Amateurs 2007: Ann Herlong plays Bach-Busoni

[oscar1363]

The most perfect tempo I've heard. Really made me sigh...

Possibly the same Beethoven must played like her since this composition goes farther baroque style, a real revolution for his era.

She doesn't seem being an "amateur".

[metteholm75]

Despite the imperfections....this is strong! Yes, superb interpretation!

[pookiehohn]

The recording sounds bad, but I can hear the beauty anyways.

[vitusSPB]

I like this interpretation very much. It makes me forget all possible imperfections, if any. I would listen to that again and again. And then this music sounds inside me. Thank you so much. I guess the first thing I will do tomorrow is that I take the score and go to the piano to try it myself.

[totomicho2236]

すばらしい！

バッハのBWV639「われ汝に呼びかけん、主イエス・キリスト­よ」をいろいろ聴いてみましたが、私はこの演奏が最も強い迫力を­感じました。

Great player.

The most powerful and beautiful Bach BWV639.

[carnivalcruiserbill]

Your life experience shines through in your playing. Thank you for your moving performance.

[BACHrroco]

Séculos se passarao e sua obra permanecera como testemunho da humanidade em seu melhor.AVE BACH, AVE,AVE!!!!!!

[BACHrroco]

Johann Sebastian Bach.Meu mestre, meu consolo, meu autor, minha inspiraçao.. um sopro de vida que para sempre permeara em meu coraçao e nunca me deixara só.És mais que um glorioso artista, es um DEUS, meu Oxigenio diário.Que se faça justiça ao maior dos artistas deste planeta de modo que cada pessoa se permita sentir e compreender sua musica tanto como inspiradora e altruista quanto medicinal e restauradora, merecedora como nenhuma outra do status de Patrimonio Universal da Humanidade.

[AGLMIL]

Your interpretation is superb!!!!!

[vnsn72]

Great performance

[raptor0985]

Wonderful playing! I'm studying the Chaconne now, it's probably the most difficult piece I've ever played...

[NeoMalikov]

I love the chaconne, and don't worry, after you really get it all in your fingers, it's a breeze and a fantastic piece of music to play.

[mtierra]

This piece is like a call from the depths -- It is a prayer arising out of the mud of existence. It is played beautifully but sometimes, the melody lask the kind of clear ringing in all registers. Overall, an excellent and solid performance.

[evskimo69]

really good stuff. sometimes the start of phrases is a little abrupt and hiccups in phrases where a note stands radically out of context. work on register control - the middle voices sounded a little uneven. make sure you are always thinking of the long line - got a bit vertical at times. i know how hard these organ transcriptions are though. good interpretation. for those who think otherwise bach was one of the most emotional composed to have lived. cannot understand those who think otherwise

[ElenaTCU]

Absolutely gorgeous! Thanks, Ann, it was fantastic. I heard you in 2004 and complimented on your Beethoven. You should win at least for this piece. To me you are a solid finalist.

WIshing you only the best and thanks for your MUSIC!

[palcsi]

Extraordinary. Bravo!

[palcsi]

Extraordinary. Bravo!

[PDQChopin]

I have listened to this video at least 10 times. I think I cried twice.

[MarioCavaradossi]

coxief, you're a idiot. Can you FEEL artistry and deeply spiritual musical offerings? rfergu is totally on the money. From the moment this woman placed her hands on the piano I could FEEL the "other worldly" nature to her playing. These amatuer competitions CAN bring out this type of playing because this artistry is much more "pure" that than which competes at international levels to become the next Kissin or Argerich. Ms. Herlong plays with a life LIVED in her playing.

[stchang88]

Gorgeous control of different registers. Semplice but very expressive. A lovely and moving performance.

To the previous poster (coxief): This is a big, fat Busoni transcription that would come off as a choppy mess with less pedal. Think organ, not harpsichord.

[anieb]

Yes, and Busoni's style seems rather romantic to me.

[stchang88]

True. It's Baroque music seen through the eyes of big-personality pianism of the early twentieth century. Busoni's celebrated transciption of the Chaconne is even more bombastic (and quite wonderful).

[coxief]

Sorry to disagree - overly romantic, too much pedal for my liking, it's just too over-emotional, like "please do not state the obvious," it's too much like a 2x4 between the eyes. Having said that, she IS a very musical person, she just needs to channel and control those emotions so they fit the style better.

[cziffra1980]

If you find it overpedalled then it's Busoni you want to take it up with. This is designed to be pedalled. Since when has a large Church organ had a clear sound anyway? You're talking crap. If you want to emulate the sound of an organ then you need a tonne of pedal.

[rfergu]

Really beautiful. It seemed to me that she was playing to herself and that it must have some personal meaning to her. This is the kind of music that completely eludes professional competitions.