Elaine Comparone: J.S. Bach & Harpsichord Choices
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- Опубліковано 6 жов 2024
- Harpsichordist Elaine demonstrates pieces by J.S. Bach on her three harpsichords, letting the viewer/listener choose his/her favorite instrument. We welcome your comments and suggestions for future videos!
Kyle Walker: Video Artist
Filmed and edited on location: New York City
November, 1917-June, 1918
Harpsichords by Harold Meth (Hubbard Kit); Frank Hubbard (1972):; and, William Dowd (1968).
You are a jewel for the harpsichord scène. Please more of this fine quality
Thanks for your kind comment!
If I have to choose I go for the Dowd for Bach but they sound all excellent in the hands of you as a maestro..
Thanks for making the first choice!!!
"I have 3 harpsichords here.." *gasps in awe*
All i can think is flying money
i am a harpsichordist too btw and i have a digital harpsichord sense umm well just look up the price for the average
Hello. Gods greatest gift to man kind............ J S Bach....... please keep up your downloads... what a treasure you are during our Lock downs here in Victoria Australia.. molta grazi. please stay safe
Love this woman. She's amazing
locked up in our domicile due to that horrible wuhan virus YOU positively lighten our spirits . thank you> this is absolute BLISS to our mind and senses..God Bless YOU
I feel like I’ve known her for years despite the fact that I live in all the way in Texas. One of my biggest inspirations for learning keyboard was watching her play k.517 by Domenico Scarlatti when I was 17 on UA-cam. I’m 24 now and can play that piece(not nearly as fast as her though). I’ve taken up organ and recently got access to an old sabathil and son harpsichord at the church I practice organ at. Every time I see a video of hers, it truly brightens up my day.
I'm so glad you found an instrument! Have fun with the organ AND the harpsichord and stay in touch!!
Elaine I love You!! 💓
I love you, too, Jose!
It's been 1 year, Elaine is back!!
I wish I could produce these things more quickly, but I do what I can. Thanks for viewing and listening!!
Whenever I look at you playing & talking I always think you're like 55-60 years old. You speak like a more modern person in general, and the fact that you can still play a keyboard instrument at this age (76 years old) amazes me even more.
I'm 16 years old by the way and I play piano every day ;-)
That's great that you play every day! Looking young for our age runs in my family. Perhaps the involvement with music keeps us young, but I also believe the genes have a lot to do with it.
I'm so glad to see you're still making videos.
Elain you are fantastic and your music open the horizon thanks.
Thank you, Giovanni, for listening and appreciating!
Elaine Comparone I love the Italian harpsichord and I live in Italy, I also play the harpsichord.
I love how this instrument was art for the ears as well as the eyes. Such beutiful illustrations beneath the strings. I wish I could own one.
Each instrument is beautiful, each in its own way with a unique voice.
Works of art in themselves.
But they come alive in your hands, and watching your hands as I listen, is a master class in polyphony for an avid listener.
Listening and watching, even on UA-cam, is a rare pleasure.
I can only wonder at the joy of inhabiting these masterworks.
These are probably the nicest comments on youtube
Yes, and I'm grateful for all the expressions of appreciation!
she replied ^w^
Thicc Phil Swift
You're too much of a meme guy to be here...Words like "Thicc", "^w^", and on your channel description about flex tape...
@@constiff Just because I'm a "meme" guy doesn't mean I can't enjoy some harpsichord, as well as, the overwhelmingly positive comment section.
Thicc Phil Swift
Lol sorry then, I thought you only came here to look at the ultra good comment section, and I didn't know that there are "meme" guys that enjoy such great music...
What joy you have given me over the years. Thank you.
I admire her very much lady Elena, is a teacher in every sense of the word, and seen his videos from a young age are a lover of Baroque music and classical music in general.
Greetings from Nayarit, Mexico.
I an happy to have a message from Nayarit! Thank you for your comment, Juan!!
Mexico City fan here of Elaine Comparone videos and the harpsichord.
