Bach Chaconne for Four Cellos

The Bach Chaconne from the violin Partita No. 2 in D minor BWV 1004. This transcription for cello quartet was done by Laszlo Varga.
Cleveland Institute of Music Faculty Recital (02/06/15)
Brian Thornton, Cleveland Orchestra Member
Jennifer Son, Student guest artist
Jared Blajian, Student guest artist
Melissa Kraut, Faculty Cleveland Institute of Music

[@MrSteedfast]

Listening to this masterpiece in 4 distinct parts makes you appreciate even more what a genius Bach was to compose all of these layers into one single Violin solo. When played well on violin, these are the exact lines you hear.

[@katieerickson7159]

Without fail I come back to this video, and for years this rendition has brought me nothing but joy! Truly beautiful

[@gnanathasanebenezer2915]

Bach... what a genius! The piece is so tenderly, heartbreakingly, beautiful. How this wonderful piece can be played by a solo violinist is an amazing mystery!

[@burnhamviolincompany6072]

This is probably the best thing I've ever heard. The Chaconne is one of the most interpretive pieces ever written, and there really is no right or wrong way to play it. I enjoy many different interpretations of it, and I think for this instrumentation, this group hit the nail on the head. I was floored by this performance!

[@sim-sim-sim]

I agree with you. That's a good review

[@matthewsansom3077]

So moving, beautifully blended harmonies.

[@stevegebhart8388]

This is the ultimate rendition of the Chaconne from a standpoint of enjoying the chord structure of this, [ne of the greatest of Bach's work. Once upon a time long ago I attempted to learn the piece for solo cello, advanced to the point of getting through the entire piece, but would NOT HAVE DARED TO PERFORM it. Nicely done!

[@RA-oh9mc]

Yes, for crying out loud this is surely something like what Bach was approximating using a single instrument! All this going on in the mind of one man, constrained by life and fate, uplifted by faith and struggling to express it all through a solo voice. If far less tragic, it is yet still brilliant in this wonderful communal form. I would imagine the vibrato is necessary to smooth out intonation amongst all four cellos.

[@MathOSX]

Absolument fantastique ! Merci.

[@jimdavidson210]

A great fresh take on this classic. Beautiful playing!

[@christopherbarber9351]

Beautifully adapted, beautifully executed! Heartbreaking.

[@sarafrandsen1625]

I enjoyed the playing of this quartet quite a bit - thanks for posting!

[@justin5838]

Fond memories of my time at CIM, Beautiful performance

[@EarlJoseph-violinist]

What a magnificent arrangement! Wonderfully played!

[@carlgomm9699]

I've never heard such beautiful music, I love the cello,I subscribed to your channel because of the quality of this show, this kind of music is very relaxing to hear, thank you so much for all of the work that goes into this, please keep up the good work !!

[@dianeroselegault]

Magnifique !

[@Vibrez]

FANTASTIC!!!!!!!!

[@moonpagan]

Absolutely beautiful. :-)

[@lilylute1248]

As a baroque performer this is an abomination and frankly I'm here for it. 10/10 do recommend.

[@minephlip]

absolutely amazing, well done.

[@ppiixx22]

Great idea and great performance! Love.

[@DrLuu1972]

wow...amazing !!!!

[@erickaoru]

As a violin who has played this piece ... I really liked it. Especially the arpeggio part! That first cellist has some serious chops.

[@EarlLedden]

For being a violin, your are very articulate!

[@PTCello]

You are correct.

[@wimaleven]

Don't read the nonsens .... just listen and enjoy....!!!

[@MrCellissimo]

very beautiful!

[@tube4beno]

Magnifique !!! Bravo bravo !!!!

[@nimbunimbu]

This is stunning

[@ErnestSDavis1]

Staggeringly beautiful.

[@altocumulus1326]

Perfectly gorgeous.

[@herrnburg]

Thank you

[@peterozsvath2607]

Beautiful playing! This, I am sure, is what Bach had in mind... (I was inspired to order the music and find three other cellists...)

