J.S. Bach Violin Partita no. 3 in E Major Preludio - Solo Cittern

Prelude of J.S Bach's Violin Partita no. 3 in E major - BWV 1006
Check out my studio recording of this: open.spotify.c...
Played on my large cittern build by Mats Nordwall
(10-string mandola/octave mandolin/bouzouki - dear child has many names)

[@ianbatty3947]

hot damn!!!!! (sorry) did he just do some kind of hammer on/off at about 2:00? Awesome. *I* reckon Bach created a beautiful piece of cloth that an expert can fashion into any kind of garment. ...wish I could put it better, really 🙂 and bell tones at the end? umm...... Wow. Just wow.

[@VilladsHoffmann]

Thanks a lot for the very kind words Ian! Happy to hear that you like it. Yes, i do some hammer/pull-off ornaments at the mentioned place. A lot of the ornamenation that I do is inspired by nordic folk music, which I also play a lot of. So I like to put a folky touch on the baroque music. ☺

[@deltonhedges9476]

Wonderful. Where could I find written music for cittern, please?

[@VilladsHoffmann]

Thanks a lot! I am not sure if there's a lot of sheet music for cittern. I transcribed this myself from the original violin partita and did the fingerings myself. But if you are interested in more cittern music, you can check out my solo album open.spotify.com/album/6VOKfwK7CEyWISxiUsHWld?si=Pzn6clMiSzWhG4eI1idlRg or my trio Stundom: open.spotify.com/artist/4Cp4SR2SzIHbNvC25Zxk2b?si=2GXJJrf7T6OWKro0VbEpeg

[@antonlindstrom8373]

Aggresively clean!

[@VilladsHoffmann]

Thanks a lot!!

[@Radek24102410]

My god , beautiful :) :) :)

[@VilladsHoffmann]

Thanks a lot! I am happy that you like it

[@Legertymusic]

This is fantastic! You make Bach sound like he wrote specifically for cittern. Bravo!

[@VilladsHoffmann]

Thanks a lot! It was quite tricky to get it to work on this instrument, so it is really nice to hear 🙏

[@ianbatty3947]

I think that he left behind music at once so perfect and so abstract that any devoted musician can rediscover it and make it new. ummm... the strum at 1:59 kind'a proves my argument 🙂

[@ianbatty3947]

err.... did I hear a "hammer on* - pretty sure Bach had not thought of that when he wrote the original for violin - nearest you can get there is a pizzicato

[@JacobHeadMusic]

This sounds fantastic! As a violin/mandolin/octave player, this tuning would give me fits, but I love how it resonates with this piece. Now I need a cittern!

[@VilladsHoffmann]

Thanks a lot Jacob! :D And great if it inspires you to play the cittern.

[@FS.2772.guitar]

damn, this is cleaner than my house. true master

[@VilladsHoffmann]

hehe, thanks a lot! That is really nice to hear! 🙏🙏

[@patrickconlon6039]

Fantastic playing; this is such an intricate piece and you played it so well. The tone is exquisite!

[@VilladsHoffmann]

Thanks a lot Patrick! I really appreciate to hear to you like my version of it :-)

[@davidhorkan1868]

A master;piece. And all played by ear!

[@VilladsHoffmann]

Thanks a lot! 🙏🙏

[@thinkpad20]

Wow that was absolutely fabulous, it's such a joyful piece and that really shines through in your performance. Not easy to do when it's so challenging from a technical point of view! Great job.

[@VilladsHoffmann]

Thanks a lot! It was definitely a challenge to get it to work technically. I am happy to hear that you enjoy it!

[@eamondaly6869]

Superb! Bravo!

[@VilladsHoffmann]

Thanks a lot! I'm really happy that you like it!

[@ashtreegarden5079]

This piece made me really smile, I liked it a lot, thank you! (I also like your flat, especially that seaweed inspired christmas decoration thingy...)

[@VilladsHoffmann]

Thanks a lot ! I am so pleased to hear that. 😊 I also really liked the kitchen in that apartment. I unfortunately don't live there anymore.

[@nathanhill4599]

So brilliant, thank you.

[@VilladsHoffmann]

Thanks a lot ! 🤍

[@michaelg.3351]

I rarely comment on KZbin... But this recording deserves to be viewed and commented a lot more! Bravo!

[@VilladsHoffmann]

Thanks a lot Michael! That means a lot to hear :)

[@sandb1867]

Excellent playing! Did you learn this from a transcription or by ear?

