Bach: French Suite No 4 - Murray Perahia

[@michaelashkenazi1234]

How lucky we are, the people who live today, that we can enjoy the work of one of the best pianists of all time in one click.

[@berangle]

This is in another world.

[@timbruer7318]

Completely agree

[@wimpjet]

He reveals the soul of Bach in a way no other pianist has been able to do.

[@CD318]

Glenn Gould ROCKS!

[@davehshs651]

I absolutely love the legato of Murray Perahia's playing of Bach. It is so soothing to the soul.

[@felixsinniger280]

Is it more legato or pedal ? More important that his performing is always wonderful ! Murray Perahia is surely one of the best J.S. Bach interpreters, I think.

[@davehshs651]

@@felixsinniger280 Can there be legato without pedal?😜

[@felixsinniger280]

​@@davehshs651Of course ; J.S.Bach had no pedal. Andras Schiff performed for decades wiithout the sustaining pedal playing Bach. More technique has a pianiste, less pedal he will use with Bach's music. As you know, many piano beginners use the sustaining pedal far too much ! Why ?

[@deldridg]

Wonderful performance, just as we all expect from this man. How fortunate we are to be able to enjoy such mastery. There are many great pianists, but Mr Perahia is my #1. His keybed touch, his refusal to let his own persona get in the way of the works he plays and his sometimes playful but always sensitive interpretations are sublime in the extreme.

[@darrenpursuingtruth2895]

Well said, couldn’t agree more!

[@deldridg]

@@darrenpursuingtruth2895 Thank you Darren. We are certainly very fortunate to have access to such exquisite performances! Cheers - David

[@eytonshalomsandiego]

sublime. i heard him play in san diego nearly 10 years ago, bach, mozart, brahms, a long first half. intermission. then the hammerklavier...absolutely breathtaking...

[@301250]

Perahia and Schiff are the two most supreme pianists alive today. Thank God for that.

[@luisfernandotapia451]

Couldnt agree more!

[@rainadkins4827]

Schiff is wonderful, but can be a little too mannered and gimmicky for me in spots. Hewitt is really splendid, but rushes some of her tempi a bit. (Baroque does not always equal prestissimo, or vice versa.) And this new kid Vikingur Olafssohn (sp?) is going to be one to watch. But Perahia? Perahia plays like an archangel, and does it _all the time_. That's wonderful and a little spooky.

[@valentinakalashnik6990]

Dont leave G>Sokolov out

[@301250]

So sorry for leaving him out, Valentina! The former Soviet Union has always produced great pianists among whom my favourites are Gilels, Richter et al.

[@chrrev1]

@@rainadkins4827 Fully agreed, I think form a student perspective Perahia consistently has the answers in relation to the written score - extremely accurate readings. I particularly appreciate this precision in relation to the ornementation. When in doubt on some score detail, he remains for me the reference number one as much as I do like others. Personally this is a great quality - there are so many "interpretations" that try to make the score say what it doesn't say. This faithfulness to the score establishing the foundation of his performance, Perahia can then express his awesome musical talent. It really is the complete picture to my way of thinking. Absolutely great.

[@ringonoka]

I want to live a life as he plays the piano.

[@marcusaurelius4554]

Reiko Tango that’s profound

[@TiticatFollies]

Reiko: beautifully said.

[@chazinko]

With discipline, beauty, hope...

[@TechnoRaabe]

Be passionate about something and fill your life with it.

[@maureen6710]

@@chazinko If you dont have hope you have nothing

[@cedric4646]

1. Allemande - 0:00 2. Courante - 2:51 3. Sarabande - 4:43 4. Gavotte I - 7:37 5. Gavotte II - 8:50 6. Menuet - 11:44 7. Air - 12:39 8. Gigue - 14:22

[@charlottekang2594]

5:12 sarabande 1st part repeat

[@charlottekang2594]

5:41 sarabande 2nd part

[@charlottekang2594]

6:35 sarabande 2nd part repeat

[@ericfricke4512]

These pieces are just unbelievable. Bach was truly gifted, and these pieces are still teaching us composers and keyboardists 300 years after they were written.

