Bach: Brandenburg Concerto #2-1 but it’s played only on Recorders

[@UnshavenStatue]

I've always thought that a good way to measure the quality of a piece is to play it in completely the "wrong" instruments, and if it still sounds good/like the original, then it's well written. I can confirm that Bach wrote well! This sounds way better than it seems like it should, very well done sir

[@gigaguy1773]

I somewhat agree. This particular concerto holds our attention with its rich harmony and polyphonic lines everywhere, so playing it with other instruments still does ok, but if we take a look into pieces from Mahler or Ravel, where the instruments tone-quality, timbre and colors are used to provoke our senses and logic, it wouldn't work as well as in this instance.

[@alhfgsp]

Good music shouldn't necessitate particular instrumentation. The exception is Chopin's piano pieces, he wrote textures to accompany melodic lines that need to be played on a piano with proper pedaling.

[@avecesar4244]

With Bach there's an interesting point. Regardless the instruments you use it will sound fine. Even vocal music like his cantatas sound fantastic played with instrument. He knew what he was doing when he composed.

[@AbigailPoirier]

I agree. Same principle, but usually I think of it something like "if a pop/rock sounds good as an instrumental, it has a good melody and/or chords." I guess I automatically expect anything instrumental to sound good on any other instrument. Like this-- sounds great!

[@avecesar4244]

Bach has the "magical" quality that his music sounds well with any instrument combination, even with electronic instruments. Also his vocal music can be played with instruments and the sound is fantastic.This shows the geniality of this composer.

[@joerosenman3480]

Bach’s Brandenburg Concerti are amongst my favorite compositions and the first movements of the 2nd & 5th stand proud in that elevated company. Arranging the chamber orchestra part for recorders is a bit odd but, as everyone here knows, baroque music is flexible in that regard and the results are a kind of re-invention. Having the same artist play all parts is a 20th/21st century twist but either way the results are interesting, musical and (in my esthetic judgement) exquisite. But then, I love the recorder and adore Bach…

[@davidhynd4435]

I discovered the Brandenburg concerti in my early teens. I thought I had found perfection. I'm now in my 60s and the delight of listening to them has yet to wane. How astonishing was the mind of JS Bach. Sheer genius!

[@joerosenman3480]

@@davidhynd4435 Pretty much the same story. Though as a mid-teen, in piano lessons, I got to play Bach-and with 70 coming in a few years… well, there’s always Bach. 🌝

[@FranklinChen]

Wow, that really sounded like a full orchestra!

[@platedpen]

recorder

[@MrDromedary]

Это лучше, чем оркестр, т.к. там различные люди немного по-разному понимают партитуры, здесь же в мыслях и в руках одного человека все инструменты поют одно произведение.

[@davidbenefiel9289]

The grace, precision and beauty of this performance is wonderful. Every time I watch it, I learn something new about playing the recorder, especially the Kung contrabass.

[@jglachasse]

A tremendous achievement executed with precision and panache. All the excitement and pace of the original is there. I'd love to hear this done live. Bravo, bravo!

[@kishascape]

That's also like $50,000 worth of recorder in one song. Super jealous.

[@philippemassip8310]

Given that the same person plays all the instruments that's gonna be hard ! 😉

[@Marianofrv]

You are such a Genius James Howard always a joy to see your videos, Kindest regards

[@colingeorgeh]

What an orchestra! Amazing piece of work. Thanks for sharing. Always a recorder fan.

[@colingeorgeh]

You should create a recorder playlist sometime.

[@matthewc.ganong5497]

That's glorious brother! So inspiring!

[@mellissadalby1402]

Well done. I am grateful that you posted music that demonstrates how good a Recorder (Recorders of all sizes) can sound. When I came up through school in the 60's and 70's, pretty much evertbody was exposed to the "Recorder", a cheap, plastic substitute for the real thing and they sounded horrid mostly. So this proves that the ACTUAL instrument really is worthwhile afterall. Thanks for providing such evidence to the positive on behalf of the much maligned Recorder.

