Chris Thile 2013-10-02 Partita No. 1 in B minor (complete suite)

[@cognitivephonetician]

I love the way he plays the whole 26-minute long piece perfectly from memory without missing a note, but has a hard time recalling the names of the four different movements at the start.

[@jesserobinson8376]

wow I'm always blown away by Chris's memory and timing moreso than by his absolute technical mastery of his instrument, which is also quite unbelievably impressive. That combo makes him one of the best musicians ever to bless planet earth for sure Good thing he came about when youtube existed...

[@rmaher1212]

There is a reason he received a McArthur genius Grant. He's arguably the best mado players alive or dead

[@alexquiroz9945]

I don't know of anyone who can play Bach on the mandolin better than Mr. Thile. blissful performance

[@williamfisher233]

Best musician ever. I bet Chris thinks he was attacked once in Boone, NC before a show. That was me, hammered and with friends, preparing for a Nickel Creek show. We were drunk and enjoying other preperations when suddenly Chris rounds the corner out for a pre-show jog. He had headphones on and never understood a word I screamed. I grabbed him and was screaming in his face I imagine. it was crazy for us both. haha. Luckily he escaped and put on an amazing performance a while later.

[@ghen]

I. Allemanda 1:20 II. Double 5:52 III. Corrente 10:29 IV. Double: Presto 13:26 V. Sarabande 16:31 VI. Double 18:52 VII. Tempo di Borea 21:16 VIII. Double 24:01

[@alexandrefalardeau5991]

merci !

[@fakeadamlee]

thank u

[@angrytedtalks]

The mandolin was a heavily underrated instrument... until this. Fabulous way to honour Bach with a beautiful interpretation of intrinsically baroque music.

[@musicaaeterna7034]

Sometimes you know with your whole being that the music is being served absolutely. This is one of those times. The spirit that resides in this work, perhaps some of Bach, must be feeling at peace - understood, accepted and brought to us. This is the first time I am hearing this work on an instrument other than the violin and it is a testament to Bach's conception that it transcends any particular vehicle. Bravo Chris Thile, and bravo MacArthur for recognizing him so early. And let us please recognize the attentive and appreciative audience. Let's not underestimate them. They make music making possible. Where would we be without them?

[@tonycook27]

The audience confirms our suspicions that it was indeed masterfully done.

[@jeffersonlightly9675]

I think the fact that Mr. Thile is one who regularly improvises, like Bach, who himself was a master of improvisation, Mr. Thile is able to truly capture the spirit of these dances. A fantastic interpretation.

[@jamestessman1433]

what amazes me most about this is that he just played many thousands of notes over nearly a half hour without sheet music, the technical skill is nuts but the fact that he remembers this in addition to countless other songs astonishes me

[@dgunnin5]

James Tessman it's not *as* hard as you would think, especially if you come from a background such as his where never even learning to read sheet music isn't far from the norm. It is, however, still VERY impressive for such a long piece.

[@funk-hazard]

I'd support Davis' statement, having played classical music for 12 years I sometimes also had a lot of music memorized, it happens as you spend a lot of time with specific pieces practicing them. Human brains ftw! :D And Chris is the best

[@jackarcher7495]

It is unfathomable to me, but people with talent beyond my comprehension (like Chris Thile) do it all the time.

[@FlaxeMusic]

It's less about "what notes and where" and more: "what is the contour" , how is it shaped, what does that feel like- I assume he's beyond a point of having to think actively about where he is within the pieces, he's "aware" of the ups and downs of the contour on a high level and his ear-finger connection does the rest. All assumptions, keep in mind, as a reasonably experienced educator.

[@FarmersAreCool]

@@FlaxeMusic Muscle memory, if he's like me as a machine operator, he's on auto pilot of a sorts and is upstairs in his happy place reclined letting it flow. If he thought about what he was doing he'd mess himself up, the unconscious is a BEAST of a storage device. Repetitive actions, mine was pulling levers for 12 hours staying focused. When I operate a vehicle I get tot he destination perfectly, but was lost in thought the whole time, still focused but split. dunno.

[@melodicdreamer72]

Absolutely nailed it! Bach obviously is Bach and Chris Thile is Chis Thile; need not elaborate on that. How incredible it is when they come together - gorgeous and amazing.