[@永田文香]

Mr, Murray Ｐerahia's French suite has a deep prayerful heart ,the melody is natural to sing ,and the tone of the piano is soaked in my heart and I was deepIy moved．

[@rpkrauss1]

Ohhhh that wonderful Murray Perahia touch is a thing of beauty. There are literally hundreds, if not more, great pianists from the past and the never ending present but there are only a handful that play on a meta level such as Mr. Perahia. Richter, Brendal, Argerich, and the list goes on and on...... To me it's ludicrous to say one musician is better than another. They are all giving there all so what more can one ask for pray tell!! Just enjoy whoever touches your soul.....

[@rainadkins4827]

@rpkrauss1 Brendel was one of Perahia's teachers, I'm told. And you can hear that if you compare them. The laserlike focus and marvelous sense of line are very similar, though P. has even better technique and greater emotional range.

[@lourak613]

The secret to Perahia's sublime artistry, is his complete shunning of effect and affectation. Arbitrary expressive gestures are also never to be found. It is the text and solely the text that interests him. Add to this, a healthy emotional and aesthetic approach to the music, and no small measure of good taste in phrasing and articulation - and quite a large dose of astute analysis of the work at hand - and there you have it - one of the greats of our time...

[@paulmayerpiano]

I wholeheartedly agree. Perahia somehow manages to be impeccably diligent and candidly honest at the exact same time, not unlike Bach himself. He is both awe-inspiring and intimately human. What a gift he is.

[@m.calloway2624]

I share your assessment and love of Perahia. Still, one must also give credit to Glenn Gould, who, with all his wild liberties and affectations, somehow managed to capture Bach in his own way. Two different forms of genius.

[@antoinepoulenc]

Lourak613 you are so right!

[@felixsinniger280]

- " one of the greats of our time." I think, not only of our time.

[@felixsinniger280]

​@@m.calloway2624To my mind, Glenn Gould played as a robot without any emotions.

[@bizzonimusic4257]

This Suite is beautiful. The Allemande is the very emotional. In my opinion, this is the best performance I've ever heard in my life. Perahia is the best. Perahia, I love you!!! Thank you!!!

[@willcoh1]

The opening is like a breath of fresh air and evokes a sunrise to me.

[@MrTonellibruno]

An explosion of pure and positive light

[@lindakarus4324]

I absolutely love Murray Perahia. His Bach is so pure and soulful. Who would think that a severely infected thumb would lead him to this? (He studied Bach while he was recuperating.) Thanks so much for posting!

[@dondokodokodon]

+Linda Karus I agree with you.Thanks for watching my video.

[@jean-renek7964]

+dondokodokodon Thank you so much for publishing !!

[@lindakarus4324]

In 1991, he had a simple paper cut on his thumb. Just as most people would do, he ignored it. It got badly infected, however, and the antibiotic that was given to him made him extremely sick. Later on, something--maybe the previous infection--caused the bone in the thumb to become misaligned. He had a couple of surgeries on it, and there were long periods during which he couldn't play.

[@jean-renek7964]

[@spectralanalysis]

Linda Karus So much suffering because of a papercut in his thumb.

[@Auriga1973]

I have a very long list of favorite pianists, but above all is Murray Perahia, he just plays everything in such an artistic and beautiful manner. For me he is the best!

[@classicalconcerto6742]

LOVE Murray Perahia's Bach! My heart is melt away every time I listen to his playing of my beloved Bach!!!!

[@themise1416]

There is something about mr. Perahia's playing that really appeals. So glad to have you upload this French Suite. For me the best interpretation.

[@dondokodokodon]

Thanks for your comments. I also think No.4 is the best of the six French suites.