Siempre es un gusto ver a mas personas también de Mexico interesadas en el clavecin. Saludos a todos y a la maestra Comparone.
I love that flemish a lot, simple, essential and great sound!
I love it too!!
This harpsichord sounds warm and beautiful~
Thank you for your lovely comment!!
Very inspiring!! I wish I had come across this video sooner. The harpsichord really does have a really pretty sound. I hope to learn how to play one sometime soon. Thank you for making such a wonderful video!
My exclamation when I saw this video! It's been such a long time!
You are such a wonderful and brilliant musician, Elaine! Such a great inspiration!
Glad to see you're back. Just discovered this one! Yay!
Dear Miss Comparone, I could never find your responses 'long winded'! I consider it a privilege to communicate with you at all! It is not every day that somebody like me gets to 'talk' with such a world class musician as yourself. I am grateful.
For those interested, the John Williams transcription/recording of Couperin's 'Les Baricades misterieuses (VI eme ordre) can be found on his album entitled 'The Baroque Album'. He also performs 'Les Moissonneurs (VI eme ordre) on this collection. For Les Bari... he transcribed and transposed this rondo into the key of C major with the bass strings tuned (dropped) to C and G to enable the suspensions. This is why my transcriptions of this piece in 'standard tuning' were so bland and ineffective lol. But that is off topic.
Mr. Williams collection of Baroque music in the above mentioned album includes 5 selections by D Scarlatti and a harpsichord transcription of a Bourre by G. F. Telemann, also selections by Bach, Roncalli, and Weiss. This collection is highly recommended, even to those who don't particularly like classical guitar music. Much love -Robert.
Thanks so much for all this music info! I appreciate it!! I love classical guitar sound. The harpsichord is the closest sound to guitar, but doesn't quite get there! If I didn't grow up playing keyboard, and had the opportunity to learn guitar, I would have. Not a choice in my particular family though. Thanks again Robert!!
I could listen to this woman for ages, I’m in awe of her persona, her talent. You’re amazing Elaine.
Wow, what a compliment!! Thank you!!!
You have such a gift, Elaine. Thank you for sharing it with the world.
Thanks for your kind comment!
I really enjoyed this exploration of the different types of harpsichords and how they fit various pieces as well as the history. Great video thank you
This is true musicianship-the fruit of a lifetime of dedication and study of that most magnificent of stringed keyboard instruments. Listen to the way Miss Comparone shapes the phrase, and to the round tone she draws from her instruments.
What a generous and kind comment from one of the great flutists of all time! (And an esteemed and treasured colleague!)
Thank you for giving us this wonderful presentation.
Wonderful. The feeling of keyboard progression, a harp plucked, cimbalom, turned into digital actions, then the pianoforte+!
Just lovely!
Thank you!!
@@ElaineComparone You re most welcome!
Thankyou so much
Great video. I’m not a fan of the lute stop, but I am a huge fan of the Taskin😀
Great, very informative.
Glad you think so!!
Your video is just beautiful, I absolutely love it! The first videos of yours I saw here were pieces of Scarlatti, a couple of years ago. It's great you're still practising, playing and sharing your music here. I never played the harpsichord (only piano and organ), but I love the sound of all of your instruments and hope to be able to play on the harpsichord in the future too. By the way, I love your trill in Les Barricades at the beginning.Thanks a lot and greetings from the middle of Germany :)
Greetings to you in Germany! (When I was in Vienna, everybody said"Gruss'(with an umlaut!) Gott"!) I'm glad you like the video!
What a treat! In the midst of Covidland & isolation to be introduced to your beautiful harpsichords & to have my soul nourished by your playing!
Lovely comment!! thank you!!
I havent watch your videos in a long time its good to come back to them, and your vibrancy and passion for the music and history puts a smile on my face. I hope youre doing well.
That's a lovely thing to say! Thank you!! As a matter of fact, I'm working on uploading Rameau's gorgeous A minor suite. So keep posted. It'll probably take us a couple of months to get it up.
