Ask Augustin 47 - Arpeggio passages in Bach
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- Опубліковано 17 січ 2021
- In this episode of Ask Augustin, I talk about the two arpeggio passages in Bach's Chaconne. It's important to ask the question of why the arpeggios are there: these are extended passages in 3-4 voices. In order to follow all the voices simultaneously, it was a common technique to start playing in arpeggio. The arpeggios aren't there just for their own sake and I find that the greatest danger in this passage is that it can sound too regular, like an etude. These are not that kind of arpeggio - this is in my opinion actually one of the most expressive parts of the Chaconne!
Bach did not actually write out the notes of the arpeggios - if you look at the manuscript (imslp.org/wiki/6_Violin_Sonat...) or any Urtext edition, you see that Bach specifies how to start the large arpeggio passage (groups of four) and then writes "arpeggio" and writes chords for the rest of the passage, and leaves each one of us to figure it out. The way these arpeggios are written out in most editions is an example, a suggestion for how to execute them.
The only thing we know for certain is that at some point you have to switch into sextuplets -- or chords, or groups of 8 notes -- because 4-voice chords appear. But the rest is up to you.
The most important aspect is the voicing, bringing out the important lines and the notes that have tension and need to resolve. You can overlap certain notes in the arpeggios to make us hear the harmonies more clearly; and should also think of the structure of each variation, and how they gradually build towards the end the arpeggio passage, so that it has a large overall arc as well. The possibilities are endless, and there are many ways to play it well, but also many ways to play it badly! Your own judgement has to be your guide, as you balance all the different things that have to be achieved -- it needs to sound good, be expressive, allow the listener to understand and follow all the voices, and show the structure of each variation and of the whole arpeggio passage.
Hey Augustin, my 2021 resolution is to finally get to hear your playing. I am a deaf violinist and I am 10 weeks from getting my cochlear implant. I can't wait to hear you your playing. I play violin by vibrations.
wow- wishing you all the best for the procedure!
@@AugustinHadelichViolin thank you! Can't wait to hear you perfrom.
Did you hear him?
Hope all worked out and you are now able to hear such beautiful music again
You are in for a treat!
Good luck 🤞
I don't play the violin but is really incredible that we can see this video from someone so amazing for free.
There has been a definite upside to CV-19 with several top violinist being stuck at home and deciding to share their knowledge freely here on YT.
Somehow,it still is a beautiful world.
not really free
Oh yeaaaah d4mn righttt!!! 😍😍😍😍
Believe me, nothing in life is really free. 😉
Okay but like... I get when yall say nothing is free, but like, he could've put ads on these videos. He totally could've. And none of us would question it cause it's just a thing you do on youtube. But he DIDN'T. No ads. Nada. He's just that generous.
I'd love to hear a recording of the whole chaconne. It's just my favourite piece.
It’s not difficult to find recordings... 😂
Same here, it's by far my favorite classical piece of decades of listening... Have you heard this?
ua-cam.com/video/_eQd95VFpI8/v-deo.html
Is there a recording of Augustin Hadelich of the whole chaconne?
the hillary hahn one is really good,you should try to listen to it
Check out Augustin’s you tube, Chaconne at Home for 14 Violinists
Brilliant phrasing- He makes these arpeggios sound so easy. My favorite part of the Chaconne.
The great king of violin demonstrating and teaching us the nuances of playing the most exciting part of the great Chaconne.
❤👌👍
@@maiteflores7876 ❤🙏😁
❤️
You should publish a recording of the Bach chaccone please! your sound is so heavenly I'd love to see a home video of it!! Thanks for the great content
There is live recording of him playing Chaconne on UA-cam
You have just lifted a heavy sense of guilt from my shoulders. I skip a few G string notes to improve the voicing in the second arpeggios, but I have always thought that it was wrong. You are just a wizard, good luck.
Once again you share with us the most precious kinds of insights that clarify the essence of these pieces. Thanks again, Augustin! Keep them coming!
cannot agree more
Your "second" arpeggio version is beautiful and reminds me of Manuel Barrueco's. I had never heard it this way on the violin. Thank you for being so generous, sharing your mastery in these great videos!
