Bach (Busoni) - Ich ruf zu dir, Herr Jesu Christ - Horowitz

[baptistic]

Sorry, I'm not a musician, but I'd like to know what it is he plays as the very last, first time around I heard a powerful minor chord (which would be funny since most baaroque pieces end with a major chord), but now I think Horowitz played no chord at all, leaving the auditor to decide whether to hear it major or minor!

[MrTomt1990]

utterly depressing..... but uttterly brilliant!

[prinzparsiphal777]

Dieses Choralpraeludium ist ein Ruf nach Gott in der Dunkelheit des Weltalls.-Der Ruf bleibt ohne Antwort.Das F-Dur des Schlussakkords bringt kaum Licht in die Finsternis.Das Stueck ist verwandt mit der dreistimmigen Invention in f-moll.

[baptistic]

@prinzparsiphal777 But does Horowitz actually close with the F major chord?

[prinzparsiphal777]

@baptistic You are right.-There is neither the third "a" nor "a flat", just a plain " f ", as far as I hear.- Anyhow, a simple " f " tends to create a "major-like" atmosphere due to physics ( overtones ).-Nevertheless the Horowitz version is not really optimistic regarding a Happy End.

[baptistic]

@prinzparsiphal777 Koennen Sie erklaeren was fuer Verhaeltnis gibt es zwischen die beide Stuecke?

[prinzparsiphal777]

@baptistic Die dreitoenige,staendig wiederholte Figur ist ein Leidensmotiv in der Musik von Bach.Dreistimmige Invention in f-moll.

[noestetchynghando]

Before hitting the switch to start the Big Bang, the Old Man played this piece, anticipating all the sufferings of mankind.-

[rafaelpianoba]

@noestetchynghando :) Your comment has pure poetry!

[noestetchynghando]

Man alone with God.- If this recording does not touch you, listen to Tatiana Nikolayeva.-

(4:40 minutes !)

[Dougol1]

Yes i can understand why everyone would go for the superpianists Horowitz, Sokolov etc without any doubt they are the gods, however if you really really like this piece played on piano and it speaks to your soul, check out Tatiana Nikolayeva

[bnardish]

Peut-être la meilleure interprétation qui soit avec celle de Dinu Lippati de ce magnifique choral de Bach. Mais écoutez celle de Samson François : une des plus belles qui soient aussi. Je les préfère en tout cas à celles de Solokov, Richter, Kempf et de bien d'autres.

[noestetchynghando]

@bnardish Ecoutez Tatiana Nikolayeva.-

[phosphore222]

ITS NOT HORROWITZ. LIAR

[leongatha96]

@phosphore222 it sure is

[userr600]

СОЛЯРИС!

[janacek0570]

Horowitzt understands this piece more than every other pianist I' ve heard! He plays it not too slow, sentimental and pretentious. He is alone with God and doesn't want any more.

[robertocasitenore]

Emozionante

[ym42ym42]

This sounds so out of tune after listening to real organ. Its amazing...

[paulostroff99]

Lovely.

[mokacode]

Bravo!....

[pbazant]

I can't help it, but i think Busoni ruined the piece with the heavy left hand transcription and romantic approach. What a pity.

[thefatpenguin2003]

@pbazant I agree , ruined however is a strong word . Perhaps used a different hue to paint the same view ?

[HiiPPi3]

nice for piano as wel expecially played by Horowitz, even tough original organ version is way better, that in the "orgelbüchlein"

[bonsema1]

herodot2 yeah I got 10 children dead but hey I´ve still got 10 left so that´s all right.

I belñieve at least one of them , Johann Christian , actually developed his musical talents with quite some success.

[bonsema1]

herodot2 yes but he procreated as if he were a catholic rabbit, he sired at least 20 children....that´s OK , he was a supergifted.

[LambChowder1]

@bonsema1 half of them died

[bonsema1]

" Ich ruf zu Dir" is as deeply Christian as it gets.

Horowitz is a great artist bt was not brought up with Chrisianity.

I mean give me the catholic Dinu Lipatti any time ; he nails it.

But then again the music is a prayer to a Jew.

[herodot2]

@bonsema1

Bach was Lutheran though...

[rosepiano1]

que c'est superbe !

[mylovelylittleone]

Bach well-played sounds like a prayer - and he got it! :>

[ClaudeFrollon]

I got addicted to this peace because of the movie Solaris (of tarkovsky)

[enemyofbohemia]

@ClaudeFrollon Same! A gorgeous piece of music for a gorgeous movie.

[goldberg72]

al 1:39 e' grandioso

[gonrolgonrol]

This is the main theme in the russian movie "Solaris" (by Andrej Tarkovskij). It was in this movie I first heard this composition. It became one of my favourite bach compositions immediately.

[everydaywarriors]

MASTERPIECE!

Brings a tear to my eye when I think of the time that has gone by.

[Edbrye2008]

Reverent.

[esteff22]

I really like how this is played, is much slower , better/good/magnificent!

[ducarvalho]

embora seja Bach, este movimento largo mais parece um Nourno : tão romantico, tão Chopin.....

caiu bem nesta manhã de luz e paz.

bom dia, Sat!

[iagus100]

Bellissimo e tristissimo insieme.

Du kanst rufen, maar er komt echt geen antwoord terug. Ormai lo so con certezza e ne piango insieme a Vladimir.

[uhartchristian]

ah that sound...... much better than in later years. as horowitz was at his best at that time. I prefer this version to the famous Lipatti version..... but thats personal opinion. both are great.

[monobrowperson]

This piece is the product of my brilliance, engendered in my genius then projected back through time and embedded into the conscience of Bach, who was consequently obliged to carry out my will under pain of interminable sufferings.

