András Schiff - Bach Partita No.6 in E Minor

JS Bach: Partita for Keyboard No.6 in E minor, BWV 830
András Schiff
0:01 I. Toccata
7:46 II. Allemande
11:37 III. Corrente
IV. Air (Edited out, due to copyright claims)
16:37 V. Sarabande
22:33 VI.Tempo di Gavotta
24:36 VII. Gigue
András Schiff, piano
Pierre Boulez Saal, Berlin
Notes: Part of a complete recital and lecture of Bach's Six Partitas he gave in 2018 in Pierre Boulez Saal, Berlin. You can become a member of the streaming platform and watch the full recording here www.boulezsaal.de/en/online/c...

[@edgarvalderrama1143]

I listen to Bach a good part of my time. (at 97 there isn't much else for me to do) The partitas are an eternal delight. I love Mr. Schiff's "touch." My father was a pianist, I once asked him to referee a high school dispute between my band and orchestra buddies. They disputed the primacy of Beethoven or Tchaikovsky. He said: "You kids can argue all you want; but BACH IS THE DADDY OF ALL MUSICIANS." In later years I met one of his pupils in a restaurant and it seems he was more formal with him than with me. "I remember professor Valderrama telling me Bach was the "Holy Spirit of Music." (might sound even a bit bombastic, but that was my intro to Spirituality even though I turned out an atheist like him) One certainly doesn't need a church or a dogma to feel "Spirituality" (or transcendence) when we have Bach. Real tears course down my cheeks whenever I hear Bach mourning the loss of His Savior. Makes me feel "Christianer" than my religious relatives.

[@thoughtsforthebuilders]

Thank you for sharing. I love hearing how all musics affect people of all ages.

[@davidward805]

I think that the greatest thing that a pianist can do is to convey the impression that a piece is being shaped and created at the moment of performance. You do that Mr. Schiff!

[@blondellemarie-jeanne3845]

Très vrai

[@hambartha]

Yes, Absolutely!

[@amateursoundz6262]

Brilliant way of putting it!

[@user-we6hm5zl9h]

He really does. It sounds truly spontaneous. I missed the Air however. I wonder why he omitted it.

[@cellistry]

​@@user-we6hm5zl9hhe didn't omit it in performance. Publisher has copyright issues.

[@user-fn6yo3xp2u]

I love his interpretation. Clear , well structured, balanced but warm and sensitive, at the same time. absorbs my attention throughout the play. I feel as if I were hearing a good old story.

[@user-nw9np6yi7y]

Splendid!!!

[@emmanuellopez773]

My God!! Bach comes through this man like air through my lungs!

[@herrickinman9303]

How about, "Bach comes through this man like shit through your asshole!"

[@Amywithlove148]

Yes agree❤

[@kevinhogan7814]

Just before the COVID disaster. How lucky we are to have this document.

[@therightmusic7639]

My favorite partita. I really enjoyed this performance, certainly one of the best renditions of this sublime and wonderful composition. The Sarabande is where we can appreciate Maestro Schiff's abilities of great performer, the most: the different layers of sound, such accurate, deep and passionate nuances, all in perfect baroque- Bach style... Bravo!!!

[@edgarvalderrama1143]

My favorite, too. Love A. Schiff's "touch."

[@ChamberPianist]

Profound Partita, played with sensitively and dignity. Wonderful .

[@janusli117]

The toccata is absolutely breathtaking.

[@dorotheasluik3578]

The greatness of this music and the greatness of András Schiff are indescribable. Thank you so much for uploading this!

[@user-sr2re4tz2t]

Sie spielen Klavier immer auf natürliche Weise, und es heilt mich immer. Und die Weiße und Art wie Sie spielen, gefällt mir gut. Dankeschön ‼️ Viele Grüße aus Tokyo 🇯🇵

[@svetlanagrinstein8944]

Андраш Шифф и Бах - наиболее близкое сосуществование двух творцов.

[@blondellemarie-jeanne3845]

Le grand art , c est de jouer avec simplicité ce qui est le plus compliqué. Schiste réussi parfaitement cette performance. Chapeau bas

[@sheilanovitz8578]

Many, many thanks. At your suggestion, went to Pierre Boulez Saal and watched entire lecture & performance of Schiff/Goldberg Variations. Bliss. His musicianship is phenomenal, indescribable. Thank you again. (And now I’ll listen to the Partitas!)

