I totally agree! Brett looks so happy and enjoying himself, knowing he is where he likes it best. Eddy dives deep down in theory. They both are at their best and it shows.
I feel like I figured out a "routine" or "pattern" about the content that Twoset posted in a weekly manner. So during weekdays when everyone is exhausted after a day of work/school, they would post something that is more funny/relaxing oriented to entertain us. During the weekend when people are well-rested (not me myself😭 but hopefully a lot of you guys), they would post something more educational or more musical so that we can really enjoy a piece or actually learn something from them. This may not always be the case but that's what I figured from being their fans for quite a while. I have my utmost respect for Twoset and their team.
Can I just say that Brett playing the Andante by himself really sounded EXACTLY the same as when they illustrated the idea by playing together (arguably even better), and I know it's the entire point but still dang as a beginner violinist what he's doing looks and sounds like magic aha.
When he started, I was like "am...am I imagining a second violin playing? do I have another tab open? No, they go together. He...can't be playing two parts right now...right?"
As a fan of Twoset for quite a long time, I'm still constantly impressed by their time management skill and their passion for music and their channel. 11:25 Eddy mentioned that he is learning Brahms violin concerto, apart from their already busy filming schedule, meetings, photo shooting, editing (I know we have dear Editor san but still they need to check the videos right), Twoset Apparel and probably many other things that we even don't know. So, "have no time to practice" is not a good excuse because Brett and Eddy are still practicing and improving in a discernable speed!! Lots of love and respect!!
Yep, we can all find time to practice, even if it's setting the alarm half an hour earlier. I've only missed 2 days in the 4 and a half months I've been learning. This vid doesn't help though, when I realise the insane amount I have to learn. Even music theory (zero knowledge) is a steep learning curve for me...
@Michal C They are the bosses of their company and have to do lots of work. Probably not micro management but fore sure they have a finger in most things that happens.
@@sankalp_gupta haha yes and then they’ll be like all talking about classical music And you’ll have flashbacks to when they were like, “classical music is so boring and terrible” (Ok, that might just be something that happened to me)
ikr just because a piece isn’t extremely fast doesn’t mean it’s difficult. people tend to forget about phrasing/dynamics and it’s really hard to emphasise each note
Renee Fleming also said that now that she is older, she can’t do Mozart anymore even if she can still do other operas. I can’t recall her exact wording but she was saying everything Brett and eddy were saying: how Mozart is so unforgiving - you are super exposed, there are no superfluous notes so you have nowhere to hide. A note out of tune in Mozart is obvious to everyone. Like Brett said, you have to be in the sweet spot all the time and it always has to sound natural and effortless and your musicality has to be spot on. I feel like people who aren’t musicians really underestimate Mozart - they mistake elegance and effortlessness with unsophisticatedness and ease.
Similar to how a lot of singers start getting into the Wagner repertoire as they get older, as the voice is often tucked away behind a colossal orchestra with an extended brass section. A more mature voice is also more apt to projecting over such orchestral forces as well, without sounding strained.
She's right. Mozart is so exposed. It's not about how big the sound is, it's about the tone and the ingenuity you can make in a phrase. So hard but so rewarding when it's executed well.
Timestamps : 0:35 J.S. Bach : Violin Sonata No. 2 in A minor - III. Andante 3:34 Beethoven : Romance No. 2 For Violin and Orchestra in F major 5:25 Mozart : Violin Concerto No. 5 in A major 9:10 J.S. Bach : Violin Sonata No. 1 in G minor - III. Sicilliana 11:30 Brahms : Violin Concerto in D major - II. Adagio
I just want to thank these two for actually EXPLAINING why these pieces are difficult and not just assuming that every viewer is a professional violinist who'll immediately understand. Heck, I don't even understand what "playing in F major" or "in a key" means. I've never learned any instrument. So the explanations were very welcome!
Haha I don't play an instrument either but will now strike up a conversation about how cheeky old Brahms made the violinist accompany the cello, or how in Mozart's No 2 sonata in A he makes the violinist play two parts at once. Thanks 2setviolin.
@@mattlikespandas7019 Again, completely over my head. What's a violin? An instrument Brett and Eddy play so beautifully. I could listen for hours. And I have, and love all their videos The funny ones and the serious ones like this. I have no idea what they're talking about, but still enjoy the explanations and the comments from the Twoset Orchestra. So the whole "go practice" thing is wasted on me, but I feel it so much for all musicians. I can't even imagine.
@brendamiller5785 ik it wont be helpful, but i think the original replier was pretty unhelpful with the comment even with good intentions, so ill try to give a better one so it at least seems easier to understand there are 12 notes in western classical music, starting with A and ending with G every scale is one octave (8 notes, hence the oct- prefix), where the first and last note are the same note but a higher or lower pitch. If the pitch of an A is 440 vibrations per second (hurtz, also written as hz), then A one octave up is 880 hz, because each octave higher doubles the vibrations per second, which is why two notes can be different pitches but the same note the Major scale (all of the white keys on a piano), also called the C Major scale (because C is the first and last note in every octave) is C, D, E, F, G, A, B, C notes names start at A and end at G then loop back around to A and go onward again There are also sharp notes (noted as #) and flat notes (noted as b). these are usually the black keys on a piano in most cases. a sharp note means the note is raised by one interval (a.k.a semitone) within the 12 notes. C# is C + one interval. Cb is C - one interval.
Jokes aside, I really love their contents to be like this. When they're playing seriously and educating all of us, sometimes I forget that they are legit musician. thank you for making classical music more accessible to the young generation :)
I actually played Brahms as an orchestra member (I play the double bass) and this is also insanely difficult to accompany, especially when the soloist forgets that they don’t always have the melody and they start adding some ridiculous rubato in random places…
I'm a violinist, and I agree with this wholeheartedly (especially Bach, * sniff*). Not only very accurate when you are the one playing these pieces, but sometimes when I'm listening to a really good recording I have to remind myself what a colossal effort is really behind the flawlessness and the presentation of perfect ease... And therein lies the beauty of any craft performed on a professional/world class level; making the most difficult seem so easy...
My six-year-old is listening to this with me. Eddy just finished playing Beethoven Romance No. 2 in F minor, and my kid just said, "I only ever want to listen to this music, it's SO BEAUTIFUL!" 🥰 We can't afford violin lessons but he really wants to learn.
@@carsonbarnesharp You assume our local high school has such a music program that the high school students would be prepared to teach violin to young kids. It does not.
You might see if any music stores near you have an affordable lesson program. Some stores offer this because they know it will create life-long customers. Sometimes they're tied into the instrument payment plans. Of course, it all depends on what's "affordable" to you. I hate when people assume that something they can easily afford should be within reach of anyone.
@@carsonbarnesharp I teach at a university, and believe me, I have looked at all local options for our specific situation. But I appreciate the care expressed in the suggestions.
