performace! Its an honor to listen him at his best. Thanks from Mexico city.
I feel so honoured to have had the chance to play in a youth baroque orchestra project conducted by Lars Ulrik Mortensen!! That was the best experience I‘ be made, music wise. I really liked to work with him (he switched from German, to Dutch to English while talking haha)
I think even J.S. Bach himself would have been surprised and amazed to the great interpretations that Mr. Mortensen have done of his works. They are invaluable by their sensitivity and expressiveness! 👌 Thanks a lot to him and the great Netherlands Back Society their amazing work! 💖 👍
Bach was only familiar with the organ, clavichord, harpsichord and their variations. If I recall correctly, he came into contact with the earliest of pianos but they weren't to his liking. He never specified the piano in any of his works, though he must have been aware of the direction music was headed and the potential of the piano.
I like to watch your videos while I work, but I must say, the performances are so captivating that I am no longer a passive audience member, and I can't get my work done! That's the allure of Bach and the magnificent skill of your masterful musicians. Cheers!
Lyrische und wunderschöne Aufführung dieser perfekt komponierten Arie im gut betrachteten Tempo mit präzisem Anschlag und perfekt kontrollierter Dynamik. Bestimmt die beste Kombination der höchsten Technik und der angeborenen Lyrik!
Thank you NBS for this moment of sheer delight. Whenever I need to quiet my mind I turn you on and you never fail to soothe me with your brilliant renditions of JSB' s music
I've just come to this from a performance on TH-cam by Vikingur Olafsson on the piano for DG: for those arguing over piano vs harpsichord below - there's space for both in the hands of an artist who loves the music. But thanks above all should go to the NBS/NBV for giving us all this wonderful music gratis.
What a stunning performance! Many thanks for it. Everything fits so well together and in my eyes the interpretation is exactly what the composer had in mind. By hearing it, you can really „see“ J. S. Bach!
This is eternally beautiful. Johan Sebastian Bach deserves more of our affection and attention. Thank you so much to everyone who added to this great video!
I have listened to Bach’s music with great interest for at least five years and have not once come across a mention or performance of this work until now! Loved hearing it played for the first time. It has those characteristics of immediacy and insistence that I tend to associate with D. Scarlatti.
Bach doveva comporre musica molto e costantemente in conformità con le sue enormi responsabilità lavorative. Spesso prendeva un'opera finita di qualche compositore italiano, francese o inglese e la trasformava secondo i suoi compiti.
I liked this so much that i decided to search YT for a similar high quality performance but inspite of some good ones I did not succeed. This is clearly the best there is.
George Kush Thank you George. I did listen to that (piano) performance (for the first time) and loved it indeed. Great also I have to say ! Somehow I prefer this particular piece on a harpsichord.
@George Kush I like that interpretation very much; the marked tempo and bass notes give it a fantastic cadence in my view. It’s the style my brain is “used to”. But they’re so different, it’s almost like this one is another piece altogether, to be enjoyed in another light. For my taste, the best “fusion” of both approaches is the NBS’s masterful production of the Goldberg Variations, in the hands of Jean Rondeau. Such clarity, color and warmth.
As a former harpsichord player (an injury ended it) I can say that I am exceedingly impressed with Mr. Mortensen's technique. I would not be at all surprised if his teacher was Gustav Leohnhardt himself.
Can't get enough of this. It is so good ! I wonder if it is just me who thinks that once you have heard this on a harpsichord, the piano version always sounds inferior ?
I think great artists really help. I have heard harpsichord performances that don't move me and piano ones that do. It has much to do with musicianship and the sensitivity of the performer. I have been bowled over by the project of the Netherland Bach Society and the musicians involved - excellent artistry.
Whilst Bach would not have known the sonority of a modern piano (any make) I do think it is possible to be 'too purist'. He wrote for a keyboard instrument which equally could have been a clavichord as well as a harpsichord. Don't forget too Cristofori was making pianos around 1700! His organ works too are often performed on instruments quite different from the Schnitger or Silbermann instruments. Again I return to the idea that perhaps the essential prerequisite for a great performance of Bach is the intelligence (perhaps historically informed) and artistry of the performer.
