Víkingur Ólafsson - Bach: Organ Sonata No. 4, BWV 528: II. Andante [Adagio] (Transcr. Stradal)

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Watch pianist Víkingur Ólafsson (“Artist of the Year” at the Gramophone Awards 2019) perform the Andante from Bach's Organ Sonata No. 4, as transcribed for the piano by August Stradal, from his album 'J. S. Bach - Works & Reworks'. The video was directed by Magnús Leifsson.
Víkingur Ólafsson - Bach: Organ Sonata No. 4, BWV 528: II. Andante [Adagio] (Transcr. Stradal)
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#ClassicalMusic #Bach #VíkingurÓlafsson

[@deutschegrammophon]

How do you like Ólafsson 's interpretations of Bach's famous Organ Sonata? Discover more about Ólafsson on our website (find the link in the video description)

[@SteliosKerasidispiano]

Deutsche Grammophon this work is the future of classical music. Everything is so fresh! Amazing video, amazing music, great pianist 🎹❤️! Keep walking guys and change the way we know classical music ❤️👏👏

[@keybawd4023]

DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON does not need you to promote him. In a few years you will need him to promote you. A truly great pianist and musician. He does credit to DG after being contaminated by an ex-nazi conductor

[@keybawd4023]

Vikingur Olafsson doesn't need this cinegraphic shit to accompany his piano playing. In this performance there are wonder after wonder of piano playing and musicianship. Just pay attention to the pedaling. And the trills going downward in an inner line just before the end (all done with the 3rd and 4th finger I presume). Electrifying. A couple of years ago, I heard the first ten minutes of this on a BBC recordings program. I still fall off my chair when I listen to it. PS Dear Magnús Leifsson, my advice is keep your day job. Foret the cine stuff..

[@oleksiimt]

Magnificent play!

[@tiborivan147gmail]

THE sound is wonderful. the approach, timing, dynamics, articulation. To me ideal

[@charlotterose6724]

This is like a prayer that I need to hear daily.

[@samuelakeandworship2159]

Hello ... do not hesitate to subscribe to my youtube channel, I play the piano thank you ...

[@monadsfor_free943]

🙏🌸♥️

[@777rogerf]

A sage said, "The angels pray with Bach, laugh with Mozart, and cry with Beethoven."

[@Mau365PP]

A world without Bach would not be worth it

[@alejandromosquerasouto6614]

Totalmente de acuerdo

[@kathylewis174]

I agree 100%

[@erichodge567]

Christ, what a world Bach is. There is nothing else like him.

[@Nickauboutte]

I have an acquaintance who is a music scholar and he likes to say (tongue in cheek, of course) that there are 5 tiers of composers in the Western world: Bach sits (alone) in tier no.1; there is no one on tier no. 2; Beethoven and Mozart sit on tier no. 3; and most others sit on tier no. 4. Tier no. 5 is for transcribers. Quite over the top, really, but I do agree that Bach is the most important Western composer ever in terms of the influence he's had on those who followed and in terms of the sheer scope and size of his musical production. It is, in itself, an entire universe.

[@Musicienne-DAB1995]

@@Nickauboutte I think your music scholar is on the money!

[@Ksrwilhelm]

Check out Jan Dismas Zelenka. I recommend The Trio Sonatas, Missa Omnium Sanctorum and Missa Divi Xaverii.

[@erichodge567]

@@Nickauboutte , though I agree with you in thinking that your music scholar is a bit over the top on this one, what he or she gets right is that no one will ever dislodge him from the summit of Western music. John Eliot Gardiner has rightly said that Bach, through incredible industry, had achieved "the habit of excellence". I mean, he wrote BWV 4 at age 22, and never looked back. Dear God...

[@kangchenjunga591]

Eric Hodge You are so right - there is nothing like the music of JS Bach!

[@kangchenjunga591]

I will never understand those who dislike the music of JS Bach.

[@rafaelperezrubio5280]

Maybe the ones who don't like his music be used for climate propaganda. Otherwise, I would not understand either.

[@levolvik5231]

What you call climate propaganda is real. Get real, dude!

[@jaikee9477]

It's impossible to dislike Bach. Those who say they dislike Bach are either utterly stupid and ignorant or they are just trying to be special in the most stupid and ignorant way possible.