[kasyapa]

kookoo.

[metteholm75]

His expression, though, is exquisite!

[smokinbill]

this is horrid compared to the dinu lipatti version; but I think someone took that one down.

[herodot2]

@smokinbill

Why?

[smokinbill]

@herodot2 cause there's no emotion in this version - at least none compared to the dinu one, who performed it knowing he was going to die.

It just tears your heart out it's so beautiful.

[GeoffreySimonOnline]

@smokinbill The Lipatti recording is still up. The copy/paste function isn't working for me, but you can find it if you simply search YouTube for "Dinu Lippati" and then look for Bach Chorale Prelude.

However, the Horowitz version is hardly "horrid." Each performer plays this work well, albeit lacking the color that the sound has on the organ, for which it was written. DL's measured trills were, unfortunately, the way that Baroque music was taught during his time.

[handsomechuck1]

Stellar. I was just wondering earlier how this would sound on instruments other than the organ...and here I go.

[TheRussian1989]

Amazing

[gris131]

hasta donde yo sabia la transcripcion de este coral fue hecha por Reger

[kempff95]

superb legato.............

very beautifull thank for posing!

[InterBrian]

magnificent!!!

Thanks Isis Forever

Brian

[ForeverIsis]

probably the loneliest piece i've ever heard

[klausknulp]

yes!

[RemovdSande11]

@ForeverIsis

/watch?v=5KFRauuSs8k&list=PL26­535C89C78DD4CB

[klausknulp]

I am idicted by the sound of Horowitz. It started when I was 6 years old and will probably never end.

[BrucknerMotet]

Likewise I have been indicted of Horowitz addiction, and indications point to no furlough.

[pianofolle]

S.one who compared horowitz' and Lipatti's perfofmance of this piece would be as senseless as one who tried to show that sky is more beautiful than sea or vice versa

[Perseus12345678]

agreed!

[rafaelpianoba]

good comparison!!!!

[88alan8800]

@pianofolle how wonderful of you to say! : D

[hermanshermits124124]

@pianofolle Well said!!

[janvkimm]

@hermanshermits124124

I agree with my whole "me"...

With respect,

Jan.

[herodot2]

@pianofolle

Probably. But there are sky-types and sea-types.

[periklesmeier]

Listen to Ann Herlong, a very moving performance.

[MFMSMITH]

The two versions, D and Maestro V: V goes for a pianissimo fond and has eccentric ornamentation, D's touch much heavier but with a more articulated layering strategy. Each implodes slightly at the tall order of being both discplined and romantic: a problem-set only PARTIALLY resolved by a Gouldian (transcending-the-issue) approach. The latest D version (qv)commenter misconsrues my organ remark re GG incidentally: G avoids the overtly religious,in order to be so OBLIQUELY thus repertoire choix MS

[2lipsonmy0rgan]

The composition by Bach was written for organ, Busoni transscribed it from the "Orgelbüchlein". The englisch translation of the title is "I am calling to you, Lord Jesus Christ".

Both, the choral and its arrangement, are rather contemplative than sad.

[pvehling]

This is a very happy song to me. Where does the sadness spring forth?

[mephaz85]

how can it be shown for a blind man? :(

[aatz1982]

if if any music makes you feel sad it's because you have been conditioned to react to certain stimulus in a certain way. for me this is a very beautiful piece of music so listening to it makes me happy! yay!

[mephaz85]

the same could be applied to you: whenever you feel happy, it must be conditioned by some typical mechanism which is activated by the stimulus.

the question is whether it is normal to feel happy about naturally sad things.

[aatz1982]

well that's certainly a question, but a fairly daft one

[btpolitic]

This is also on Horowitz, discovered treasures cd, with Scarlatti, Clementi, Chopin . I have worn out 3 copies. This piece brings out an un-measurable sadness. Ive put it on infinite repeat and listened for hours. I only wish it was 20 minutes long. This version is from a Busoni arrangement.

[billabongxv]

This is fantastically beautiful and emotional in an elevated way

[Kallestina]

This interpretation of the famous Chorale Prelude is the best I have heard for the piano. It is clear in its detatails and played by an artist who made the piano sound almost like the organ.

[musicdivinemusic]

So sad and supremely beautiful... Listen to the Dinu Lipatti version as well. Equally masterful.

[kristallon100]

I complettlyu agree with aewanko300. I keep this for days of rain and sorrow to be like a balm of soul.

[calibardo]

NYC, June 12 1969

It's a private LP commissioned by Goodyear for Christmas

[volodya75]

His sound... It´s like an organ!

[BayAreaBiker2001]

It was written for the organ, another keyboard instrument. Composers around Bach's time were not specific as to which instrument to play this piece on. Keyboards were pretty much interchangeable, although sacred music was normally played on the organ and secular music was usually played on the harpsichord.

[GeoffreySimonOnline]

@BayAreaBiker2001 As generalizations, off the mark. If the work included a pedal part (to be played with the feet), it was an organ work, not a harpsichord work. While many harpsichord works were secular in nature (Suites and Partitas, e.g.), the harpsichord was also used as a keyboard continuo instrument in sacred works, including cantatas and oratorios.

[stan724]

Percy Grainger played this piece very well. A live performance was preserved on the Pearl label.

[aewanko300]

probably the loneliest piece i've ever heard

[waytoocool]

what year was this played in?

[rafaelpianoba]

Sorry, but I don´t no!

[calibardo]

NYC June 12 1969

It's a private LP commissioned by an industry for Christmas

[calibardo]

NYC, June 12, 1969

It's a private LP commisioned by Goodyear for Christmas

[FinrodFR]

@waytoocool According to the fansite: 12 June 1969