This is a very interesting comment I think. I tend to think that the correct version is on the harpsichord. But there are pianists who are so much in love with this music that they "fool" us so convincingly! I still think that this is not a writing for the piano. The independance and the fluency and refinery of the voices are those of a harpsichord. I listened to the stunning version by Vikingur Olaffson, which I very much liked for its fresh spontaneity. This one is very aristocratic, intoxicating! And the sound is glorious!
I have debated this question with myself for a long time. While obviously it depends on the quality of the performance, I have concluded that I prefer a first class harpsichord performance like this to everything else. Hearing this performance in this beautiful room must have been a wonderful experience.
Could you please add some information about the harpsichord itself? Thanks for this most beautiful performance - I guess it would be a great compliment, in this case, to tell Lars Ulrik Mortensen that he played as a born-Italian would play this piece. Bravo!
@@ВеликийМудрец-д6р It was meant as a compliment - English is not my mother-language, so I'll explain what I've meant: the aria and variations are "alla maniera italiana" and Bach knew Pasquini's works (as explained in the info. section of this upload). So, I gather Bach gave some kind of hommage to the Italian music of his time. I meant to compliment Mr. Mortensen for his mode of playing this piece, as if he was an Italian himself - according to the Italian musical nature of this piece. It was not meant to say that other harpsichordists from other nations are not good, of-course! So don't take this innocent intentions to compliment to a place which it was not meant!!! - by the way, I myself am not an Italian and I like all kinds of good music and good musicians from all the nations of this world.
Merveilleuse pièce de clavecin , certainement créee par Dieu , puis inspirée à J.S BACH , et à Lars Urlick MORTENSEN ! La ressemblance avec certaines pièces françaises ( COUPERIN et ses contemporains ) est frappante .
After listening i understand why this is not a well known composition of J.S. Bach. The polyphony creates very flat muddied harmonies. The execution is excellent, but this does not have the clarity of wohltemperierte Klavier. The interpret is over satisfied with the piece, i don't buy it, there is conflict of interest as he is performing the piece. I wonder if this was composed by a younger Bach still searching for his sound.
We live in such amazing times. To press a button and summon these spectacular performances that used to be exclusively for Kings and Queens and the aristocracy. Truly miraculous that we all have such easy access to such glory.
Thank you All Bach for making us all Kings and Queens by bestowing such treasures on us.
Right @!@ Beautiful comment!! Wishes film Como lake. Italia
Bellagio . Few meters from Liszt ' s home . Year 1837 (Marie d'agoult and Cosima)
From...
Agreed. I often here modern people lament that they were born in the wrong time (when they hear some modern garbage on the radio). People forget that not everyone in the past could access music of this caliber. We really are truly fortunate to live in times like these where it’s all just a click away.
For a second I thought you wrote Thank you Allah for making us all Kings and Queens by bestowing such treasures on us.
@@francoriva55 Mh oh you live on the lake of Como. I wonder if you are a Riva from the Italian yachtbuilding company (?)
Dear Mr. Mortensen!!! Once - many-many years ago a young Mr Mortensen, for a very brief period - was my piano tutor at Musikakademiet, in Copenhagen. He looked at my hands and encouraged me to take up harpiscord. I did - and enjoyed it for some years - until, because of trouble playing relaxed, I sold my instrument to Mid-Zeeland school of Church Music. They admired its qualities: a long, rich bass and a clear bell-like discant area - and my own Ruckers-decor of the soundboard. I have access to a Feurich grand now - in a club and I have been fortunate enough to have had operation of my rotator cuff syndrome in both shoulders, so now - no problems rotating forarms and keeping hands horizontal. Fantastic.... but I am beginning to miss my harpsicord. Well, it would hardly match Chopin :-D
Rarely are we privileged to listen to a musician whose overarching concept of how to approach the interpretation of a piece is in and of itself flawless. Lars Ulrik Mortensen has clearly devoted his combined energies to presenting the listening world with a corpus of Bach interpretations that are not only without peers, but will continue to shine forth in the future. Lars Ulrik Mortensen is one of those rare artist of the highest order.
certainly when you've heard him playing. stunning.
