dude .. nicely played , I too will be using this as an influence to (re)learn much of this entire suite .... twisting wrenches for aliving makes it REALLY hard to keep those fingernails in decent shape. Well that and almost losing the tip of my "i" finger ... lol
Fantastic performance! Back in the 1980's I transcribed this piece into tabulature and learned it. In years following, my skills declined as I raised 2 kids, and only an old cassette proved I could once play it. Now my son is 16 and playing guitar, and we are (re)learning it together! You have the best interpretation I've found on YouTube... Have you been listening to John Williams? We're using your performance (and Williams's) as a model to inspire us as we (re)memorize the piece.
Thanks, yes I have listened to Williams a lot but you should listen to Paul Gailbraith playing this stuff on his 8 string guitar. He holds the guitar like a cello with a spike but he is an amazing player.
Although I am a lover of the lute, honestly, I cannot find a better version than this one among Baroque-lute players.
I listened to most of your performances of Bach compositions and I like them a lot but I think that this one is the most Baroque style oriented, it has all the nuances that I like, and at the same time it is not Galant-Rococò-Kitsch oriented as the good old gone Smith Sherman used to like so much.
This is a wonderful performance more Baroque than those available on lute.
Thank you very much for your kind words. That is a great compliment indeed! I will post the some more of BWV 996 and ask you to watch soon. By the way, what happened to Smith? He was meant to look at this video for me. His acounts seem to have dissapeared. Did he insult one too many youtubers?
(I've tried sending you a message but don't know if it worked...) I enjoyed many of Smith Sherman's YT comments and would like to ask if you could send me the internet address of his new site!
PS: Thanks for you incredible channel! A very good selection of music!
Technically its all there so no need to worry about that side of things. Baroque wisdom might have you try the passagio a bit more strict and rhythmic, like the french overture. Think of the story of Luly killing himself with his baton, conducting too forcefully (he must have kept agressive time to have hit himself so hard!)... Think big, orchestral, pompous, Celine Frisch doing the French overture Goldberg variotion. On the other hand a baroque lute could not do it very rhythmic or pompous...
But was it even writen with a lute in mind? perhaps it was for lute-harpsichord, in which case it could lean back towards rhythmic and pompous... then again it may have been writen for a lute-harpsichordist, as a piece in which to imitate the lute (sources do suggest ways of sounding more like a real lute when playing lautenwerk, such as breaking parts style brise)... In the end one can only try both and choose.When I did it I listened to Celine Frischs' french overture Goldberg variation a lot.
As for the fugato its bristling with energy, with a few nice moments where you stylishly pull it around, just to show who's playing who. I can't ask for much more. Nitpickingly I would say you should give the upbeat of the fugal subject a gentle, light stacato and then heavier on the downbeat, with a non-stacato note. Its in many of the treatises from the 18th c and I think it would sound a bit funny to Quantz to have the upbeat heavy and full length and the down beat light and stacato.
The idea was to play the first of the repeated notes staccato. However if the down beat is coming out weaker than the up beat that is a problem. Anyway they are all good points well made and I will go and listen to Celin Frisch.
I've tried to get a balance between the two stlyes with rhythmically free scales but trying to play the chordal passages more rhythmically and over dotted in the French style.
I'll be honest: at first this was not grabbing my attention, I had you in the background as I was browsing.
However, I soon realized that your subtle, non-barbaric (so many players ATTACK this piece) way of approaching this music was not only stealing my total attention, but also holding it.
I commend you for this well thought-out performance.
Wonderful Craig! This is so weird I've been listening to this piece whole last week, can't get it out of my mind, I think it's my favourite piece from the lute suites, so beautiful, the drama in the beginning..I love it. and you played it so well! I wanna try it but I know it's not for my level yet.
I forgot how good you are Craig!
JonBeckx 3 months ago
@JonBeckx
Cheers Jon!
craigalake 3 months ago
Soothing..thanks
leilighet205 5 months ago
very nice ornaments
Respectthewilderness 1 year ago
dude .. nicely played , I too will be using this as an influence to (re)learn much of this entire suite .... twisting wrenches for aliving makes it REALLY hard to keep those fingernails in decent shape. Well that and almost losing the tip of my "i" finger ... lol
ChrisHaspeck 1 year ago
sound is great.
amirflamenco 1 year ago
Wonderful!
wwelti 2 years ago
So Nice!!!
bseype 2 years ago
You do the music of Bach a great honour !!
Really really beautiful !
I like your trills in the passaggio too!
best regards,
wolfgang
And your Marty sounds soooo good!
Vreci 3 years ago
Fantastic performance! Back in the 1980's I transcribed this piece into tabulature and learned it. In years following, my skills declined as I raised 2 kids, and only an old cassette proved I could once play it. Now my son is 16 and playing guitar, and we are (re)learning it together! You have the best interpretation I've found on YouTube... Have you been listening to John Williams? We're using your performance (and Williams's) as a model to inspire us as we (re)memorize the piece.
ahofer 3 years ago
Thanks, yes I have listened to Williams a lot but you should listen to Paul Gailbraith playing this stuff on his 8 string guitar. He holds the guitar like a cello with a spike but he is an amazing player.
craigalake 3 years ago
@craigalake
that was without doubt one of the best performances of this piece that i have ever heard!
i hope that you find the international recognition that you quite clearly deserve.
elguitarolerno 1 year ago
@elguitarolerno
Thanks!
craigalake 1 year ago
Really terrific performance. I enjoyed this so much :)
DenianArcoleo 3 years ago
The harp effect is done with very good taste.