[@PTCello]

Peter Ozsvath where did you find the music? Next time you come to Dallas, let me know and we can play it!

[@useroverdrive5249]

Beautiful

[@SA-101]

Very nice arrangement. Shows you how impressive it is for a single violinist.

[@MGritts22]

Jen!!! I just found this - awesome job!

[@urmorph]

Listen also to the Brahms transcription for piano left hand. Bach's music has such genius at its melodic and harmonic core that the instrumentation is almost irrelevant.

[@rusticagenerica]

Howwwwly shit. Thank you so much for mentioning this ! God may bless Brahms.

[@urmorph]

@@rusticagenerica I certainly bless Brahms. A stroke has left me, at least for an indeterminant time, restricted to the use of my left hand (on the piano.) I can still play this, which is more than the majority of humanity can say.

[@pepke84]

Wonderful!

[@shannonparatene8262]

Spiritually moving. Bach is often thought of as a prolific intellect, a piece like this shows that his depth and drive was more than mathematical expression or an incredible curiosity of patterns. Bach is an inspiration for us to do our best and persue our dream's with conviction and persistence. In Bach's music I often hear the sounds of nature from a distant past. The wood of the first cello, the bow of the first violins and even the flight of the first bird and this performance was magnificent.

[@armenmkhitaryan543]

Excellent!

[@ignoble.4505]

It's soft, yet powerful.

[@hildasaraonate3793]

Great interpretation!!!

[@crisdh1]

Esta canción ha sido mi compañera en mis peores momentos desde hace unos 5 años. La cantida de sentiemientos que me transmite, me hace sentir tan vivo...

[@atiliocarlosborsani247]

Creo entenderte, la música de Bach es un pozo de sentimientos muy profundo de donde podemos en los momentos de angustia o de reflexiòn acudir para calmar nuestra sed...

[@peterg1165]

Thanks! Great!

[@davidr7819]

Loved the semitone clash in the final cadence

[@carolynwheeler8475]

Incredible

[@swalt1240]

Very well done, bravi!

[@Nandre41violino]

A Chaconna da Partita, é belíssima, em todas as maneiras, de execução, seja piano Cello violão violino..... Lenta ou rápida, eu tenho paixão pela sua melodia.

[@joseaugustodonascimentonet405]

Bravissimo!!!

[@Queenmania2007]

Is there a studio recording of this anywhere? Would love to get my hands on it if so.

[@PTCello]

Daniel Gordon Yale cellos of Aldo Parisot. Wonderful recording.

[@leonidbrutman2000]

Bravo!!!

[@wuke12]

太感动了！

[@eladyitzhak5320]

Hard to imagine that this is played on _one_ violin

[@moniquecauley]

It doesn't sound quite the same! When you play stacked notes (like in Bach's Chaconne), you actually hit the low string (which continues to vibrate after removing your bow, as low notes do) and then play the two higher notes right after so that it gives the illusion of playing three notes at a time (which can be very difficult and requires a certain level of technique in string switching). It should also be noted that this transcription is much fuller than the original piece because the cellos have been written in to harmonize with the melody.

[@agnosticii]

on four strings bre 🙉

[@rawenpasha]

what an amazing piece of work, I would guess Bach would have written it for four cellos if he knew it would be that beautiful.

[@tasansmith-gandy7981]

That's not how this stuff works. He wrote it for violin, people do whatever they want to arrange things like this after he made it. Just like almost ANY other classical piece.

[@Leitilumo]

By the time Bach was nearing death he practically used music as a universal expression of patterns that needed not one specific instrument -- just ones that were suitable. The chaconne, however, is clearly written as a piece for one performer to demonstrate their prowess in baroque technicalities and highly emotive phrase choices. It is a mourning love song.

[@Piermacchie.]

WOW!!!!!!!!

