Amstel Quartet - Samuel Barber/ Adagio for strings (arr. Johan van der Linden)

Remko Jak - sopraansax, Olivier Sliepen, altsax, Bas Apswoude - tenorsax, Ties Mellema - baritonsax
Amstel Quartet performs Adagio for strings composed by Samuel Barber and arranged by Johan van der Linden
This video was recorded in Bimhuis Amsterdam for VPRO Vrije Geluiden

[@hollis2557]

I have a music degree and was a classical saxophonist until multiple sclerosis and lung disease robbed me of the ability. I have often been angry that I could no longer do what I love so much. As I listen to these talented young men play one of my favorite pieces so very beautifully and technically near perfect, my eyes fill with tears and my anger dissipates and turns to joy and gratitude that I had many years of performing music. Millions have never experienced that immersion into the gift of music. Thank you!

[@pianojacq]

Join the club. After a good two decades of Tenor and Alto lung damage caught up with me and I had to quit. Now trying really hard to make it work on piano. But: it's a rearguard fight from the day you're born... strength to you!

[@braeden29221]

agreed. I playing alto in highschool and it hurts to think about because I know that nothing will ever be able to match the immersion, intimacy, beauty and whatever it is that emerges when everyone plays perfectly together. its that thing that emerges that leaves every player with a massive smile that they cant help but have when somehow in someway everyone is in sync. its hard to describe and no one could ever imagine it. you can only experience it. its that moment when everyone knows that they just did and made something really special. I've never experienced a better feeling in my life

[@ronbontz5053]

This is the way saxophones were meant to sound. A soul piercing breauty.

[@leange04]

yes but not only.... listen to john Coltrane

[@Godlike7_]

@@leange04everyone knows him the saxophone was made for this type of music

[@carpinchipedia7009]

@@Godlike7_ literally wrong. Sax invented the saxophone to have the projection of a brass instrument, and the agility of a woodwind. this piece is not especially agile, nor does it require brass-like projection (remember, this piece is for a string orchestra lol, the family of the orchestra famous for having poor projection).

[@beatsax]

If you are not a saxophonist you probably don't realize how difficult, almost impossible it is for four saxophones to play in tune together. Their intonation is impeccable. Their circular breathing (also extremely difficult, and which by the way strings don't have to worry about!) is flawless. Absolutely beautiful.

[@cadd9572]

Wow. As a cellist I (somewhat ignorantly) never thought saxophones could match the beauty of strings for this piece. I was proven wrong. Exquisite. I have just earned a new level of appreciation for the saxophone.

[@daet.4570]

classical saxophone is just beautiful - also check this out: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bXW3o6GOhL6ed5I

[@Katie75023]

So have I! VERY nicely done by these guys. Perhaps They could add a couple of french horns to the ensemble with a kettle drum?

[@megletable]

Saxophones can have a timbre like the human voice sometimes, I truly feel a sax quartet is the best way to hear the instrument (and for me at least the best way to play it too)

[@cleverclover3856]

I'm a saxophonist, and am only a "little bit" biased, but saxophones are capable of making some of the most beautiful sounds. They aren't limited to just jazz or another type of genre, but they can play just about anything and sound absolutely stunning.

[@JudeOneThree]

@Cadd9, I am a saxophonist who absolutely LOVES cello. It’s my favorite string voice. That timbre and tone! Oh my! L-O-V-E it!!! Of course, I also played a lot of baritone sax, so I may be a bit biased. With classical saxophone (imho), I always thought a great blend of string and voice sounds was optimal. These guys really nailed it…especially that bari player. And I’m glad you appreciated their sound. This saxophone player give them two thumbs up for sure!

[@paulflute]

Wow.. tone dynamic and pitch control while circular breathing on sax is NOT easy.. All four of them doing it soooo skilfully.. and not an easy piece to play from memory either.. Beautiful subtle listening and space... a shear joy.. so impressed.. well done guys.. ;9)

[@tymmtuba]

As a teacher, I use your masterful playing to show my students in band how a quartet truly works together. Absolutely stunning!

[@galadhonx9825]

The brother who looks like Logan Paul sounds beautiful. Everyone does, really. This is not easy on saxophone. They are also all circular breathing through it with rock steady tone. Kudos my guys!

