the hardest part of any bach fugue is more a mental thing than physical, is being able to clearly separate all the different melodic lines and understand how they fit together. its only when you can sing all the different parts individually that you really get inside the fugue. nice one julian, lovely playing
I can't explain what I feel when I listen to this.. This is, BY FAR, the most emotive and beautiful interpretation of this piece i've ever heard. This is more than brilliant.. Thank you Julian Bream.
I am astonished at the complexity and virtuosity that I have just witnessed. I am guitarist and I am forever humbled by the grace and beauty of this piece of music.
I never get tired of listening to this. Julian Bream seems to make pieces sound just that bit more "musical" than most other guitarists. Fantastic stuff!
My dad played this song when I was a kid... He played it every day, but I never really noticed until one day when I just happened to stop, watch and listen. I've been in love with the instrument ever since. Good for you for picking it back up; don't ever put it down again!
I play a few Bach pieces, every time I go back to them I find new possibilities to explore. From the first time I hear Julian he has been my favourite guitarist, he does not attempt to bring the best out of himself, only out of the music. is as though he disappears. the music is all there is with Julian; pure, intelligent, not over or under stated, as subtle and gentle as a breeze it might be describing, just honest, human and quite perfect. thanks for uploading.
He really takes us on a musical trip. . . Amazing articulation of separate lines. His intention imbues the music with a certain forward trajectory and doesn't release until the last chord is played. A master musician. Not just a guitar player.
Thanks for putting up this video... I thought i had lost a gem of a recording... used to have a videotape of this in the early 80's but it got irreversibly damaged... this came from a documentary "A Life in the countryside"? he did with other well known guitarists including John Williams and Paco Pena, and his exclusive guitar maker at that time, Jose Romanillos. This traces his early life and shows many sides of his character... great video! Thanks again...
I once got a letter from Julian Bream in response to one I sent him. He's a genius, yet he is also a humble and fun-loving sort of man. I don't really think he judges people and their taste in music a lot...but he does love the lute and guitar and he is glad for having had such a fine musical career. I often pray for him since I really can't put the love and admiration I have for this man and his music into words very well.
Passion and boring?surely cant be true abt. this wonderful rippling music which has been such a pleasure treasure to all kinds of instrumentalists past and present.Bream and his interpretation of this piece is second to none.Pleas allow the man to express his feelings for the piece in his own unmistakeable way...you look you see him and you say "Thats Julian Bream"
@InDarknessLight this is BWV 1000. if you listen to BWV 1001, you might think its the same as 1000, but bach originally wrote 1001 as a violin fugue, and he must have loved it so much he edited it as a lute fugue (1000). just a little info :)
Que se puede esperar del maestro Julian Bream ??? Solo calidad !!!... Tecnica, limpieza, delicadeza y se ve que en realidad lo siente y lo disfruta, se mete dentro de la pieza... es simplemete genial !!! Grande Julian Bream
what impresses me is his memory. some of his bach recitals that are 13 and 15 minutes long especially. amazing player that i have only been introduced to. lots of respect for the man
there is also a version for organ, BWV539, in d minor, if you are interested. the lute version definitely came last in the three versions, but i don't know whether this fugue was first written for the violin or for the organ (the organ version has more vioces than the violin, though).
I first heard this 10 years ago and immediately enrolled in a college level classical guitar course. Not knowing the name of this tune, I was very excited to find this, and have already begun working on it!!
Greetings back! Nice to hear from someone tackling the same piece. I am finding the concluding section (last twenty-odd bars) very demanding with some quite tricky stretches making it very hard to maintain a decent rhythm. At the moment I'm just clunking through them slowly. Best wishes - keep at it - Bach is always well worth all the effort expended!
i think what we're talking about is the definition of singing, whenever smn mentions it to me i relate it directly to today's musical culture. which again nothing is wrong with it. it just depends on the point of view you're coming from!
