Bach B flat minor Prelude on harpsichord

[Sauron767]

I like the ebony colored keys

[Wooter91]

beautiful music. Many thanks from the Netherlands

[BonjourBit]

Your interpretation and tone are absolutely remarkable...thank you so much for sharing!

[marekpiano]

beautifull! like this tempo!

5/5

[festerization]

What a beautiful sound.  I love the harpsichord. You played it beautifully, as well.

[manalexxxx]

marvelous i wish i had a harpsichord, cant get them anywehr

[alexander92648]

Awesome!

[JarethGT]

My favorite instrument.

[AWKMARIOfan]

YOU HAVE MAN HANDS

[pklshpu]

Thank you very much. What a fine playing of such a beautiful piece!

[BrolySuperSaiyen]

I love the playing, love the sound, love the collor of the keys!!! I really want to paint my keys of my AX-Synth like a Harpsichord!!

[Neonalfax]

I could never guess that I was going to find myself with a smile and wet eyes because of happiness.

[navajovik]

Every time I hear the Harpsichord on the radio I just stop and listen, no other instrument does that to me. Great job and thank you for sharing your talent.

[hbmp88]

They say the piano won over the harpsichord because the harpsichord cannot express sound levels... But clearly bach was born for the harpsichord. This is why I REALLY WANT ONE

[ramil90]

BWV 891 B flat Minor is a Dark Key with Full of Colors and Light to it... I feel like in Heaven playing this piece on a Harpsichord in the Dark and this adds light to my horizon... Thanks Kathy Roberts for the Interpreting this Wonderful Piece.

[AWKMARIOfan]

you whore

[beycazas]

i'm on the verge of crying! What an instrument can provide such beatiful a harmony of sounds? Kathy your performance is pure magic, my soul is touched excessively... Thank you!

[dakwa1]

Beautiful playing of this piece. This was not one Instrament I wanted to learn, but I have always loved it.

excellent.

[otirudam]

This music is a balm to my soul. Why is it that this makes me closer to God? I dont know. It puts my heart and mind to rest, filled with hope and looking forward to beleive in life and whatever is ahead. Its an act of reconciliation fusing failures and semi-triumphs into one whole worthwhile experience. Its beautiful, i can not hugh you from here, but i send you my best wishes.

[hattube]

Hi Kathy, after hearing this inspiring piece that you played so perfectly, I was motivated to learn it. I am sharing it here as a response (although yours is a million times better) this is the best I can do now and striving everyday to play it better and faster. Thanks for the inspiration.

[hattube]

Hi Cathy, after hearing this inspiring piece that you played so perfectly, I was motivated to learn it. I am sharing it here as a response (although yours is a million times better) this is the best I can do now and striving everyday to play it better and faster. Thanks for the inspiration.

[Ianthe22]

Her hands look like the hands of an organ player.

[AWKMARIOfan]

@Ianthe22 her hands look like the hands of a man

[brycebeverlinII]

Great sound. What make of harpsichord is that?

[krperl7]

@brycebeverlinII

My harpsichord was made for me by John Phillips, of Berkeley, CA in 1987. It is designed after a N.Dumont instrument from 1707 which is now owned by a woman on the East coast of the U.S. I cannot imagine a better instrument for me--it is fantastic, and does whatever I want it to!

[EdvvardCash]

Harpsichord is so great.

[AGLMIL]

Your interpretation of Bach is superb. Are you taken secrets lessons with him?

[eldorado303]

very good. i would just deliver more energy

[isausol]

You have great technique, and you and making such a beautiful sound coming out of your harpsichord. Kudos, you would have made Bach proud :)

[composer95]

This is more than beatiful, that's amazing!!!

[berndschumannsvideos]

Very adequate, thoughtful performance! And I liked the fact that you only used one manual, although you have two. Just using the means the music needs, and nothing more. Very good!

[thesilverbrass]

perfect technique, the way bach would have played and wanted the performer to play

[krperl7]

@thesilverbrass Thank you for such a beautiful compliment--it made my day!

[thesilverbrass]

@krperl7 I can understand why my organ and piano teacher have been going on about technique since I started because music is not just about playing the right notes but how you play those notes is the most important

[3NUNS]

@thesilverbrass really ... not having met jsb nor being able to speack deutsch nor being a harpsichorfdist yourself you would deign to make such an assertion and what about the rubato ?