[@atticustay1]

Rafael Pérez Rubio Climate change is real

[@keplergso8369]

@Janna Maglinao You are right, Bach pieces were considered like exercices, and still are too often. I think that the beauty inside Bach is better feeled when you age. I am lucky, I understood Bach when I was young yet. Fortunately, we can listen to Richter, or Schiff, or to some organists, to see many performers completely in love with Bach.

[@fabian3411]

Inarguably one of the greatest pieces of music ever written.

[@JooDenk]

Johann Sebastian Bach ist Anfang und Ende aller Musik. Ich war 10 Jahre, mein Lehrer sagte, wenn du Bach spielen kannst, dann kann dich nichts überraschen. Jetzt spiele ich Bachs Musik weil es eine ganze Welt ist.

[@martinbleich5342]

Danke ✌️

[@TheVantrap]

Bach's music is about continuation. There are no ends but new beginnings. Beautiful!

[@ClaptonDennis]

beatifully said 😉

[@dongliliu288]

It all about the flow, the change of the tide, never ending spiral of rhythm.

[@rofiahbreen2865]

Your comment throws me back on the section of the story I've been writing. Hope you don't mind my writing it all out here. The narrator is a hoopoe (bird). I couldn't format the three quotations as I wanted to, so have just put them in quotations. What you say is exactly it: everyone's trying to get to the endings, but "There are no ends but new beginnings." Ah ! And just now, us, we hearing Glenn Gould-this time him not just performing but explaining some point about Bach, nay, illustrating it by alternating between speaking and playing the keys of the instrument before which he is sitting-just now are we brought to startle: "By the way, this little gadget upon which I just played that fugue is, in case you are wondering, not exactly a piano and not exactly a harpsicord: it’s a neurotic piano that thinks it’s a harpsicord, and I’m going to close it now because it’s also too noisy." Whereupon he retakes his seat at the odd piano he is at and continues on in explanation of the music he is in the process of discussing: going into how Bach’s contemporaries, including his very sons, were in great disagreement with Bach as to what constituted harmonic thinking. "That same theme, by the way, of the Brandenburg shows, clearly, I think, the great differences in harmonic thinking that existed between Bach and his more progressive colleagues, theme wanders constantly back and forth across the key center axis of D major, which is the key, as it were, and each time we feel a conclusion coming on, something else happens to delay it." (And, us, we absolutely must draw attention to the manner in which Gould composes the above single sentence of his: its musicality, its compositional metrics and estrangement from all common speech-the sustainment of-in the passage we just quoted, the sustained holding-onto the word theme, Gould never losing track of one phoneme of the theme[’s] sound, he catching the word up again twenty-six words later-we have counted them !-his language, his speech so akin-to, so like his playing of Bach; the import of each note, each sound.) "This is the sort of harmonic plan that Bach’s sons wouldn’t have been caught dead adopting. For them the satisfaction of the musical structure was in getting through to the end, in termination and achieving finality. For Bach, it wasn’t finality that mattered to music, not really. It was simply the joyous essence of being." (Ah, yes: always the pressured idea of reaching, of getting to the end that critics criticize one for not getting to. It, nay, enough to drive one mad ! We be most glad that we may be considered as company with him, Bach, the father-not the sons-in what we do, in how we carry out our own work: giving ourself patience in allowing ourself to patiently wend our way through our tale, unregardful of the need to get-on with it, to arrive-at, to conclude.)

[@mozart13able]

Beautiful piece of music and wonderfully interpreted.

[@Stefinitaaa]

Profound

[@izzyci]

I don't think one can live a truly full life without hearing and enjoying Bach's music. Bravo Olafsson

[@organboi]

Be grateful for your hearing abilities then.

[@liveyourbestlife1513]

Some people don't hear anything when they hear Bach...like elevator music. But others hear much more. Amazing how there are such differences between people and what they are capable of appreciating.

[@rayoflight62]

Great...

[@SonicPhonic]

@@liveyourbestlife1513 St. John Passion kzbin.info/www/bejne/aYfNc4uept2gaJI&ab_channel=DWClassicalMusic

[@rs8197-dms]

@@liveyourbestlife1513 For me, there are quite a few good composers, a handful are really good, a few are amazing. And then there is Bach.

