Ernest Bloch - Concerto Grosso No. 1 (1925)

[@johnlindstrom9994]

Both photos were taken at his "cabin" (home) on the Oregon Coast at Agate Beach, near Newport, Oregon. Looking west over the ocean, he composed "Suite Modale for Flute and Orchestra," maybe his most peaceful work. Figuratively, he turned his back on Europe and its tragedies. The "calm" (Pacific) ocean soothed him.

[@bartjebartmans]

I know the place very well, have been there often. It is only about one hour and a half drive from my home.

[@johnlindstrom9994]

@@bartjebartmans Interesting! I was born and grew up in Eugene. Can you post the "Suite Modale?" Note: I sat next to "Ernie" Bloch III during a Bloch Festival Concert at Salishan. Interesting conversation. I'm VERY sorry that the Festival is now cancelled. We attended several years.

[@chevydude658]

We played this in my high-school orchestra in Corvallis, OR in the '80s. I played second violin a d I have always loved this piece. I really love the piano for this concerto. We played the Prelude and the Fugue.

[@matteogenerani5097]

0:05 - Prelude 3:18 - Dirge 11:11 - Pastorale and Rustic Dances 18:24 - Fugue

[@delitesceptical684]

thx

[@Musicastellanas.]

Muchas gracias !!

[@СофияСамушенкова]

Thanks

[@johnlindstrom9994]

Of all composers, Bloch had the greatest range in the style and mood of movements in his pieces. Not just slight variations, but whole different realms revealed. An emotional roller coaster! When one thinks about the past, one remembers happy moments, but also doubts and fears, as well as hopes. Such breadth!

[@pepperwilliams4428]

The Fugue, The Fugue, The Fugue! So joyful to listen to, Beautiful harmonies, rich "Bach-like" counterpoint. Simply, one of the best fugues ever composed! And how he 'referenced' the Brandenburg concertos! Love it to no end:)

[@OrKestrAlan]

Agree

[@Nooticus]

Stunning movement! How I dream to write something like this!

[@celloflute8266]

I get to play this in my hs orchestra this year

[@Nooticus]

@@celloflute8266 ayyy thats incredible :)

[@Nooticus]

The fugue is easily one of the most exciting works from the 20th century to me personally. Unbelievable energy. Genius. Reminds me of Taillefaires incredible piano concerto.

[@johannesbluemink4581]

I listen to this every week for years now and it still remains one of my favorite 'neo-classical' works of all time.

[@nancymoyle8165]

Still gives me goosebumps. I've loved this a long time.

[@stephenmitchell367]

I absolutely adore this completely compelling piece. I have listened to it dozens of times and it never fails to lift the spirits. Perfect neo-classical "fizz". The percussiveness of the piano against the strings is of course reminiscent of Bartok, but this is a very different musical language. It is just achingly beautiful. Bravo Maestro!

[@heebieejeebieeeez]

This is fuckin phenomenal! I absolutely love how the violas are represented in this piece as well with the soli' parts. This seems like so much fun to play. It's so intense emotionally in the 2nd movement. I love the repeated theme, rhythm it tells such a great story with such starkly different emotions in each movement. So gooddd.

[@MichaelConwayBaker]

I'm so impressed with the playing of these young people. This is a great performance. Kudos to all the orchestra and their conductor.

[@Nooticus]

?? this isnt the performance of a youth orchestra though

[@jacobmcneal3011]

The Israeli Chamber Orchestra Directed by Yoav Talmi. Hopefully, they are young at heart

[@leegnichols7501]

This came into my life in 1980 and has always been since,love at first hearing! My old LP is worn out,so thank you for posting this!💜

[@steveegallo3384]

Me too....but in 1964 in Yonkers, New York.....Breathtaking music.....BRAVI from Acapulco!

[@stueystuey1962]

This composers works have crept into my various KZbin generated streams and I find myself peeking at what's playing and lo and behold it is monsieur Bloch. His bio is enough to give him a pass - ending up a professor emeritus at Berkeley. The music by and large is frighteningly lush and aromatic. Masculine, teetering on sentimentality yet never crossing the line. And distinctive - I recognize the style almost immediately now. His "jewishness" is incredibly well integrated similar in craftsmanship to major 20th century composers ala Bartok and Ginastera.

[@Nooticus]

Thank you for this stunning score video! I clearly need more Bloch in my life!! This is amazing!

[@chaophray]

This piece is so brilliant. The neo-baroque third movement is so joyful. Love it

[@OrKestrAlan]

Master piece agree

[@peonyboyaudios5051]

I love how a piece of tge magnificent prelude manages to end in the last movement. An amazing concerto like no other. Truly the first and last movements are just mind blowing!

