Michael Chapdelaine, Bach prelude bwv 846

[SmalltimR]

A true masterpiece....

[seraphlgabri]

I do hear lots of dynamics, emotions and expressions; I don't even understand why there were some self-righteous, blank accounts said he played like a metronome.

Seriously, show us how to NOT play like a metronome; don't just hide behind computer monitor and criticized like you're the best player in the world.

[seraphlgabri]

I only saw two blank ass accounts criticized a real guitar master.

[dthallford]

Michael uses rubato throughout. I completely dissagree with Smithsherman and Jonespeter4. Maybe you put this through your autotune program while you listened to it? As to classical performers being superficial, would you call an english professor lecturing on Moby Dick superficial? The relation is the same. The superficial in the music world are they who rely on costume and staging to sell "music". Jealous listeners will always attack the truth they cannot realize themselves. Go Michael Go.

[anggeilbabe85]

wâhnsînn_lÈÙtê_sûcht_mal_nÁch:­_olikohle_ÄÛf_gø0glE_voll_gèïl­

[Hermeterec]

from Jose the hermeterec.....this is a nice, faithfully executed version of this prelude, but come on......among the best classicasl guitarists in the world????? Surely you say this in jest......

[oldspam]

I have no complaint of his playing at all. I like youtube because I can listen too music that I could not or would not buy or even know about. It's a shame To turn it into an E-complaint box.

[neveruse513]

flawless timing sounds just fine to me!

[Torfinnmadssen]

Not metronomic at all to my ears. Full of expression and sensitivity. Beautifully played.

[jahnssen]

... but still to be perfect on my opinion in certain points he could be more exact...

[DB1815]

how beautiful *clap clap*

[dillo298274999]

Im now level 52, and own above 75 mil coins. I've just been trying to play for 3 weeks. In case you wish to know the way in which I got that far read beatcafeworldXcom (replace X with . )

[Estonianwoodsman]

@smithsherman the vapid superficiality of the classical world? Please explain.

[JonesPeter4]

@Estonianwoodsman -> smithsherman is absolutely correct. Michael plays Bach like a metronome here. Thus completely empty/vapid; something that is very common among classical musicians today.

To quote Robert Donington: "one of the most stubborn modern misconceptions concerning baroque music is that a metronomic regularity was intended"

[Estonianwoodsman]

@JonesPeter4 It's not completely metronomic at least. but yeah, a lot of musicians i've seen are basically just technicians, which is really impressive, but anyone can obtain crazy chops if they play long enough. It takes real talent to be able to perform the music appropriately and intelligently.

[jahnssen]

@JonesPeter4

I think that the classical world thinks that 'rubato' is an expression for interpretation... I think that most of classical musicians CANNOT keep a good tempo. Hear at the marvelous Myra Hess... her Bach interpretation is unique. Anyway this guy plays very well...

[MLMIII]

@jahnssen i think, you think wrong. a player who cannot keep good tempo would not be considered a well trained classical musician. the cliche is singers can't count, but even then you'd be damned to find work in any ensemble if you couldn't keep time.

[MLMIII]

@JonesPeter4 I have to completely disagree, with you and smithsherman. It is not necessary to play rubato to play with emotion, he plays this piece flawlessly with an immense amount of feeling.

[Estonianwoodsman]

@JonesPeter4 yeha man. I'm working on the first cello suite right now, and i've been reading up on baroque interpretation. It's pretty crazy.

[florinbaiduc]

@JonesPeter4 He's not at all metronomic here - note the subtle changes in volume and speed in the important passages - it take an ear to hear those though...

[Estonianwoodsman]

@JonesPeter4 OMG he plays rhythmically. AUTOMATICALLY MEANS NO EXPRESSION. Why is this way of thinking so prevalent. What about his phrasing, and dynamics? and his well balanced sound. This is a beautiful rendition in my opinion. This piece has a constant rhythm throughout and is what i think gives it the sense of movement. i personally think it's fine.

[BelleWahleres05]

uhmdas beste wäre heute oder überhaupt wenn ich jemand netten zum chattn finden würde!

[Geist40]

@smithsherman i find this comment to be not only a terrible appraisal of a great player but as pompous as the accusation itself.

[robbourassaguitarist]

Michael is a great player.

[ringoss6f3v]

Excellent. Wonderful playing.

[chipple6]

loved it

[box1467]

WOW... this is very good... About 90% up to Chris P.'s Reference Piece, and best I've heard as far as tempo, feel, rising action, and transition... too bad it had to be recorded in some 4th world nation.

