Eugene Ysaye - Sonata no. 2 for Solo Violin (I: "Obsession")

[duoMarnier]

splendida registrazione, non come quelle velocissime in cui non si capisce niente, solo inutile e noiosa scena, molto profonda e interessante questa versione.

[JenniferCuppett]

^ is it just me or does he look liek the actor that played Sam in LOTR?

[toco89]

It's sound BRILLIANT. great is stirs me

[idubwithshadeson]

Ok, kidna dumb question. I feel like this was used in Pirates of the Caribbean...at least Dies Irea was? anyone know?

[Someone1348]

Where can I get this music? 

[SomeViolentKid]

@Yangsta72

If my dad can play this, Pearlman can definately play this.

[Supermonstersify]

1:47 - 1:52 what is that from.It reminds of something.Does anybody know?

[rockvillebandgeek]

@Supermonstersify The tune is called the "Dies Irae," and it's been used very widely across all of classical music.

[TraceurT]

Anyone know where I can get a free music score of this song?

[MidniteHasStruck]

@TraceurT imslp.org is a site loaded with free scores because their copyrights have expired (75 years after their owner's death). You wouldn't believe what you can find their. its ALL free.

[goldviolinist1]

Amazing, this is especially since I recently learned themovment of bach's third partita and my orchestra teacher composed a serues if movements with the regorian Dies Irea. Its amazing to see them combined

[ItalianViolinist]

I LOVE this recording, very clear and beautiful phrasing!

[Kn2rlc]

Who is the violinist ???

[XSirApocalypseX]

My girlfriend plays violin and she also played it, I love to hear her.

[yangsta72]

Ysaye's compositions are truly outstanding pieces of work, specifically his six sonatas for solo violin. If I am correct, not even Itzhak Perlman recorded the sonatas. Shows how difficult they are, but once they are played to their full potential (which in my opinion has yet to be done), they are probably one of the best works for violin ever, especially the second.

[phasmic]

@yangsta72

I agree that Ysaye's sonatas are outstanding; but I wouldn't demonstrate their difficulty by saying "not even Perlman recorded them". Of course they are quite fiendish, but do you really think that Perlman wouldn't play them with characteristic ease? These would be mere trifles to Perlman. I'm not his biggest fan on earth, but his phenomenal technical fluency cannot be denied.

[BadicaD]

GeorgeEnescu ... Feliz dia de tu nombre ! (La multi ani !)

[simcha181818]

@BadicaD An nou fericit!

[bouledogue888]

Génialissime.

[xPURPLExKILLERx]

WHATS THE NAME OF THE FIRST TWO SONGS THAT WERE PLAYING IN THE BEGINNING OF THE VIDEO FOR LIKE A SECOND????

[banjoben1234]

@xPURPLExKILLERx Bach Partita in E major, Preludio, it occurs throughout the piece.

[newFranzFerencLiszt]

is it so difficult for all the user to post the other part of the video in response? -.-

[jbrahms1833]

Well done! It's too bad that Ysaye's music is not better known.

[ggalexhutchings]

1:44 to 1:45 holy crap. control.

[Osterman1973]

que grande el belga este!!!!!!! La rompe con el violoncito

[AuthenticNavyPeaCoat]

Brilliant! Thank you for posting this rare recording. This clip is especially haunting. In concert, I heard Joshua Bell play this piece -- brilliantly also -- and said to the audience beforehand, that he considered Ysaye to be his 'musical grandfather.' (Bell had a teacher who was Ysaye's student). Well said. Now having heard both violinists play 'Obsession', it is wonderful to recall that generational aspect of music that makes it everlasting. Heartfelt thanks, again!

[nguyenducan85]

Outstanding !!!

[ulduarable]

I love Ysaye...

[007TheViolinist]

There are just two words I want to say. Wonderful playing!

[nachordez]

Ysaÿe mixes the begginig of the Bach partita with the gregorian Dies Irae, from the requiem mass.... that's the Obssession idea in the title: DEATH. The Dies Irea is present in the folowing movements also, as an obssessive idea...

[Lesolin]

@nachordez I believe Ysaÿe titled the movement "Obsession" because before every single performance, no matter what he was playing, Thibaud would warm up with the Bach E major preludio relentlessly.

[carrottoponcrak]

@nachordez I'm pretty sure the story goes that this sonata was written for Jacques Thibaud, who could, before most shows, be heard playing Bach's famous prelude from the third Partita from his solo violin works (to warm up). Ysaye called this Jacques' obsession and wrote this sonata for him.

[carloseduardoiel]

@nachordez Bach, No. 3 in E, BWV 1006

[leedoyeon]

=S the theme in this piece is gregorian chant? So Bach also took the theme from gregorian chant to write his prelude for partita no.3?

The beginning is identical to the beginning of the bach's prelude.

[bboygjack698]

it is the bach prelude, and everything comes from chant orignally

[NatieQ]

amazing.

[DeArmeStudent]

@jimmyd45, i listened to them all, but its not the same...

but if the theme is from the Dies Irae, is there a solo violin version of it???

[davidjb100]

Try Liszt's Totentanz; it's the first theme by the orchestra. (Enrico Pace's recording's the best) If you still can't hear it, simply type in Dies Irae. They have the original plainchant on YouTube.