[@RalfBehr]

Unglaublich schöne Musik, gespielt von einem grandiosen und einfühlsamen Künstler. Man nur staunend hören und sich still verneigen.

[@EDTIONFUNDUSCARTA-ow7mz]

UND EIN GROSSARTIGES INSTRUMENT ! STEINWAY¬SONS !

[@domberta550]

I am in awe with Olafsson's control of individual notes in a chord, such that he can express the melody out of he overall score. Absolutely amazing!

[@mariucciagaude4530]

It's the same for me.

[@creatorofimages7925]

One of the most difficult things to get right which most people who know how to play the piano even don't know about basically.

[@ArtiomRomanov]

Spent all day listening to this piece over and over again. So clear, imaginative and delicate. Thank you so much.

[@mauritiusdunfagel9473]

The steps to heaven, forever climbing.

[@dimitrivanhoeymissen6571]

Saw it yesterday as an encore in Brussels. Stunning. The entire concert hall was in awe.

[@deutschegrammophon]

lucky you!

[@scarofaggio]

I heard him in Manchester in September. Everyone just seemed to hold their breath. Wonderful

[@Paul1239193]

If they don't play this at my funeral I'm not going.

[@CURSOJOSEMARTI]

🤣🤣🤣

[@beechrad1965]

😂😂 Agree, as I well up with tears.

[@jaikee9477]

"The aim and final purpose of all music shall be none other than the glory of God and the refreshment of the soul" -- Johann Sebastian Bach

[@thomasakerberg6765]

I consider Bach to be a major refreshment of my pitiful soul! And that it should be..

[@wfbane]

Mission accomplished.

[@sizzlinglizzi1345]

I can't remember where this quote comes from but here it is anyway : '' God should be grateful to Bach because the music of Bach proves the existence of God '' .

[@thomasakerberg6765]

@@sizzlinglizzi1345 Nice quote, but it´s not true.

[@sizzlinglizzi1345]

@@thomasakerberg6765 Well it should be !

[@wizardpb]

I could watch this a million times and it would still make me cry like a baby every time. Bach's incomparable genius matched with Vikingur's amazing skill and intelligence. That there is such beauty in the world....

[@yanayrton]

I agree at totum with you ":Bach's incomparable genius matched with Vikingur's amazing skill and intelligence." This is brilliant and definitive! I want to make a special colaboration with this timeless masterpiece : Hi sirs from venerable and indispensable DG Give me the necessary and indispensable; permission to transform your excelent video from this masterpiece the: Organ Sonata No. 4, BWV 528: II. Andante from Bach yn a true movie format 21 9 ratio. I did it for Cliburn org preservering the historical final were Yum cham Lim was the with justice the great winner.of the demanding competion Just watch : "ENHANCED Video&Audio by Yan AYRTON Yunchan Lim’s Rach 3rd Concerto Winner Competition final June2022" Just compare it with the original video provided in 16 9 ratio by the Cliburn org and you easely will understand what I am capable of through technological skill devoted to the Art of Music. Awairing your ansewer I will post this your video today on my channel and you import it here. Sincerely, the young Komponist Yan Ayrton

[@roserschoerrig1125]

Vielen ❤ dank 🙏🔯🕎♾️💟⚛️🛐✡️✡️✝️☮️☯️☪️

[@roserschoerrig1125]

❤

[@roserschoerrig1125]

🙏❤🌹💓❤️🌍🌎☦️🌖🦕🐁🦬🐒🦉🦗🐜🐌🐬🌠🌀🥀🎗️🥴

[@roserschoerrig1125]

🫀👌🙋💃🌻🌻🌹🍀☘️🌫️🌋🌀💫✨🌟⭐🌛🌚🌜🌔🌓🌒🌑🪐🌏🌎🌍🦩🦩🦩🦩🐡🐬🐋🐳🐟🐜🐌🕸️🕷️🕷️🐙🦑🦗🐾🦠🪱🐛🦋🐞🐝🪰🪳🦟🪲🦗

[@jackbennett4575]

I had the privilege of seeing and listening to this piece played by Vikingur Wednesday evening, here in Los Angeles at the WDCH, as his encore. Tears flowed. Transcendence. Beauty. Joy. This man with the music of Bach flowing through him to the world is to experience the ineffable made manifest.