Without “pears”?
A true living legend, mr. Lars Ulrik Mortensen, one of the most greatest performers of Bach's music. Impressive performace! Its an honor to listen him at his best. Thanks from Mexico city.
Saludos carnal
@@BasuraEdcativa Te das cuenta que alguien es mexicano cuando termina un comentario en redes “saludando desde...”... XD
I feel so honoured to have had the chance to play in a youth baroque orchestra project conducted by Lars Ulrik Mortensen!! That was the best experience I‘ be made, music wise. I really liked to work with him (he switched from German, to Dutch to English while talking haha)
I think even J.S. Bach himself would have been surprised and amazed to the great interpretations that Mr. Mortensen have done of his works.
They are invaluable by their sensitivity and expressiveness! 👌
Thanks a lot to him and the great Netherlands Back Society their amazing work! 💖 👍
Aria 0:07
Variation 1 2:45
Variation 2 4:53
Variation 3 6:31
Variation 4 7:42
Variation 5 8:48
Variation 6 9:45
Variation 7 12:39
Variation 8 13:35
Variation 9 14:45
Variation 10 15:27
Thanks for labeling each variation . Beautiful .
Whar grace in his touch, what fine polyphonic execution, what a lover of Bach and the clavier
When listening to Lars Ulrik Mortensen, it’s difficult to imagine it possible for anyone to bring out the essence of Bach’s notes better than he.
Glen Gould
Magnificient. Did Bach originally compose this for harpsichord, much differenent feeling than piano.
Bach was only familiar with the organ, clavichord, harpsichord and their variations. If I recall correctly, he came into contact with the earliest of pianos but they weren't to his liking. He never specified the piano in any of his works, though he must have been aware of the direction music was headed and the potential of the piano.
I like to watch your videos while I work, but I must say, the performances are so captivating that I am no longer a passive audience member, and I can't get my work done! That's the allure of Bach and the magnificent skill of your masterful musicians. Cheers!
The expression lies in the graceful, patient phrasing. Fabulous playing.
Exactly !
The music, the venue, the instrument and the best musician in one place. What more can you ask for?
Es un extraordinario ejecutante al clavicordio, único en temas de bach, felicidades, tiene muchísimo arte y musicalidad, es un tocador excelso.
Lyrische und wunderschöne Aufführung dieser perfekt komponierten Arie im gut betrachteten Tempo mit präzisem Anschlag und perfekt kontrollierter Dynamik. Bestimmt die beste Kombination der höchsten Technik und der angeborenen Lyrik!
Very beautiful Baroque music and excellent performance!
Thank you NBS for this moment of sheer delight. Whenever I need to quiet my mind I turn you on and you never fail to soothe me with your brilliant renditions of JSB' s music
Wunderbar gespielt! Rüdiger Wilhelm, Braunschweig
I've just come to this from a performance on TH-cam by Vikingur Olafsson on the piano for DG: for those arguing over piano vs harpsichord below - there's space for both in the hands of an artist who loves the music. But thanks above all should go to the NBS/NBV for giving us all this wonderful music gratis.
What a stunning performance! Many thanks for it. Everything fits so well together and in my eyes the interpretation is exactly what the composer had in mind. By hearing it, you can really „see“ J. S. Bach!
Please do more videos of Bach in 4K. Bach and NBS deserve the best quality out there
Wat een intrinsiek muzikaal clavecimbel Spel !!
Prachtig. Het leeft van hier tot ginder en weer terug .
C'est d'une beauté vraiment déchirante! Superbe en tous aspects! Bravo Maitre Mortensen!
This is eternally beautiful. Johan Sebastian Bach deserves more of our affection and attention. Thank you so much to everyone who added to this great video!
He gets my attention and affection. I bow to Leipzig six times every day.
I have listened to Bach’s music with great interest for at least five years and have not once come across a mention or performance of this work until now! Loved hearing it played for the first time. It has those characteristics of immediacy and insistence that I tend to associate with D. Scarlatti.
I´m sure Bach knew about Scarlatti. As did many others in his time.
