Bach's Cello Suite No. 6 - Rostropovich plays the Prélude

[diamondmoney007]

I never knew Dick Cheney was a musician

[syncopath]

wonder-full. 10x.

[ffkooks44]

Baroque is not favorite musical period but Bach's Cello Suite are just wonderful

[ThePianola82]

I just cannot think of another performer of any instrument that has as rich a tone as Rostropovich. Youtube I await your reply....

[mermew]

More than just a delicious taste of what's to come; a perfectly seasoned treat in its own right.

[PRODIGYat43]

the Meastro becomes a composite-- the best bow+the best instrument+the great technique= something better than the sum of the parts...wonderful!

[vitorr1311]

Monster!!!!!

[nordeme]

The last note is just the most beautiful thing ever. The resonance is AMAZING. Love you forever Slava!!

[SirBigBrain]

my mother met this man and he was a pretentious, stupid person

[TheRotaryHeaven]

@SirBigBrain Still, what has your mother accomplished on the other hand?

[SirBigBrain]

@TheRotaryHeaven a lot of things actually (and truthfully), mind you obviously not as much as Rostropovih.

In answer to your rather aggressive comment, she has always appreciated his work, and regards him as THE best cellist in the world. On the other hand as i said, she did meet him and said he was a pretentious chap

[TheRotaryHeaven]

@SirBigBrain My comment wasn't aggressive, sorry if you took it that way! I was just pointing out that if his dull behavior is the price to pay for his work then we can more than accept it! A little price to pay but the reward of listening to him more than makes up the gap i guess!

[SirBigBrain]

@TheRotaryHeaven I agree

[OrdinaryCritic]

@SirBigBrain When did she meet her?

[jessssheheh]

2:12 my favorite part!

[friulano]

That is surely a french church,but which one?

[jeffho777]

ya ya w/e yo yo ma is better

[c1trax]

 to the more classical original-instrument approach by Mischa Maisky------>!??!?!

[Chemicalpneumonia]

This suite is most fun to play! Kinda har on some places though ( i'm 17 and have only played for 11 years) especcially to get it to sound like genuine Bach.

[TheJeff505]

Never too old to lay down a phat beat on the cello. Rostropovich forever!

[erikypema]

Beautiful: This is as close as you can get to a conversation with God

[erkperc]

Um, is this "Organist's last job" or the Bach Prelude? Skip to 1:10 for the latter...

[petriebabyboys]

1:09 music

[juspasenthru]

I had not heard of his death. I saw him on three occasions, each time I felt like I had entered the Platonic Realm of Total Perfection. When I heard him play the sarabande from Suite 2 I was forever hooked on Bach and Rostropovich. I'd like to think I'll be able to him in person again someday. God bless you and RIP.

[xbasket12x]

Rest in peace dear Slava.....your legacy will live on forever.

[jackcampbell21]

the dynamic changes around 2:30 are genius.

[GrGr1234567]

This is heavenly!!!!!!!!! Played with such emotion!!!! ^_^

[Agazana]

This is an absolute pleasure to watch and hear.

[RelinquishedJulius]

Unbelievable! How can those ten people dislike TRUE MUSIC.  I bet ten of them, minus those who accidentally pressed dislike, if ever TRUE MUSIC were snakes, their whole body would already be bit several times before they know it's there.

XD

[inavla]

I believe that when God created our wonderful World, He asked Rostropovich to play for him this prelude of 6th. Bach's cello suite.

[tyinykiller5]

I think Bach might have been trying to simulate an echo with the dynamics

[heresiarcas]

Me mata cuando se hace eco a él mismo. Que gloria este tipo..

[k73f]

lol, i love how the bells in the beginning right before he plays are in triplets too, settin' the mood for the 12/8 suite

[andry6333]

Rostropovich-is my favourite cellist,but in Bach i prefer Pergamehshikov

[SMartensCellist]

Don't even mention the mainstream media.

Compared to Slava, the average pop/hip-hop/rap musician has his/her head jammed so far up their ass they couldn't see the light of day if the sun were a supernova.

But you're right---it's really depressing information . . .

[ctbakks]

Warning: Depression may occur when the realization that after years of being on youtube, this video only gets around 100,000 views, whereas the pop-culture misogyny riddled "songs" receive four hundred thousand in less than an hour.