@@ElaineComparone i love rameau he is one of my favorite composers so im looking forward to it. thanks for the kind reply
@@noharakun It's my pleasure!
Beautiful , and exhilarating choices forever !! Wonderful Madamoiselle !
Thank you so much for viewing and responding!!
Meth is my favorite. Hubbard is also beautiful Dowd for concert halls!! While I am dreaming a private island would be nice.
I'm about halfway, must pause for dinner, 7pm GMT here in middle England...back soon, can't wait!!
So glad you're enjoying!!!
@@ElaineComparoneThank you, my friend is interested in Scarlatti's music & the complexity of it. It's new to her, how on earth do you learn it she would like to know?
@@photo3642u Did she mean "how does one learn it" or "how do I learn it"? A lot of practice. It's not as complex as a lot of JS Bach's music, and can be learned more easily, mind-wise, maybe.
Valuable upload ✨
I love the sound of the harpsichord. I could listen for hours. Elaine is such a class act.
Thank you so much!!!
Elaine, you are incomparable. Your interpretations are never anything less than stunning.
You are too kind! (blush)
Would love to play those harpsichords☺️🎼
fantastic, very well played. Thank you.
Following Mme. Elaine from Montreal. She's great.
Thanks, Carlos!
@@ElaineComparone When are you coming? :)
@@carloscarlos7855 Thanks Carlos!! I can't travel yet because my dog and cat are still with me and healthy. They're not young, which is why I will not leave them. And they won't leave me either. Nice to have your message though!!
Elaine Comparone, Ton Koopman, Zuzana Růžičková and Karl Richter: The four best harpsichordists ever.
Thank you Ms. Comparone for your wonderful videos and performances.
Thank you so much for your kind comments!!
What about the late Scott Ross?? And Ralph Kirkpatrick???
Gustav Leonhardt too
And now I think we must add Jean Rondeau, young as he is. Some have criticized his interpretations, but with playing at this level there is no better or worse, only examples. The young man is also helping to dust off the harpsichord from its long obscurity; he is on fire, and should play as long as he burns.
C’est magnifique!
Merci!!
Amazing performance!!!! Thank you very much
I appreciate your comment!! Thank you!
You are such a delight to listen to and I never tire of your music. Love the first harpsichord the best. It has such a lovely buff stop.
You're right! It does. I've been playing that one a lot lately because I'm planning to give it to a student.
@@elainecomparone9586 very lucky student! I'm going to attempt to build a small Flemish since the covid 19 isolation gives me time. I'm glad to have heard the specs on this one and will look into the design more.
@@gavinfarkas8255 If you get into this and need help or advice, I'll put you in touch with ny friend Harold who built this one.
@@elainecomparone9586 I really appreciate it! Thank you. I'm excited. One of my good friends is a carpenter so between the both of us I think it can be done.
@@gavinfarkas8255 Good luck with it! And I hope you enjoy the process!!
Oh Elaine, what a challenge, to choose between JSB & Maestro Scarlatti! I love this Well Tempered Clavier, played on your Hubbard.
Hi Dear Eleine great idea thank you for this video most instructive kindest regards
A jewel shines regardless of its setting! Yet when set appropriately, magic occurs. Maestras interpretation of pieces coupled with an unmatched technical skill give us just that. Magic!
Thank you so much!!
Hermosa interpretación señora Elaine, una gran maestra del harpsichord, talentosa sin igual, muchos saludos desde Trelew, Argentina, Querida Elaine!!! :-)
Thank you very much!!
The 92'nd Street Y concert. My father was sitting next to Bill Buckley (I may not agree with his politics) but he was a lover of music and Bach and things grand and beautiful and celebratory, and he and my father swayed and moved to your playing as if transfixed. They both knew each note intimately, and where it lived, and where it led to... ...and that concert was transfixatory, and I've admired and loved you ever since! Really, none compare, and I love, Kipnis, Malcolm, and Kirkpatrick but you transcend them all. My apologies but I have to add this: Gould who the hell is he? Glenn Gould, yeah NO!