Bach doveva comporre musica molto e costantemente in conformità con le sue enormi responsabilità lavorative. Spesso prendeva un'opera finita di qualche compositore italiano, francese o inglese e la trasformava secondo i suoi compiti.
Maestro, brilliant I music. Totally the best music I have ever heard
Great tempi! Wonderful. Thank you.
Uh-huh . The tempo . It is haunting.
I liked this so much that i decided to search YT for a similar high quality performance but inspite of some good ones I did not succeed. This is clearly the best there is.
George Kush
Thank you George. I did listen to that (piano) performance (for the first time) and loved it indeed.
Great also I have to say !
Somehow I prefer this particular piece on a harpsichord.
@George Kush I like that interpretation very much; the marked tempo and bass notes give it a fantastic cadence in my view. It’s the style my brain is “used to”. But they’re so different, it’s almost like this one is another piece altogether, to be enjoyed in another light.
For my taste, the best “fusion” of both approaches is the NBS’s masterful production of the Goldberg Variations, in the hands of Jean Rondeau. Such clarity, color and warmth.
High quality recording, ...thanks for uploading as such.
As a former harpsichord player (an injury ended it) I can say that I am exceedingly impressed with Mr. Mortensen's technique. I would not be at all surprised if his teacher was Gustav Leohnhardt himself.
He studied in Copenhagen and after that with Trevor Pinnock! Since 1999, he has been the leader of the Danish Baroque orchestra Concerto Copenhagen.
He looks older than Trevor 🤷🏻♂️
@@Ennah08 Mortensen is THE nicest person. I enjoyed a couple of piano lessons with him in the very late 70´es.
@@ruperttmls7985 Not really - Pinnock just seems to have a stronger type of subcutaneous tissue.
Not Gustav Leonhard, but Trevor Pinnock.
Thank you for this great video.
So beautiful, thank you~☀️
Beautifully conceived, played and filmed.
Prachtig! Rustig en met perfecte discipline gespeeld. Fantastische musicus!
M U S I C U S
한국인이 댓글 달아도 될지 모르겠지만, 이 하프시코트의 아름답고 고급스럽고 고전적인 선율이 일개 아시아인을 저 멀리 유럽 바흐가 살았던 그 당시의 바로크 - 로코코 시대를 체험하게 만들어줍니다. 정말 멋진 연주입니다.
A divine music played by a God. Incredible!
Magnifique! En particulier la variation 6, pleine d'inventivité.
Bellissima esecuzione: Bravo!
Bravissimo!
Dit is zoals het moet zijn Lars. Geweldig.
Can't get enough of this. It is so good !
I wonder if it is just me who thinks that once you have heard this on a harpsichord, the piano version always sounds inferior ?
I think great artists really help. I have heard harpsichord performances that don't move me and piano ones that do. It has much to do with musicianship and the sensitivity of the performer. I have been bowled over by the project of the Netherland Bach Society and the musicians involved - excellent artistry.
Whilst Bach would not have known the sonority of a modern piano (any make) I do think it is possible to be 'too purist'. He wrote for a keyboard instrument which equally could have been a clavichord as well as a harpsichord. Don't forget too Cristofori was making pianos around 1700! His organ works too are often performed on instruments quite different from the Schnitger or Silbermann instruments. Again I return to the idea that perhaps the essential prerequisite for a great performance of Bach is the intelligence (perhaps historically informed) and artistry of the performer.
I agree with the comments that it is due to the performance. Vikingur Olafsson's piano interpretation is equally wonderful.
This is a very interesting comment I think. I tend to think that the correct version is on the harpsichord. But there are pianists who are so much in love with this music that they "fool" us so convincingly!
I still think that this is not a writing for the piano. The independance and the fluency and refinery of the voices are those of a harpsichord.
I listened to the stunning version by Vikingur Olaffson, which I very much liked for its fresh spontaneity.
This one is very aristocratic, intoxicating! And the sound is glorious!
I have debated this question with myself for a long time. While obviously it depends on the quality of the performance, I have concluded that I prefer a first class harpsichord performance like this to everything else.