There are lots of people who care about the future of classical music and want to see violin lessons available for anyone (especially a 6 year old!) who loves this music, please don't give up--consider online lessons and/or an online fundraiser to pay for same. Maybe Brett and Eddie can help too.
There is a video of Brett playing this piece. But it's not on UA-cam and I can't give you the direct link because of the spam filter. Just go to my channel, look for the playlist called "TwoSet - Playing seriously". There are a bunch of links in the description, Brett playing Bach's Andante is the third one.
can we please appreciate the editor fading in the concerto at the right moment, making the transition between the solo and the (background) music really seamless af
This is really useful cuz for non musicians they can't understand and tell what techniques and pieces are actually hard or easy. Thank you for the top 5 or ranking violin pieces series
I found WAY HARDER to play long notes because you must keep the bow pressure steady while the bow itself changes weight balance as it comes up and down. Quick notes, which are hard to play in most instruments, are actually quite easier than longs in violin. I'm not surprised most of these pieces are full of long bowstrokes!
Same here except I'm not the age to start learning any instrument, never mind the violin. But enjoy! I am. Got a friend filming my playing every month to chart my progress. After 18 months I'll make a compilation vid!
Brett’s gorgeous Bach Andante: Beautiful use of the upper part of the bow to minimize the repeating angle differential between one and two strings. All while coaxing a weighty tone not characteristic of this part of the bow. Secondly, he shows the excellent practice suggestion of working out exquisite phrasing on the melody alone, then not giving an inch when adding back the accompaniment. Bravissimo!
The Brahms concerto is my favourite and I've alwyas tried to understand just why I like it so much, and I think they actually gave me part of the explanation here: yes it's extremely virtuosic (and damn hard) for the violin soloist, but that soloist isn't just plopped "on top of" the orchestra like a cherry on a cake. They are at the very heart of it, sometimes breaking out in a passionate solo, sometimes delicately playing along supporting the oboe, sometimes blending in a massive orchestral sound being just louder enough, just different enough, to be like that one voice you pick out from a crowd. The constant shift from separation to harmony and back between the soloist and orchestra is just so awesome. It must make it so hard to practice though, you have to imagine what the orchestra will sound like, and then you have to adapt so much on rehearsal to get everyone on the exact same page!
There is a video of Brett playing this piece. But it's not on UA-cam and I can't give you the direct link because of the spam filter. Just go to my channel, look for the playlist called "TwoSet - Playing seriously". There are a bunch of links in the description, Brett playing Bach's Andante is the third one.
thank you for everything you do! because of you I started listening to classical music and I really started practicing (already 2h10min of practice today)🤣 You remind me to keep practicing and improving in my violin playing and you helped me so much. thank you for everything! edit: I forgot to mention that I'm doing the Hillary Hahn's 100 days practice challenge and I haven't skipped a day since 1st January all thanks to you guys, because you always remind me to go practice
@@oldbird4601 that isn't really true, because you need teacher to tell you HOW to play and practice because if you practice wrong your playing will be bad and sound wrong so you really need a teacher at least to help you with these things
Not bragging but only skipped 2 days in the 4 and a half months since I began. Sometimes it's in bits... eg Got 5 mins while the porridge cooks... but most days I find an hour I never thought I'd find. Brett shouting "Go practice" helps me keep motivated too
Brett! Your bow control in the Bach Andante is sublime. So good. I must add this to my soon to be played list. I've just started the Beethoven F-maj! It's so beautiful, but so exposed. It demands such perfect expression. Oh, Taking Sarasate down a peg! Noice!
Reminds me of a saying between flutists, that the thing, that is actually hard, are long notes with a simple melody, cuz ur technique is exposed there. Ur vibrato, ur breath range, ur musicality and ur articulation. And so much more. The fast runs and jumps in octaves are hard, but u can hide so much in them. Also flutists are used to do them as composers use them so often.
Pianist here, so maybe not applicable completely to violin, but I love how many of the videos you guys have been posting emphasize how difficult Mozart really is to get right. The difference between getting the notes, rhythm, and dynamic markings right and playing it well is huge for all composers, but for almost all mozart pieces I’ve played the “polishing” step alone can be the difference between sounding borderline unlistenable and sounding godly. I think polishing tends to be one of the weaker skills for me and many other amateurs, and one of the strongest skills of pros, and so there’s this even bigger gap in Mozart pieces performed by pros vs amateurs than there is for more technically challenging pieces. You get soooo much bang for your buck if you work on polishing nuances in Mozart, though. Playing a super polished Mozart piece is so satisfying because you feel so in control and the playing so effortless and music so brilliant.
yeah i’m trying to relearn the first movement of K. 310 and i feel that one of the most important aspects to learning mozart is the clarity in the sound. spent so much time back in 2019 to not make everything sound muddy, really difficult stuff
Pianist Artur Schnabel described the Mozart piano sonatas as too easy for children and too difficult for artists (zu leicht für Kinder, zu schwer für Künstler).
Obviously the following is not a one-to-one comparison to piano or violin, but this all holds true for his vocal music too! I think it's so fascinating that everyone-regardless of their instrument/voice-all seems to agree on how difficult polishing and performing Mozart's music is. I remember one aria of his I learned in college, and everyone was like, "Why are you worried about this, it's not even hard" and I kept thinking, "No you don't UNDERSTAND." 🤣 (Those aria ending sections, man......they'll get you.)
I notice this very clearly with moonlight sonata third movement it is unlistenable when it is not performed with the polish But when performed well its much better
TwoSet proper explaining videos are a highlight of my week (and they're still funny). When they're on top form like this, they make clear explaining that a non-specialist can learn from look easy; but THAT is really hard.
I've gotten a new level of appreciation of Bach because of Twoset. Years ago, I was mostly focused on works of Beethoven, Mozart, and Chopin. But now, when I hear Bach, I feel a sense of familiarity because of the melody, but I can hear the complexity in technique. I'm not a musician, although I took piano lessons when I was a kid, so I can't pinpoint the technicalities much, but it changed how I appreciate music. Bach definitely went up as one of my fave composers 💖
As someone learning this piece, Brett's Bach Andante blew me away and brought a huge smile to my face :) Here is my second petition for TwoSet to do a difficulty tier list of all movements from Bach's solo violin sonatas and partitas!
I have recently started learning Bach's 2 Sonata Andante BMW 1003! It is so hard but I'm getting through it, I have been trying to explain to my friends why its so hard. I am in love with how reflective and just how brilliant this piece is!
Eddy's explaination of Mozart concerto no. 5 was so sincere and passionate, i loved it so much! That bit where he compared the opening to sunrise was stellar! The whole video was Beautiful!!! 💚💚
I love it. Brett fingering the notes while Eddy plays. What instrumentalist hasn't done that with a piece they knew while someone else was playing? Love these videos. I learn so much more than I did during my two years as a music major.
