@Arthur Callaghan if you like that, you might consider looking up "The Song of the Sea" from Professor Layton and the Eternal Diva. It basically builds off that melody
Hear how the subject hops around keys. 0:05 A (G) 0:20 B (D (Interval of a fifth in G minor)) 0:40 A (G) 0:55 B (D) 1:18 A (G (The sensation of returning from the fifth back down to the root is a satisfying musical phenomenon. This grounds the song and prepares for our next movement into other intervals)) 1:44 C (B♭ (Interval of a minor third in G minor)) 2:08 C (B♭) 2:38 D (C (Interval of a fourth in G minor)) 3:18 A (G (Ending in a plagal manner where we started, G minor. This is significant because plagal cadences (4th to root "amen" cadence) are related to Christian music, and Bach was known to be extremely Christian)) Finally finishing with a resplendent G major chord. Bach signs at the end of all his works, Soli Deo Gloria - "Glory to God alone". We can hear him clearly sign this piece musically in the same manner when looking at the subject within the Fugue. His last two chords are a typical 5-1 resolution. Lets take a look at the unrelated filling between the subjects of the fugue. I like to think of it as jelly filling, because its not the doughnut, but filler that is sort of used as an intermission / connector. We note that for the first three bits of filling are all generally moving downward, giving us a feeling that it shouldn't end soon. 1:09 1:58 2:21 But for the last piece of filling... 2:50 We find that it dips down, but then soars upwards, leading into the final resolution. Another thing of note - for each of the A sections where the subject presents itself starting on the G note: Youll notice that at each of these sections, the farther you progress through the work, the subject goes down in pitch : It begins in G in the top voice in the beginning, but finishes with the subject being played by the pedals (low pitch) in the end.
Inmense thanks, the way you analyze the piece is phenomenal and very clear! I enjoyed it so much that I would give you five likes if I coud. I just wish I could find this kind of analysis made for other pieces as well, it would be priceless to me.
I asked Google for a definition of a fugue. It referred me here as an example, and I find this an amazing way to illustrate the concept to a non-musician. It's a fantastic work of art (both the composition and the performance).
Thanks for the comment; I'm tickled to know that Google is using this as an example. At the other end of the spectrum, there's this: www.musanim.com/GrosseFuge/UnderstandingBeethovensGrosseFuge.html
Playing a four-voice fugue is somewhat analogous to juggling four balls. When you're juggling, you only pay attention to one ball at a time --- when you're catching/throwing it. The rest of the time, the ball is just executing the trajectory you gave it. When you're playing contrapuntal music, you tell your fingers what to do about the next few notes, and then you move on to attend to other notes in the future (while your fingers automatically/unconsciously "execute the trajectory" of the instructions you recently gave them). So, while the effect is continuously polyphonic, the player's attention is directed to one thing at a time, with the continuousness being provided by pre-learned habits executing automatically.
There's no way to be conscious of that much at once. I can sightread contrapuntal keyboard music; even in that, most of what's going on physically is automatic/unconscious.
I cannot get over this piece. Literally this ONE piece of music has made me see classical, baroque, and romantic music in a whole new light.... I used to struggle through the sheet music but being able to see it set out in this manner has made me see the sheer genius in the way he made the pieces fit. My appreciation is lifted and I am humbled v.v
I guess, because classical music (or baroque, if you want) is just not popular today anymore. I remember telling I like to listen to classical music in my free time to my friends, and they were really surprised and couldn't understand what I like about this “old and boring“ music. Likewise I cannot understand people hurting their brain cells by listening to music like Rap, where I sometimes think the goal of the song is too get as many swearing words per minute as possible.
by god, it must be insanely difficult to get all that counterpoint in the right order.... four different voices and they all intertwine together so perfectly!!
dominoes37 This is rather formal music, that follows an intricate set of rules that are specific enough to guide the composer while still allowing considerable range for creativity. Those rules, once fully understood, make counterpoint much easier to write than the uninitiated would appreciate. In a way, it's a bit like computer programming: the building up of an arbitrary level of complexity by the accumulation and interaction of simpler units. I think that's one reason why code nerds have a tendency to groove on baroque music in general and Bach in particular. I learned those rules in high school, and was able to produce pieces of considerable complexity using them. They weren't very *good* pieces, because I was practising the theory of it rather than the art, and while I had considerable melodic talent, I didn't have the skill or experience to produce not merely counterpoint, but *beautiful* counterpoint. There's a huge difference between technical skill and the ability to create beauty; I had the first but not the second.
I may be too optimistic but I pray to all the gods that may exist that you are wrong. Why can't we have a new Bach. We didn't deserve the first one but they may have mercy on us.
The reason we don't have another like bach is because society has too many toys to play with. If we didn't have tv, radio, phonograph, tape deck, CD, players, computers, telephones, cellphones, smartphones, Computer games, video games and the list goes on Back in Bach's time they played an instrument and wrote music for passtime. We now have too much to occupy our time. I took piano lessons but the stereo played better than I did. We just live in a different era. Even self playing instruments were replaced with the phonograph.
Ron B I would hate to think this way. I’d bet that when the wheel came out, cavemen worldwide thought that it was just a waste of time and that it was actually counter-productive. It takes less creativity to wheel something across the cave when you could drag it just as well. Wheel is ruining our cavechildren!
