Genius is the most overused word in our trite society of medocrity. You only must hear this to recognize virtuosity -- and genius, a word recognized by any society and any age. People in attendance said after the performance no one applauded. They were stunned, dazed by the grandeur. They were left breathless.
"OldMrGrace" likely has a political or personal agenda of some kind. You can choose not to prefer Stokowski's transcriptions, but like everything he did, they show imagination. They make a statement. So many performances are matters of rote. At best they are "musicianly" for holding to the literal intent of the composer, but they convey either nothing or far less than they can.
I won't say that Stokowski had no peer, but there are few conductors who were as special as he.
This comment has received too many negative votesshow
Overblown, turgid, bombastic tripe, with all semblance of grace missing. A childish expression of Bach as a construct of cheap, heavy bulding blocks. You don't get grandeur out of pig iron. For shame. A product of barbaric times for 1812 Overture fans only. Oh yeah, and sack the oboe (3:19 to 3:12). One big, massive shit machine. Who penned this transcription? Brunel?
This is Stokowski's own transcription, the same used in the 1930's movie "Fantasia". It was much admired at the time; remember that musicians and society were much closer to the Romantic era (19 cent.) Even in the 1950s when this video was recorded, study of Baroque performance practice was in its infancy. The "authentic" instrument/performance practice movement has changed our ears, beginning with the 1970's. Apollo's Fire, based in Cleveland, OH, is one such fine "early music" ensemble.
Of course the original organ version is better but this is also fantastic. Stokowski was both a great conductor and orchestrator. His orchestral transcription of Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition is rather more interesting than Ravel's, Great delicacy and subtlety.
He was a considerably more capable orchestrator than many better known figures and this wonderful transcription, though leaning towards the showy side, correlates with the Tausig piano transcription - Melodramatic but brilliant immensley pleasing. However, I do regard Elgar's orchestration of the C Minor Fantasy and Fugue by Bach to be one of the very finest examples of an orchestration of Bach organ music around - even better than Stokowski.
If Bach would have had access to these kinds of forces, he would have surely penned his world of music with the orchestra as his will. His music is fully expressed with the orchestra transforming his piece into a truly cosmic element.
You shouldn't judge this piece by the performance of the Chicago Symphony. In my opinion, it is quite an awful one. At the minute mark, the strings just scratch away at one of the most beautiful moments in music without any regard for beauty of the phrase.
Lo felicito.Evidentemente Ud. demuestra conocimientos musicales y admira una transcripción del mismo Stokowsky,que inclusive se usó en la inolvidable película "Fantasía".En 1932,tal vez no lo sepa,se editaron discos de 32rpm,abuelos de los LP.Stokowsky fue el que impulsó la idea y
vos sos un pajero retrogrado que no acepta que haya generaciones mas nuevas que las tuyas tenes una pinta de vegestorio barbaro asi que no me vengas a decir como tengo que expresarme porque yo diciendo lo que digo capaz que entiendo mas que lo que vos pensas con tu pensamiento "superior"
No voy a ponerme a su altura.Pero aprovechar su anonimato y abusar de You tube,que nos presta un servicio incomparable,demuestra su catadura moral.Con esto pongo fin a este intercambio,pero respete A STOKOWSKY y a mí.Vaya a un buen psicólogo.
anyway i must say that stok did such a huge great work that you recognize Bach style only if you know very well Bach, otherwise it's so good that you guess it was always written like this for Orchestra and than you could tell it's an 1920ish coposition....
Stowkowski's orchestral transcription of Bach's Passacaglia and Fugue in C Minor has been my favorite piece of music since I was 14 (decades ago). By the way, why did Stowkowski choose not to use a conductor's baton?
He found a way to conduct his music with feeling, and he tought when he used a baton, he wouldn't conduct with enough espression (I normally use a baton, but sometimes I like to wave my hands in the air...)
Stokowski gave up the practice of using a baton in the 1920's. He always felt he could best communicate with his orchestra through his hands and eyes!
Ah, this brings back memories of Walt Disney's original FANTASIA! I love Stokie's transcription and his conducting of it; Baroque music matches the over the top art and architecture of its day, flamboyant and larger than life. I completely fail to understand the anemic "early music" movement that has taken the guts out of this music.
