Bach, Prelude and Fugue in D minor ('Dorian'), BWV 538

[@thekantor1964]

For as long as there is music, there will be Bach. Order, raging against the chaos of the cosmos. "Bach opens a vista to the Universe. After experiencing him, people feel there is meaning to life after all." Helmut Walcha (1907-91).

[@philippehuysmans3159]

Thank you for that. I did not know that particular quote. Sounds true, tough.

[@andanteconmoto.]

I find this is the most intelligent and interesting graphic representation of a music piece. And, particularly, a perfect translation of the contrapuntal language of the "Dorian" Toccata and Fuge into lines, geometry and colours!

[@smalin]

Is this the first video of mine you've watched?

[@andanteconmoto.]

@@smalin Yes, the first one.

[@smalin]

@@andanteconmoto. Then you might find this useful: www.musanim.com/KZbinHighlights/

[@noiselesspatient]

I've been playing this piece for 30 years but have found imitation, especially stetti, that I've never noticed before thanks to this visualisation. Thank you so much and keep up the good work.

[@smalin]

I noticed many of those stretti for the first time myself in making this video.

[@noiselesspatient]

@@smalin 🤣🤣🤣🥂🍾

[@carlapr97]

smalin how long does it take to you to make a video like this? (Toccata/prelude/etc. + fugue)

[@smalin]

Carl Apr This one took me several days, both because of its length and because I took special care with the fugue. Usually it's more like a day or two.

[@apfigueiredo79]

@@smalin It was really worth it, it's so evident how much work and attention you put into it. Different visual patterns for different musical patterns in the fugue. I particularly loved the use of polygonal lines, squares for descending scales and the shape you used for the theme. I also loved the idea of not showing ornaments in advance and having them occur as 'accidents' when the music reaches the shapes. Please, continue doing this work, I have following you for years and your new ideas keep amazing me. Know that we (your followers) are always paying attention to the smallest changes/ideas you introduce. I enjoyed your work on this prelude/fugue immensely.

[@resiknoiro7506]

What a nice representation. This made me actually realize little nuances and details that i didnt pick up on before

[@eleanorrigby5843]

Fugue starts at 5:36

[@arturmoraes5655]

ty

[@jere3558]

ty

[@bertspeggly4428]

Best Fugue of them all.

[@user-ol1ib1ss2b]

Thank you smalin. I could cry by how beautiful this is. How could a man from centuries ago touch my heart so deep with his tapping away on a keyboard?

[@ulisescervantes]

The toccata is another powerful, headbanging masterpiece by young Bach.

[@smalin]

You might like to hear van Doeselaar talk about it: kzbin.info/www/bejne/g2TZkGSHoJafgdE

[@ulisescervantes]

smalin Thank you for the advice. I enjoyed your video so much.

[@zulianfr]

@@smalin thx for the advice it's really interesting

[@andanteconmoto.]

Marvellous!!!

[@svetsarkirurgen2]

Its just unfathomable how great Bach was

[@bertspeggly4428]

This is great for those of us who love Bach but find it a bit difficult to follow sometimes. The Fugue is one of my favourite pieces and it's good to have it explained this way. Thank you.

[@frankmsculptor]

WOW...............................! Incredible complexity both audibly and visually. And yet...........................so logical, so organized, like looking out into the night sky, and feeling the awe that it inspires, the majesty of light itself.

[@lordenoch0]

A visualization of genius.

[@jacks424]

Prelude is beautiful, but the Fuge is SO CLEARLY EXPLAINED ! Thanks a lot !

[@amigosXcorrespondenc]

I love Bach's fugues so much and your videos of them, I can really lost myself in it.

[@smalin]

I have to say, I'm really happy with how this one turned out. The first time I watched it "for real" (that is, not in my office on the desktop computer but in the living room, in the dark, full screen), I got more goosebumps than I've ever gotten from a piece of music.

[@amigosXcorrespondenc]

@@smalin Your videos have improved so much, I watched your Bach's 3 part inventions after havent wach any video of your channel for a while and I said to myself "wow these graphics improved a lot, this is getting on a new level". Nice work.

[@jonnsmusich]

@@smalin So glad to hear it. Yeah this one is special.

[@samyosoy]

@@smalin The first time most of us "saw" music, was in Fantasia, in the piece that does not have typical animation, but the look of the feel of soundwaves. I love the way you've visualized this for us, being able to appreciate all the parts as we hear it. And it's fun and beautiful! I am looking forward to telling some others about it. Thank you for sharing your vision.