[thesilverbrass]

@3NUNS 1) I did A level German

2) I do play harpsichord as well as organ and piano

3) Every good performer knows too well the importance of technique and musicality but obviously you don't

[3NUNS]

@thesilverbrass Niemand weiß, ob J S Bach war ein rubatoist oder nicht. Bitte nicht converse so hart.

[3NUNS]

@thesilverbrass Since there are no recordings of Bach i don't think you can make such a statement !

[thesilverbrass]

@3NUNS But people have researched for years into historical playing and now know nearly every detail about the performance of baroque music and so recordings are 99% accurate of bach's playing style

[3NUNS]

@3NUNS from the writings of near contemporary writers and from jsb's own style of rhythmic filling out of the score and the performance standards of the time i doubt whether and doubt very much that jsb used rubato

[DanielReisGuitar]

Bach é o maior músico de todos os tempos, insuperável!

[Geopholus]

What a heavenly performance and gorgeous sounding harpsichord. It is so instructive to see your hands clearly and to observe your beautiful technique. I wish I could see your face! also. The harpsichord appears to be superbly adjusted, in marked contrast to most of the harpsichords I've played, or seen on you tube. Thank you for this inspiring and serene, little piece of joy!!!

[krperl7]

@Geopholus Thanks so much for writing--I so appreciate your expressions of appreciation!

[hattube]

Hi Kathy, I absolutely love hearing you play this! Thanks for uploading..I just downloaded the score and will try to learn it.

[MrZardoz777]

That was so good, thanks. What an aptitude for expression, love your time-feel.

[krperl7]

@MrZardoz777 I love this last thing you say! I have been working on my "time-feel" my whole life and will continue to do so. This is one of the most interesting things about being a musician!

[MrAganger]

i have just bought an early 1900 piano and just learning to play it. i have just learned what an harpsichord is and just have one question. i have just watched you play this piece beautifully so you must have plenty of practice therefore i ask you. what are the upper keys for?

[Telltolin]

@MrAganger the upper manual plucks the strings at a different position (or is it a different set of strings?) which gives the sound a different color, and some harpsichords have stops which can make the lower manual pluck both at once, and another which mutes the upper manual, making it sound a bit like a lute. they may have other features, but i'm not entirely sure as I've not looked into it too terribly deeply :D harpsichords are my favorite instrument nonetheless, i want one so badly

[jo5eph1n3]

awesome!!! your skill is really good!!! I like it very much

[johnnyace138]

you play cool music. What is the most "halloweenish" of your repetoire? Is halloweenish a word? Anyway, I enjoy your videos, ty for posting them.

[borghese84]

ur harpsichord has a fantastic sound. Which model is it? And congrats to u as well ofc

[sanchezluengo]

bello... gracias.

[sickpainevil]

YOU PLAY SO FINE, I LOVE IT! =^..^=

[douskara]

Very beautiful!!!!! 

[Gidenkidenk]

i want one!!!

[RoboticusMusic]

telephonano

[toni88vp]

this piece is one of my favourites. The soft melancholy of melody is so beautiful...

[Imad9494]

is the harpsichord the same as piano?

[TheJackHarkness]

@Imad9494 ROTFLMAO!!! Of course not! Piano works by hitting the strings with little hammers and harpsichord by plucking the strings. It acts very much as the fret on the guitar. Hope that helped to clarify things <3

[radioboy75]

@TheJackHarkness Perhaps lmad9494 meant, "is it played the same" -- i.e. tuned the same -- 8-note octaves, 12 keys between like notes, etc . . .

[locomotifx]

Excellent!

[holyday888]

mind...blown...

[emotionalboy89]

perfect!<3

[XRichterX]

hermoso

[pyrrooo]

such great technique! I rarely see proper harpsichord technique on youtube. greetings from Oberlin

[krperl7]

krperl7 to pyrrooo:

Thank you so much! It has taken me a long time to achieve this technique, and now I try to pass it along to my students. I'm happy that you appreciate it, and give my regards to Oberlin...