Although you are making good points and creating supplemental entertainment beyond the video itself, I like to take it back to the simple enjoyment of the song itself. The video itself is not even important, I simply close my eyes and listen. It sounds wonderful and that is all that matters.
@Pipixcan1 In an interview on British Radio 3 . Julian Bream said that he has sold his house to provide funds for scholaships for music students at the Royal College Of Music and for composers to write new music for the guitar.He said he wanted to give something back to the music .I think that is a real measure of this great Artist.
i went and read about it actually yesterday, I think Bach used it for both violin work and Lute work... Bach did that a lot with some of his tunes where he copies the exact thing into a different set of work. cuz his works are mainly studies so it would make sense i guess..I dont want to say more because i still have to do the research but its a possibility since I've heard 3 versions of it (violin, lute, and guitar). all are equally amazing but guitar has a different flavor :D
Richie Blackmore is an ICON. As a teen he got me to fall in love with the guitar and it's potential - hence my love of J.S.Bach and Paganini. As well, of course, as the man himself. ;-)
I think each string carries out its own voice like an orchestra each struggle for supremacy and each has its own message and journey to carry through 6 minutes. its beyond singing in my opinion. its kind of a mental state that takes you straight to Bach's mind at that moment and capture it forever (2009). to relate that kind of art to singing (which is in my opinion current culture) is kind of...not describing it well...but i see you're point, singing is a wonderful thing.
@oddursb i can play this piece in my sleep (ok in my dreams) superb music by Bach and Superb playing by Julian Bream . Middle age Old age Youth this man can play Guitar.
It is a song to me all the same, one's perspective on what is considered a song varies, I understand you are correct in the literal sense. :) simple beauty.
This video is one of my favorites... It is definitely the Lute version of the piece, BWV 1000, not from violin sonata 1001. You can tell because there is an extra subject entrance in the bass voice at the beginning, the violin version only has 3 entrances and this one has 4.
@shepherd241 I heard that he has sold his lovely house in Semply and moved to a transitional home. He must miss that place nearly as much to his playing of old! The greatest pioneer for the guitar after Segovia
There is an incredibly vast repertoire of masterpieces for the guitar. Some are lesser known than others. There are MANY pieces that can hold their own in a Carnegie performance.
uuh this is the g min fugue for violin maybe it was transposed to a to guitar? - the a minor violin fugue is totally different and i like it alot more - ive always respected bream but always preferred john williams - but i liked the playing here alot and i really liked it - after studying this on violin for so long its cool to hear it played on violin so thanks for that
Absolutely Bach "fits" the guitar.. His tense demeanor is perhaps better described as intense. He is not only a master of technical exactitude like Williams, but a master of subtle musical interpretation. He has his own footprint in Bach's pieces to be sure.
Absolute perfection! Doesn't he make you want to burn your guitar! I have spent the best part of a year struggling with this piece and know that I will NEVER play it like this
Each to his own dear friend.Look carefully at the subtle movements of the players right hand as he uses the tonal qualites of the instrument in his interpretation of the piece as well as all the other things going on.
I could say that theres three instruments...which can be called kings of all music....:Piano,Guitar,Violin...and here one of them...makes his appearance on the stage...absolutely amazing how this musician plays the guitar defies explanation
@newFranzFerencLiszt 1000. Bach actually wrote a fugue nearly identical to this, 1001, and i guess he liked it so much he changed it a little. personally i think both are equal; they surpass measurement.
I think he would play more relaxed if he took that suit jacket off ... is that a Fleta guitar? anyone ? he does not have an amazing sound but nails the groove in the music which makes it all very beautiful and musical ..... bravo JB
the hardest part of any bach fugue is more a mental thing than physical, is being able to clearly separate all the different melodic lines and understand how they fit together. its only when you can sing all the different parts individually that you really get inside the fugue. nice one julian, lovely playing
I can't explain what I feel when I listen to this.. This is, BY FAR, the most emotive and beautiful interpretation of this piece i've ever heard. This is more than brilliant..