[@gregoriourriola8696]

Lo es

[@SimarDesign]

I always found Bach so cold, soulless and flat. Now I love it.

[@sfkcbf]

I have listened to many Murray Perahia recordings over the years. What a joy!

[@rainadkins4827]

The greatest composer of all time meets his greatest living interpreter. Magic ensues.

[@ttrons2]

really?

[@skylermccloud6230]

Nah beethoven is the best composer

[@richard0807]

Would have to put Gould and Schiff ahead when it comes to JSB, but in terms of versatility (his mastery of all repertoires and styles), Perahia trumps them both.

[@rainadkins4827]

@@ttrons2 Really.

[@rainadkins4827]

@@richard0807 You could make a case for Gould, but Schiff's Bach, while it's great fun and very dramatic, has less control of line and no _polish_.

[@נתןרועי]

His Bach is divine and soulful.

[@yves921]

Sublime interprétation, un grand merci pour le partage !

[@malandoTIm]

Beautiful. I'm breathless hearing his interpretation.

[@chris8300]

The Allemande of the suite is one of my favorites.....so intensely beautiful

[@isabs8616]

What a privilege to have access to this wonderful moment

[@lachummers]

Allemande sublime and gave me goosebumps. Thanks for posting.

[@pandoraefretum]

he makes it so easy for us to understand the music

[@pakko89]

"no pedal allowed" "not historic" --> here is the example, that it doesnt matter HOW you play it. At the moment somebody is able to bring Bachs soul out like he does, there is no room for dogmatic discussions. It is time to enjoy and be quite.

[@buckylove6918]

This has been on the back of my mind for a while now. I think if you practice without pedal, and try to get the effect of pedaling through your fingers, then you add pedal later it shoots it into a whole different stratosphere. Very hard to put into words. Its like the notes are in your memory, but also still there with the pedal. WIthout pedal has a different cleaner quality, but maybe not as much depth. Then you can change finger pedaling. I have no idea which way is the best, if there is such a thing. Theyre just incredibly different. You can abuse pedal though

[@amerynpeters429]

Paco89 DEFINITELY!!! I played this at an eisteddfod where an old lady was the adjudicator and she said no pedal was allowed and neither was rubato! Horrible

[@amerynpeters429]

Bucky Love definitely agree! You can't use the pedal as a crutch. You first need the technique required and then add the pedal for personal taste.

[@buckylove6918]

Ameryn Peters Piano competitions are fucking dumb. I was gonna elaborate but now im not. Its not really worth it. Ugh, the whole idea of a piano competition... Its gross.

[@FriedrichBauer]

Great comment on Perahia's geniously added pedal to finger legato, totally agreed before I read, of course not to forget his dynamics ! All in all, so tastefull !!

[@metteholm4833]

Rich! Crisp! Natural breathing! Perfect beauty and expressiveness!

[@njmsj]

Let Perahia’s music soften people’s hearts and spread peace to the world. 🌎 ♥

[@nerdybarrel7818]

Very tender and soft playing. Nice style of slowing down and shaping the dynamics! Wonderful playing.

[@天靈靈地靈靈-l2d]

heavenly music with purity

[@arnaudmillard4579]

Déjà Bach c'est sublime mais avec Murray cela prend une dimension divine! On se dit qu'il existe quelque chose qui nous dépasse.

[@joeltheivalnec3671]

Perahia joue tout avec génie, c’est incroyable, un pianiste aussi complet. Et c’est même de mieux en mieux...

[@metteholm4833]

Yes, the utmost purity and most natural breathing.

