Rostropovich Plays Bach 2-iv: Sarabande

[mermew]

Tearful enjoyment.

Come, slip away with me into the safety of my soft, dark cocoon.

[01JazzMonk]

Awesome! I have this on an EMI recording, maybe even slower, darker, and more dramatic. This has got to be one of the most beautiful solo pieces ever. 

[stevetadworkz]

This was my introduction to Bach's cello suites. It was used in the soundtrack to Ingmar Bergman's "Through A Glass Darkly"

[Yentl17]

Esto es Demaciado Hermoso :( me hace sentirme tan pero tan bien! :) Aww(L)

[OrdinaryCritic]

Why few views?!

This is more amazing than music of the modern days...way amazing.

[eugeneer]

Does anyone have the version that he played in Tokyo after the earthquake? There was so much sorrow and mourning in it, it was stunningly beautiful. It used to be on youtube, but somehow it disappeared, and I can't find it anymore...

[KarateBass]

I have yet to hear another cellist even come close to Rostropovich's genius in interpreting and performing these Suites. His are the definitive versions and for my money, always will be.

[MrooTubbs]

PBCFproductions -"they were written for cello and should stay on cello."

jujupans -"Actually, they were written on one line not specifically for cello."

PBCFproductions-"way to go, i know that."

see first PBCFproductions statement

[harrya97]

Whatever happened to the video of him playing this in front of an Orchestra? I liked that version, but it looks like YouTube removed it.

[dominpo]

well said PBCF

[celloguy]

I find this to be the most moving movement of all the Bach Suites. Of course I adore them all.

[asherwade]

I hear what you're saying {I, too, was once a "purist"}, however what I find so quite amazing by JS Bach is that very often he was not a stickler regarding instrumentation. Apparently, he was "way" ahead of his time and didn't care that much with what instrument his music was performed. Cheers! I'm just happy so many people like his music.

[asherwade]

Most amazing; all of the "Sarabande" movements are awesome in these 6 Cello Suites, however this one seems to be the most otherworldly. This is also most enjoyable to play on violin as well as viola.

[PBCFproductions]

I dont care for them on any other instrument besides the cello. they were written for cello and should stay on cello. and now they have it for violin, viola, double bass, viola da gamba, piano, marimba, classical guitar, recorder, horn, saxophone, bass clarinet, bassoon, trumpet trombone, euphonium, and tuba. and everyone of them sucks compared to the cello, because no other instrument sounds so mellow and so power full and full of intonation like the cello. but that is only my opinion.

[harrya97]

bela fleck plays the first prelude beautifully.

[jujupans]

Actually, they were written on one line not specifically for cello. Bach wrote these dances for any melodic instruments but the cello gave the first performance of them so people naturally assumed that they were written speciffically for cello. A common misconception...

[PBCFproductions]

way to go, i know that. did you not read my comment? I listed the instruments its played on, but they sound best on the cello. :P Lets remember one of the most basic skills we learned in school and use it: READ!

[senbonmaster103]

@jujupans Ummmm what? Have you seen the Anna Magdalena Bach copy? The only "original" there is of the suites? Well they're obviously written in bass clef, which obviously means they're intended to be for the cello.

[OrdinaryCritic]

@jujupans You, my friend, are incredibly wrong there. Bach wrote these suites for the cello. He even wrote on the title page "Suites for violoncello solo by J. S. Bach, Kappellmeister." and, yeah, that an English translation.

[OpenCadence78]

Clearly you have never heard this played on something other than cello.

Certain bits of it only sound good on cello, but movement 1 AT LEAST sounds good on saxophone, as I know from experience. I played it at a recital.