Hopkinson Smith: J. S. Bach, Violin partita nº2 - BWV 1004

[@deppeownin4339]

I LOVE this! Brilliant! Genius! Incredible technique! Thank you for posting!

[@jorgeurzuaurzua4011]

The second sonata and partita for violin by JS Bach is, no question, one of the best known pieces for violin in the history of music. The Chaconne has been, not only famous, but reputed as a threshold for the evaluation of instrument mastery. It was difficult for me to accept that the Chaconne could be played in any instrument except the violin. The legato essence of the violin and the flexibility it offered to play several stops at once and play various simultaneous melodies in a single instrument belonged to the violin. And then I heard this heretic version played by Hopkinson Smith in the lute. The lute is a very difficult, rather rigid, instrument. Its sound is lovely but not appropriate for acrobatics. Then I knew thet JS Bach himself had written transcriptions for the lute. I humbly admit that I was wrong. The plucked technique of the lute (or guitar) competes successfully with the legato sound of the violin, when played with the virtuosity of Smith. Thanks for posting.

[@jean-yvesPrax]

Very nice and thorough comment Jorge. I work this partita and specially the chaconne on archilute for months now, and I can confirm all what you say : first this music brings such deep emotions, speaking about death & redemption, that it haunts you, days and nights... second, it is so so technically demanding ! third, coming to the comparison in between violin and lute, I confirm that violin is far more agile, legato and expressive in triple crotchets (semi quavers ?) notes, but lute, as a polyphonic instrument, is very beautiful especially in the second part of the chaconne, in D major, at 23:05 ; Bach has written several suites for the lute (BWV 995, 996, 997, and fugua 1000a) that are all beautiful as well, but we know that Bach DID NOT played lute : either he transcribed suites for cello, or he composed it "lute like" on a very weird keyboard instrument, a LAUTENWERK... as a result, the music is almost unplayable on lute ;-)... And, last but not least, Yes, Hopkinson Smith is definitively one of the most brillant lutenist of our time - lucky we are

[@jorgeurzuaurzua4011]

@@jean-yvesPrax Many thanks for your kind answer. It is a privilege to learn more about music and its many pleasures and mysteries. Bonne chance et bien merci.

[@voxhunden]

I have rarely heard a recording of Bach's Chaconne more convincing than this one.