Basso continuo | Netherlands Bach Society

Basso continuo is the backbone of Baroque music. Which instruments are part of the bass group of a baroque ensemble? And what choices and challenges do the members of the basso continuo group face? In this short documentary, musicians from the Netherlands Bach Society explain what is involved in playing in a basso continuo group and they illustrate this with examples.
Recorded for the project All of Bach on 2 March 2020 in Akoesticum, Ede. If you want to help us complete All of Bach, please subscribe to our channel bit.ly/2vhCeFB and consider donating bit.ly/2uZuMj5.
All of Bach is a project of the Netherlands Bach Society / Nederlandse Bachvereniging, offering high-quality film recordings of the works by Johann Sebastian Bach, performed by the Netherlands Bach Society and its guest musicians. Visit our free online treasury for more videos and background material allofbach.com/en/. For concert dates and further information go to www.bachvereniging.nl/nederla....
Robert Franenberg, violone
Leo van Doeselaar, organ
Siebe Henstra, harpsichord
Lucia Swarts, cello
Benny Aghassi, bassoon
Fred Jacobs, theorbo
Mieneke van der Velden, viola da gamba

[@UlimorUdamenta]

Yeeey! Finally, some love for the Basso Continuo!!!

[@Laoxiao]

One of the particular wonders of NBS videos is the band's strong continuo playing. Clearly this is no accident: you have put together an international group highly talented professionals under who simply love playing together. Under intelligent, visionary direction. It is a pleasure to see the same faces in most of your videos. You have the magic formula - hold on to it.

[@purpurina5663]

This is one of my favorite NBS videos, because in my opinion it shows true artistry. The camaraderie between the musicians, the joy they display at their craft, the strive for excellence are a tonic to the soul.

[@user-us3qw6ed4k]

Tonic, is worth some punnery especially in this context.

[@valtergilenardi2639]

La Musica Terapeutica di Bach è Gioia e Meraviglia 😊❤

[@jackieedwards-henry8315]

This is the most helpful overview and synopsis of basso continuo I have yet experienced! As a pianist who came to harpsichord late in the game, sorting out what to play for continuo has been a challenge and frequently a struggle. Your video has provided a wonderful approach to making those decisions. Thank you!!

[@calolson9572]

What a wonderful insight into basso continuo - thank you so much!

[@SPark-qt4yz]

These videos make me fall in even more love with the music and the musicians, and hear more in bach’s music. Please keep them coming!

[@ceciliaspicer5914]

The best piece ever!!!! I feel so many emotion watching this

[@luuktorn]

Very informative and interesting video! And what a great and passionate musicians!

[@MitchBoucherComposer]

I seriously love this group and how personable everyone is. If I could be a part of a group like this and just...pour my internal heart out about what goes into Baroque music, I would!

[@wolkowy1]

The art of making a wonderful 'dish' - that is what this fine upload is about: leaning "a bit together". All those soloists players become like one conductor, while rehearsing, working together, listening to each other's views and musical suggestions, giving 'spices' to this 'dish'. And the result: wonderful interpretation and performance. Thank you very much NBS and Bravi to all these musicians!

[@edelahaye]

Thanks. This video answers to my many questions I have had about the continuo. Bass lines are so creative in Bach' music.

[@loiseaunoir1021]

I LOVE this kind of videos

[@lenanielsen5903]

Thank you to all the amazing musicians for this absolutely wonderful video🍃

[@carlnuernberg3273]

What a lovely video! I had never taken the time to think they can speak besides playing - guess what ... yes they can and they speak Dutch! Lucia is absolutely charming!!! Good luck!

[@sutherndudetx]

As a classical guitarist learning basso continuo, I found this video fascinating

[@meijong6453]

Wonderful video! The way they communicate between them and then toghether carry the music, in this coherent and convincing expression. It’s just full of genius and love.