Thank you so much for breaking this down and sharing your thoughts. Thank you as well for playing with such force and soul. Brought tears to my eyes, so much was said in those little passages.
I love that baroque bow😍
This actually helps me a lot with the learning process of chaconne.
Extremely helpful. It makes that long Chaconne passage seem less like just a progressive building of drama with more and more sawing away, and more of an improvisatory feeling that has lots of internal structure. Thanks so much for posting
Beside Jacha Heifetz impressed me with his playing, ur play impressed me as well, both of u, really play with the HEART N SOUL.
Your solution for the d major section makes so much sense! Thank you for breaking this down. Always struggled with arpeggios in Bach.
This was extremely helpful! When I studied this in the past, I, too, tried to bring out the voices more appropriately, but you’ve given me some good ideas for bringing out the middle voices that would otherwise stay hidden under the arpeggios. Keep it up with the Bach!
We love you Augustin! ❣❣❣❣
Thank you soooo much for that input! Especially the chaconne's second arpeggio - when I play it with doublestops, I sound violent and the lines of melody are not enough differentiated. Now I know how to work on that.
Love your videos 💕
Absolutely brilliant insights into the mind of Bach giving understanding of the fundamental underlying musicality of this piece which is widely applicable. Thank you so much for your analysis and brilliant interpretation. I hope to improve my playing with your kind assistance.
Steve K.
What a amazing world that we live in. I am amatuer violin player who truly loves bach chaconne and I can listen to this lesson for free... this is mind blowing and thank you so much Augustin. Among all different versions of chaconne, your interpretation is my favorite ❤
The way you explain the concept and then give a perfect example helps me so much! I always feel like I’m learning something new or at least understanding it in a deeper way
Hola Augustin, eres mi violinista favorito, admiro mucho tu forma de tocar el violin. Saludos desde Republica Dominicana.
happy to see every your video, Mr. Hadelich.! Thank you
Wow. Thank you for your insight on this and perfect pedagogy as always!
Thank you so much for uploading this practice video Augustin ! It really helps me a lot !
This is very helpful, a different way of approaching arpeggios. Thank you, Augustin!
Thank you so much, maestro! Your videos are always so important to me and I've hoped for this video for so long time😭😍 I wish I could see you live someday 😭😍
Augustin,
thank you so much for sharing so much knowledge and making our days better with your music. You are magician
Thank you so much for all of your videos! 😀 Your explanations are really mostly beyond me, but it is so calming to listen to you talking and explaining. You really have a way of making us feel like a welcome part of a community, no matter the level we are playing on. ❤️
Very interesting dear Hadelich! You are fantastic! Thank you so much for your great videos.❤🎶🎻🎶❤
Augustin you always make the bow look like it weighs as much as a feather. I just started working on this passage of the Ciaccona so the timing of the video couldn't be better thank you!
Very ispiring for my own violin playing. I am very happy and grateful with your posts.
Thank you Augustin, I always wanted to learn about pieces broken down like this
was so intent watching I almost missed hitting the like button. Look forward to your next insightful video!
Chaconne de Bach é simplesmente uma peça fenomenal, e essas passagens de arpeggios são espetaculares!...
It’s breathtakingly interesting and helpful！Thank you Augustin！
Always helpful, always a pleasure listening to you, you're amazing. A great master!
Explicación y demostración genial!!! Gracias!!!
Awesome advice! Thank you so much!
Very good explanation.... Most intersing point of view on this theme.... Thank you for sharing....
☮️&🎶
very helpful, thank you for these insights
Wow! Thank you very much! You are helping a lot with Ask Augustin!
Can I suggest an episode about breathing while playing and in particular in performance? You mentioned it several times and I recently started to be more aware of that, but I feel like I have to learn how to do it properly.
Thank you for everything, you are a true Artist! I wish you the best ☺️
Thanks a lot for these videos Augustin!
Beautiful in every way.