[@dennismcvey9719]

From memory???!!!! Incredible. Best musician I have heard come out in years......

[@mastathf]

he didn't like turning pages so he practiced memorizing everything

[@nylonsteel]

Normal for classical musicians to memorize a whole 2 hour program of music for concert

[@ianparker5007]

Most do.. especially for lead

[@sameash3153]

I never got what's so hard about memorizing. Surely there's a song you know that you can sing from heart. It didn't take you any effort to do that. You just liked the song enough to do it yourself.

[@sameash3153]

@@romeohio19 It's the same principle. He memorized those thousands of notes the same way we all memorize music, we simply hear it in our heads all the time. It's not as mystifying as people make it sound.

[@jferg999]

Thanks for uploading this to KZbin. My wife and I were at this concert at the Alberta Rose Theater in Portland. It was amazing. Yes....he played Bach BUT he played lots of other pieces... many bluegrass and old timey tunes and told stories, cracked jokes etc for over 2 HOURS!!!! What an amazing talent. I don't go to many concerts but i am a mandolin enthusiast and am so grateful i got to see Chris play live. Bucket list item checked off. (Now to see Sam Bush, Sierra Hull, Dave Grisman...😁)

[@Deltaworks23]

So happy I have found this. I am starting a Chris Thile marathon.

[@TonePianos]

Bach just fist-pumped this interpretation from the grave.

[@pacman7654]

The mandolin strings really highlight the voicing nicely.

[@johncreatescontent346]

his fat face and old clothes(if any survived) would make a cool zombie.

[@rdalin]

My dad played piano and loved classical music. I often wonder what he would have thought of Thile. Since he's not here to contradict me, I'm sure he would have loved him.

[@bianchiviolin]

The "Tempo di Borea" movement is a revelation and very successful in this incarnation. I love it.

[@jazzizm]

He's one of the top musicians ever.

[@wilburwilson8018]

Agreed. Also, IMO, arguably the absolute best string instrumentalist ever.

[@moonbeamchaos]

I'm just grateful to be alive when he is, and have the technology to hear so many of his performances which I could never have heard otherwise. Whether he is playing solo, or with Noam in Mumford & Sons, with his siblings as Nickel Creek, or with the entire gang as Punch Brothers, Chris Thile is an utter joy. A gift from the gods!

[@4uRicki]

Love your comment, but just so you know, Sarah and Sean of Nickel Creek aren’t his siblings, however, they are each other’s.

[@theSublime01]

THE BEST interpretation of Bach. Freedom, wonderful communication, absolutely fantastic! Bravo.

[@pacificpolyrythyms]

saw this in nashville the other night..I feel truly blessed to have been there

[@AboveAverageLabel]

I only really want to congratulate Chris Thile on his pure musicality. Incisive compelling and absorbing , it serves only the music, and the memory of J.S.Bach.

[@thoyo]

just in the first few seconds, there is ornamentation that Thile does that I've never noticed how distinct and beautiful it is in all my years of listening to the partita on violin. I really appreciate him revealing things burried deep in the music that otherwise may have gone unnoticed. I bought a cheap mandolin yesterday, can't wait for that sucker to arrive 🤘🏾😎 Long Live Thile!!

[@JohnHillEU]

How are you getting on with your mandolin playing since 5 years ago?

[@thoyo]

​@@JohnHillEUHey John! Thanks for asking! Yeah, I'm not super great at it, but I can play parts of a few Bach partitas. Focusing on music in the new year, I'll try to remember to come back to this comment when I post music. Season's greetings!!

[@Carletdesiles]

​@@thoyogo then!

[@mbyard356]

That was absolute perfection. I pray that one day, 400years in the future, someone stands on a stage, playing a Chris Thile original piece, as “classical” music.

[@drzirkle]

I would love for him to come out with an album of original, unaccompanied mandolin pieces. I'd love to have seen that concert he did in Portland.

[@heismichael]

13:27 minute mark...*JAW DROPS*....

[@handdancin]

would be eighth notes at ~330 bpm, very savage

[@steveavery8873]

Clearly, he's a musical Android sent from the future.

[@milk9720]

It really is amazing. Check out the violin version of that movement to. Hilary Hahn has a good one.

