James Ehnes - Bach Violin Sonata No. 1

An excerpt from James Ehnes' wonderful performance for the online festival "Music Never Sleeps DMF."
Thank you James Ehnes for being a part of our 24-hour livestream!
James Ehnes, violin
Violin Sonata No. 1 in G Minor BWV 1001 - Johann Sebastian Bach
www.musikfestspiele.com

[@hajnihety17]

Adagio: 0:00 Fuga: 4:18 Siciliana: 9:30 Presto: 12:18

[@xeroc4520]

thanks so much!

[@alexanderchieng3401]

Legend

[@pierreadrienbalestro782]

Une pure merveille ❤!

[@dariusgoh5314]

Ehnes has the pitch perfect intonation and scratchless and crystal clear tone and bow changes of Hahn, combined with the melodic mastery, resonance and sweet and powerful singing tone of Perlman, and more. My favourite interpreter of Bach by far.

[@ogorangeduck]

Have you heard Augustin Hadelich's interpretation? He uses a Baroque bow, and even aside from that his musical choices are exquisite

[@gabrieltamay9107]

No violinist has a comparison with another, each one has his way of interpreting, essence and magic, that is the beauty of music.

[@deanronson6331]

@@gabrieltamay9107 Enough of this relativistic, false equivalence crap from intellectually lazy, amateur listeners who pretend they are stating some deep truth about things they have no clue about. If what you're saying were true, we would have no standards of excellence in anything.

[@user-hk6bf4yo3x]

@@deanronson6331 I agree😂

[@KaungZawZaw]

⁠@@ogorangeduckJames Ehnes is a good friend of his actually

[@vudomath]

I came here from TwoSet and learned new appreciation for how great this performance is

[@vishnuhalikere2151]

Ehnes' bach has always has the cleanest and most round chords of any bach interpretations I've ever heard. Love him ❤❤

[@andwhat5248]

So true. His Chaconne is exquisite.

[@poppyz6816]

Yes! He plays so clean. Love his Chaconne the best!

[@pattyyancey5617]

NZ First yes!

[@yeelok5145]

i love him playing so excellent, so amazing skills to make you moved by the music of Bach

[@marxismisevil839]

James is the king of double stops 😎

[@aytenwaltermoonmademusic1129]

Don't want to write "wow, amazing or great" because it is more than that.

[@mihoai5513]

If only I could do good poetry to praise him

[@ehotkim]

His live play always makes the sound of CD quality.

[@justusvm355]

Indeed! Have you heard his Chaconne Live performance? Shockingly perfect :)

[@sasha42196]

What I absolutely love about Ehnes, aside from the obvious mastery of the instrument, is his honesty in playing. He doesn't try to cut corners with cheap frills or to hide imperfections in superficial rubatos. And despite this unadorned approach, it is breathtaking in conception and execution. He chisels a masterpiece perfectly. I am even hesitant to call it virtuosity because in Bach's music that's not what one strives for.

[@lindacowles756]

The part with the double stops 4:55 sounds like 2 violins playing. Brilliant!

[@annettepatzold3446]

Ich Danke Dir sehr, James. Dies ist Bach in seiner puren Form. Das macht much sehr gluecklich!

[@colemckeel8000]

That was the best tone I’ve ever heard.

[@cageynerd]

The classiest player on the planet. My God -- his choices are so perfect. Gorgeous.

[@lmarsick3145]

James and the violin of my ancestor Martin Pierre Marsick. Stradivarius the marsick. What a joy to listen to !

[@cindyindallas]

He makes me turn off everything else around me! His music takes me out of this world...to a perfectness 5 dimensional space.

[@johnalexander301]

Stunning interpretation of Bach’s masterpiece. So smooth and elegant it is dreamlike. Much love and respect Mr. Ehnes.

[@shooshieroberts3913]

Bravo. Simply Bravo. I intend the highest compliment when I say that I’ve never heard such playing since Szeryng. Respect at the highest level. Technically precise while completely lyrical, playing every phrase to fit perfectly in the overall line. I’ve played these pieces all my life, and I can’t play them like that, at least not live (I transcribed them for wind instruments), but I know every nuance, every phrase and every ambiguous hemiola (4th mvt.) and I just have to say I’ve never heard anyone who can play at this level, perhaps except for Szeryng. I’m blown away.

