J. S. Bach, Allegro in A minor, BWV 1003 | Heather DeRome, Guitar

Arranged by Frank Koonce and Heather DeRome. Score is available at www.SonatasAndPartitas.com
You may have guessed from the videos, parts one, two, three, and four (!) about articulation in Early Music, that this is a topic I feel passionate about. The fact is that I am a little jealous of violin players and their centuries of pedagogy, especially with regard to the use of the bow. I have been told more than once that “We play the guitar not the violin,” but I feel convinced that there has got to be a way for us, as guitarists, to tap into some of the violin’s expertise, and use it as a springboard for interpretations of Bach on the guitar that sound natural and that have a real richness insofar as the articulation.
I think the Allegro BWV 1003 lends itself very well to this because Bach’s slurs are so inventive (and fun!) and also because the left-hand fingerings in our edition of the Sonatas and Partitas allow for the articulation to happen in and of itself. Frank Koonce also gave me some great suggestions for the right-hand fingerings; see the closeups!

[@andrewtucr]

What I appreciate the most about this performance is the fact that you are not performing with your body language. By that, I mean that you are not pretending to be lost in the sound as quite a few guitarists do. Instead, your body language conveys that you're focused on what you're doing. This is how I conceive of the quality of being 'in the moment'. The former is a vain simulation of the latter in my opinion.

[@sonatasandpartitas]

Thank you. That is also one thing I admire in my favourite guitarists.

[@oriraykai3610]

A lot of subjective judgement going on there to reach that conclusion, based on watching not listening. 🙄

[@sonatasandpartitas]

Just want to thank you all for your kind and enthusiastic comments. They keep me making new videos!

[@michaelmckinney7240]

The warmth, and tonal clarity of this lovely woman's playing is a sheer delight to experience and I apologize for not knowing her name but she's magnificent. BRAVO!

[@sonatasandpartitas]

Thank you! My name is Heather DeRome. point taken, I'll add that!

[@johannkinting445]

mein Gott, die Bescheidenheit, mit der Sie dieses inspirierende Stück vortragen, und das auf einer so großartig gefertigten Gitarre … beeindruckend. Danke, dass Sie Ihre Musik mit uns teilen.

[@sonatasandpartitas]

Vielen Dank

[@MonicaSantosdeOliveira-ev3sf]

What a beautiful performance. Not only clean sound and technique, but mainly a very authentic musicianship. I love how much commitment from this woman comes out as the moving force behind being able to succesfully bringing music to the world. Cheers

[@sonatasandpartitas]

Many thanks , Monica.

[@StormyHoneyBunchSpank130InJail]

Masterful performance. I like how the right hand constantly moves parallelly to the strings to find the right voice timbre.

[@sonatasandpartitas]

Many thanks.

[@robertcostagliola3741]

That was wonderful!!! I love this piece!!! Beautiful guitar too!!

[@GladyMeCreativity]

Truly wonderful performance, guitar tone, and recording!

[@sonatasandpartitas]

Thank you very much

[@SpaceCattttt]

Very nice, Heather! You've got such a light touch and gentle feel. It sounds like a child skipping along.

[@sonatasandpartitas]

Thanks SpaceCattt! I saw this a few months ago and the reply button was not working. I appreciate your comment because when I was learning this, I was thinking of it in terms of Allegro meaning "joyfully" or "happily", rather than the meaning we often currently give it, i.e., "fast". So you picked up on the exact mood I was trying to create. Like a sense of abandon.

[@tsoraat1467]

the handwork is so fantastic in harmony both hands

[@franzenmusic]

Glorious! Your tone and dynamic control really brings this music alive! Thanks so much for sharing your artistry, Heather. ❤

[@sonatasandpartitas]

Thanks David. Much appreciated!

[@robertthomson4607]

Brilliant playing. Such complex, fast-moving music.

[@stanleystuart8945]

Beautiful just like you

[@maggiekalve-guzzi7988]

wow Heather what a gift!

[@zsombi7066]

I love your right hand technique! :O

[@sonatasandpartitas]

Thank you! This piece really improved my right hand technique!

[@Alwayssomuchfun]

So beautiful.

[@LeonardoRozasVillegas]

Bravo! 👏🏼 👏🏼 👏🏼

[@sonatasandpartitas]

Thank you!

[@howardmaynard9110]

Unbelievably amazing... Thank you... So much...

[@sonatasandpartitas]

You are very welcome!

[@guitarserenade]

Excellent playing and most excellent arrangement! Congratulations!

[@sonatasandpartitas]

Thanks!

[@alenlepirica7304]

Bravo! Beautifull playing Allegro in A minor, BWV 1003 on guitar!

