Nigel Kennedy - Bach - BWV 1041 - III - Allegro assai

[swindahl]

OK Assai, jumping to fellow violinists, bad joke, this man can play notes, but funny enough not hearts (probably not anymore cause of drugs or depression, drinking to much).

I would only make excellent music together with other musicians if I would have that much talent, but not forget we live in a world of misery.

[MrTommaso1970]

nigel you are the celestian messenger.

[Elekktra7]

I don't know who is this guy, I got here to listen a good Bach's performance and... I did. That's it.

[scottseansmith2]

Nigel! Quit clomping about! Other than that, excellent as always. :-)

[K46620]

A bit fast but excellent. Now if I can only find a piano recording.

[Phobia017]

The piece really suits this tempo. Really crazy & dramatic.

[Phobia017]

wow.

[DarkCocou]

I love this song

[Albqrabbit]

I want to play w his orchestra.

No one, except Hillary, does Bach better!!

I can't say who is best. But they both breath life into Bach, who I am SURE would approve!

[destinytong]

this song make me cry

[farfa15]

Does he stomp the floor intentionally to create the booming sound?

[nitti78]

I commend Nigel for attempting the allegro assai at such an accelerated tempo. It was a bit too fast for my taste, however I did like the way he conducted it and pulled it out of the orchestra with exuberance. His cadenza could have been slower seeing as cadenza are open to the interpretation of the performer. As it was, it kind of got lost in the accelerated shuffle. All in all, it was a valiant endeavor on Nigels part. Kudos Nigel!!!

[VERITS99]

@nitti78 You took the words out of my mouth! Yes, I entirely agree with you.

[BenEisenstein]

This is not too fast to be good. It takes serious, SERIOUS skill to play it that fast. The tempo marking is presto, meaning really fast. I think that just about sums up how he played it, don't you?

[BenEisenstein]

@BenEisenstein I meant allegro assai, which is not as fast, but still fast. He did play it a bit fast, but that just makes it all the more entertaining to listen to.

[iamthe3rd]

just how i thought vinnie jones would play bach

[jgraho2]

I love the frenetic pace. We know how it is supposed to sound but if someone as talented as Kennedy wants to showcase his skills, so be it! This rendition gives me goosebumps.

[legendbach]

Amazing!

[Bearingz]

Amazing! :o The stamping gave it character in my opinion! You can really feel the energy in this and you can tell the whole ensemble are fully invested in giving an excellent performance for the right reasons. :) Erm I may be doing this as my grade piece ... doubt I'll be able to manage it this fast... O_o ... well not sounding palatable anyway :D

[Madamina171]

I don't know much about music, but I find this MAGIC!

[musique28]

awfull!

[TheEFromHell]

it may be a little too fast, but it gives this piece a new side to look at. I don't prefer one way over another, it's a beautiful piece nontheless.

[Khanaab]

too fast to be good.

[OfficialParazitii]

beautiful!

[iamthe3rd]

i keep thinking its vinnie jones

[erkocab]

I think the tempo for this work really works and especially made it really powerful in light of the fact that the performers were still very precise in their phrasing -- fast but not slurry. This was just very exciting to listen to and watch!

[martas1med]

i absolutely love him, he makes bach special! :)

[675763]

Too fast

[675763]

TOO FAST

[ColdIstheNight]

The pacing of this interpretation just serves to make it even more awesome.

[konykon4]

waaay to faast!!

[thedeathskittle]

puts a smile on my face :)

[AnotherDarkLife]

Los arreglos que hace son para emancipar la obra bravo Nigel Kennedy!!! Bravissimo!

Those arrangements he does, they are just for emancipate this work... Bravo!

This is the best musical masterpiece in world's history.

[saletaignacio]

Nigel está loco, pero a ambos nos chifla Bach y eso redime a este chalado.

¡Viva Bach y los locos a los que nos conmueve! incluido este Nigel Kennedy

[saletaignacio]

Nigel está loco, pero a ambos nos chifla Bach y eso redime a este chalado.