[@soyeux27]

Merci James Ehnes d'être, aussi humblement, un instrument de la musique!

[@Amittai_Aviram]

First-rate performance! Ehnes's technique is so solid, and his musicianship so thoughtful and sensitive, that he gets out of the way of the music-it is not about him, it is about this brilliant treasure of Bach's creation-and that is the highest achievement to which a musician might aspire. The performance of the Fugue is especially superb. And for Ehnes's performance of the Gigue, I have but one word: _gorgeous_ !

[@rodolfomendoza3554]

The best violinist playing one of the best pieces of music ever written for Gods instrument of choice

[@JoshuaLee]

Out of all violinists, I feel like I never get bored of James Ehnes's playing and interpretation. Bravo!

[@florarabbitry]

Best performance I have heard yet.

[@isap-r7002]

Merci pour cet instant où le violon chante Jean Sébastien Bach avec tant d'amour et dans une profonde délicatesse musicale

[@Heyitsgrey8]

those CHORDS THEY SOUND SO GOOD

[@andresgunther]

Absolutely stunning, in every aspect. Bravo!

[@durban55]

I could listen to this all day.

[@fluteastana8707]

Брависсимо!! Шикарное исполнение, безупречная интонация и очень понятная трактовка на все времена!! Ровный красивый звук, без излишеств. Великолепное звучание инструмента во всех регистрах!!👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻❤️

[@parissimons6385]

Fabulous! Thank you!

[@dmcvegan1963]

Such pristine beauty. I attended his Beethoven Sonata cycle at Northwestern University in early 2020, which was stupendous. His Elgar Concerto recording is one for the ages.

[@MsPea]

I've been listening to Isaac Stern's recording of this lately, but I have to say that I now prefer Ehnes' interpretation. This is extraordinary.

[@RafaelQuirinoVex]

Best rendition of this piece on KZbin. I can only thank you for that!

[@SebastianBohrenViolin]

Fantastic!!!!!

[@stephenleigh4571]

Really fantastic!

[@jacc88888]

Wow, I can’t believe anyone can play this masterpiece any better. Stunning playing

[@bygrgra]

Effortless perfection.

[@brantshettron8076]

Wow. Spectacular performance. Truly spectacular.

[@user-od6uc9xb9f]

All perfect! I can't stop this video.

[@TheTucsonJeff]

An absolutely spellbinding and riveting performance! Thanks James!!

[@papelhigienico317]

Omg... I don't have words! ITS AMAZING! Thank you so much for this video!

[@septq2006]

Absolutely beautiful ❤️

[@JMaxwell1000]

Fantastic performance! Thank you for enriching the music community with this marvelous interpretation. Bravo!

[@jameshesford]

Yes = beautiful tone and so lets the music speak for itself-= that takes true mastery. Thank you James J

[@jdilisio6414]

I usually prefer period instrument renditions of Bach but this is astounding. I saw him last year in Baltimore and he played some of the Amin as an encore. Really beautiful stuff.

[@melicorso24]

Es preciosa su interpretación... gracias!

[@avi-mari2878]

The adagio sonata is so beautiful! 😻

[@lindacowles756]

Wow, bravo! Just discovered this artist today in this video.

[@hedgehog1962]

Thank you for sharing this video. I am a his big fan.

[@sardonic_smile_8752]

This guy has a very effortless mastery of the instrument.

[@leventedomosi7516]

Nagyon szép előadás, kiváló felvétel.

[@user-jk1il7xe9t]

Бесконечно гениально, гениально красиво

[@JorgeSmitt]

Bravo maestro!!!

[@notrobocapnombo]

Wooowww!!! ❤❤❤

[@tfh5575]

james ehnes is incredible

[@anali2207]

Que linda sonoridade! ❤😭

[@iiTzJulian]

This was awesome

[@user-er7ji6ys5v]

Merci beaucoup!☺️

[@user-hk6bf4yo3x]

Perfect

[@jacmusic5]

wonderful

[@vesselinatp]

Amazing... 💖.

[@mattg6262]

Well that was fabulous.

[@kitamuram4389]

Good smart negociation of the two pitch systems, of clearness of melody and of harmony of chords, this causes resonance warmfully in my brain.

[@rubbishcomments7269]

To master a piece like this one must truly have experience with acoustical range and know ones projection on certain parts of their own bow and know how to manipulate the the slightest difference in entrances and cutoffs.. unbelievable

[@dlove2830]

Immaculate intonation!