[@firephilosopher7645]

this is bach coming from the soul and communicated directly to the soul. perahia actually demonstrates in his playing how a deep knowledge of counterpoint and voice leading can help one take musical expression to another dimension, and that the point of understanding these musical forces is first and foremost to inform the expression of the music. the expression in the music arises in a completely natural way from the actual harmonic and contrapuntal content, the motion of these musical forces, their relationships, progressions, etc., and is not something that is merely imposed onto the music from outside. it arises from within the music. the relationship between moving voices is not just in the foreground of the music but can also be heard and felt in the so-called middleground, and the voice leading occurring at this level is typically what gives overall shape and direction to the surface. really being able to perceive the musical forces in this way is what gives someone like perahia the ability to *speak* the music, rather than just play it. just like with speaking a language, there are natural inflection patterns, the natural rise and fall of the rhythmic patterns of stress and intonation. these pieces are statements.

[@bobh.9035]

ok

[@tonyharris9001]

EXQUISITELY SUBLIME. PURE MUSIC FLOWING.

[@jorgemontes6496]

Maestro Murray, su técnica es perfecta... Limpia, con interpretación... Es un verdadero placer escuchar a Bach en su interpretación... Congratulations, from México city

[@PaulJones-oj4kr]

I've heard pianists of great, great stature, plummeting the enormous soul of Bach, who used pedal and so forth as a means. The only thing that really matters is living in the aesthetic depth of great music, and Bach is the greatest of all great music. Talk about authenticity and period instruments.....well, 99.999% of performances inordinately based on these musicological considerations fall into inertness , lifelessness, where the letter is observed by not the meaning, where the map is obsessed on leaving the territory not only unrendered, let alone even recognized. Disembodied intellectualism, an effect of extreme post-modernist musicology and theory, is, at best, of secondary import. Great art is about form, yes, but more importantly content. Depth.

[@Peter-vd9wi]

Very well written!😊

[@estherszalay5921]

Watching it second time, I enjoyed it even more! Thank you.

[@Franu2023]

He makes the music most possible divine. J.S. Bach brings hope for a life in another world or consciousness, but need a musician of this carat to let us know it.

[@martinweiss3054]

CLAIREandTELLING Bach is simply reflecting the reality of Jesus Christ! Check out KWVE.com- excellent Christian teaching!

[@arianedefouquieres3803]

Merveilleux Perahia dans Bach ! Bonheur total...

[@Ambrogioc]

Armonie del Cuore! Grazie Bach e Perahia.

[@milio93]

This is so lovely and admirable!

[@junep879]

I love his Bach sound

[@jean-renek7964]

One of the highest moments in music.

[@Peter-vd9wi]

So gentle and soft. A would say a real gentleman. 😊

[@isabellelabutin9649]

Quel merveilleux pianiste!

[@vaniberi8189]

Love this man and his music-making so much! Sensitivety, good taste and noble restrain are so perfectly combined!

[@alejandrodmsosa]

so sensitive exquisite.calm and breathing..

[@paolomagnelli4021]

che magia!che mistero!musica che ti apre la mente ed il cuore interpretata da un grandissimo come Perahia

[@yogi3463]

It's incredibly beautiful

[@themoose70]

I think what makes his Bach so great- is even within one line- he shapes it so you can hear the "inner" lines within a single one , i.e. which tones are at this level or another

[@301250]

Jonathan Ackerman . It could not have been put any better!

[@slinkymom]

Lovely....simply lovely!

[@kousbisha-ki8573]

今まで聴いて来たFrench Suite No4 の中で一番シックリ来た。最高！

[@therightmusic7639]

Sublime, beautiful! ... Perahia, Alicia De Larocha and Glenn Gould are undoubtedly the best interpreters of Bach's keyboard (piano) music , In my humble opinion. (or at least, my favorites) ... Bravo!

[@plumb.474]

The right music Throw David Fray in the group...watch the doc on his recording of Bach...

[@marcosdiaz7175]

Maravillosa interpretación!!

[@ericarchibald2111]

Divine. 🔮

[@香かおり-v6x]

彼の演奏は、いつでも私の心に沁み入ってくるのです。 また日本でもリサイタルがありますように。

[@Fthrof7]

Incredible. Bach is like skiing - easy to learn; difficult to master. This was a masterful performance - thank you for sharing and enlightening all of us.