¡Viva Bacha y los locos a los que nos conmuve! include este Nigel Kennedy

[GodDamnlt]

Wow,incredible

[tachuman]

A stupendous performance - even if the last movement was a bit faster than usual.

What a fiddler! Thanks for posting!

[kmaglion]

It's a shame this movement completely falls apart at this level of compression.

[tool987ja]

in awe...I played this for my 8th grade solo & ensemble....but not nearly as awesome...

[musicallytalented2]

damn im supposed to learn this for ma grade 8 exam and ma 2nd year performance exam at uni...I CANT PLAY IT THAT FAST!!!!!!!

[DeadOriginal]

Oh..my...God...!!!

This brings tears to my eyes, such a fantastic rendition and in my opinion the perfect tempo for this piece.

[micangess]

Genio!

[walkingon2001]

Nigel Kennedy is the BEST VIOLINIST!!!!

[archaeapyric]

cool cadenza bro

[musicase]

I like this interpretation

I think Bach does like this swinging version

GREAT

[Nuker1337]

He plays it ridiculously fast! Really shows his exceptional virtuoso skills. I really like this although the sound quality of the recording is not exceptional.

[theulkar]

entusiasmante!!!!!

[jazzenthusiast]

This is played way too fast, with little musical feeling and not as meant by JSBach.

David Oistrach's version is 10 times better.

[itishappeningagain]

You met Bach?

That's pretty awsome...

[MyDarkestHate]

@jazzenthusiast

You're terribly right. An incredible huge part of the original's version (mainly due to it's tempo) "flair" is lost here. This is like a cacophony. It's disgusting somehow, in my opinion.

[PianoBach1]

belloooo!! specie il modo in cui l esaspera!! belllissimoooooo!

[TwelfthRoot2]

I absolutely love the setting of this performance. I don't think they could have picked a better environment (location, lighting) to perform Bach. I am atheist and that was not hard to say :-)

[AnotherDarkLife]

This is not a clown with a violin, this is a revolutionary passionate and energic emancipator of BACH music, BWV 1041 ALLEGRO ASSAI, best piece in the whole history of this world !! Bravo Bravo Bravissimo!!!

[danveldor]

this is a clown wiht a violin

[idaspe]

Not only this is not Bach's music..., I think this is not music at all. There are notes, many many notes, but no music. This is a "How to destroy good music in order to display a pyrotecnical show".

[AytidaRed]

such a scarily amazing cadenza. i love kennedy's fiery performance.

[bristolblueglasssw]

yes Bach would be happy and also Vivaldi would of indulged in this piece. I think its played at its best here.

[asachildtobecome]

AH! Nigel Kennedy...What can one say? All the right notes! And to boot: Great tapping boots!

Joshua Bell plays wonderfully, yet, somehow, watching him as he plays is not as much fun as watching Nigel prance, tap and invent on inventiones.

[AirKingOne]

It is fair to say that this is just a different variation of Bach's music . Nigel Kennedy was perfect and the product was really enjoyable to listen to. I think that Bach would be happy to know of modern day musicians finding new ways to show his work.

[andrew11121]

I just listened to the Menuhin recording, which is waaay too slow. This one goes like a rocket by comparison and played more like a gigue than a concerto. Great execution, great cadenza, but tempo didn't work for me.

[hypersinus2]

allegro assai? very dynamic but a little bit fast

[MattBellamy999]

Absolutely incredible and mesmerising.

I agree with GJmusique - it is a little fast yes, but the variety that this offers allows us to continue to enjoy Bach in its variety of possible playing styles. This fast style really picks up on the frantic character of this song.

Still, however it's played, it's always just as beautiful.

[GeneralVolkov]

@MattBellamy999 i would have sex with all dem white girls

[anisometropie]

lol what a cadenza

[docarRidenza]

what a dirty playing. if u can't play the notes, play slower!!! music is not all about how fast you play. pls undrstand!

