J.S. Bach: Concerto for 4 Harpsichords in A minor, BWV 1065

[TheBrunozxc]

I've yelled at my girl cse she was trying to talk to me while im listening to this. (Y)

[milesandolivia]

Bach? Nah! Try Vivaldi. JS Bach was a big fan of that Venitian. If anyone needs a proof of Antonio's impact, just consider that Giovani Sebastiano was among his biggest fans.

[0276boy]

The poor guy playing beyond the spinet. Why wasn't the camera showing their hands? But the college-like innocence of this is probably what it really sounded like.  Yes, Fr. Vivaldi was "borrowed" by JSB, but I'm sure he didn't mind. This is my all time favorite harpsichord piece. What do I have to do to get that spinet into my front room?

[jfbecks17]

@0276boy

Borrowing back then was a sign of respect so I agree, I'm sure he didn't mind. Also, the concerto form was started in Italy, so Bach would probably need to listen Vivaldi to get the feel for it anyway.

[maxthemadcat]

... this is Vivaldi's concerto for 4 violins, I played this in high school as one of the soloists.

[harpsi8]

Wonderful I saw this at the Hollywood bowl ! 1973 Thanks so much I can see it once more.

Bravissimo ! !

[bzz126]

Godly music, God -awful camera work.

[flatboost]

L'enregistrement et la vidéo sont passable. C'est dommage pour un concert de qualité.

[TheVampireAldarar]

Who dared dislike this piece? You dishonor Bach!

[EriktheNog]

@TheVampireAldarar Maybe the person who dared to dislike this disliked the camera work? It makes me sea sick!

[bb1111116]

"This is Bach!"

And this is also Vivaldi.

[bachkirche]

It's ironic that this is a transcription of a Vivaldi piece to Cembalos. Vivaldi wrote concertos for just about every imaginable instrument.... except the Cembalo. In fact, it was Bach who brought it to the forefront in the orchestra, rather than leaving it relegated to the continuo part. The Brandenberg #5 is the first true keyboard concerto, including a solo cadenza in the first movement, a template followed by countless others in subsequent generations. We should always be grateful for Bach.

[bachkirche]

Remember the off-the-wall cartoon strip Herman? One of them showed a couple of men standing on the street with signs that said "Harpsichord Tuners on Strike". The caption read "We haven't had a contract since 1752".

I love the cembalo. I played one for several years, until I was sticken with RSI and had to give it up. There went my Orgel dreams too. Schade.

[theresidentone]

I love harpsichords so much... I don't know why I just do.

[adamworth1979]

Simply amazing! Long live Bach, Vivaldi and Baroque music.!!!

[lilygolightly]

What's better than one harpsichord? Two harpsichord. What is the definition of insanity? Four harpsichords. Beautiful, blissful insanity.

[monteverdi1567]

@Gamered125 yes it is a transcription of Vivaldi's Opus 3, no. 10. Bach transcribed several other Vivaldi concerti (and a few by other less well-known composers) for solo keyboard (organ or harpsichord). This is the only concerto with orchestral accompaniment transcribed from another composers; the other harpsichord concerti are transcriptions of his own work. When young, Bach learned various compositional techniques thru arranging and copying works.

[jnamadeus]

Avanti cembali!

[TempoFurioso]

it is amazing that Bach, who hated the Harpsichord, could compose such wonderful music for it

[greatcthulu]

@TempoFurioso You're a bit confused.

Firstly, Bach disliked early pianos, not harpsichords. During his lifetime, Bach was famous as a virtuoso organist and keyboardist, not as a composer.

Secondly, this is a Vivaldi concerto for four violins, rearranged by Bach for four harpsichords.

But you're certainly right, this is wonderful music.

[JamesTR4]

@Gamered125 yeah isn't this bach's transcription of that concerto for 4 violins?

[IGOTTHESHAKESBAD]

bad sound quality

[rodfredriksson]

I wish I live to see the day when the harpsichord rules the world again....

[CminorMaxG]

This is an interesting piece. I'll assume that at any one time at least three Harpsichords share the same part. It would be chaos otherwise.

[AEFic]

Not really, if you hear a stereo version of it, it's actually pretty clear, and there is almost no doubling of the harpsichord parts. The only times they MIGHT be playing the same thing is when they're all doing chords at forte. The soloing is all individual.

[Bikowhippet1]

A ode to my Dawgs: Jherek ( the Vivaldi fan), Biko,Mavis, Wilma, Tony, Etc...

[romuloVG]

What a crazy camara! It's impossible to follow the rendition of music and instruments even though concert is OK

[noospaseisde]

Harpsichords will rule the world again one day...

[dmyrkur]

they are already... :D

[shadowboxer2024]

I sure hope so

[dimarxn]

@noospaseisde Unfortunately that won't happen !!!