[@arthurfranca5516]

handdancin its slower. 16th notes at 150 at max

[@nonh8nsk8r]

And at 15:01, he's looking distracted, as if thinking "oh yeah that one is cute I think I'll ask her out after the show" all while jamming his ass off.

[@harryjoseph1802]

Man, what a performance indeed. Mr. Thiele I literally held my breath for the entire Courante Double. What a collection of 'dances'..watching you play is an added treat. Bravo, Sir.

[@johnroyston3680]

This performance brought me to tears. The joy and the flow is how I describe this man's love of music. Bravo!

[@infledermaus]

Amazing performance! The master composer's music played the master musician. What could be better? A well deserved standing ovation. Thanks for sharing

[@mikehowarth6178]

I am a Baroque and Mandolin lover..... made my day. I have sent your work to lots of friends.

[@UT1338]

Thile is an absolute genius. He plays Bach so beautifully. Hearing Thile play the partitas makes me think Bach wrote them for mandolin rather than violin. (Violinists, don't shoot me.)

[@DSteinman]

Real talk - he wrote like an organist, then made poor violinists play them as best they could 😂

[@xprism89]

It's almost unbelievable that he can play all that from memory and it's incredible that Bach wrote that music over 200 years ago and it still inspires performances like this. I can barely read my way through those pieces for practice.

[@kevinkmny]

In my case I don't read so I have to commit it to memory :) you see it as an advantage I see it as a handicap :)

[@AmazingApplesBand]

absolutely amazing, and to do that from memory is hard to comprehend!

[@siniolsson]

Excellent! I love your Bach-playing, Chris. You are genius.

[@jlange6171]

Chris, along with Bela and Edgar were my window into the world of JS Bach. What a view.

[@marianacamplese9519]

Bach has to be listening to him play. With tears of pride and happiness. So much talent. May you soar with only the very best.

[@clairerohde8581]

I'm stunned that no one has remarked about this performance! It is a magnificent display of talent!

[@LukeDayInTheUK]

I think it fair to say it has been remarked on :)

[@paulelliott3220]

Absolutely fantastic playing Expect nothing else from Mr Thile - truly a wonderful artist

[@ajavrik482]

Неймовірно!..Скільки музики і наповнення в такому невеличкому інструменті...!!!Надзвичайно професійно виконано!

[@slzckboy]

Im in awe of this guy.

[@cliffjamesmusic]

Not only brilliant, also stunningly beautifully sounds. Thank you.

[@DEATHVIPER1777]

This guy is amazing!!!

[@ericrichardson2284]

absolutely badass! I have actually been lucky enough to hang out with Chris, Sarah, & Sean a couple of times, attempting to pick with them on the Porch of the NORVA years ago.! It was a not a very good attempt on my behalf, but anyway I am totally blown a way by Chris's amazing ability to remember every note of every song he plays,,,,,once! A truly Stellar Virtuoso!

[@sonztwin]

I first heard Chris Thile play this on PHC a few years ago: who knows if it didn't impress the powers-that-be so much that he would one day succeed Garrison Keillor as host to the venerated show. Like virtually all of you (8 thumbs-down, REALLY???), my jaw slackened and my eyes glazed when I heard him play. How awesome is it that he not only took the time to transcribe this timeless treasure, but he also played it with such virtuosity and sensitivity. So this is not at all meant to be a diss. But in the final analysis, Johann Sebastian didn't write this for mandolin for a reason *. Thile's virtuosity cannot overcome the short-coming inherent in his instrument, summarized in a single word: resonance (or the lack of it). A great part of the beauty of this piece (and other partitas) lies in the lingering echo that a violin delivers. A plucked instrument with a fuller sound might pull it off better, but a mandolin, even in the chordal passages, sounds nakedly thin; its timbre is (ironically) too fleeting to sound ephemeral. Before anyone pours out the vitriol, let me (again) stress that I'm not saying Thile didn't do a great job, nor am I suggesting that the mandolin is necessarily an "inferior" instrument - it's just not nearly as good an instrument as the violin is for THIS piece, which only goes to further prove the genius that's Bach. Listen to, say, an Itzak Perlman rendering for comparison, and see if you agree. * The reason isn't that the mandolin hadn't been invented - it had, even if it hadn't been quite as widely used and accepted until at least a couple of decades later.

