How to Make a Vulcan Cry

Lt. Commander Data plays the violin!

[@bethanyrippeon8862]

How to make a violinist cry: have actors pretend to play violin

[@itamarbar9580]

True

[@santadavid3320]

Perfect! And....no mention of David Oistrakh?!?

[@pacifist_silver]

Where is TwoSetViolin?

[@blackfyre5158]

Give him a break lol

[@davidhopkinson6647]

The cellist looks like he actually plays!

[@dragon32210]

Data so good at playing violin, he doesn't have to move his left fingers

[@theiran]

He actually is moving them. Pay closer attention.

[@steve8225]

Because he is superior 😄

[@khfan4life365]

I noticed that Deanna kept glancing at Sarek, even before he started crying. I think she sensed his emotions from the start.

[@youwatch2muchtv]

That was after Saketh looked at him first

[@seansnyder2855]

Thinking of scenes like this from Deanna's perspective adds so much. Just sitting there, listening to the music and then suddenly overcome by a unique wave of sadness followed by the familiar and powerful sense of fear from Picard.

[@ValseInstrumentalist]

Nice little Easter egg how Deana picked up Sarek's emotion with her empathic abilities shortly after the Vulcan noticed it.

[@piotrd.4850]

Indeed though it should have been in other way round. There's many more - look that it is Data who first notices it (android at vantage point), then vulcan, then empath from the back.

[@YD-uq5fi]

That is not an 'Easter Egg'. That is one of the few times on the show where Deanna is actually useful.

[@science_bear]

@@YD-uq5fi that’s what makes it an Easter egg

[@steve8225]

Would have she noticed even without the vulcan have noticed it? Yes, she should feel sareks emotions without any hint

[@preuomo]

This is supposed to be a mozart concert but the piece that Sarek actually cries from is Brahms: String Sextet No. 1 in B-flat Major. Op. 18. 2nd movement. It's a badass sounding piece! It's also supposed to be a sextet too though...

[@joeheaton8103]

thank you so much! ive been looking for this piece for ages and due to it being listed as Mozart in the credits have never found it!! thank you thank you!!

[@MichaelCarolin]

THANK YOU! Comments like yours make up for all the crap in most youtube comments sections.

[@bujoun76]

I'm currently trying to find a "high resolution" version of this! I want to feel like I am there...

[@xbadkitty2457]

preuomo thanks so much, you rock! :3

[@thecraziestofalldave]

+preuomo The real version is bad ass and beautiful. I can see why that would make even a senile vulcan lose control.

[@Martiangrl86]

One thing I never noticed before, the last piece is by Brahms (as others have commented on). In the original series, Spock meets Flint, who also lived as Johannes Brahms on Earth. Spock plays an original unknown piece, that he deduces is a new composition of Brahms due to style and recognizing his handwriting of all things. So Spock seems to be a big fan of Brahms since he is able to recall such obscure details about him. It makes me believe that Sarek might not just have been moved to tears by the beauty of music. He may have also been thinking about/reminded of Spock when he heard this piece from what may have very well been his son’s favorite composer.

[@adrianoseresi3525]

Not even a Vulcan can resist the powers of the great, romantic expressivity of Brahms.

[@sandalf647]

I don't care the circumstances - if you can play so good to make a Vulcan cry, that has to be a crowning achievement for any musician.

[@youwatch2muchtv]

A really old vulcan

[@bujoun76]

What a classy show! Iv heard a number of classical peices demonstrated on ST:TNG and im so glad I watched ever single episode several times over. Im still watching them. Who would've thought - starships, warp drive, and Brahms? This show was truly "high brow"! Something missing from most of todays broadcasts...

[@Impromptu2370]

I have been watching this show since it first came out and all reruns. It doesn’t get old

[@NotoriousBroadcasts]

I just wanted to add another comment to point out the further significance of this story arc, involving Sarek and his death. This, I believe, was a metaphor describing the ailing and eventual death of Gene Rodenberry himself. The sharing of emotion and experience between Sarek and Picard both in this episode and in "Unification" were very much his epitaph, and so very well done.

[@demarcusfaulkner7411]

agreed

[@yep9557]

So good, even a Vulcan cried!

[@crystalidentity]

I think he was crying at the obviously awful fake playing on Data's part. ;)

[@jackhartford521]

This was a really great part of Star Trek the next generation. I've actually never seen that episode. It's very nice to see them put this kind of thing together

[@ryanhodges7101]

This was my best friend’s favorite scene from Star Trek. Thank you for uploading this. I really miss him. He has been gone since 10/31/2014.