[rudly]

I agree Tooooooooooooooo fast

[draco003]

He plays faster than Hilary Hahn....I thought Hilary plays too fast...but after listening to this one...Hilary plays slow...LOL

[kevaughn1030]

WAY

TOO

FAST

[caniaso]

Digan lo que quieran pero cuando escucho esta interpretación la sangre me empieza a ir mas rápido. Gracias Nigel

[zetasan]

It would have been much better had he not kept stamping the floor.

It's really annoying.

[jonathantosio]

No matter what anyone thinks, I admire him for having the guts to perform such a provoking interpretation.

Kudos to him =)

[GJmusique]

100% agreed.

People focus too much on how Bach would have played his own music. But forget that if he wanted us to play it exactly as he wanted to, he would have given very clear tempo and dynamic markings ;) (even if that wasn't the fashion at the time..)

Add to that - if Bach would have been played the same over and over again, we would long be bored by his music...

KENNEDY FOR PRESIDENT! Oh. oops. ^_^

[lester1013]

this is incredible i have never heard it played so fast other orchestra's play it fast but not like they did

[cybertek1]

This is not prestissimo, it is only the upper reaches of allegro, approximately 160

[cmburkhalter]

Keep in mind that 160 is quarter, but the peice is actually written in 9/8 time-someone please tell dearest Nigel that baroque cadenzas are supposed to be played AS WRITTEN...other than that amazing-absolutely amazing

[audioglass]

Nigel! His studio recordings are no doubt fantastic, but, his live performances are beyond outstanding!

[Mozartharmony]

!!!...sincerely for my it is the best version in the Bach work that I have listened!!!! yes! its form of interpreting to Bach is something extravagant, but incredible as he interprets the violin!!! it is their form of expressing their art ! I have just known to nigel and I admire him very much!!!

[LunaMirabeau]

que blasfemia más grande. por si no teníamos suficiente con la tarada de la Mae, ahora llega esta oruga inflada a despedazar la obra del Divino Bach. y todavía se atreve a bailar una giga.

lo tragicómico es que hay quién dice que es un "virtuoso". :P

ignorance is bliss

[moonkasnow]

Es muy respetable lo que dices ya que es tu opinión, pero si tan solo escucharas la música, olvidando lo que pasa visualmente, pues la ejecución es perfecta y no veo como la destrozó según dices, y yo soy de esos que dicen que es un VIRTUOSO, porque si no lo fuera, simplemente no sería famoso y no tendría toda la reputación y prestigio del que ahora goza, y no hubiera podido tocar los grandes conciertos (Tchaik, Brahms, Sibe) para los que hay que ser virtuoso.

[owensiu]

Although I don't like this performance, he play it with very precise skill.

Master technique, no doubt.

[stradivari147]

The guy has lost the plot, and it makes me upset because he used to be a fine violinist :-(

[crhistomus]

Es lA mejor version del la menor que escuchado 5 S T A R S

[Jaybeann]

1:17 first time I've ever seen him smile while he was playing in concert, lol.

awesome song... masterfully played.

[jonathantosio]

HAHAHAH!! WHAT A MACHINE!!

[lsmlo]

Great Video

[spikedardens]

wow not to my taste at all. yes its bit too fast.

[hanhensbart]

Allegro assai or Prestissimo??? h.

[waistoi]

I agreee. This is not allegro assai. This is pretissimo. Nigel Kennedy might be technically masterful but his style is UNMUSICAL.

[rudly]

Is this to fast for anyone else,

[GlobalHuntMan]

I think it's worth noting that Bach was said to have preferred his music to be played on the fast side, so it's very well possible that this is the tempo Bach wanted and everybody else is wrong, rather than the other way around.

[xmasterx451]

lol unmusical ur right. he stomped at the orchestra like near the end. its not a mean remark im saying but its funny how he does it. hes just...not ur average everyday music player

[j2007oneal2379]

if J S Bach were alive today, he would Jay-Z

[plemax]

Vanessa May play better, she got drums! That middle east cadenza sounds really in style. What a nut case!

[audioglass]

1:45 to 2:00 unbelievably beautiful execution of timing and tempo, such incredible virtuosity.

2:24 to 2:32 beautiful cello. the bass line really rings through.

I have never heard in any version of the many I have heard, such great execution of tempo and pure emotion in this concerto.