[@garykirwin4355]

Every day I need my 'fix' of this. Brilliant!

[@TheSmegPod]

love the "disco lights" kinda look of the prelude/toccata

[@ericsutherlandmusic1664]

After all that movement and activity, the last chord at the end is pure, brilliant, luminous sunshine.

[@qdwre]

i love this channel it's one of my favorite thank you for all of the good work keep it going

[@lindacowles756]

G'day, Mr. Malinowski! WOW, what a piece! I'm so glad that I "discovered" Bach almost 3 years ago.

[@cromwell.is.awesome]

This is my favourite organ piece by Bach

[@chestermajos880]

More proof that Johann Sebastian Bach was a musical giant. Thank you for sharing.

[@malinkywoos]

I totally love the animated graphical score. It enhances, without a doubt.

[@james-xx2yg]

I am amazed. I only found this today but I'm in love. I can't explain how beautiful it is. These Animations are like Abstract art. I love everything about it! I really liked your Animation of "Clair de lune"

[@dedede5586]

the visualization is beautiful!

[@philippehuysmans3159]

Thanks Smalin, the more I look at your work, more I think you are a true lover of great music. Many people here, crying for more beauty :-)

[@nicolasmaillouxorgue]

3:11 is beautiful, as well as the entire video

[@sylvielopez2686]

Tank you very very much for sharing this great partita from Bach, merci beaucoup

[@stuf159]

I really enjoyed the visualization, the subject looks like muscles falling over like dominos.

[@-NGC-6302-]

You know the music is good when it has a 24k views and no dislikes

[@late8641]

Van Doeselaar is just an outstanding interpreter! Just utterly beautiful!

[@colin8770]

My favourite piece :) thankyou

[@jonnsmusich]

Exceptionally good! Even by your high standards. Graphics brought out beautifully articulated grace notes and, as usual, I heard (saw) elements I'd never heard before after decades of loving this work. And, above all, Leo van Doeselaar's performance was outstanding.

[@glennrice7795]

- Of all of the visualizations that I've seen, this is the most mesmerizing. The patterns and rhythms are hard not to watch. Nice work!

[@annabevelander3031]

Wat super mooi prachtig gespeeld smailin

[@dan-us6nk]

3:01 what a crazy chord!

[@laali_puppy]

Wow, incredible! Thank you, Smalin.

[@TheGloryofMusic]

One of Bach's greatest fugues, and which exemplifies the ideal of "unity within diversity". The Contrapunctus IV from the Art of Fugue is similar in this respect.

[@Diapason427]

Fantastic..thnx so much for this!

[@Pants4096]

Magnificent!

[@Hosker25]

Wonderful.

[@Skibbityboo0580]

Incredible!

[@lullabywishy8284]

I love it!

[@Michel-Fiorelli]

Vous êtes un génie . Bach doit s'abonner

[@MitchBoucherComposer]

Great animation, smalin! I've been an admirer of your work for a very, very long time. I should catch up on your videos someday soon.

[@smalin]

This might help you organize your exploration: www.musanim.com/KZbinHighlights/

[@thereyougoagain1280]

One of my favorite organ pieces by Bach. It’s really cool to see it like this. Although isn’t the prelude usually referred to as a toccata? It is technically a prelude, but people usually don’t call it that.

[@smalin]

imslp.org/wiki/File:BWV0538.pdf

[@rayancharafeddine4982]

Did you partner the Netherlands Bach Society? It's like the Bach prophets uniting

[@smalin]

I asked them if they'd like to collaborate. Officially, they said "no," but unofficially they've indicated that they respect what I'm doing and won't prevent me from using their recordings this way.

[@cincplug]

Really excellent, especially how it relates to basic life forms like worms and medusas. That further proves how much was Bach's music grounded in nature's fundamentals 🍎🍐

[@feramiro]

After staring at the video, I feel like your words are moving to the right.

[@АндрейИльин-ч9д]

Такая визуализация мне понравилась,в отличие от чёрточек.Всё же музыканту визуализация не требуется,он слушает ушами,а для остальных,это превосходный ход как-то их заинтересовать,прослушивая классику с таким видеорядом.

[@konradswart4069]

Again, brilliant! Still, I have a question. Do the changing in colors of lines, originally moving from dot to dot _after_ they already have played a musical meaning?