Holy shit, that part where it goes from major back to minor during that whole section from 2:20 to 2:44 is one of the best bits of music ive ever heard. Those chord progressions are so cool sounding, and really modern. Like it could come out of a game or movie :D
...thing I like is you watch every note AND listen as it's played...I used to sit with the headphones on and the sheet music in front of me and follow along...it's amazing how much you actually miss unless you read the music as it's played...I miss those days...
I remember the first time I heard Bach's "little fugue," it was used on a public radio program back in the mid 90's in the Bay Area. I was like, what is that music! I went to a record store to search it out. loved Bach ever since.
For anyone who fears fugues, this and Bach’s the Great fugue are two very accessible pieces. This one in particular has a simple line of melody that is very easy to discern as it runs through the prismatic manipulations of Bach’s masterful composition. I truly treasure these two pieces.
I love this visual. You can see the musical paths of the colors, each one telling a story of it's own, but always returning to that common fugue home theme.
2013-in Music Appreciation class in college, I heard this song, and it was played so beautifully that I imagined a gothic masquerade ball with jesters and lots of colors, and a budding romance. That image, and this song, has stayed with me for 7 years now :) I love it
Legend has it that another organist challenged Bach to see who was better. Apparently, the guy heard Bach warming up, and left town that night so that Bach wouldn't completely embarrass him in front of the entire town.
This way of presenting the music is really helpful to a non-musician like me. Seeing what is going on helps me to hear it. Thank you to the people who do this.
When this was featured in MegaMan Legends, I had no idea this was an actual classical song. Here, I thought it was just done for the game and the game’s musical team was just THAT gifted.
I wish this animated graphical system had existed when I was learning how a fugue is constructed all those years ago. It would have saved me a lot of time. Fortunately, I can use these videos for my students now.
Wonderfully mesmerizing visual interpretation. Am I the only one who gets chills every time it returns to that main theme, even if it's just in the background? The power of Bach...
I'm here because I cant play or read music and this piece I heard in high school still swims in my head, and because Bach is extremely in my musical life, as well as Baroque and Medieval. I'm absorbing the vibe Bach put out with this unmatched fugue, in other words, I'm listening. Thank you, Johann
Smalin, I watch this video very often, there are some days I will randomly start singing this piece and have the urge to rewatch your video, today was that day and after a couple of listens I will go to your great fugue video. Thanks for your work!
For me, listening to Bach over my lifetime, I've found MANY of the best (you name it, if it's musically related) I've ever heard anywhere...so yeah, I'm with ya brother! ;-)
One of my classic Bach favorites. Like the synthesized organ sound. Like the simple, straightforward graphics. Easy to follow. A genuine quality package!
When I first heard this piece by Bach in a music appreciation class in High School, I felt it was the most beautiful piece of music I had ever heard! I had the opportunity of hearing it again live in a Organ Recital in Immaculate Conception Church in Jamaica, Queens!❤
Thank you so much for videos like this. The visuals seriously help me with analysis for music theory. I’ve always been able to hear intervals and pitches, but these visuals solidify it all for me! I’d imagine mathematical concepts are involved. Thanks again for bringing this to us!
Thanks Stephen Malinowski for all the work you do here on this wonderful UA-cam channel of yours. I am in Music 101 (a.k.a. Music appreciation) and my professor always talks about how awesome your UA-cam videos are. I have moved on from fugue and am currently learning about the multi-movement forms of Suite, Sonata, Concerto, and Symphony. You have plenty of videos for those musical forms as well! Thanks again and keep up the great work!
3:04 is such a cool gesture to see visualized. It’s as if the tenor is pushing the alto and soprano higher and higher, yet they have nowhere to go! That’s okay, Bach has it covered 😎
I have watched this video HUNDREDS of times, forced every one of my friends to watch at least once and marvel at this masterpiece. The graphical score allows you to see and hear every counterpoint section interlaced with geometric precision, the structure is mesmerizing. Bach is G.O.A.T.!!!!!!
When I was a kid, we had an NES game called Bible Adventures. It wasn't officially licensed, and was in a weird blue cartridge. But if you beat the Noah's ark part of the game, the victory cutscene played the most amazing music. I had no idea what it was, but would put in hours of work capturing animals just to hear a little bit of that wonderful 8-bit music. Years later I heard Bach's Little Fugue, and realized that was the music that had enraptured me from first listen as a child.
This was the first piece of Classical Organ Music I ever heard. (outside of church hymns). It has remained in my head for over 50 years and to rediscover it is joyful!
The most decadent chocolate cake embellished with the richest frosting. Bach and Smalin, thank you for finally giving me a reason to live after 66 yrs. See you on the other side. Cool colors on the note blocks, makes the music come to life
While I have listened and watched this a couple of times (absolutely brilliant!), I had never noticed that Mr. Malinowski created both the wonderful performance AND the animation!! Bravo!!!
Nobody writes things like this anymore because they can't. I remember listening to this as a kid and when it first hits that low G before it goes to major I got goosebumps. I still do as a middle aged guy. Ive heard this played in a church and it sounds badass
Actually, that's not true. There are people who could write things like this if they wanted, but they figure "Bach did that already, and I'm interested in doing something else." If you listen to the music I've posted by Stepháne Delplace, you'll see what I mean. Another example is Aaron Andrew Hunt, who is interested in irregular meters; if he chose to use conventional meters, it would sound a lot closer to Bach.