The Swan and The Bach Suites, especially the 1st, come to mind for cellists like me. They're not technically too demanding, but maintaining consistency and tonw quality are key factors in performance and practice
Especially with the Swan, the cello is a heavy sounding instrument by design. So there's a lot of care that gets put into bow control to make a light, flowing sound
@@KNadoli THIS. I've heard it played really *intensely* by the last principal cellist of our orchestra (when we did the whole 'Carnival of the Animals'). It seemed like it was all about the player, and projecting this huge intense sound with a terribly fast vibrato. You could hear the feet swimming like mad under the water. Good luck to you in developing a beautiful range of expression, that allows you to say what needs to be said with perfect taste. It sounds like you understand it already.
From my days as an orchestral musician: Anyone can play fast and loud; the real challenge is playing softly and slowly. Your examples are all proof of the validity of that statement.
I first heard Bach Andante when Brett played it in one of their videos, it has since became my favourite classical music piece. Thanks for introducing me to it TSV!
Brett and Eddy should do sth like this about the concertos they played/will play at milestone streams! It really helps to appreciate these amazing pieces even more :D
I agree. I would really like to see something like this, in prep for upcoming performances, so we know what they consider to be the main challenges they're facing. Very good idea!
Professionals playing Bach feels a lot like the finalists of The Great British Bakeoff being told they have to bake a basic Victoria sponge cake. It's easy to most people but if you're a professional it has to be Absolutely Perfect or it's not good enough, which in turn makes such a simple cake recipe SO much harder. Great video lads
Nice to see them low-key show off, even for a few bars. And laughed so much at editor-san's aside about Brett spending so much time on the Bach andante only to forget where he played it. At least he didn't forget the piece itself.
This was my most favorite of TwoSets videos, because they were serious, and seriously playing beautifully. No fancy camera work, sound effects, hamming it up for the camera, no, just gorgeous teaching and playing. Make more videos like this, please.
The Bach is crazy hard because the tendency is for it to get beaty. The tuning is easily solved with practice, The angle of the bow is easily solved. Trying to get the single notes to sound like they're louder than the double stops so it phrases properly is almost impossible.
Mozart sounds ridiculously and notoriously difficult! Probs to Twoset and really anyone who can pull off a good Mozart. Thanks for the explanations, so we can appreciate it even more!
It's easy to forget how great you guys are, since you guys are actually quite modest about your own playing. Not to mention we get very used to having so much content about world class players like Hilary Hahn or Chloe. So I'm glad for this kind of video!
I know a cellist who performs Bach cello suites a lot in local recitals since he often can’t get accompanists and accessible solo cello rep is very limited. It is kinda frustrating to think that most of the audience has no idea how hard Bach is to play well and how much preparation is needed. Even for the most technically and musically challenging movements the audience often gives him a rather mediocre applause, whilst a violinist can rattle off a half decent performance of Czardas and the crowd goes wild.
Oh heck yeah, especially if your instrument doesn't 'speak', so so hard... can easily result in the withering experience of someone dismissing your playing, "I'm not impressed." (extra points for super wilt if the listener is your teacher)... btw this is one of the best videos you have put out, totally a valuable tute!
I'm not a musician, but when I heard Bach Andante for the first time I was like how tf did you do that?! From the other video I watched, I tried to find where the lower note come from but it was so smooth that I couldn't see the bow movement and can't tell if it was played by one person. Thank you for the explanation, now I know it is indeed played by one person.
This video was so educational. Your analyses were very detailed and easy to understand. When you compared different phrasing back to back, it was clear how it can make such a big difference.
6:35 so right about Mozart Technically this is where you first tackle a “real” concerto after Vivaldi and Bach Double Concertos, but it’s so easy to miss the phrasing and if you miss one note you’re screwed. It’s the equivalent of the Tiki Taka of the Spanish soccer team. Seems simple but EVERYTHING has to be be right on time
i'm not a musician, but in the first one i did think there was some background sound or something because i believed there were two sounds, but it was just brett being awesome
I really love you two being all nerdy digging into the essence of the pieces and showing your own interpretations. It is a pure treasure to having someone share their perspectives coherently and concisely, so that we can be educated enough to value these music properly. Genuine appreciation for Twoset!👏 (btw, Eddy 's always such a master of rhetoric❣)
I love that Eddie played the same phrase twice and explained the musicality and then just played all the same notes, but sounding one dimensional, directionless, but in tune. You can hear the difference in a professional level and amateur style.
As a new viewer bouncing between a lot of random content I have to say I think this is my favourite cos they really explain it in a way non musical people can understand and demonstrate it the same. You can hear exactly what they’re trying to convey and it also just gives you such an appreciation for the correct way. I love whenever they play seriously cos it’s just so pretty and controlled and you can really tell how skilled they are. Makes me want to see it live (Also genuinely makes me wanna pick my flute back up lol)
non-string players in general. I play the clarinet and therefore don't really know what's hard to play on the violin. For example when they first mentioned that scales were hard to play, I was genuinely surprised
I discovered this youtube channel months ago and really got inspired by Eddy and Brett, my desire of learning this instrument became more deeper because of 2setViolin♡♡♡ I really love and enjoy watching your videos and now I want to buy my own violin and learn how to play it but it seems I can't right now because I don't have money 🥺 please continue to inspire more people to be into classical instruments 2set♡
Have you thought about renting a violin? I started out that way (rented from a third party company I found online). Some schools rent out too, I think. Just tell them you're saving for a violin.
Yep, same advice from me. I rent mine at a very reasonable cost so have a very good 'student' violin to play on. There are starter costs though, such as a shoulder rest, rosin, music, a music stand (mebee), an electronic tuner + batteries... mine clips over the pegs... plus spare strings(!)
You are absolutely right. I love playing Bach, but I play the piano and mess around a little bit with the harp, both of which make it very easy to feel the dialogue just by opposing left against right hand. But doing this for a string instrument... Wow. Any two voice Bach piece for solo violin needs about as much precision and concentration as a four voice Bach fugue for piano, I guess.
@@interroga-te-ipsum Yeah, I don’t know much about string technique but I guess it would need so much control to produce and separate the sounds while shaping each voice individually. I play piano as well and used to play a fugue with four voices, it is indeed very hard. Although most people don’t find it impressive, I appreciate those talking voices so much, truly delightful whenever you listen to it 🥰
One of the main reasons I love playing solo Bach is because it's complete without having to have other players there. The violin is most always part of a complementary ensemble. With Bach, you're complete by yourself. Even if you don't reach the heights of skill and expression, you at least imagine them, and participate in the experience of every violinist of all the ages since these pieces became more widely known.
Before the explanation, I was perfectly impressed by the first one though... Like how do you keep the melody separate, and I don't think it's a technique I see often in other pieces.
