Punch Brothers: Brandenburg Concerto No. 3

[Sadiquelover24]

Hardcore dude at 2:43. Who says you can't headbang to Bach?

[cindysarver]

Love it.

[wupeide]

I love these guys - It's awesome that they can pull out Bach and actually do it really well!

[toddmakesnoise]

oh. my. god.

Probably the greatest thing that has ever happened on stage.

[DrGorlesHuman]

There's hope for the human race yet

[mandoalbee]

Looks to me like Thile already knows this piece. No sheet music for him. Edgar taught him well.



[AccordioningToHank]

STUNNING

[nickolascook718]

This vid is a favorite on Nicaragua

[christianevansmusic]

Who are the three idiots who disliked this??

[lewigr]

@christianevansmusic Probably three bluegrass "purists"...

[QueenTechnoGeek]

Love it!

[walterm85]

starts at 1:10

[silvermaician]

I know this Concerto like the back of my hand, having conducted it on period instruments, and I have to say that this is the most joyous performance I have ever heard. Bravo! Bravo!

[sunstar336]

Bach had 20 children fo maybe "f-----g" is appropriate??

[lovelyjubbaly]

Wow! That's the only word I could think of while watching that video. That was awesome. Punch Brothers are so incredibly talented. What a great band.

[isaacasimov054]

Thile doesn't know that he looks so ridiculous playing barroque music like a rockstar?

[zwrdl]

@isaacasimov054 He always looks like that. He's not doing it deliberately. He's just so into the music that he has no awareness of his facial expressions or body positions. For an outrageously brilliant performance of his with Mike Marshall, check out Fisher's Hornpipe on YouTube. People make fun of his facial expressions in the comments there, too. If you can play lie that, it doesn't matter what you look like. Same folks probably criticize Stephen Hawking for his appearance, too.

[isaacasimov054]

@zwrdl yes i understand you, even i agree, its so funny how chris do that, but, i just cant get it over, jajaja its strange, anyway chris is the best mandolin player of the world, thats just amazing.

[PointSpecial09]

Yeah, but how many brains did Bach have...? I can't even really grasp the depth listening to it.

[lichtbroeder]

@PointSpecial09 True! And the funny thing is that this version that is being played is incomplete. It was simplified, with some parts being omitted, and it is STILL incredible. Excellent job by Punch Brothers!!!

[lichtbroeder]

Easy to understand after listening to this, why Bach had a gazillion kids.

[ricksamuell]

Sure. But can they play Smokey Mountain Breakdown???

[isaacasimov054]

it makes me cry....... OMG!!

[togaleheho]

makes the hairs on my legs stand up. bravo.

[MsGurigo]

Fantastic perfekt

[xSeekUpx]

Noam Pikelny plays so smooth. Its sickening really

[doighe]

wow love this version of the Brandenburg and watching Chris play is truly priceless ty for posting :))))

[wcbroccoli]

The "Brandenburg Concertos", so-called because they were discovered in the Brandenburg library in the 19th century, were originally written for and played by the musicians at the court of Prince Leopold of Anhalt-Coethen, where Bach was Capellmeister 1717-1723. In 1723 Bach dedicated them, as "Six Concertos for Diverse Instruments," to the Margrave of Brandenburg, who was uncle to the Prussian king and NOT a "duke". But the margrave's band was too small to play any of them.

[wcbroccoli]

The announcer looks a bit like and sounds a lot like a young Tom Hanks.

[AndrewSteinMusic]

I love how almost everyone is reading their sheet music intently.... except for Chris, whom appears to have it memorized. XD

[jdiezastronomy]

GREAT!! More like this please! You see why classical music is classical, it REVIVES everytime, every era, forever! This band is AMAZING!

[gmcruz123yahoo]

Is there anything Chris Thile can't play? (Throws panties onto stage)

[gmcruz123yahoo]

Is there anything Chris Thile can't play?

[giggleblaggle]

Only the Punch Brothers could pull this off. Fantastic!