@@smalin wow still replying to new comments even on 8 yr old videos? Hey thanks for your work smalin. This particular video is one of my favorites I must have watched it more than 20 times over the years and I often send it to people I meet who aren't familiar with bach. Your arrangement of the bach A minor fugue with organ and wind is also incredible. Come to think of it, I probably have about 10 "favorite" videos from you! Thanks again
You are a great organ player. I love your works and the effort you put on promoting classical music. I think we need more people like you, so that those precious work can be remembered by more people. Keep going!
I've been watching these videos long before I started really learning about music theory, but now that I am learning those, visualizing the notes in such way really taught me a lot about key concepts. Thank you smalin!
This is my favorite piece of music ever written. I can still remember the exact moment I first listened to this song when I was 6 years old in a music theory class. The teacher made me sit down and count how many times I heard the hook play throughout the song. The answer, by the way, is a fraction.
smalin I was six. I didn’t sit down for anything when I was six. And if I did it was for a split second and I was back up again. She made me sit and listen to the entire song and count how many times the hook played. First time I ever remember sitting through a complete song. The point of the story was not to say, “hey guys I was standing up one day in music class...” but it’s very different when a teacher says, okay, I need to get this kid to concentrate one something for longer than 10 seconds. So she had me sit down and listen to this song. So ya, I was standing in class. Not the detail to get hung up on. I wasn’t in a wheelchair, and wheeled myself into the room. I was standing when I walked in. Shocking. I know.
Well, me too, except the tears... Fugues are very theoretical and most are not loaded with feelings. They are very cold compositions to me, particularly.
+Guilherme de Almeida you would think that about fugues right? Well, Bach is the exception, he wrote fugues for FUN, while Beethoven and Mozart struggled with writing just a couple. The thing is Bach might as well have invented fugues with his undeniable ear for harmony and structure, he was the king of fugues.
well this is meant to be played on an organ sooooo... you only need two hands and a foot, so assuming you're not phisically handicapped you're good to go!
What a wonderful way to illustrate the immeasurable complexity and deceptive simplicity of fugue writing. Thank you so much for posting. As for the writing, I will always be amazed at the staggering heights of genius the human race is able to achieve. In a world full of people willing to behave so badly, it's really good to be reminded of the opposite side of the coin....
Very Powerful theme, one of the best fugues made by Bach, it's litelly an adventure in 3:45...transmit a lot of feelings...and the final major chords is the cherry on the top of the cake
Smalin, I really appreciate all of the videos you upload. Not only are they visually stunning, but are also have tremendous sound quality. Especially in the case of pipe organ music, sound quality is very hard to master. Your videos have ruined me for other pipe organ recordings!
I have a mixed reaction to your compliment. The organ music I perform and/or assemble myself is not from real instruments, but is created synthetically. The sound can therefore be very clear, but isn't exactly like a live recording from a real instrument in a church. The "ruined me for other pipe organ recordings" reaction works both ways: people who have listened to lots of real organs (either in person or via recordings) tend not to like my recordings. You will find their negative comments on my videos (especially my first, 2005 Toccata and Fugue in D minor video). Listening to contrapuntal organ music is very demanding, because the sound of the organ and the nature of reverberation in a church make it difficult to discern the individual voices. In my recordings, I can make it much easier, by using different stops for each voice and limiting the amount of reverberation. For people with more experience listening to organ music, the clarity of my recordings is not necessary, and sounds artificial. As a person straddling the two points of view, I would recommend you not give up on real recordings, because your ability to hear them (and thus your enjoyment of them) will increase with experience.
“But what have you done lately?” www.musanim.com/UA-camHighlights/
Just like it very much!
Quel chef-d'œuvre. Cette pièce exprime bien toute la grandeur de Bach et a un aspect singulier de peur mélangée à de la gaieté.
Those first 15 seconds does something to my soul I can’t describe
For me it's always when the second voice comes in I get chills
For me It's 1:28
Outlines a G minor chord?
@Arthur Callaghan if you like that, you might consider looking up "The Song of the Sea" from Professor Layton and the Eternal Diva. It basically builds off that melody
@@charismajyyks or maybe The Red Baron
Hear how the subject hops around keys.
0:05 A (G)
0:20 B (D (Interval of a fifth in G minor))
0:40 A (G)
0:55 B (D)
1:18 A (G (The sensation of returning from the fifth back down to the root is a satisfying musical phenomenon. This grounds the song and prepares for our next movement into other intervals))
1:44 C (B♭ (Interval of a minor third in G minor))
2:08 C (B♭)
2:38 D (C (Interval of a fourth in G minor))
3:18 A (G (Ending in a plagal manner where we started, G minor. This is significant because plagal cadences (4th to root "amen" cadence) are related to Christian music, and Bach was known to be extremely Christian))
Finally finishing with a resplendent G major chord. Bach signs at the end of all his works, Soli Deo Gloria - "Glory to God alone". We can hear him clearly sign this piece musically in the same manner when looking at the subject within the Fugue. His last two chords are a typical 5-1 resolution.