[@maxwimmer9867]

A Masterpiece in every way. Perfect intonation, perfect harmony, perfectly tuned. Almost to perfect to be real. Barber himself would have been crying.

[@kasasto]

and the soprano was circle breathing.... just fantastic in every way.

[@gillesd91]

This soprano sound is one the best I ever heard

[@diegorovaglia6945]

And with a Selmer mouthpiece... must be an E or something crazy like that

[@Abelet33]

Probably a S80 C or D...

[@Bob-hv6dy]

Diego Rovaglia nope a regular C*

[@basapswoude9453]

@@Bob-hv6dy nope

[@evanvarns4785]

If you want your mind blown, listen to Eugene Rousseau play soprano...wow.

[@JeremyGalloway]

Many people consider this "the saddest piece of music." I don't think so at all. It conveys the full scope of human existence, every possible emotion at its fullest intensity. The sadness that people feel from it is only a fraction of this composition's true integrity. The only word to describe it is divine! That being said, I really wish they didn't speed up so much during the crescendo. It happened too quickly. Other than that, everything was absolutely perfect!!

[@dakotablue52]

Jeremy I consider the arrangements for their rendition of the main themes from ‘The Piano’ -which I can no longer find on sale on I tunes is equally convincing about the place of theSaxophone as an integral Classical instrument. Their performance choices after hours of listening heard a speed needed at the right points to create the poignancy of feeling in the listener.

[@ethannylander]

I love this comment. However I don’t think those that say it’s a sad piece are only feeling a fraction of the composition- I think these people are listening with a shallow ear. I think the true emotion of the piece is just so heavy that it’s easy to say “sad” and move on. Feeling the immense all-encompassing human emotions is just too intense and people are afraid to allow themselves to feel that.

[@TheFaithArtist]

I am compelled to keep returning to this sublime performance. Thank you so much for sharing this.

[@esfahan1961]

Had Samuel Barber’s adagio played at my dad’s funeral last October and your performance on saxophones truly moved me, especially as I am a saxophone player too (soprano, alto & tenor). Thank you so much guys 🙏🏼

[@MrUthatube]

Literally bought tears to my eyes. Intonation and control were magical, words escape me.

[@markhall7646]

The saxophones timbres add a silky dimension to this work. I'd love to have a copy of the score.

[@Musicienne-DAB1995]

Completely astonished by the power and beauty of the saxophone! Well done!

[@darllacarron9487]

I play two saxophones and haven't figured out how to make that beautiful pure sound like they do. I'm so inspired, I must discover the secret!

[@rahmicanyamanoglu7246]

I've never thought, sax can replace violin's role but this masterpiece is kind a game changer.

[@smyl71]

+Rahmi Can Yamanoğlu Quite, quite so.

[@jay1beaux]

Adolphe Sax envisioned the saxophones in a band as fulfilling the role of the strings in an orchestra.

[@EricFontaineJazz]

sax can do a lot of things. It is extremely expressive instrument.

[@gillesd91]

@@EricFontaineJazz Je pense que la raison vient de sa perce conique qui prodigue de riches harmoniques (la contrepartie est parfois le manque de justesse ce qui n'est pas le cas pour ce superbe quatuor batave).

[@daet.4570]

Man I love saxophone quartets

[@MarcioDeSouzagoldensax]

I love saxophones and this song is wonderful, I never tire of watching this video, Congratulations Amstel Quartet, it was a very happy choice!

[@user-jl3dc6og7w]

この4人のサックス プレイヤーたち、そしてこの動画を届けてくれた表現者たちに感謝します。ありがとう。

[@kasasto]

man i would kill for a sound like that on soprano

[@pablogagodb]

Buy a Yanagisawa

[@devinmchazlett4146]

Practice till u get perfect sound

[@ninjaaron]

Don't kill anyone. Just use a hard reed and a Selmer Concept or C* mouthpiece, and then practice, practice, practice your long tones.

[@davelee8961]

WOW! A wonderfully original version of Barber's classic Adagio.

[@TimMoher]

Fantastic, gentlemen!! Beautiful blend, impeccable listening, feel, etc.

[@TimMoher]

Let me know if you come to Canada

[@paytonanthony1308]

This is a fantastic rendition of this piece. Saxophone is an incredibly expressive instrument and truly shines in this setting.

[@saxmusicmail]

The consistency of tone and blend from soprano to alto to tenor to baritone is superb!