I get goosebumps in sections wherein you guys play how you think the pieces are supposed to sound - they're so majestic and refined! I've been learning to play the violin for 3 months now because I was inspired by your passion. I'm still enjoying every bit of practice days, juggling it with my uni studies. Whenever I hear you guys play, I always aim to express the piece I'm learning the way you do. It's disheartening because I feel like I'm lacking a lot, since I don't have a teacher to guide me. Nevertheless, that's not stopping me! Thanks for this educational video! I'm motivated to practice better!
So relatable! The first time I really struggled on stage was playing Mozart's 3rd concerto. It was painful and really traumatizing. I needed years to be able to play a piece of Mozart in a way I was proud of (and it is still not perfect). The other pieces are also very hard.
I wish I could upvote this 10 times. Excellent video! I've found that in an orchestra, the very delicate pieces like Mozart, Debussy or the slow Mahler movement in Symphony no. 5 are the ones that are the most teeth-gnawshinginly, shoulder-tensing to play (and that's as a violist :p)
i’m a pianist and am accompanying one of my friends who’s playing beethoven romance no. 2 for an audition. when we first rehearsed together she told me she had her bad violin and bow with her and ended up nailing the first few pages. i really love the piece and now i understand from both perspectives how hard it is.
I have been a twoset fan for a few years now and sometimes, I do feel left out as a nonmusician. I just enjoy classical music and your humour. Thankful for videos like these that break it down to us. ❤️
I'm glad the Siciliana was here. It often gets overlooked, but actually making it sound good is one of the hardest things in all the Bach Sonatas and Partitas.
It's so interesting hearing you guys describe the Brahms one as an "accompaniment", because I really enjoy listening to the 2nd mvt but never realised it's technically an accompaniment to oboe. To me, the violin part can be considered the co-protagonist of the musical whole - it's an intricate duet - and that's the ingenious and beautiful aspect about it - I feel the violin writing is beautiful by itself even though there are weird arpeggios throughout. It's a similar feeling I get I suppose - when I listen to Rach 2 2nd mvt - the initial piano part is just simple arpeggios accompanying flute/clarinet, but then I can't get enough of them - it's beautiful because you know it serves a "higher purpose": giving soul to the main melody!
Honestly most Bach pieces sound a lot easier than they are. Or they are easy to just do but really hard to do and sound good. This is coming from a cellist who's head exploded when he tried to play backs first cello suite one year onto playing.
My friend performed the Bach Andante (as written for SOLO violin) and afterwards got feedback from her friend in the audience. “I liked it, but it sounded like the second violinist got lost.” Brett, absolutely stunning performance!
1:42 Brett: doesnt sound that impressive Me, not a musician: what is this witchcraft, why you sound like two violins? What do you mean that doesnt sound impressive??
As a pianist, I can attest that many people- even musicians- have a tendency to underestimate the difficulty of Bach and Mozart pieces for any instrument; but I've found that people particularly underestimate the difficulty of Mozart's piano pieces. Take K. 545, for example. Everyone knows it and thinks it sounds so easy- but making all the repetitions sing and sound individual and not robotic or monotonous is incredibly challenging as a musician. Not to mention that you're so exposed when you play Mozart or Bach. One missed note and every single person for a 20-mile radius will hear it! Lol
I have to say this was nice to see you guys in a less jokey setup and with more of your real musical skills on display. Cool to see the fingering mirrored, and how much you guys are present and listening when the other was playing, which is normally not something I see a bunch of in your videos. Well done.
Twoset serious playing + Twoset serious explaining/teaching is the BEST combo!! Saturday is not weekend, it's still school day at the Twoset Academy!
I totally agree! Brett looks so happy and enjoying himself, knowing he is where he likes it best. Eddy dives deep down in theory. They both are at their best and it shows.
@@xandraxandra1437 IKR!! They both look so happy and upbeat when talking about music!! I love this side of them so much😭😭😭
Dude why do you spam so many comments
I mean it's nice and all
But 740?????
I feel like I figured out a "routine" or "pattern" about the content that Twoset posted in a weekly manner.
So during weekdays when everyone is exhausted after a day of work/school, they would post something that is more funny/relaxing oriented to entertain us.
During the weekend when people are well-rested (not me myself😭 but hopefully a lot of you guys), they would post something more educational or more musical so that we can really enjoy a piece or actually learn something from them.
This may not always be the case but that's what I figured from being their fans for quite a while.
I have my utmost respect for Twoset and their team.
Oh yeaa that's true! I only noticed when you said it. That's actually very clever and nice of them to do
Shall be observing this from now on. Makes sense though so they can do the necessary practice during the week for the weekend showcase!
You've been leaving comments for 3 hours. Go practice!
@@lighthousem.9641 yep, I'm still at work, just because it's weekend so I have more leisure to watch their videos lol
Wow! Didn't realise this! 🙌🙌🙌
Can I just say that Brett playing the Andante by himself really sounded EXACTLY the same as when they illustrated the idea by playing together (arguably even better), and I know it's the entire point but still dang as a beginner violinist what he's doing looks and sounds like magic aha.
ikr, and then you find Roman Kim playing Eine Kleine, and realize that 1 violin CAN sound like a string quartet, and, just... just...
When he started, I was like "am...am I imagining a second violin playing? do I have another tab open? No, they go together. He...can't be playing two parts right now...right?"
sometimes I forget they can actually play
As a fan of Twoset for quite a long time, I'm still constantly impressed by their time management skill and their passion for music and their channel. 11:25 Eddy mentioned that he is learning Brahms violin concerto, apart from their already busy filming schedule, meetings, photo shooting, editing (I know we have dear Editor san but still they need to check the videos right), Twoset Apparel and probably many other things that we even don't know. So, "have no time to practice" is not a good excuse because Brett and Eddy are still practicing and improving in a discernable speed!! Lots of love and respect!!
And that's why we still follow them, because they give so much and educate us with passion.
Yep, we can all find time to practice, even if it's setting the alarm half an hour earlier. I've only missed 2 days in the 4 and a half months I've been learning. This vid doesn't help though, when I realise the insane amount I have to learn. Even music theory (zero knowledge) is a steep learning curve for me...
I think there is a lot more ppl involved in the twoset business. There’s No way Brett and Eddy supervise all the business areas
@Michal C They are the bosses of their company and have to do lots of work.
Probably not micro management but fore sure they have a finger in most things that happens.
You’re the top 3 comments
THANK YOUU!! NOW MY NON MUSICIAN FRIENDS WILL FINALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT IT'S LIKE WHEN EVERYTHING HARD IS NOT SUMMER
If you somehow convinced them to watch TwoSet they'll be like classical nerds in some months
Every non-classical guy feels like anything fast is awesome lol
AND BUMBLEBEE!