Lets take a look at the unrelated filling between the subjects of the fugue. I like to think of it as jelly filling, because its not the doughnut, but filler that is sort of used as an intermission / connector.
We note that for the first three bits of filling are all generally moving downward, giving us a feeling that it shouldn't end soon.
1:09
1:58
2:21
But for the last piece of filling...
2:50
We find that it dips down, but then soars upwards, leading into the final resolution.
Another thing of note - for each of the A sections where the subject presents itself starting on the G note:
Youll notice that at each of these sections, the farther you progress through the work, the subject goes down in pitch : It begins in G in the top voice in the beginning, but finishes with the subject being played by the pedals (low pitch) in the end.
Dark_T this helps so much thank you
here is your like my good man
You're doing God's work, I respect that
Inmense thanks, the way you analyze the piece is phenomenal and very clear! I enjoyed it so much that I would give you five likes if I coud. I just wish I could find this kind of analysis made for other pieces as well, it would be priceless to me.
you basically did my homework for me thanks
I asked Google for a definition of a fugue. It referred me here as an example, and I find this an amazing way to illustrate the concept to a non-musician. It's a fantastic work of art (both the composition and the performance).
Thanks for the comment; I'm tickled to know that Google is using this as an example. At the other end of the spectrum, there's this: www.musanim.com/GrosseFuge/UnderstandingBeethovensGrosseFuge.html
This little fugue is HUGE
The fact that only one guy is playing this whole thing is just nuts.
Playing a four-voice fugue is somewhat analogous to juggling four balls. When you're juggling, you only pay attention to one ball at a time --- when you're catching/throwing it. The rest of the time, the ball is just executing the trajectory you gave it. When you're playing contrapuntal music, you tell your fingers what to do about the next few notes, and then you move on to attend to other notes in the future (while your fingers automatically/unconsciously "execute the trajectory" of the instructions you recently gave them). So, while the effect is continuously polyphonic, the player's attention is directed to one thing at a time, with the continuousness being provided by pre-learned habits executing automatically.
smalin holy cow. So basically it’s all just subconscious all the time?
There's no way to be conscious of that much at once. I can sightread contrapuntal keyboard music; even in that, most of what's going on physically is automatic/unconscious.
smalin that’s amazing!
It's actually a lot like watching somebody else do it (though physically, it does feel like you're doing it).
This video is 10 years old and it's still my go to video for teaching students what a fugue is.
OMG totally came here for the same reason 😂
I cannot get over this piece. Literally this ONE piece of music has made me see classical, baroque, and romantic music in a whole new light.... I used to struggle through the sheet music but being able to see it set out in this manner has made me see the sheer genius in the way he made the pieces fit. My appreciation is lifted and I am humbled v.v
Why didn't you see this earlier?
I guess, because classical music (or baroque, if you want) is just not popular today anymore. I remember telling I like to listen to classical music in my free time to my friends, and they were really surprised and couldn't understand what I like about this “old and boring“ music.
Likewise I cannot understand people hurting their brain cells by listening to music like Rap, where I sometimes think the goal of the song is too get as many swearing words per minute as possible.
by god, it must be insanely difficult to get all that counterpoint in the right order....
four different voices and they all intertwine together so perfectly!!
It's what the art of counterpoint is all about.
Yep.
***** Eh, you don't need to follow them all the time, just use a ton of non chord tones.
I believe he means chords that don't belong to the triad, i.e. G and A, D and C ect.
dominoes37 This is rather formal music, that follows an intricate set of rules that are specific enough to guide the composer while still allowing considerable range for creativity. Those rules, once fully understood, make counterpoint much easier to write than the uninitiated would appreciate.
In a way, it's a bit like computer programming: the building up of an arbitrary level of complexity by the accumulation and interaction of simpler units. I think that's one reason why code nerds have a tendency to groove on baroque music in general and Bach in particular.
I learned those rules in high school, and was able to produce pieces of considerable complexity using them. They weren't very *good* pieces, because I was practising the theory of it rather than the art, and while I had considerable melodic talent, I didn't have the skill or experience to produce not merely counterpoint, but *beautiful* counterpoint. There's a huge difference between technical skill and the ability to create beauty; I had the first but not the second.
This video shows the mathematical and musical genius of Bach. I don’t know how he made all of that fit together perfectly.
To understand it, study counterpoint.
The dude literally saw sounds... sound was his primary. This is the most amazing song. I couldn’t agree with you more.
Btw... I see sounds too. Hope you take a listen... (I’m no Bach tho haha)
@@smalin But still, no body come close to the genius of Bach.
@@SDGRTX1455um.. actually lots of people did, in fact they passed it.
Truly the epitome of incredible musical genius...There will NEVER be another Johan Sebastian Bach.
I may be too optimistic but I pray to all the gods that may exist that you are wrong. Why can't we have a new Bach. We didn't deserve the first one but they may have mercy on us.
True that
The reason we don't have another like bach is because society has too many toys to play with. If we didn't have tv, radio, phonograph, tape deck, CD, players, computers, telephones, cellphones, smartphones, Computer games, video games and the list goes on Back in Bach's time they played an instrument and wrote music for passtime. We now have too much to occupy our time. I took piano lessons but the stereo played better than I did. We just live in a different era. Even self playing instruments were replaced with the phonograph.