[@larserikrst4333]

Brilliant! I really love how he suddenly goes piano/pianissimo at some chords and reps...espesially in the Allemande. All in all a very dynamic and emotional interpretation while keeping tempo in control.

[@logan0627]

It is amazing and so cool listening his version of this piece. I´ve listened with cellos and this one is even better

[@mariodanielineto4881]

Amazing! I'm from Brazil. Nunca vi ou ouvi alguém tocar bandolim desse modo. Maravilhoso! Música do céu! !!! Thank you!

[@lucyfoster4082]

Mário Danieli Neto Do you like me want to see him jam with Yamandu Costa?

[@nicktighe3093]

i have heard a lot of music from him, nickel creek and more but just now discovered his classical side. i have a few more bach pieces coming up. he is great. i was raised on classical

[@elgatosucio]

Amazing. He talks through the instrument.

[@kainur]

Thank you master wonderful performance upplifting indeed!

[@zachmelchisedeck5320]

I must say not one sour note through this whole entirety.... Tell me as a mandolin player is that in itself not one of the hardest feats even playing fiddle tunes and improvising through bluegrass tunes. He is surely one of the greats

[@eliasschwartzman2283]

Zach Melchisedeck 24:18 he misses/fudges a note. He's awesome, just saying he's human ;p

[@robertkeane2865]

Elias Schwartzman perhaps he did that on purpose to remind us he's human lol

[@jannaj.7059]

Focusing on the all the notes he perfectly executes, I've never heard a human with such a high rate of accuracy, ESPECIALLY playing live (maybe Glenn Gould who Chris says was his first exposure to Bach). A stunning performance on every level, said the highly critical, classically trained professional violinist and sometimes mandolin player. I'm in awe of this performance and his technique at all times. He is not from this planet.

[@KevinElamMusic]

Elias Schwartzman yep! And at 23:35 there's the tiniest little "jazzy" grace note up into that high E. But that's pretty much it, lol. And that is a ridiculously unbelievable level of accuracy for a 30-minute piece with thousands of notes... And really hard ones too. I play a couple of movements of this suite at like 60% his speed, and it's still really hard! 🙏

[@michaelvanwinkle7919]

amazing proficiency and fantastic memory!

[@carloaiazzi6341]

GRANDIOSO!!! really a genius of the mandolin and of Bach ! Great partita thank you so much

[@zampo5709]

Thank you very much....Great Master CHRIS T....!!!!

[@bryanstearley9594]

Thanks to Mark's Memories. Been doing great video and music for some time. Always relieved to see one by him or bakedgoodsproductions. All others don't get the job done.

[@Saprodome]

This video inspired me to begin playing the mandolin and learning Bach's cello suite 2.

[@KevinElamMusic]

First off, Chris is a machine and an amazing musician. I will never come anywhere close to approaching - nay, even understanding - a fraction of his epic majesty. I'm not worthy to unfasten his mandolin strap. I've been learning this suite on mandolin for a couple of years now, and most of it still has me stumped. Using Chris as a model, I've mastered the Sarabande and most of the Bouree. But Chris reigns supreme! I do find it interesting that in the Bouree, in the descending run starting at 22:41 and again almost exactly a minute later at about 22:39, Chris plays a G natural near the bottom of the run instead of a G sharp. In my Schirmer edition of the Partita, a G sharp is written. Did anyone else notice this? What is in other editions? The sequence "G natural - F# - E#", recalling a Neapolitan cadence in F# minor, certainly would be typical of Bach. I wonder what the autograph manuscript has?

[@craggymcgill]

Truly astonishing. This recording should be buried in a time capsule for future artistically deprived civilisations to wonder over.

[@erwinverdonck6703]

This is soo overwhelming. Thank you for sharing it.

[@eosdelb]

Thanks Loar for making him a nice mandoline.

[@matangilad]

Thank you

[@DaveGrossmanSoloBass]

I was just working on this one yesterday on my electric bass. Nice playing!

[@paullarnce2167]

Wow! What a stroke of genius! How did he mesmerize those notes?

[@Ruvfua]

Simplemente fantástico…

[@pauleagle9075]

Absolutely amazing 🥰

[@michelegiovanardi8151]

Un genio.... 👍👍👍Con Brad al piano poi... Favolosi

[@kangihota9002]

mandolins ca play the same range as violin but never thought it could be played so smoothly on one

[@harmvonlintig7146]

Chris is a wonderful musician in very special rights. I'm looking forward to see him an the brothers in swizerland, zurich.

