András Schiff Lecture on the Bach Partitas

András Schiff Lecture Concert on
The BACH Partitas Nos.1-6 for Keyboard, BWV 825-830
Pierre Boulez Saal, June 2018
Notes: Schiff also gave a recital of the Six Partitas following the lecture. You can watch them here • András Schiff plays Ba...

[@avivdor1454]

Sarabande from the 5th partita in G major - 0:00 Introduction - 1:50 No.5 G major - 12:40 No.3 A minor - 24:41 No.1 B flat major - 36:04 No.2 C minor - 45:23 No.4 D major - 1:03:00 No.6 E minor - 1:13:00

[@karltekusch7008]

Danke für die wichtigen EINSTIEGE!!!❤

[@Tamara-qd5dc]

Bach's music has been my refuge and shelter from all the storms in my life. And now it is even more welcoming, thanks to Mr. Schiff!

[@br5448]

ditto

[@ericofelix2005]

The best lecture ever available freely on KZbin! We in this time are so blessed to have access to this invaluable insight and knowledge.

[@ivebarraco]

check out also his lecture about the Goldberg Variations! I think I enjoy it even more!

[@Leon-xw3nv]

One genius composing and another interpreting and playing. Sublime.

[@albertoalfaroginer7554]

This video is an immense treasure. It demonstrates that only a genius can do real justice to the music of another genius.

[@man0sticks]

I love watching Schiff’s hands. They are so quiet and relaxed. Many pianists seem to be contorting their hands as they play, making it look difficult. Schiff sits relatively low at the piano and his hands seem suspended by invisible cords like a marionette. Wonderful technique.

[@RoxanneM-]

He just lets the music play. 🥰👍

[@matthewbbenton]

I saw him in a recital a few years ago (front row, full view of his hands), and it was a beautiful thing to watch. He’s one of a few pianists I could watch with the sound off and be satisfied.

[@joseluisrodriguezpitarch71]

Nobody can explain Bach like Schiff does, just a wonderful master class on Bach's partitas and with his particular sense of humor. simply wonderful. Bravo maestro!!!

[@EricWortman-b7v]

It was a wondrous lecture demonstration.

[@mahnighorashi5684]

The man is a genius. Preternatural memory, profound knowledge and deeply musical. What a teacher!

[@matthewpiper6526]

💯

[@amitavaganguly4352]

Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful...thank you so much...

[@tonybmusic1166]

Andras Schiff and Michael Parloff are my two go-to guys for music lectures on KZbin. I’m 78 with a masters in music comp and am still learning so much from these two gentlemen…..though especially Mr. Schiff on Bach.

[@Narragorth]

46:36

[@dantepilgrim]

I've watched nearly every lecture and masterclass with Schiff that you can find, and this is among the best. An absolute treasure trove of musical insight. Thank you!

[@olavk7111]

Andras Schiff is the supreme interpreter of this music. He is also a supreme lecturer, giving a wonderful survey of all partitas, with illuminating remarks on all the movements. I love it.

[@yongquixote]

Thank you for sharing this excellent recording!!!

[@ConLawElements]

Brilliant performance. Mr. Schiff provides a most interesting explanation of what these works meant to Bach, and why Mr. Schiff chose to play them in this unique order, and with his particular interpretation. Thank you very much for sharing this great performance.

[@nicola84palm]

Such a beautiful touch, so soft, rounded, elegant and effortless.

[@yooniecho6394]

Thank you SO MUCH for posting this! He is not only a supreme musician, but a teacher of rare excellence.

[@falldogii]

Not only one of the greatest pianists of all time, but such a brilliant teacher. Always we learn so much from him. Thanks for posting this. ❤

[@CameronWattMusic]

I'm learning the B flat partita. This video is an absolute treasure.

[@JogilB]

I am very lucky to be able to see him in Toronto in 2023. He is exactly like this. His recitals are not structured and they are done by what he think is appropriate.

[@Tamara-qd5dc]

I thought I knew Bach partitas as I heard them many times - until I watched this! Thank you, Mr. Schiff!

[@renzo6490]

I’m so glad that there was no applause after the opening piece.

[@Cavillagallery]

Magnificent ❤what a pleasure to listen and learn from the world is blessed by people like him

[@martinhunter1468]

What an absolute honour it is to watch such a genius discuss his art and insight in what it means to him. It’s so personal. Totally without ego. To me he always puts Bach first which sometimes is not the case with some performers.

