@smalin just because something is in the FVB doesn't mean it's for the virginals or was more often played on the virginals. For example, the Sweelinck works in the FVB were obviously organ pieces written by an organist for the organ. This doesn't mean that they were inappropriate on the virginals of course, but you shouldn't assume that because they're in the FVB that they were probably played more often on the virginals. Bull likely imagined this religious work played in a church.
@fiandrhi Fair enough, but in either case, I'd bet that the music in the FVB was played less often on organs than on other instruments --- if only because organs were rare compared to harpsichords, virginals, clavichords, etc. and requited that you get somebody to pump them for you. Even if a piece were intended for organ, if it could be played on something other than an organ the organist would most likely practice it in private on some other instrument.
@smalin You make it seem as if the FVB were some sort of mass produced work of sheet music, rather than what it was, a compilation made for the private library of a single person. The chances are this In Nomine probably went unplayed by anyone much, except for Bull himself and perhaps colleagues who wished to learn from him, for centuries.
Sometimes I get quite upset when I discover new music. Often it's related to the fact that I haven't heard anything about the creator before. This is one of those moments. I really really love this piece. So simple, yet so deep... Very well thought through.
you should make the colors darker when the dynamics increase and lighter when they decrease.. now that would be a crazy sight.. although this is amazing already to visualize notes falling and climbing back towards each other throughout the piece.
This is from a whole series of similar compositions by Bull, Byrd, and Sweelinck, found in the FitzWilliam Virginal Book, and composed adound 1600. They all take an existing melody, or sometimes just a rising and f alling sequence of notes, and play it very slowly in the top register, accompanied by faster voices below it. This is possibly the most "minimal" of them. I absolutely love the way it is played here!
I like that piece, and this video is quite instructive for seeing what Bull did with the cantus firmus. I play this piece quite often... I think it sounds better on harpsichord, but if it's bland for some on piano, harpsichord will surely do not any better ; ).
Man, You are the best, I have been looking for a recording of this song for years!. I study Harpsichord and I have the Fitzwilliam book, but I had never heard any of the songs in it. I will appreciate if you post more songs contained in this book, specialy from John Bull, William Byrd or Giles Farnaby.
I'm a huge fan of Byrd, so I'm very likely to do more of his pieces when I have time. At the moment, the next piece of pre-Bach music in the queue is a piece (can't remember whether it's a fantasy or a ricercare) by Sweelinck. It's long, and it's taking me a long time to make sense of it as a whole ...
As a fan of Byrd, I'm curious what you think of Glenn Gould's interpretations? The pieces on that album are easy enough to play, but I can't get them to sound good now that the Gould is in my head, and I can't play like him with all his graduations on his fine Steinway. He must've lived with those pieces a long time. Many harpsichordists hate his idiosyncratic renditions.
I like Gould's playing; doesn't do everything they way I would, but it seldom rubs me the wrong way; when I'm disappointed by his playing, it's usually because there's something he _didn't_ do, an aspect of the piece he didn't take advantage of --- rather than something he _did_ do that I didn't like. I've listened to his playing a lot; it's in my blood. I'm often amazed, when I've been working on a piece and return to listen to his recording, how much of my interpretation was stolen from him.
May I suggest the Pierre Hantai's 2001 recording, Doctor Bull's Good Night, pieces pour clavier, on the Naive label. 23 pieces by Bull including this one.
I´m sure the recording is great, I hace seen Pierre Hantai live, but I have never seen a recording of him. Neither a recording of English virginalists...
i'd never heard this song before, i liked it, but it was a little... bland is the best word i can think of. I love what you did with the graphics tho, so cool!
Now we finally have some John Bull on You Tube. I know there are many people who feel his work "lacks substance", but I enjoy most of his work very much. I particularly like this piece. That was marvelous. Thank You.
NO---it was NOT "probably" played more often on the harpsichord---this is pure organ music, for church service.
gbc1627 3 months ago
@gbc1627 Why do you say that? It's from the Fitzwilliam Virginal Book.
smalin 3 months ago
@smalin just because something is in the FVB doesn't mean it's for the virginals or was more often played on the virginals. For example, the Sweelinck works in the FVB were obviously organ pieces written by an organist for the organ. This doesn't mean that they were inappropriate on the virginals of course, but you shouldn't assume that because they're in the FVB that they were probably played more often on the virginals. Bull likely imagined this religious work played in a church.
fiandrhi 1 month ago
@fiandrhi Fair enough, but in either case, I'd bet that the music in the FVB was played less often on organs than on other instruments --- if only because organs were rare compared to harpsichords, virginals, clavichords, etc. and requited that you get somebody to pump them for you. Even if a piece were intended for organ, if it could be played on something other than an organ the organist would most likely practice it in private on some other instrument.
smalin 1 month ago
@smalin You make it seem as if the FVB were some sort of mass produced work of sheet music, rather than what it was, a compilation made for the private library of a single person. The chances are this In Nomine probably went unplayed by anyone much, except for Bull himself and perhaps colleagues who wished to learn from him, for centuries.
fiandrhi 4 weeks ago
omg!!!! thank you, sir!
gsarci2011 5 months ago
sir, do you have the sheet music of this?
gsarci2011 5 months ago
@gsarci2011 See the FAQ.
smalin 5 months ago
Divine.