The only way the harpsichord will rule the world is when we disappear from the earth and evolution will bring us back (of course we have to invent again the harpsichord)

[jnamadeus]

@noospaseisde

True dat!!!! :)

[composer333]

@noospaseisde YES !!!!

[rufus888]

@noospaseisde I agree. There should be a harpsichord in every living room!

[Aishiya1]

@noospaseisde Let's hope.

[nikolasao]

Vivaldi is too sick

[piriapolis2008]

muy bueno pero en este caso seria el concierto para 3 claves y espineta, un poco desalineados los instrumentos, yo vi este concierto en vivo y estaban todos los teclados alineados, igual me gusta

[ReyWey]

Jajaja sabes? Tengo 16 años, nunca he entendido de que se trata todo esto... Pero no puedo evitarlo! Esta música es tan hermosa! :')

[rustydog1236]

I don't know.. I think the bent side spinet does remarkably well in holding its own in the ensemble. I once heard this concerto in a square room, Original Vivaldi performed first with a fiddle in each corner, the orchestra in the middle and the listeners wherever they could fit. THEN they performed it again in Bach's version with the four harpsichords! Both were wonderful like being in heaven.

[gordon290189]

This is a transcription of a concert of Vivaldi...i prefer it

[fluuuuuuuuffy]

I have an idea.......I'm going to write a concerto for FIVE harpsichords...... mwuah ha ha!!!

[PatriaOMuerte]

you, evil

[vballkidd21]

Loves it. But where in da hell did they find four harpsichords to begin with? Thanks for posting :)

[DrPhrenology]

I was wondering the same thing. It's a piano tuner's nightmare!

[zyx1236]

I guess they took their own instruments there.

Must have been some work, but sounds great.

[Ferdinand0880]

wonderful !!!

[LoverXxx9]

thats amazing!!!!!!!!!!!

[123rock333]

Isnt this Vivaldi's concerto for four violins in b minor?

[indigoblue555]

to123rock333 -

yes,it's Bach's arrangement after Vivaldi concert for four violins.

[Inoiztough]

Oh my goodness, I love this piece, and harpsichord is my favorite instrument. 4 harpsichords+awesome strings=EPIC WIN

How many harpsichrods can you put in a great piece at once?

I'll tell you, it;s endless! you could put in a million harpsichords and it'll still sound great=)

(I think I spelt piece wrong).

...or did I?

[Lutzenberger]

well, you are true, but they all have to be played very very well .... and fine and exact tuned, btw^^

[Chansonmusika]

four harpsichordsplaying at once?!? this is madness! madness i tell you! :]

[goboenomo]

Madness? This is Johann!

[bachkirche]

@Chansonmusika The concept of keeping 4 harpsichords simultaneously in tune in a concert hall recently filled with people is even more madness!

[Aishiya1]

@Chansonmusika but a fine madness, to be sure. :0)

[hatstalker]

@Chansonmusika No not madness, ITS BACH!

[composer333]

@Chansonmusika It was all done for the pursuit of expression and volume.

[Lassannn]

@Chansonmusika THIS IS BACH!!!!!!!

[666Misery666]

@Chansonmusika Madness!?? THIS.. IS.. BACH! *kicks you off a ledge* j/k

[Aishiya1]

@Chansonmusika But a fine madness, surely. ;0)

[kefaad]

My favorite concert by Bach. Well played!

[chantsun2]

My favourite concerto by Vivaldi.Well played!

[noonescrying]

In the look... they should've wear dark clothes, as the tradition is [slave as the histori says]

[wolfgang7445]

Whats with the spinet? Did they not have enough Harpsichords?

[Renshen1957]

The 3 Harpsichords and a Spinet. Very nice sonic palette loads of different timbres. Loads of presence from the spinet. A delight.

[stevtomato]

Wow this is awesome! It's amazing how Bach could take Vivaldi's music, which is very Vivaldi in style, and turn it into quite a Bachian style!

And to see 4 Harpsichords are cool!

[xanderion]

Nice! But next time record it with a better microphone: I can't even hear Harpsicord I...

Btw, maybe some clearer phrasing would improve it (in particular on the orchestra's side...), but i perfectly know how difficult it is: so just 'bravi'!

[xdarkrosex]

amazing, i hate how some musicians play this on piano... is just awful... the piano hasn't the feeling that an beatifull harpsicord can put in this piece.

[abyssmetal]

totally agree with you!

[Juhanhxc]

I really love this piece. My favorite instrument is the harpsichord. Before I heard this piece a few years ago I would have never dreamt of hearing 4 of them playing at once!

I think is must just be mentioned that this is not an original Bach composition. He based it on Vivaldi's concerto for 4 violins.

[chicanaorlife]

write to the gentleman in the center playing

[elchetiomexicano]

do you have stephen's e-mail..?

[chicanaorlife]

i  am amazed......steven and the crew great job

[elchetiomexicano]

how can I contact you chicanaorlife?