[burzz7]

EXTREME

[witchcraftlord]

this piece is really cool, but i get bored on the first page because i hate the tone of my piano compared to the tone of the french double i played

[lancemmyers]

John is a true master, although in real life some of his instruments come off as a bit shy. This one is a bit over voiced, but I'd opt for storng over weak. His one-time business partner Kevin Fryer builds less aggressive instruments, but they're both great.

[krperl7]

to lancemmyers:

Thanx for your comments, however I must correct a couple of things: I voiced this harpsi myself, and it is lightly voiced, I'd say. This is preferable for playing French ornaments, in fact, it's the only way! If you hear "aggressiveness", it is a VERY resonant instrument in a live room--not the voicing itself. Also, Kevin Fryer has NEVER been a business partner with John Philips! I agree that they both build great and different instruments--all with a natural resonance.

KRP

[jaypdx4u]

Wonderful and happy new year to you! thank you for sharing this. It was very moving and so beautifully played. I don't know very much about this type of music but I loved hearing and watching it.

[supermariozaken]

what type of harpsichord is that? French?

[krperl7]

yes, it is a French double manual, made by John Phillips, after a 1707 model made by N. Dumont originally.

[hacelocononda]

It is beautiful, a fantastic instrument with a fascinating sound. And very cleverly played. My most sincere congratulations for you and the luthier.

[Darkboy2525]

Very GOod !!

5 stars of course

[cassimiri89]

Great performances

[woubie]

beautiful playing on a great sounding instrument !

[witchcraftlord]

i played a double manual harpsichord for a few hours yesterday, not many people have access to one

[Narashava]

whats a double manual harpsichord?

[witchcraftlord]

well if you really dont know,.. look it up online

its an early keyboard instrument that predates the piano...

[witchcraftlord]

are you serious? a double manual harpsichord has 2 keyboards..

[lichtbroeder]

Beautiful playing! I own a single, hope to get a double some day.

[witchcraftlord]

i ask a simple question and some person out there gives it a thumbs down? what is that? who are you do discredit me? where would we be if we didnt think, or ask questions?? tell me,...

[lichtbroeder]

Your question was fine. Pay no attention to some who who leave nasty comments or negative marks. They are childish, mean spirited or arrogant, insecure in themselves and need to make others look bad. This happens on You Tube a lot.

[witchcraftlord]

why did you play the first 2 notes broken? instead of the way it is written in my copy of the WTC II,

did you do that on purpose or is that the way it is written on your sheet music?

[krperl7]

breaking a chord or interval is interpretive and very natural on the harpsichord, guitar and harp--all of which are related. The edition of music one is playing from is a good sketch, but not to be taken absolutely literally in every respect. If that were the case, every interpretation would be identical!

KRP

[wks1978]

Also, Breaking th notes like that is part of the musical style of the time.

They weren't so hung up on playing it exactly the way it is written as some people are today.

[witchcraftlord]

thanks for the info, i dont play a certain way because it is interpretive or part of a musical style, or because someone else has played that way... when im not improvising, i dont always play a piece exactly how it is witten

[rh7189]

That was so beautiful. The way your hands command the keyboard in such elegant and controlled fashion. Best of that Bach work I have heard.Lovely sound (Is that after Taskin?) Need to wipe away my tears.

[krperl7]

Hi rh,

No, my harpsichord is after a 1707 Dumont, built by John Phillips here in California. I can't imagine having a better instrument! Thanks for your complimentary words.

[mbogletcheke]

Back in the late 60s, I discovered this music that helped me to study mathematics in Paris. I am so grateful to my beloved wife, Evelyn, who made it possible.

[pyromohanzed]

What sort of mathematics?

[truxaltom]

That was very wonderful. Thank you for sharing!

[ThePhilosorpheus]

I didn´t know until now that so much feeling can be expressed in a hapsichord, very good playing and video!

[montimer357]

why keys are painted black?

[krperl7]

Hello!

they are not painted black, but made of ebony wood. the black naturals and white accidentals were preferred by the french builders of the 18th C., and my harpsichord follows that style.

[montimer357]

thanks for answer :)

[mrmolinodelahoz]

Kathy Pearl Roberts- without any doubt the best Bach interpreter of our time.