Bach the Ultimate composer of the whole universe.
Ron B I would hate to think this way. I’d bet that when the wheel came out, cavemen worldwide thought that it was just a waste of time and that it was actually counter-productive. It takes less creativity to wheel something across the cave when you could drag it just as well. Wheel is ruining our cavechildren!
This fugue was stuck in my head and took me FOREVER to find it. So relieved.
What is wrong with that?
Same here! I heard this in high school is a class and it has always struck me as would be a sick rap beat
Same here
Holy shit, that part where it goes from major back to minor during that whole section from 2:20 to 2:44 is one of the best bits of music ive ever heard. Those chord progressions are so cool sounding, and really modern. Like it could come out of a game or movie :D
That bit must have been as close as you could get to feeling the glory of God.
It's reminiscent of a beat drop haha
It's satisfying to hear the music 'swing'
*HIGHER HE'S FLYING TOO FAST AND FLYING TOO HIGH HIGHER AN EYE FOR AN EYE THE LEGEND NEVER DIE*
FIRST IN THE SCENE HES ARE LEADING MACHINE! ITS BLOODY APRIL AND THE TIDE IS TURNING
@@anonymos6248 FIRE AT WILL, IT'S THE TRILL OF THE KILL
FOUR SHOT IN A DAY WITH ENGINS BURNING
bach's fugues are always so perfect. this one in particular is almost like a tutorial on how to write one. what a genius he was
Starts so modestly and simpe and becomes so complex and enchanting without effort. One of my favourite pieces by Bach. Magical!
...thing I like is you watch every note AND listen as it's played...I used to sit with the headphones on and the sheet music in front of me and follow along...it's amazing how much you actually miss unless you read the music as it's played...I miss those days...
This is one of Bach’s most phenomenal masterpieces! I
Never get tired of listening to this because of how brilliantly this was written
Considering how many pieces Bach wrote (over a thousand), that's quite a statement!
this is genuinely one of the most beautiful things I ever heard.
I remember the first time I heard Bach's "little fugue," it was used on a public radio program back in the mid 90's in the Bay Area. I was like, what is that music!
I went to a record store to search it out. loved Bach ever since.
For anyone who fears fugues, this and Bach’s the Great fugue are two very accessible pieces. This one in particular has a simple line of melody that is very easy to discern as it runs through the prismatic manipulations of Bach’s masterful composition. I truly treasure these two pieces.
I love this visual. You can see the musical paths of the colors, each one telling a story of it's own, but always returning to that common fugue home theme.
My grandfather used to sing this to me when I went to bed. He died recently, and this brings back so many memories.
Suzuki Nathie I'm a bit confused, was your father an organ?
bflet12
No, he sang the song to me. And he wasn't my father, he was my grandfather.
Suzuki Nathie That is so awesome. Not many have the privilege of having a grandfather who can sing organ fugues!
Arch5280 I'm not sure if being part organ is a blessing or a curse. Maybe, as Monk said, both.
bflet12
definetly both
2013-in Music Appreciation class in college, I heard this song, and it was played so beautifully that I imagined a gothic masquerade ball with jesters and lots of colors, and a budding romance. That image, and this song, has stayed with me for 7 years now :) I love it
That's actually a nice image.
Legend has it that another organist challenged Bach to see who was better. Apparently, the guy heard Bach warming up, and left town that night so that Bach wouldn't completely embarrass him in front of the entire town.
This way of presenting the music is really helpful to a non-musician like me. Seeing what is going on helps me to hear it. Thank you to the people who do this.
I'm glad to hear it helps.
So you are the one who did this. Thank you. It's awesome.
When this was featured in MegaMan Legends, I had no idea this was an actual classical song. Here, I thought it was just done for the game and the game’s musical team was just THAT gifted.
Me but with sly 3
LG actually arranged and remixed this for three ringtones.
that transition into major, it gets me every time.
That's called "tierce de picardie", and it's common in renessaince and baroque music.
When is that?
@J C like 1:43
@@Sera69FI Do you think that Bach overdoes it, sometimes?
I wish this animated graphical system had existed when I was learning how a fugue is constructed all those years ago. It would have saved me a lot of time. Fortunately, I can use these videos for my students now.
Wonderfully mesmerizing visual interpretation. Am I the only one who gets chills every time it returns to that main theme, even if it's just in the background? The power of Bach...
Simon Woods so do i... especially when the bass or lower comes in. Amazing how everything works so well..,
I'm here because I cant play or read music and this piece I heard in high school still swims in my head, and because Bach is extremely in my musical life, as well as Baroque and Medieval. I'm absorbing the vibe Bach put out with this unmatched fugue, in other words, I'm listening. Thank you, Johann
Smalin, I watch this video very often, there are some days I will randomly start singing this piece and have the urge to rewatch your video, today was that day and after a couple of listens I will go to your great fugue video. Thanks for your work!
:-)
The modulation out of the major section at 2:22 is one of the best modulations I've ever heard anywhere
For me, listening to Bach over my lifetime, I've found MANY of the best (you name it, if it's musically related) I've ever heard anywhere...so yeah, I'm with ya brother! ;-)
When I was younger, I would watch your videos often with my mother. You introduced me to a lot of classical music, and this was one of my favourites.