[bernaanderson]

I'm giving this a try on guitar! So far so good. Wish I could get my changes clean and concise though - working on it. thanks :)

[jrgnlmn]

hallo k.s.a. kopfhörer auf augen zu,

und an was schönes denken.

viele grüße jürgen (°-°)

[antione101]

Yeah, you can find this exact fingering by Parkening on Parkening Play Bach. Much better version I might add. I think this is a Rick Foster transcription.

[riceboii101]

The Baroque music of bach has helped me change my perspective on life. and i am a more calm individual because of it.Thank you for this wonderful music.

[torles097]

Gran interpretación. Gracias por subirlo.

[redbearbartlett]

Hello,

Is this available on any of the albums or as an I-Tune, please?

Thanks for posting(-;

[HannahBanana4503]

You can Google "Youtube mp3 Converter", download it, and get any song you want off Youtube and listen to it on your iTunes. That's how I do it when iTunes doesn't have songs I want. :)

[Clareorge]

I play this song but on the piano. I rally enjoy your interpretation. You really show your spirit on he music. Congratulations!!

Clara, from Portugal!

[inseita]

grossartiges feeling  5***** +++++ (D

[Barbaradafne]

Non avevo mai sentito questo pezzo per chitarra, mi piace molto!

[Ginatheroma]

Fantastic... great music ....

[OscarA23]

can any one plese tell me were to et the tabs or notes for this song? please

[dben842504]

Amazing he makes it look so effortless, one of the most beautiful guitar pieces I have ever heard

[musictranscription]

I can write for you any sheet music

[kg207]

One awesome player.

[pyromancj1]

I saw him live. Hes awesome.

[54spiritedwill54]

I appreciate the music, but there's something oddly pornographic about this video.

[71dogface]

Dude:-Are we watching the same video? Nothing remotely sexual in the video I just watched.

[a101060]

segovia viò justo : este se quedò adolescente,un noviecito que toca para chicas en la playa

[Diegov88]

me da gracia verlo ahi porque lo primero que vi de el fue como lo regañaba andres segovia

[Chaconne07]

Good tone, but rubato is too liberal, at points affecting the flow of phrasing.

[Respectthewilderness]

what would say Segovia now...

[Ballslaw]

ive always loved this song, its just as beautiful on guitar as it is on piano

[clubsandwedge]

My love for the guitar is amazing, if you treat the instrument right it will respond, like your own lover..

[gatesofdelirium]

faggot

[GYGsam]

this song is originally for cello isnt it?

[not4nothing1982]

that´s just great... wonderful and extraodinary!

Love this song so much (-: Maxmilian.

[jabbertheferb]

superb craftsman

[jargenlink]

segovia was not a fan of the electric guitar.

[CapnDub]

Neither was Bach.  :)

[clubsandwedge]

Beautiful, I'm learning this now, check out my videos

[whoandtheha]

Kids, THIS is how to get laid.

[kujibo]

Hmmm.... never worked for me!

[Wiegieboard]

Combining music and sex is low i my opinion. I've never let my fiancee hear anything that I can play. Girls are weak to music.

[acoustic2rock]

girls can play check out li jie she is way better than michael chapdelaine

[awjesss]

Wow!!

[wackyetharmless]

I adore the joy this man experiences through his creativity. I so love Bach as well.

[Claire1Rogers]

Bach ROCKS! or should i say , CLASSICALS :P

[vulpine23]

and if you knew anything about common sense and manners, you would know that the common man refers to Bachs music as classical music. You guys disgust me. Showing off like you think you know a lot. You know shit. YOu only know how to hurt people

[wgamboa]

Make more videos PLEASE...

[acoustic2rock]

I love this. this is so beautiful

[taekwondoinstructor]

awesome to see another great virtuoso

[ironlungbongrip]

good song, anyone who plays fingerstyle should be able to do it i notice a few notes missing.but then again im more of a segovia,turina, granados fan

[ajengland]

Your a prick!!!

[rubio2448]

Im a bach lover he is the neo classical creator, HE IS NEO CLASSICAL I LOVE BACH COMPOSITIONS

yo soy un amante de bach(en el buen sentido jajaja) el creo el estilo neo clasico el es NEO CLASICO VIVA BACH VIVA LA MUSICA

[wildeyed]

There is no transcription available to my knowledge. The parkening version exists. If you learn that, the differences will become apparrent by ear alone.

[Gerry319]

If you know Bach's "1st Prelude" you will have noticed that there are a few crucial notes missing in this arrangement. But still quite nice to listen to.

[wildeyed]

A number of notes have been replaced with more playable chord tones. Actually, it's a heavily modified piece. The beginning is transposed down an octave, and maintains a consistant range, while the original moves steadily downward.