Rewatched your video because I’m learning the Prelude from the 3rd Cello Suite on Viola and struggling a bit with the arpeggio part :D your Masterclasses are so helpful!! 😀
Thanks Augustin! Amazing play!
Hello from Ukraine
those videos are amazing, thanks
Awesome, hope I’ll be able to play these one day
I was just practicing this the other day :) thanks for the insight... what a coincident :))
Keep coming!
Thank you Augustin, for another really fine video. A small remark: I have always thought of the theme in the Chaconne as being eight measures. Somehow I don't feel the first four measures (of the theme, or any of the variations) give a sense of completion. There are, however, what I see as two half variations and the theme comes three times (the second and third transformed). So, I see it like this: Theme - 14.5 variations - Theme (transformed) - 2.5 - 7 var. - 5 var. - Theme (transformed). Somehow this makes sense to me. Thank you again!
Excellent lesson, thanks!
such an interesting presentation and great playing!
Guitarists have come up with many of their own solutions and have some aspects of these sections easier perhaps. Thanks for the video! I have heard you play in Spokane twice and really enjoyed everything!
Augustin THANK YOU 💜💜💜🙏
Augustin is INSANE. So good.
I love you Augustin Hadelich ! I love the musician that you are ! Have you already recorded this Bach Chaconne ? If not, could you do so to our great joy ? The joy of hearing YOU, who have a great sensitivity, a wonderful "sound" and a wunderbar talent ! Bravo and danke schön fur alle ! 💐 🎻 🌹
Johann Sebastian Bach est mon compositeur préféré...✌
There is a live Chaconne that he plays on UA-cam. ❣️
Love that sheet music collection behind you - would love to see a video where you go through your collection.
Thank you so much!🤗
It was helpful. Thank you.
Grazie mille maestro!!!
That’s one helluva fiddle! Terrific playing too. 😯
This is marvelous
Dankeschön, Frohes neues Jahr, viel Glück, Gesundheit und Freude!! Interessante Afro-Frisur. 🎵😉🌲☃️⛷⛷⚘
Amazing polyphony!
Very useful video!!!
For the second arpeggio passage in the Chaconne, I particularly like a different way to break the chords. It's very simply just rolling the chords as sixteenth notes from bottom to top as they are written, playing each voice separately (no double stops). I start downbow on the bottom voices and slur the remaining three upper voices on an upbow, but my bowings change depending on which voices are moving. For the moving 8th note voices, I play normal chords broken in half. It gives an effect in between that of Hadelich's method and the more traditional double stop method. I feel that the slower, smoother, and less intense manner of arpeggiating links better with the previous and following section and has a nicer flow. It has this feeling of sweet triumph with humility that suits the passage very well.
the way that i'm literally 28 and have never played an instrument in my entire life and multiple people have warned me that the violin is hella hard to play but your videos make me want to learn... your power
It islike in Harry Potter: The Instrument chooses you.
It's complex, but as long as you take the time to learn and consistently practice, you will be fine. Join an all levels community orchestra if you have that option and you'll be surprised what can happen within even a year. There are newcomers from 20 to 50 years old learning for the first time in my community orchestra and they have progressed amazingly.
Very good explanation. My theory is that Bach was always writing for the human voice, the greatest of all instruments. Of course, mechanical instruments are interesting like the violin and keyboard. But the breathing voice is what Bach based his music on, in my opinion. For me, that's Bach's greatest contribution to humanity. Partitas, fuges, cantatas, everything, they depend on human breathing. The most exciting being 6/4, but Bach went beyond that. Only Wagner came near this genious, changing pitch mid-bar.
thanks man 🥺🥺❤
Insane mastery damn
Thank you 💜 very helpful
you deserve way more subscribers
Oh my What a pleasant surprise
Thanks, Excellent
I think you don't have to work on editing the videos. Everything that comes out of you is valuable
Another helpful video! Could you do a behind-the-scenes video please? So we can see the setup you use and what mics you think are good...?
Another incredible video. Please post a reccording of this incredible work!
Can you please do an ask augustine vido on the baroque bow please? I am considering getting one and would love some advice on how to get most out of it.