It's hard to fathom the brilliance of Bach.
Not really. You just have to try.
One of my classic Bach favorites. Like the synthesized organ sound. Like the simple, straightforward graphics. Easy to follow. A genuine quality package!
When I first heard this piece by Bach in a music appreciation class in High School, I felt it was the most beautiful piece of music I had ever heard! I had the opportunity of hearing it again live in a Organ Recital in Immaculate Conception Church in Jamaica, Queens!❤
14 rising steps at 3:05 to symbolise the 14 stages of the cross, plus B+A+C+H, my god Bach's genius is incomprehensible.
Really? Hmmm
man litterally wrote his name in his music
What are the 14 stages of the cross?
Bruh
Thank you so much for videos like this. The visuals seriously help me with analysis for music theory. I’ve always been able to hear intervals and pitches, but these visuals solidify it all for me! I’d imagine mathematical concepts are involved. Thanks again for bringing this to us!
Thanks Stephen Malinowski for all the work you do here on this wonderful UA-cam channel of yours. I am in Music 101 (a.k.a. Music appreciation) and my professor always talks about how awesome your UA-cam videos are. I have moved on from fugue and am currently learning about the multi-movement forms of Suite, Sonata, Concerto, and Symphony. You have plenty of videos for those musical forms as well! Thanks again and keep up the great work!
Listening to this while doing work is a bad idea. You'll be stuck just listening to how incredibly awesome this is and you wont get anything done.
Yes, but once it's over, you can think: if I set my standards high enough, maybe some day I'll achieve something as awesome as this.
It has happened to me hahaha
Same.
3:04 is such a cool gesture to see visualized. It’s as if the tenor is pushing the alto and soprano higher and higher, yet they have nowhere to go! That’s okay, Bach has it covered 😎
Beginning at 3:00 or so is like an EDM drop. Slowly pushing higher and higher then coming in with the super low part
I have watched this video HUNDREDS of times, forced every one of my friends to watch at least once and marvel at this masterpiece. The graphical score allows you to see and hear every counterpoint section interlaced with geometric precision, the structure is mesmerizing. Bach is G.O.A.T.!!!!!!
Thank you for helping me share my work.
@@smalin I love this. I agree with James and it indeed is mesmerizing! I wish I had all my favorites in this format!
I can hear every distinctive voices with absolute clarity. Thank you!! This is pure eargasm.
a week ago one of my music teachers at my school showed me this and i cant stop listening to this
If you like this one, you might like to try this: ua-cam.com/video/4WhPUqpaRp4/v-deo.html
i tried it it was awesome@@smalin
Well, then maybe you're ready for this: ua-cam.com/video/xp8Lgp3zILk/v-deo.html
SAME
real
When I was a kid, we had an NES game called Bible Adventures. It wasn't officially licensed, and was in a weird blue cartridge. But if you beat the Noah's ark part of the game, the victory cutscene played the most amazing music. I had no idea what it was, but would put in hours of work capturing animals just to hear a little bit of that wonderful 8-bit music. Years later I heard Bach's Little Fugue, and realized that was the music that had enraptured me from first listen as a child.
Stephen Carden -Es curioso porque he subido ese material en mi canal, Jajajaja.
Same. I heard this song the first time playing MegaMan legends for PlayStation 1.
I still have that game, and to this day have not beaten it.
@@MrAlcazar MegaMan or Bible adventures?
@@kunaikilla WTF? Who said anything about Mega-Man?
bach is such a genius
After listening to this piece, I was amazed by the interwoven melodies creating the overall fugue. It seems mathematically composed.
It was.
This was the first piece of Classical Organ Music I ever heard. (outside of church hymns). It has remained in my head for over 50 years and to rediscover it is joyful!
The most decadent chocolate cake embellished with the richest frosting. Bach and Smalin, thank you for finally giving me a reason to live after 66 yrs. See you on the other side. Cool colors on the note blocks, makes the music come to life
Those bass drops would end careers nowadays. Testing Bach's gangsta was unheard of.
Thank you for continuing the tradition of Boomer style cringe comments on classic music videos.
@@BaChewieChewieChomp "Boomer style cringe" This comment won't age well...
@@BaChewieChewieChomp Aw, YT removed my reply to you. You must've whined pretty loud to em.
@@WetaMantis Don't waste your breath on wannabe edgy morons.
While I have listened and watched this a couple of times (absolutely brilliant!), I had never noticed that Mr. Malinowski created both the wonderful performance AND the animation!! Bravo!!!
Nobody writes things like this anymore because they can't. I remember listening to this as a kid and when it first hits that low G before it goes to major I got goosebumps. I still do as a middle aged guy. Ive heard this played in a church and it sounds badass
Actually, that's not true. There are people who could write things like this if they wanted, but they figure "Bach did that already, and I'm interested in doing something else." If you listen to the music I've posted by Stepháne Delplace, you'll see what I mean. Another example is Aaron Andrew Hunt, who is interested in irregular meters; if he chose to use conventional meters, it would sound a lot closer to Bach.
@@smalin do you think there are a lot of people out there who could compose music as well as Bach did?
