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  • speechless. Podger and Manze. Jesus H. Christ. I love this recording. Can't put enough exclamation marks.

  • What an amazing performance. Not only are these soloists virtuosic, but they know how to listen to each other! Those of you who complain because both soloist played differently than other recordings, please know that it's part of practice of ornamentations. Baroque music was heavily ornamented, but the ornaments weren't written down because they were common practice at the time. I think Podger and Manze did an superb job here!

  • Circle of 5th progression is just ahhhh!!! Gets me all the time!

  • I'm sorry but that circle of 5th's progression gets me all the time. In a weird way it's real jazzy....feeling that. 3.45 was hoooot

  • this is part of concert program in

    BBC Proms 2004

    -Prom 47 of 2004 season. Royal Albert Hall, London, on Saturday 21 August 2004

    performers:

    Andrew Manze, 1st violin/director

    Rachel Podger, 2nd violin

    The English Concert

  • 18 people couldn't take all of the AWESOME!

  • AMAZING!!!!!!!!

  • if you think Bach wold have objected to 3:45 ..you have no understanding of him , his music or the the passion of music.

  • When I first started listening to classical music this was one of my first favourite performances, and it still is...that bit of amazing but simple improvisation at 3:45 is just GENIUS.

  • he realy knows how to feel the music !

  • Amo Bach, su musica no es de este mundo.

  • A fireworks! I love the interaction between the two soloists! And what are they doing with these chromaticisms at 3:45? That's madness … I love it!

  • I very much enjoyed the exuberance of the playing, and the visual aspect. BRAVO & BRAVA!

  • What the HELL did they do starting at 3:45? OMG. Musical orgasm. IN. MAH. PANTS!!!

  • eh if Baroque is your thing then yay. Doesn't matter what others think. If you like it then rock that Baroque in the bathtub man while you're soaping them pits. I decided I don't.  Don't hate each other for opinions. This snobbery in the classical shit needs to stop. I play whatever I like and I don't give a flying flip what others think and neither should you. When classical starts to become a social contest for you then it ceases to make you tear up in your eye and shiver down your spine.

  • Period specialists or not, some of the performance is enjoyable, some of it is not. I am not too concerned with the imitation of Baroque factor, but some of it really is harsh and abrasive and not enjoyable. Doesn't matter who it is playing.

  • You know, you're right. These musicians ought to be free to perform before people who choose to attend their concert. While I do not agree with their Bach method, I apologize for my discourteous remarks.

    Cheers :)

  • One of the best on YouTube!!!! Thanks. (This version is for professionals.)

  • @violinhunter2 'this version is for professionals' !?!?!?!?!? can't let you get away with THAT. who the HELL do you think you are? it's musical snobs like yourself that i a) CAN'T STAND and b) contribute to the widening of the gap between audiences and musicians. thumbs up if you believe that music belongs to EVERYBODY.

  • Andrew Manze - here? Tragedy man! I love Bach's music but i don't know what is this. Very, very bad version!

  • Terrorific version, I HATE IT!! This is an insult to J.S. Bach!! This is a commercial version, not a good version, very very bad!!

  • @blacktiger444. Are you a musician at all? You must be joking..3:44 is just incredible!!

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  • @blacktiger444 Who are these players? for starters, you can start by listening to narrator at the end of the clip. Second, you can look in Wikipedia, there's a short description of their careers. I don't know who you are, but I enjoyed their performance, and for what it's worth, it seems that so did the rest of the audience in the Royal Albert Hall.

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  • Bach rules! Listen carefully and you'll realise that the third movement of the double violin concerto is rough anarchy.

  • If only every performer could show that much enjoyment and shere joy while playing.

  • That's neat that they perform this piece in the original tune of baroque era music! Everybody is tuned about a half step lower than modern day music.

  • restitution parfaite du génie de bach,admiration sans bornes !

  • I LOVE IT!

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  • @rosalbasemiplena Right on. He's given up the violin though, so I believe. Good call.