[@MyBarbAnne]

The concert that they were at was supposed to be a Mozart-only concert, but the piece that made Sarek cry was the andante in D-minor movement of Brahms' "Sextet #1 in B-Flat Major", a piece played with only four people in the episode. This is a piece that is normally played with six people, as its title implies. en.allexperts.com/q/Star-Trek-Next-1184/Sarek.htm

[@crystalidentity]

Whaaaa - how hard would it be for them to do this scene accurately! :P

[@bogubor]

thanks

[@rogercurtis9876]

Some of the best acting in a scene with no words spoken...

[@NotoriousBroadcasts]

Also, mad props to all the music buffs who actually corrected the error. You are true trekkers.

[@QuarrellaDeVil]

If we can erase coffee cups in 2019, certainly they can CGI correct hand and finger positions on some footage from the 80s! 😊

[@richardhead8264]

Is it lost on anyone that the somewhat younger Vulcan was emotionally indignant toward the older Vulcan for his display of emotion? The irony!

[@jenpeterson3712]

Richard Head so true.

[@theduckchick]

I suppose he would be if it were anyone else. But Sarek is a legend even on Vulcan. Or he was at this time.

[@highjim7778]

that vulcan was "holding sereks emotions" together telepathically.

[@Guitcad1]

That's part of the plot. It was not "indignant" so much as "we have a situation here!" Sarek was experiencing the beginning stages of the Vulcan equivalent of Alzheimer's. One of the symptoms is developing (or losing one's check on) emotions. Sarek, his wife, and the other two Vulcans all knew about it but it was not yet public knowledge. His being moved to tears by music was what tipped off Picard that something was wrong.

[@StevenOBrien]

Fun fact: Sarek is crying because he was promised a Mozart concert, but the players skipped the introduction of the Mozart quartet and then randomly started playing a Brahms sextet instead of the rest of the Mozart quartet.

[@YD-uq5fi]

Perrin : "Tataglia would be lovely". Sarek : "Tataglia is a pimp."

[@manco828]

Send Luca Brasi.😊

[@Mindraker1]

The Vulcan is crying because this is obviously a recording and Data doesn't know how to play the violin in reality.

[@TOFKAS01]

Well...Brent Spinner is a good enough actor...we can forgif him that he is not a trained violinist...

[@TheRealCantaraBella]

He was weeping because he actually plays violin😂

[@SeventiesVet]

Well written and directed scene. The Brahms Sextet is quite an emotional and beautiful piece, much underrated and not that well known.

[@kailin7512]

I think starting at around 1:08 Data went into conductor mode

[@NotoriousBroadcasts]

One of the most beautiful and poignant scenes in the entire franchise. Thankyou for posting. :)

[@lopaka79]

Wish they used the "classical musician" filter... Better yet hire Real Musicians

[@theexcaliburone5933]

@@lopaka79everyone on the stage other that Brent sooner is a musician, and so are the people in the recording

[@robnjake]

"I am Brahms.., Mr. Spock, why don't you play the waltz?" "I'll refrain, as it may bring my father to tears, and that would be unfitting of a Vulcan"

[@MarxistKnight]

I remember listening to an orchestra playing Greensleeves and I was literally moved to tears... proudest moment of my life!

[@maddieteddie553]

He's crying because he was promised a Mozart concert and they're playing a piece by Johannes Brahms!

[@michaellyden2580]

1:53 Sakkath: Oh Crap! 1:56 Troi: Dafuq!?

[@JoeEvans1]

For me, the greatest scene in Trek

[@hdbrot]

It would be if the violin acting wasn‘t so atrocious. I get that, they are no experts but someone explaining it to them a bit better for just the part they are showing could have been useful.

[@poppaul4336]

13 Years. Thanks for adding this video. May you be enshrined forever.

[@TOFKAS01]

0:07 C-3PO would be proud of you, Data.

[@tppercival5295]

That is the first time I've seen a Vulcan cry.

[@bujoun76]

This piece is so beautiful! I had to track it down and now I cant get enough!

[@NathanHaleBridger]

Ironically, it's Data that makes him cry.

[@russkcpa]

An earlier comment indicated only 2 were real musicians. I am guessing the woman on the left and the man playing the Cello (?) The older gentlemen seems to be rocking to the music which I think is a no no. The woman on the Violin looks VERY professional.

[@emilydanoob868]

2:32 Picard Seriously Wondering why he’s still single

[@zenasm.savage1999]

Love the captions!!! Indeed we do want Heifetz!!

[@simonjones7727]

It is a beautiful piece of music, though. Lovely to listen to!

[@alexm7047]

Beautifully filmed scene.

[@damdarch]

I love the obviously fake playing of ST:TNG.

[@pwnerj]

+damdarch I know right? Either Data's vibrato is incredibly finite or I'm missing something...

