Bach Toccata and Fugue in D minor, BWV 565, Cameron Carpenter

[andreanoce85]

Why add notes to this piece in itself perfect?​? I do not understand! Poor Bach!

[BigOrganPipes]

@andreanoce85 i do not understand why people who only like hearing this piece played one certain way continue to listen to others play it. you have your favorite CD i'm assuming. so go listen to it and be happy

[andreanoce85]

@BigOrganPipes In truth, I have looked for this execution because I think Carpenter is a great virtuoso. I was disappointed because we must be virtuous also in the respect of text and not only demonstrate the technical skills. In any case I did not want to debate but I thought it necessary to say as I thought. That's it.

[JustinHEMI05]

@BigOrganPipes Couldn't agree more.

[JustinHEMI05]

@andreanoce85 Open your mind, if you're capable. You'll be a happier person and you'll understand what he is doing.

[misilen24]

@andreanoce85

I think Bach would have loved - after all Bach was a master at improvising. He probably turned his own pieces upside down and inside out when he played them.

[andreanoce85]

@misilen24 Undoubtedly Bach was one of the greatest improvisers of all time, but compared to the musicians of his time when he put on paper the music he had thought or improvised, he wrote everything right to avoid the added ornaments or any other thing. That said, there is another issue that I think is important: Bach, in my opinion, is our contemporary composer, was one that looked forward and this thing is out of the relationship he had with silence (...)

[andreanoce85]

@misilen24 (...) For example, from 6:34 to 6:48, begins a time of suspension of speech that could be likened to a great moment of silence, almost a "black hole" that sucks for a while the music. For this reason I wrote that there is no reason to add additional notes to this as the other pieces by Bach. I have not criticized at all the running or the Organist, because, I repeat, I think Carpenter is a great virtuoso. This is my opinion.

[monautremoi]

You obviously know nothing about baroque music, this style was and is open to interpretation, like jazz for example, a lot is expected from the performer.

[andreanoce85]

@monautremoi I was again misunderstood. I do not understand why you can not accept my opinion on the respect of the musical text. I have already written what I think the previous comment. No need for me to repeat it. PS: I know the music of the Baroque period, both the "style fantasticus" of pre-Bach composers and I know how the uses which were at that time. With Bach, things changes. Even in pieces that seem more "improvised" Bach chose every single note he wrote.

[monautremoi]

@andreanoce85 You say "Poor Bach", I say I "I love this interpretation".

[andreanoce85]

@monautremoi In Italy we say "the world is beautiful because it's different" ... I do not think there's anything wrong with thinking differently. However, I never wrote that Carpenter sounds bad, I would never!

[Concombre38]

Y a du potentiel chez ce jeune homme mais là c'est vraiment un massacre sur un morceau aussi usé. Trop saccadé, une registration audacieuse pas toujours réussie et même des liberté à la fin. J'ai pas beaucoup apprécié alors que ce mec est un vrai bon

[optimusimperat]

wow.

[BigOrganPipes]

i love watching his hands on the last chord at 8:31

[JustinHEMI05]

@BigOrganPipes Do you suppose that people like Cameron are proof that God exists and that he wants us to be happy? Just a thought. :)

[Dansorganmusic]

If I listen to this one more time, I bet it will blow my subwoofer. I should upgrade my speakers if I want to hear more of this awesomeness.

[calzeph1]

He plays excellent and I admire many of his performances. However, I do not care for his interpretation of this.

[Zylstra555]

I'm not a fan of this interpretation. He is a "good" player, but I just don't like a lot of things he does.

[charl3s4bing]

I took my headphone to listen to this again because I thought at first that he's the Lang Lang in the organ but NOT AT ALL, he's a GENIUS! Remember the reason why BACH composed this music? To show the utmost capability of the organ and HE DID IT! He showed different contrast of volume and timbres. Just so beautiful! I had goosebumps in the beginning of the Fugue.

[JustinHEMI05]

I don't know about anyone else, but from 5:10 on I get shivers up my spine. What he does is thrilling to me.

[joha750]

fantastic organist

[JustinHEMI05]

Love it. I love hearing different versions because "same ol same ol" gets boring. Well done as usual Cameron! A true virtuoso for the ages! Rest assured, Bach is smiling.

[carlosandreforni]

uauuuuuuuuuuuuuu!!!!! fantastic .........

[VD54K]

you should check out Cameron playing the Bach 540

check this users other uploads

[Hamerguy68]

Good Player with great technical skill, no question about that. But his interpretations just are not my thing. But good that he seems to reach many people with this kind of music.