[@VilladsHoffmann]

Thanks! I learned it from the sheet mostly. Some passages by ear :)

[@sandb1867]

@@VilladsHoffmann Impressive!

[@VilladsHoffmann]

@@sandb1867 Thanks a lot. I really appreciate that you are listening ☺

[@jessemerrill463]

Bravo! This absolutely rocks! And I love that big smile at the end

[@VilladsHoffmann]

Thanks a lot Jesse. I really appreciate it :-)

[@jeremyhoyland3229]

Excellent playing and it sounds wonderful on the cittern.

[@VilladsHoffmann]

Thanks a lot Jeremy!:-)

[@BLOVECU]

just wonderful. look forward to more like this.

[@VilladsHoffmann]

Thanks a lot! Looking forward to share more with you. :-)

[@scottlucas8190]

Really great performance, and wonderful, resonant cittern.

[@VilladsHoffmann]

Thanks a lot, Quercus! :-)

[@mellissadalby1402]

Very nicely done. How do you have your Bazouki tuned? In 5ths like a Violia perhaps? Wait, that has 5 string courses so I guess it is not a Bazouki. What is that instrument?

[@VilladsHoffmann]

Thanks a lot ! Happy to hear that you like it. It is a cittern (kind of 10-string bouzouki). It tune it CFcgc - so the tuning is a mix of both fourths and fifths

[@marcjakout]

Great !! congrats :)

[@VilladsHoffmann]

Thanks a lot Marc! 🙏

[@edelahaye]

Probably one of the most beautiful and difficult piece of music by J.S. Bach. Your rendition is excellent and very sensitive. I am tired of "look how I can play fast" renditions of this tune ...

[@VilladsHoffmann]

Thanks a lot Emmanuel! That really means a lot to hear. So nice to hear that you like my version ☺🙏

[@AlexHand]

This must have been a beast to work out in fifths tuning!

[@VilladsHoffmann]

hahah yes definitely. It took quite a while. My tuning in the video is EAEBE (capo on E), so my fingering is quite different from the original.

[@petedamore2153]

Superb!

[@VilladsHoffmann]

Thanks a lot! I am glad you like it 😊

[@volkerke5315]

Wonderful, you are a very great artist! Greetings from Germany!

[@VilladsHoffmann]

Thanks a lot! I really appreciate it ☺

[@nathanhayward2466]

This is stunning! I'm on my third time round listening to this. Thanks so much for this. God bless you.

[@VilladsHoffmann]

Thanks a lot Nathan. It is so nice to hear that you like my performance of it. I Really appreciate it. I have actually made a prober studio recording of it since, if you want to listen: open.spotify.com/track/2u8V10E7wk0HOSYH96wqVR?si=3e2819c80d344457

[@ff1d1l]

Excellent, works really well on the cittern and your playing is beautiful.

[@VilladsHoffmann]

Thanks a lot! :) I am happy to hear that! This was such a fun piece to transcribe for the cittern.

[@peterlyon9629]

Beautiful! Like it more on this instrument than the violin!

[@VilladsHoffmann]

Thanks a lot Peter! :D I am so happy to hear that. I also think it works really well on the cittern. But i of course also love it on violin.

[@johnmctilly]

Fantastic playing ! As a cittern player (DGDAD), i am astonished by your fingers playing and also by the lovely and warm sound of your instrument (Nordwall ? ) . What's your tuning and string gauges please ?

[@VilladsHoffmann]

Thanks a lot. I really appreciate it! :) Yes, it is a Nordwall. His big cittern model. My tuning is CFCGC. So it is DGDAD with capo on second fret. For this piece I have Capo on E (so basically EAEBE). My string gauges are currently 0.13, 0.18, 0.30, 0.22, 0.30. I think i was using 0.20 instead of 0.18, when this was recorded.

[@f5mando]

What a great version! Really well done, and beautifully played, Villads. Kudos and Bravo!

[@VilladsHoffmann]

Thank you so much! I really appreciate it :-)

[@binary132]

Bravo! Ultra-clean!

[@VilladsHoffmann]

Thanks a lot! Happy that you like it !

[@tocamusiquinha]

Instrumento maneiro!!! Muito show!!! Continue postando!!!

[@VilladsHoffmann]

Thank you! :D

[@arthurmetz9927]

Beautiful!

[@VilladsHoffmann]

Thanks a lot, Arthur! :-)

[@Stibsyt]

Din cittern sjunger med din mat skriker aldrig - perfekt!