[@kommentar1709]

This man LOVES what he is doing, and his love shines through the music in the most beautiful manner. A bit on the romantic, old-fashioned side, but due to the consistent and convincing manner of his interpretation, I am more than willing to be taken on his journey.

[@janetroy5489]

I just noticed some amazing shots from inside the piano!

[@cherylmeadows2150]

I'm rediscovering JS Bach, after a long period. I purchased a composite collection and I am excited about my pursuit!

[@NorkelFjols]

This video is the reason I discovered the sunny and beautiful gavotte II from the alternate version if this suite, which almost no other pianist seem to play..

[@mckaymi4]

I didn't even know about the Gavotte II. My cheap edition didn't include it.

[@NorkelFjols]

I don't think it's included in most standard editions, since it's from BWV815a, and not the usual BWV815. If you're looking for the sheet music, I did find it on imslp, where there's an edition of 815a by someone named David Galvin. It's free, in case you're unfamiliar with imslp.

[@musicinnovator]

I had the same wonderful "sunny" experience with the "Gavotte II" when I saw this video. It's included as a supplementary piece in the Alfred Masterworks Edition edited by Judith Schneider.

[@elliottgyll8453]

Oh E-frat, my favourite key signature.

[@keikot4998]

何と優しい。明るい木漏れ日を天に向かって照り返すような。

[@soulechene]

La perfection au bout des doigts, en toute sobriété.

[@manfredwilhelmy7634]

La inmortal obra para teclado de Bach en una interpretación resplandeciente, profunda y serena. Bravo Murray Perahia !

[@ap6765]

Each note has an expression and meaning, a thing many good pianists lacks today, and when i say today i mean in the past 30 or so years

[@remyvanderzijden5213]

I can't listen to Bach when I'm at work or studying because my mind just gets too involved with the music.

[@matthewferrara676]

Same such music is not background music. It is a precise art not to be ignored.

[@dalcassian8351]

Matthew Ferrara so true all the comments on yt about doing homework etc whilst listening to classical music like this .? I can't see how they can do it without getting involved this isn't background cocktail bar music

[@samspianos]

Music is not meant to be "background" music or "wallpaper music"

[@edenlowry]

Agree that this is anything but background music; it's a masterpiece. However I find that just getting inside Bach's head helps me focus at work like nothing else. I borrow his orderliness.

[@m_uz1244]

@@samspianos Music is the universal artform, impervious to shallow labels of any kind. It does not have to be what you think it's meant to be, so long as it is the usage of sound in an artistic manner, it is music.

[@jonobester5817]

Wow. I just listened to all 6 of his English Suites, scrolling score, and I don't think he uses the pedal AT ALL. I can see here that he seems to barely touch it, rhythmically, but I think what you are hearing is more a result of the recording, mic placement, and a very live room. What a fantastic artist! Maybe the best ever. BTW, he ignores the printed slur markings in the English Suites(!)

[@maxjohn9640]

Top notch, thanks for uploading :)

[@leonsundermeyer]

i have to Play Allemande and courante as a degree in School and i have 8 weeks to practise, such a godlike Peace with the Beautiful Christmas key … i think 8 weeks is not enough to experience the Bach Feeling to Play it from your Soul, my teacher needed 30 years for the Goldberg variations then at age 40 he dared to Audition!

[@monikablomqvist2306]

Very beautiful!

[@stanislavmilovanovic1732]

Pure artistic genius

[@emilalbazi8691]

Bach.. the father of the Classic, Romantic era. Not to forget that he was the Lord of the Baroque.

[@robbystafford8273]

if ever i had any doubt about murray, the second gavotte here assuaged it. oh my god it's such a huge moment for bach's keyboard writing!

[@gabrieldondo5310]

Magnífica lectura y mensaje: muchas gracias

[@felix52]

Thanks for your videos !!!!

[@andreaskonig451]

His French Suites are the best performances of these pieces I know. So much light and breath and time.