[@jedtulman46]

Been listening to this since childhood .it is mind-blowing. So gorgeous and loving . A love letter to music and life .

[@zacharybenjamin5343]

I just love 15:09 - 15:45. My favourite part in the whole piece, so beautiful!

[@danielhewitt2867]

I am hearing this for the first time due to a reference made by Copland in his book What to Listen for in Music. Thank you, Mr Copland!

[@MuseDuCafe]

Bloch wrote this when he was teaching, for himself, but at a time when a more dissonant and aggressive style was the mode of the day. He was stimulated to write it to demonstrate to his students that it was still possible, and viable, to write contemporary music in a more conservative harmonic vein. His second Concerto Grosso, for string quartet and string orchestra is also a very fine, and listenable, piece.

[@wyattwahlgren8883]

That's how I got introduced to Debussy's "Snowsteps" or whatever it's called. Something like that.

[@Renee2004lr]

@@wyattwahlgren8883 The French title translates to "footsteps in the snow."

[@johannesbluemink4581]

I've got that book too! Indeed!

[@opticalbag]

for a swiss-american composer, this concerto has a strong sense of english pastoral music!

[@opticalbag]

@Human Being it's not impossible to be both

[@aprobstayahoo]

You too noticed the resemblance to Britten's Simple Symphony.

[@Gailrstarr]

@@aprobstayahoo That reference popped out the first time I heard this piece!

[@windstorm1000]

Yes could be finzi

[@thadhorner5129]

That amazing fugal final movement, love it.

[@markleneker9923]

Based Bloch. Such a great piece!

[@OrKestrAlan]

Maravillo, great............. thanks for share this master piece.

[@TheMikkis100]

That 3rd movement, the beginning is so nice. Interesting modulations and harmonies.

[@SachinShukla]

A lot of nice viola parts.

[@irl9474]

Yes! The viola, as in the case of the alto choral voice, is an unappreciated joy. Listen to the Brahms Requiem - the choral altos get all the great entrances. This is a sign of compositional maturity! (IMHO ...)

[@Geopherie1]

@@irl9474 i love this song, i had to play this entire piece in my 8th grade orchestra, i was second chair viola, but my friend who was first chair viola was sick on the day of the performance and i had to play the solos xddd

[@kenjisor]

@@Geopherie1 good for you!

[@Nooticus]

The fugue is undoubtedly one of the most stunning fugues composed in the 20th century, maybe of all time. The bouncy energy and balance between consonance and dissonance is nothing short of perfection. It really reminds me of Taillefaire's amazing piano concerto.

[@wolflover8765]

Wow! This is fantastic! And I never would have heard of it if not for your channel, so thank you!

[@NahmanArmony]

V

[@kenjisor]

@@NahmanArmony "V" ??????

[@umeinui]

Its been 10 years since i played this song but i still love it

[@ieattoomanyclementines2372]

love this piece!! ^_^ puts a smile on my face

[@joelleclement7265]

Merveilleux! 👌🤩👏💖🙏

[@333RoCkSkAtE333]

Speed at x2 and its the Rite of Spring

[@YTfanofclips]

Are you serious? Or am I ignorant?

[@333RoCkSkAtE333]

Its only a coincidence, but the beggining closely resembles the sacrificial dance when heard at such speed.

[@isaiahcruz3431]

Wow, cool

[@katiefair4389]

I played this last year and pointed this out to everyone, and they didn't believe me until I played it faster

[@rohansrinivasan2162]

And at half-speed it sounds like a death metal song!

[@suelamullaj7068]

Bello, veramente molto bello!!!

[@suelamullaj7068]

Adesso ho capito da dove hanno preso la colonna sonora del film ben hur!! Comunque il brano é un capolavoro!!

[@giovannismartini479]

It sounds like the british music of the first part of the XXth century ; I think about Bax, Vaughan Williams, Britten.... marvellous

[@withusaskiings7190]

That Fugue bangs! Loving the amapiano omission

[@MrGer2295]

Great ! Thank you so much :)

[@carol-lynnfillet3439]

Up there in the 10 most loved concertos. Virtuosic.

[@samwilliams2986]

Smile.. Hello carol.. How are you doing?

[@dinonugget109]

I didn't know you could notate time signature like that, alternating between 4/4 and 2/4. very cool!

[@notmyworld44]

Why not? It works! You will find alternating rhythm groupings in Rimsky's Scheherazade without it being noted in the time signature. It's a little confusing the first time you encounter it, but it works beautifully. Sometimes you just have to break out of the mold and get original.

[@marwanramen9298]

18:24 for 4. Fugue

[@OfficialWorldChampion]

great composer

[@anonymusum]

Great Work!

[@menelaos.peistikos]

It may sound strange but i think Vivaldi is his inspiration on the first movement.

[@KenNickels]

And Handel in the last.