[kuntakinte90]

@davidjb100 also try the fourth movement from Berlioz' "Symphonie Fantastique Op. 14"

[davidjb100]

@kuntakinte90 Yeah, I should have mentioned that... Berlioz practically started the Dies Irae craze.

[Arccos230]

the theme in this piece is the GREGORIAN CHANT dies irae. many other composers have incorporated the lyrics dies irae in their pieces but its all based off this ancient chant.

[DeArmeStudent]

And what is the song he performes after 1:48? and is the entire piece of it ever played on solo violin?

[Jimmyd45]

It's a popular theme called 'Dies Irae', there are thousands of variations of it by hundred of composers.

Listen for example to the final movement of Berlioz's "Symphonie fantastique",Liszt's "Danse macabre", or Rachmaninov's Etude-Tableau N°2 op. 39

[JohnColt]

Thomas Zehetmair's recording on ECM is by far the best performance I've heard.

[valtent]

you're absolutely right! that's a wonderful recording, I've never heard Ysaye sonatas played as he does!

[balanchinemachine]

Wonderful! Thanks for posting this.

[memofighterr]

It kinda sounds like he's playing in his bathroom...

[bulboflight]

You mean like that it has good acoustics?

[memofighterr]

Yes. It sounds nice in my opinion.

[gulisha520]

actually I think it has better acoustics in the living room

[gulisha520]

haha, funny

[ShinAkiraX]

I'm now obsessed with this piece.

[roshambo80211B]

Intense.

[mysticmansion555]

I LOVE YSAYE

[dxhaloxc]

so powerful.

[imlovelylaila]

Having heard many versions on here, this stands out .

[ttryl09]

It's a lot clearer

[matriculeb3east]

it is very interesting the way Ysaye mixes the bach Partita with a "diaes irae" which is a medieval theme singed for dead people...mixing a prelude and a diaes irae...allmost a touch of sarcasm ?

[JustinK078]

I heard Joshua Bell play this Sonata tonight! Absolutely amazing!!!

[trevjr]

its not clear who is playing, but this is very good. Ysaye is such a fascinating composer. yes the obsession with Bach, who doesn't have it? All of Ysaye's music should be heard.

[OriginalMoonbeam]

I love Ysaye's compositions and how fortunate to have them played by such a masterful violinist as Ilya Kaler!

[Arodang]

After hearing bach partitas Ysaye immediately drafted his sonatas dedicating each to one of his friends. The are inspired by the partitas

[dxhaloxc]

"The immediate spur for writing his solo sonatas was a solo Bach recital given by the Hungarian violinist Joseph Szigeti. Ysaye sketeched all sonatas in one intense period of twenty-four hours and revised them in the following weeks."

[dropofjupiter08]

My teacher told me that Ysaye wrote it for his alcholic friend - the Dies Irae theme comes in because it's warning him about the wrath of God if he doesn't stop drinking. Don't know why he Bach Partita is there...it's just cool I guess... :)

[SpikeE88]

So Jacques Thibauld was a drunk??

[Arodang]

He wrote for a friend who would forget his notes thats why its starts familiar then it transistions into an entirely different song, then switches back to being like back

[cromulentinnoc3nce]

Supposedly, Jacques Thibauld had an obsession with the Partita in E.

[storionigirl1775]

i would think that it was because he was obsessed w/ the back partita/dies irae theme...? unless im wrong...

[xXLeafXNinjaXx]

I dont understand why he titled it obsession and why parts of the bach partita are in it.

:|

[luellelu]

It's part of the sonata.

[twinkiesareus]

This sonata can be characterized as a sort of karmic theme, if you think about it, how the piece fluctuates back and forth but revolves around the Bach Partita in E. Which was what he seems to be trying to portray that with everything else around, the Bach Partita is in his mind and its an obsession that does not seem to go away, as Ysaye transcribes the last measure of the Partita.

[musicaergosum]

Thank you for this obsession!

[GreatPianists]

A great piece of music, to say the least. And the other movements are perfectly coherent with it.

Love the quotations from the Dies Irae.

[Adela21]

it;s Karma theme, faith, fatality...I love this piece

[irrejhk]

does it mean an obssession to Bach Partita no.3 prelude?

totally stunned by this piece

is there any recording of this piece from Ysaye?

[mshakhz]

No I doubt Ysaye ever recorded them.

This piece was written for Thibault if i'm not mistaken, who was afraid of playing Prelude stage because he thought he would get lost.

Not sure if this is made up or not, but that's what Rachel Pine told the audience on one of her vids somewhere on utube.

[cageynerd]

Each of the six solo sonatas have dedications on them, by Ysaye's hand.

[Sifinland]

Incredible. Beautiful!

[mshakhz]

well I have to agree that he's one of the best, but he's not very young anymore :)

He is incredible, listen to his Paganini too - he's and Pikaizen's recordings are my all time favorites.

[mshakhz]

i didn't mean he doesn't play as good.. maybe even better, more refined :)

[misterbg1]

omg... is this ysaye playing? nah cant be probably vengerov or sumtin

[Misantropo]

no. is Ilya Kaler.

[Oldputai]

Brilliant!