Remember, that's Reiner's orchestra and such is the sound. Stokowski certainly brings sound to it, but the technical ability of the orchestra is due to Reiner.
There is a joke about Stokowski standing in front of the CSO, dropping his hands w/o a preparatory beat, and when the CSO string players didn't come in, he said something along the lines of "I forgot, I'm not in Philadelphia!".
It's still bach, but I understand what you're saying, the emotional and overall musical impact of this performance comes from Stokowski's arrangement, not from the composition itself. Listening to it on organ is completely different is more "Bach"
This comment has received too many negative votesshow
Aaron Copland, around the time of Stokowski, commented on the low culture of classical orchestra members: he noted that they seldom were to be found studying a score not on the season repertoire or a book about music.
This was because clowns like Leopold Stokowski terrorised (and union-busted) musicians into producing the crap we're now hearing which sounds like a bunch of circus musicians being pursued by a bear.
Awful, truly awful. Has nothing to do with Bach. The orchestration is not a problem. The problem is that Stokowski terrorised musicians out of solidarity with each other, and every musician is playing for him...not even listening to the others. The effect is a train wreck filled with dissonance.
One gets the impression that each musician has been so alienated by the "great man" that he simply doesn't care any more.
This is what inspired me to become a classical musician: hearing Stokowski conduct this piece in the re-release of Disney's FANTASIA. How great to have this, thank you. Does the entire performance exist?
To be more concise: does the entire performance exist ON FILM? Sometimes film can be lost or damaged, thereby resulting in a partial viewing experience. I see that you are a literalist, and a snotty one at that. Ten to one you;re a bitchy queen, but whatever you are I don't care to know you. EVER.
Genius is the most overused word in our trite society of medocrity. You only must hear this to recognize virtuosity -- and genius, a word recognized by any society and any age. People in attendance said after the performance no one applauded. They were stunned, dazed by the grandeur. They were left breathless.
825y 3 months ago in playlist More videos from vaimusic
:gasp: Leopold
TheHuMoCa 6 months ago
"OldMrGrace" likely has a political or personal agenda of some kind. You can choose not to prefer Stokowski's transcriptions, but like everything he did, they show imagination. They make a statement. So many performances are matters of rote. At best they are "musicianly" for holding to the literal intent of the composer, but they convey either nothing or far less than they can.
I won't say that Stokowski had no peer, but there are few conductors who were as special as he.
ChristophePhilippe 10 months ago
Several former Toscanini players here, including the great Frank Miller.
Stoki was a pompous clown. A circus act. Just look at him. He left no legacy whatever, other than these curious, grotesque transcriptions.
OldMrGrace 11 months ago
@OldMrGrace And what, pray sir, is your legacy: grotesque or otherwise? Younger Mr. Timms
ferrari246D 7 months ago
The greatest conductor of all time. <3
burtmurdoch 1 year ago
@burtmurdoch Based on what?
OldMrGrace 11 months ago
all thats missing is an octobass haha
TheHuMoCa 1 year ago
pffff every single time i hear this version of the Toccata & Fugue i shiver and cry in the end.
Sounds like Oboe is missing a note at around 3:18 :p
Vegetth87 1 year ago
these are great clips, they seem to be starting too late. was the footage cut short? alas, such beautiful pieces. thanks.
northbeachfilms 1 year ago
ストコフスキーが求めたもの・・・
オケでパイプオルガンでの余韻
を求めたのでは
しいて
音めたのではないかと？
8842tomiyan 1 year ago
Wow, I can see it! Him bringing them in...
DAREALFARMZ 1 year ago
Love the middle horn player's cut off at 5:29.
jonnoj15 1 year ago
Lousy orchestra for an otherwise brilliant Conductor
miniroll32 1 year ago
MARAVILLOSO !!!!
olmedomanuel 1 year ago
4:48 - goosbump chord
john3047X 1 year ago
This is what a great organist would do if possible at the
organ -having heard many try - the problem here is the
pick up clarity - otherwise "great"
dziady1 2 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
Overblown, turgid, bombastic tripe, with all semblance of grace missing. A childish expression of Bach as a construct of cheap, heavy bulding blocks. You don't get grandeur out of pig iron. For shame. A product of barbaric times for 1812 Overture fans only. Oh yeah, and sack the oboe (3:19 to 3:12). One big, massive shit machine. Who penned this transcription? Brunel?
bigmandrel 2 years ago
Piss off.
