PASSACAGLIA by Handel-Halvorsen

[pinetrab]

Magnificent rendition! Bravi!!You play so well together that it seems like you were married and happy!!

[sirdagamba]

@pinetrab

Thank you for saying that. Because we always compare a good chamber group to a marriage. All the members have to get along with each other before even begin to make music. We must work together, support each other's ideas, understand all the imperfections. We argue, fight,.... but all for making music together. by the end of the concert, we are all big 2 or 4 some family.

[callitoff14]

yang xi is my violin teacher xD he plays both violin and viola

[BeginnerViolinist]

I'm very sorry for being so crude but this rendition is sooooooooooooooooooooooo ORGASMIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ^^'

[quekzhihao1]

One of my favourite compositions, well played! Solemn, melancholic, yet very powerful.

[MrIronBunz]

ack...so many double stops in this one!

[julieification]

Love it!

[RasheedAlKotob]

this is art ... this is true music

[sirdagamba]

@RasheedAlKotob Thank you RasheedAlkotob! and we are still improving since that concert.

[RasheedAlKotob]

this is AMAZING

[sameoldman]

This piece is absolutely fit to viola, manifesting itself a perfect one than other (string) instrument to due with violin

[leoncioviolin]

precioso

[imaznfoo]

An absolutely stunning performance.

[anvivo08]

Spectacular! This piece is so cool, and you guys performed this perfectly!

[lojo255]

at the part right before the end with the sixteenths for both of them, each instrument has melody half the time and open g as harmony the other half. it sounds like one person playing it, though.

[iplehguitar]

i love the viola part

its so majestic and beautiful :D

[mattz2000]

i am going to attempt to play with a friends and hope to play it half as well as they do

P.S. im playing the viola part

[bonitaxoxo]

Bravissimo

[musiccritic10]

this is really good!

[ifrit1780]

For once, the Viola is on the spot light instead of the violin. I rather like this change.

[iplehguitar]

same

[KillerD1017]

i dont think either was has all the attention it seems like they are both of equal importance in the piece to me. Just my personal oppinion, not trying to be mean or n e thing.

[nicknsharonfan]

i was used to faster version of this but slow like this is beautiful too. Loved it!

[kabag2]

very well done performance. i like it alot. do you know where i could find the viola part online for free somewhere?

[GLXLR]

This is the best performance on this song on youtube excluding Perlman+Zukerman and Heifetz/Primrose. LOVED IT!

[smvpfm]

I'm violist and think that this sound is very good!!

[timelesseverlasting]

wow...I play viola too!!Amazing!! Like it!!

[Flautist820]

i absolutely adore the viola player

[sirdagamba]

You've just made my day! Thank you!

[aarong923]

this song still gives me goosebumps after the 50th time listening listening to it

[wmd10]

Slower tempo than what I'm used to listening (for this particular song), but the clarity and intonation was brilliant.

[hayatekatori]

this sound so good, you know what would be awesome? you guys do a quartet

[sirdagamba]

Thank you! We do have a piano quartet which I have put some of them here on the YouTube.

[smenjare]

that was absolutely amazing, i want it, how or where can i donwload it, i would like to show it in my viola class, my classmates will love it too.

[karby89]

excelent, the tempo is diferent than we usuly listen, but is very interesting, and also the viola is great, thank for let me enjoy this, and sorry about my english is really poor, but in few word im trying to tell you how beattiful is for me listen each note on each instrument, cuz on your version finally i was able to identify the viola and violin part thx

[sirdagamba]

You are very welcome and thank you for the kind words.

[josephbao123]

Wow, this is really good, it will take me years and several thousand dollars to sound like that. I am also playing this as the violist. I need some advice on how to do the spiccatos at 1:21, and also 4:15. It seems kinda impossible to spiccato at 32nd note speed. HELP.

[sirdagamba]

At 1:21, don't let your bow arm gets too comfortable for long. Remind yourself in that patern with crossing 3 strings, every 4th one only goes between 2 strings. At that moment, dont allow your bow arm still move with the motion of crossing 3 strings.

[sirdagamba]

At 4:15, also pay attention to the string crossing patern and always find the tempo that you can do it perfectly no matter how slow itis. then increase the tempo little by little until you reach the speed that you would like. Find the sweet spot on your bow where you can do it comfortably and spiccato doesn't mean that you bow needs to fly off the string up and high.

[szksypaczka93]

This version is then best! the viola sounds are the best! I love Passacaglia! :)

[Thordi]

Starting at the part 1:21, is where I'm pretty much stuck. The fast spiccatto just kills me...