  • out of tune at 3:48, Rachel's part. Anyone hear it? Still great playing though, hard piece!

  • love the communication between the two player

  • I love the energy level and superb musicianship in this rendition.

  • Sounds absolutely terrible-it rasps the ear! These two "musicians" should hear the version by the Ljubljana SO and be shamed. In fact they should probably learn their scales first.

  • @blacktiger444 koji kurac model? I'm from ljubljana, and the SO sucks :D 

  • @blacktiger444

    Right... that is also probably why each of them has his/her own entry in wikipedia. It's quite common for musicians who don't know their scales to get those.

    Not.

  • @glorendil Not that I agree at all with blacktiger 444, but this is pretty stupid and illogical reply to his comment. You can't say a musician is good/bad by the existence of a wikipedia entry!

  • @physphilmusic

    Illogical? Really?

    First, I wasn't saying they were good because they have a Wikipedia entry (read my comment again if you're not sure).

    As for the logic, it's rather simple. If a specific person has an entry in Wikipedia it's because that person is well known for something. In our case - it's musicianship. Since people who don't know their scales aren't known for their musicianship they wouldn't get a Wikipedia entry, in contradiction with blacktiger444's commnet.

  • @glorendil You took "don't know their scales" quite literally, which I think in the context of music criticism would rather be a hyperbole for putting up a bad performance. Wikipedia is self-edited, and hence having a slight inkling of musicianship would grant you a good independent entry, provided your publicity agents are diligent enough. This does not make you immune from people declaring that you are inferior to other more legendary musicians/performances; hence the irrelevance of Wikipedia.

  • @physphilmusic I didn't take it literally, but I rather more in the spirit of "don't know the rudiments of playing music" (which includes knowledge of scale), which is quite different than "put up a bad performance", so based on that I think my logic was sound.

    As Wikipedia, while what you say is possible, I don't think it holds in this case. There are 149 contemporary classical violinists and 20 baroque. Think how many violinists exist in the world. I doubt the list has even one lousy player.

  • @glorendil The problem is that tens of times I have encountered musician pages on Wikipedia that are merely copied and pasted from their official biographies on their websites. Which means that it is difficult to compare a merely proficient musician with a truly excellent one. I strongly believe there differences: although not to the literal extreme of not knowing scales, some musicians are simply there more because of the force of their looks, personality, promotion and luck.

  • @glorendil My goodnes, how can this be good? Listen to the gentleman's (I dont know who he is and have no interest to either) crazy nonsense at 1.24 onwards. What he is doing? And they look so smug while presenting their embarrassingly amateurish playing. Who are these players? They are offensively bad. Offensively bad.

  • @blacktiger444 I beg your pardon? That offensively bad amateurish player is Andrew Manze, arguably the world number one authority in violin period performance.... I would have a listen to some of his recordings before expressing gross judgements on his playing.....

  • @blacktiger444 You're probably just not used to listening to true baroque or period music. For the inexperienced listener, baroque does tend to sound amateurish because they do not use as much pressure and vibrato as the modern violinist. Also, they use a faster, more swelling bow speed. But this is how it sounded back in the day, and Rachel and Andrew are masters at imitating the standard. If you listen to it long enough, either you will grow to love it, or you'll hate it. Your prerogative.

  • @blacktiger444

    Most people have been fairly polite so far but can I just ask: do you in fact have ears? This is pretty much as close as you can get to how this music would have sounded in Bach's lifetime. The two musicians you so ignorantly call "amateurish" are two of the very best and most knowledgeable period instrument performance specialists. Period performance - despite its greater authenticity - may not be to your taste, but do not show yourself up by insulting two great musicians.

  • mmm... period instruments...

  • DIVINOS

  • You have no idea. Not only is it 10x more difficult technically to play on baroque equipment - which you obviously know nothing about. But on top of that the musicianship and artistry, along with the improvisation put into this performance can only be done by someone so accomplished and well-studied. You lack those credentials as well.

    Stick to your chin rest, shoulder rest, and Tourte bow until you're ready to come out of the sandbox.

