When I’m playing, I’m doing the same. Kind of imagining the sheet, imagining the feelings what I want to bring into my play. :) And if you ask me, I have no idea what I’m watching, because of the imagining, concentrating.
I'm ok without shoulder rest myself too, partially because I have a short neck lmao. One of my friend's got a rather long neck so he must use shoulder rest though. different way fits different ppl I guess
Wow, I was looking for a good performance of Bach Suites in viola and I found this! I myself am playing the viola and wanted to play them since they're so beautiful. I'm just so mesmerized. May your spirit always rejoice in the music.
@@marcsabbah5275 Fantastic - I am hobby viola player. I discovered the hobby of playing after more than 10 years not playing. My viola teacher inspired me to play the Bach Suite while making fun. I think also that the suites will be with my lifetime. (I play on a wonderful Mare Zaharie viola, built 1981 in romania) Greetings from Austria!
Medientechniker I'm glad we both share the love of Bach and Viola. Don't hesitate to subscribe or check out my website if ever I'm playing in your area. Best wishes
Hello, Mr. Sabbah! Congratulations on your interpretation ... I really enjoyed all the dances. Especially the Courante is the best I've ever heard. Thank you for sharing with us.
I am more than moved by your interpretation and the color of your tone, as it takes me to that place. I also love your bowings. Thank you for sharing as I believe Bach would be very proud.
Watched this video so many times....love it! Never thought that a viola could sound so majestic and beautiful. I would like to try one. BRAVO for the performance...so light, clean, passionate yet seems effortless 🥰 Such musicality and expression with such minimal vibrato....wow.
Hey Marc. I enjoyed a lot your playing. Congrats! Beautiful tone with special non vibrato moments made it so incredible. Thanks a lot for sharing it with us. I'd be glad if you could share about playing without a shoulder rest in this video. How are you dealing with playing Back and also the Vieuxtemps caprice? Thank you!
Hi Amaro, thanks for your nice message. Playing without shoulder rest is not something I do always. I felt like playing without it on that day. The viola sounds much better and responds with more ease when played with not shoulder rest. There is a delicate balance between holding the instrument with your right hand and your head. This 50/50 combination allows you to enjoy the full resonance of your viola. It is easier to play baroque repertoire with no shoulder rest as most of the music is in 1st position. When shifting and sliding for more romantic music, it can be more challenging but still rewarding. Viola is a physical instrument and needs muscle and stamina to play. Enjoy these aspects and good luck with your playing.
Marc Sabbah Hi, thank you for your response. Certainly the instrument responds freely without a shoulder rest. I feel the same. Thanks for taking the time to reply to my comment. Please, keeping playing and posting the videos, it has been an inspiration for all of us.
Until now my clear favourite for Bach Suites was Lilian Fuchs' marvellously rich heavy weight version... but I'm kind of wavering, now, coz yours work really well for me too....
@@pesto.3598 Yeah pretty much. The viola is just slightly older since “cello” is derived from the Italian word “violoncello” meaning “little violone”; “violone” meaning “big viola”. Not a huge margin tho in age
@@Squidynx Yeah, that's true probably. Man, I'm so glad, that I can hold a civilised conversation on the internet without throwing insults at each other, but agreeing to the point from the other one.
madmax gaming I try to think only of the music and not myself. Once you become a factor than the performance becomes about you and your nerves rather than the composition. Maybe that will help you.
And also playing a lot in front of an audience helps a lot. You can always volunteer to play for elders' club, children, at church etc. for free - you'll become more confident with the particular piece you play. And after tens and hundreds of public performances you'll surely find a way to overcome the nervosity.
Try busking. It can be very nerve racking to start, and then once you've got over the terror of putting yourself out there in such an extreme way, you have to not get demoralised when you realise lots of people just don't care about your music. Either way it's a good way to get over stage fright. And at the end of the process to can always say to yourself "well at least it's not cold and windy and these people came here specially to hear my music". Seriously, give it a go!
Beautiful, very clean pristine quality and wonderful acoustical space! You brought out the unique and lovely sound quality that this under appreciated instrument is capable of. Thank you for your lovely playing!
My oldest son finally grew into the smallest size viola last year (been using restringed violin before), and he's studying this piece now. He's still on the prelude and your performance is a huge inspiration for him. Thank you!
I just started playing again after a two decade hiatus and this is the piece I started working on. It’s a rough one to shake the rust from my fingers. Came here to listen to it played competently
Since I discovered this performance, I listen every day, and this music became my most favorite viola music! The most artistic expression, I love not only the tone purity but freedom of time which comfort my heart with serenity.
@@marcsabbah5275 Wow!!!! That fascinates me. Never have I heard something like this. Thank you for putting out your beautiful playing. I am learning this on viola as well currently and this video is giving me a great reference for my learning.