[@VilladsHoffmann]

hehe godt set! :D

[@oscaroscar7904]

Wow nice playing! and a really warm sound, i find it hard to memorize bach but he really fits mandolin or is it a mandolin?, maybe its better to memorize his pices bit by bit i dont know 🙃

[@VilladsHoffmann]

Thanks a lot!:) I really appreciate to hear that you like it. I play on a cittern. It's kind of a big octave mandolin, but with 5 pairs of strings. And yes, Bach is definitely hard to memorize. I spent some time on each bit in the piece before putting it all together. Took quite some time work it all out with the fingerings as well. :-)

[@oscaroscar7904]

@@VilladsHoffmann it was really well done, i will have to try to challenge myself with some bach, iv only found tabs, but i guess the best way is to learn an easy piece by ear, and i sometimes forget to tune my mandolin lol .. thats like one of the most importent things😅🥱

[@adrianbell4597]

Great effort rewarded. Thank you.

[@VilladsHoffmann]

Thanks a lot! Appreciate it!

[@adrianbell4597]

@@VilladsHoffmann Since stumbling on this as a fan of the Cittern and Scandinavian music, I've seen your other work on KZbin and have to tell you how in awe I am of your musicianship, both as a performer and composer. I wish you continued success and deserved recognition. Keep safe.

[@VilladsHoffmann]

@@adrianbell4597 Thanks a lot Adrian! That really means a lot! So nice to hear that you like my music. :)

[@adrianbell4597]

@@VilladsHoffmann You are very welcome. I hope to see you perform in the not too distant future, solo or with one of your project collectives. I've had so much pleasure discovering your previous work. Keep it coming and stay safe.

[@VilladsHoffmann]

@@adrianbell4597 Thanks a lot, Adrian! That means a lot to hear! :D I also hope to play live for you soon! I am happy to hear that you also enjoy my other projects!

[@s.williamc.]

You’re my hero thank you!!!!

[@VilladsHoffmann]

Thanks a lot! So nice to hear that you like my version 😊🙏🙏

[@conradb209]

wonderful sound. great rendition!

[@VilladsHoffmann]

Thanks a lot! Appreciate to hear it :)

[@yboobob]

Fantastic!!

[@VilladsHoffmann]

Thanks a lot!

[@chuckwong]

beautifully played.

[@VilladsHoffmann]

Thanks a lot! :)

[@adambecherer3804]

Fantastic!!!

[@VilladsHoffmann]

Thanks a lot! 🙏☺

[@patrickbly4170]

I Thank You 😊

[@VilladsHoffmann]

Thanks for listening!:)

[@richwesterman1391]

Magnificent!

[@VilladsHoffmann]

Thanks a lot, Rich! 😊🙏

[@andyquinn1125]

Excellent!

[@VilladsHoffmann]

Thanks a lot! :-)

[@10stephenrose]

Lovely 👍 ❤️

[@VilladsHoffmann]

Thanks a lot!

[@polarislance8818]

ok so how is your cittern tuned? bc ive been working on this prelude on a GDAD bouzouki capo'd at the second fret and im stuggling to make some of this work properly

[@GabrielHawkPot]

It's tuned CFCGC, so one tone down from DGDAD.

[@GabrielHawkPot]

If you capo all four strings at the first fret and then use a second capo on the top three strings at the second fret you can get that low G# that appears about a 5th of the way in. May make any A major chords a bit annoying though.

[@media-masters4827]

Absolutely beautiful. Now cut off those string ends :)

[@VilladsHoffmann]

hahaha thanks a lot. I promise i will cut them off! :-D

[@alaspooryorick9946]

Gorgeous!

[@VilladsHoffmann]

Thanks a lot!! :)

[@alaspooryorick9946]

@@VilladsHoffmann it's a pleasure mate! Bach on plucked strings is always amazing. Have you tried some of the other solo violin rep on the cittern? I'm thinking specifically about the first sonata. The way the groove and pulse comes through without having to break the chords for bowing is revelatory!

[@VilladsHoffmann]

@@alaspooryorick9946 Yes, I also think Bach on plucked strings is indeed amazing. I haven't had a serious attempt on any of his other pieces yet. I learned some of the 6th cello suite once, so i have been thinking about taking that one up again, or maybe learning the rest of this E-major partita. But the first violin sonata is also really beautiful! I think i heard Chris Thile playing a mandolin transcription of it. Would love to learn that one as well.

[@thesilviogesellfoundation]

Sooooo good! Bravo.

[@VilladsHoffmann]

Thanks a lot!:)

[@aubreynoftall3830]

bach should never be played wearing such a ha and t shirt

[@VilladsHoffmann]

Why? 😊