@@sankalp_gupta haha yes and then they’ll be like all talking about classical music
And you’ll have flashbacks to when they were like, “classical music is so boring and terrible”
(Ok, that might just be something that happened to me)
ikr just because a piece isn’t extremely fast doesn’t mean it’s difficult. people tend to forget about phrasing/dynamics and it’s really hard to emphasise each note
Renee Fleming also said that now that she is older, she can’t do Mozart anymore even if she can still do other operas. I can’t recall her exact wording but she was saying everything Brett and eddy were saying: how Mozart is so unforgiving - you are super exposed, there are no superfluous notes so you have nowhere to hide. A note out of tune in Mozart is obvious to everyone. Like Brett said, you have to be in the sweet spot all the time and it always has to sound natural and effortless and your musicality has to be spot on. I feel like people who aren’t musicians really underestimate Mozart - they mistake elegance and effortlessness with unsophisticatedness and ease.
Similar to how a lot of singers start getting into the Wagner repertoire as they get older, as the voice is often tucked away behind a colossal orchestra with an extended brass section. A more mature voice is also more apt to projecting over such orchestral forces as well, without sounding strained.
She's right. Mozart is so exposed. It's not about how big the sound is, it's about the tone and the ingenuity you can make in a phrase. So hard but so rewarding when it's executed well.
Timestamps :
0:35 J.S. Bach : Violin Sonata No. 2 in A minor - III. Andante
3:34 Beethoven : Romance No. 2 For Violin and Orchestra in F major
5:25 Mozart : Violin Concerto No. 5 in A major
9:10 J.S. Bach : Violin Sonata No. 1 in G minor - III. Sicilliana
11:30 Brahms : Violin Concerto in D major - II. Adagio
14:12
I just want to thank these two for actually EXPLAINING why these pieces are difficult and not just assuming that every viewer is a professional violinist who'll immediately understand.
Heck, I don't even understand what "playing in F major" or "in a key" means. I've never learned any instrument.
So the explanations were very welcome!
Haha I don't play an instrument either but will now strike up a conversation about how cheeky old Brahms made the violinist accompany the cello, or how in Mozart's No 2 sonata in A he makes the violinist play two parts at once. Thanks 2setviolin.
Playing in a key means in that key signature there are certain sharps or flats and it’s included on the piece
@@mattlikespandas7019 Again, completely over my head. What's a violin? An instrument Brett and Eddy play so beautifully. I could listen for hours.
And I have, and love all their videos The funny ones and the serious ones like this. I have no idea what they're talking about, but still enjoy the explanations and the comments from the Twoset Orchestra.
So the whole "go practice" thing is wasted on me, but I feel it so much for all musicians. I can't even imagine.
@brendamiller5785 ik it wont be helpful, but i think the original replier was pretty unhelpful with the comment even with good intentions, so ill try to give a better one so it at least seems easier to understand
there are 12 notes in western classical music, starting with A and ending with G
every scale is one octave (8 notes, hence the oct- prefix), where the first and last note are the same note but a higher or lower pitch. If the pitch of an A is 440 vibrations per second (hurtz, also written as hz), then A one octave up is 880 hz, because each octave higher doubles the vibrations per second, which is why two notes can be different pitches but the same note
the Major scale (all of the white keys on a piano), also called the C Major scale (because C is the first and last note in every octave) is C, D, E, F, G, A, B, C
notes names start at A and end at G then loop back around to A and go onward again
There are also sharp notes (noted as #) and flat notes (noted as b). these are usually the black keys on a piano in most cases. a sharp note means the note is raised by one interval (a.k.a
semitone) within the 12 notes. C# is C + one interval. Cb is C - one interval.
Jokes aside, I really love their contents to be like this. When they're playing seriously and educating all of us, sometimes I forget that they are legit musician. thank you for making classical music more accessible to the young generation :)
What's up dawg
I agree! Hearing them talk and explain music is so educational. And they seem to have lots of fun doing it. I really like this kind of videos.
Oh hi master :) 👋
@@ludvigvanbeethoven7848 ayo
@@fredericchopin7538 sup
I actually played Brahms as an orchestra member (I play the double bass) and this is also insanely difficult to accompany, especially when the soloist forgets that they don’t always have the melody and they start adding some ridiculous rubato in random places…
I'm a violinist, and I agree with this wholeheartedly (especially Bach, * sniff*). Not only very accurate when you are the one playing these pieces, but sometimes when I'm listening to a really good recording I have to remind myself what a colossal effort is really behind the flawlessness and the presentation of perfect ease...
And therein lies the beauty of any craft performed on a professional/world class level; making the most difficult seem so easy...
My six-year-old is listening to this with me. Eddy just finished playing Beethoven Romance No. 2 in F minor, and my kid just said, "I only ever want to listen to this music, it's SO BEAUTIFUL!" 🥰 We can't afford violin lessons but he really wants to learn.
@@carsonbarnesharp You assume our local high school has such a music program that the high school students would be prepared to teach violin to young kids. It does not.
You might see if any music stores near you have an affordable lesson program. Some stores offer this because they know it will create life-long customers. Sometimes they're tied into the instrument payment plans. Of course, it all depends on what's "affordable" to you. I hate when people assume that something they can easily afford should be within reach of anyone.
Do you know anyone that plays violin? Maybe a neighbor or a relative?
@@carsonbarnesharp I teach at a university, and believe me, I have looked at all local options for our specific situation. But I appreciate the care expressed in the suggestions.
There are lots of people who care about the future of classical music and want to see violin lessons available for anyone (especially a 6 year old!) who loves this music, please don't give up--consider online lessons and/or an online fundraiser to pay for same. Maybe Brett and Eddie can help too.
I love when Brett plays his Andante. It just sounds so soothing and I'd love to hear him play the whole thing.
There is a video of Brett playing this piece. But it's not on UA-cam and I can't give you the direct link because of the spam filter.
Just go to my channel, look for the playlist called "TwoSet - Playing seriously". There are a bunch of links in the description, Brett playing Bach's Andante is the third one.
@@MissTwoSetEncyclopedia oh, thanks so much😍
@@sabrinai You're welcome, enjoy ! 😊
As a non-musician subscriber,
I want more videos like this. 👍
can we please appreciate the editor fading in the concerto at the right moment, making the transition between the solo and the (background) music really seamless af
This is really useful cuz for non musicians they can't understand and tell what techniques and pieces are actually hard or easy. Thank you for the top 5 or ranking violin pieces series
One of your best vids. Maybe for the general audience, but really (subtley) for us violinists. Thanks!
I remember Brett played the Bach Sonata to 18 kids in that who played it better video and I don't think they realized how difficult it was.
You guys should talk to your childhood violin teachers.
YES
Cello gang!
Cello
I've always been saying this but i think i should say it again: love Brett's playing. Pls keep going, play more, express more, Brett.
I love listening to how Brett plays. So smooth. Love it!
I found WAY HARDER to play long notes because you must keep the bow pressure steady while the bow itself changes weight balance as it comes up and down. Quick notes, which are hard to play in most instruments, are actually quite easier than longs in violin. I'm not surprised most of these pieces are full of long bowstrokes!
You guys gave me a serious passion for violin. It's been two years watching you, and I got a violin for Christmas so I have lessons since january!