[@zenxi2694]

amazing！

[@melissae.5417]

out of this world!!

[@DresdenMusicFestival]

definitely!

[@lauraperisi203]

Amazing❤👏👏👏👏👏

[@wchen8671]

Awesome 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@marcomartinello9886]

Un piacere ascoltare tanta bravura e intelligenza musicale. Super

[@Violinlesson-Venice]

Super!!!

[@graziellaborgna2923]

Bellissima esecuzione!

[@andrewchristianbrundidge]

Bravo 👏👏👏

[@christinalulu52]

Bravissimo!

[@Fernandomendoza-hq8uz]

There is no violinist alive other than James Ehnes who can play with such command of the leading melody.

[@retf054ewte3]

I would approve this performance.

[@josedominguez3525]

4:23 fuga

[@daurenzhumash8082]

👏👏👏 Cool ! 💣

[@monikawlezien7922]

Natchnione wykonanie. Inspired performance.

[@user-dh4vt5ur9p]

時代がまさにフリーズしたかのようなパンデミックの猛威の中、エーネスの演奏は極寒の地に燃え続ける焚火の如くに暖かさと光を放ち続けているようだ。

[@salmongaming6753]

0:00 Adagio 4:20 Fuga 9:33 Siciliano 12:18 Presto

[@Lu4dch]

👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@familiaweritos2460]

After watch this video, I just dropped my violin 😂 🥲

[@mashbeato]

Woww

[@HowardH]

If James Ehnes plays a single wrong note all maple trees stop producing xylem sap

[@johnalexander4946]

Violin God

[@Thesilverthunder777]

mega.

[@user-bq7yd3lr4f]

Sounds of God. 현악기는 거의 첼로만 듣는데 바이얼린으로 이런 부드러운 음색이 가능함을 그의 연주를 통해 알게 되네요. 소리가 정말 안정적이고 꽉찬 느낌이 죻습니다. 정신이 번쩍 들어요. 그를 알게되어 기쁘고 바람이 불지 않아도 씩씩하게 살아야겠다는 생각이 듭니다.

[@nova2586]

👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@stefansack9107]

Perfekt LG Stefan Violine Viola Germany

[@RobertoJia]

My goodness, so beautiful. This gonna be my next practice piece… but consistency of double stop might be very hard

[@Thesilverthunder777]

mega

[@raulgarciamarian4227]

Wordless …

[@freedomsweden]

Wonderful performance, thanks for sharing. Also the sound is really perfect in this recording. Is that a DPA microphone?

[@harrybosch2827]

une précision d'orfèvre... bravo

[@kevinye1041]

5:03 b 5:36 c 6:30 d 7:13 e 7:43 f

[@ceres8001]

I love your music🩵

[@Need3more_Sleep]

4:22

[@LassonDavid]

The obvious virtuosity here is consistently pressed into service in order to revel in Bach's Innigkeit.

[@jacobg892]

didnt know shooter mcgavin could shred like this

[@nishvaze2666]

12:19

[@riccardopini9340]

Finalmente un bach d'oggidì senza la dittatura della filologia per la filologia .

[@augustinemcdermott8955]

Listening to this next to Hilary Hahn Plays Bach, I can intuitively hear differences. What are they though? Could a more refined ear please point out a few ways Ehnes' and Hahn's interpretations are different? And, if you have a preference, why?

[@dariusgoh5314]

I reckon the main difference is the tone colour and articulation. They both play pretty rhythmically similarly. And both SPECTACULARLY in tune! However Hahn’s tone sounds more full and always tenuto, probably a result of playing closer to the bridge and using less bow and more pressure. Every note of Hahn’s seems to be somewhat stressed or emphasised in a way. Ehnes on the other hand joins his melodic lines more in a more legato fashion, along with using a lighter and more resonating tone, by playin further away from the bridge and using faster, lighter bow. I personally prefer ehnes’ interpretation, both of them have the absolute cleanliness of tone and intonation that Bach deserves, however I feel that ehnes makes the melodic lines sing more.

[@augustinemcdermott8955]

@@dariusgoh5314 Thank you so much! This is fascinating. I can see the truth of this when I listen to the two next to each other. I hope to grow in appreciation of these greats as I spend more time listening and get better at violin myself!

[@Simple0215]

4:22 2악정 fuga