[@hreader]

It grows on you I think. I also thought it too romantic with too much vibrato at first, but now I'm not so sure. It is certainly suitably dark and solemn - I believe the original has a some sort of requiem chorale or hymn for Bach's first wife encoded in the melody.

[@mocheford]

Merci.

[@yayitadelsur]

Ese sonido de los chelos es realmente vibrante!!!!

[@fairygoodmuller8065]

will people stop saying that they use "too much vibrato" and just enjoy the sound

[@BESTOFCLASSICALMUSIC]

Yes, it should be played more!

[@pg8982]

thank you! christ people, just listen and refrain from subjecting us to your predictably annoying musical commentary

[@lolsoccer3903]

i agree!!!

[@geoffreywinnie5442]

Besides, it's not as if they are sitting in the concert hall listening to them. How many degrees of separation between the music and the listener's ear? Can you quantify that in a critique?

[@riverstun]

Yes. The Christ people are very annoying. Every Bach piece is coated with comments about God.

[@aeromancystudios1295]

Very nice performance, however I wish the recording was such that you could actually hear the movement across the stage of each player taking the dominant melodies being passed around. I guess this is to say I wish it had more depth of field..But enough about the recording- the arrangement is very interesting; giving each player a piece of the pie, as it were 6:03 'drop' is goosebumpy! ! Thanks for the upload

[@harishajdsax3081]

You’d need a microphone for each cellist plus others to record it in proper stereo - as well as sound engineers. Unfortunately classical music is under appreciated and under paid compared to most crap which is recorded in the highest of qualities

[@user-iy1ui5cr3v]

本当に素晴らしい

[@bigyikes3733]

Bach's music is so large that it works in very different ways. It's a bit like a good sake: you can drink it cold or hot, and while both varieties taste good, they bring out different flavors. And so it is with Bach. A wonderful performance such as this brings out various flavors. HIP is not a dogma that renders all other interpretations less valid, let alone less "correct." This is great performance!

[@sungpackhong4144]

Liked it.

[@mercucio09]

Un arreglo muy interesante. Trata de mantener un equilibrio entre la voz principal y el acompañamiento, alternándola entre los 4 cellos; o cediendo la expresión de algunos pasajes donde no es posible recrear el timbre del solo de violín (semicorcheas en las 4 cuerdas a mayor altura, o la sucesión rápida de 2 cuerdas distintas tocando la misma nota) a cambio de una "visión" explícita de la armonía que subyace tras el original. No busca reemplazar al original, pero por momentos es como si escucháramos las ideas que Bach hubiese tocado en el teclado mientras componía la obra. Trata de apartarse así, de los arreglos de Busoni y Stokowski.

[@atiliocarlosborsani247]

Interesante explicación... Solo una cosa:sinceramente no creo que Bach nesecitara del teclado para componer, creo que fluídamente escribiese sus composiciónes directamente sobre papel como uno hace para escribir una carta y del resto Como hacía Mozart.

[@antoniosommese5793]

Un genio ,Bach

[@VMOjeda1]

me gusta la transcripción

[@user-xz9ho1wj9o]

バッハはすごいな。相対立する要素を同じ曲が兼ね備えている。 繊細にして大胆、律儀にして自由、軽やかにして重厚。 きちんと聞くもよし、BGMとして聞くもよし。

[@JWentu]

liked after second chord

[@MusicaAngela]

Please where can I get the score and parts? I would love to play this and so would my students.

[@corneliusnowicki5363]

If you have found it, could you please let me know from where

[@dr.daeilyang-cellojournal4807]

wow

[@brianw.costigan8146]

Pretty high quality performance, i thought: Got nice and dramatic & passionate in places, as it should, in my opinion. A couple of criticisms after my first listen: 1) I felt the arpeggio passage in the first section was a little drowned out by the other cellos. 2) I didn't like the recession of emotional intensity in certain places in the major section: When i first heard the Chaconne played by Josef Suk on the 300-year Bach Anniversary cassette tape, he kept it very intense most of the time, from right after the 12th bar or so - the effect being that i felt constantly transfixed by the power of the emotions, on the verge of tears, and having a spiritually-transformative experience through what you might call "multiple cathartic emotional orgasms".