There's plenty of grace, nuance and eloquence here.
What is it with your Stokowski hate?
RogueRotting360 2 years ago
Go fist yourself.
miniroll32 2 years ago
@miniroll32 LOL!
dkthg 5 months ago
Comment removed
LWflute 2 years ago
This is Stokowski's own transcription, the same used in the 1930's movie "Fantasia". It was much admired at the time; remember that musicians and society were much closer to the Romantic era (19 cent.) Even in the 1950s when this video was recorded, study of Baroque performance practice was in its infancy. The "authentic" instrument/performance practice movement has changed our ears, beginning with the 1970's. Apollo's Fire, based in Cleveland, OH, is one such fine "early music" ensemble.
LWflute 2 years ago 2
Of course the original organ version is better but this is also fantastic. Stokowski was both a great conductor and orchestrator. His orchestral transcription of Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition is rather more interesting than Ravel's, Great delicacy and subtlety.
owatson322utube 2 years ago 2
He was a considerably more capable orchestrator than many better known figures and this wonderful transcription, though leaning towards the showy side, correlates with the Tausig piano transcription - Melodramatic but brilliant immensley pleasing. However, I do regard Elgar's orchestration of the C Minor Fantasy and Fugue by Bach to be one of the very finest examples of an orchestration of Bach organ music around - even better than Stokowski.
owatson322utube 2 years ago
If Bach would have had access to these kinds of forces, he would have surely penned his world of music with the orchestra as his will. His music is fully expressed with the orchestra transforming his piece into a truly cosmic element.
You shouldn't judge this piece by the performance of the Chicago Symphony. In my opinion, it is quite an awful one. At the minute mark, the strings just scratch away at one of the most beautiful moments in music without any regard for beauty of the phrase.
Jeremyamoto 1 year ago 4
This is the best interpretation of this song I've heard :)
miniroll32 2 years ago
bravo!
gobasara 2 years ago
Lo felicito.Evidentemente Ud. demuestra conocimientos musicales y admira una transcripción del mismo Stokowsky,que inclusive se usó en la inolvidable película "Fantasía".En 1932,tal vez no lo sepa,se editaron discos de 32rpm,abuelos de los LP.Stokowsky fue el que impulsó la idea y
la RCA la llevó a cabo!
jorgeliebermann 2 years ago
vamos bach la puta madre el metal le debe todo!
elsalvadelagente 2 years ago
Usted es una bestia.
jorgeliebermann 2 years ago
hasta las bestias escuchamos buena musica
elsalvadelagente 2 years ago
Algunas bestias escuchan,pero otras muerden o matan.Expresarse en la forma en Ud. lo hace,de Leopold Stokowsky,es caer en el segundo item.
jorgeliebermann 2 years ago
vos sos un pajero retrogrado que no acepta que haya generaciones mas nuevas que las tuyas tenes una pinta de vegestorio barbaro asi que no me vengas a decir como tengo que expresarme porque yo diciendo lo que digo capaz que entiendo mas que lo que vos pensas con tu pensamiento "superior"
elsalvadelagente 2 years ago
No voy a ponerme a su altura.Pero aprovechar su anonimato y abusar de You tube,que nos presta un servicio incomparable,demuestra su catadura moral.Con esto pongo fin a este intercambio,pero respete A STOKOWSKY y a mí.Vaya a un buen psicólogo.
jorgeliebermann 2 years ago
anyway i must say that stok did such a huge great work that you recognize Bach style only if you know very well Bach, otherwise it's so good that you guess it was always written like this for Orchestra and than you could tell it's an 1920ish coposition....
Good job M. Stock!
Vegetth87 2 years ago
my favorit from bach,
jobrumi 2 years ago
A legjobb, best
jobrumi 2 years ago
the toccata part doesnt sound like Bach but the fugue sounds like Bach`s cantata music
FriendlyCroock 2 years ago
Stowkowski's orchestral transcription of Bach's Passacaglia and Fugue in C Minor has been my favorite piece of music since I was 14 (decades ago). By the way, why did Stowkowski choose not to use a conductor's baton?
wordzly 2 years ago
He found a way to conduct his music with feeling, and he tought when he used a baton, he wouldn't conduct with enough espression (I normally use a baton, but sometimes I like to wave my hands in the air...)