[@bitti1975]

"A repeat should never be a photocopy of the first part". Even when I wasn't aware of this rule, I always followed it subconsciously. I make different mistakes every time.

[@cutebird23]

The music he played in the beginning was so beautiful and pure. The best part is he can make it so simple and beautiful

[@zenzheng2137]

Schiff is unmatched in so many ways as a musician and human being.

[@rickfreeman]

A genuine master performer and communicator.

[@johanngottliebgoldberg1055]

This makes me appreciate the Bach partitas more. Thank you and God bless!

[@stefanhall3219]

I really have not paid any attention to the Partitas, but now I am going to dig in! Thanks a Million Andras! Great Stuff!

[@dorotheasluik3578]

Yes, indeed, wonderful! Incredibly touching, such a great musician and person who teaches us so much. Thank you so much for uploading!

[@AliAslan-pp3gt]

Thank you so much for posting this. I am an avid admirer of Schiff and this is invaluable for me as I am currently studying partita no:6

[@brunotheiss1]

Oh my, I feel so lucky to have access to this. Thank you.

[@frankjohannson6484]

Schiff is for me like a father in things of music

[@arsace63]

Thank you so much Maestro!

[@EnviroNews]

This is a gem.

[@leo32190]

Of course another wonderful and enlightening lecture by Andras Schiff. Bravo maestro!

[@mjbutterworth]

No notes or sheet music. Pure mastery.

[@ivebarraco]

he has all in his mind, in his hands(in his heart!). Schiff is probably one of the greatest minds -besides of course of one of the greatest pianist- of western classical music.

[@minggao5002]

Great performer and interpreter... Prof. Schiff

[@mach37]

I needed this information, after watching the partitas individually. 🤗

[@Adar195]

A 1 hour eye opening journey through the holy sacred paradises.

[@fazergazer]

Bach exemplifies the challenge as to what is notated and what is actually performed according to common practice and historical context. Sir Schiff András illustrates numerous examples throughout the performance lecture, and shows the thinking behind how to try to solve the challenge of interpretation. The deeper you go, the more there is.

[@br5448]

did this have to end? Thank you so much! World of nonsense disappeared as I entered this

[@VolodiaLukianov]

Звук, как он его извлекает.. фантастический звук! Волшебное видео.

[@christianschuster4184]

Imagining a world without Bach initiates total pain. Let us celebrate and cherish this blessing forever

[@richardwebb2348]

A long time advocate for the performance of baroque music on instruments of the period.

[@ZuraBBacha]

Thank you, so interesting. Please, more of this kind of Videos.

[@Leon-xw3nv]

Exceptional and informative, thanks again for another wonderful upload!

[@FinnoUgric]

Playing all that from memory.

[@jean-jacqueskaselorganreco6879]

on this repertoire he is world best, without any doubt

[@FirstGentleman1]

Some are on a smiliar level. Take for example Murray Perahia and the six Bach Partitas.

[@r.i.p.volodya]

Don't forget Glenn Gould...

[@brandonmacey964]

Sounds like there is some doubt

[@felixsinniger280]

​@@FirstGentleman1To my mind, Andras Schiff and Murray Perhaia are those who have transmitted us Johann Sebastian BACH'S wonderful legacy.

[@felixsinniger280]

​@@r.i.p.volodyaGould played for Gould : that's whay he is vanishing, I think.

[@angelatanurdzic7508]

Beautiful concert ❤

[@LAK_770]

There is another motive that shows up everywhere in the Cm Partita as well, not mentioned by Sir Andras. It’s a specific style brisé figure outlining descending thirds - it first appears to round off the Grave subject (Ab-G-F-G-D-Eb) then returns in the Andante and (slightly modified) in the Fugue subject, then it becomes the primary motive of the Allemande; it appears frequently in the Courante and Sarabande, and finally shows up in the second episode of the Rondo. The Capriccio’s figuration doesn’t really allow for it, but of course that movement has the most obvious appearance of the tenths and ascent by thirds mentioned here. I’ve heavily scrutinized the Partitas for motivic construction, and only #6 is as obsessive and specific in this regard as #2. This approach creates an almost subliminal sense of cohesion and kinship between the individual dances in this suite, going beyond the similarity of character and style you see in the other suites. It’s brilliant.

