Every time I rediscover BWV998 I'm in heaven. This performance, and the production/post-production, (with one minor exception*) are extraordinary. Congratulations to the Lutenist, the production/post team, and everything else. (this will come across as picayune, and I don't wish it to. However, I could have done without the facial closeups and instead, wider shots showing the performer as a whole with his magnificent instrument and technique) --from a production/post-production specialist
LA perfezione non esiste, quindi non si potra' dire che un'esecuzione sia perfetta, ma la sua esecuzione e' SUBLIMAZIONE di Bach, grazie maestro spero di ascoltarla dal vivo... meraviglioso , anche la pace che traspare dal suo volto... grazie
chi sa eseguire Bach, deve saperne riconoscere il percorso armonico, e capirne il significato. Se l'agocica e la dinamica riescono a far risaltare questo percorso, allora si può capire il vero significato della musica bachiana. In questo senso, questa interpretazione è semplicemente ideale in confronto a tutte le altre!
Head 'n' Shoulders above the rest. Your version brings alive a world full of implied polyphony. I'm saving this for recall as one of those meditative moments away from a stressful day. Thankyou.
A real pleasure to listen to, and experience. Luciano Contini (someone mentions below that he is the lutenist) gives such convincing dynamic and rhythmic shape to this unique Prelude, that it sounds fresh, new and speaks directly to the soul even of someone like myself who knows the piece well. Thank you!
Thank you so much for both your sensitive music and your comments on the basses. I play this piece on classical guitar and have the same feeling about them. I simply cannot find any justification for cutting the basses as the score prescribes. With them sounding, the piece have much more sonority and creates overall more majestic atmosphere. Thank you for posting. I wish today's people listened this type of music rather than rock... There would be less debility of mind & crime in the world.
@denebcito Thank you, I'm glad you like it! To your kind remarks: - Bach's autograph is written "pour la Luth ò Cembal", for lute or Harpsichord, not for organ. I don't exactly know what you mean with "some legato all over the melodic line": do you mean that the basses should last longer? Bach wrote many pauses showing he didn't want a legato there. - "Baroque has a much more definite rhythm": well, not really, this is a quite obsolete point of view ;) Rubato belongs definitely to baroque music
Wow, that is nice. I think you play it with the emotion that matches the piece for sure. I'm a moderately skilled classical guitarist, and always appreciate watching and hearing people with more skill than I. Thanks.
Downloading all your interpretations. Excellent. I can continue my history studies and investigations with more exquisite music, all will sound perfect in my library. Thanks so much!
Beautiful rendition and sound ... and the interpretation sounds uthentic regardless ofall theories whether it s h o u l d be more rhythmical or not. Thank you for sharing this.
maybe you're saying this because you've listened to the guitar transcription(transposed to D major). But lute has a much shorter decay time than guitar wich basically forces you to kind of "speed up" or "slow down" bc of the instrument limitations. It's not like "throwing rhythm"
'Purposeful' is not a catch phrase. The unity of Purpose & design in Bach's music is unsurpassed. It's one of the aspects that makes it so special. His compositions are like musical holograms. Resulting in beautiful patterns as if rooted in the laws of nature & not random. Where every moment leads logically from the moment before to the moment after. If it says Rubato on Bach's original manuscript for this piece I'll eat my words.Assuming the original is available.
I love the sustain that this particular lute has. Simply wonderful. A very serene piece played by someone who feels the music and is not afraid of rubato. Much better on this instrument, giving the piece a more reflective, almost contemplative aura. Very nice. Do you have CD out?
Luciano Contini was born in Sassari, Sardinia, in 1958. After completing his guitar studies, he began, in the 1980's to dedicate himself to performance practice of renaissance and baroque music, and began playing the lute From 1982, after graduating cum laude in musicology from the University of Bologna, he continued his studies at the famous Schola Cantorum Basiliensis, Basel, Switzerland, with H.Smith, E.Dombois and J.Christensen. L.C. teaches at the University for Music and Performing Arts and at the Music and Arts University, both in Vienna.
Absolutely stunning! I'm just finishing up an arrangement for Guitar and was inspired by the space you leave in your performance for the music to speak to us - great job!
