Jascha Heifetz - Chaconne (Bach)

Jascha Heifetz plays Bach’s Chaconne from his album Heifetz On Television. Heifetz plays on the violin in Partita No.2 in D minor. Check out this Spotify playlist if you want to hear the best of Jascha Heifetz: JaschaHeifetz....
Copyright © 1971 Jay Heifetz
For Licensing needs contact: [e-mail]
Official Jascha Heifetz website: jaschaheifetz....
Instagram: @jaschaheifetzofficial

[@pgmloversrv]

Heifetz really brings Bach's emotion alive. Strong forte, delicate piano, Huge dynamics. Sounds like music from Heaven.

[@musicalme27]

It IS from Heaven

[@G2y445vtfxxcttbmda6t]

I strongly agree

[@franciscoespinozagamboa6490]

fenomenal

[@danbernstein4694]

My parents insisted on taking hear Heifetz play when I was a little boy, telling me it would was a once in a lifetime occasion that I would remember for the rest of my life They were right, and now 61 years later, I can still hear those notes seared into my brain. Wonderous in the literal sense of the word.

[@irinatsukermen5485]

ЯША ХЕЙФЕЦ ВИРТУОЗНО ПЕРЕДАЁТ ТОНЧАЙШИЕ ПЕРЕЖИВАНИЯ ПУТИ ЖИЗНИ ЧЕЛОВЕКА !!!!!!! ЙОГАН СЕБАСТЬЯН БАХ БЫЛ И ЕСТЬ ФИЛОСОФОМ ЧЕЛОВЕЧЕКОЙ ЖИЗНИ СО ВСЕМИ ПЕРЕЖИВАНИЯМИ ДУШИ ПРИ ЖИЗНИ И ПРОЙДЕННЫЙ ПУТЬ ОПРЕДЕЛЯЕТ "ВЕЧНОСТЬ "В БЕССМЕРТНОМ "ЧАКОНЕ "!!!!!!АМЭН !!!!!!!

[@ARGENTINE3]

Algo que no podría olvidar nunca . Eres un afortunado

[@ancientgamer694]

I feel like this is one of those very rare pieces of human creation that seems so impossibly perfect to be made by a human. But at the same time it is exactly so great because was made by a human and it possess all those very human emotions and it has a sort of awareness of incompleteness and human fragility, and at the same time it's expressing gratitude and acceptance. And exactly this is what makes it transcend itself above other music. It's so haunting to think that his piece was once a concept in someone's mind. A simply unparalleled piece.

[@jayr526]

I have been considering that recently. I am truly amazed by such an artist's playing. But to compose such a piece. I just can't wrap my mind around it.

[@robinmunro47]

Agreed...beautifully expressed . Bravo, my no1 Desert Island Disc !

[@mikes6317]

HAHA Violin go BRRRR

[@rip1740]

God inspired him.

[@raultifrea5549]

@@rip1740 Soli Deo Gloria

[@oldschool553]

Heifetz. A tornado bottled neatly. He is my absolute favourite when it comes to Bach. Perfect.

[@yes-fq6jd]

Bach's music is eternal! Stop taking it down, youtube!!!!

[@valderesleite1295]

Eu vou te amar para sempre Professor eu não suporto, te perder , perdoa me.valderes Castro.

[@kaikirr]

@@valderesleite1295 oxe???

[@za-mm]

@@valderesleite1295 wtf mano

[@telebtw5697]

MC RIDE

[@mariyakoshkina3941]

Да будет благославена жизнь в которой царит Бах!💥

[@johnkusske7535]

This from the man who gave his life to the violin. A treasure of greatness from both the composer and the musician.

[@dweeb99]

One of the great testaments in western civilization. Universal. We are so lucky to have this.

[@stefansack2726]

Thanks

[@davidkozin]