[mchalb]

awesome vid!



[foxinsocks506]

@pakleglia agreed... I just skip past it to the cello...

[porpoisefathom]

@foxinsocks506 haha i do the same thing!

[MIONIX]

if you don't appreciate this performance, I promise you, something has been removed from your soul that makes you human.

[BWV1013]

No me Canso de apreciar tan hermosa interpretación 

[pixi3angeldreamx]

Rostropovich's and Maisky's interpretation of this piece sounds so different to me... but both are awesome nonetheless and it's interesting to listen to both

[BWV1013]

Hermoso¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡­¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡

inconparable hasta ahorita¡

[BWV1013]

Hermoso no me canso de escucharlo enserio no me canso nadie como el Sr. Rostropovish para tocar u.u Ago una reberencia.

[livelife409]

EPIC!

[roborexasaurus1]

I do not know why I ever thought that Yo-Yo Ma was the best cello player after hearing this piece.

[CedsoccerCA]

@roborexasaurus1 yo-yo ma is a lot more musical

[PRODIGYat43]

@roborexasaurus1 welcome to musical enlightenment-

[OrdinaryCritic]

@roborexasaurus1 From whom did you hear that Ma is the best?!

[SmarticlesTheGoof]

@roborexasaurus1 I don't know, I actually like Yo Yo Ma's faster interpretation of this piece.

/watch?v=383i93LiT-o

[everocho1]

Stark, klar, sauber, perfekt !!! Der besten Cellist von XX Jahrhundert

[jungian9111]

Exquisite...

[torment7777]

SO BADASS

[juanbreakscylla]

bad you

[Malleck1]

A JEWEL MASTERSTOKE.  GREAT MOMENT.

Thanks for posting.

[wolfsbane92]

This was written to be played on a 5 string cello, and thats why its so much harder to play it on 4

[wenzhiquan]

@wolfsbane92 AND HE MEMORIZED ALL OF IT :O

[wolfsbane92]

Its actually easier once you have memorized the piece. It makes it easier to focus on your playing rather then having to look at the page and play.

[wenzhiquan]

true. but it's still amazing that he did

[xxxxx123456789xxxxx1]

@wolfsbane92 agreed, i have trouble with the 16th notes, especially the arpeggios lol. the thumb is not a big deal, just u can't play near the fingerboard

[CARIBEGORDA]

El cello, con la ayuda de este hombre, dejaron de ser sustancia...

[CARIBEGORDA]

Este señor ya rebasó lo máximo, también quiero llorar.

[nikitannenkov]

Pokoisa s Mirom .  Rostropovich.

[MusicMatterMore]

thats not a cello it has 5 strings look closely

[MusicMatterMore]

sorry im seeing things its a cello just a little shooken up from seeing him play this

[roborexasaurus1]

@MusicMatterMore Really? if you look at 4:31-4:32 you would thing that it would have 4 strings. Interesting thought though :) .

[porpoisefathom]

the guys hands are giant!

[angelskathy]

passion within

[sebastianzozaya]

i want to cry

[cherilynreimers]

no shame, no shame.

[torment7777]

i did cry

[notionpollution]

unreal. and he was in his 70s when he recorded this.

[SlyFox616]

I love the 6th suite.

[dogtransport]

ADD cameraman.

[youwrotethis]

Modern Interpretation is in my opinion, way better than the old interpretation.

[Lukecash12]

Saying that is like asking to be stoned (not as if I would instigate it :)

[TrollApproaches]

holy action batman i had no idea cello strings sat so high off the neck

[charlotteisacello]

I assume you're comparing to a guitar since you used the word action.

The cello's lower strings tend to rattle against the fingerboard if they are too low. Guitarists pick parallel to the surface of the instrument, while a cellist's bow puts pressure on the string which is perpendicular to the instrument's face, causing the strings to stretch toward the fingerboard.

Also, note that a cello's fingerboard is much rounder than a guitar's, and the cello has the equivalent to 40+ guitar frets.

