Thank you. 71 years old and a perpetual upper intermediate. I stared at the Chaconne for 50 years, then decided to learn it before well, you know... I said to myself what would I be doing learning a 10 minute piece with a threatening trigger finger? For the past several months I slogged away at the mechanical issues before I even watched a video like this. When I felt ready I watched this and another. I'm proud of myself that i intuited much of the significance of the harmonic structure, and the technical issues of the scalic passages. I'm tickled pink that I discovered the importance of the note values of each voice. I'm ecstatic that I felt similar emotions in the same places, with the modulation in tonality and the soaring arpeggios. I am glad that I felt haunted by the bass-note seconds with tonic a major 7th and by the persistent peddle point-like A's, high and low. And this is all self taught and without reading any analysis whatsoever. I think it will be "ready" in a few months, at maybe 53 bpm. Of course I will never perform it, but the journey has been fantastic. Thanks again for what turns out to be the best contribution to my finishing touches. Do I sound stupid saying Bach is a genius? And you too!⁷
Video starts at 1:38 ;) Bach's Chaconne is my personal No. 1, it just has everything, for me it's the entire Universe in one musical composition. Bach's musical language is unique, it's very abstract but this is exactly what makes it universal. Thank you for this video!
What a great interview! As a guitarist learning Chaconne I found TY's description of his approach to the piece's difficulties very helpful and encouraging.
His running commentary when playing the beginning of the D major section is marvellous and so moving, as you say. When he says that the highest note is so fragile and that when playing it you touch heaven and come back... well, I lost it. That was extraordinary.
Bach wrote this shortly after returning from a journey when he found that his wife had died and was already buried. I believe this is both a tribute and lament for her. TY Zhang has very beautifully related his great love for his grandfather; this gives a real authenticity to his approach to the work.
Bach's Chaconne is a transcendent work and imho it is one of the finest works to be performed a solo instrument. This posting is awesome as well was TY Zhang performance.
what a fantastic video , i loved TY interpretation of this piece and the feelings and thoughts going through his mind while playing the chaconne, i love this piece and been trying to play it for years , still cant master it , lol but so enjoy trying it, thanks for sharing this video ,loved it
Very nice and interesting. Coming back to the issue of rhythm emphasis on the very first phrase, I'd like to recall that chaconne was initially a dance, very slow dance, almost a funeral march in this case (this chaconne speaks all about death): on the first beat of measure, the foot of the dancer is UP with a glimpse of suspension, and the second beat is DOWN back on the ground. This helps a lot I think. An other point is that on a violin you're obliged to break all the chords, when on a guitar or a lute you can choose to play a chord "plaqué" (all strings together) or "délié" (arpegged) as Zhang shows... and therefore, back to this first 9 measures, I personally choose to play the first chord/beat "plaqué" and the second "délié" to imitate this kind of majestuous march/dance of persons carrying the funeral coffin to the church.
Thank you. 71 years old and a perpetual upper intermediate. I stared at the Chaconne for 50 years, then decided to learn it before well, you know... I said to myself what would I be doing learning a 10 minute piece with a threatening trigger finger? For the past several months I slogged away at the mechanical issues before I even watched a video like this. When I felt ready I watched this and another. I'm proud of myself that i intuited much of the significance of the harmonic structure, and the technical issues of the scalic passages. I'm tickled pink that I discovered the importance of the note values of each voice. I'm ecstatic that I felt similar emotions in the same places, with the modulation in tonality and the soaring arpeggios. I am glad that I felt haunted by the bass-note seconds with tonic a major 7th and by the persistent peddle point-like A's, high and low. And this is all self taught and without reading any analysis whatsoever. I think it will be "ready" in a few months, at maybe 53 bpm. Of course I will never perform it, but the journey has been fantastic. Thanks again for what turns out to be the best contribution to my finishing touches. Do I sound stupid saying Bach is a genius? And you too!⁷
Video starts at 1:38 ;) Bach's Chaconne is my personal No. 1, it just has everything, for me it's the entire Universe in one musical composition. Bach's musical language is unique, it's very abstract but this is exactly what makes it universal. Thank you for this video!
You're very welcome, and thank you for the timestamp!
You are absolutely right!!!
What a great interview! As a guitarist learning Chaconne I found TY's description of his approach to the piece's difficulties very helpful and encouraging.
His running commentary when playing the beginning of the D major section is marvellous and so moving, as you say. When he says that the highest note is so fragile and that when playing it you touch heaven and come back... well, I lost it. That was extraordinary.
Very impressive and extraordinary the minute 30 to 32 about him honoring his grandfather's memories
Bach wrote this shortly after returning from a journey when he found that his wife had died and was already buried. I believe this is both a tribute and lament for her. TY Zhang has very beautifully related his great love for his grandfather; this gives a real authenticity to his approach to the work.
I love how He mentioned his Grandfather, in time with bridge, playing.... It was wonderful....
Bach's Chaconne is a transcendent work and imho it is one of the finest works to be performed a solo instrument.
This posting is awesome as well was TY Zhang performance.
Bach's chaconne is probably my all time fav. I hope I can be able to play it one day..soon!
what a fantastic video , i loved TY interpretation of this piece and the feelings and thoughts going through his mind while playing the chaconne, i love this piece and been trying to play it for years , still cant master it , lol but so enjoy trying it, thanks for sharing this video ,loved it
Glad you enjoyed it!
Very nice and interesting. Coming back to the issue of rhythm emphasis on the very first phrase, I'd like to recall that chaconne was initially a dance, very slow dance, almost a funeral march in this case (this chaconne speaks all about death): on the first beat of measure, the foot of the dancer is UP with a glimpse of suspension, and the second beat is DOWN back on the ground. This helps a lot I think. An other point is that on a violin you're obliged to break all the chords, when on a guitar or a lute you can choose to play a chord "plaqué" (all strings together) or "délié" (arpegged) as Zhang shows... and therefore, back to this first 9 measures, I personally choose to play the first chord/beat "plaqué" and the second "délié" to imitate this kind of majestuous march/dance of persons carrying the funeral coffin to the church.
Hello TB team, this is the first video I see and it is really valuable , great guy there making the interview!
thank you so much for sharing
Congratulation for that excellent session, breaking down that iconic piece! So much to learn from your music approach. Love it!
Our pleasure!
Great session Martin and TY. Thanks!
Very welcome :)
Great job guys!!!!❤❤❤
Terrific content. Cheers, and thank you!
Much appreciated! 🎸
Amazing❤ Thank you so much
You're welcome 😊
29:44 reminds me of the storm subsiding and the sun rises and everything is okay again.
39:39 THANK YOU... Probably so easy on violin.
Was this the violin version, or another version. I have both versions: the segovia version and the violin version
I wish the audio quality were better but thanks for posting.
Vocal audio is excellent but the guitar is not clear.
What do you put the metronome on in order to play it?
my ego is dead I cry my ignorance every day sometimes space and time do not follow our hopes

His guitar is so good. I wonder who built it ?
Looks like a Greg Smallman, but I’m not certain
great
thank you!
the guitarist is worth listening to !!but the other guy is just talking and talking without contributing anything useful..great pity..
Segovia was rattling his bones until they mentioned his name.