I love how this dry and intimate recording allows the technical mastery and expressive delivery Heifetz brings to the Chaconne shine. So many recordings are done in acoustic spaces with longer reverb tails that don't allow the same type of performance. This shows off bow control in separate bow legato transitions is smooth as butter (example 3:23 ). In the best situation, the different acoustic spaces feel like a part of the instrument and the setting may subtly shape how to play a song. Of course, if you have been in High School Band playing in a closed stadium it can be tricky, and I appreciate the performers, sound engineers, and performers playing on a stage underground in a bar one day and the next in an amphitheater with concrete and stadium speakers. A great performance of Chaccone in a longer reverb performance is by Itzhak Perlman in his 1978 live recording where he played the pristine acoustics of Saint John's Smith Square, London. Perhaps one of my favorite moments for comparison is how Heifetz treats the variations of the bariolage towards the end: 11:11 - First, without harsh bowings, he keeps dynamics similar and lets the open string and slight tempo change develop that tension 11:21 - In the second variation, the A at the tip of the bow begins delicate and softer, with the repeated A remaining in the background as he brings out phrasing clearly in the prominent double stops. The ease with that he performs this is to quote a user below "God-tier". To compare. Perlman's performance of this passage really allows some of those single notes to sing out into the space and it is beautiful that they come through so clearly. (kzbin.info/www/bejne/p6XchZR7bLGpjNU) -- I don't know if Heifetz's performance would have worked here, my thoughts are no. However, I have heard artificial reverb added and I hope that never happens again.). It is understandable why this piece has been played on so many instruments, and ensembles, and why it is so loved. I hope my links work! (edits fixing links timings)

[@marusebpi]

Chaconne is the piece you take with you when earth is about to be destroyed and you have to jump in the spaceship and leave. From it one can recolonize music from earth. Damn! It is sublime❤

[@BjornWilliams]

it is also the piece you play when the aliens come for us. you beg for one listen, that the audience be honest with their ears. if after the chaconne they are not moved to mercy, then so be it-- destroy us.

[@marusebpi]

I take it you left earth a while ago! 🤭

[@nexuennex9151]

@@marusebpi Where did he go. Tell me now!

[@patrickmanasco5905]

@@BjornWilliams-last words of the fly buzzing around near my ear before getting smashed probably

[@hanochcohen2243]

Heifetz was the greatest violinist of the 20th century.

[@mariomota4069]

There shouldn't be a dislike button in this video. It's Jascha Heifetz for God's sake!!!

[@docm27]

I first heard Heifetz when I was 5. I was transfixed then and I still am 60 years later.

[@Constitution1789]

Brahms: “On one stave, for a small instrument, the man writes a whole world of the deepest thoughts and most powerful feelings. If I imagined that I could have created, even conceived the piece, I am quite certain that the excess of excitement and earth-shattering experience would have driven me out of my mind. If one doesn’t have the greatest violinist around, then it is well the most beautiful pleasure to simply listen to its sound in one’s mind.”

[@charliebledsoe2749]

Damn...

[@benmartin6181]

Brahms hit the nail on the head. This really is the most beautiful piece of Western classical ever written for the violin.

[@ElsweyrDiego]

@@benmartin6181 what is the most beautiful eastern piece?

[@minghuixu7069]

Isn’t this Bach?

[@camillenas7888]

I loved Perlman’s interpretation of Chaconne. But Heifetz’s, for me, is God tier. His interpretation is kind of like what rage, desperation, longing and acceptance in the end sounds like. As for Perlman’s, it’s more on the sweet taste of loving someone and setting them free. It goes straight to acceptance. More like reminiscing the good memories, yes longing, but more on a positive light. Chaconne has always felt to me like the sound of betrayal by a loved one, the ache and the hurt that comes with it and still having love and hope for them despite.

[@gianmarcotoval509]

Hilary Hahn doe

[@Egill2011]

Do you think that Bach meant something like love, longing or rage when he composed this piece? Or are these your random associations or interpretations?

[@uri9528]

@@Egill2011 bach composed chaconne after his wife's death, so it is related to that

[@ilhansofuoglu3180]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/hKbRnGych8aNkNU

[@Cockalicious]

​@@Egill2011wow you couldve said that this guy pulled all that out of his ass but you're too polite

[@zbouaerg]

Whenever I watch this, which is not that often because it hits hard, I think that it's probably the greatest video I've watched (and listened to) as to what being human is about

[@tishmusso3949]

A brilliant, iconic, performance that captures every nuance of this miraculous work. Heifitz's wondrous bowing technique is truly awe inspiring. The Chaconne sings out as if from heaven.

[@treatb09]

This is real music. One gem in a vastness of space speaking about existence.

[@docmalthus]

After this performance Heifetz looks up at the recording booth and says "Was that okay?" (I amuse myself to no end with that one).😄

[@benmartin6181]

Humble genius...

[@MsDebonator]

His solos sound orchestral, the sounds he creates are mind bending. I just discovered him in the 1947 film Carnegie Hall with Marsha Hunt, his performance is a must see if you are a fan.

[@maruvega5473]

Fantastic! Makes me feel so grateful to God and the artist.

[@richardharris2610]

Listening to this today was truly a transcendental experience. The purity of this piece by Bach especially played by Heifetz, was overwhelming. I found myself totally riveted to every movement of Heifetz, completely absorbed in the mind of Bach and at one point I was so overcome with emotion, that I started crying uncontrollably. The beauty of the music touched me very deeply and profoundly. There are other recordings of the Chaconne, but none matches, in my opinion, Heifetz.