Hearing this performance in this beautiful room must have been a wonderful experience.
Спасибо большое за это видео.
Magnifico!
Bravo 👏
Beyond perfect. Loved it √
This is all I heard in my life as a royal
Musica bellissima complimenti
MERAVIGLIOSA!.
BRAVO MAESTRO...
Shame, everytime I listen to it I want to leave a "like".... then rediscover that this is possible one time only.
Excellent...the face of John Forbes Nash; the expression of Rowan Atkinson as Mr. Bean...
Just perfect in every possible way!..
As I have mentioned elsewhere, this piece sounds incredibly like something from Orlando Gibbons.
This piece sounds more french than italian. Anyway it’s miraculous! Bravissimo!
i think bach had angels in his fingers
Also besser geht es nicht. Danke🙂🎶🎹👍
En herlig musik fra de rigtig gamle dage. En fryd for øret......
It looks like a dutch painting with sound.
Could you please add some information about the harpsichord itself? Thanks for this most beautiful performance - I guess it would be a great compliment, in this case, to tell Lars Ulrik Mortensen that he played as a born-Italian would play this piece. Bravo!
@@ВеликийМудрец-д6р It was meant as a compliment - English is not my mother-language, so I'll explain what I've meant: the aria and variations are "alla maniera italiana" and Bach knew Pasquini's works (as explained in the info. section of this upload). So, I gather Bach gave some kind of hommage to the Italian music of his time. I meant to compliment Mr. Mortensen for his mode of playing this piece, as if he was an Italian himself - according to the Italian musical nature of this piece. It was not meant to say that other harpsichordists from other nations are not good, of-course! So don't take this innocent intentions to compliment to a place which it was not meant!!! - by the way, I myself am not an Italian and I like all kinds of good music and good musicians from all the nations of this world.
Thank you! We've added the name of the harpsichord in the description above.
Merveilleuse pièce de clavecin , certainement créee par Dieu , puis inspirée à J.S BACH , et à Lars Urlick MORTENSEN ! La ressemblance avec certaines pièces françaises ( COUPERIN et ses contemporains ) est frappante .
Ottima esecuzione
Io ti amo
Handsome instrument.
Mijn excuses aan de Deneen, hij is fantastisch
Not saying that these variations are bad but I wish they were as great as the Goldberg variations
Көп рақмет!!
Is there supposed to be so much rubato? Beautiful execution though!
Thanks😭😭😭😭
⚘⚘⚘⚘⚘
Johann Sebastian #1 💝💝💝Very close to Zipoli partita anyway....
13:30 time to turn off that clock
PotterSys, Ha, Yes! He does that with a glimpse in his eye
[Five years late, but] that's not what he was doing.
Damn you are great, why don’t the Germans play Bach as well as the Dutch?
He is danish! ;-) He is the leader of "Concerto Copenhagen". I live in Copenhagen myself, otherwise I probably wouldn't have known ...
Mijn excuses aan de Deneen, hij is fantastiisch
Wir sparen an jedem Pfennig, koste es, was es wolle. Auch bei der Ausbildung.
Where is Ton Koopman?
Me gusta mas que la versión de Glenn Gould.
After listening i understand why this is not a well known composition of J.S. Bach. The polyphony creates very flat muddied harmonies. The execution is excellent, but this does not have the clarity of wohltemperierte Klavier. The interpret is over satisfied with the piece, i don't buy it, there is conflict of interest as he is performing the piece. I wonder if this was composed by a younger Bach still searching for his sound.
Don't slow down all the time! As if you're falling asleep... and so is the audience.
De muziek hier vraagt er juist om !
Het hele stuk is opgebouwd op korte bogen en is consequent toegepast binnen de variaties zelf.
@@jsb7975 yes, I agree vraagt is richtig!
@@ВеликийМудрец-д6р Zo !
Beetje meer erothiek misschien ?
Wil wel helpen 😅
@@ВеликийМудрец-д6р ah sorry !
I'll translate for you .
Maybe a bit of slow erotics might help...
@@ВеликийМудрец-д6р Dank U !
(Thank you!)