[Gerry319]

Would it be possible to arrange for guitar using all the correct notes (possibly transposed from Cmajor)?

[wildeyed]

For a five fingered person playing in standard or drop D tuning the answer is no. First, the piece has a range of a major 27th, while the (19fret) classical guitar has a major 26th. Second, these are five not chords and we only have four fingers, so either open strings, barring, thumbs, right hand taps, harmonics, or some other creative solution must be used. This isn't always possible because it requires the hand to do things it can't do. The result is that notes get altered or cut short.

[wildeyed]

The problem is the chord voicings, not the register, so transposing doesn't really help. (Besides, it's really frustrating to listen to transposed music.)

However, once you venture into modified tunings, the guitar becomes a much more flexible instrument. This rendition, for example is played with the E6 string tuned down a whole step. If one were so inclined and dedicated, one could devise a tuning that would play a very accurate transcription.

[wildeyed]

But, to me, enough is enough after a point. If Bach were writing for guitar, he would have chosen more playable notes in the first place. While respect for compositional intent is a good thing, it's important to distinguish between choices made for musical reasons and those made for technical ones.

[Gerry319]

Thanks Wildeyed for such an interesting analysis. I think I'll stick to playing it on the piano!

[snakeinthegrass20]

Maestro Carlevaro said Beethoven would have composed the same music if he had been a guitarist. What about Bach ??

[ntrimm]

The same kind of criticism about playing tunes that appeal to us masses was mouthed by Igor Stravinsky. An egotistical attitude that music isn't for enjoyment it's only for showing off the capabilities of the performers and composers. That's garbage. There are many criteria by which music can be judged. Each of us judges it by our own system. My system is as valid as yours. If you don't like it don't listen. Don't try to force your personal system on the rest of us.

[cowboyecosse]

he's no doyle dykes

[wildeyed]

This version is technically more difficult than parkening's. The two are fingered the same except for 3 or 4 spots where parkening uses simpler fingerings that are less legato. Also, Michael uses a more accurate baseline. In several spots Parkening transposes notes up an octave. Also, Parkening plays the piece in D, which is really lame.

[ThisDream]

I can say with all honesty: I can play this piece better, and with less poncing around on video.

[ntrimm]

Tchaikovsky got this kind of criticism for his 4th symphony. Thankfully criticism didn't stop him. Hope criticism doesn't stop Chapdelaine.

[jdk2k2]

He's good and all, but this isn't a majorly difficult piece and keeping that in mind, this has to be one of the most uninspired playings by a professional classical guitarist I've ever heard. Playing Bach takes a certain emotional involvement past the technical ability, and this version just doesn't have it.

[wildeyed]

As John Williams demonstrated, emotion can be conveyed in ways other than excessive rubato and volume swells and vibratos. You're really off base here. Bach wrote this piece for a clavicord. A clavicord had no dynamic range, and no tonal variation. Stylistically, baroque music was played with an inflexible tempo.

[Valygarx]

This guy has nothing on REAL classical guitarists like John Williams.

[goph999]

One thing is for sure, I am not going to University Of New Mexico to study the guitar.

[Jitpring]

How sad to see Bach's sublime music sacrificed on the altar of this man's ego. Wonderful music, horrid video.

[fesierra]

I agree 100%

[Jitpring]

I hope that the production people are responsible for this, not Michael.

[Seaofash]

Michael Chapdelaine is the guitar professor at University Of New Mexico.

He is by far one of the most generous souls I've ever met.

He always took the time to stop and listen to whatever piece I was working on at the time and give me help and advice even thought I was never in his program.

What you perceive as ego I take to be the videoagrapher flight of fancy.

It's best not to judge people when you don't know anything about them.

[PhilomathBret]

By far one of the most generous souls you've ever met? What does this mean? He greatly exceeded your standards for being included in the category of "most geneorous souls you've ever met"?

[theburtonearny]

I love that you picked up on that! I missed it... very good point!

[kbkesq]

yes this is Liona Boyd territory.

[onplastica]

one classical player can kill lot of

fingerstyle man without sweat

[logikgr]

I appreciate the music, but there's something oddly pornographic about this video.

[anhzor]

lol thats is a viet song?

[JDC57]

Man, this chap Chapdelaine is one amazing guitarist. He can play anything. Check out his marvelous arrangements of "Come Together" and "California Dreaming." The video here is a little on the schmaltzy, self-promotional side for my taste. The simpler, humbler onstage moments come off best, in my view. I would love the sheet music for this - I might actually be able to play it in a couple of years! How might I acquire it?

[eeboy1980]

is that standard tuning ?

[BrokenStaff85]

The way he plays it, he drops the 6th string to a D. It's not necessary to play it that way, however.