[@jasonbonifacio2473]

I cried too.

[@williamheifetz4580]

He actually a very far away cousin of mine

[@barbarabarry3799]

A performance of superb musicality and power within the constraints of the chaconne form. Thank you to the Jascha Heifetz Estate for making this available on KZbin.

[@peyonveerakul5525]

Heifetz is one of the best violinist in my heart ❤️

[@岸誠二-t1j]

何度聴いても最高です♪ナマで聴けないのが残念です…

[@borispolonski]

Jascha chases away all shadows and brings light to everyone who listens

[@samaelcasanovayoutube]

Heifetz el mejor violinista en interpretar Chacone de Bach, mi total admiración

[@cmstrydom695]

Wow........what a performance.....it sings, skips, meanders, hops, runs, glides....swirls and gathers.....

[@englishbestcar]

"Heifetz's violin performance is absolutely mesmerizing! The way they effortlessly draw emotions from the strings is truly incredible. Their technique and passion shine through in every note. I could listen to this over and over again."

[@BenMartin-o1x]

Heifetz' poise and technique is flawless.

[@Dissed-Herbed]

This is what goes on in the mind of a genius.

[@00-EIFFEL]

I used to listen to this all the time in my early twenties, 30 now. Found it on the late night classical arts channel one night lol

[@chiekokoyama8153]

ハイフェッツのシャコンヌ、このver.が一番好きです。 初めて聞いたとき泣いてしまうほどでした。

[@yonakana1247]

私も…

[@Rick.fdsant]

This is so heavenly that I wanted to cry but I don't 😮😮! What a masterpiece of God's vibration on earth!

[@bansheegaming107]

For me, Heifetz's version of chaconne shows a longing for someone while remembering the passionate times they spent, and for me, it also shows a raging emotion of a person that can not move on from his loss. On the other hand, Perlman's version seems to express the intimacy that the lovers experienced and the bittersweet feeling of goodbyes. Hilary's version fully expresses the grief caused by the loss of a beloved person.

[@M_SC]

I like this interpretation of their interpretations, but also I’m a bit amused to think of you picturing all their love lives

[@Evergreen01201]

I love his tempo in this recording! thank you

[@FlavioBelisario5822]

Its perfect.

[@sdrrshock5594]

Bit too fast for me

[@angryjalapeno]

This fast tempo maybe exciting in some parts but it loses some dramatic effects and soul.

[@turtle6727]

@@FlavioBelisario5822 Gotta agree with you on this one

[@monelleny]

@@angryjalapeno - Agree. Also, tempo seems somewhat irregular ...

[@rachelk8665]

Ah..so beautiful, the music and also Heifetz himself

[@mattmorgan7583]

Arguably the greatest piece of music in history.

[@23gregorius]

True and it one of the most difficuĺt to play. Mendelssohn remarked once that it is not possible to master the technic of this piece. And so, even many of the real great violonists did not reach the capacity of Heifetz. Bach wrote this piece in sadness when he returned home and was toldd that his wife had passed and had been burried. And still I feel there is a message in this piece saying: despite off all difficulties life is wonderful because there is the Divine presence.

[@EttorealbertoGelli-vr6sz]

JSB Is the greatest mistery in the Universe. HE Is not human, i'm sure

[@EttorealbertoGelli-vr6sz]

​@@23gregorius thank you Bro!!!

[@levipereira1064]

Transcendent! 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

[@brendaowens2466]

To hear him is to listen to magic happening.

[@madoloreszambranotorres7814]

Qué manera de tocar el violín¡¡¡¡ Qué barbaridad¡¡¡¡ Genial¡¡¡¡

[@G2y445vtfxxcttbmda6t]

It's such a touching and great performance. I'm just thankful that I can hear it like this.

[@mattmorgan7583]

That is one of the best performances I've ever seen.

[@natcharmusic]

I dont lile it. Some of the parts get to crunchy and to rough

[@treatb09]

Wait till you find ivry gitlis’ standing alone on that stage slightly out of pitch and recognize the diversity of this piece. Heifetz is noble. Uplifting. Whimsical and tiring in losing age. Ivry is the complete opposite. Drawing on your soul as if you are ripped away from all the standards of humanity to know the reality of how tragic this piece is.

[@Egill2011]

@@natcharmusic Some parts sounded too fast to me too.