[@sonatasandpartitas]

Thank you!

[@alenlepirica7304]

MY pleasure

[@wr7804]

Beautiful interpretation!!! Marvelous technique.

[@sonatasandpartitas]

Thank you!

[@tsoraat1467]

sie ist so richtig richtig gut!

[@sonatasandpartitas]

Danke!

[@BTB25647]

I held my breath during the whole performance....Bravo !!

[@sonatasandpartitas]

LOL, I tried not to!!

[@daneberhardt2718]

Well done!

[@davidhayes7596]

Wow! You have paid the price to perform this so eloquently. I hope you enjoy the fruit of your labor as much as we can. God bless you and thank you.

[@sonatasandpartitas]

Thank you very much. Blessings to you also.

[@globalonemusic2381]

Heather: Give me a month and I could not think of enough nice things to say about your performance. :) Exquisite. :) Antoine

[@sonatasandpartitas]

Thanks so much. That was such a nice thing to say!

[@jerrykosak]

Excellent! You bring wonderful tones from the guitar and the arrangement is fabulous.

[@sonatasandpartitas]

Thank you!

[@justinludeman8424]

Love this - tasto to ponticello movemet of the right hand gives multidimensional depth 👌🏼. This will definitely inform and improve my own interpretation henceforth 🙏🏼.

[@sonatasandpartitas]

Normally guitarists play ponticello for the louder parts, and tasto for the quiet parts, because you can grab the strings harder near the bridge and so it feels like you are playing louder. I sometimes like to reverse that, because generally a nice round sound will carry farther and also a loud tinny sound is not so pretty. But the quiet ponticello sound reminds me of the "alternate" quiet keyboard on the double manual harpsichord.

[@rosmelmusicfactory6659]

Great! 🖐️

[@sonatasandpartitas]

Thank you!

[@valentinfernandez2951]

Que increible ! Estoy muy impresionado

[@josemotta9560]

Amazing.

[@sonatasandpartitas]

Thank you🙂

[@superhacker35]

What a unique way to play this piece it sounds great

[@sonatasandpartitas]

Thanks superhacker35!

[@jamesfisher5864]

Superb 🙏🏻 So Beautiful 🎶🎶

[@jamesfisher5864]

Best wishes from UK

[@Ashly178]

Amazing Playing.. Absolutely flawless, You Are NOT referring to notes~ woow!!!🥰

[@ronhansen3161]

ah yes, a master playing THE MASTER! Very impressive to say the least..........you should have a million views and thumbs up!

[@sonatasandpartitas]

Many thanks :)

[@andreamalaguti64]

Grande maestria tecnica e meravigliosa espressione artistica!

[@sonatasandpartitas]

Graxie mille

[@elbelnini]

lovely! fresh and unique

[@sonatasandpartitas]

Thank you!

[@larryoneal9944]

Thank you. It's beautiful!

[@sonatasandpartitas]

Many thanks.

[@crazydavey2]

Respect!

[@sonatasandpartitas]

Thank you Crazy Davey!

[@emefcue]

wonderful performance! I'm glad to have found your channel.

[@sonatasandpartitas]

Thank you!

[@martinevensen406]

Great

[@sonatasandpartitas]

Thank you

[@OutsideOfTheBox-wz7zh]

WOW. Beautiful. 💜

[@jainenergy9868]

It is so beautiful... I really admire your guitar playing. Thank you for uploading it. (from south korea)

[@sonatasandpartitas]

Thanks for saying so. Best wishes from Canada.

[@marcweber4599]

Lovely performance! As always, you give so much inspiration. Both your videos and the books have really helped my playing. I am forever grateful.

[@sonatasandpartitas]

Oh thanks Marc! That is so nice to hear. Wishing you the very best.

[@somedutchguy9184]

This was more than impressive, thank you

[@giuseppelacorte4822]

Quanta grazia, complimenti

[@sonatasandpartitas]

Thank you! Merci, Gracias!

[@constantepereira3531]

Gostei

[@tomasericsson8720]

👏What a wonderful Bach piece and performance! I love your tone since it has clarity but still not too sharp. You've got another subscriber now. 😎

[@sonatasandpartitas]

Thanks! I listened to your playing and you have a really warm sound. Super nice.

[@Josh.Vanjani]

@@sonatasandpartitas Tomas shared this video with me. A clear and concise Bach interpretation; bravo! 👏

[@sonatasandpartitas]

@@Josh.Vanjani Thank you!

[@M1736]

Suena perfecto la guitarra y tocas excelente sublime bellísimo

[@sonatasandpartitas]

Gracias!