5:54 That is a deep key action!!!
Lovely display of instruments and repertoire!
A lovely presentation ♡
Thank you very much!!
Its soothing to listen to your articulated voice. By the way, nice playing. Those instruments are..too beautiful. They are dreamy and that "muted" mode is also nice. But your voice takes the prize. Cheers from Santiago, Chile. Stay strong.
It's the first time I've received a compliment on my speaking voice! Thank you!!
And THEN you go and do that with the Prelude and Fugue in D on the Meth!!! They're all magnificent instruments!
Elaine is a treasure! ❤️❤️❤️❤️🥰 A beautiful human being.
You are so kind! Thank you!!!
In spite of my own last name, I confess: I don't really speak much German either.
Which is why whenever anyone asks me: "Sprechen Sie Deutsch?" I always say: " 9 . . . only because that coincidentally is a number . . . " Usually followed by cricket noises.
I teach math. No one likes my jokes.
What flowers are there on the harpischord ? I am stunned
My friend Harold Meth, who built the instrument, is a talented painter. He painted the flowers on the soundboard before attaching the strings. In the old days, the harpsichord builders frequently decorated their instruments. I suspect that not every harpsichord builder was as talented a painter as Harold and so they commissioned artists to decorate the instruments they built.
Wonderful playing of the instruments ! :D
Thanks very much!
Hello Elaine! I've never heard anyone swing the "Baricades" like that... so adorable!
Glad you like it. Seems like it fits with the aesthetic of the piece. Also, it makes you play it a little slower than what I hear from most interpretations.
Incroyable. Bravo
Thanks for another wonderful video, Elaine! I don't know if I have a favourite. The green kit harpsichord sounds a little more plain and old fashioned, but all 3 have a nice sound. As far as looks go, my favourite is definitely the Frank Hubbard with that beautiful black and white wallpaper decoration and the red.
Thank so much for taking the time to comment!! I appreciate it!
Elaine you're Just a wonderful person and musician
Thank you! That's a very kind comment!
Am I correct in assuming the D Scarlatti would have composed most of his music on the 'Flemish' (the first harpsichord we were introduced to in this vid) ? History tells us that the maestro Domenico Scarlatti's most prolific period was in the early 1730's to about 1737 (I think). I always get conflicting opinions about this. BTW, buff stop - the world needs more buff stop. I can never find recordings that use it. If someone out there in Utube land can enlighten me (and everyone who reads this post), I would totally be OK with that.
And as far as Miss C goes -just plain fabulous. I love it!
You might be right about the Flemish. I'd have to look up all that stuff. I personally think he and others at that time who played and knew harpsichords would of course use the buff stop more than some of us players do today, Remember , they were probably playing in front of people (royalty and servants) who might be talking during the music. The lute stop is soft. I just recorded a Rameau suite and I used the lute stop twice during 40 minutes of music. It really makes you prick up your ears, when that moment comes.
I am very interested in the performing capabilities of the instruments. I like the contrasts with the lute stops best. I know Bach actually owned a lute harpsichord as well as a pedal harpsichord...which have a lower register.
By the way, I am fairly certain I have heard Ms Comparone performing live on WBAI way Way back in the past when I was first learning about this instrument and Bach. I learned a lot back then.
Keep making videos.
Thanks Jeffrey!! Yes , I remember those WBAI performances in that east side church. A long time ago!! And we're still here!! Congrats to you and to me!!~
I've come back. For the Well-Tempered Clavier pieces, I prefer the Flemish Hubbard kit. The rest, the Hubbard and Dowd are so close though I find the Dowd to be more voluptuous.
My untrained ears are not ver helpful, but the instrument built from kit is favourite. I really appreciate the fact that I am able to listen to you playing on any of these wonderful instruments.