[williamchang78]

one of the best, if not the best organist of the 21st century

[eleni1968]

OOps!! I meant ---Cameron Carpenter is making Baroque Music & JS Bach cool again --sorry

[eleni1968]

What Bach "purists" forget is that the nature of Baroque music has much room for improvisation and invention within the vocabulary & grammar of this music genre. This is why the best Baroque trumpetests have always been Jazz musicians like Winton Marsalis. I'm a visaul artist & even I knew this! I can tell you JS BAch LOVES Cameron Cambell for making Baroque music "cool" again. Cameron is getting young people excited about classical music again. God Bless you Cameron

[VD54K]

I go to organ concerts. There's hardly ever 15 people there and that's if the retirement home bus shows up. Cameron is selling out Cathedrals around the world!

Check out Cameron playing the Bach 540. It's the best version of the 540 that I've ever heard in my life. It's on his last album "Cameron Live!" played on a real pipe organ from Saint Mary's in NY.

[ljude01]

check out gert van hoefs version of the tocatta and fugue.. and he's a kid!

[ljude01]

this guy tries too hard to be different. His interpretation of the piece gets lost in translation. it is he who looks lonely when he is interviewed and his fear of being 'traditional' appears to muck up his playing. He's a good transcriptionist though. Juliard teaches you something at least

[VD54K]

these Cameron "critics" are very sad lonely miserable people

most of them old and fat with not many years left

it's very simple. they are jealous of Cameron and they can't stand his virtuosity, his talent, his popularity, his youth, his looks and probably his "take no shit" attitude

fuck them all, they are trolls or even better yes i like how Cameron put it in one of his radio interviews, he said his internet critics are like maggots that eat away at dead flesh

[nimroid08]

Attention; Mr. sophisticate know it all; in other words ass- hole if you cannot put something positive; concerning his genius; don't put anything; we don't give a shit about your remark!.what is it with you people??in the organists arena. You seem to have anal retention. When it comes to prophetic. Opinion, on almost any given organist, who dares to hang out his laundry, and a shingle, on this U tube network. You want to step back and examine yourself, your motves for such remarks???

[mrharpsi]

Poor Johan. He is turning in his grave.

[VD54K]

@mrharpsi if you heard how Bach played it in person, perhaps you should get your camcorder and show us how Bach played it or just shut up

Cameron is just dicking around with this overplayed 565 piece

Bach is probably jumping for joy that someone finally came along with some real talent

if you really want to hear the best recording of Bach ever. check out Cameron playing the 540

[mrharpsi]

@VD54K First of all, I am not some random amateur, as maybe you are, and i really know what am i talking about. If you had a specialisation for early music at clavier, you would know what I am talking about.

He is talented, but he is, if I could say that of looking at some of his video, abusing that talent. Sorry to say that, but I really have many professional reasons to say it.

[DietrichBrauer1]

@mrharpsi Das kann man keine Interpretation nennen..... Furchtbar!

[Wanderer329]

Wearing shoes with high heels allows him to play and third and a fourth interval with one foot.

[cgreet90]

Why does he wear high heels - because he can since when does attire dictate musical taste and ability?

[cgreet90]

Nice playing to all you self indulgent critics read the title it says Bach/Carpenter not just JSB. IF you want to hear bad listen to Virgil Fox and his ponderous, overscored., and over voiced version from Garden Grove - of course those who can't do either teach or criticize

[kegginstructure]

Hey, purists - Bach was himself an improviser. While I might argue a small amount with some of his voicing choices because they de-emphasized some parts, I heard everything when I cranked it up. The toccata IS an improvisational segment. If you don't like it, OK, fine - but it is clear you don't understand just how close Cameron really was to the spirit of Bach. I have been an organist & performer at some level for 30+ years. This was good stuff!

[TheJackHarkness]

Finally somebody has come to revolutionise and modernise organ playing. I only wish to learn from him some day.

[VD54K]

What is it about Cameron that brings out so many negative comments? I've seen this piece literally butchered by people trying their best who have probably practiced for decades to get it that bad and I never see one single negative comment. Cameron plays it flawlessly with no sheet music, never missing a note and he gets nothing but shit from jealous old assholes.

[trenoespresso]

@VD54K "Never missing a note"?? What do you mean? Are you sure he plays as it's written on the original score?? Me, not at all! In my opinion there is an explanation to the "shit": there is music that can be considered as "sacred". You wouldn't play a National Hymn in a "rock" way, for example, otherwise someone would be hurted even if not "jealous"! So he can show us his completely uncommon features with new music and not "using" other composers' historical and "sacred" masterpieces.That's all.

[trenoespresso]

Of course one has to admit that it's something never seen before! But I wonder, it's necessary to show the own features "using" other composers' masterpieces? Why all those, so "new", so "original", so "gorgeous", need to "destroy" baroque music to demonstrate what they are able to perform?? It's simply impossible, in my opinion, to listen and watch this video without suffering for the music itself. I can accept this only considering him as an uncommon gymnast, of course gorgeous,not a musician.

[VD54K]

@trenoespresso That's a lot of words just to say you don't like Cameron's work. Just go back to listening to Biggs play it like a computer for the ten millionth time. I'm sure you'll enjoy it.