Hats off to you all. its truly commendable what you have done!

[pizzicato71]

Too fast !!

[indigoblue555]

I guess that even JSBach himself was more openminded than a lot of Bach's fans today.

[audioglass]

Very true. You hit the nail on the head!

[GJ1986]

Everybody is entitled to have their own opinion, so is this Mr. Kennedy. There's a zillion interpretations of Bach's pieces - it's a never-ending debate - so if you don't like this rather fast, joyful version, which I can imagine - try another! Simple as that :) There's no too fast or too slow. It's just different. And tastes do differ in deed. Luckily.

[03susan]

It is way too fast !

[jcvelaz]

NIgel is unique and he is so talented!

[lovelyazngurl]

wow im gonna be playing this soon.. his performance makes me very, very anxious. my goodness. how stressful. he's too gooddd!!

[DaddysweetD]

As far as I am concerned, after many comparisons, Nigel Kennedy is the best player of BWV 1041 III. Only Hilary Hahn can rival. He plays fast and it is better like this. Besides, I saw him in a concert and he is very cool and fantastic.

[audioglass]

Yes. Now there is a comment worth posting! hear hear the great & eloquent speaker!

[monsieur1jourdain]

Hilary Hahn is pretty awful.

[RoyBrown69]

Does anyone else need a cigarette after listening to this?

[squallkelly]

i like it even if its fast!!! it gives the song another colour.

[Rik77]

Wow, my God. Its exhausting to listen to. It does feel too fast but it's still an excellent performance if a rushed one.

[violin233]

WTF He is doing , HES DESTROYING THE CRAFT OF BACH , HOW DARE HE , HE DISRESPECTS THE COMPOSER,BACH SHOULD BE DELICATE YOU PLAYED IT AS IF YOUR RUNNING , YOU TOTALLY DESTROYED THE PIECE KENNEDY

[skarmient0]

Yes! Kennedy sucks playin' Bach, theres no meaning in the phrases... is poor...

[pek63]

This is Nigel Kennedy playing Bach. They're here to see HIM play Bach HIS way not just so they can hear Bach. They can do that at home.

If you wanted to hear him play it perfectly as transcribed perhaps you should have visited him as a child in training! His stature is slightly beyond your reach... don't you think?

[caniaso]

You can return to the cemetery

[audioglass]

Im sure if Bach heard it he would not be so damn pedantic! Man its such an awesome version. Such fluidity to the rhythm. Its spectacular. That is my personal opinion and also I believe it to be fact! you are very very wrong. there is no room for slagging people off in this day and age. Its a fruitless action. shame on you! But I forgive you! ha ha

[kopenic]

EXCELSO

[nivimars]

They play it fast forwarded, actually. Even playing in haste but still sounds good though. Bravo!

[jmoses5]

like this alot! i thnk the speed rly brings out a lively bouncing feel which for me defines this piece

[scientistpatrick]

This is the BEST I have seen on Youtube so far.

Also, if you play too slow, it sounds boring, but if you play really fast, it sounds exciting, onionpizza.

[onionpizza]

outstanding musicians but really what's the hurry. are they afraid they won't catch the last train home? did JSB slave for a month to create an extraordinary concert, full of subtleties and nuances, to see it played at supersonic speed?

[audioglass]

Does this really go against how Bach wanted it played?

Even still, for me this is the most enjoyable version I have ever heard. I have many versions of this now. and this particular performance is the most out standing of all of them.

[wubbie12]

ever listened the version of Lara St John? It think I prefer her performance. You can find it on YouTube..

Sorry I don't like the performance of Nigel Kennedy...

[audioglass]

Yes I have listened to all versions of BWV 1041 No3 and have downloaded countless versions in mp3 format too. but this one just shines through. It flows with more power at this pace. and at 2.19 onwards it has to be the most easiest sound on my ears. not many performers pull this part off by making it sound as wonderfully powerful and musical like good old Nigel does! He Is Da Man! Amen coolness!

[hio2paco]

good music!

[audioglass]

this is truly fantastic!