[@nickcastle9201]

Cet arrangement est un pure merveille, un instant de grâce, un moment d'une profondeur, d'une intensité, sans égal. Seul Bach et tous ceux qui par leurs transcriptions l'ont comprit, est capable de générer autant d'émotions. Merci et bravos.

[@elenam5740]

Музыка Баха- это вселенная! Она объединяет людей,она жизнеутверждающа и дает надежду на добро и свет ! Очень понравилось исполнение своей глубиной и мощью звучания! Очень интересное видео, оно завораживает своей необычностью! Благодарю за это наслаждение!

[@borism5057]

One of the most beautiful pieces of music I have ever heard. I had never heard it before, and I am truly touched by it. The highest praise goes to Vikingur for his musicality. This piece makes me feel like people in the video, incredibly moved.. Thank you to everyone involved in creating this gem.

[@tahaouhabi3520]

You haven't heard of it because it was originally written for Organ and the organ repertoire is the most unrecognised in the world of music, now that you have heard this one you may check the other trio sonatas and Bach's complete organ works, he's the greatest to ever exist

[@davehshs651]

@@tahaouhabi3520 More of Bach's great organ pieces should be performed on the piano, or even by an orchestra. Organ music is an acquired taste, and many people don't care for it.

[@tahaouhabi3520]

@@davehshs651 I completely agree, years ago when I started listening to classical/baroque music I obviously liked the piano the violin and then I stumbled upon a Video of Wolfgang Stockmeier's recording of Bach's organ work, the title was bach complete organ works by Wolfgang Stockmeier, couple of minutes into the video I was like "why did nobody tell me about this before" it was like I found my treasure, without exaggeration I think the day I discovered that recording is the best day of my life

[@yanayrton]

Wow You are quite right! Brilliant wise and amazing analisys yours.Bravo for this..Go to my channel in the section } latest videos | posted and see what I done with this Bach short and dense eloquent masterpiece.Pure transcendental. This gem will shinne as never before.All the best for you . Yan Ayrton a young composer from Germany. expressing his technological unique skills to the love to Art.

[@RetreatSyndromeJapan]

I love this performance. Very contemporary, very smooth.

[@christian-andreaspistor2973]

I was listening to Olaffsons "Bach Variationen" last night 10/17/2023 live at the Berlin Philharmonie. Amazing. I feel blessed. It was a magical joyful athmoshere. Addicted to Bach 🎼 🫠🎹 ♥️

[@th2175]

一昨日偶然見つけました。長年バッハを愛し、聴いてきましたがまだこんな美しい演奏が残されていたなんて！何度観たでしょうか、涙が止まりません。美しすぎます！

[@antoniofranciscogarcia1707]

I thought I had already heard all the masterpieces. Where has this been all my life?

[@vilhelmhammershoi3871]

Have you heard Bach's BWV721? it's sublime!

[@olivercalm7020]

I can not thank u as much as u deserved: This brought me back to the piano, after 10 years of absence, after playing and studying piano since I was 6 years old. Now I am 41 and have rediscovered it and it's bringing a lot of joy for my wife and me (and hopefully for the neighbours, though practising isnt always a joy to hear😅) Thank you, Mr. Ólafsson!!

[@carmenaballi]

Sigue estudiando y siempre disfrutando con cada nota.

[@roisin252]

What a lovely story... from one pianist to another

[@charlottegibbs8950]

This video captures completely my feeling, listening to this piece. It pulls you into an awakening. It draws out the heart and challenges it to beat along.

[@royneumannpiano920]

the beginning and the end of all music, that is what bach is ...

[@vikingurolafsson]

Thank you for listening ❤

[@travelcoffee1]

You are playing unbelievable with your heart. Thank you for this extraordinary interpretation.

[@Nofurtherquestions]

So beautiful 😍

[@Emilia1219-8]

Maravilla!! Gracias!!

[@チェヒョンジュ]

아이슬란드의 자연도 아름답고, 바흐의 음악도 아름답고, Vikingur의 연주도 아름답다.. All is perfact!!!👍👍👍

[@sellaminabil37]

How it’s possible a music which have 300 years seems still modern ? Bach is a wizard which travel the times

[@lovemovement8808]

masterfully done! I don't think I've heard anyone that has a touch like this young man does. He gets so many different tone colors at the same time he controls the dynamics even for each individual voice and brings it all together. He takes such a great approach to the music and he's not copying anyone. He's like a new comment on Bach which is really nice to have in spite of the fact that I am already happy with what we have. I think it means that Bach wonders will never cease.