[@pikachuchujelly7628]

That's what impresses me the most. Their tones match so well and blend together like one instrument. It's not easy to do that with saxophones. I think they may all be using the same mouthpiece (looks like a Selmer), which helps a bit.

[@joaquinalonso5104]

La mejor interpretación de esta pieza que he escuchado. Qué sería de la música sin el saxofón.... enhorabuena!

[@joedown962]

Absolutely beautiful. I like this saxophone quartet better than a string quartet.

[@howardbuchanan703]

I totally agree!

[@richardjchandler]

The famous Adagio for Strings, composed by Samuel Barber, is beautifully by Johan van der Linden and performed with great sensitivity by the Amstel Saxophone Quartet of Amsterdam. This rendition is worth listening.

[@susannapowers9089]

This is the version that makes me cry. Bravo, Gentlemen!

[@CongressAdmin]

Unbelievable-Such a flawlessly powerful performance. And memorized! Their breath-control and phrasing are so admirable. What a gift to hear such a unique arrangement of a masterwork, performed by people at the pinnacle of their craft. I call that a win/win.

[@Rainmaker65]

As a vocal quartet performer, I'm particularly drawn to how well you blended across "vocal" ranges...the overlappings. The second thing I was drawn to was an aspect of vocal harmony - where members of a family have an uncanny ability to harmonize just a little tighter than non-familial voice. In short, there were times where each saxophone was "encroaching" into the one above/below it's own range that showed trememdous versatility of not only the instrument but the player as well. The "family unit" was extraordinairly harmonious - sometimes lending itself to not only hearing over- and under-tones, but, for lack of better words, phantom-tones within the chord as well. I enjoyed the performance so much that it earned me a night on the couch because my wife wasn't able to disuade me from this masterpiece. Though it will be an uncomfortable night, I still have my headphones and laptop...and a connection to KZbin... ;)

[@laurentlegros4602]

Je suis transporté par votre interprétation, finesse articulation nuance une alchimie parfaite entre 4 grands musiciens !!Merci pour c'est 7 minutes passé en votre compagnie.

[@julienstevenson3112]

The beauty of the music aside, their control over breathing is incredible.

[@superamodais]

The first casualty of war is innocence.

[@hasch5756]

Take solace in the fact that World War III will be over within an hour.

[@oakbank1953]

This brings a tear to my eyes every time I hear it; this is a wonderful rendition. Well done, and yes, I have more than just a tear... :)

[@tjsaudio]

WOW I think that you all would make Samuel barber Proud! Very nice, such a "Large and full" voice. Very good, this is my favorite musical piece and you all nailed it. Thank you!

[@dcaglarc]

I'm a former classical sax player. You guys are AWESOME! Well done.

[@chronomancer1134]

Sublime!

[@davekingpt]

Wow. Magnificent. I am blown away. I played this out of curiosity and you four showed me something I didn't know was possible. Such beautiful soulful sound from your saxophones. Bravo.

[@jonathanpolanco91]

You guys play this piece beautifully. I could only hope that I'd have a quartet to play this as beautifully. Brilliant playing

[@aguinaldobritojr.1669]

Amazing crescendo at 01:19.

[@yadiracelestrin2995]

Was my job by 30 years .i love this music , something important to say.very well plaid

[@gerritpeereboom4595]

Uitstekend gelijke inzetten! Verder mooie stemming. Geweldig sax. Kwartet.

[@FrankAHuser]

I’ve seen this clip many many times, and the quartet and their version of this magnificent composition reaches me in the heart. Superb!!

[@user-rq3tm9uf5q]

この曲、何度も聴きます❗ とても癒されます。管楽器のメロディも新鮮です。

[@ezanadaniel9149]

i still come back to this video just to hear the beautiful overtone at 4:55, simply magical

[@abhainnxv1554]

I think that's the part that everyone remembers

[@basapswoude9453]

;-)

[@javadkhakbaz8016]

Bravo! Bravo! Thank you from San Jose, California.

[@raulisonnicacio3301]

Very nice, beatifull songs

[@johnsontrimble7881]

As a sax play, this song is a chop buster

[@wormywrm]

agreed, God bless your lungs

[@pikachuchujelly7628]

They are circular breathing. But holding notes out for that long without any rests makes my embouchure tired.