@@smalin wow still replying to new comments even on 8 yr old videos? Hey thanks for your work smalin. This particular video is one of my favorites I must have watched it more than 20 times over the years and I often send it to people I meet who aren't familiar with bach. Your arrangement of the bach A minor fugue with organ and wind is also incredible. Come to think of it, I probably have about 10 "favorite" videos from you! Thanks again
@Night Shade: You can't offhand mention something like that, without providing link, referential directions or SOMETHING
@@funnythingunleashed Seconded. I have to hear this.
POV : You are an Allied pilot in 1917 and there is some weird red plane in the sky coming towards you...
man and machine, nothing there inbetween
@@kerosene143 A FLYING CIRCUS AND A MAN FROM PRUSSIA
The sky and a plane, this man commands his domain
THE WESTERN FRONT AND ALL THE WAY TO RUSSIA
@@brendonmcdoniel3684 death from above
One of the most spectacular compositions I've ever heard.
What I love about this is that it's pretty similar to what I percieve when I listen to classical music
How about this: ua-cam.com/video/4FIEtH3VUCY/v-deo.html
The Red Baron but it's just the intro
Well these notes are flying higher as the song progresses
@@thebigjsjs6705 I see what you did there
Something immensely satisfying and complete about a fugue, especially by Bach of course.
one of the catchiest classical pieces i've ever heard.
Same
actually it's baroque *scoffs*
Pikachu With a Moustache eh, it's a matter of taste.
Pikachu With a Moustache I know it's Baroque but it is actually a catchy song if you know what I mean. I agree with leon2550
leon2550 all i said was it's from the baroque era, i didn't say it was bad
and hes flying HIGHER THE KING OF THE SKY
HES FLYING TO FAST AND HES FLYING TO HIGH
HIGHER, EYE FOR AN EYE
THIS LEGEND WILL NEVER DIE!
BORN A SOLDIER FROM THE HORSEBACKS TO THE SKY
THAT'S WHERE THE LEGEND WILL ARISE
Perhaps this is the most nearly perfect piece of music ever created.
That could be said for just about everything JSB wrote
Dvorak's Symphony No.9 is also really good. My favourite movement is 4.
Maybe my favourite of all Bach's opening subjects. Sounds so legendary.
Or this one: ua-cam.com/video/Q5Mv3T3ANjY/v-deo.html
iTzNoxy it was in Megaman Legends......lol
You are a great organ player. I love your works and the effort you put on promoting classical music. I think we need more people like you, so that those precious work can be remembered by more people. Keep going!
Um
I'm dat Guy lol
*inhales deeply*
MAN AND MACHINE
AND NOTHING THERE IN BETWEEN
@@aabattery4092The flying circus and a man from Prussia!
THE SKY AND A PLANE, THIS MAN COMMANDS HIS DOMAIN
@Nahkriin Mahfaeraak THE WESTERN FRONT ALL THE WAY TO RUSSIA!
@@derpypickaxe5352 Death from above, you're under fire
Stained red as blood, he's roaming higher
I am so in love with Bach .....this is so exhilarating and stimulating at the same time. With a dark Mix of love, mystery and a dash of mystery.
You must be a true genius to compose something like this, i mean how all the voices intertwine and complement one another is fascinating.
I really love these visual,presentations of the music.
It is easier to see how the three parts interact.
Philosophy of Rock n Roll melodic pattern was born out of this song if you listen carefully you will find it it’s in there .
All I hear is castlevania.
I've been watching these videos long before I started really learning about music theory, but now that I am learning those, visualizing the notes in such way really taught me a lot about key concepts. Thank you smalin!
+4540524 I'm so glad my videos have helped you.
This is my favorite piece of music ever written. I can still remember the exact moment I first listened to this song when I was 6 years old in a music theory class. The teacher made me sit down and count how many times I heard the hook play throughout the song. The answer, by the way, is a fraction.
Made you sit down? You were standing up in a music theory class?
smalin I was six. I didn’t sit down for anything when I was six. And if I did it was for a split second and I was back up again. She made me sit and listen to the entire song and count how many times the hook played. First time I ever remember sitting through a complete song. The point of the story was not to say, “hey guys I was standing up one day in music class...” but it’s very different when a teacher says, okay, I need to get this kid to concentrate one something for longer than 10 seconds. So she had me sit down and listen to this song. So ya, I was standing in class. Not the detail to get hung up on. I wasn’t in a wheelchair, and wheeled myself into the room. I was standing when I walked in. Shocking. I know.
I've never went to Music Theory class. Why do they insist on one sitting?
I heard it about the same age. I think it was in MegaMan Legends
I’m sorry, but I never knew this was the full song. This is one of the most beautiful songs I’ve ever heard
Apology accepted. Much of Papa Bach's work is beautiful. Explore.
First off, love the thought of papa Bach haha, and second, I know much of Bach, I'm just saying I think this really beautiful :)@@dbyers3897
If there are no lyrics, it's not a song
have you ever heard DatBeatZ ft. Lil Dicky - I'm Batman, I'm Awesome, Got A 9 Pack? Much more beautiful.
This is some of Bach's best work and one of my favorite pieces of classical music
An’ he’s flyin’ Higher!
