Andrew York - Bach Cello Suite in C major - Gitarrissimo, Oberhausen Germany

[dombert]

My apologies to the performer, but as a former classical guitarist turned cellist, I find this performance unsettling. I'm not sure what he is trying to accomplish. It really is silly and more than a little self-indulgent. On top of all this, the performance is so contrived and affected with bad rubato that there really is nothing to redeem it. Please, don't do this sort of thing again.

[jeanvignes]

Thanks for sharing this very interesting approach to JS Bach. I enjoyed listening.

[canonmj]

Andrew York is the American version of Roland Dyens...always pushing the envelope. Very interesting to see the guitar tuned this way. What is the tuning?

[fuszogar1]

@michaelfogler Whilst I do agree conceptually with what you are saying, I have sadly yet to come across a decent arrangement of the cello suite in C for guitar, or for that manner, any plucked string instrument. Bach's pieces are ones extraordinary melodic and harmonic integrity, and I have heard many a times arrangements of Bach pieces that simply failed to uphold the high musical standard of the original. One can not out-Bach Bach.

[fuszogar1]

One might argue that the aim is not to reproduce Bach's piece, but rather invigorate it with new compositional breadth. But then, why bother calling it an arrangement? That seems to me a variation on a theme, rather than a reproduction. I believe that York's intent was for the audience to listen to Bach's composition in his interpretation, not his original variation.

[GenMata]

The Cello sound is great. York is amazing

[opensourceguitar]

I was playing an arrangement of suite no.2 and the extra notes were so cheesy! I play cello and wanted to see if I could tune the guitar down to C in use 5th, like a cello. Thank you Mr.York! Now I must find vry high tension strings and have fun, great video!

[michaelfogler]

to be specific, check out what Bach does himself: compare the 5th cello suite with the 3rd lute suite or the E major violin partita with the 4th lute suite. There are lots of differences. Bach did a lot of transferring of music from one medium to another. And he NEVER just assigned the notes verbatim from his original on one instrument to the new instrument. He always rearranged the piece to suite the strengths of the new instrument.

[Bashaldo]

There's a reason why we transpose it... so it doesn't sound like shit like this. If I wanted to play it like a cello, I'd play it on a cello and spare audiences ears.

[uneedtherapy42]

he is going for that authentic cello baroque sound ala Anner Bylsma is he not? I think he succeeds for the most part.

[Irshkboy]

You guys are crazy, it sounds great, and its also very difficult to play. You try and do better, I know I cant

[31041955]

Sorry but I think this sounds like KRAPPP! Just another story of a good guitar player gone bad. Tone is everything on the guitar, this is clearly not better than a cello and why would you want to play it like a cello when it has already proven itself on a cello, countless times! Mr York this performance is in poor taste and get your head out of the sky. yeah that's right. it's full of KRAPPPP!

[DavePazz]

Pepe Romero playes this suite in exactly the same manner (single bass notes for most of the pieces). Only Pepe uses far more effective phrasing, York's phrasing seems a bit too choppy. If the cello version is going to be played note per note, then the melody lines should played be a LOT smoother than how they were here.

But then, the guitar is polyphonic. So it sounds better with bass and treble notes together. I don't think anyone would play cello suites on piano in this way.

[michaelfogler]

What he says many guitarists do is better than what he's doing. A guitar cannot out-cello a cello. A cello is the best at being a cello. A guitar should do what it does best which involves more harmony and counterpoint than what he's doing. Bach clearly changed his own music when he transferred it from one instrument to another.

[Allegro1900]

@michaelfogler Hi Michael, I love what Andrew does. It's great to listen to a guitar tuned like a cello.

[IamtheSpankster]

@michaelfogler That's just like, your opinion, man.

[kaimialana]

@michaelfogler I enjoy his experiment. Time and time again I have heard the same Segovia arrangements by many musicians, and it has become overdone. By returning to the original score and tuning, Andrew has done something interesting. Unfortunately, this is a poor recording.

[VinnieBoomBoom]

Hey Allegro1900 ~ Many thanks for posting all the Andrew York videos. I was in a couple of his master classes back in the 90's. He's an amazing teacher too! I'll be watching these vids many more times. Thanks again!

[Allegro1900]

@VinnieBoomBoom Hello Vinnie. I didn't post the videos. I don't know who did. I just know the engeneers. They are kind blokes.

[Allegro1900]

I know by chance the soundman, Jürgen Bleekmann, and the video man, Manfred Stall. You both did a great job! Err Andy too!