[trenoespresso]

@VD54K Of course I don't like Cameron's work, even if I consider it as something never seen and never heard before; as the same way I don't like Guillou playing Bach but I love him as improviser! But nevertheless I don't like Biggs! For baroque music I prefer, for example, Wolfgang Zerer, Wolfgang Ruebsam, Hans Fagius... and I can assure you they are not like a computer. There is music that does not need to be "renewed"!

[Roblex11]

THIS MAN IS A GENIUS! GET OVER IT SLOBS!

[RaymoTheFox]

Outstanding! A perfect example of a great mixture of composer, performer and organ.

[randycooke]

To be a critic is a pathetic attempt to rise above the talent in extremous that the person has just been exposed to. Come hear for yourself Friday April 1, 8:00 PM Princeton University Chapel.

[BigOrganPipes]

@randycooke Princeton University Chapel this Friday April 1st at 8pm

i already got my tickets !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

i was there Thursday, concert for organ & cello. i didn't get to hear the full power of the organ because the pieces were selected for cello & organ but I'm sure Cameron will open that baby up

we wont be able to watch him play, the front of the organ console faces the audience but there will be 2 giant projection screens with cameras on his hands and feet

see you there !!!

[ajaydamier]

I could never argue technique here but honestly he sucked dry all the elements that's this piece beautiful with cocky add-in. This is worst professional rendition ever.

[BigOrganPipes]

@loorloop maybe you should record yourself playing it and show us what Bach intended 

[loorloop]

@BigOrganPipes Maybe you can watch Hans-André Stamm =)

I really love cameron carpenter but not for this piece.

[loorloop]

@BigOrganPipes i can't do better, but now i think this is a good version, music is also for fun :D

[loorloop]

@BigOrganPipes

Now i enjoy his interpretation, music is also having fun and i didnt understand that =)

[musicmoves45]

Wow. This in an outstanding performance. I always thought that altering the classics to such a large degree was playing with fire but I'm going to have to reconsider...well at least in the trained and educated hands of course

[lohphat]

Seriously, non-traditional interpretations and performances on non-traditional instruments helps breathe new life into a piece. Check out Vitaly Dmitriev's performance of this on Russian bayan here on YT.

[lohphat]

Wow, a male figure skater can play an organ. Who knew?

[interignis]

What would Bach say? He would say "Bravo!" and start writing music especially for this guy...

[pope0331]

I am truly amazed at the asinine commentaries posted regarding this truly amazing musician. Be aware that being a purist leads to nothing but immersing your-whatever-intellect is left into a claustrophobic well of oblivion. If viewers of this genius understood the meaning of BAROQUE EXTEMPORIZATION, (precisely what Mr. Carpenter is applying to his rendition of this work by Bach taking advantage of modern digital technology!) then the opinions would have real and transcendental value.

[beapa1]

Awesome!

[Untersatz]

It is curious how anyone could develop such a technique yet be so lacking in taste and musical intelligence.

[DewOnAPetal]

@Untersatz I think not. He has musical intelligence that far outweighs most. Juilliard trained, I think that says enough. Like Picasso, he's gone so far beyond what he was trained for.

[morphender]

i prefer a classic organ with classic sound but i enjoyed the musical taste and hear it from another vision, more actual and using that amazing organ makes it a very good performance. What would bach say?

[sjpc33]

i'm just in awe of this organ and of cameron's playing

[darren171066]

This is amazing



[BigOrganPipes]

i like how he uses the presets at 8:00

pretty cool

[seamonkeyfan90]

@BigOrganPipes why does he wear high heels??

[BigOrganPipes]

@seamonkeyfan90 i would assume he finds that he can play the pedals faster and easier with them. they are specially made for him

[poissonnoir]

@seamonkeyfan90 - or maybe he's just ferociously gay -- "not that there's anything wrong with that." He can wear whatever the hell he wants as long as he can kick-ass organ like this.

Seriously, its such a neat interpretation. It's a great, great piece whoever wrote it (Bach? maybe), but it's often so lugubrious. He makes it a marengue.

[janhe93]

@BigOrganPipes

i like the whole video

[stefanotoma77]

cameron is simply amazing!

[Loong889]

Which organ is he playing?

[BigOrganPipes]

@Loong889 virtual pipe organ at Trinity Wall Street. it uses 9 Unix computers with samples of real pipe organs sampled pipe for pipe note for note, each note sampled longer than ever before in history (i believe 30 seconds worth of each pipe recorded with 3 carefully placed mics). the organ uses a massive array of about 80 Definitive Technology bi-polar speaker towers coupled to another massive array of subwoofers. the console is by Ruffatti

there was an article about it in sound & vision mag

[avatar6091]

very very unorthodox :O but it has it's charm and what kind of organ is he playing? a water organ? and what's the song he plays at the end :O