King of the skies! He’s flyin’ too fast n’ he’s flying too high!
Higher!
Eye-for-an-eye, the legend’ll never die!!
Doctor: you have 3:45 minutes to live
Me: listens to this
From 3:00min to the end......man.......That part just brings to tears. Absolute perfection.
Well, me too, except the tears... Fugues are very theoretical and most are not loaded with feelings. They are very cold compositions to me, particularly.
+Guilherme de Almeida you would think that about fugues right? Well, Bach is the exception, he wrote fugues for FUN, while Beethoven and Mozart struggled with writing just a couple. The thing is Bach might as well have invented fugues with his undeniable ear for harmony and structure, he was the king of fugues.
I dont know why but this melody does funky things to my brain.
2:20 absolutely stunning.
literally my favorite sequence in all of music
so simple and so beautiful, why people not trying to solve these patterns anymore :(
We want more of these please!
I come back to this at least once a day. This is such a masterpiece and Bach is such a genius.
0:55 Baroque bass is insane
yes, mi fav part
This fugue inspired me to write a fugue.
Bach is genius.
Same
There are just too many songs playing at the same time and yet are incredibly harmonic! I always feel Fugue to be like the hallmark of human music.
Allied pilots: Why do i hear boss music?
Higher the king of the sky he's flying too fast and he's flying too high
It’s the Red Baron himself!!!
@@maddoxstryker3183 higher, an eye for an eye this legend will never die
Is that.... Darth Vader and Hitler ????
@@Damester1205 what
One of the best pieces of music ever composed!!👍
Coffin dance
This is what our collegiate processional is. Studied it as a freshman in Humanities and walked to it as a Senior. So much love for this.
When my third and fourth hands grow I’ll finally be able to play this!
well this is meant to be played on an organ sooooo... you only need two hands and a foot, so assuming you're not phisically handicapped you're good to go!
And your 3rd and 4th feet too, don't forget the pedalboard
You'll need like two or three more brains to process everything at once too
MAN AND MACHINE AND NOTHING THERE IN BETWEEN
@BriGuy THE SKY AND A PLANE, THIS MAN COMMANDS HIS DOMAIN
STAINED RED AS BLOOD, HE’S ROAMING HIGHER
@BriGuy THAT'S WHERE THE LEGEND WILL ARISE
@BriGuy HE'S FLYING TOO FAST AND HE'S FLYING TOO HIGH
Ok i understand but don't. why are we putting sbaton here?
What a wonderful way to illustrate the immeasurable complexity and deceptive simplicity of fugue writing. Thank you so much for posting. As for the writing, I will always be amazed at the staggering heights of genius the human race is able to achieve. In a world full of people willing to behave so badly, it's really good to be reminded of the opposite side of the coin....
I'm seriously addicted with this.
yeah me too
When it ends, round of applause.
Oh, wait. When it ends, you're disappointed it ended.
Very Powerful theme, one of the best fugues made by Bach, it's litelly an adventure in 3:45...transmit a lot of feelings...and the final major chords is the cherry on the top of the cake
Came here because of my music teacher, I might be the only one in my class who is amazed by this.
Nick Hahe me too haha
Same!! I'm in love with this song
ha same.
same here
In my music class every one looks bored
And he's flying HIGHER,
The king of The Sky!
He's flying too fast and he's flying too high!
Higher, an eye for an eye
The legend will never die!
Smalin, I really appreciate all of the videos you upload. Not only are they visually stunning, but are also have tremendous sound quality. Especially in the case of pipe organ music, sound quality is very hard to master. Your videos have ruined me for other pipe organ recordings!
I have a mixed reaction to your compliment. The organ music I perform and/or assemble myself is not from real instruments, but is created synthetically. The sound can therefore be very clear, but isn't exactly like a live recording from a real instrument in a church. The "ruined me for other pipe organ recordings" reaction works both ways: people who have listened to lots of real organs (either in person or via recordings) tend not to like my recordings. You will find their negative comments on my videos (especially my first, 2005 Toccata and Fugue in D minor video).
Listening to contrapuntal organ music is very demanding, because the sound of the organ and the nature of reverberation in a church make it difficult to discern the individual voices. In my recordings, I can make it much easier, by using different stops for each voice and limiting the amount of reverberation. For people with more experience listening to organ music, the clarity of my recordings is not necessary, and sounds artificial.
As a person straddling the two points of view, I would recommend you not give up on real recordings, because your ability to hear them (and thus your enjoyment of them) will increase with experience.
Bach is said to be the master of polyphony, yet none even speak of it
That's because they are too busy basking in Bach's auditory glory to give it proper voice~
Remember guys, the spirit proceeds from both father and son
Portugal?
Trinity?
I heard this for the first time back in 1972 when I was in a 7th grade music class. Still love it to this day in 2023.
For someone tone deaf(?) seeing it scaled like this helped me recognize what was happening.
got into this because of my music class in my fall semester of college. this slaps
Same!
The great VISUAL expression for FUGUE!!! That helps me a lot. Thanks so much smalin :)
+Polly Liu You're welcome!
Pianist teacher: oh, so now your interested in classical music? i thought you only liked video game music
me: *CALL OUT HIS NAME ROTE KAMPFFLIEGER!*
Man and machine, nothing there in between