[@transitny]

I think he's harkening back to the great Baroque tradition of the grosso - Bach, Vivaldi, Handel, Corelli, Telemann. At least in the outer movements. I'm reminded of Bax in the pastoral, he clearly had the English composers in mind. This easily ranks with the great masterpieces of that style. Easily compares to Vivaldi's concertos and the Brandenburgs.

[@rolandroncevaux5650]

around 12:30 and a bit after that it reminds me of the ben hur score (love theme/prelude)

[@carol-lynnfillet3439]

Only saw Ben Hur once a long time ago. Don't know who scored this but perhaps someone "stole". Som of Bloch.

[@johnlindstrom9994]

Yes, Both Bloch and Rosza were Jews who managed to escape Hitler and create good lives for themselves in the USA. Bloch never scored for movies, as did Rosza and Korngold.

[@destheebrat]

Can't wait to play this in 2 months for UIL xD along with Shostakovich

[@PianoHypnoshroom]

unique style... it doesn't fit in with any other composing trends but that's what makes it so interesting

[@keelyreitman7495]

1 beginning 2 7:48 3 15:53 4 21:17

[@clu52]

Played this in middle school, was really fun!

[@irl9474]

You must have had a fantastic middle school music progarm!!

[@TheRickymak]

prelude is intense. at 1:23, on the sheet music, what do you call the F# accidental on piano? Is it so everything transposes up 2 semitones? hmmm going from aeolian to dorian? hmm

[@AndewMole]

perhaps the chord is major IV despite being in aminor

[@michaelbasile441]

this is an old comment, but i'm about 90% sure the whole first movement is all in dorian. it starts in D dorian, then modulates in this section to the dominant A dorian key, bringing out the F#!

[@Dylan_1344]

Can someone explain the time signature? I know what 4/4 2/4 is but I don’t get why it randomly changes to 4/4 x3 2/4 and 4/4 x2 2/4

[@gordonfslater2889]

Is there a separate piano part or must the pianist play from a score, with only 2 systems per page?

[@G.Sobrals]

Compositor - Games EduU 🤩

[@lime7662]

19:00

[@theproton5837]

Riding through Middle Kingdom music

[@conductor19751]

Блеск!!!

[@kenneythekoala]

so confused by the free flowing time signatures

[@Dylan_1344]

It switches between c2/4 to ccc2/4 (switches between 4/4 and 2/4) but it doesn’t really mark it so I’m confused as well

[@明智多喜子]

馴れるとこの拍子でなければならない気持ちになります。今漸く体に沁み入って来ていて、フーガが心地好くて仕方ない。 変拍子はしばしば嫌がらせをされている気がしたりもするが、聴いている内こうじゃなきゃ！と思えてくる。 麻薬かな？媚薬かな？ でも確かに混乱は途中通った道だったかも。

[@_rstcm]

What does piano obligato mean?

[@bartjebartmans]

Means that the piano can't be omitted.

[@loicrenier7619]

La fugue finale très brandebourgeoise!

[@nicoc2919]

15:09 16:58

[@Score202p]

15:09

[@JafuetTheSame]

kinda honeggerian...i guess the swiss have their own unique point of view

[@adfontesaquarum]

I am going to play it this summer. The more I study it the more I dislike it.

[@johnlindstrom9994]

Why?

[@adfontesaquarum]

John Lindstrom it sounds ugly to my ears. It is a matter of personal taste, nothing rational or aesthetic.

[@irl9474]

The piece is a bit simplistic, admittedly. And I fell in love with it as a college student. That being said, I believe it has real merit. It has a bit of "Jewish" quality here (I can't define that, but it has something to do with heartfelt emotion). But (or, if you prefer, "and" ... ;-) ) it has drive, purpose, and is truly joyful. The fugue is a blast, BTW.

[@ninifang4444]

I'm played it during the summer, too. I actually really like the piece. But it's true that the more I study it I'm just like ughhh!!!

[@kenjisor]

@@ninifang4444 o i'm a 8th grade violinist and violist, so practicing never gets boring

[@r.m.konstantinos9916]

18:24 fuge

[@windstorm1000]

Almost english sounding! Could be finzi!!

[@Rickriquinho]

Bloch is a very limited composer.

[@bartjebartmans]

Your comment says nothing about Bloch, but a lot about you.

[@johnlindstrom9994]

Bloch never really came into the twentieth century. He kept writing fugues, a throwback to the 1600's! Nothing atonal or academically DRY here! Loaded with feeling. Old Fashioned!

[@pepperwilliams4428]

You are a complete MORON!

[@kenjisor]

Back at u

[@kenjisor]

In other words, go ****** yourself

[@kaitlynngaras3431]

22:22

[@Jake-jy5pq]

20:58