"in nomine" = in [the Lord]'s name
Written in Queen Elizabeth's time.
May sound even better on electric guitar!
CyberneticOrganism01 11 months ago
What was this piece originally played on? A harpsichord or an organ?
supermanadamio 1 year ago
@supermanadamio It was probably played on harpsichord more often.
smalin 1 year ago
I absolutely love this piece. It's so simple, and still incredibly deep. I can just get lost in the music.
It may be anachronistic, but I prefer this piece on a piano rather than a harpsichord.
MissilesAgainstBats 1 year ago
@MissilesAgainstBats yeah, I agree with you....
gsarci2011 5 months ago
dat waz nice....really nice...
323roks 1 year ago
@323roks That's Bull.
smalin 1 year ago 3
@smalin yeah his a bas az.... :)
323roks 1 year ago
i don t like it.... feels like it looses rhytm halfway i know it is on purpose ;p but simply it doesn t appeal to me ;)
kyuzo1313 2 years ago
Sometimes I get quite upset when I discover new music. Often it's related to the fact that I haven't heard anything about the creator before. This is one of those moments. I really really love this piece. So simple, yet so deep... Very well thought through.
netse 2 years ago
you should make the colors darker when the dynamics increase and lighter when they decrease.. now that would be a crazy sight.. although this is amazing already to visualize notes falling and climbing back towards each other throughout the piece.
xleeca 2 years ago
this song is somewhat depressing. The slow melody, in the first minute and fourteen seconds, reminds me of someone playing for someone who died.
Not to sound weird or anything.... just saying how it sounds....
Jasperismylove 2 years ago
This is from a whole series of similar compositions by Bull, Byrd, and Sweelinck, found in the FitzWilliam Virginal Book, and composed adound 1600. They all take an existing melody, or sometimes just a rising and f alling sequence of notes, and play it very slowly in the top register, accompanied by faster voices below it. This is possibly the most "minimal" of them. I absolutely love the way it is played here!
reinpost 1 year ago
Anyone know when this was written? Can't seem to find out anywhere!
xeno087 3 years ago
I don't know when it was written, but you can get a general idea from the John Bull Wikipedia page for: John_Bull_(composer)
smalin 3 years ago
This is most exiting.
rotopope 4 years ago
Gorgeous.
urbanelf 4 years ago
I like that piece, and this video is quite instructive for seeing what Bull did with the cantus firmus. I play this piece quite often... I think it sounds better on harpsichord, but if it's bland for some on piano, harpsichord will surely do not any better ; ).
fcouperin 4 years ago
Man, You are the best, I have been looking for a recording of this song for years!. I study Harpsichord and I have the Fitzwilliam book, but I had never heard any of the songs in it. I will appreciate if you post more songs contained in this book, specialy from John Bull, William Byrd or Giles Farnaby.
Thanks a loooooooooot Smalin.
marbendlar 4 years ago
I'm a huge fan of Byrd, so I'm very likely to do more of his pieces when I have time. At the moment, the next piece of pre-Bach music in the queue is a piece (can't remember whether it's a fantasy or a ricercare) by Sweelinck. It's long, and it's taking me a long time to make sense of it as a whole ...
smalin 4 years ago
As a fan of Byrd, I'm curious what you think of Glenn Gould's interpretations? The pieces on that album are easy enough to play, but I can't get them to sound good now that the Gould is in my head, and I can't play like him with all his graduations on his fine Steinway. He must've lived with those pieces a long time. Many harpsichordists hate his idiosyncratic renditions.
jerbiebarb 3 years ago 2
I like Gould's playing; doesn't do everything they way I would, but it seldom rubs me the wrong way; when I'm disappointed by his playing, it's usually because there's something he _didn't_ do, an aspect of the piece he didn't take advantage of --- rather than something he _did_ do that I didn't like. I've listened to his playing a lot; it's in my blood. I'm often amazed, when I've been working on a piece and return to listen to his recording, how much of my interpretation was stolen from him.
smalin 3 years ago
May I suggest the Pierre Hantai's 2001 recording, Doctor Bull's Good Night, pieces pour clavier, on the Naive label. 23 pieces by Bull including this one.
mercoid 4 years ago
I´m sure the recording is great, I hace seen Pierre Hantai live, but I have never seen a recording of him. Neither a recording of English virginalists...
marbendlar 4 years ago
i'd never heard this song before, i liked it, but it was a little... bland is the best word i can think of. I love what you did with the graphics tho, so cool!
PickSomethingAlready 4 years ago
Yeah, the In Nomines are like that, most of them. You can read a little about them on Wikipedia.
smalin 4 years ago
Very cool!
pianogirl98 4 years ago
Awesome talent!!
dangledog 4 years ago
Now we finally have some John Bull on You Tube. I know there are many people who feel his work "lacks substance", but I enjoy most of his work very much. I particularly like this piece. That was marvelous. Thank You.
mercoid 4 years ago
You are crazy good.
bgpiper 4 years ago