Same here except I'm not the age to start learning any instrument, never mind the violin. But enjoy! I am. Got a friend filming my playing every month to chart my progress. After 18 months I'll make a compilation vid!
@@wakingtheworld what do you mean you're not the age? I'm 22, which is not super late but not early either
@@myrtillegrandesoreilles8275 I'm pushing 70 but feel like a spring chicken! (That photo of me is old)
@@wakingtheworld hahaha so nice to hear!
Brett’s gorgeous Bach Andante: Beautiful use of the upper part of the bow to minimize the repeating angle differential between one and two strings. All while coaxing a weighty tone not characteristic of this part of the bow. Secondly, he shows the excellent practice suggestion of working out exquisite phrasing on the melody alone, then not giving an inch when adding back the accompaniment. Bravissimo!
The Brahms concerto is my favourite and I've alwyas tried to understand just why I like it so much, and I think they actually gave me part of the explanation here: yes it's extremely virtuosic (and damn hard) for the violin soloist, but that soloist isn't just plopped "on top of" the orchestra like a cherry on a cake.
They are at the very heart of it, sometimes breaking out in a passionate solo, sometimes delicately playing along supporting the oboe, sometimes blending in a massive orchestral sound being just louder enough, just different enough, to be like that one voice you pick out from a crowd. The constant shift from separation to harmony and back between the soloist and orchestra is just so awesome.
It must make it so hard to practice though, you have to imagine what the orchestra will sound like, and then you have to adapt so much on rehearsal to get everyone on the exact same page!
Wow! I love this episode!! Need a part 2
And
Can we have Brett's bach like a track on its own?
Yes pls🙏
yes
There is a video of Brett playing this piece. But it's not on UA-cam and I can't give you the direct link because of the spam filter.
Just go to my channel, look for the playlist called "TwoSet - Playing seriously". There are a bunch of links in the description, Brett playing Bach's Andante is the third one.
2:18 my heart just fluttered so much!!! The perfect collab!!
It also highlighted the layers and levels of complexity in the movement.
thank you for everything you do! because of you I started listening to classical music and I really started practicing (already 2h10min of practice today)🤣 You remind me to keep practicing and improving in my violin playing and you helped me so much. thank you for everything!
edit: I forgot to mention that I'm doing the Hillary Hahn's 100 days practice challenge and I haven't skipped a day since 1st January all thanks to you guys, because you always remind me to go practice
Where you found this challenge?
I want to find my violin again, get my bow rehaired and start all over again. The issue is how much money the lessons cost. I can’t pay for it. :(
@@fluffy-fluffy5996 you don’t need lessons, just playing will make you improve
@@oldbird4601 that isn't really true, because you need teacher to tell you HOW to play and practice because if you practice wrong your playing will be bad and sound wrong so you really need a teacher at least to help you with these things
Not bragging but only skipped 2 days in the 4 and a half months since I began. Sometimes it's in bits... eg Got 5 mins while the porridge cooks... but most days I find an hour I never thought I'd find. Brett shouting "Go practice" helps me keep motivated too
Brett! Your bow control in the Bach Andante is sublime. So good.
I must add this to my soon to be played list.
I've just started the Beethoven F-maj! It's so beautiful, but so exposed. It demands such perfect expression.
Oh, Taking Sarasate down a peg! Noice!
Reminds me of a saying between flutists, that the thing, that is actually hard, are long notes with a simple melody, cuz ur technique is exposed there. Ur vibrato, ur breath range, ur musicality and ur articulation. And so much more. The fast runs and jumps in octaves are hard, but u can hide so much in them. Also flutists are used to do them as composers use them so often.
Pianist here, so maybe not applicable completely to violin, but I love how many of the videos you guys have been posting emphasize how difficult Mozart really is to get right. The difference between getting the notes, rhythm, and dynamic markings right and playing it well is huge for all composers, but for almost all mozart pieces I’ve played the “polishing” step alone can be the difference between sounding borderline unlistenable and sounding godly. I think polishing tends to be one of the weaker skills for me and many other amateurs, and one of the strongest skills of pros, and so there’s this even bigger gap in Mozart pieces performed by pros vs amateurs than there is for more technically challenging pieces. You get soooo much bang for your buck if you work on polishing nuances in Mozart, though. Playing a super polished Mozart piece is so satisfying because you feel so in control and the playing so effortless and music so brilliant.
yeah i’m trying to relearn the first movement of K. 310 and i feel that one of the most important aspects to learning mozart is the clarity in the sound. spent so much time back in 2019 to not make everything sound muddy, really difficult stuff
Pianist Artur Schnabel described the Mozart piano sonatas as too easy for children and too difficult for artists (zu leicht für Kinder, zu schwer für Künstler).
Obviously the following is not a one-to-one comparison to piano or violin, but this all holds true for his vocal music too! I think it's so fascinating that everyone-regardless of their instrument/voice-all seems to agree on how difficult polishing and performing Mozart's music is. I remember one aria of his I learned in college, and everyone was like, "Why are you worried about this, it's not even hard" and I kept thinking, "No you don't UNDERSTAND." 🤣 (Those aria ending sections, man......they'll get you.)
I notice this very clearly with moonlight sonata third movement it is unlistenable when it is not performed with the polish
But when performed well its much better
TwoSet proper explaining videos are a highlight of my week (and they're still funny). When they're on top form like this, they make clear explaining that a non-specialist can learn from look easy; but THAT is really hard.
Bach Sonata No. 2 Andante sounded so beautiful when Brett plays it....
it's so cute how when one is playing the other is trying to follow without making sounds
"Sounds easy..." oh is that what easy sounds like?
Brett's Bach Andante playing was just so beautiful!
I've gotten a new level of appreciation of Bach because of Twoset. Years ago, I was mostly focused on works of Beethoven, Mozart, and Chopin. But now, when I hear Bach, I feel a sense of familiarity because of the melody, but I can hear the complexity in technique. I'm not a musician, although I took piano lessons when I was a kid, so I can't pinpoint the technicalities much, but it changed how I appreciate music.
Bach definitely went up as one of my fave composers 💖
As someone learning this piece, Brett's Bach Andante blew me away and brought a huge smile to my face :)
Here is my second petition for TwoSet to do a difficulty tier list of all movements from Bach's solo violin sonatas and partitas!
I have recently started learning Bach's 2 Sonata Andante BMW 1003! It is so hard but I'm getting through it, I have been trying to explain to my friends why its so hard. I am in love with how reflective and just how brilliant this piece is!
Eddy's explaination of Mozart concerto no. 5 was so sincere and passionate, i loved it so much! That bit where he compared the opening to sunrise was stellar! The whole video was Beautiful!!! 💚💚
Bret played Bach sooo well 80 hours of practice 👏👏👏
I loved the shout-out at the end to Flesch's scales! Those will always be the best warm-up.