People will refer to her performances as they did with Scott Ross and Scarlatti.

Something uniquely beautiful and inspiring.

[krperl7]

Thank you so much for your comments.

Kathy

[freeqwerqwer]

Thanks for putting some feeling into a harpsichord music. It sounds lovely. So many mechanical harpsichordist but you play fabulous and with decorum and style. I'm making an MP4 file of this playing. And who is this lady?

[krperl7]

hello!

thank you for your comments and for asking "who is this lady?" I invite you to go to my website to discover more information about me and my philosophy about music, harpsichord and Bach.

sincerely, Kathy

[mrmolinodelahoz]

This is the best performance of Bach on the harpsichord I have heard ever.

Style, clarity of harmony and inner voice movement.  THere is a special spirit which moves this entire music by some indefinable force. I can´t get enough.....

[mrmolinodelahoz]

THis is a supurb of sophisticated and expressive harpsichord playing.

i would love to hear more from you as this is so wonderful.

[retrocareermelted]

that was fucking sick dude!!!! \m/

[greengreen31]

I love the harpsichord and you played wonderfully.

But can anyone tell me why the harpsichord has another shelf of keys? I would have thought that they were even higher notes but I've noticed on some harpsichords that when you push a key on the lower shelf, it's parallel key above it also goes down. I'm utterly confused :S

[krperl7]

please see the answer to your question above under the name freezaziod, who asked the same thing!

[greengreen31]

thanks for info : )

[wcbroccoli]

The "shelves of keys" are called "manuals" or "keyboards".

This harpsichord has more than one manual for the same reason an organ has more than one manual!

[greengreen31]

Thanks :D

[wcbroccoli]

I should add that, similar to an organ, each manual of the harpsichord controls

a different set or sets of strings. And like organ manuals, the harpsichord manuals can be mechanically coupled so that pressing a key on the lower manual automatically

activates the corresponding key on the other manual, thereby sounding the strings controlled by both keys.

[HerrWarja]

Your playing and the beuty of your instrument takes me too heaven! :-D

[zeagle79]

nice---now that I'm truly inspired I'm off in search of some Vivaldi. You bring the music to life.

[alexha89]

great!!

[CornelioIII]

I very like Harpsichord... =O

woow... u plat very good and nice!! *O*

Good luck!

Bye~

[jaypdx4u]

I absolutely love this performance... It was very beautiful and I love the sound of your instrument. I love harpsichord and this one just suits me ear perfectly. I don't know much about how one should sound I don't even play but I love hearing it. and especially you and this instrument

[blackbirdart002]

Beautiful playing. I enjoyed it very much. I play bass guitar, but still, i love other instruments aswell.

[neothomist1275]

"I play bass guitar, but still, i love other instruments aswell"

I play electric bass too and I'm obsessed with Bach. Bring on the polyphony!

[Babejuda]

In fact, the whole issue of Baroque-tuning also has a strong influence on the psychology. Beautiful sound-production.

[Alienacionglobal]

harpsichord rule!

[wolffrankenstein]

bach rule too!

[justmartha]

you are playing it on B blat minor?

I hear G#/Ab minor :-P

[krperl7]

Hi Martha,

The reason you hear it in those keys is that my harpsichord is at a=392, and your relationship to pitch is a whole step higher (440), like that of most people. 392 was used by musicians in France during the Baroque period, and my builder built my harpsichord for that pitch. It can also transpose to a=415. You are the first person on youtube to notice that! krp

[Clavichordist]

I tune my clavichord to the same pitch and other people have said the same thing! To me everything is relative so even though the instrument is tuned a full full step lower, it's still in b-flat minor irregardless of how it's tuned.

Awesome performance by the way! I wish I could give you more than 5 stars. :-)

[dolofonos]

And you rightly believe so: 'pitch' and 'key' are not the same thing--it's difficult to believe that anyone with enough understanding in music to differentiate between pitches would be ignorant of the two terms not being synonymous.

[Markohoppis]

I never played a real harpsichord. The keys look so soft and pliable compared to the keys on a piano.

[krperl7]

Hello!

There is less physicality of the whole upper body in playing the harpsichord. That's because the action plucks rather than strikes..you should try one sometime!