[@Vaehlo]

*Two Set Violin screaming in the background*

[@liesla1958]

I was hunting for this comment 😆

[@festyfestiva]

Can't blame him, that music brings a tear to my eye lol

[@raspar6]

Watching him pretend to play violin is pretty painful!

[@MarstonSmith1]

+raspar6 I asked Data very gently if he could lift his head up and relax his bow...but that was a mistake. He seriously did not get it that what he looked like was extremely awkward

[@shortlong8936]

Maybe that is how Tatalians play violins?

[@adamdemgar2798]

raspar6 yeah. I don’t know how to play any instruments. But, even I could tell he’s slipping

[@mtdewramen]

Thank you for the upload.

[@blackfyre5158]

This clip = Triggered Violinists

[@pkchar]

this is one of those great tng moments, i also love any episode that addresses data's sentience. Too bad they don't really look like they are playing.

[@broann4138]

0:02 Do you all see that female command division officer's uniform. It's a mix between the old one and the new one.

[@GoddessPallasAthena]

They're two performers short on the sextet, but still a lovely piece of music (I was subscribed to Musical Heritage society at the time and got this piece after seeing this episode - mind you, that was before easy access to specific classical music from things like streaming, itunes and Amazon).

[@Youngstown529]

There were not nearly enough violin concerts on this show.

[@alexanderjones9572]

At least he wasn’t watching a JJ Abrams ‘remake’- or Discovery!

[@arthurcondra9572]

So why are they playing Brahms in a Mozart recital? Oh, well, I guess that was a little nudge to see if we were paying attention. First piece was Mozart though. Love TNG anyway. Tatalia was a mafia crime family created by Mario Puzo.

[@vladp]

"Tatalia is a pimp." - Marlon Brando. as Don Corleone.

[@arthurcondra9572]

LoL.. Mozart is so awesome--gives me chills sometimes. Brahms is ok.

[@Guitcad1]

For the same reason all four musicians (except maybe the cellist) look like they've been given unfamiliar instruments as part of their treatment for some degenerative nerve disease, because "Screw it! Nobody will know the difference!"

[@antine1279]

Twoset has taught me well

[@xntric49]

Your captions are hysterical! Nice extra touch! :)

[@LaStriata]

This episode was contemporary with "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes" with Jeremy Brett... I would have loved it if Brent Spiner had appeared as an American guest star in that series.

[@NotoriousBroadcasts]

Jeremy Brett and Data together would have been total Bae. My mind is fucking blown. :O

[@crystalidentity]

This would be esp. hilarious since Data loved playing Sherlock Holmes in his Holodeck program, with Geordie as Watson! :D

[@malei5640]

Die beste klassische Musik kommt eben aus dem deutschsprachigem raum

[@bujoun76]

Lets get "Star Trek: Captain Worf" going! I need my sci-fi fix now...!

[@matthewhuang7695]

Really not as bad as stock photos, nailed the vibrato

[@351cleavland]

How to Make a Vulcan Cry? Tell them their mother was a Ferengie!

[@crystalidentity]

Nah, a Vulcan would merely deflect such an idea as completely illogical and nonsensical, therefore he can't even be offended by it.

[@Timrath]

Two of these four musicians are also musicians in real life. Who can spot them? ^^

[@hdbrot]

The one on the cello is clear. But apart from that, no one really moves their fingers that much. I don‘t know.

[@SILVERSKULL66]

ONE OF MANY FAVORITE STAR TREK TNG EPISODES FOR ME

[@vinista256]

He’s crying because he can’t figure out how a quartet managed to sound like a sextet and it’s driving him nuts.

[@bujoun76]

String Sextet No. 1 in B Flat Major, Op. 18: Andante, ma moderato You can buy this song from Amazon my friend!...

[@TimePlanck]

Love the annotations lol!

[@tristansvoboda3649]

I can't wait for a future where a sextet can be played by four instruments

[@quuaaarrrk8056]

just genius, this Johannes Brahms.

[@wjb4578]

Brett Spinner played the hell out of that violin

[@malei5640]

Classic as is best!

[@ricaard]

Fake as it is, this is still one of the reasons that I play violin!

[@PaulGrantDesigns]

Looking for the closest approximation of this performance in SACD? Try Prazak Quartet. Great detail and close timing from disc to this video, but whoever was playing Data's violin actually sounded just a bit sweeter.

[@crystalidentity]

Cool, thanks!

[@crystalidentity]

I found their website. Which disc is it on? prazakquartet.com/en/diskografie/

[@merMLAB]

I am wondering if there is a simplified musical version of Brahms: String Sextet No. 1 in B-flat Major. Op. 18. 2nd movement for guitar performance.