I don't 'try too hard' to be expressive: I 'am' expressive. And it's pitifully that a wrong understanding of this repertoire makes people blind in feeling the wonderful and extremely expressive structures of Bach's music...
I love your zamboni cd ! and your Piccinini too! You are a poet thank you I m not a Big fan of these lutes but the interprétation is clever, expressive...
@MarcoColombetti actualy is an arciliuto. The difference with the theorbo is the octave tuning of the first two strings which are an octave lower on the theorbo. In this case they are not.
bella questa interpretazione. complimenti....in fatto di composizioni musicali di solito gli assolutismi sono fuori luogo ma per Bach è diverso..a mio avviso ha raggiunto l assoluto...
A beautiful, sensitive performance of this work, with superb timing. Luciano Contini does much to persuade the listener of the beauty of the sound, as of the architecture of the music. I have reached the general conclusion that the emotion and structure of this prelude is shown to best effect on the lute and by a finely graded performance on the piano, rather than on the harpsichord.
"no-nonsense", "so purposeful" are just catchphrases. As I said, this music was composed to be played with rubato, in this point there are no doubts. If you want to make something else of it, you are of course welcome but don't speak about Bach's intentions. About throwing the rhythm: the idea of it was to have a regular pulse (which doesn't mean that it beats always exactly at the same time, it is like heart pulse) and within it you follow the musical lines, giving them an emotional meaning.
What a great moment in music listening your performance. picks my attention that you answer some messages, thats a good idea because you can feel our opinion and gives us your impressions. from me just let me tell you that your performance is very deep and sensitive, delicate and technically excellent, clear and accurate. i hope you may consider perform more bach and upload it for the rest of us congratulations jaime - chile
Magnifico, immortale Bach. Splendida esecuzione. Grazie!
This is the best version of 998 I've heard, I keep coming back!!
Every time I rediscover BWV998 I'm in heaven. This performance, and the production/post-production, (with one minor exception*) are extraordinary. Congratulations to the Lutenist, the production/post team, and everything else.
(this will come across as picayune, and I don't wish it to. However, I could have done without the facial closeups and instead, wider shots showing the performer as a whole with his magnificent instrument and technique) --from a production/post-production specialist
This is Bach.....magnifica esecuzione maestro
Solo ora che sto suonando capisco realmente l'importanza delle tue lezioni. Grazie mille!
LA perfezione non esiste, quindi non si potra' dire che un'esecuzione sia perfetta, ma la sua esecuzione e' SUBLIMAZIONE di Bach, grazie maestro spero di ascoltarla dal vivo... meraviglioso , anche la pace che traspare dal suo volto... grazie
chi sa eseguire Bach, deve saperne riconoscere il percorso armonico, e capirne il significato. Se l'agocica e la dinamica riescono a far risaltare questo percorso, allora si può capire il vero significato della musica bachiana. In questo senso, questa interpretazione è semplicemente ideale in confronto a tutte le altre!
perfetta esecuzione, perfette le tue parole...
Never heard the Lute played any better than this. Breathtaking performance.
Bach is baroque music father
This sound is very soft & warm
Head 'n' Shoulders above the rest. Your version brings alive a world full of implied polyphony. I'm saving this for recall as one of those meditative moments away from a stressful day. Thankyou.
...and so fine in tune - beautiful
Bellissimo. Un vero e proprio "bagno spirituale".
Coming back to this recording for years it is a wonder to hear. Thank you so much.
Bach dovrebbe essere introdotto,nelle scuole che fanno musica, come ascolto obbligatorio. Rinfranca l'anima e la rende morbida.
Very soft and delicate sound! Thank you!
Beautiful and poetic way of letting it flow...
Damn is so peaceful. This prelude is one of my favorite compositions of Bach. Amazing performance.
The most beautiful and soulful version of this prelude on the planet!
Beautiful I love Bach so as I play at the church. Thank you.
This comparison of pulse to a heartbeat, and relating it to rubato, are explanations I've been seeking my whole musical life. Thank you.