KRP

[FunkMasterFlex3]

I would like to get one, but my house is so freaking tiny. I dont have anywhere to put it.

[BlueJayWay1968]

WOW, thats absolutely gourgious & you play so beautifuly

[jaypdx4u]

Great sounding instrument and so beautifully played it was a great joy to hear... I had to add it to my favorites.

Thanks.

[Janetjacksongurl]

I love how the music sounds on a harpsichord :). You did soo well :)!!!

[masked1one]

Interesting song!

But what's the difference between the top set of keys and the bottom?

[krperl7]

Hi masked1,

Someone else asked the same question...see the above reply to Freezazoid!

Kathy

[hminaya]

please call it a piece, not a song, there's no words or vocals,

thank you.

[krperl7]

dear friedpez,

Thanks for your comment. My instrument is made by John Phillips (1987), after a Nicholas Dumont (1707) French Double. The builder is one of the best anywhere, and lives in Berkeley, CA. I commissioned it.

[PieroMancuso]

I still have complaints with this video being authentic in terms of the action being live. I do not doubt the audio as being authentic. I do however have reservations on the video. I posted my comments and the tours, you felt a need to sensor. which is why you will be just what you are. A fake. Tata

[Cheesetubes]

Oh you're just jealous.

[krperl7]

Hi Piero,

Well, I think its really weird that you don't believe me or others who have responded in my support. How about the two other videos?? Are they fake too?

[smalin]

It's ironic that you, who recording live performances (and known as a performer), would be accused of faking your YouTube videos, while I, a complete unknown who almost never performs in public, have not had people say that I've faked the video in my YouTube movies --- even though I have!

Lovely playing.

[hiromichiw]

>while I, a complete unknown who almost never performs in public, have not had people say that I've faked the video in my YouTube movies --- even though I have!

Most of your postings don't show you playing so it's very difficult to tell the recording is from your actual performance or from a notated music file.

[hiromichiw]

P.S. Also, some people fake some of their postings not all, making it very difficult to discern authenticity.

[ScarlattiFreak]

@PieroMancuso YOU are an idiot, Mancuso.

[friedpez]

You played it so well I had shivers going up my spine. Incredible sound, tempo, and interpretation!

[freezazoid]

what does the top keyboard do? I don't get it... is it just more harpsichord but an octave up or something?

[krperl7]

Hi freezazoid,

The top keyboard has its own strings, tuned at the same pitch as the lower one, but plucked in a different place so as to give the notes a different tone quality. The difference is only about two inches, but that is enough to give it a different sound. The top keyboard also has its own set of plectra. They can be operated separately or coupled together to give a more powerful and louder sound. krp

[annakim925]

You are good talented on music. Beautiful sound and performance. Could you share another videos? Keep up the good work and have a great day~.

[chadpijudisimo]

this sounds incredible...i love the harpsi.

[DBJ06]

It is B flat minor right? She feels everynote. Just beautiful.

[krperl7]

Wow! Thanks for pointing out the error in the key. You're right, and I can't believe I didn't catch it. We'll fix that soon--I appreciate your response to the video--thanks!

[wandalewlandowska]

Today my copy of Professor Perl's WTC arrived in the post. It is the first installment of the complete cycle. I have thus-far listened only to the first three preludes and their fugues and must say that these are brilliant on all counts and take a second place to none available on the market. Thankfully, the performances are highly personal and refreshing. It is regrettable that Piero thinks the video is 'fake'. In fact, it's only a suggestion of what beauty she creates at the harpsichord.

[wandalewlandowska]

Anyone who has heard Kathy Roberts Perl live marvels at the great clarity of the structure and sensuousness of tone. She has the musical the uncanny ability to lift a piece of music off the page and breathe life into it. It's rumoured that she is soon to release her first installment of the WTC on CD. I look forward to hearing all the Preludes & Fugues!

[PieroMancuso]

Well played. You choose your tempos well, Something left out of the masters notes. An absolute pleasure to hear/see you online. Thank You.

Piero

[medalduty]

Magistral, de Excelente Belleza momentánea

[awattsandre]

really great , i love it !!!!

[ricardogatos]

What a lovely treat! Thank you.