[@DieFlabbergast]

Magnificent! Flawless and sublimely beautiful.

[@LambentOrt]

Wow... this is stunning. They're not just playing instruments, they're singing. Beautiful ❤️

[@johnpedersen3826]

I'm crying....this is harmony at it's best.....bless you guys...

[@ChristopheLEROLLE-Fr]

a great THANKS to the arranger and musicians: the essentiel of this great melody is kept in this piece !

[@homeofcreation]

Dit is een prachtige vertolking.

[@davidseidner2201]

Superb, simply wonderful! Gentlemen, I teach music both keyboard and instrumental to public school students in Brooklyn, NY. I cannot wait to share this! My youngest music students are 3 years of age and I have two instrumental bands, numbering 100, ranging in age from 5 - 10 years. Our saxophone section will most certainly attempt this piece! Thank you for such a remarkable performance.

[@greggyng]

Thanks guys! Wonderful performance!

[@justsucitup5914]

Bravissimo!!!!! I can listen to this all day long. Muy bien caballeros.

[@danieljunior8977]

Very, very, very beaultiful! What a wonderful sound control!!!

[@jackhousman6637]

The best rendition of the Barber I've ever heard! Bravi!

[@carlosgarcialeos3434]

Cuando la música es de calidad y a este Adagio le sobra, los resultados son estupendos.

[@andycoombes]

Crying. Beautiful.

[@justme07111]

Absolutely incredible.

[@ExtremeRecluse]

That's what I'm talking about. Fantastic. I loved it!!

[@majivantara]

This is incredible. Bravo guys!

[@ronj1693]

Beautiful gentlemen, thank you all so much. As an ex alto sax player it moved me to tears.

[@PatMartinez14624]

Absolutely brilliant!

[@DiFioreJA]

This is a masterpiece. beautiful work, gentlemen.

[@pepesoler069]

la interpretacion mas perfecta y simple de la tristeza y gozo a la vez..

[@rickshew]

Great! Love this version!

[@manfredmelcher7803]

A gem! Thank you.

[@didondio]

Great cover,just beautiful !

[@kayakeraltamaha9558]

Really an awesome rendition, I mean really! You guys did a superb job... thank you!

[@josequins9099]

Exquisite.

[@chap666ish]

When I typed this six people had downvoted this most incredible interpretation of Barber's Adagio for strings. I feel so sad that there are six people who have died inside :(

[@user-ez1ez2vg6w]

1つ1つの音を大切にしていることがヒシヒシと伝わってきました。 特に最後の和音、しびれましたねー！ 素晴らしい演奏をありがとうございました。 今後の活躍を、心より期待しています。

[@heatherbuechelartistry]

Lots of control and passion in this, beautiful!

[@garylocke1]

Amazing! I got "chills!"

[@katrinasuibielski5211]

BEAUTIFUL!!!!!

[@ffisok]

No Way I would have thought this could have been done by 4 lone musicians. But it has. And it has been done wonderfully.

[@robsonfast]

Adagio for string... pure emotion!

[@geraldyoselevich6336]

Splendid

[@richardameade]

Absolutely beautiful!

[@mikado2005]

Bravi! A beautiful performance of one of my favorites.

[@vannigio6234]

Uah! Bellissimo, bravissimi!

[@museprof]

Bravo, gentlemen. That is some really fine playing.

[@seanmark96]

Stunning and hugely enjoyable. Many thanks.

[@NevenaRakovska]

You give me the chill!

[@flunkywill2000]

Outstanding! Thanks!

[@istemihanvarisli]

This is so beautiful. Kudos, people!

[@sergiogumer181]

belo, incrivel, super, wonderfull version!

[@abbasjradi5001]

Beyond masterpiece!

[@peterhavaskingsley8492]

This is amazing. Bravo!

[@ThePeaceableKingdom]

Very, very nice!

[@unfamouspianist]

Simply amazing.

[@stepanmachacek8964]

Kluci,jste sdělí...

[@teoacuna5953]

Very, very good . ¡ Excelsior !

[@glynhughes1906]

Fantastic love this .

[@TamaraMead]

This is fantastic! Thanks for sharing it.

[@pepesoler069]

la interpretacion mas perfecta y simple de la tristeza y alegria a la vez..

[@brandonjamar]

Gorgeous!!!