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

This is why we have realized Continuo parts because the Chords written for the Right Hand on the top staff are based on the Figures below the Staff for the left hand

[@dschonnie]

Videos der NBV - das ist die reine Perfektion: wunderbarer Aufbau, ruhige Kameraführung und ruhiger Schnitt, zudem diese einzigartige „Chiaroscuro-Lichtästhetik“, auf die ich ganz versessen bin und die ich bei meinen eigenen AoB-Konzertvideos auch so sehr liebe. Van harte bedankt! 💐

[@Symphing12]

Love this!! I play Contrabass!

[@hori166]

Gott sei Dank for "realized" figured bass for all of us amateurs!

[@lucym5163]

Very interesting!

[@phwbooth]

Robert Franenberg is my very favourite Jewish-American violone player. Seriously, a very fine performer. It's really good to be given a chance to express our appreciation of the continuo players.

[@m0rvidusm0rvidus18]

He must be horrified that this group isn't more ''diverse'' then.

[@acrid8952]

My God, when I improvise counterpoint in more than two voices the bass is almost inaudible. I can't even imagine the difficulty one would have in improvising a basso continuo.

[@pijlenboog23]

you don't have to think about counterpoint at all though, when doing bc

[@rayancharafeddine4982]

Improvising a basso continuo is infinitely easier than improvising counter point I think. It's "just" chords

[@mikolajkrakowiak8365]

@@rayancharafeddine4982 but you still need to follow the rules

[@Stefan_Kawalec]

Watching the birth of music. Great.

[@samrose565]

Fantastic!!!!

[@pablomoreno7207]

I love this instrument

[@mariliapereiraamaro9680]

MUITO LINDA EXPLICAÇÃO EXPLICAÇÃO. AMEEIII !

[@Lucius_Chiaraviglio]

The instrument that looks similar to a modern string bass, but with viol-style frets (also shown in another recent video), must be some variety of violone. But apparently that term is very broad, so I wonder what the more specific term is? (And such instruments seem to be quite rare -- most of the string bass class instruments I have seen even in period instrument performances of Baroque music seem to be unfretted string basses.)

[@bach]

You're right: the term violone is very broad and when Bach calls for a 'violone', it is not always clear which instrument he had in mind. Robert Franenberg explains more about this topic - and about the frets on this particular instrument - in this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/iWSQn3SNo5d4fpo

[@renaldtremblay8333]

Merci pour toutes ces informations!

[@gdrumg]

very informative, thanks a lot

[@ozanzengincoban]

Perfect...

[@jamallabarge2665]

Bach believed so much in Thoroughbass that he would remove it to make a point. In BWV 170, movement 3 (Wie Jammern mich doch die verkehrten Herzen) he composed without the Thoroughbass, to show the rootless of the meaning of the path that the character had taken.

[@MrDimitros9]

I Bach's transcriptions of his original oboe/violin/flute concertos for a keyboard instrument (either a harpsichord concerto or a Cantata "Sinfonia") does one still need an extra keyboard instrument or theorbo to carry out the Basso Continuo ?

[@federicobracalentemusic]

Hi! Beautiful video. Is it possible to give a contribute to your Bach videos with a Bach performance? Best wishes

[@Bachsoboe]

As the music is from Bach’s Trauerode BWV198, will it be released soon?

[@bach]

Correct, we recorded this video during our Trauerode program this spring. The release date of this work is not yet known, but expect the release sometime next year.

[@Bachsoboe]

Netherlands Bach Society Thank you!

[@anotherhumanbeingblyat8935]

what pieces were featured in this video?

[@splatproductions99]

What is the piece they're playing in the beginning?

[@YbirdT]

a piece of

[@hanshead]

Figured bass baby

[@genustinca5565]

Why does this channel always have subtitles locked in the video, even when it's the same language? It's distracting, why not just have it as an option in the subtitles menu?

[@carlnuernberg3273]

There are people unable to understand a spoken language! They need to read it! Etc...

[@rainbenkennaz6173]

Is it just me or the bassoonist is israeli

[@EnricoDandolo1204]

Great and very informative video as always. Is this inspired by Adam Neely's recent video on white supremacy in music culture?