[cellosurfer]

haha yeh, the plus is for if you count playing above the fingerboard, the best thing about the cello is there is no limit to the things you can play on it. and no matter what if done well, it will sound great. Rostropovich is a true master of the classical world. I have a deep respect for the music he has created. : )

[wenzhiquan]

haha sometimes the fingerboard drops due to humidity and then you can slip your pinky under the strings around the bottom of the neck area XD...gahh i hate school cellos. ANYWAY~~ROSTROPOVICH IS TRULY MY FAVORITE CELLIST AND WILL ALWAYS BE MY INSPIRATION

[Roryx9]

It's a shame he died... he's sincerely the best cellist that has ever lived and I don't think I've ever heard a piece played as delicate and moving as this...

Bravo and cheers to you.

[MrStravinsk]

Roryx9 @  Rostropovich ja morreu?

[kenrsdude]

@Roryx9 He died?!?! :'''(((((

[streitlucas]

As usual, incredible

[FILOSOFIAIESSUR]

El chelo es como nostálgico, melódico, sereno y pleno. Es la música para el individuo.

[cellogeek95]

I love the last part (and the whole piece as well!) from the chords in 5:54 and the arpeggios that resonates so good in the cello! Slava is truly amazing!

[filoguitar]

Los años hacen que la música se espiritualice mucho más. Dos grandes genios: el Dios de las formas y el del sentimiento.

[temple07152009]

he is truly a cello master, legend. his soul never dies.

[DebianMC]

GRANDE!! GRANDISIMO!!!

[pimpinviolist]

absolutely amazing.

[redhotchiliangel]

I prefer Slava!

[C0urante]

Ugh... I'm watching this argument and I'm just going to reply to the start of it:

The reason his dynamics are so dramatically different is that this movement of this suite was the only place in the entire set that Bach wrote dynamics, and as a result, Rostropovich felt that they should be executed in an almost exaggerated manner, since they were obviously so important to Bach.

[ubbddu]

this piece should be a milestone in understanding Bach.

[8pdng2]

@C0urante so true. no dynamics anywhere else in the book.

[Bazement258Studios]

@C0urante I've seen dynamics on at least one other movement in the third suite.

[C0urante]

@Bazement258Studios On whose manuscript?

[ThatCoolGuy6969]

@Bazement258Studios

Ya, in the THIRD suite. He is trying to say that the prelude is the only movement in the 6th suite with dynamics.

[helenwhohelenwho]

@C0urante That is so touching.

[EliaBR]

Nevertheless, let's not forget what Stravinsky said about Casals: "I heard an old man playing Bach as if it where Brahms..."

Today esthetics have changed a little... what so ever, put into context Rostro did a great job but he definitely has more interesting recordings to listen to than Bach...

[Shadowtech666]

Lol after he died, the Japanese bought that cello for 20 million U.S. Dollars.... THAT'S the amazing legacy of a player + a god of an instrument.

[JordyKun]

That better have gone in a museum, or at least let yo-yo ma play it.

[Kurtyoungblood]

I think this Prelude is just too good for these kind of dynamics.

By the way, he tuned sharp to bells?

[foralive7]

No offence, but is sounds like a student perfomance, like he is making dynamics nuances just to make it, not because it has some point. He's playing forte, and then, suddenly, he's playing piano and then forte again. That doesn't make any sense, because one phrase follows another and you gotta keep it flow, you don't need to make dynamics so different, otherwise it sounds like you whisper one part of the sentence and crying out lout another.

[Borriss7]

There is an echo effect in this prelude, this is why he makes these forte and piano nuances. I think even that this can be applied in some more phrases of this prelude. There is no rule in the music that postulates how different should be the forte and the piano in the music exactly. May be this is the effect of crying out and whispering one and the same motif that Slava was after, who knows!

[Borriss7]

Also, it is good not to judge the Great Performers! I think that the point of listening the performances of these great performers is not to judge them and determine who plays as a student (!!!), but rather to try to understand them, why they interpret the music so, how they do it, what they want to tell us by doing so. This is much more useful than simply judging them. This is one way to learn from them.

[EliaBR]

With discernment, it is normal and good for one to have a opinion on whatever subject may be... so one HAS to judge Great Performers!!! But one should try to judge with intelligence, sensibility and respect. This means putting one's opinion in CONTEXT... Rostro was how old when he recorded these Suites??? and musically you have to put Rostro with HIS GENERATION... his generation which gave us Shosta, Prokofiev, Lutoslawski, etc... (all Rostro's friends).