I love it. Brett fingering the notes while Eddy plays. What instrumentalist hasn't done that with a piece they knew while someone else was playing? Love these videos. I learn so much more than I did during my two years as a music major.
You guys make classical music so easy to understand and your love for it makes it even more intriguing.
The Swan and The Bach Suites, especially the 1st, come to mind for cellists like me. They're not technically too demanding, but maintaining consistency and tonw quality are key factors in performance and practice
Especially with the Swan, the cello is a heavy sounding instrument by design. So there's a lot of care that gets put into bow control to make a light, flowing sound
@@KNadoli THIS. I've heard it played really *intensely* by the last principal cellist of our orchestra (when we did the whole 'Carnival of the Animals'). It seemed like it was all about the player, and projecting this huge intense sound with a terribly fast vibrato. You could hear the feet swimming like mad under the water.
Good luck to you in developing a beautiful range of expression, that allows you to say what needs to be said with perfect taste. It sounds like you understand it already.
From my days as an orchestral musician: Anyone can play fast and loud; the real challenge is playing softly and slowly. Your examples are all proof of the validity of that statement.
I first heard Bach Andante when Brett played it in one of their videos, it has since became my favourite classical music piece. Thanks for introducing me to it TSV!
I love how they go from "serious teacher" to the funniest people ever XD
Love you guys!
Brett and Eddy should do sth like this about the concertos they played/will play at milestone streams! It really helps to appreciate these amazing pieces even more :D
I agree. I would really like to see something like this, in prep for upcoming performances, so we know what they consider to be the main challenges they're facing. Very good idea!
Professionals playing Bach feels a lot like the finalists of The Great British Bakeoff being told they have to bake a basic Victoria sponge cake. It's easy to most people but if you're a professional it has to be Absolutely Perfect or it's not good enough, which in turn makes such a simple cake recipe SO much harder. Great video lads
Nice to see them low-key show off, even for a few bars. And laughed so much at editor-san's aside about Brett spending so much time on the Bach andante only to forget where he played it. At least he didn't forget the piece itself.
Very, very interesting to hear accomplished musicians talking about the nuance needed for a quality performance.
“It needs to sound like the sunrise”: Such fab imagery!!
This was my most favorite of TwoSets videos, because they were serious, and seriously playing beautifully. No fancy camera work, sound effects, hamming it up for the camera, no, just gorgeous teaching and playing. Make more videos like this, please.
The Bach is crazy hard because the tendency is for it to get beaty. The tuning is easily solved with practice, The angle of the bow is easily solved. Trying to get the single notes to sound like they're louder than the double stops so it phrases properly is almost impossible.
On the Andante: agree with everything. But it needs to be said: it's also one of the most beautiful and profound pieces ever written.
The first one sounds like there's two violins playing how the hell
Mozart sounds ridiculously and notoriously difficult! Probs to Twoset and really anyone who can pull off a good Mozart. Thanks for the explanations, so we can appreciate it even more!
It's easy to forget how great you guys are, since you guys are actually quite modest about your own playing. Not to mention we get very used to having so much content about world class players like Hilary Hahn or Chloe. So I'm glad for this kind of video!
Love these pieces! Thanks for sharing classical music with us!
I heard one of your pieces before
Good
When are you releasing your next album ?
Ur violin concerto is chefs kiss
@@COOL_GEEK_ Unfortunately, I’m dead, so I cannot write more music!
i like your violin concerto
I know a cellist who performs Bach cello suites a lot in local recitals since he often can’t get accompanists and accessible solo cello rep is very limited. It is kinda frustrating to think that most of the audience has no idea how hard Bach is to play well and how much preparation is needed. Even for the most technically and musically challenging movements the audience often gives him a rather mediocre applause, whilst a violinist can rattle off a half decent performance of Czardas and the crowd goes wild.
I agree Bach needs more attention
Oh heck yeah, especially if your instrument doesn't 'speak', so so hard... can easily result in the withering experience of someone dismissing your playing, "I'm not impressed." (extra points for super wilt if the listener is your teacher)... btw this is one of the best videos you have put out, totally a valuable tute!
Can we have more such videos? Little more technical, but such beautiful musical knowledge. Really showed the beauty of music!
Check out Classical Imperium
Yes, that would be awesome!!
Yes!!!! More!!!! Please!!!!!!
I'm not a musician, but when I heard Bach Andante for the first time I was like how tf did you do that?! From the other video I watched, I tried to find where the lower note come from but it was so smooth that I couldn't see the bow movement and can't tell if it was played by one person. Thank you for the explanation, now I know it is indeed played by one person.
This video was so educational. Your analyses were very detailed and easy to understand. When you compared different phrasing back to back, it was clear how it can make such a big difference.
6:35 so right about Mozart
Technically this is where you first tackle a “real” concerto after Vivaldi and Bach Double Concertos, but it’s so easy to miss the phrasing and if you miss one note you’re screwed.
It’s the equivalent of the Tiki Taka of the Spanish soccer team. Seems simple but EVERYTHING has to be be right on time
i'm not a musician, but in the first one i did think there was some background sound or something because i believed there were two sounds, but it was just brett being awesome
I love how twoset explains these things and even as a musician it's always nice to hear good points from others ❤️
I really love you two being all nerdy digging into the essence of the pieces and showing your own interpretations. It is a pure treasure to having someone share their perspectives coherently and concisely, so that we can be educated enough to value these music properly. Genuine appreciation for Twoset!👏
(btw, Eddy 's always such a master of rhetoric❣)
I love that Eddie played the same phrase twice and explained the musicality and then just played all the same notes, but sounding one dimensional, directionless, but in tune. You can hear the difference in a professional level and amateur style.
As a new viewer bouncing between a lot of random content I have to say I think this is my favourite cos they really explain it in a way non musical people can understand and demonstrate it the same. You can hear exactly what they’re trying to convey and it also just gives you such an appreciation for the correct way. I love whenever they play seriously cos it’s just so pretty and controlled and you can really tell how skilled they are. Makes me want to see it live
(Also genuinely makes me wanna pick my flute back up lol)
I love it when we get a solid technique/ history/music theory lesson. Thanks 🙏 professor Chen and professor Yang.
I love this type of video. It's very educational for us non-musicians and makes me appreciate classical music even more.
non-string players in general. I play the clarinet and therefore don't really know what's hard to play on the violin. For example when they first mentioned that scales were hard to play, I was genuinely surprised
same. im a pianist with almost no knowledge on theory and these types of videos are really nice to watch!
"Debussy made this so hard" ~fellow first violin out of context
I discovered this youtube channel months ago and really got inspired by Eddy and Brett, my desire of learning this instrument became more deeper because of 2setViolin♡♡♡ I really love and enjoy watching your videos and now I want to buy my own violin and learn how to play it but it seems I can't right now because I don't have money 🥺 please continue to inspire more people to be into classical instruments 2set♡
Have you thought about renting a violin? I started out that way (rented from a third party company I found online). Some schools rent out too, I think. Just tell them you're saving for a violin.