[BiddleStudios]

We just failed at this in orchestra. I understand how friggin AMAZING this is

[ginsuchop100]

Great band. Awesome bassist. I heard he trained at Curtis

[tapia288]

Maybe Brandenburg would have given Bach more attention if he heard this version.

[wcbroccoli]

@tapia288 The "Brandenburg Concertos", so-called because they were discovered in the Brandenburg library in the 19th century, were originally written for and played by the musicians at the court of Prince Leopold of Anhalt-Coethen, where Bach was Capellmeister 1717-1723. In 1723 Bach dedicated them, as "Six Concertos for Diverse Instruments", to the Margrave of Brandenburg, who was uncle to the Prussian king and NOT a "duke". But the margrave's band was too small to play them.

[331Skydog]

I'm loving these guys!!!! Magic!

[rehoguma2]

This is on the Punch Brothers DVD that comes with the deluxe version of Antifogmatic. I would highly recommend it!

[delanaboone]

OH MY GOD! BRAVO! CLAPS HOLY COW! PRICELESS!

[sometimescharlie]

is that john lennon on the second fiddle?

[wuffpaw]

What just happened!?! Did they really just do that?! I'm not even sure I believe what I just heard and saw...holy crap!

[Nanomachinist]

Fucking amazing.

This is incredibly appropriate though one might not immediately think so. Both bluegrass and Bach's baroque have complex melodies and polyphony in common.

[mach037]

@Nanomachinist your use of the f-word is incredibly INappropriate. Just plain "amazing" is fine.

[Nanomachinist]

@mach037 are you fucking sure?! I think the intensifying power of "fucking" is really fucking necessary to describe this performance! fuck fuck fuck!

[Wally773MTG]

....they arranged the allegro and played it at a gig. I am in love with this band.

[mockmorris]

Bach would have loved this.  Most of his music was, by design, able to played on whatever instruments were available at the moment.

[tynank]

So I sat down with the sheet music and I believe this is the transcription:

Violin 1-Chris Thile

Violin 2-Rob Moose or Gabe Witcher

Violin 3-See above

Viola 1,2,3-Noam Pikelny

Cello 1,2,3 - Chris Eldridge

Bass- Paul Kowert

Wonderful arrangement, don't miss the other viola parts too much

[kicknz]

@tynank Well, the sheet music you're looking at is a transcription itself because the Brandenburgs were not written for a 6 part string ensemble and instead typically include several non-string instruments.

[tynank]

@kicknz Pardon me, but I was looking at the autograph manuscript, and I saw no parts for non-string instrument save continuo which was to be played on harpsichord. The heading, written by Bach himself, reads "Concerto 3zo a tre Violini, tre Viole, è tre Violoncelli col Basso per il Cembalo". Not Concerto a tre flauto or whatever. I looked at this and guessed how Witcher transcribed it into six parts. If you have sources I don't, I'd be thrilled to know about them, thanks!

[kicknz]

@tynank Yeah, sorry. I must confess you're absolutely right and I was dead wrong. The other concertos contain non-string instruments but not the 3rd. Please accept my apology.

[isaacasimov054]

@kicknz the six concert its only strings....

[LukeCampaynoMusic]

@tynank you have the sheet music?

[tynank]

@LukeCampaynoMusic imslp.org, massive digital sheet music library for free!

[coitinsforyourocky]

That 'kick-ass duke' that Chris mentions, would have payed attention if he heard it played like this!! THESE GUYS ARE IMPECCABLE!!

[butterfingers6m]

I think Bach will wake up from his grave an edit his score! Bravo guys! :D Nice nice! :D

[tynank]

Chris Thile (not in person sadly) convinced me to learn Bach on mandolin, and it really is as fun as he makes it look!

[Jenni4Design]

My heart may have stopped for a minute from the awesomeness. Really amazing talent.

[Irshkboy]

Thats friggin amazing. These guys own this peice, written by the ultimate master of Mucis. Bach himself

[strauch2014]

paul kowert on bass is probably the most amazing thing ive ever heard. ever. really.