[@douglaszare1215]

I have plastic recorders that sound almost as good as my wooden ones. The main reason recorders sound bad in elementary school is that the players are complete novices and make a lot of basic mistakes. I recommend plastic recorders to beginners since they take less work to maintain and they are cheap.

[@morrigambist]

I used to work in a music store. The recorders in those days were cheap and poorly designed. For some time now it has been possible to buy accurate copies of Baroque recorders, even though they are mostly transparent plastic in basic colors. Yamaha makes especially good ones.

[@Erikkaa7]

You can recognize a genius in the fact one can't understand how he reaches the result. Deep respect !

[@tlagudtjq]

I’ve been subscribing your channel since 2008, and it’s great to see you posting awesome videos again. Thank you for creating such beautiful music! 😄

[@jeantousignant5072]

And the scores included for free, awesome!!!! Now I have to practice a lot before playing with you James ;) THANKS!!!

[@JamesHowardYoung]

Thanks for your feedback, Jean!

[@debs4mysweetbaby]

this gave me goosebumps! i've already watched it about 5 times in a row! fantastic work!

[@JamesHowardYoung]

Thanks so much !

[@scotinnl]

Excellent as always......thank you for taking the time to a) make the video and b) for posting. Greetings from Holland

[@andrewulmer6027]

It's fantastic to see what one instrument can do, like you did with the alto or voice flute, etc. alone, but it is really fantastic when you get the consort together with all their voice colors blending beautifully. :) Awesome work!

[@cmirandarj]

Superb...! Love the Brandenburg Concerts.

[@lianghuang3]

what a concerto grosso! marvelous!

[@jacquesracine9571]

I love your work so much!! Thank you. ❤ I’m a percussionist in a symphony orchestra.

[@janesuffield3545]

Love the sound.😍

[@ArturoTopalogluBurgos]

Señores, un auténtico órgano con brazos y piernas. Genial.

[@saffron19-j5s]

Just gorgeous! So uplifting!

[@Catbat-ud8xx]

Gloriously done!

[@karentotsuka]

❤❤❤ Absolutely amazing!!!

[@JeanClaudeWelche]

Quel magnifique travail ! Et en +, ça sonne bien !!!

[@sqsmhh8706]

Just beautiful, mate!

[@Swiftson]

Bravo James! Masterful.

[@melanieshields6816]

Beautifully done! Thank you!

[@D2GArteSano]

Thank You!! I enjoy, Excellent

[@emmerildoemmerildi6960]

wonderful.

[@rhymeswithyetiv2331]

Woo! Another banger of a remix!! Loved the alto one

[@apolloskyfacer5842]

I play the F Trumpet part on F Sopranino, straight off the Trumpet part using the C Recorder fingerings. This of course makes the F Sopranino function as an F pitched instrument.

[@philippecausse902]

So addictive! 😍

[@badlamp4285]

Bro I was looking for this piece for rcm history 10, what a find!

[@pennywhistle9060]

Beautiful and inspiring. I am now looking to buy a new recorder and start playing again. I will never achieve your level of mastery, but I I can enjoy listening to you while piddling around at the lower levels myself ✨♥️

[@emanuelecanepa6312]

Really fantastic! 👏

[@alhfgsp]

This piece is already well suited for the winds, as they are the showcase in the second concerto imo.

[@shovelmasterfunk6709]

As usual you nailed it.

[@pietervoogt]

I love the recorder but still this sounds better than I expected.

[@Digeroo123]

Love it.

[@signeandersson3990]

Really good, love it🎶

[@JohnWick-rn6uv]

Can you guys play at my wedding?

[@LuisMiguel-cl9iq]

Sorry, only one is available at any given time

[@fdxrodriguez62]

😂 Didn't notice Is the same guy...??🤣

[@doanepianomusic4640]

This is magnificent!

[@juvenalsousajr6860]

It’s amazing!!! Bravo!!!

[@luisromero4115]

¡Que belleza!