I would love to learn the harpsichord, but something about that double manual is daunting to me
Beautiful
Love that pure solo harpsichord sound
I'm glad you love the sound! I sure do!!
In addition to my preceding message, I wanted to say that your interpretation of Scarlatti'sonata k27one of my favorite, was awesome !
Thanks for telling me!!
you should make a journey to the world's oldest playable harpsichord, it's just waiting there to be plucked by another passionate musician
I don't know! Maybe it just wants a good rest!!
The sound of the second one is very interesting. But I like the first one as well.
Thank you for expressing your opinion!!
It’s been so long since you’ve posted one of your videos! At last.
Thank you! What a lovely greeting!
The sophisticated harpsichords would suit Couperin. On the other hand, listening to Bach's D major prelude on the William Dowd was a delight!
Glad you thought so!
I rather like the Hubbard instrument. The late Anthony Jennings (Auckland Civic Organist) brought a Hubbard harpsichord after Pascal Taskin, to New Zealand in the early 1980s. It sounded beautiful in the spacious acoustics of the old wooden cathedral. He told us during a recital that it had cost $NZ30 000, a large sum at the time. Tony made a number of recordings with it before he died prematurely.
Thanks for sharing with me your preference and details about Anthony Jennings. I'm happy the Hubbard harpsichord survived the long trip to New Zealand and still sounded beautiful. it's not easy to sell a harpsichord these days. Everybody wants a new one. I hope to find good homes for mine before I get too old to hear them!!
@@elainecomparone9586 :-) I would have thought a used instrument to be better! Tony told us during the recital that it would take time for the "bloom" to settle and the harpsichord assume its fully mature tone/ambience or whatever the term is.
I came for the harpsichord and stayed for the person
wonderful video.
Thanks so much!!
I think I like the "hot rod" best :) Such a lovely sound.
Thanks for listening and responding!!
This diserve much more views. And would like to thank you, you gave me the (bad) idea to try myself at the first counterpoint from die kunst der fugue on the guitar (kinda of a teenage dream/fantasy) when I heard your first harpsichord with really interesting tone (around 06:00) I thought "Well, maybe I could try to...". After a few measure, I already understand it's a bad idea, but so satisfying, voice independance will be challenging. I wish you the best.
Thank you! I hope you will continue to challenge yourself . Good luck with it all and have fun!
Unfortunately, we don't know you very much in France, but I love how you play and your vision of the works you play. Is there a particular reason to play the harpsichord while standing up ? Does it help you to release some tension in the body? Merci beaucoup pour votre réponse. Thank you for posting this marvellous video.
I do appreciate your response, especially since you hear so much harpsichord in France. Thank you! As to the standing, that came about because I played with a string and wind group and everybody wanted to stand while playing. They all claimed they could play better standing. Then I noticed a painting by Vermeer where the lady stood at her virginals. It occurred to me that I could have a stand made to elevate my own harpsichord. So I approached the harpsichord builders and commissioned Hendrick Broekman of Hubbard Harpsichords to build one. He explained that for something so long to be so high, the stand would have to be very heavy, so he made it from oak. The advantages were obvious. Now I could stand with the group (I have a number of videos where you can see all of us.) The disadvantage was that the stand was extremely heavy and even taking it apart, I needed two people to carry it and set it up. But it was good when we had
time in the concert space. I travelled with that stand for a number of years, along with the instruments, of course. Thank you again for your interest!
Please Elaine, give us Goldberg Variation...
mi piace molto il moto interpretativo di Elaine Comparone sulla ricostruzione dell'Andreas Rockers (1646) attraverso la musica di Bach dove ogni nota è legata in modo logico alla successiva (in orizzontale) e alla concomitante (in verticale).