@@ayla6854 I was going to say the same thing 😊 | I'm currently renting one and deciding when would be a good time to invest in one
Same I was one of those "classical music is boring" people until I found this channel. Now all the music I'm producing is orchestral lol.
Yep, same advice from me. I rent mine at a very reasonable cost so have a very good 'student' violin to play on. There are starter costs though, such as a shoulder rest, rosin, music, a music stand (mebee), an electronic tuner + batteries... mine clips over the pegs... plus spare strings(!)
The dialogue or polyphony in Bach’s are really the things that make the pieces sound exceptionally beautiful ❤️
You are absolutely right. I love playing Bach, but I play the piano and mess around a little bit with the harp, both of which make it very easy to feel the dialogue just by opposing left against right hand. But doing this for a string instrument... Wow. Any two voice Bach piece for solo violin needs about as much precision and concentration as a four voice Bach fugue for piano, I guess.
@@interroga-te-ipsum Yeah, I don’t know much about string technique but I guess it would need so much control to produce and separate the sounds while shaping each voice individually. I play piano as well and used to play a fugue with four voices, it is indeed very hard. Although most people don’t find it impressive, I appreciate those talking voices so much, truly delightful whenever you listen to it 🥰
One of the main reasons I love playing solo Bach is because it's complete without having to have other players there. The violin is most always part of a complementary ensemble. With Bach, you're complete by yourself. Even if you don't reach the heights of skill and expression, you at least imagine them, and participate in the experience of every violinist of all the ages since these pieces became more widely known.
Before the explanation, I was perfectly impressed by the first one though... Like how do you keep the melody separate, and I don't think it's a technique I see often in other pieces.
brett: this piece is rly hard
also brett: *nails the piece*
I love how Eddy's dancing along to Brett's playing. That's a love of music right there.
I get goosebumps in sections wherein you guys play how you think the pieces are supposed to sound - they're so majestic and refined!
I've been learning to play the violin for 3 months now because I was inspired by your passion. I'm still enjoying every bit of practice days, juggling it with my uni studies. Whenever I hear you guys play, I always aim to express the piece I'm learning the way you do. It's disheartening because I feel like I'm lacking a lot, since I don't have a teacher to guide me.
Nevertheless, that's not stopping me! Thanks for this educational video! I'm motivated to practice better!
So relatable! The first time I really struggled on stage was playing Mozart's 3rd concerto. It was painful and really traumatizing. I needed years to be able to play a piece of Mozart in a way I was proud of (and it is still not perfect).
The other pieces are also very hard.
Mozart is a trauma in generell. I still don't manage to play his pieces with this feeling of easiness after years of playing the piano. :(
@@anahitamirzarazi4424 I easily believe you. Mozart is definitely Lingling level.
I wish I could upvote this 10 times. Excellent video!
I've found that in an orchestra, the very delicate pieces like Mozart, Debussy or the slow Mahler movement in Symphony no. 5 are the ones that are the most teeth-gnawshinginly, shoulder-tensing to play (and that's as a violist :p)
*Eddy:* The reason why this is so hard is because you're basically playing the soloist and the accompanist at the same time
*Pianists:*
i’m a pianist and am accompanying one of my friends who’s playing beethoven romance no. 2 for an audition. when we first rehearsed together she told me she had her bad violin and bow with her and ended up nailing the first few pages. i really love the piece and now i understand from both perspectives how hard it is.
Timestamps for playing excerpts:
0:59 Brett's Bach Sonata 2
2:18 combo Bach
3:42 Eddy's Beethoven Romance 2
5:30 Eddy's Mozart 5
8:19 Mozart 5 opening appreciation (8:37)
9:15 Eddy's Bach Sonata 1
9:53 voices dialogue
11:34 Eddy's Brahms 2nd movement
12:27 orchestra dialogue demonstration
14:16 Brett's scales bonus xD
I have been a twoset fan for a few years now and sometimes, I do feel left out as a nonmusician. I just enjoy classical music and your humour. Thankful for videos like these that break it down to us. ❤️
Same
I'm glad the Siciliana was here. It often gets overlooked, but actually making it sound good is one of the hardest things in all the Bach Sonatas and Partitas.
It's so interesting hearing you guys describe the Brahms one as an "accompaniment", because I really enjoy listening to the 2nd mvt but never realised it's technically an accompaniment to oboe. To me, the violin part can be considered the co-protagonist of the musical whole - it's an intricate duet - and that's the ingenious and beautiful aspect about it - I feel the violin writing is beautiful by itself even though there are weird arpeggios throughout.
It's a similar feeling I get I suppose - when I listen to Rach 2 2nd mvt - the initial piano part is just simple arpeggios accompanying flute/clarinet, but then I can't get enough of them - it's beautiful because you know it serves a "higher purpose": giving soul to the main melody!
Honestly most Bach pieces sound a lot easier than they are. Or they are easy to just do but really hard to do and sound good. This is coming from a cellist who's head exploded when he tried to play backs first cello suite one year onto playing.
Bach Andante sounds like Bach was short on violinist that day and has to do like 3 voices in one
the third installment in the series: 5 pieces that are exactly as hard as they sound
I love them with serious playing and educating! Thank you prof. Yang and Chen!!! So soothing in the ears. I'm learning so much in this channel..
6:23 that recording at the background music is SO GOOD WOW
I always learn so much when you break down parts of the music & discuss what makes it work, or not work. Please do a Masterclass! ❤
The Bach pieces y’all chose I really respect. Being a cellist I’ve had to do the Bach cello suite 2 minuets, and they kicked my ass for so long haha
My friend performed the Bach Andante (as written for SOLO violin) and afterwards got feedback from her friend in the audience. “I liked it, but it sounded like the second violinist got lost.” Brett, absolutely stunning performance!
1:42 Brett: doesnt sound that impressive
Me, not a musician: what is this witchcraft, why you sound like two violins? What do you mean that doesnt sound impressive??
Love Brett’s Bach andante sooooo much, makes me feel peaceful every time. Thank you!!!
As a pianist, I can attest that many people- even musicians- have a tendency to underestimate the difficulty of Bach and Mozart pieces for any instrument; but I've found that people particularly underestimate the difficulty of Mozart's piano pieces. Take K. 545, for example. Everyone knows it and thinks it sounds so easy- but making all the repetitions sing and sound individual and not robotic or monotonous is incredibly challenging as a musician. Not to mention that you're so exposed when you play Mozart or Bach. One missed note and every single person for a 20-mile radius will hear it! Lol
These are my favorite kind of videos!! Going deep into the technicalities and explanations. Thanks!
I have to say this was nice to see you guys in a less jokey setup and with more of your real musical skills on display. Cool to see the fingering mirrored, and how much you guys are present and listening when the other was playing, which is normally not something I see a bunch of in your videos. Well done.