[@nicola84palm]

So much tenderness in this suite.

[@YogaSystema]

What an artist!

[@jacmerca]

Sublime !

[@georgehahn2979]

Perahia is the world's greatest living pianist.

[@nftintro.5465]

Awesome great!

[@medievalmusiclover]

The best on Bach!!!

[@樋口えり子]

Bravo!

[@josettecasse4407]

MAGISTRAL

[@theshitheads9419]

Thumbs up if you agree murray periaha plays this better then andras schiff

[@nazacro]

Schiff and Murray have different philosophies and mindsets when playing Bach. They can't really be compared evenly. Both versions excel at what they want to do, which one's better is one's personal opinion.

[@theshitheads9419]

@@nazacro eh i think schiff rushes his i generally like schiff but not with this one

[@anfarahat]

To my taste, Mr. Perahia is more of a pianistic style, which is definitely beautiful. Schiff's sound is closer to a harpsichord style, which sounds to me closer to how it would sound on a clavichord or a harpsichord at the time this suite was composed. Each of them stresses different sets of features about this work. So as mentioned above, who is better is a matter of taste. I actually learned quite a lot from both great interpreters.

[@Wolferin13]

For me Schiff's style is me too academic. Perahia plays it for me a lot more of his heart. Perahia's Bach is for me a real spiritual experience!

[@NurseDavis]

For me Perahia has been all in all my favorite pianist since I was a child. He has the Midas touch, whatever he touches turns to gold

[@Pdx616]

Murray Perahia was the first pianist I heard as a kid

[@georgehahn2979]

He's the greatest living pianist.

[@georgehahn2979]

Perahia is the greatest living pianist.

[@arnaudmillard4579]

Absolutly perfect life like perrahia's playing piano

[@jfeucht82]

8:50 Never heard this movement before. How come every other recording of this suite omits this movement, and how come this movement doesn't appear in any of the editions of the French Suites I own? Where does this piece come from, and is this even J. S. Bach?

[@Nicksick222]

jfeucht82 Think it's Beethoven

[@Nicksick222]

jfeucht82 ok found it! Gavotte II from the same suite nr. 4

[@thetheandrein]

There's an alternative version of this piece that is called BWV 815a, and it's supposed to have three additional movements: a Prelude, a second Gavotte and a Menuet. That's what i found in Wikipedia. I will leave the link here if you need more info: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_Suites_(Bach)#Suite_No._4_in_E-flat_major,_BWV_815

[@scottson2]

its the menuet in my book.. page 34 of the french suites cloth bound edition. Urtext edition...

[@musicinnovator]

It is the "Gavotte 2" found in the 815a version of the Suite. Some scholars have discounted it as not a part of Bach's original work and others have. It is included as a supplementary Piece in the "Alfred Masterwork Edition" of J.S. Bach French Suites (see Sheet Music Plus website). Perahia did not play the Prelude of 815a, probably due to his own preference, but the Prelude does exist before the Allemande.

[@DelsinM]

Excellent

[@opticalmixing23]

a very strong and clear player

[@robhosken2351]

Delightful.

[@danatolegenova9252]

Bravo!!!👏👏👏

[@planetsolaris865]

His music reminds me of purest part of human soul.

[@firephilosopher7645]

as for his use of pedal, it is perfectly judged and transparent. the pedal is simply what you must use in to enliven the piano's natural resonance. if you play on a harpsichord one of the first things you'll notice is that there is a bit of overhang as the resonance continues after you let go of the key. this can only be achieved on the piano by use of the pedal. the argument over the use of the pedal cannot be a dogmatic one based on abstract, doctrinaire ideas.

[@gregoriourriola8696]

La ternura del piano. Digitacion perfecta. Caricias al corazón.

[@SoundProfessionalDVD]

Thanks for your videos...I hope you can upload more...I subscribed to your channel.

[@dondokodokodon]

Thanks for watching my videos. I will upload more soon.