Sorry for my bad English, I am dutch!
mdendievelm 2 years ago 2
toccata and fugue
FriendlyCroock 2 years ago
Stokowski gave up the practice of using a baton in the 1920's. He always felt he could best communicate with his orchestra through his hands and eyes!
lionsgate12345 2 years ago 2
This is the orchestration of the century!
Gargantuan symphonic forces as usual by Mr. Stokowski.
Tsobanian 3 years ago 14
Ah, this brings back memories of Walt Disney's original FANTASIA! I love Stokie's transcription and his conducting of it; Baroque music matches the over the top art and architecture of its day, flamboyant and larger than life. I completely fail to understand the anemic "early music" movement that has taken the guts out of this music.
billyguns2 3 years ago
Remember, that's Reiner's orchestra and such is the sound. Stokowski certainly brings sound to it, but the technical ability of the orchestra is due to Reiner.
There is a joke about Stokowski standing in front of the CSO, dropping his hands w/o a preparatory beat, and when the CSO string players didn't come in, he said something along the lines of "I forgot, I'm not in Philadelphia!".
vxla 3 years ago
Charismatic music. Charismatic Conductor... Magical,,,,
shela2 3 years ago
this guy is legendary that is all i can say.
RyvernRaigon 3 years ago
Still, every note that comes off each of those instruments is straight from Bach's mind.
JIMMYISFAT666 3 years ago
it is stokowski sound !!
dorminolkw 3 years ago
Stokowski! Perfection! Bravo!
dabart 3 years ago
wow anybody else hear the violins at the beginning of the fugue?? ugh!
kinpopdj 3 years ago
I agree. Pretty out of tune.
lutheranorthodoksi 3 years ago
its the violas
darije77 3 years ago
Actually, the Violas begin the fugue. So it's a little more forgivable. :)
clatshaw 3 years ago
It's still bach, but I understand what you're saying, the emotional and overall musical impact of this performance comes from Stokowski's arrangement, not from the composition itself. Listening to it on organ is completely different is more "Bach"
AbsoluteZ3R0 3 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
Aaron Copland, around the time of Stokowski, commented on the low culture of classical orchestra members: he noted that they seldom were to be found studying a score not on the season repertoire or a book about music.
This was because clowns like Leopold Stokowski terrorised (and union-busted) musicians into producing the crap we're now hearing which sounds like a bunch of circus musicians being pursued by a bear.
spinoza1111 4 years ago
Awful, truly awful. Has nothing to do with Bach. The orchestration is not a problem. The problem is that Stokowski terrorised musicians out of solidarity with each other, and every musician is playing for him...not even listening to the others. The effect is a train wreck filled with dissonance.
One gets the impression that each musician has been so alienated by the "great man" that he simply doesn't care any more.
spinoza1111 4 years ago
oh my god ! bugs bunny ! ! !
BIGMAN1968 4 years ago 2
My niece once exclaimed "Who's that rabbit named Leopold?"
wienerphil 4 years ago
AHAHAH THAT WAS FUNNY I always loved looney tunes and of course symphonic music and Opera.
BIGMAN1968 3 years ago
This is what inspired me to become a classical musician: hearing Stokowski conduct this piece in the re-release of Disney's FANTASIA. How great to have this, thank you. Does the entire performance exist?
billyguns2 4 years ago 11
no, he always begins the piece in the middle of the toccata to the end of the fugue.
WWNS 4 years ago
To be more concise: does the entire performance exist ON FILM? Sometimes film can be lost or damaged, thereby resulting in a partial viewing experience. I see that you are a literalist, and a snotty one at that. Ten to one you;re a bitchy queen, but whatever you are I don't care to know you. EVER.
billyguns2 4 years ago
Do you have the 10:30 min long version? I had it on my Myspace page but it's missing now. I love the beginning!
theinze2378 4 years ago
theinze2378
That version is currently on YouTube. A search for Stokowski Bach Toccata turns up six results, one of which is the version that you are seeking.
Gerry
gerryrains 4 years ago