[tpiskor]

@strauch2014 I've never in my 56 year's of existence heard The Bass played like that...Just incredible.

[lesjsin]

What a fantastic twist - just shows what CAN be done - terrific, well done!!

[sonomabob]

Noem rocks.

[Mamasan41]

YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!­!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Bach would love it!!  Terrific playing from all you musicians. Am sending this to everybody I know! Congratulations to Noem for winning the Steve Martin prize! Steve Martin, you are wonderful!

[deborahsuewho]

My head just popped off.

[tpiskor]

@deborahsuewho That was amazing.It brought me to tears.

[tpiskor]

@deborahsuewho I don't think Chis is reading any music...You got to be kidding.

[tpiskor]

@deborahsuewho .What's so cool is that these are just a bunch of pub guys talented beyond belief playin Bach...The world need's to hear these Gent's.

[deborahsuewho]

@tpiskor As with most of my serendipitous finds, I was introduced to them via Elvis Costello at a concert a just a while back. It was a revue-style show and they were the highlight of the evening. Once I started hunting around here I was amazed. I am working at spreading the word and have hooked at least one. My teenage son was with me so he was pulled in as well. This is perhaps my favorite Bach piece, so imagine my surprise. Well, you read my response to my forst hear! Thanks.

[toddpyke]

BRAVO! GREAT JOB BOYS. THANKS FOR THE INSPIRATION... T.

[StarryNightDiva]

Yep, my face just melted ...holy crap.... laughing :) SO AMAZING....

[MrPatrichon]

It's actually the second and third movements... The slow paced first five seconds are the second movement andante... Bach had a distinct sense of humor.

[MozartIsFancylalala]

the viola solo on banjo sounds cool

[toriwastestime]

grateful to be alive while chris thile walks the earth. beyond beautiful. mr. moose, thank you for this transcription. divine.

[cwpo1973]

Wow. That was awesome. 

[violin1cello710]

OMG THIS IS GREAT! I LOVE IT! :D

[lampwithbulb2]

gamaei kwlous!!!!!

[sonomabob]

Must be a heck of a movie if this got cut out.

[Mamasan41]

@sonomabob This CAN'T have gotten cut out??????WHAT were they thinking!!!!!

[sosome57]

CHRIS THILE LIKES BACH! Great for us, huh! They did a terrific job with this. They are all superb musicians. As a Bach buff, I've heard versions of this from Wendy Carlos to Colonel Klink's dad. Super arrangement. This is fantastic, just fantastic! Listen to Freiburg Baroque Orchestra (YT) of this. Dynamics and interpretation are spot on. Thile cracks me up near the end. An abundant thanks for sharing this video with us!!

[manders76]

toodance, I agree Chris is such a badass.

[nodollarsign]

my brain just exploded

[toodance]

notice how thile is not reading. seems like he just stores music in his brain and retrieives it at will. must be his first language. remarkable memory

[jrcalfonso]

Very Nicely Done! My Favourite Was The Banjo That Was Playing The Viola 1 Part!

[rosiandhermusic]

I always knew Bach rocked. What a jewel it is in its own right. Now you've polished it it sparkles like no other crystal.

A lot of work for the double bass!!! And now the banjo joins the ranks of respectable instruments.

I bet people could rock to this.

Great feat!! More please!!!!

Do you ever come to England???

[ptolgyes]

Well, they played in Glasgow in January 2008. It was one of the first Punch Brothers shows, kinda surprising... :)

[kimflatpicks]

Astounding! This is one of the most fabulous videos I've ever seen!!! Thanks so much for posting this!

[westcovinadodge]

Great job.  Thanks

[cantbringmedown]

Eee! Thanks for this - they did this in Hamden with Rob and it was just... wow. The audience wasn't breathing.

[redheadedfolkie]

Thanks SO much for this!

[abhayadana]

thanks for putting this up! i saw them perform this in portland!