[@plumb.474]

You are extremely lucky...

[@amitavaganguly4352]

Thank you you so much. Could you upload his Lectures (English) on these Partitas ...it will be of immense help. Thanks in advance.

[@Ultrazone91]

Maestro Schiff has reached that kind of level of perfection with Bach that it does not even make sense to comment. It is a perfectly matched spiritual alignment with the composer which is then projected in the way he reads and plays the music. Everything is simply perfect. You listen to it and immediately realize after 2 bars "oh, so this is how Bach is supposed to sound on a piano". P.s. time flies, we are all still awaiting Schiff's art of fugue....why is he still not recording it or playing it live???

[@quaver1239]

@Raffaele Minicozzi : He has talked about this a number of times. He does not yet feel equal to the Art of Fugue. This man is deeply modest and knows exactly what he is capable of. He will play Art of Fugue when and if he is good and ready.

[@filipecameradebona8388]

He has just played it at the Pierre Boulez hall 🎉

[@deliciousmrcheese]

It's true, he is incredibly humble and must simply know his strengths from his weaknesses. It is something with which a lot of artists struggle. You can critique him but he's no arrogant; Schiff is a student for life!

[@jeanlucchapelon]

Mon interprète préféré du Cantor ❤

[@jenthefwen]

My favorite composer played by my favorite pianist, phenomenal. Thank you for uploading this.

[@davidward805]

Your Bach is impeccable! So beautifully shaped and expressed!

[@quaver1239]

Superb. The spirit of Bach. Thank you, András Schiff, SW and KZbin.

[@georgesmelki1]

"Le vieux Bach, qui contient toute la musique...": on comprend parfaitement cette remarque de Debussy en écoutant ce morceau d'une beauté incomparable! Merci pour le partage!

[@blondellemarie-jeanne3845]

Tout simplement miraculeux,et j aime beaucoup l interprétation de le gigue(final no6)

[@luchilara2649]

Gracias que bellísima interpretación me fascinó 👏👏👍❤️

[@davidward805]

Such utter clarity in your performance! So beautiful!

[@davidward805]

Also: Such beautiful shaping of phrases!

[@nicdem59]

This I crazy! The Gigue is a jazz piece in Maestro Schiff's hands, also reminiscent of the last movement of the Hammerklavier, which is in effect free jazz at times (con qualche Vicenza)

[@pablomarqueez]

also like grosse fugue for string quartet!

[@stevetice]

I agree. It is because he plays this gigue in ternary rather than binary. Compare with Hewitt or Gould in binary

[@Amywithlove148]

😮👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@ProfDrislane]

Schiff, Scott Ross on the harpsichord, actually plays the Gigue as a gigue, having researched the time signature and dance characteristics properly. Thank goodness!

[@markharder3676]

Remember, except for the prelude and fugue, this is a suite of stylized dances. Often, performances of the partitas are more style than dance. However, in Shiff's hands we can hear the dancing. I noticed the dance in the courant. The gigue is strongly played as such. The 6/8 rhythm is so clear. Think "Irish Jig" when you listen to it and I think you'll hear it.

[@germandj4900]

I just loved this.

[@wesmusic2072]

Bravo!! Wonderful!!

[@massimolonardi7886]

Bravissimo!

[@twicetwo]

Merci, merveilleux clip!!:)

[@user-so5mu7ip3y]

Das ausgeichnete Spiel . Danke !

[@friedrichkalter525]

Diese Leichtigkeit, fast überirdisch!

[@mimisytb]

magnificent reading

[@riccardopini9340]

Magnifico .

[@Devinci1003]

好似呼吸一樣咁自然，游刃有餘⋯⋯ 感受到佢一路彈嘅時候，係聽緊每個音符，用耳仔彈琴。play by ear 每一句都呼吸得很自然～

[@alexisdanielvaneskeheian2127]

Bravoooooooooooo!!!!!!!!

[@sphereofficielle22]

HALLO?!!! Supreme Schiff...Thanks

[@EcMcMuffin]

Apart from the simple perfect musicality, is it just me that finds the sound quality of this upload way from perfect?

[@emlynjessen2957]

Not if you play it through big speakers.