[Borriss7]

In replay to foralive7's comment on Rostropovitch performance of Bach 6th prelude:

[foralive7]

Borriss7, I guess you trying to say that anyone should like and respect any performer with the name, no matter how good or how bad he/she is.

What I wrote here it's just my point of view, and yes, this is my understanding of his perfomance. I have my own view on how perform this piece and it's different from yours or Rostropovich's. The thing is, that I should not (and neither anyone) admire anything just because it was said/made/played by some famous person.

[foralive7]

I'm able to make my own decisions and I think this is wrong to worship anyone famous like an idol. If you do so, you just go blind, because you won't be able to understand music fully and you won't be able to form your own opinion. And I think that in the first place your better try to understand the music itself, not someone's interpretation and understanding of it.

[foralive7]

It's just funny, how most people make an idols of famous players and criticize anyone who has a different opinion on their playing. Classical music turns to popular culture in one way and into the worst meaning of religion in another. Why don't you try to understand another person's opinion instead of oblige everyone to adore on famous person's opinion?

[Borriss7]

Hi, foralive7! I didn't say that everyone should like anyone with name, but rahter respect them. I said that we should try to understand the great performers instead of issuing judgements on them, because to say that Slava is playing "student performance" is rather offensive. It is not objective view. I am far from the thought that Slava's rendition is perfect. I do not aim to play as he did, even if I had his masterity.

[Borriss7]

He is more romantic in Bach than me or than what I aim. I also very agree with you that noone should admire anyone else just because he/she is famuous person! Because there are (we all see) a lot of today-famuous performers whos quality does not cover their advertising and fame. My view of how to perform Bach is also different from Slava's but this is no reason to qualify/offend his playing as "student performance", but is reason to try to analyse or understand him.

[Borriss7]

This is matter of respect and understanding, not of issuing judgements. For sure Slava cannot be qualified as some "student". I do not make idol of anyone, but make objects of analysis of them, learn from them. I also agree with foralive7 that on first place we have to understand the music itself, but this does not mean that we should not understand performers as Slava.

[foralive7]

Borriss7, I agree with, but still this my opinion and I'm not trying to insult Rostropovich's memory or anything else. To me it sounds like a student perfomance, but I don't mean anything offensive.

[darthpacos]

im dying to watch your performance foralive7..

[mrlschreur]

wonderful

[SevvySellsy]

Rostropovich was a stud

[liamstedavid]

the dynamics are beautiful, not a matter of loud or quiet, but powerful or subtle - the strength in tone remaining constant :D

[toterola451]

Incredibly beautiful. Thank you for sharing.

[batterseaspark]

oh my lord forgive me for my youtube sins, this is it!! bach is it!!!

[Benboswell57]

Unreal...

[Julezi1]

this is brill!!!

[celloWiz10]

yay

[celloWiz10]

has anybody ever heard the torlief thedeen recordings of bach...AMAZING!

but don't get me wrong, rostropovich was great.

but i prefer thedeen.

[pyroboyx3]

i have heard them and i  agree

[Enix5548]

He was holding the case with his right hand so he must be right handed? Anyway I'm just amazed by the dynamics.

[Shadowtech666]

not necessarily. The two parallel faces of the case are different, the top bulges out. When carrying this is usually facing away from the player. The handles on the cases are played near the balance point, however sometimes the case is heavy towards the front or to the back, making it more comfortable to carry it with the left hand if it is heavy to the top, and right if it is heavy towards the back (ussually). this could not be more over explained lol.

[Kurtyoungblood]

Best last sentence ever.

[jeteyes115]

I hold my case with either hand, switching hands as one gets tired.

[polymath7]

We really could do without the first minute and ten seconds.

[TruebaG]

no one evetr wiulll suyrpas mtsilav dexterity & musicality. e t.

[pvicentina]

I hope the editor does not menace the owner of this video from putting ANY advertisements EVERYWHERE in the video's watch page. This policy, supported by YouTube, will empty this forum.