When a pin drop is heard in a concert then walk away, when it is not then that is the most inspiring musician:::)))
Beautiful! I still have goosebumps as I type this. Simply beautiful!
Fantastico, ti ascolto oda anni, grande interpretazione!
Oh man that music goes straight to my soul. This is simply heavenly
A real pleasure to listen to, and experience. Luciano Contini (someone mentions below that he is the lutenist) gives such convincing dynamic and rhythmic shape to this unique Prelude, that it sounds fresh, new and speaks directly to the soul even of someone like myself who knows the piece well. Thank you!
Thank you so much for both your sensitive music and your comments on the basses. I play this piece on classical guitar and have the same feeling about them. I simply cannot find any justification for cutting the basses as the score prescribes. With them sounding, the piece have much more sonority and creates overall more majestic atmosphere. Thank you for posting. I wish today's people listened this type of music rather than rock... There would be less debility of mind & crime in the world.
Que bonito!!
si beda xdxd
@denebcito Thank you, I'm glad you like it! To your kind remarks:
- Bach's autograph is written "pour la Luth ò Cembal", for lute or Harpsichord, not for organ. I don't exactly know what you mean with "some legato all over the melodic line": do you mean that the basses should last longer? Bach wrote many pauses showing he didn't want a legato there.
- "Baroque has a much more definite rhythm": well, not really, this is a quite obsolete point of view ;) Rubato belongs definitely to baroque music
When I played classical guitar I used to love playing this piece - you play if beautifully.
Greetings from Mexico, Mr. Contini, take care, and thank you for your interpretation
even it's just one solo instrument , it's still one of the most beautiful pieces Bach wrote
Bellissima esecuzione!
esto es magia en verdad es maravilloso este instrumento la pieza todo 😍
Wow, that is nice. I think you play it with the emotion that matches the piece for sure. I'm a moderately skilled classical guitarist, and always appreciate watching and hearing people with more skill than I. Thanks.
A very nice performance of one of Bach's most lovely works.
Glory of God!
Fantastico!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
grazie di cuore.
Downloading all your interpretations. Excellent.
I can continue my history studies and investigations with more exquisite music, all will sound perfect in my library. Thanks so much!
WOW! Thank you for posting this! So beautiful and inspiring!
Joanne Sebastian Bach was such a great composer, wasn't she ? And what a fantastic performance !
Gracias por regalarnos estas maravillas...
Que interpretación maravillosa! Llena de matices, colores, dinámicas, buen gusto. Bravo!!
Beautiful rendition and sound ... and the interpretation sounds uthentic regardless ofall theories whether it s h o u l d be more rhythmical or not. Thank you for sharing this.
Muchas gracias, una maravilla,
How beautiful! Nice performance.
Thank you for youre interpretation of this peace. beautiful
What a touching interpretación! Thank you for sharing.
Bach's music is so purposeful it doesn't need slowing down or speeding up. Doing so can throw the rhythm
maybe you're saying this because you've listened to the guitar transcription(transposed to D major). But lute has a much shorter decay time than guitar wich basically forces you to kind of "speed up" or "slow down" bc of the instrument limitations. It's not like "throwing rhythm"
Bravo !!!
Mvsica citharae bellissima est. Gratias!
Ti riascolto sempre con immenso piacere, Luciano! Non conosco altre versioni più' belle della tua :)
All three part are great , thanks for sharing your art. Music like this is greatly appreciated. Well Done!
Bravissimo!!!!!!!
Grazie, maestro! Sehr inspirierende Interpretation! Vielen Dank!
thx for sharing. nice to see and hear instruments of old.
..magnificent ! ...
'Purposeful' is not a catch phrase. The unity of Purpose & design in Bach's music is unsurpassed. It's one of the aspects that makes it so special. His compositions are like musical holograms. Resulting in beautiful patterns as if rooted in the laws of nature & not random. Where every moment leads logically from the moment before to the moment after.
If it says Rubato on Bach's original manuscript for this piece I'll eat my words.Assuming the original is available.
Bach extremely happy with this interpretation!!!!!
I love the sustain that this particular lute has. Simply wonderful. A very serene piece played by someone who feels the music and is not afraid of rubato. Much better on this instrument, giving the piece a more reflective, almost contemplative aura.