[@CalebCarman]

Wow, that is really astute! What genius!

[@רימוןסגל]

Fantazty......thank you......👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

[@albertoalfaroginer7554]

This is a typical minor mode motive in baroque music. See the Allemande from the third suite of Händel in D minor, HWV 428.

Il y a un autre motif qui apparaît également partout dans la Cm Partita, non mentionné par Sir Andras. C'est une figure spécifique de style brisé décrivant les tierces descendantes - elle apparaît d'abord pour arrondir le sujet Grave (Ab-G-F-G-D-Eb) puis revient dans l'Andante et (légèrement modifiée) dans le sujet Fugue, puis elle devient le motif principal de l'Allemande ; il apparaît fréquemment dans la Courante et la Sarabande, et apparaît enfin dans le deuxième épisode du Rondo. La figuration du Capriccio ne le permet pas vraiment, mais bien sûr ce mouvement a l'apparence la plus évidente des dixièmes et de l'ascension par tierces mentionnées ici. J'ai scruté attentivement les Partitas pour la construction motivique, et seul le n ° 6 est aussi obsessionnel et spécifique à cet égard que le n ° 2. Cette approche crée un sentiment presque subliminal de cohésion et de parenté entre les danses individuelles de cette suite, allant au-delà de la similitude de caractère et de style que vous voyez dans les autres suites. C'est brilliant.

[@kliberalsing]

I once had a piano teacher who laughed rather stupidly when I told him that I sing some phrases when learning a new piece to make them sound more natural and meaningful on the piano. Turns out he was dying of alcoholism at that time, so maybe he did not understand what I was saying. May he rest in peace.

[@oneirdaathnaram1376]

We never should laugh about other people performing art honestly, shouldn't we? I think, singing some phrases is a very valuable way of getting that rather clumsy instrument which the piano actually is into a cantabile mode. We just should not sing when performing for an audience, I'd say. There was one madman that even recorded himself singing while playing Bach, and I do not think he had the most pleasant voice ... 😉

[@bouyhos]

1:12:56 : "I cannot admire the master enough."

[@ViktoriaLevchenko]

Sir András Schiff is a genius!

[@nikiseminara4345]

Ipnotizzante!!!

[@benderocks788]

I vote for this video to be nominated for my imaginary HQIC Award: High Quality Internet Content Award. Sorry cat videos, you are not just cutting it, Bach and Schiff does though. 😁

[@zurich5607]

I’ve now returned to this after learning about the controversy surrounding the sixth gigue. I hope he says something about i!

[@rayancharafeddine4982]

Whats the controversy?

[@zurich5607]

@@rayancharafeddine4982 whether or not to swing it like a gigue. People argue it’s actually more musical to play it as written. Not sure where I fall. kzbin.info/www/bejne/iGGXkodtZpWNeK8 the pinned comment in the comment section on that video has a great discussion of it.

[@ИринаСветлова-т1б]

Why Maestro Schiff have to do it?

[@palebluegreen]

love this!

[@C.Hawkshaw]

He’s the best.

[@gauriblomeyer1835]

Wonderful, I enjoyed the different characteristics expressed in the harmony teaching. It is a completely different story if a musical person from India is requested to tell us what he feels when listening to each of the dances. Vice versa you can express what you feels when listening to ghasals sung by Nayyara Noor. So this is a new subject if we ask what piece of music gives us to what extent the hidden ecstasy which music gives us ? - not to mention the question from where music comes or since when has the world of music been created and by whom ?

[@Remi-B-Goode]

thank you so much for sharing!

[@nikiseminara4345]

Meraviglioso!!

[@Highinsight7]

GREAT video!!!

[@TheBasde]

Legend has it at 1:10:04 mr Schiff was not using the pedal

[@SpontaneityJD]

1:14:51 ❤

[@Massimo.Bianchi]

Bravissimo!!!

[@AntonelloWAM]

If Bach is God then Andras Schiff is Saint Peter ... amazing lecture thank you

[@Aezandris]

Where was this published? I tried to go to the Goldberg lecture but couldn't make it and never ended up seeing their publication. Thanks for that!

[@Namuchat]

There's a reason nations or political entities don't put a person's picture on their flags. The flag is intended to be a symbol that any human being can relate to without excluding anyBODY. As for the European Union, it is unthinkable that all members states would agree on Bach or anyone.