[@JoshuaLo2732]

@@natcharmusic Nevertheless he is still the greatest

[@OurLadysTheology]

There is no word to describe J.S. Bach but he was a mastermind complete genius of the whole universe of music. Heifetz the greatest violinist since Paganini no other words to describe Heifetz than genius and the greatest virtuoso. When you put Bach and Heifetz together 🤯🤯🤯😮😌😌😌😃😄😁

[@Claudioghisla88]

Heifetz…..che violinista leggendario….😌

[@naoming6487]

素晴らしい！この映像をupしてくれてありがとうございます

[@r.i.p.volodya]

Just the most incredible piece 😪😍😁🤔🎼🎵🎶

[@BjornWilliams]

I cry every time.

[@srinitaaigaura]

That sound though, every string has its own voice!

[@jolongbottom2284]

The strings are silent without Heifitz. Someone once told him his violin had a lovely sound . He silently put it up to his ear and said. “I don’t hear any sound”

[@chrislegit3198]

The most unfortunate thing is that Heifetz never got the chance to listen to Roman Kim play.. Heifetz would have a wide grin on his face for sure!

[@rbtchang]

Heifetz’s rendition of this piece is my favorite

[@liandrew9224]

Jascha Heifetz has really interpreted Bach to an extent like no others before. Combined with his impeccable dexterity, it will always hold true that he is one of the best violinists ever. Also, I love his old-school and bold approach to Bach, using vibratos which modern violinists no longer use when playing Bach.

[@liandrew9224]

The emotions are so thick, just like when Back wrote this piece

[@boldandbrash2499]

What a tone! So much passion in his music. Heifetz is divine!

[@miruo_belle]

私にとって一生かけて練習する曲です。

[@tylertamihana7717]

The epitome of musical perfection, absolute and unparalleled skill. The emotion and intent behind each stroke of the bow and slide of the fingers across the strings are so beautiful, the expressiveness is as if it were a voice talking. Wonderful!

[@raphaelisraeli7146]

Such a unique performance. His posture, like that of a surgeon, doesn't move, not even for a moment.

[@toma1610]

When he came to Peru, he performed this piece.

[@doctorscalling9479]

So you're saying this was performed in Peru?

[@leopoldauer7390]

"Heifetz was the greatest of all violinists in the past, present and future." - V. V. Zibulkin

[@ARGENTINE3]

Hace 20 años que la escucho tambien toco el violin y no puedo creer como puede ser tan perfecta es de otro planeta

[@quincynash6363]

I love the moment at 2:23 when Heifitz plays a wrong note (two Fs instead of E then F), because it shows how even Heifitz, probably the greatest violinist to ever live, still makes mistakes. And, the way he hides his mistake is amazing, he continues on without hesitation and seamlessly blends the wrong note into the rest of the piece.

[@MistériosdaMeiaNoite7]

Nem tinha percebido isso. Depois de escutar 40 vezes kkkk

[@quanzhiheifetz]

Maybe not the wrong note. His other two recordings are both played this way

[@DaviSilva-oc7iv]

Thanks for the reupload.

[@GaspardLeLezard]

Beautiful recording

[@littlecruiseclown]

In this speed, I could listen to the music itself, instead of hearing the skills.

[@RobertoVieyra-f2p]

Crecí escuchando esta pieza interpretada por mi profesor de guitarra (Atilio Medina).

[@장길진-d9v]

감사합니다.

[@romiwon5519]

ハイフエツツのシャコンヌがとても好きです。魂に響いてくる感じで、この曲を作った大昔の作曲家であるバッハが何を考えどんな性格の人であったのか、とても興味が湧きます。学術的な難しい事は分かりませんがバッハの人間性を感じさせる名曲であり、それを解釈して弾いているハイフエツツに脱帽します。しかもとても冷静に彼らしく演奏し曲創りする。こんな素敵なバイオリニストはまた現れるのでしょうか？

[@radioparisment628]

Toutes les œuvres passées sous l'archet de Jascha Heifetz sont des références musicales.

[@miriaborgess]

amazing!

[@mping002]

At the moment, this is the best piece of music I have ever seen performed.

[@HezhaSaeednya]

Energetic . Peaceful . Amazing . Only talented people can play this 👌🏻

[@ヒョック]

I like his style ,because his tone is not flatter. natural and not exaggeration.

[@robertshiverts2655]

a great performance reminiscent of his 1930's recording that was also like white light/white heat. Heifetz recreates this immortal cathedral of sound with a rhythmic forward propulsion quite different than dozens of other violinists. All in one take, live!

[@destinyj7588]

Bravo 👏🏾

[@chrislegit3198]

How does this NOT have 10 Million+ views? Kids these days… most will find out Heifetz in their college years.. Sad.