Thanks
Love your vids, but how about a video on the Bach Concerto in A Minor, 1sr Mvmt. Lots of issues there, at least for this 74 year old Czech🎻😬
Thahk you Augustin🐈
Daniel Kurganov sent me and I'm very glad he did🤩.
Wow a Baoque bow!
Baroque
thank you master
Insight and open heart surgery at the same time. In floods! No it's not a problem. It's wonderful. Thanks 😊
Thank you! One question: How do you know which voice to make dominant in a passage? I’m thinking specifically of Gavotte en Rondeau in the third partita, and about the Fugue in Sonata 2. Also, should the different voices have different “moods” and demeanors, or just different voicings?
I love chaconne so much
I listen to it and Sarasate Carmen fantasy on loop
I noticed that you are using a baroque bow
Thank you very much for your great videos and of course for your incredible playing!
Could you tell about breathing during playing a little more please? It's very intersting how you work on that. For example, I found that I play better if I breath by my diaphragm not the chest because then I lift my shoulders. Also I try to understand how to include inhale and exhale into music process.
Thank you very very much, you really inspire me!
Great!
:) thx Augustin
You're 🔝🎻
Would you consider making a video about how to get fifths in tune? I'm practicing some Bach right now and i don't quite know what to do if i put my finger down on two strings and one note is in tune but the other one isn't. How do i adjust? Splitting my finger in half is obviously not an option...
I am very much enjoying your Bach album by the way!
Augustine, I really LOVE your videos, your playing, your musicianship, literally everything that you do and play. Being a violin professor myself I have become a huge fan of you in the past year. But I have to admit here that there is NO arpeggio written in the 1st Sonata by Bach. Most everybody plays that part of the Fugue with arpeggios but it is NOT indicated in the manuscript (unlike in the Ciaccona, where Bach wrote out "arpeggio" at both passages). If people would play what is written in the G minor Fugue, that would be better, I think. There is a good reason musically for not playing arpeggios, but violinists only think instrumentally and follow the instrumental tradition. If you would like to know what I mean by this I'd be happy to write in details but I don't want to behave as a troll here ;) Sincerely yours, Tamás Ittzés (ittzes.tamas@music.unideb.hu)
It's true Bach doesn't write it in the g minor fugue - actually that is why I focused on the Chaconne for this video. It can certainly be played without arpeggios, in several ways. It is commonly done in the fugue only because it's thought to have been customary in that era, and because it seems to lie rather well on the violin for doing arpeggios. Arpeggi were frequently not written out or even indicated at all (just like many ornamentations - a lot of trills are missing too, and most composers left out all the optional decorative ornaments). The fact that there are all these held pedal notes makes me think, at the very least, that many of Bach's contemporaries would have started to arpeggiate there.
I think the whole technique of arpeggio emerged originally from the breaking of chords, when you break them back and forth trying to show all the voices.
During the baroque period, most decisions surrounding the manner of performance of a piece were left up to the musician. Matters of dynamics, articulation, and timing, were rarely specified, so the musician could really do whatever they wanted, within reason. So if someone wants to arpeggiate that passage, they can!
Very interesting! Thanks.
Which bow do you use for Bach?
5:25 i thought you were gonna start playing despacito xd happy new year augustin !
Sorry I haven’t been keeping up with your videos!
Do you think at some point you (or another subscriber) could talk a little bit about the different types of bows you use and why? For an intermediate to professional flutist it can be finding the right head joint to fit our embouchure as well as compliment the flute body. Is it the same process in finding the right bow for a string player? I’m curious.
Hi mr Hadelich,
I wanted to ask which strategy would you use to practice this fragment, first intonation, 2+2, the shifting movement, then move the blocks as separated chords?
I know your focus is on performance but you clearly have a future teaching. You can live in my basement for free if I get lessons🎻🤣👍👍
Nice
Agustín, what's the difference between baroque and the tradicional bow? Talking the sound that you can achieve with them. Thank you so much
Baroque bow is lighter.
My question is, would you consider performing the Prokoviev Violin concerto 1?