Thank you Julian Bream.
Genius. I'm lucky enough to have heard him live many times from the early 70's.
I am astonished at the complexity and virtuosity that I have just witnessed. I am guitarist and I am forever humbled by the grace and beauty of this piece of music.
I never get tired of listening to this. Julian Bream seems to make pieces sound just that bit more "musical" than most other guitarists. Fantastic stuff!
My dad played this song when I was a kid... He played it every day, but I never really noticed until one day when I just happened to stop, watch and listen. I've been in love with the instrument ever since. Good for you for picking it back up; don't ever put it down again!
Passionate player, great technique brilliant musical quality, let Bachs spirit continue to bless you.
amazing sir julian bream! bach will be very proud of you
I play a few Bach pieces, every time I go back to them I find new possibilities to explore.
From the first time I hear Julian he has been my favourite guitarist, he does not attempt to bring the best out of himself, only out of the music. is as though he disappears.
the music is all there is with Julian; pure, intelligent, not over or under stated, as subtle and gentle as a breeze it might be describing, just honest, human and quite perfect.
thanks for uploading.
He really takes us on a musical trip. . .
Amazing articulation of separate lines.
His intention imbues the music with
a certain forward trajectory and doesn't release
until the last chord is played.
A master musician. Not just a guitar player.
Thanks for putting up this video... I thought i had lost a gem of a recording... used to have a videotape of this in the early 80's but it got irreversibly damaged... this came from a documentary "A Life in the countryside"? he did with other well known guitarists including John Williams and Paco Pena, and his exclusive guitar maker at that time, Jose Romanillos. This traces his early life and shows many sides of his character... great video! Thanks again...
I once got a letter from Julian Bream in response to one I sent him. He's a genius, yet he is also a humble and fun-loving sort of man. I don't really think he judges people and their taste in music a lot...but he does love the lute and guitar and he is glad for having had such a fine musical career. I often pray for him since I really can't put the love and admiration I have for this man and his music into words very well.
Bream was a legend, esp. for playing Bach. How he separates the voices in all the fugues is masterful and so beautiful.
Passion and boring?surely cant be true abt. this wonderful rippling music which has been such a pleasure treasure to all kinds of instrumentalists past and present.Bream and his interpretation of this piece is second to none.Pleas allow the man to express his feelings for the piece in his own unmistakeable way...you look you see him and you say "Thats Julian Bream"
@InDarknessLight this is BWV 1000. if you listen to BWV 1001, you might think its the same as 1000, but bach originally wrote 1001 as a violin fugue, and he must have loved it so much he edited it as a lute fugue (1000). just a little info :)
Que se puede esperar del maestro Julian Bream ??? Solo calidad !!!...
Tecnica, limpieza, delicadeza y se ve que en realidad lo siente y lo disfruta, se mete dentro de la pieza... es simplemete genial !!!
Grande Julian Bream
ran2527 Estoy de acuerdo. Su interpretacion del aranjuez del año 60 es insuperable en su belleza! sello victor!
what impresses me is his memory. some of his bach recitals that are 13 and 15 minutes long especially. amazing player that i have only been introduced to. lots of respect for the man
Mr Bream is a master of the classical guitar, he makes sound absolutly wonderful
Julian Bream is to the guitar what E. Power Biggs is to the organ; incomparable! Beautiful! (Segovia does nicely with Bach, also. Great post.
Claudia
there is also a version for organ, BWV539, in d minor, if you are interested. the lute version definitely came last in the three versions, but i don't know whether this fugue was first written for the violin or for the organ (the organ version has more vioces than the violin, though).
Heard him in concert in Toronto in the 80s. Brilliant then, brilliant now.
