Baroque music - his elixir of life: A portrait of Bach specialist Ton Koopman | Documentary

Can Bach's music bring you happiness? If you were to ask Ton Koopman - the answer is a resounding “Yes!” The Dutch conductor, organist, and harpsichordist considers Johann Sebastian Bach the greatest composer of them all. Time and again, Koopman has delved into Bach's music; reading source texts, studying original notation, and embracing the work's spirit with his historically-informed performance practice. It's no surprise, then, that the 1944-born musician and scholar is one of the best-regarded interpreters of Bach's music - and indeed of Baroque music in general. It's a key passion of his to introduce younger people to Early Music - one for which he brings a great deal of humor to play.
Captured during the 2023 Bachfest Leipzig, this portrait of Ton Koopman introduces you to an extraordinary musician, whose work with the Baroque has brought him the greatest sense of personal fulfillment.
At a glance:
00:00 Johann Sebastian Bach, Erfreut euch, ihr Herzen, BWV 66.3, No. 1 (excerpt)
00:43 Bach, Erfreut euch, ihr Herzen, BWV 66.3, No. 3 (excerpt)
01:48 Ton Koopman on performing in Leipzig's St. Thomas Church - one of Bach's places of work
02:16 Bach, Christ lag in Todesbanden, BWV 4.2, No. 3 (excerpt)
02:45 Koopman on complexity in Bach's music
03:19 Bach, Toccata and Fugue in D minor, BWV 565 (excerpt)
03:47 The meaning Koopman finds in Bach
04:20 Bach, Wer da gläubet und getauft wird, BWV 37, No. 2 (excerpt)
04:49 Koopman has written endings for incomplete Bach works. Could he could compose in the exact same way?
05:25 If Koopman were to meet Bach 'on the other side' - what would it be like?
06:03 Rehearsing with the Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra and Choir at the 2023 Bachfest in Leipzig
06:35 Koopman on his role as conductor
06:45 Bach, Du Hirte Israel, höre, BWV 104, No. 1 (excerpt)
07:25 The challenges of historically-informed performance practice
08:20 Ton Koopman’s Baroque Vlog #4 (excerpt)
08:40 Approaching the incomplete knowledge of historical performance styles
08:56 Ton Koopman’s Baroque Vlog #4 (excerpt)
09:19 Koopman‘s expectations of the younger generation in researching historical performance practices
09:48 Bach, Du Hirte Israel, höre, BWV 104, No. 5 (excerpt)
10:17 What it's like to hold a Bach signature in your own hands
10:33 In the Leipzig Bach Archive
10:53 Koopman on Bach's handwritten score of the Quodlibet, BWV 524
11:58 'Caecilia' - musical theater by Marieke and Ton Koopman (excerpt)
12:25 Koopman on the musical theater he makes along with his daughter Marieke, introducing children to classical music from an early age
13:18 Koopman as the nerdy organist
13:39 Bach, Fantasia G major, BWV 572 (excerpt)
14:09 On the creation of his extensive and rare library on music
15:08 On the sale of part of his library, and on collecting
15:45 Koopman and his wife, Tini Mathot
16:04 If you love your work, you never tire of it
16:31 Coffee helps fight of sleepiness
16:55 Koopman on his excessive coffee consumption
17:40 Bach, Fugue in G minor, BWV 578 (excerpt)
18:08 What makes Ton Koopman such a happy person
19:05 Credits
© 2023 Deutsche Welle
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Thumbnail: © Foppe Schut
#baroquemusic #johannsebastianbach #tonkoopman

[@Cantbuyathrill]

All I need to survive is food, water, AND BACH. But not necessarily in that order.

[@sappclobyt1331]

Amen.

[@Cantbuyathrill]

@@leonardoiglesias2394 Allow me to put it this way: I would give up sex for Bach. Not such a harsh proposition considerig "today's" women.

[@FriendlyCroock]

Good for you. I still consider Bach to be the most overrated composer of all time.

[@FriendlyCroock]

Not a big fan of the baroque era in general since music written for chamber orchestras doesn't impress me.

[@biberfan]

Great tribute to one of the world’s gifted Bach interpreters.

[@FriendlyCroock]

😂 I had to laugh when I read the title. "Bach specialist Ton Koopman". First of all let's start with the fact that there is no such thing as a Bach "specialist" who performs Bach's music on period instruments. The Bach specialists were the greats from the past like Karl Richter, Furtwangler, Charles O'Connell, Leopold Stokowski, Eugene Ormandy. Those folks didn't know a period instrument if you showed them one.

[@rafalmika6604]

All you need is Bach !!!

[@fredfredo219]

Ton Koopman is brilliant

[@martagallo690]

J.S. BACH my favorite. Heavenly music. Greetings from Medellín. Colombia.🇨🇴

[@elisabethkoller5080]

…Love from 🇧🇷 to 🇨🇴

[@NewZealandWild]

Brilliant ! Bach is outstanding. There's nothing quite like it.

[@buninparadise9476]

like it. 🤗🤗🤗

[@petervanthiel638]

Een bijzonder mens, die er altijd voor zorgt dat er een glimlach op mijn gezicht komt. Niet alleen door het enorme enthousiasme dat hij uitstraalt maar ook door het gevoel waarmee hij musiceert en mede musici tot topprestaties weet te brengen én daarnaast zoveel kennis heeft weten op te bouwen. Chapeau ! Op naar de 100 jaar !!