[@Deotex833]

Warning: The more you listen to Bach, the less satisfying popular music is going to be.

[@lordharry9608]

100% true.

[@guyf3115]

100% untrue. This interpretation of Bach is very close to mainstream pop music to me. Which is just perfect.

[@ddsk92]

absolutely. 100% true

[@albertward9601]

Absolutely agree!!

[@jean-philippe-devise]

How true.

[@IanHob29]

Every time I hear him play this movement, I can't turn it off. The accompanying "music video" is a bit odd but extremely apropos for the strange world we find ourselves living in today, living in New Jersey, USA we have been on lockdown for over a week with no end in the near future. It is almost as if these people in the video have been shuttered inside for days, months even. And now they are free to walk outside and actually SEE the new world around them... I probably am making too much out of it BUT this is most certainly worth 5 1/2 minutes of your day. Listen, reflect, relax, and let Bach do what he does best; connect us to some higher being.

[@nadiakarenechevarriaartega5421]

Ian Hoblitzell I am completely agree with you, Bach had linked us with our soul.

[@displaychicken]

I’m addicted to this movement also. It just blows me away. Greetings from Saskatchewan Canada, stay safe!

[@militaryandemergencyservic3286]

would be better with the Bach-Marcello adagio for harpsichord concerto (but just the piano solo version)

[@markbell9973]

@@displaychicken Vive le Seskatchewan libre! (Omg. Vivent mes USA libres! I hope against hope I/we can walk out our door some fine Monday morning, free as Iceland to renew ourselves and rebuild what already has been destroyed. Bach is my witness!!

[@Phil72099]

I keep listening to this recording and others he has done. Deutsche Grammaphone is making interesting recordings of him.

[@MrFrancoMex]

Once again proof that Bach is the greatest composer that ever lived. I had never heard of these organ pieces transcribed for piano. I have once commented here on a glorious cantata sung by die Bach Stiftung from Switzerland. And now these transcriptions. The glory of his music is endless and timeless!

[@dkkim3761]

this music transcends time. Bach is alive in his music.

[@digital-classics]

One of the most powerful, beautiful things I've heard in a long time. It reminds me what great music does: it brings us together. And the question isn't why do we love music, but why does it love us? Who can fail to feel this emotion here, be overwhelmed by it even, as i feel so privileged to be.

[@roselleangwin8755]

What a very beautiful transcription, and Olafsson's performance is maginificent.

[@mhssknk-qs9cq]

I've been listening to it for years now, but I can't forget the shock I felt when I first heard it. I was reminded of the greatness of Bach along with his wonderful performance.

[@sutherndudetx]

Like moths to a flame, the profound beauty of the music of J S Bach mesmerizes all

[@rebeccafield6121]

Addicted to Bach. His music says everything I want to say but can't put into words 💛

[@paulfaigl8329]

What incredible music! Thank you God for giving us Bach.🙏🙂🙏

[@erazohar6731]

Les œuvres de Bach sont une expression de l'âme, une représentation de ce que l'espèce humaine peut créer de plus absolu, une résonance dans l'éternité.

[@lobarredaoli2115]

WOW coincido con usted!!!👏👏👏

[@zimnaya]

Touched by God....there is nothing more than Bach before you reach the divine. This interpretation by Vikingur is magisterial and marvellous...building and building, lifting higher and higher…

[@RochonPiano]

He played this as an Encore last night - October 12, 2022 - in Montréal after the Ravel concerto with the MSO. I must admit i cried. Something at the tip of his fingers...it's music. Thank you M. Olafsson.

[@blueraj3]

La grandezza di un musicista si vede da come suona Bach... Bravo ragazzo! Non fermarti mai!! Ascoltarti é essere un attimo in Paradiso..💜

[@bayamonpr8383]

When the universe whispers in your ear and you just take notes

[@Bitholeous]

exactly

[@paranguaricutirimicuaro]

Dude, that's, with words, the feeling I got -and I get- the first time I heard this piece, thank you!