Great rare video...this piece is so much fun to play. Love the editing of the vid as well.
search Bach fugue in A minor. BWV g 1000
its originally written for lute so make sure u get guitar sheets
I first heard this 10 years ago and immediately enrolled in a college level classical guitar course. Not knowing the name of this tune, I was very excited to find this, and have already begun working on it!!
I love the Bream interprets JS Bach.
Greetings back! Nice to hear from someone tackling the same piece. I am finding the concluding section (last twenty-odd bars) very demanding with some quite tricky stretches making it very hard to maintain a decent rhythm. At the moment I'm just clunking through them slowly. Best wishes - keep at it - Bach is always well worth all the effort expended!
i think what we're talking about is the definition of singing, whenever smn mentions it to me i relate it directly to today's musical culture. which again nothing is wrong with it. it just depends on the point of view you're coming from!
julian bream's fugue = world's best played ever and for ever for me
When it comes to classic guitar and Bach, Julian Bream is God!
Played with unsurpassable delicacy of rhythmic nuance.
Sounds very authentic. Superb performance.
@zolluuu Perhaps after I have watched this great video over and over again it may reflect over a million views.
Although you are making good points and creating supplemental entertainment beyond the video itself, I like to take it back to the simple enjoyment of the song itself. The video itself is not even important, I simply close my eyes and listen. It sounds wonderful and that is all that matters.
this is so touchy. great guitar performance!
It's so beautiful, it makes my soul hurt
Beautiful guitar technique. Incredible pull offs and hammer downs at 5:02.
@Pipixcan1 In an interview on British Radio 3 . Julian Bream said that he has sold his house to provide funds for scholaships for music students at the Royal College Of Music and for composers to write new music for the guitar.He said he wanted to give something back to the music .I think that is a real measure of this great Artist.
i went and read about it actually yesterday, I think Bach used it for both violin work and Lute work... Bach did that a lot with some of his tunes where he copies the exact thing into a different set of work. cuz his works are mainly studies so it would make sense i guess..I dont want to say more because i still have to do the research but its a possibility since I've heard 3 versions of it (violin, lute, and guitar). all are equally amazing but guitar has a different flavor :D
Richie Blackmore is an ICON. As a teen he got me to fall in love with the guitar and it's potential - hence my love of J.S.Bach and Paganini. As well, of course, as the man himself. ;-)
I think each string carries out its own voice like an orchestra each struggle for supremacy and each has its own message and journey to carry through 6 minutes. its beyond singing in my opinion. its kind of a mental state that takes you straight to Bach's mind at that moment and capture it forever (2009). to relate that kind of art to singing (which is in my opinion current culture) is kind of...not describing it well...but i see you're point, singing is a wonderful thing.
julian bream, the best guitarrist of the world
@oddursb i can play this piece in my sleep (ok in my dreams) superb music by Bach and Superb playing by Julian Bream . Middle age Old age Youth this man can play Guitar.
Beautiful playing
It is a song to me all the same, one's perspective on what is considered a song varies, I understand you are correct in the literal sense. :)
simple beauty.
JUST BEAUTIFUL
@DoodlesMusic I believe Yngwie has played JB songs especially Jason Becker for Jason has studied the works of JB
one of the true legends of classical guitar. only second to segovia for me.
beautiful. ; )
Truly magical! A treat for the ears..
@skewedfoot Very well spoken. At last someone with intelect. Two thumbs up.
Never heard that fuge played THAT good!!! Hats off.....
I recommend hearing the other video that was uploaded by MonteverdiXVI.
It's much better sound quality for this wonderfull playing.
This video is one of my favorites... It is definitely the Lute version of the piece, BWV 1000, not from violin sonata 1001. You can tell because there is an extra subject entrance in the bass voice at the beginning, the violin version only has 3 entrances and this one has 4.
Such an amazing thing cannot be conceived of within the realms of human intelligence. It would just be too bloody amazing.
Beautiful.