    /endrant

  • couldn't agree more. you think playing on a period instrument would be similar to a modern one, but it's actually quite difficult. this performance is pretty amazing.

  • @musicmatt09 Yes, how dare they dream.

  • @musicmatt09 How fucking rude -- the guy's entitled to try if he wants to.

    

  • @musicmatt09 Or, as Dre would say, "I was strapped with gats when you was cuddled in the cabbage patch"

  • @musicmatt09 lol u mad?

  • Is this tuned a half step down?

  • It is standard (modern) baroque tuning: A=415hz.

  • One thing I like about the HIP style of Bach is the athleticism. That, and of course the crystal clear counterpoint. Thanks for the upload.

  • amazing! I wonder, if the "improvisation" at the end (the chromatic, the thrills) are spontaneous or stipulated.. :) fantastic performance!

  • Great, wish one day I could listen to them live.

  • Well I think that Manze is playing to the live Proms crowd to a certain extent. I have this on disc and he's much more conservative there.

    And is it just me or is Rachel Podger hot?

  • @AlanG106

    It's not just you.

  • they are playing with antiques... so dang lucky...

    sounds awesome

  • Genial!!!!...por donde se lo mire, una version para los tiempos de los tiempos.Gracias MAESTROS: Rachel Podger & Andrew Manze!!!!

  • Wow. Manze is explosive.  It's my first time seeing him live.

  • Great, living performance. Very unique.

  • This is a great performance, but I feel Manze is all over the place, and I can hear it in his sound. I think Podger is much more authentic and in complete control. She can ornament and tastefully color the music without losing character. Very respectful to Bach and his music.

  • RIDICOLI!

  • perche' ridicoli?

  • lo mejor del mundo andrew manze

  • you really tell that they truly love playing this music, and it makes listening that much better.

  • Que bello y que hermosos,los músicos son personas muy especiales y sensibles y del compositor que puedo decir...magnifico

  • it is not baroque in the sound

  • very good amazing

  • manze is better than Carmignolla

  • They are very different players from very different regions, don't you think?

    I've always liked Manze's interpretations best of anyone...

    Carmignolla's technique though... my God! Best bow-arm in the business, as far as I can tell.

    I secretly wish those two would get together for something!

  • esta es la musica mas bella del mundo......

    bach fue muy grande es uno de mis autores favoritos!!!!!!!!

  • even if i'm not a fan of this baroque-way, it's really great to see so much life in there!!!!wonderful music-making

  • rachel podger has hair like hermoine granger from harry potter:)

  • Viva la musica!

  • this is what baroque music sounds like. what do u expect them to do? they are baroque specialists.

  • Is that the proms?

  • This is an absolutely fantastic performanc!. I just get the feeling that Rachel Podger is more comfortable with the interpretation of this piece, Manze seems to be slightly overdoing the phrasing and rubato, but when Podger comes in with an imitation she gets it spot on. Just my opinion, but still a great performance of this fantastic piece.

  • does anyone know when this was performed? i really can't tell.

  • Royal Albert Hall, Proms 2004

  • los únicos violines iguales son los de fábrica y no creo que ella esté usando uno de esos. . .chao! :D

  • Oh God...this piece has such a terrible memory for me, lol. I worked SO HARD learning it for a performance as a duet with my teacher, and I swear, I played it so well....and at 2:54, I came in exactly one eight note early...ONE!!! Which screwed me up for the entire peice. I almost cried, lol. I somehow managed to find my place at 3:22, but everything before that my teacher played without me. I was soooo about to be in tears....(lol, sorry for the rant, guys.)

  • Haha, I love how Manze starts off this part. So much furious activity.

  • BRAVO..BRAVO ...What else do I need to say?

  • ENCORE ENCORE?

  • Потрясающе! ! ! Великолепная трактовка финала двойного скрипичного концерта Баха! Исполнение заряжено невероятным драйвом!!!! Давно я не слышал ТАКОГО Баха! ! !