[@seraphim95]

Nothing created could inspire such music, this could solely come from the Uncreated.

[@ЕленаЛушкина-н8у]

Очень Люблю Баха, и очень давно... Вашу композицию слушаю довольно часто,и не по разу за день, и не могу наслушаться... Как то так. 10 00 Благодарностей от всей Души!!! 🤩🤩🤩❤️❤️❤️👍👍👍🌹🌹🌹😇😇😇👋👋👋

[@fredwallinder3543]

It was a shock when I first heard it, nobody had expressed the emotions in Bach like this on a piano before. I got the score directly, and gave up since it's too difficult with all the three voices. This pianist is a wonder.

[@BGJ236]

Gould

[@FighterFred]

That interpretation is for the history books, unmatched. Father Bach lifts us up from darkness and depression, thanks for this video.

[@staffanolofsson8201]

Lovely playing by Vikingur! His hands are so soft on the keys, like the morning sun kissing the flowers.

[@shihjanhsiao8883]

I would listen to the piece at the end of the world.

[@metteholm4833]

I have seen this before: sentences of the music symbolized by humans in motion. VERY emotional! Strong stuff! Bach speaking to mankind!

[@awlonghurst]

I heard this on BBC Radio 4's Front Row and it's absolutely sublime. So beautiful.

[@stevebayliss6812]

Me too - it brought tears to my eyes. I just had to hear him play it again.

[@hilarymarchant4537]

@@stevebayliss6812 Same here too. Very glad I caught that particular Front Row, and this gets even better with further listening.

[@margietunbridge6394]

@@hilarymarchant4537 That's how I came to it, and have listened many times to it since the broadcast. Sublime.

[@Draw_the_music]

people who are driven by the soul-ringing sound The melody of the organ sonata is so beautiful

[@josephschapira8513]

Vikingur Òlafsson interpretation of this wonderful organ sonata is probably the best one I ever heard

[@originunknown3209]

Absolute pure class!!! The video invokes a beckoning for Bach’s music! The music from Bach is other worldly, and as ever, from the greatest achievement in the history of music, his music injects total paralysis, only the eyelids are allowed to close to help absorb those profound notes! 😊😊😊😊😊

[@ОксанаЧернова-у7ц]

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@davidpescod7573]

I’ve listened to a number of performances of Víkingur Ólafsson playing the wonderful piano transcription by Stradal of the Andante from Bach’s Organ Sonata No 4, BWV 528. This one I find intensely moving at many levels. Víkingur’s playing is perfect and he brings out the various voices so very well. I cannot identify the piano, not Steinway, but it is so well suited for this piece, the base register has a wonderful quality. This is definitely one of those times when I love the transcription better than the organ original! This small piece, in addition to the outstanding quality of the playing, is so filled with beauty and emotion that set against the video can reduce me to tears. Truly a deeply moving experience. Many thanks Víkingur

[@kiss6917]

0:55 to 1:05 how does he bring out that tenor voice here? So thoughtfully played, and the grand piano really shining through

[@ezekielbrockmann114]

Whomever mic'd and mixed this recording: WELL DONE!

[@blaspayri7722]

absolutely ... what a beautiful sound ... I suppose the image we see in the video has been synchronized in post .... as it is impossible to have this sound in this building and conditions... very good video work also

[@limonada404]

Producer, Studio Personnel, Recording Engineer, Editor, Mastering Engineer: Christopher Tarnow

[@rantingcullinarian]

Well, they're a record label. So, they better know how to, you know, record. But quite right, very well produced.

[@tombombadyl4535]

Does anyone know what piano was used? Or the type of mics?

[@Gringle_]

seems a little hot to me

[@stevenschilizzi4104]

Víkingur Ólafsson has total control of his instrument and of the spirit with which Bach wrote this piece. It is an absolutely amazing performance. Ég er sannarlega hrifinn af hæfileikum þínum, Víkingur. Ísland, svo lítið land með svo mikla hæfileika! Kveðja af Ástralíu.

[@KeepingOnTheWatch]

The music and the video - the beauty of it - I had chills down my spine.

[@emilalbazi8691]

The master of Baroque ,Classic and Romantic ,all together. BACH THE GREAT

[@maninblack2898]

Bach can do anything.