[@artazure]

Welllllll...A lot of people in ArtAzure Studios are 7th and 6th graders, and they recommended this video to me....

[@chrislegit3198]

@@artazure That is amazing. He is the greatest violinist of all time. Take notes. And oh… Scales. Everyday. Arpeggios, Fingered Octaves.. Do It….EVERYDAY

[@baconcat2458]

as a kid finding out about this now in my college years, most people will not find out at all unfortunately

[@creamwobbly]

Too much vibrato and rubato, maybe? If you're going to goof around with it, at least put some wah and phaser on it. Or, play it authentically.

[@Towmatodowg]

@@creamwobbly I agree with you, too much vibrato and def not in style of bach. But somehow this recording just resonates the most with me...

[@suhndog]

Lyrical, emotive and monumental... Wonderful. I love how Jascha is in tune with Bach's heart as he plays this..

[@ManuelMongeFidalgo]

Your close friend Jascha.

[@baratin91]

a celestial interpretation and a flawless execution!

[@ElsweyrDiego]

not exacly. i noticed he hit the adjacent string he shouldn't one single time while playing a passage (can you ghess where? it even sounded out of tune because of this!). other than that, yes, perfect!

[@adamnelson4859]

emotional. superior performance to anyone I've seen or heard play it before or since. bravo.

[@teresalodos3725]

Always, thanks to you, Master!

[@EtiVasileva-jz7ok]

БЛАГОДАРНА СЪМ , МНОГО , МНОГО !!!!

[@Astrobrant2]

Just... DAMN!!

[@anoirish]

Love this..!

[@liz.the.libra8]

Beautiful!! Just Beautiful!! It touched my soul 💕💕🔮🎶

[@Riley_Jarrells]

Love his vibrato. You can really hear it at the beginning

[@piarizzosebastianmiobonifa1369]

Damn, no shoulder rest. This dude went all out

[@wprimrose]

@PewDiePie Official He actually didn’t use a shoulder rest. I know a number of his students and people that played with him and they all agree on that.

[@drafygt6366]

@@wprimrose that’s the old school fiddling. almost all violinists from heifetz’s time didnt use a shoulder rest

[@most_sane_piano_enthusiast]

Shoulder rests restrict sound, right?

[@kaikirr]

@@most_sane_piano_enthusiast nah, it's Just a myth

[@kaikirr]

Back then It din't exist

[@azamotzaid]

que excelente interpretación, no hay manera de no llegar a deleitarse con tan maravillosa música.

[@imminentoutbreak7172]

Maravilloso!

[@ronchmiel6194]

Here is perhaps the greatest ever studio recording of Bach's Chaconne and Heifetz's expression at the end is... OK, that was adequate.

[@sky_0716]

So beautiful

[@gotsukenj5358]

I like the sound of Heifetz. I think there are various opinions about the charm of his performance, but I think that his tone is the origin of the charm. Even among violinists, he doesn't seem to be the type to play so emotionally, but maybe that's why when I listen to his tone, there's something that appeals to my feelings, and I'm struck by it every time. The same goes for this Chaconne, a word that is absolutely wonderful. Unfortunately, his last concert was before I was born, but I definitely wanted to listen to him perform live.

[@flywithme4977]

Perfect!

[@HilaryLuo-v7q]

The greatest

[@sheaung9236]

Always The Maestro.

[@ericwedin4154]

Can not decide which one is the greater, the xomposer or the artist. Bach will be smiling when he listens to Heifetz playing this piece. 😊

[@EttorealbertoGelli-vr6sz]

Are youserious? SH Is not JSB please...

[@ahujeffrey]

Bravo, maestro!

[@bingzhang36]

Don't know who am I more obsessed with, Bach or Heifetz?

[@EttorealbertoGelli-vr6sz]

Are you jokin? You know WHO IS JSB?

[@advaitramesh164]

This is my favorite recording of the Bach chaconne

[@davidcolombier5673]

Heifetz' interpretation of La Chaconne is: Fantastic!

[@HezhaSaeednya]

It's brilliant 👏 🤧

[@alicegomesviolinista6051]

Melhor versão da chaconna 😍

[@kaikirr]

Sem dúvidas

[@real_abiola]

This piece is definitely top ten!

[@viralgistworld5499]

If not for American gods, I may not be able to have seen this beautiful artistry in the first place.... Nice one sir, you are TRULY a legend.

[@kaikirr]

He died

[@JoshuaLo2732]

This should get much more views than Hilary’s, this is more than a gem!