Menuhin plays Bach Partita No. 3 in E, BWV 1006 - Part 1/6

[catherina9611]

Menuhin is a typical 'romance-player' he didn't play it slow because he wanted to point out every note, he wanted it to became a lovesong, something it is not written for, but yet it has a charming part because he's just a kickass in playing romance.

[LSDboomer]

aww...i like this song better played fast! i think heifetz' "cover" (if you will :) ) is DOPE.

but i am addicted to caffeine...hmmm maybe this is a contributing factor

have a good day friends

[elfslay]

I imagine this was recorded before he was even in his prime. Very nice, I prefer it over Milstein at least. Maybe not over Heifetz's though.

[classiccandle27]

What wonderful sound he makes~~ Your playing is perfect... I respect you so much, Sir Menuhin!!

[cristinaGlopez]

Well if you take passion out from music, the result is... cripple music?. I'm not saying that everything has to be performed like a drama, but with feeling, yes: music is sadness, or happiness, or dispair, or graceness... not just a bunch of consecutive notes you have to play in some order. A computer can do that.

[3000gre]

aun cuando mi oido es joven, en esta interpretación se nota lo que es el contrapunto, hace poco ei lo que significa. Bach se debió divertir bastante cuando compuso eso, es tan irreal!!!

[gibsonpaddy]

Menuhin plays it a little boring. Very good but boring. Heifetz is so superior 2 all playin the Fiddle

[Lilyonsan]

There we go, this is the speed that should possibly be considered. Although he is going just a bit slow for my liking, he really emulates the feeling that a song like this should have.

[cjh37878]

He could play it 3x as fast if he wanted. Listen to his Dance of the Goblins recording. It sounds better slower, though, because he wants his audience to actually be able to discern what notes he's playing.

[Bushy162]

The thing about you guys is that you want everything as romantic as possible! This performance is perfection!

[Bushy162]

Wonderful. It really works at this pace! What's everyone's problem? In fact I think this is in some ways better than Itzhak Perlman's.

[bitchfacejones]

he can play it slow like that because he's Yehudi Menuhin

he's got nothing to prove

[chakani0001]

Hilary Hahn does the definitive Partita No. 3. She has the control, the emotion, I've never heard anyone else do it as well as her.

[goethethegreat]

Really? Have you hear Nathen Milstein's rendition? It is quite superior to hilary's. as is Jascha Heifetz's(may not be on youtube), and this one (Menuhin's).

[chakani0001]

Well, "les goûts sont dans la nature", but I think this version (Menuhin's) is slow and plodding. And yes, I know Menuhin could play it "three times faster", that's not the point. He chose to play it thus.

Menuhin's version is mechanical, uninspiring. In contrast, Hahn's has bite, verve, there is emotion and passion in her rendition. Her strokes are modulated, inflected, like she's trying to say something instead of just working her way through the bars.

I'd love to hear Milstein's.

[goethethegreat]

Ok, if by mechanichal and uninspiring you mean Bachian, then yes. Yehudi's performance is more true to Johan sabastian's musical sentiment. Menuhin delivers a highly structered performance, with pristine and eloquent phrasing, as well as precise note difrentiation. Hilary, on the other hand, gives -as you pointed out- a more overtly passionate performace. To her credit, she does this in a subtle enough way so that the performance remains tasteful. (cont...)

[goethethegreat]

In Johan's music, (and in this piece in particular) there is a phenomanal balance in between the intellect and the emotions. Hilary's interpretation, overbalances somewhat on the emotional side. This can be heard clearly in the first six bars, -among other areas- where she overmodulates her volume and tempo. I take it that you prefer romantic music (in general). In this case however, Yehudi's superior tone, surpassing line, and devotion to authenticity, make his interpretation 'better'

[my666vs777]

Totaly agree with you, Milstain interpritations of Bach partita N°3 in my opinion the best, impossible play better, clairity, virtiosity, and incredible "tempo"!! Nathan Milstein greatest Bach's interpretor all times, and when he play chaconne omg !! no words!!

[anisometropie]

he plays too slow

i'm playing this on my cello, and i've many many troubles, really really hard !.

[gratiaDei777]

Hey, I'd love to see this played on the cello. Could you post a video of you playing this on your cello, please?

[Coolcat607]

I actually think you can take Bach at a slower pace.. I performed it at this tempo about ..

[musicaergosum]

Thanks!