Any advice/tips?

[tonibunny]

Thanks so much! I had lessons from Dec last year until about July this year, then had to stop as I have a back problem. My viola teacher was actually my oboe teacher, but she can also play violin and viola. I only took the viola up cos I broke a rib last year and couldnt play the oboe for a bit! But now I love it so much :) Do you think my tone is OK on the viola I have? I get a lot of nice comments about it, but I know that I could improve a lot!

[sirdagamba]

Yes, I love the sound of viola. It has the same range as human voice. Yes, your tone is very nice and of course, there is always room for improvement.

[tonibunny]

Gorgeous, gorgeous playing...I'm going to try this with my violin-playing friend as it's such an inspirational piece, it really makes you want to be able to play it! :)

[sirdagamba]

well thank you!

this was back in 2002. We have improoved since then

[Apalexpe]

with the viola it sounds the best

[Thordi]

@ Jromano91: I totally agree with what you've said.

[Hewhosucksatviolin]

omg, melts my heart away~~

[IhaveaCstring]

I love this version! such a great performance!

[sirdagamba]

Thank you !!

[Jromano91]

cello and violin one is too constrasting...cello is too deep to accomodate the violin's brilliance on this piece. This piece, is based on Handel's piece for Harpsicord...its supposed to have similar brilliance and depth with the lower being deeper in sound; and thus, viola is the most suited instrument for this piece to go with the violin. The two are so good. ..and ps. i played cello and violin and viola...so dont think im ignorant in this piece...violin the longest tho..

[IhaveaCstring]

You rock Jromano91

[celloparkas]

i like the cello and violin version....with viola its ok, but the cello gives other perspective.... i dont know... its personal opinion

[monster0129]

I agree. The viola might be more nimble on the runs and on the down bow spicattos, but cello certainly adds depth, and the different height of the two instruments add to the "struggle/battle". I have played both (with a violist and a cellist) and whilst I have fun with both, IMHO, cello version is better.

[AbsoluteZ3R0]

No one can deny, however, that cello and violin don't blend as well as violin and viola do.

[y3nd0]

Gosh. I wish I had longer arms so I can get a bigger viola... :( I use a 14" one... it has the same sound qualities as a violin. I want that deep sound he has!

[sirdagamba]

Are you going to be able to reach 15 and half someday? I don't think there is much you can do to make a nice deep sound out of a 14" viola.

[y3nd0]

:( I hope I do!!! I absolutely hate the 14". Whenever I shift to 6th or 7th position, it sounds so squeaky... it doesn't have that depth to it.  It sounds like a regular violin string. I tried on a 15 1/2" today... still too big. I won't be hitting a growth spurt any day now.

[sirdagamba]

but, if you really can't wait til you grow into 15 1/2, you can get an electric 5 string violin, just for the fun of it and to hear the deep C string LOL as much as your AMP will allow

[y3nd0]

Pft! I don't have the money to get that. Hahaha. And to waste $1000+ on a violin just for "the fun of it"... I must be crazy.

[tonibunny]

Hi, I've been playing the viola for a year now, I'm 32 so haven't got any growing to do and my viola is a 15" one. I've been told that a 15.5" viola would be too big for me - do you think the extra half inch would make it impossible to play? I have a video of me playing my viola on here and would love to hear your comments if you have time. That video was made a few months ago though so my vibrato has got deeper and richer since then :) Thanks, Toni xx

[jrockyakuza]

A master piece

[endofdays5767]

very nice

[violaplayer1995]

that violist is great. it drowns the violin!!

[sirdagamba]

LOL I won't tell her that! one thing about live recording is that, you ve got a one shot deal. In this case, the mic was just a little closer to the violist than the violinist. It sound just fine for the audiance.

[Beeffyviolin]

That violist is amazing!!

[sirdagamba]

Yes,that's quite true about the mic. It was recorded by the local TV station in China. They have placed the mic very close to us to avoid picking up the nasty habbit of the audiance sitting close to the stage and talking ,sometimes out loud. I was standing closer to the mic than the violinist.

[muzebl]

WHOO!

...and I mean that!

[katsukawa123]

Fantastic, really professional!

[hammer998]

this is hot

[westzqs0053]

I like this piece. It was a great performance. The sound of the violist is so beautiful. I like the way he plays viola.

[XDzard]

Wow, I really like the tone of the violist

[chloedecat]

He sure does have the chops with the viola. A wonderful violinist as well. I have worked with him. The sound from the computer cannot show much of his bow arm.

[aesthetic1950]

Rich tone. Wonderful performance. Nothing shrill about it.