[@chrissiedyson21]

Heard this for the first time yesterday evening when he played this for his encore at The Proms. Absolutely extraordinary, have played it 7 times already.

[@keithwilkinson7761]

I also heard this for the first time when listening to the Prom. At first, I couldn't believe it was Bach it felt so modern. I've listened to this recording and also again to the live performance on BBC Sounds and I think the live performance surpasses this recording. If it's still available, try to catch the live version.

[@pippawall1875]

@@keithwilkinson7761 I made a DVD of the prom concert. I got a copy of the sheet music for this piece but I'm going to have to get help with the fingering. I don't care how many months practice it takes, I am determined to be eable to enjoy playing it.

[@keithwilkinson7761]

@@pippawall1875 Good luck with this. Further to my earlier post, I find someone has had the foresight to post a video of the live Proms performance here, kzbin.info/www/bejne/rWG4m6Oveph-fa8. Compare the two and see if you agree with me that the live performace is better than the recorded one.

[@pippawall1875]

@@keithwilkinson7761 I've now compared the 2 videos and the recording on the CD I just bought, and I do much prefer the Proms version. It was just one of those moments and performances that has something extra.

[@yangamber5526]

companied by this piece on this lonely Christmas. Thanks.

[@John-kd4ef]

Christmas does not have to be lonely, especially if you have Jesus Christ in your heart and you have a sincere, profound relationship with Him. There is never a need to be lonely if you have Him for a friend and a Savior. He goes wherever you go and whenever you go. He lives with you here on earth and into eternity with you if you accept Him as you Lord and Savior. God's free gift or salvation, eternal life, and forgiveness of sin is rejected by so many people who just do not know the joy of accepting Jesus as the best friend that they will ever have. So sad, so unnecessary.

[@chienvu6482]

God’s gift to man is from age to age echoing. Divine indeed.

[@maximeperrin4882]

This is the power of music. Unites people.

[@mbegaliful]

True. However, they already share everything at the beginning of the video: appearances, cloths, houses. In my opinion, this obfuscates a little bit the concept of the video. Don't you think so?

[@WoodymC]

Yes, "unification" is the word. Mission accomplished: kzbin.info/www/bejne/onawd6CnnqyYiLs

[@FranciscoKoller]

Beautiful song and beautiful movie. Great Ólafsson and great, great Bach.

[@deutschegrammophon]

Glad you like it!

[@miklosgotzy5095]

For me the video is about a chain of inspiration. Bach inspired Stradal, his understanding inspired you to perform the way you played it on the piano, you inspired Magnús to picture it in a perfect way. All came together becoming heavenly, and that makes the people moving towards you playing the piano in the video.

[@gijsschubert7901]

Miklós Gótzy, I couldn’t agree more! It has become a favourite piece for me and I am studying it now. Trying to play it together with Vikingur on the stereo is very tough, but a great inspiration! 👍

[@matthewjacot6065]

A spirit more than a song. Shadows of sound, where the divine abounds. Breathtaking.

[@潘裕霖-f8g]

Bach is the the music of god, and Ólafsson made a good interpretation

[@ruedigerws8191]

So beautiful. You can listen to it over and over again

[@janabaumgartner3015]

SIMPLISMENTE DIVINO! GRATIDÃO PARA SEMPRE A BACH!

[@prophetofwellbeing]

The dead speed forth out of their sepulchers at the sublime tones of the wondrious melody.

[@ЛюдмилаГорячкина-о8к]

Магическое воздействие музыки Великих композиторов на умы людей.

[@NimrodTargaryen]

SIMPLY AMAZING... STRADAL AND OLAFSSON are incredible

[@zubin8010]

My favorite parts are from 3:06 to 3:33 and from 3:58 to 4:20 ... it may be simple, harmonically (climbing up the circle of fifths), but in this case the simplicity is very powerful. I think that perhaps the classical music community overvalues complexity in musical structure. Often, simplicity is much more appealing.

[@psychoLV]

Same as in all other things in life! ❤️ Simplicity is the key.

[@jaikee9477]

Bach creates a whole universe of harmonic complexity from the simplest idea. That's the point.

[@toohuman2]

The piece feels like steadily approaching a profound destination, and I really enjoyed how the music video played with that element.