[@levimatheri7682]

How does he just know all this from memory?

[@paddyoreilly9134]

He's a musical genius.

[@Mai-Gninwod]

38:39 he mistakenly says "fa sol la ti" instead of "sol la ti do"

[@thepianocornertpc]

To the uploader: Please synchronize the video.

[@cookieoreo713]

1:09:40 What is this theme?

[@StephenTrainor]

“Gebt mir meinen Jesum wieder”, from the Matthew Passion

[@cookieoreo713]

@@StephenTrainor omg what a good work this is !!!!!

[@juanmoa719]

Why are the movement of the pianist’s hands not synchronized with the sounds?

[@Agenamigo]

That's what "it appears to be" from your end. Watching KZbin from a Windows PC or Mac or Linux is different from watching KZbin from a smart phone. If you are watching from a computer, your browser, RAM memory, video card, processor, speed of your network, all affect watch you see and hear.

[@M419.99]

@@Agenamigo not quite, the close-up cameras are set to high shutter speed so the movements are a little bit more accentuated (means less blurry), so you kind of notice the slight delay between the image and the sound recorded. In this case, the sound stream might have traveled a fraction faster than the cameras going in.

[@jakesmith3724]

nevermind this, just enjoy.

[@juanmoa719]

Maybe the sound was recorded separately

[@raleedy]

Why is subject-verb agreement dead?

[@lindacowles756]

Gnädiger Herr Schiff, Sie würden ein Bachbildnis an der Flagge der Europische Vereinigung stellen, wenn möglich. Welche Meinung haben Sie, dass im Buntglasfenster der Thomaskirche, solch ein Bildnis ist?

[@mariorossi9655]

42:05

[@ilovebundang8672]

💕❤

[@neosannyasin8022]

🙏

[@militaryandemergencyservic3286]

no 5 sounds like Beethoven. I am a 6th generation Beethoven student.

[@ВладаКозлова-р6ж]

55:32 куранта

[@1oscarbravo]

The Almond? Perhaps Allemande 😉

[@benderocks788]

Captions were ON when I was watching this so I could read along what Schiff was saying, and I was actually eating almonds when the word ALMOND appeared in the subtitles when Schiff said Allemande!!! I almost choked on my almonds! 🤣 Yeah, komrad KZbin subtitle AI needs to go to music re-education camp 🤣🤣🤣

[@MrDaryca]

I will start a petition to EU about putting Bach on the flag :) There is no better way to unite nations. And just in case you think/wonder why German composer? The Germans can't take the ownership of a composer, as I can't take the ownership of Chopin. They belong to all of us.

[@daucuscarota6602]

Your comment does not fit in this forum.

[@MrDaryca]

@@daucuscarota6602 Daucus, something tells me you haven't watched the whole video, my comments are closely related to what Andras Shiff said about Bach.

[@daucuscarota6602]

@@MrDaryca I watched the video very closely. This is no place for nationalist complexes.

[@MrDaryca]

@@daucuscarota6602 Daucus, did you read my initial comment "There is no better way to unite nations"? Where do you see nationalist complexes? My initial comment was more of a joke than anything else. I'm not a nationalist, and I don't have any complexes (worth mentioning).

[@daucuscarota6602]

@@MrDaryca I read you comment. Apparently you have a problem with Bach being a German. Your comment is the only one in this forum that has nothing to do with music.

[@gunnarkoss9262]

Very impressive his playing and Imagination! But - he doesn't play very imaginative, for example the "french Ouverture" of the 4th - such a Speed and eveness - no trumpets or horns could play like this. I think in generell there is less slowness in his playing, unfortunately. But very severe and secure his Presentation! Lovely lightness.

[@SkinSlayer26]

How did the audience refrain from applauding after some of Maestro Schiff's playing? If I'd been there, I certainly would have applauded at, for example, 44:30, after the Gigue from Partita No. 1, under pain of ejection!

[@daucuscarota6602]

I am glad that no one is applauding in the middle of Schiffs great elaborations.

[@isaiasramosgarcia3457]

keda mejor al clave

[@seojin683]

다 조은데 오토튠이 거슬리네

[@MontagTheMagician]

too f.u.c.klng soft. and the tone on that piano is hokey. if Celine Dion played Bach this is what it would sound like.