[@thatoneskier8856]

+Brian W. Costigan i understand your feeling about the arpeggio section, however if you adjust the mindset a specific way, it sounds brilliant. if you view this as the arpeggio accompanying the "main theme", then it sounds almost something like a prelude to a great battle. it hints at a mystery and power. I encourage you to listen one more time to see what you think. ----- Just another Violist

[@mypillpals]

I definitely agree. This arrangement gets better and better the more you listen to it; especially if you are familiar with Bach chaconne in D minor. It's as if each Cellist takes charge of one of the Violin stings as the Chaconne unfolds. Visually its amazing too as you see the music flow from player to player in parallel and in tandem. Much more expanded version of the Chaconne. Well done !

[@TheJackHarkness]

wow amazing transcription!!! who is Laszlo?

[@rsns311257]

Very interesting

[@PTCello]

For once, excellent camera work! Set the camera and then then leave it alone! Fabulous playing!

[@gatozarin]

sad thing it's out of focus >< but I agree on the playing

[@sormu16]

So unusual to find togethernes in the expression of the Chaconne

[@danbumstead]

can we purchase the score?

[@isabellegouderdebeauregard2400]

Very nice arrangement, I would love to have the score to play it aswell. is there a possibility?

[@franciscoespinozagamboa6490]

Cualquiera sea la combinación de instrumentos con que se interprete esta obra, ella suena maravillosamente. Con estos instrumentos modernos,O.K.

[@violinhunter2]

Lovely. Nice arrangement and nicely played - that mishap at 4:43 (first cello) was caught by the three cellists and I assume nobody else was the wiser. By the way, did singers in Bach's time use vibrato?

[@BrunoLimaSm]

Bravo! If you please could send me this arrangement would be great!

[@writereducator]

Lazlo Varga was a music professor at San Francisco State University when I was a music major. He was a violinist and the orchestra conductor. If it's the same Varga!

[@writereducator]

Nope. I'm wrong: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laszlo_Varga_(cellist)

[@cleantoast3]

never cite Wikipedia as a source

[@gillestemprement2060]

Quelle bonne idée de jouer cette belle chaconne de Bach.Ce quatuor me fait penser aux oeuvres de Schubert pour quatuor en particulier celui pour 2 violoncelle ou le quatuor " La jeune fille et la mort ". Beaucoup de nuances et beaucoup de musicalité.De qui est la transcription de cette chaconne pour 4 violoncelle......

[@richardvanukkle]

Interesting

[@giovannineri8932]

Where can I download the score?

[@qwertyrobin869]

Respectfully bussin'.

[@muserik]

Can anyone tell me why cello 3 plays Eb at 4'45''???

[@ponosantos]

Where can I get music for this arrangement? Would he sell it?

[@greatmomentsofopera7170]

Pono Santos cellos2go.com

[@haruotakayama5426]

とてもやさしいバッハシャコンヌですね。　これも良いですね。　多様でいいと思います。

[@paololongo6696]

bravi

[@nishi-tjohns6792]

I'd like to play the piece, but there are no cellist around me!

[@andreydenisenko1263]

What about notes? Who knows where is possible to find?

[@rgould77777]

+Andrey Denisenko this arrangement is sold on "ovation press" website

[@greatmomentsofopera7170]

Cellos2go.com

[@davidhuaman1548]

plessss i needd partitura

[@jamminbucy7781]

students ?

[@CristianCocos]

The Chaconne is not a lullaby, folks. The Chaconne is a very violent piece. Very heavy metal, less ballad.

[@terryjones573]

Thereon Inarek Couldn’t have said it better.