[@ephilihp]

I appreciate that this date is ISO 8601, YYYY-MM-DD.

[@chatnoir709]

I can really dance to his playing this work.. just great~

[@twofishes8846]

Thnx

[@markone4046]

Bought tears to my eyes. How I wish you could teach me to play half as well! Maestro

[@DavidGlazier-x2x]

You can feel the LOVE

[@mannacharya4088]

Generally when I see comments of people saying how phenomenal someone is, they are always a bit exaggerated. But that's not the case here. I don't think I will be half as good at anything as Chris is at the Mandolin!

[@luisdebuenosaires3170]

incredible execution of a great musician of this instrument.....really as somebody says here i wonder how he plays without a partiture.....really he is an OUTSTANDING.... FUERA DE SERIE....he looks like not human...but he lives the music...in each piece he play ..... He pleases every musical moment.....as you can see his body...and his face moving to the beat of the mandoline that sounds like the charango of south america that some people plays also clasicalmusic pieces of bach or vivaldi and others....really a genious of the execution....!!!!!

[@petermerbeth1067]

sublime

[@JimPlattes]

Next project: Paganini's 24 Caprices for solo violin

[@arthurfranca5516]

Jim Plattes haha undoable

[@zacharybian7221]

I know #24 and a couple others have been done, but unfortunately for average hands/mandolins, a lot of them would require the musicians to contort their hands in a very painful manner (e.g. #1), making them not fun to play. If you want some neat mandolin family specific pieces that show off technical skill, check out Raffaele Calace's Preludes.

[@slothnoises]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/onWVhqx9prytmbM

[@madaboutvoice]

Thank you so much for sharing this gem!

[@phillewis7685]

How brilliant is this!

[@jmusto2116]

Genius….Thile and Bach.

[@marzillabryson6370]

Somebody buy this boy a tailor and a beer. He is fantastic.

[@feralsanders7542]

This guy is out of his mind!~

[@andrenieuwlaat9097]

Just look at his face around the 24:30 mark - he's obviously having a great time :-) I would too, if I could play such magnificent music as well as that !

[@jamesgrey13]

+Andre Nieuwlaat He was really feeling that music!

[@chimpansi2]

Simply amazing..!😮

[@plealypaul8019]

Utter genius! Highest skill !!

[@bonogugu3923]

Scholarly!!! Thanks for sharing.

[@silviawalbon6858]

Beautiful on my sunday

[@VictorCastilloLuna]

Un genio de la interpretación!

[@joshuahymer15]

Let’s see if he can kick off “on and on” !!! 😂😂😂😂 this guy is in another dimension. Absolutely astonishing the amount of skill and memory going on here.

[@blakelysherrod4686]

That. Is. Incredible. HOW?

[@musicaaeterna7034]

Great Artistry

[@henryhomes2664]

I cried when listening to this, he wasn't "reading" music!

[@LosPompadores]

A maestro.

[@colonialwaster6978]

Bach lives in this man

[@dandimarx]

a man on fire -- 13:26 to 16:28 -- for fucking three minutes without missing a single note! 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@stevysound]

Simply amazing

[@davidcurtis7547]

greatest Geek ever . Dweb , nerd ? Chris Thile is that and more . A man with a mandolin . so sweet . Gratis

[@tmjcbs]

It's remarkable to read so many comments about the fact he plays this from memory, remarkable because in classical solo concerts this is standard and not all that difficult, even for amateur musicians. It sounds rather authentic, not unlike a spinet.

[@tr3ndkiller]

It is difficult on a picked instrument which is what Thile plays, in case you haven't noticed. That's why you don't see anyone else attempting the entire suite.

[@tmjcbs]

@@tr3ndkiller I'm not saying it isn't difficult technically, I'm merely pointing out that this isn't too hard to learn by memory.

[@Rudel23]

Unbeliavable!

[@sdfenirassdfeniras5094]

Nie no chłopie ,jesteś giga koxem !!

[@sicknotescreamsph]

i played the video starting in 13minutes in slower speed 0.5 sec damn he's fire ❤️🔥

[@folkrap12]

I want to hear him play winter so bad.