  • que hermosa cancion me gusta solo que me gustaria saber que marca es el violon que tiene rachel talvez me puedan responder es que se da la casualidad que mi violin es igual al de ella y es igual en todo aspecto espero la respuesta por favor respondanme

  • i'm gay but i think i'm in love!

    how gorgeous!!

  • Fenomenalno! Bravooo!

  • the applause for this execution is just deafening!! bravo!

  • Also what the hell is wrong with there violins something is wrong

  • he's leading the orchestra that's why he moves around...... they have to listen to each other, and watch each other...

  • Bravo both of you. Happy birthday Andrew!!!! (January 14)

  • I like when Manze wiped off the fake sweat at 3:59. He he. Very nice piece. I think the tempo should have been Allegro con spirito!

  • he was pushing his glasses back onto his head.

  • "Dueling Banjos" for snobs.

    Makes me proud to be a snob.

  • HAHA listen to the way the announcer says "Bach". It's hyterical.

  • Haha, I literally laughed out loud when I heared her BAAA of a Bach. She sounds like a sheep. That was so cute.

  • Ya and she also said that "they chased each other violinistically...to the finish line."

    And my favorite: "One critic has said of her that she engages with his music as if she were Bach's playmate." Pretty kinky, eeh?

  • Hahaha :D yeah the presenters do come out with some guff lol

  • Love the way the two violins converse with each from 0:11 to 0:19 hehe

  • Podger - yes

    Manze - no!

  • I am always curious about this. Why all the hating on Manze? I think he is wonderful! Care tell why you don't care for this fine violinist?

  • FABULOUS!!!! Manze brings much-needed passion to this and every other piece of music he plays. Check out his Handel sonatas...to.die.for. Love ya Andrew!!!!!!!!

  • Hehe, yes! His Handel sonatas are excellent, and his Corelli, both more-than-ably supported by Richard Egarr. I've got his Handel in D major posted in fact

  • Excellent performance, but for me it is too romantic.

  • I love it. Beautiful playing.

  • why take time to notice mistakes? Just enjoy the music. Stunning performance

  • Genius! Absolutly Breathtaking!!! I'm going to make an hiper-effort to be able to play this someday, with someone!!! :D

    100000000/5!!!

  • Go for it! :)

  • I will! ^^

    I've started already... in fact, thelightisahead, I believe that everyone should learn music, because it takes you to another world, more powerfull than any other!

    Gotta love classical music ^^

  • Yes yes yes yes yes yes yes!

    I'm with you all the way :D

  • LOL yeah i noticed at 3:48. i know what you mean. Nice touch. And also about that 'arabic' feel at 4:06 that lolmanerik commented on - thats a nice bit of lib and baroque decoration. Just shows that they really are masters of their art.

  • wwaaahahaha. real maaasters. sounds like a decoration from a musician without education..nothing more.. I know muuuuch better Baroque players. They dom´t do this decorations in Bach. It is not Vivaldi. It is GERMAN music.

  • Careful, you are writing about a time-period in which the International Style was quite solidified...

    Do we not run the risk of coming-off a bit sophomoric, my friend?

  • ...sophomorically, I suppose, to make it an adverb...

  • pedant

  • Hey, I resemble that remark!

    It's true.

    I am occasionally guilty of pedantry. But only in the most delightful way!

  • One of my favourite pieces. I love the chords at 1:12 and 3:41, and I really love the random variation at 3:47!

    And cristine93 seems to be right. Correct me if im wrong, but it sounds more like Double Violin Concerto in C# minor rather than D minor.

    Though it doesn't seem right to me transposing it down a semitone. I mean, violins can't exactly play a semitone lower than a low G... so yer.

    Also... Manze looks like the guy from the master of disguise, when he's in the turtle outfit.

  • C# minor???????????

    they are playing on period instruments...with pitch a=415Hz which means everything sounds a semitone lower...

  • indeed...

  • funny chords at 3:48 - 3:50 from Mr. Manze.

    4:06 - 4:08 sounds like some arabic piece. very funny performance!