[@moonriseset]

I'd go the word "intense" rather than "violent" but that's a minor nitpick. To me, the Chaconne is prog rock: full on; fast, slow, loud, soft, stormy and yes, for a few seconds, lullabye. It's why I love Genesis' "Supper's Ready" and "Watcher of the Skies". Similarly Beethoven's Ninth ... superb edge and yet at times ultimate serenity. No syrup. The dynamics of this quad version runs from 3-7: it's missing edge.

[@terryjones573]

moonriseset Edge may not be something that the group intended their rendition to have. You’re allowed to interpret music however you want. If there isn’t record of it from performances when the composer directed the orchestra, etc., then we have no idea of how the piece is “supposed” to sound. Even still, if we know exactly how the composer wished the piece be played, one of the beauties of music is that is allowed to be, and is different depending on the artist. Music isn’t supposed to be played exactly the same in every performance. This group decided to interpret it differently than you and the original commenter do, and that’s perfectly fine. This Chaconne is NOT a lullaby. It is not violent, not intense, not heavy metal-like, not a ballad, not intense. It CAN be all of those things, but there is certainly no restriction.

[@moonriseset]

Terry Jones you are absolutely right about interpretation. I remember reading how Glenn Gould argued with a living composer that a particular phrase or speed was *wrong* but the composer said that's what is in my head! I guess all i can say is that to *me* I need this to be played with intensity.

[@terryjones573]

Jay Preis That’s, my point. The composer is not here himself to tell us how to play the piece so it is up to us to do so. You are not the composer, so you have no authority to instruct someone else on how to play the piece, or any piece. You can drop this musical superiority nonsense; you are not a musical genius to be obeyed at a single word. Your opinion is worth as much as mine, meaning nothing.

[@gillestemprement2060]

Violoncelles avec un s évidemment!!!!!

[@user-yg4jq6fs4b]

i want to get notes.too.

[@awsickler]

I like this arrangement but I personally would have gone for less vibrato in the unison parts. It ends up sounding a little washed out. Imo Bach is supposed to be clear and vibrant

[@sandradenby7042]

Exactly

[@lex8799]

Why vibrato ?

[@celloendpinfem]

what are the names of cellists?

[@enriquesanchez2001]

Do you make it a habit not to read the description? Brian Thornton, Cleveland Orchestra Member Jennifer Son, Student guest artist Jared Blajian, Student guest artist Melissa Kraut, Faculty Cleveland Institute of Music

[@fritso6208]

A very romantic interpretation due to heavy vibrato. Nevertheless: it sounds good!

[@Leitilumo]

A piece clearly written to be played by only by one person -- which they demonstrate. It is too difficult to parse this piece into four and keep its essence.

[@mydogskips2]

Well, Leopold Stokowski made a pretty good orchestral arrangement of this piece which I like, but I agree with you that this arrangement just doesn't seem to fully work for some reason. To me the "extra" parts are rather redundant and often serve to merely distract and detract from the main theme by adding unnecessary color and depth to a beautiful melody, one which already contains a lot of internal harmonies, that is chord structure, tension, dissonance and resolution within the melody itself. And as you say, the work generally loses its essence, which I'd argue is the technical virtuosity of a soloist, something which is pretty much entirely lost here.

[@MrInterestingthings]

This music has always to me been about life and thestruggle . Wonderful playing but the effort we get in Beethoven really should be in this Bach string music but interpretation is always open .The smoothness and prettiness in this performance bothered me. What kills me is that Busoni in 1875 visiting Boston adapted it to piano in a way that makes you feel how much music is really there and makes it explicit .Bach often rewrote his music or adapted it for other instrumental groups he should have made this into a Sinfonia ! Busoni was a genius as his piano and violin concerto and opera Dr. Faust shows and his many other works .

[@nathanboersma1996]

ya see its real easy when you only have to play a fourth of the solo violin part 😂

[@MsCellover]

It's not just easyer to play each part separately, it makes possible to emphasize expression over virtuosity! That is what makes it so beautiful, to me (I played the original on violin and now play ,with more enjoyment, the cello)