Very nice. Do you have CD out?
Beautiful music and an excellent performance. Bravo, this is warmth ánd music!
i love this music
Totally awesome!
Performance incroyable. Le luth sons beau!
Saludos desde México, excelente!
Luciano Contini was born in Sassari, Sardinia, in 1958.
After completing his guitar studies, he began, in the 1980's to dedicate himself to performance practice of renaissance and baroque music, and began playing the lute
From 1982, after graduating cum laude in musicology from the University of Bologna, he continued his studies at the famous Schola Cantorum Basiliensis, Basel, Switzerland, with H.Smith, E.Dombois and J.Christensen.
L.C. teaches at the University for Music and Performing Arts and at the Music and Arts University, both in Vienna.
Heavenly playing!
Absolutely stunning! I'm just finishing up an arrangement for Guitar and was inspired by the space you leave in your performance for the music to speak to us - great job!
Fantastique
Me alegra mucho que te guste, gracias. El instrumento es un Archilaud
HOLA QUE AFINACION TIENE EN 12 CUERDAS SUENA EXCELENTE,
awesome, thank You for Your delicious play
Beautiful!! Like your phrasing and tone! Going to learn this suite again
I don't 'try too hard' to be expressive: I 'am' expressive. And it's pitifully that a wrong understanding of this repertoire makes people blind in feeling the wonderful and extremely expressive structures of Bach's music...
Just lovely! Thanks for posting. I wish you had more videos. I'm subscribed and waiting :-) Beautiful playing!
what a wonderful music... you play so nice... great performance... only it is played some romantic... but is nice...
I only stopped by to watch because we have the exact same first and last name wish i could play like you
unbelievable !! Beautiful
very very nice! better than any guitarist. thanks for that inspiration
Большое спасибо ! Браво!
Thank you so much for your interpretation, always return to yours!
Wow, thank you so much! I love your performance.
Bela e equilibrada execução de Bach, ponderada em sem exageros.
Me agradou bastante
Simply Perfect..........
I love your zamboni cd ! and your Piccinini too! You are a poet thank you I m not a Big fan of these lutes but the interprétation is clever, expressive...
@MarcoColombetti actualy is an arciliuto. The difference with the theorbo is the octave tuning of the first two strings which are an octave lower on the theorbo. In this case they are not.
BRAVO MAESTRO!!!
serious,the best version to date.
bella questa interpretazione. complimenti....in fatto di composizioni musicali di solito gli assolutismi sono fuori luogo ma per Bach è diverso..a mio avviso ha raggiunto l assoluto...
A beautiful, sensitive performance of this work, with superb timing. Luciano Contini does much to persuade the listener of the beauty of the sound, as of the architecture of the music. I have reached the general conclusion that the emotion and structure of this prelude is shown to best effect on the lute and by a finely graded performance on the piano, rather than on the harpsichord.
Maestro, esecuzione spettacolare!
Excellent. Wonderful playing.
He moves the fingers with his soul!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
La mejor versión maestro ♥️
Normally the brain order the fingers to move. But here is a fantastic exception.
You move your fingers with your soul!!!!!!
Beautiful!
very beautiful ! Bravo !
"no-nonsense", "so purposeful" are just catchphrases. As I said, this music was composed to be played with rubato, in this point there are no doubts. If you want to make something else of it, you are of course welcome but don't speak about Bach's intentions. About throwing the rhythm: the idea of it was to have a regular pulse (which doesn't mean that it beats always exactly at the same time, it is like heart pulse) and within it you follow the musical lines, giving them an emotional meaning.
Another incredibly beautiful piece from Bach! The Mario D'Agosto too is very good, and on the side of fantasy I'd love to hear Pat Metheny play this.
Beautiful.
bravo!
What a great moment in music listening your performance. picks my attention that you answer some messages, thats a good idea because you can feel our opinion and gives us your impressions. from me just let me tell you that your performance is very deep and sensitive, delicate and technically excellent, clear and accurate. i hope you may consider perform more bach and upload it for the rest of us
congratulations
jaime - chile