[@EcMcMuffin]

No it sounds weird even on good headphones

[@AaronGlenn88]

Humble satisfaction right there 😌

[@amosyor]

Andras Schiff's rendering is perfect - I am sucked into it more and more and the tunes speak more emphatically as if to remind me of what I'm neglecting to do right now. Surely there is no one tempo - not just one parole - but a widespread and complicated system which the Partita eventually becomes. - not a unified one - but a polyphonic web of gossamer-like wires I can only hear with an agitated tranquility.

[@mehrshad.]

Why does he play the gigue so different? Can someone explain

[@man0sticks]

Different from what? I suggest you watch Schiff’s lecture on the Partitas, also on this channel. He explains his reasoning on the gigue.

[@42Clayt]

It’s a gigue and should be in triple time. See the unusual time signature. Scott Ross performed it this way many years ago. Also the Weiner Urtext edition suggests this as correct baroque practice. Harpsichord players seem to adhere to this manner of performance more than pianists.

[@mehrshad.]

@@42Clayt 🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@nikolaikuvshinikov2450]

I was wondering the same thing! I really like the sound of making it into triplets but I was so confused with my score lol

[@michaelg9344]

Great focus. I envy your presence.

[@marisolknott4350]

MARVILLOO OOOSO GR ACIAS

[@frankguinn9032]

A ‘Gold Standard’ rendition that all others will be judged by, but why wasn’t the Air movement included.

[@jilllangelier4152]

F***ing amazing!!!!!!!!!!

[@Shyguy71588]

How is a portion of this copyright? I don't get it

[@Damascusmind1]

Bach would’ve used damper too if aware it was available

[@javiersantiagocampanini5035]

La sarabanda sola ya paga el concierto completo...el resto es un plus de la vida

[@P-nn6hj]

where it is?

[@cale5959]

Interpretación profunda y transparente de esta música sublime que deja entrever, a través del caleidoscopio de sus cristales, algunos intersticios de Eternidad.

[@nicdem59]

I correct myself, it is ''con qualche licenza''

[@maximus9638]

Where is part IV: Air? Missing?

[@orizoref]

Edited out, due to copyright claims

[@hirokokubo6505]

ぞ

[@lms203]

Once you listen to Gould, its game over. I cant comprehend other interpretations

[@soaringvulture]

Well, it's a whole different thing. I have played this piece and Mr. Schiff's performance is very nearly what I would do if I were an infinitely better pianist. Gould's performance is nearly unrecognizable to me, but it's really interesting music. So it depends on what you're after. I sort of think that Bach would go with Gould.

[@PointyTailofSatan]

I prefer Gould's tempo.

[@martinvanheusden9832]

It must be just as exciting when Mr. Schiff starts playing Chopin and Debussy on musical instruments for which the compositions were never intended: on the harpsichord, for example. And therefore, as in this case too, will sound just as bizarre.

[@kullervoson2726]

The pianoforte has superseded the harpsichord and clavichord. If Bach is only to be performed on original instruments, then it will be performed rarely. Recordings by Jean Rondeau may be wonderful, but he has yet to record the complete oeuvre by Bach. So if Bach is not to be performed on the piano (by your implication, "bizarrely"), then it would not be performed--to our loss. Just enjoy Schiff's for what it is: a masterful (emphasis "masterful") interpretation of Bach. Bach's greatness shines through notwithstanding the modernity of the piano--or are you of the mindset that Bach is such a small, and trivial composer that his compositions lack merit outside the limited scope of their original instrumentation?

[@blumousey]

Bach himself was a fan of transcribing other's pieces for different instruments (the concerto for 4 violins transcribed for keyboard for example) and therefore would find your point quizzical.

[@emlynjessen2957]

And Bach’s mastery transcends the instrument, whereas Chopin’s and Debussy’s music is integral to the piano sound, and so cannot readily be transcribed for other instruments. I once heard an organist play French Romantic organ music on his middle Baroque North German organ, in a different key to accommodate the unequal temperament tuning. The effect was terrible because the instrument did not have the pallet of sounds that the music required. However BACH’s music can be played on Moog synthesizer or sung by the Swingle Singers and still be a wonderful musical experience.

[@gustavivanov376]

после Гленна все вторично...