58:11 Bach è molto moderno, ha anticipato tutti gli stili più belli. Da parte mia, ho scritto una "Fuga nello stile di Bach", che si trova nel mio canale UA-cam: se Elaine Comparone volesse un giorno registrarla, sarei lieto di regalarle la partitura musicale. :)
Not since Landowska! I heard you play in 1980 in N.Y. There is no god (lower case g on purpose) in heaven who created such beauty! I'm not even halfway through this and I have the sense that you have a certain partiality for the Dowd. I may be wrong. I certainly have a particular love for the Dowd moi meme. They're all lovely instruments. The Hubbard is classic, the Meth I can't be sure as I'm only an unwashed amateur but I think it's more along the lines of the instrument Bach created his exercises for (The Well Tempered Clavier) but bless my soul, the DOWD! For me the Dowd gives full expression to what Bach created/intended! Between the right and left hands, the uninhibited flights of fantasy especially the Prelude and Fugue in C, my soul flew out into the ether with your playing on the Dowd. I may return to comment as I'm not even halfway through this. Elaine: La Maestra senza equali, J'adore!
Ok, now I'm 30 seconds past this comment. You're playing the Down and I SEE your body language, your passion. It's the Dowd isn't it? They're all magnificent instruments but the Dowd makes your heart SING, yes?
I liked the sound of push buttons together with the piece Good morning (Harold Meter)
Merci !
Clearly, playing a double-manual harpsichord with her usual full registration choices, Elaine has no option but to engage arm involvement (weight?) more appropriate to modern piano playing. This may also demonstrate that her pianistic background has not allowed the discovery of the tactile subtilties which playing early keyboard instruments beckon. Maybe, I am wrong!
Mrs. Comparone could you play bwv 934
Thanks
*_Thank you_*
_beautiful_
Happy you enjoyed!!
I LOVE THIS
Hello! What would you say would be the Stradivarius of harpsichords? Also excellent playing as well by the way!
F. Couperin & JS Bach 👍🔥❤️
I prefer your William Dowd instrument, it has a more grounded tonal range, its resonance is greater, & especially in the upper manual, it sings.
You are an absolute wonder.
Your comment is generous! thank you!
Always find the harpsicord an interesting instrument to listen.
I love her mannerisms
SPLENDID!
Thank you!!!
I think my favorite instrument is the harpsichord made by William Dowd, but all of them are beautiful.
Have you ever played some of Nobuo Uematsus pieces? I would love to hear you play one of his compositions.
Greetings from Germany! :)
I'm glad you like the harpsichords. I'm not familiar with the composer you mention, but I will look him/her up. Thanks for selecting a favorite instrument, and greetings from NYC!
You, in my opinion, are the greatest interpreter of "Les Baricades Misterieuses" EVER since you uploaded the video more than 14 years ago. I've listened to your version for many years. You just GET the piece. Other interpretations are almost unlistenable. That musical intro ended almost too son hahaha. And that harpsichord you use at the intro sounds like it was made to play pieces like that since the piece itself doesn't really have high notes and has that warm, calming atmosphere. That harpsichord has a very warm and calming sound too, with strong bass and lower mid sound frequencies that don't overpower the rest of the sound. I'm sure many pieces from the neoclassical period would sound wonderful on it, like JS Bach's sons' or Mozart's. Would it be too much to ask if I asked you to upload a video of yourself playing "Les Baricades Misterieuses" but with that specific harpsichord? You'd give me (and i'm sure many people more) a gift for the rest of my life and I will happily share it with anyone I know with an interest in harpsichord music.
What a lovely comment! Thank you!! So glad you like the sound of that first harpsichord. Unfortunately, I can't make another recording with that instrument since I just gave it to a student of mine from Adelphi University upon his graduation. I've got the two others still. I'm planning to give them to a couple of friends since I want to be sure they're taken care of properly when I croak! Not that I'm about to leave this life soon, but I want to make sure the instruments I love are taken care of, cherished and enjoyed by people I know will take care of them. All my best wishes to you!!!!
P. S. I made a recording of "Les Barricade Misterieuses" on at least one of my other instruments. They're somewhere up here on UA-cam, so if you feel like it, you could look for them! Thanks again!!