[@smalin]

The color of the line reflects the pitch of the currently-sounding note (the right-most note in the line).

[@konradswart4069]

@@smalin Ah! Thank you! I will watch it again! (Something I do anyways.) You are _really a great artist!_

[@kmrose4741]

When theres a rave at the cathedral

[@juwonnnnn]

👍

[@caicoalan]

Prelúdio hipnótico.

[@GuyDanielsMusicEtc]

Indeed. No Marshall stack needed.

[@zackchang565]

2:20

[@porridgeandprunes]

I think that the organist's choice of registration makes it sound rather muddy. Check the version on the gerubach KZbin channel.

[@KrazyNTerience]

2:20 Entering to Windows 9x World...

[@lroa6913]

Y Dios dijo "haz algo que me impresione". OK dijo JSB ... listo, aqui voy.

[@leonhardeuler6811]

The toccata is similar to the toccata from bwv 540

[@xisailuo]

Hi Smalin, I like your work a lot, so I just wanted to give some feedback. I find things like the (initially) purple bar at 6:14 that shifts up towards a different pitch and changes colour not very enlightening, not a helpful visualisation. Because the movement, the present moment, seems in general to be in the centre of the screen, and this centre continues moving forward, while the bar shifts to the left, out of the centre, but continues moving. Thus visually it doesn't place those notes in relation well with the ones in the centre for me. Also the fact that those notes don't come in from the right gives me less time to process them visually. Of course I respect your choices, but since I gather the point of these animations is to visually explain the music, I thought maybe some feedback on what works and what doesn't in this regard may be of help. In any case a fantastic and beautiful animation!

[@mischag]

I do agree, the constant bar that moves up and down while changing color to accommodate notes can be distracting. However, it has been useful in previous videos for showing the bass line. This particular video does not need it, but we should give Smalin a rest and congratulate him for doing this piece at all. After all, it is his channel and his visualizations.

[@vigokovacic3488]

So you might aswell say this is Toccata and Fugue in D minor the sequel...

[@Ambidextroid]

Is this actually written in the dorian mode? Sounds like regular minor, especially looking at that fugue theme

[@PalaganSSewoyo]

The subject looks a like ECG (electrocardiogram) 😂

[@ho-mw6qp]

Palagan Sewoyo an ecg reading that I wouldn’t even wish upon my enemies 😂

[@marcossidoruk8033]

My ECG when i recieve a message from her.

[@tannerlion1994]

0:01 .. is Toccata, not Prelude

[@smalin]

See the FAQ.

[@ramizmansurov6392]

I read BMW 538 )))

[@stuf159]

Good for you

[@tannerlion1994]

Dorian Toccata and Fugue in D Minor ?

[@WindowsNougat]

It's NOT in D Minor (Checked all Q&As)

[@smalin]

I've added my standard answer to the FAQ.

[@KrazyNTerience]

The new Windows Vista Beta Theme Song

[@KrazyNTerience]

But no, its wiñdows 3.x 95 MSDOS Theme song

[@zane003]

Please map the colors to the musical notes. that way each octave has the same rainbow colors. Great videos! I'm already a subscriber

[@smalin]

"Please map the colors to the musical notes." That is what I'm doing. See www.musanim.com/HarmonicColoring/

[@kamikace7531]

I prefer the classic minimalistic visualization of the piano roll

[@smalin]

Some viewers do. I've made over a thousand videos, and more than half of them are piano roll style. But many other people make those now, and I'm making videos that are more interesting to me. So, your only options are to watch my older videos, watch other people's videos, or hire me to make custom videos to your specification. In case you're interested in that last option, an alternate version with a piano-roll display would probably be a "small job" (which is described here www.musanim.com/WorkForHireSmall/ ).

[@divergentintegral3475]

I think you mean toccata

[@smalin]

depends who you ask www.musanim.com/pdf/BWV538_Manuscript.pdf www.musanim.com/pdf/BWV538_BachGesellschaftAusgabe.pdf

[@robadamskane]

I've rather fallen in love with these graphic representations of music. This format is perhaps the one that tells the naive listener the least about what's going on. Pretty, but useless.

[@smalin]

"Pretty, but useless" was my father's opinion of music. Also, see comments by Shikantaza, Bert Speggly, Jack S, and jonnsmusich (below).