@skewedfoot
The fact that music exists seems magical. Plus, not everyone has working ears.
@shepherd241 I heard that he has sold his lovely house in Semply and moved to a transitional home. He must miss that place nearly as much to his playing of old! The greatest pioneer for the guitar after Segovia
Beautiful!
There is an incredibly vast repertoire of masterpieces for the guitar. Some are lesser known than others. There are MANY pieces that can hold their own in a Carnegie performance.
All of the entrances of the fugue subject are clear and distinct. Such clarity is difficult to obtain.
never the less..the first notes of this makes me smile :)
Absolutely brilliant.
beautiful. so good.
but this fugue is originally in g minor isn't it? he must have transposed it. sounds great on marimba too
@konichiwave If you like the Bream CD on Bach try "Julian Bream plays Granados & Albeniz" I love that one.
pazzesco il più grande.....
grandissimo !
How can anyone possibly dislike this? 17 people are wasting our oxygen.
uuh this is the g min fugue for violin maybe it was transposed to a to guitar? - the a minor violin fugue is totally different and i like it alot more - ive always respected bream but always preferred john williams - but i liked the playing here alot and i really liked it - after studying this on violin for so long its cool to hear it played on violin so thanks for that
You're right. I found the notes under a dusty old pile of books, and I'm going to lock myself in the house for 2 weeks and memorise it again! lol
Robbie same for me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This IS the pice that made me start playing classical guitar.
2:07 - 2:19 storm in the middle of the beauty
Impeccable. The Master.
Absolutely Bach "fits" the guitar.. His tense demeanor is perhaps better described as intense. He is not only a master of technical exactitude like Williams, but a master of subtle musical interpretation. He has his own footprint in Bach's pieces to be sure.
Anyone know where I can find the sheet music for this arrangement?
Also, Bream blows my mind.
great tonal variation with his RH
Absolute perfection! Doesn't he make you want to burn your guitar! I have spent the best part of a year struggling with this piece and know that I will NEVER play it like this
It's approximately as I interpreted the score in my younger years. Same tempo. But his playing is better :). Love it...
Thanks for posting this video.
Very well said, Mikhail.
beautifulll really master
regardless, this is great, beautiful - why fight? Why argue? Better to be transported by this esoteric melodious music
BLOWS ME AWAY.. HOW SMOOTH HE IS
Put that video up, sounds impressive.
absolutely magnificent
Each to his own dear friend.Look carefully at the subtle movements of the players right hand as he uses the tonal qualites of the instrument in his interpretation of the piece as well as all the other things going on.
Exellent performance.
thank you Julian Bream and also... thank you Bach :-)
this is a real music....very amazing......
I could say that theres three instruments...which can be called kings of all music....:Piano,Guitar,Violin...and here one of them...makes his appearance on the stage...absolutely amazing how this musician plays the guitar defies explanation
Gotta shiver after that one. Bach is a god.
@newFranzFerencLiszt 1000. Bach actually wrote a fugue nearly identical to this, 1001, and i guess he liked it so much he changed it a little. personally i think both are equal; they surpass measurement.
I think he would play more relaxed if he took that suit jacket off ... is that a Fleta guitar? anyone ? he does not have an amazing sound but nails the groove in the music which makes it all very beautiful and musical ..... bravo JB
So the bloke with the powder blue suite and comb-over is the coolest in town !
@zolluuu what i find particularly sad is when one searches classical guitar, he gets a guy playing bohemian rhapsody with unpolished nails
he plays it very Very clean. cool.
@proguitargamer i listen to them and still enjoy this...
i enjoyed listening to this music, and that's about it
@davidlmx6 that low raito makes educated people valueable and special.
the best metal guys study the classics.
Hello Marcio ...if Segovia is the Grand Master ...Bream has just added the "sound" .
The great Julian Bream don`t need the 10 strings guitar for playing Bach.
Anyone with pork chops that disco has to be awesome! greatness...