[@Jeeazz2012]

So what, Brent Spiner/Data can't play a violin how many of you can't play one either

[@Musicrafter12]

TwoSet should review this

[@bujoun76]

POWERFUL!

[@martinmolloy6996]

OK a Mozart Quartet morphs into a Brahms sextet. Lets not get too picky its possible that the Enterprise computer substitutes for the missing roles.

[@itamarbar9580]

0:13 hold on... Heifetz!? I have to see that!

[@adamdemgar2798]

To me, one of Data’s friends, here, even looks like he’s played by Brent. (The guy in the red shirt...)

[@EricardEX]

He cry because he can't wait to pee...

[@howlbigbadwolf]

"Pfff bitch made!"

[@lopaka79]

Video Title "Sacrilegious Boys makes Spock's Daddy Cry"

[@Lmanyakaa]

Well, he is not an android in real life either. I think it's a directing issue. The director should have instructed him to do so. He is capable of acting in any way.

[@bujoun76]

I'd love to see Hillary Hahn play this Mozart piece!

[@broann4138]

0:02 That guy next to Data looks like he should of been captain and not Picard. I mean seriously he looks older than Patrick Stewart!

[@taelyar]

This is some awesome camera work

[@Musicrafter12]

They should not have put three real musicians up there with him, it only makes it more obvious he's faking

[@Guitcad1]

The only one that looked like they MIGHT have actually played before was the cellist.

[@brooklynsmith2721]

Jamie van Brewen I don’t know. One of the violinists was doing vibrato which implies she can at least kind of play

[@SanctreMalleus]

why the hell dont we ever hear classical music in modern tv shows ever? i mean common, would it really hurt a show that badly to have a little Vivaldi,Brahms, Mozart in there????

[@oatmealboy6]

And NOT during a scene when cops are swarming a serial killer's basement.

[@manco828]

Cops swarming the serial killer's kill station is practically 99% of TV these days?

[@piotrd.4850]

That amazing shot in First Contact with Brelioz and Riker's face revealed in reflection....

[@lolosghost1643]

I never fully understand why Sarek cried was it because of Data or just simply the music or something

[@rkmugen]

Name at least one character from each of the TV series that played a musical instrument! TOS: Spock = Vulcan Lute TNG: Data = Violin, Guitar... anything, really; Picard = Ressikan Flute/piccolo; Riker = Trombone DS9: Worf = his voice.... Klingon Opera (yeah, i have to admit, this was a stretch, as he was more of an appreciator of music, than a practitioner. But anyway...); Odo = Piano (pretend only... and in the holosuite) VOY: Kim = Clarinet; Tuvok = Vulcan Lute; EMH = his voice (opera) ENT: Tucker = Harmonica

[@YD-uq5fi]

It is illogical for a vulcan to prefer human women, since human women age faster.

[@steve8225]

so touching

[@cygnustsp]

Wouldn't the extra eyelid thing vulcans have in their eyes like cats have prevent tears like that?

[@danielmorse4690]

Does anyone know if this room or area has a specific name for it?

[@bujoun76]

Such soul from an android! I suppose it will eventually happen in real life . One day.

[@senseishu937]

2:25 a manly tear it is

[@emmanuelgda]

alguém sabe o nome das musicas que foram tocadas nesse episódio ???

[@SimoSakariAaltonen]

This is one of my favourite scenes in all of Star Trek, which makes it all the more galling that whoever decided about these things didn't get the musical elements of it correct. Four players for a sextet. I can go along with the explanation about the Mozart / Brahms thing (that it was a Mozart concert with some extra Brahms thrown in), but the number of players being wrong must have been just cheapness (saving the cost of two extras) or lack of caring on some producer's part.

[@merMLAB]

I believe that the Enterprise computer played along with the quartet, complementing it to a sextet.

[@joelinsb8650]

I agree, the writers only needed to ask a musician to find them a string quartet excerpt that could make Sarek cry, and Brahms has three or four pretty good quartets to choose from to find something very appropriate, and of course Mozart also had a lot of very emotionally moving string quartet excerpts to choose from too. I can't believe that the writers loved this Brahms sextet excerpt so much that a quartet excerpt would not do.

[@SkyBeatSaber]

We need twoset

[@jackofbalarat22]

Why is the Capt. in a back row, and some meaningless LT is in the front ?

[@samhesketh]

I mean does Sarek just never dies?

[@ballsmckenzie]

He wasnt crying at the piece (in my opinion) he was marveling at Data, At how Far Organic Life had come in the time since his birth

[@piotrd.4850]

Isn't that cpt. Braxton himself?