[@Sevenstrings-classical-guitar]

Marvelous performance 🙏👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@sonatasandpartitas]

Thank you. What is your 7th string tuned to?

[@Sevenstrings-classical-guitar]

Dear Heather , I’m used to tune it to B. But I also tune in Bb or C o C# or tune it to A. It gives a great freedom expanding our harmonic possibilities. Kind regards. 👋

[@andresimony1634]

Beautiful, elegant and intelligent playing! Well done! 👍👏👏👏

[@sonatasandpartitas]

Thanks André. I recently uploaded the Andante that goes with this Allegro kzbin.info/www/bejne/iaDJdpyQoKtpers All good wishes!

[@andresimony1634]

@@sonatasandpartitas Yess! Amazing! 👏👏👏

[@sonatasandpartitas]

@@andresimony1634 Your playing is really nice also. I enjoyed listening on your channel. I like the sound of your guitar; it sounds like an older instrument. Very warm.

[@aaronwilliams1503]

Tearing it up and slowly banging your head to...what you know...is classic heavy metal

[@sonatasandpartitas]

😂 Lol. I'll take that as a compliment.

[@aaronwilliams1503]

@@sonatasandpartitas as it was meant to be

[@doctorshawzy6477]

Lovely sounding instrument

[@sonatasandpartitas]

Thank you

[@franzenmusic]

Excellent musicianship. You play from the heart. New fan. ❤

[@sonatasandpartitas]

Thank you. I do love this music.

[@franzenmusic]

@@sonatasandpartitas I have recorded a bit of the Sonatas and Partitas. I'm impressed with your musicality.

[@amygaudia]

I really enjoyed your performance. And your guitar sounds great. Is it a Marcus Dominelli? He built mine and I love it. Thanks for the great videos

[@sonatasandpartitas]

Thanks. Yes I play a Dominelli guitar. I love it also. Beautiful sound and really nice on the hands.

[@ArturoPotito-sd4rq]

Bravissima tris grazie

[@sonatasandpartitas]

grazie

[@sasankh.6298]

perfecttt mam .... 👋

[@sonatasandpartitas]

Thank you!

[@petermorrison957]

Lovely

[@sonatasandpartitas]

Thanks

[@CanadianDivergent]

very nice!

[@sonatasandpartitas]

Thanks from Vancouver Island.

[@catherinecopp962]

I love all the different tonalities you bring out especially in the call and reply (not sure what the term is for that)

[@sonatasandpartitas]

Thanks. The term for the call and reply is "echo". I read something recently, a letter written when "echos" were new in music and someone was praising the player for being so virtuosic he could actually play echoes. 🙂

[@SixStringSteve]

🤘

[@crediama]

Ottima esecuzione

[@fabiobartoloni]

👏👏👏👏

[@tsoraat1467]

grossartig

[@sonatasandpartitas]

Thank you!

[@johnylopez]

What a beautiful composition, but if Bach played the lute, how did they transfer to the guitar?

[@somedutchguy9184]

😮

[@sonatasandpartitas]

😉

[@draganjovanovic2486]

Božanstva je ..pokušavam da je skinem na girari😅

[@sonatasandpartitas]

Thank you Hvala vam

[@somedutchguy9184]

It sounds to me you can play some Flamenco as well and added it

[@harmmartens929]

i like it more without basses

[@sonatasandpartitas]

I can see that!

[@maryamsaidi8513]

You are definitely not a narcissistic musician the guitar seems more important than you ❤😊

[@sonatasandpartitas]

Lol. Thanks🙂

[@josephhenry4725]

Just a mash of notes ..not bach

[@mattt5006]

Can’t to hear your version on your kid piano.

[@josephhenry4725]

@@mattt5006 Sorry for any offence , should have said nothing . Forgive an old man who has played for more than half a century and still struggles with it despite arthritis in both hands.BRgds

[@josephhenry4725]

​@@mattt5006YOU KNOW

[@josephbehrmann4159]

Very squeaky left hand. It would improve if you lift your fingers off vertically. Listen to some of the Chinese girls play to hear the difference. Otherwise, a nice interpretation. Thanks for sharing.

[@gilbertwalker3222]

It was very a musical performance and that’s the main objective, I’d rather hear fingerings/positions that offer line integrity and colour over a few squeaks. Too many guitarists ruin interpretations by trying to avoid them, dare to dare at all. Sure, she could lift her fingers vertically when releasing with the left hand more often, however sometimes that just isn’t mechanically possible. She’s not going for the safe options in this interpretation and that’s refreshing.

[@carlosmanueldiaz531]

Thanks for your gift and effort, fantastic election for your thechnique and maxim use, congratulations

[@vayasaberlo8]

There is no comparison, music is not a sport. 😮