[@gijsschubert7901]

I study this piece, and thought that Vikingur was cheating by a double recording of bar 38-40, starting at 4:18. But no! He plays these prolonged 1/64 notes together with the 1/16 melody with the same hand, excellent! He makes it look so easy.... A great performance of a great pianist

[@paulmetdebbie447]

I don't think these are thrills. He plays a 64th emulation of the organ score thrills but it sounds like a doubling of the 32th figure to me.

[@gijsschubert7901]

Indeed Paul, these are 1/64 notes, which are tricky to play with the same hand as the melody in 1/16 notes 😳🤯

[@piafou63]

@@gijsschubert7901 and Paul I'm working on this piece right now and I was wondering what Vikingur had changed there. As a French woman, it's difficult for me to understand what you mean by "it sounds like a doubling of the 32th figure" and by "these are 1/64 notes, which are tricky to play with the same hand as the melody in 1/16 notes", because I'm not familiar with english terms in music. Is there any way you can make me understand ? I only know the usual english words "semiquaver" or "thirty-second note"... Thank you very much if you can take some time to answer me...

[@nickkenyon1330]

@@piafou63 Very interesting comments. So what he does is to add that rapid inner part at the moment of the piece's climax. It echoes the organ version's trills, but is not in the transcription, just a moment of pure inspiration.

[@carmenaballi]

Bach siempre es difícil… pero tan inagotable!

[@renovatio-um9sd]

バッハを聞いて育ち、バッハの曲に救われてきました。そしてまだ、こんな美しい旋律があったとは。

[@МаринаЛитвиненко-о2з]

Бах - это на все времена. Благодарю Вас !

[@azerbaijan8007]

Thank you so much !Kisses from Azerbaijan!

[@masakoikeda1710]

バッハの信仰　深遠な世界　澄んだ音に息をのんだ　何度も聴き入った　素晴らしい

[@JohannSebastianWainwright]

This is like listening to the universe speak to itself.

[@edimuca]

The beauty of the video, the color treatment, corresponds perfectly to the intention of the piece.

[@pabloalcarazrad]

For those who are studying the piece, at the end, Ólafsson follows Bach's organ sheet, playing trills (plus some notes) over the bass melody. Stradal did not write them in his arrangement, according to the IMSLP sheet.

[@ursula6963]

Gebannt und ergriffen lausche ich der x-ten Wiederholung und werde innerlich ganz still. Dankedankedanke. ♥️

[@trevpr1]

This may be the best Bach I've ever heard. And I've heard a lot.

[@musim3080]

비킹구르 올라프손의 피아노 연주는 차가우면서 시원한 폭포, 금속, 유리와 같은 재질의 느낌이 들게 해준다. 소리에서 강철의 재질이 느껴진다❤️

[@henryhsseo]

thanks for beautiful music and video. I see me and you walking in a barren world, drawn into the music, standing in awe

[@polisticaluz4751]

Mr. Víkingur a genius of XXI Century.

[@хоренмискарян]

Աստվածային, շնորհակալություն

[@daliokaya9355]

Потрясающее исполнение! Очень глубокое размышление без напущенных эмоций. Думаю Баху бы очень понравилось.

[@jay-eg3cx]

My goodness is this ever beautiful.

[@jeanpierreledu9446]

Coeli enarant gloriam Dei. Les cieux racontent la gloire de Dieu. Ce mouvement introductif de cantate, devenu 1er mvt de la 4éme sonate en trio, sonne magnifiquement sous vos doigts au piano. Le crescendo nous entraine. Il est impressionnant. Demain je l’emporte pour mes vacances bretonnes. Merci. Bonjour

[@cornenho]

Simply MESMERIZING

[@glac6010]

Un cadeau du ciel que ce Bach! Et quelle interprétation qui donne ses bienfaits sur l'âme... Merci....

[@karenseymour10]

Absolutely mesmerising. I bless the day I stumbled across Víkingur Ólafsson and his version of the J S Bach Goldberg Variations, which encouraged me to explore his other albums. So much wonderful music! Bravissimo! 🎉❤

[@福Fukufuji藤]

世界には、まだまだ私などが知る由もない素晴らしい演奏家がたくさんいる。バッハのイメージも変わる、音楽への認識を新たにするタイミングかもしれない。