[jimbopotemkin]

The intro shows Rostropovich entering the Basilique Sainte-Marie-Madeleine de Vézelay, where the piece is recorded - the video is excerpted from the Bach Cello Suites DVD. It's hard to believe that the intro wasted your time, since you apparently had enough time to post comments on youtube...

[Penguines]

It hurts so bad when you insult someone over the internet.

[Penguines]

What was with the beginning? 1 minute and 10 seconds of my life wasted from the beginning.

[Halcyon91]

The church bells were there for a purpose. The second sequence of chimes parallels the rhythm of the opening theme.

[thecellorocks]

This man must be the best cellist in the world.

It's unbelievable how well he plays.

[cpark02]

He was the best cellist in the world. :P By most people's standards, though he's dead. :( But his music still lives on and ain't it awesome? (I know i'm using incorrect grammar if anyone is going to correct me, but what's the fun of formal language on Youtube?)

[HPPcello2]

his hands were huge!

[Kurtyoungblood]

Wow, that was a really different interpretation of the improv section.

[Shadowtech666]

there is no improve section. I have the music for this and every note on the page he played.

[Kurtyoungblood]

Most people call the improv-like section that (Right where the consistent 16ths come in). I have the music as well. Sorry for the confusion.

[scjorgensen]

I LOVE the echoes...damn

[Shadowtech666]

oh i know, I need a huge palace like this to play my viola in! Plus this gives a better resonance than any musical studio.

[steveo2827]

This is flawless, but the Maurice Gendron interpretation is the one for me.

[Kurtyoungblood]

Tortelier, all the way.

[moderncowgirl114]

what would have happened if bach wrote a fiddle peice? woah...

[Whiskeybear93]

he has. hahaha

[moderncowgirl114]

seriously? what song!?!?!?!?

[Whiskeybear93]

just type bach, violin into youtube and watch the torrent of videos come

[moderncowgirl114]

well yeah, but i mean like serious fiddling. not playing awesome violin music.

[Whiskeybear93]

look up paganini, thats some serious shit. he played so fast, ppl thought that he was possessed by the devil.

[ivtukit]

is is not a song you moron!!!!

CALL IT A PIECE!!

[Haku48089]

get over it. its not that big a deal.

[mingweicello]

slava really demonstrate as if the god was listenning to the performance at the top of the cathedral. Magnificate!

[valvetrom]

micro intervals ? echo?

[bzyakalka]

Замечательно.

[lpbug]

Simply nice song... y r u ppl aruguing over this great melody? Just enjoy it, every player has their own way of playing bach. =)

[tuxedomoon]

This is stylus fantasticus in the spirit of Bach.Rostropovich show great respect to the music of a Master and he succeeds that because he is in his mature form ,who dont care about mistakes in his playing please listen to his articulation.

[ojblingbling]

how does he do it ? i like yo yo ma's veiw of it

[munkybrain]

so flawless isn't it? absolutely without imperfections

[Rodrigoronte]

Best playing of this prelude i've ever heard

[skarmient0]

try wispelwey's version...

[amiry8]

LOOK, PEOPLE, SHUT UP ABOUT WHO'S BETTER THEN THE OTHER AS FAR AS MA AND ROSTRO ARE CONCERNED. BOTH ARE GENIUSES, END OF DISCUSSION.

That said, though, I think this interpretation of the song is infintely better then Ma's interpretation. I like Ma's version of the Prelude from No.1 slightly better then Rostro's, though.

[RedWasabii]

Actually I like Rostro's prelude from no.1 better than Ma's. They're both bad imo but when I first heard Rostro's version, I felt something unexplainable. But that feeling streches far and I can't remember it as well as I used to. Bach's music is like a cycle. Perhaps I will find that feeling again. Ma's is very liberal in tempo and although I do prefer a slower version, it is not as deep. Also I compared Jian Wang and Ma, and now I am prepared to believe Ma is nothing but an overrated cellist.

[RedWasabii]

Also, why can't other people compare Ma and Rostropovich? You say they are both geniuses and there's nothing to discuss, yet you express your own opinions. Unless you were talking about the skills. Skill doesn't apply to Bach as nearly as much as interpretation I suppose. But please don't mistake a piece for a song. It might offend some people.