  • rly good

  • whoah there. what major/minor is this ?

    i doesnt sound like the original version

    haha ;D

    very nice

  • Excellent indeed!!!! Thank you so much for uploading this, along with Parts 1 and 2. I've been a big fan of Podger and Manze for a long long time, it's great to see some 'actions'!!

  • Everyone knows Andrew Manze is the Harry Potter of Baroque musik.

    ...would Trevor Pinnock be Lord Voldemort then?

  • lol  :>

  • I agree. hahaha. very lol. whats going on in violin world. I mean this r the proms right, everybody go look jascha heifetz. Manzeboy and iPodger should look and listen also.

  • Improvising is more his rep. If it was her she was paying him back in his own is all. Better still if so. ;-)

  • Why is she altering the music at 3:47?

  • no he is

  • it's baroque-_-

  • i love the bit at 3:40!!!! so much!!!!

  • very interesting way to play this piece :):)

    I kinda liked trills here and there but certainly not on the second double stops

  • really? The changes at 3.47 sends shivers of fresh tingles down my spine. Loved it.

  • Well I think it really depends on one's taste; you may like it, some don't.

    this reminds me of the conversation i had with a violin player. He liked Andrea Boceli's voice better than pavarotti's. but Parvarotti's the best.

  • y r they undertuned?

  • they aren't, they are tuned to the Barouque "A"... as you should know Baroque strings were made of real gut, which made the tone different... so either their instruments are Baroque instruments (which i suspect) or they tuned to the Baroque "A".

  • yeah they should all be genuine Baroque instruments. If not actual antiques, Andrew Manze would have had them made. Check out their bows...Maybe they should wear wigs too...

  • actually the BBC Proms Presented mentioned the instruments...I couldnt hear the one for Rachel, but Manze's is apparently a Gagliagno. Very nice violin. I played one once.

  • @violinbouii Not just the strings, but Baroque violins/violas are not equipped with a bass bar. This not only affects depth of sound, but also stabilizes the frame of the instrument under the left foot of the bridge. This means they can't tune the instruments higher without risk of collapsing the whole top of the instrument. The average tension of Baroque strings is around 63 pounds; whereas, modern strings are usually around 80 pounds.

  • Baroque A is like A flat

  • y r they undertuned?

  • y r they undertuned?

  • Awsome! =]

  • Firstly, I'm not knocking this or anything, I think they play very well. But I don't like the way he starts, just before they play. I know us violinists like to, in fact need to, put that kinda pomp in our playing to enrich it, but to that extent, it just puts off people unfamiliar with classical music! I dunno

  • I'm afraid I dont understand. What do you mean by "pomp"? That he is being too ceremonial? It's Andrew Manze, and he appeals to a particular audience. People who like him appreciate his interpretation (which is meant to be the genuine Baroque article). I had this conversation with a doctor (heart surgeon, actually) about whether classical music should try to cater to the masses.

  • hmmm, ms. podger looks like she'd be shaking all up in it when she's doing the petite morte thing...wild!

  • perfect performence and constructıon

  • I loved the song!Who did the arrangement?Very tasty indeed,yes!

  • i'd say it is adlib not arrangement. concerto would have been much better if they'd played the original note as it is^^

  • I wonder why people even try bashing musicians' interpretation of baroque period music. Isn't the music from the Baroque period of music open to interpretation so that the musician(s) decides how each piece is played?

  • As much as I find musical snobbery to be completely and utterly stupid (especially when it comes from Bach fans who elevate him to Godlike levels), I find this presentation very distasteful. When I learned the concerto, I was enamoured with Oistrakh's rendition.

    I think the whole thing was too agitated. I know what they were trying to accomplish, but I don't think it worked out.

  • This is perfect!Incredulity...

  • You didn't mention that it's a complete mess. I can't here any counterpoint or harmony at all because the ensemble playing lacks any cohesion whatsoever and fails to make up for it in energy making for a truly worthless performance.

  • Are you a conductor?