[@andrearodigari4840]

I'm Italian and married to an American lady. We live in Malawi. But when I think home, I think Bach. Bach is my home. And God should be grateful to Bach. To have, for the first time, having demonstrate the proof of its own existence.

[@salemsokiredor9225]

Dies Porträt hat mir richtig gut gefallen, danke dafür. Ich habe Ton Koopman seit Jahrzehnten verfolgt, und doch hier noch viel Neues und Schönes erfahren.

[@karolw.5208]

Thanks, Ton Koopman, from a Bach fan!

[@manubet100]

Kongratz DW, Herr Koopfmann Ist Eine Schule von Baroque Music und Eine Institution über Bach, meine Total Admiration Herr Koopfmann! Eine Grosse Gruesse aus Perú!! Und hoffe ich dass einige Tage kann Ihnnen kommen für hier.

[@RJ986S]

Thanks for this fascinating, informative documentary. Mr. Koopman's commitment to Bach, and to baroque music in general, is absolutely amazing and impressive. The world is a better place because of his work, his research, and his musical talents. I have a couple of his albums ('Yo-Yo Ma Plays Bach' and 'Vivaldi's Cello'). Many thanks for this exquisite profile!

[@gentlemon2252]

Yoyo butchers bach

[@DWClassicalMusic]

Thank you! We're glad you liked the documentary. Subscribe to our channel for the latest uploads.

[@crossiqu]

My admiration for the great Ton Koopman, I think JS Bach could let him sit perfectly to his right

[@DWClassicalMusic]

Thank you! We're glad you liked the video. Subscribe to our channel for the latest uploads.

[@moooobkityy]

Bach is my savior! My air...my father..... can't live without him❤

[@lindacowles756]

Bach would be very disappointed in hearing that as he worshipped and dedicated his work to another Saviour.

[@lindacowles756]

@@moooobkityy G'day! I was responding to your comment "Bach is my savior! My air...my father....can't live without him". I'm simply saying, "Bach, as great a musician as he was, and as much as I enjoy his music, is NOT anyone's saviour. That title belongs to Jesus Christ alone. Jesus was Bach's Saviour as well. Bach would not have wanted to be looked at as anyone's saviour." I sincerely hope that answers your question.

[@moooobkityy]

@lindacowles756 typical boomer. Trying to push your fantasies onto others. Bach Is My Savior!!!!!! Bye....

[@skoromoh_]

Good morning. It's very special video for my soul. Thanks Ton Koopman! ❤❤ . 31223

[@skoromoh_]

9:00 . second time hear

[@Luisevonpreussen476]

How fortunate for me that Mr Koopman is almost my neigbour in The Netherlands!

[@xvsj5833]

Bravo 👏 bravo 👏 ❤❤❤

[@Stefan_Kawalec]

Excellent video. Thank you.

[@walterjoosten5750]

Buiten een groot musicus en Bach-kenner is Ton Koopman ook een zeer aimabel mens, zoveel is duidelijk.

[@user-te5st1ct9j]

🎉🎉🎉🎉Элксир несомненно❤❤❤

[@fulgenjbatista4640]

❤ Most beautiful ❤

[@grehuy]

Ein Leben, so der Kunst und der Größe gewidmet, ist ein glückliches Leben. Es wird nie enden und Bach wird ihn in die Arme nehmen.

[@AlexandreSantos-ee2yu]

Maravilhoso 👏 👏 👏

[@pauljacobson2538]

Fabulous

[@martinvandergraaff1144]

Great documentary! It is not in the MUSIC DOCUMENTARIES playlist, may be it should?

[@inLegacy]

respect maestro Ton Koopman his version of the BWV 1053 E maggiore concerto per clavicembalo was out of this world xD

[@mariajosealvarez1180]

Los mejores.

[@HeelPower200]

I discovered the infinite world of Bach Cantatas this summer through Ton Koopman's spotify playlist. If you are ever curious about this *huge* body of work, his are some of the most accessible and beautifully realized.

[@DWClassicalMusic]

Thanks for sharing!

[@melissaraven3164]

oh god, yes!

[@Namuchat]

Nicht schlecht! ...

[@user-se7og6kd8m]

The age of faith produced heavenly music.

[@Mike7028]

So ein symphatischer mensch... Und das sage ich nicht nur, weil er meine riesen große Liebe zu bach teilt

[@KoxxMobilhome]

Toffe kerel die Ton,zou met hem nog wel eens een glas willen heffen op Bach en ondertussen genieten van Bach's muziek!

[@DWClassicalMusic]

Thank you for your comment. If possible, please comment in English next time so that more people can follow the discussion. All the best!

[@dellnie345]

Klaus Mertens super! 1:30

[@OnlyMozart1]

15:38 Mozart: Fugue for 2 keyboards, K. 426

[@DWClassicalMusic]

Thank you for adding this information!

[@andrewsnow1933]

Subtitles please!!

[@borsuqqq]

[@arievanderreijden714]

Inkt = Tinte

[@BlackHermit]

I am not in love with Bach.

[@TH-qn9nx]

Wann wird der Herr Mertens endlich aufhören mit Singen? Er ist so was von abgesungen.

[@papagen00]

I prefer Handel and find Bach unbearably boring and tedious. The man just did not know how to write for the voice.