Wonderful playing of Bach.
Your technique is so secure that you could easily play the Presto section faster if you wished to.
Thank you very much for your inspiring videos.
bzeliotis 3 years ago 2
fanstasic playing Craig
vw1971 3 years ago
That was a great performance beautifully articulated. Very enjoyable to listen to.
Great work!
starlinginspector 3 years ago
Hi Craig! This is good and enjoyable performance of a difficult work. Wishing you all the best!
MusicInterpretation 3 years ago
Cleanly articulated and superb ornamentation (as with all Craig's Baroque pieces). I also enjoyed the zither-like quality of the run at 1:39 - 1:40.
60moo 3 years ago
Although I am a lover of the lute, honestly, I cannot find a better version than this one among Baroque-lute players.
I listened to most of your performances of Bach compositions and I like them a lot but I think that this one is the most Baroque style oriented, it has all the nuances that I like, and at the same time it is not Galant-Rococò-Kitsch oriented as the good old gone Smith Sherman used to like so much.
This is a wonderful performance more Baroque than those available on lute.
alra1975 3 years ago
Thank you very much for your kind words. That is a great compliment indeed! I will post the some more of BWV 996 and ask you to watch soon. By the way, what happened to Smith? He was meant to look at this video for me. His acounts seem to have dissapeared. Did he insult one too many youtubers?
craigalake 3 years ago
I look forward to your new performances!
Smith, after that YT staff closed many of his channels, he decided to say goodbye to YT as it is a place without freedom.
So he built his own site about Classical Music reviews; it is a nice forum-site, if you like I can give you the internet address of his channel.
alra1975 3 years ago
Hi alra!
(I've tried sending you a message but don't know if it worked...) I enjoyed many of Smith Sherman's YT comments and would like to ask if you could send me the internet address of his new site!
PS: Thanks for you incredible channel! A very good selection of music!
MusicInterpretation 3 years ago
Hello!
I've already sent you the new url addresses of Smith's new channels and internet site!
alra1975 3 years ago
Technically its all there so no need to worry about that side of things. Baroque wisdom might have you try the passagio a bit more strict and rhythmic, like the french overture. Think of the story of Luly killing himself with his baton, conducting too forcefully (he must have kept agressive time to have hit himself so hard!)... Think big, orchestral, pompous, Celine Frisch doing the French overture Goldberg variotion. On the other hand a baroque lute could not do it very rhythmic or pompous...
ThisDream 3 years ago
But was it even writen with a lute in mind? perhaps it was for lute-harpsichord, in which case it could lean back towards rhythmic and pompous... then again it may have been writen for a lute-harpsichordist, as a piece in which to imitate the lute (sources do suggest ways of sounding more like a real lute when playing lautenwerk, such as breaking parts style brise)... In the end one can only try both and choose.When I did it I listened to Celine Frischs' french overture Goldberg variation a lot.
ThisDream 3 years ago
As for the fugato its bristling with energy, with a few nice moments where you stylishly pull it around, just to show who's playing who. I can't ask for much more. Nitpickingly I would say you should give the upbeat of the fugal subject a gentle, light stacato and then heavier on the downbeat, with a non-stacato note. Its in many of the treatises from the 18th c and I think it would sound a bit funny to Quantz to have the upbeat heavy and full length and the down beat light and stacato.
ThisDream 3 years ago
The idea was to play the first of the repeated notes staccato. However if the down beat is coming out weaker than the up beat that is a problem. Anyway they are all good points well made and I will go and listen to Celin Frisch.
craigalake 3 years ago
I've tried to get a balance between the two stlyes with rhythmically free scales but trying to play the chordal passages more rhythmically and over dotted in the French style.
craigalake 3 years ago
I'll be honest: at first this was not grabbing my attention, I had you in the background as I was browsing.
However, I soon realized that your subtle, non-barbaric (so many players ATTACK this piece) way of approaching this music was not only stealing my total attention, but also holding it.
I commend you for this well thought-out performance.
GaleoDeus 3 years ago
beautiful & wonderful~
Your sound is clear & sharp!
It is very very Good in Bach music
Thanks for your Music~
iCGClub 3 years ago
Wonderful Craig! This is so weird I've been listening to this piece whole last week, can't get it out of my mind, I think it's my favourite piece from the lute suites, so beautiful, the drama in the beginning..I love it. and you played it so well! I wanna try it but I know it's not for my level yet.
Take care,
Liran
Liranm89 3 years ago
I so much agree with you Lir!! I absolutely love this piece and i think i've been listening to it at least twice a day for about 6 months..
I'm also playing it.. it should be done in two weeks or so.. I HOPE!!
Cheers to you both!!
Santi
crudosoy1 3 years ago