[@shoshannafachima1306]

Fabulous🎵🎶

[@ericktorrez-tf8xo]

Maravilloso

[@brianoliver5383]

Perfect

[@VanessaDMusic]

Great job!!! -fellow recorder player :)

[@ВарвараВикторовна-о3и]

Очень красиво!😍

[@EuphoniaPooch]

so clean

[@UIP1980]

I love it!

[@andreescribano3894]

Bravo. Merci beaucoup!

[@OrzoMondo]

This is fantastic, congrats! - the only part that sounds strange is the actual recorder's :) (jk). By the way, it does not matter which instruments you use, I believe that this movement is the most beautiful movement of the whole collection. Close but superior to the third movement of this very concerto. It's short, full of ideas, it has an incredible dialogue between the soloists and between the concertino and the ripieno, and it's absolutely memorable. You did great service to it, with your stunning interpretation.

[@debs4mysweetbaby]

omg that's amazing!

[@galahadthreepwood9394]

Brilliant!

[@Sashunia_life]

It is nice ! I like this music .

[@ham88keys]

Pure genius!!!

[@rosannagiacomella277]

Bravi ragazzi.

[@giorgioarmani3288]

Thank you.

[@adamastorBassBar]

In some ways you can hear all the various parts more clearly though I would still prefer the ideas behind JSB's original scoring. One thing's for sure: I think Bach would have approved. As a teenage student of mine would say - neat!

[@baumannjorg9998]

multo bene 👍👍👍😁😁😁

[@DrDaab]

Wonderful. Sounds a lot better than I expected with just recorders. Superb mastery of the instrument and musicianship. Plus a ton of work to record each part. How much time did this take?

[@JamesHowardYoung]

Thank you! This took about a week, including writing the transcription.

[@mariapanettieri532]

Geniale!!!

[@peterbroekhuizen]

Fantastisch!!!!!!!!!!

[@NotGabrielGomez]

Absolutely magnificent play!

[@jnbplaysgames]

Just now realized that he released two versions of Brandenburg #2 within a week. 🧐

[@fabricioraulvelazquez79]

Maestro, tienes tutoriales en youtube de como tocar la flauta dulce

[@opabinnier]

The tempi, the pace changes: how d'you keep it together without a conductor? (That's the only thing conductors are really needed for! That and starting and stopping)

[@Emperatriz_Valentina]

Personally I would do the Clarino part as a sopranino or soprano recorder because clarino but still beautiful!

[@JamesHowardYoung]

Thanks for your feedback! I chose to play it in the register it was written so that I would have 4 equal instruments on the solo parts. But yes, you could absolutely play it on sopranino if you wanted to .

[@HYP3RK1NECT]

Es vista cátedra de que no importa el instrumento. En Bach todo suena muy bien.

[@sanatinbuyukevreni]

Hello it's amazjng work thansk and can u say me which program did use with this?

[@NadinViolin]

💜💜💜👍👍👍

[@ВарвараВикторовна-о3и]

👍❤

[@joseluna1077]

Faltó la imagen de una flauta que toca una partitura diferente!

[@hegedusuk]

Thanks, have a coffee on me

[@JamesHowardYoung]

Thanks so much!

[@xethlorien4736]

Been practicing the C-Bass part. My Yamaha great bass does not respond as well as yours does on the lowest C/C#. Did you have troubles with that too, and if so, what did you have to do to fix the issue?

[@JamesHowardYoung]

I never had a problem unless the instrument has been played for a while and it gets clogged. This can make the lower notes speak a bit late. I also have to make sure the foot joint is rotated so it sits in a good position for my fingers.

[@xethlorien4736]

@@JamesHowardYoung Thanks for the reply! Looks like I need to make a trip to a repair shop and see if something is up.

[@unagondolaunremo]

bavo, it was not easy!

[@lordmauriceortizlagartera162]

It’s weird , I can hear the french horn sound

[@ninjaaron]

Some of these look very expensive.

[@martaro4610]

3rd movement please for god’s sake.

[@JamesHowardYoung]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/pZ6wYmtuq62BfNE

[@martaro4610]

@@JamesHowardYoung Thank you!

[@aperson539]

No harpsichord? 👎

[@ingeborgpu3346]

Brilliant!