The bowings in the prelude - are they his or are they published? I think I’m seeing 3 slurred, 2 slurred, 1 separate, and 2 slurred. Right? They certainly add to the overall effect.
Mo M thank you MO. I'm still mastering it ;) it's a lifetime of work. Memorization is just internalization. Sing the music before you play it and it will grow inside of you.
Your performance is just beautiful! Thank you so much for sharing it, it became my favourite interpretation as soon as I heard it. Love from Argentina 😊
Thanks for posting this. I learned the first suite a while ago, but never really mastered it. I’m renting my first 16 inch viola, and I’m looking forward to playing even half as beautifully as you have.
What is he looking at you ask? Ive learned the cello suite arranged for viola as well. Not nearly skilled enough on the instrument to upload it, so take it with a grain of salt. Yet I can still tell you upon what he gazes; He looks upon the very face of God.
Marc, I was wondering whether you memorize your music visually, with images or with stories? I am quite struck as to how far over your left shoulder and upwards that you look. That sort of eye movement activates remembering images. I love your interpretation of this Bach piece. I have listened to the Prelude and the Courante over and over and over. Your Courante is so impish and playful! I I am planning to learn the Courante for an audition piece this spring. Thank you so very much for posting this. I was also studying your Prelude because I love your interpretation of that also and I wish I could figure out your bowing! But the Prelude itself is difficult for me mentally to understand, so I'm going with the playful Courante instead
Hi viola00princess, Thank you for your nice comment. As to memorizing music, I internalize almost everything I learn/play. I try to understand the composition from a composers point of view, as if i'm composing it right there on the spot. The most important step to internalizing is to 'turn off' the analytical part of the brain and enter into the impulsive and irrational side. I find that looking off helps me disconnect from the viola and thus allows me to play with no inhibitions. In terms of holding the viola, sometimes I play with and without shoulder rest. It really depends on the acoustics, repertoire and overall mood I'm in. I hope this helps..playing music/viola is so personal that self discovery is the best device for improvement. Challenge and question your musical beliefs and conceptions constantly, this will allow you to evolve and improve. Best wishes. Marc
U made a chordy song to live and elegant. I cant help listening and listening again! I can see u did a very nice job!! :) Your wonderful playing plus the great sound the place gave made these songs incredibly good! You're one of the best viola players I can find out there! Keep it up my man!!!
When I was in high school we had to pick a piece to perform individually in front of the ensemble. I performed this on the viola and the conductor was like “why the hell are you playing this on the viola it’s meant for cellists to showcase their technique” -_- WELL BECAUSE IT SOUNDS NICE AND I WANT TO, BIATCH
Absolutely beautiful, executed nicely but still with emotion - that's what makes a great classical musician! And yes we all see the stare just ignore it lol
hello I am a student of viola in chile I would like to know if you can pass me a link of your version of the suite with arches that I love and I want to play in my exam ... you would be very kind, I love your videos.
Fernando Lanza thank you. The bowing are mostly improvised on the spot. I take much inspiration from the original Bach manuscript but most of it is how I feel in the moment.
Beautiful sound and technically superb. I'm always fighting against some of the bow strokes in the prelude... Yours look so natural! Even the way you distribute the contact point from sul trasto to neutral middle point is very nice! Really inspiring video!
Finally a violist
Show the world that violas are no joke 👍
-What's the difference between violin and viola?
-Violin can be tuned.
FYI, I am a violist, willingly.
I love your choices, the depth of your crescendos, and the delicate notes you achieve with you bow control.
Thank you so much Susan
Sublime! Your playing is very inspiring. I never regret loving the viola.
Hermoso Marc! Felicitaciones!
Bello, el Prelude, sublime.
Grazie
bravo! I love your style😍
Thank you!
As a viola, what should I practice on in Courante and Prelude to make my playing sound decent because I over tempo like crazy
what edition?
am playing sax and cello
@Char Char Binks no
@Char Char Binks it would be hard to do both
The bow control, clarity, dexterity is magical!! Such a lovely, clean sound for such a pure expression of Bach.
Thank you Grant
How to trigger cellists:
"cello is a bass viola"
Totally :)
“Wow that’s a big viola” 😂😂😂
How to make cellists die of anger:
"Cello is a big violin"
will we ever find out what he’s looking at?
Looking at nothing, thinking in everything.
Looking at the boss himself, Sebastian Bach
Yes it does look funny staring into space like that
It's the Milstein look! Very classy! :-)
When I’m playing, I’m doing the same. Kind of imagining the sheet, imagining the feelings what I want to bring into my play. :) And if you ask me, I have no idea what I’m watching, because of the imagining, concentrating.
TwoSetViolin: *roasts viola*
Marc Sabbah: *plays Bach cello suite on viola*
Please stop going on about 2 set its boring
@@TheAnonyy No
Mark Ups No
@@aidanramirez2591 yes
@@TheAnonyy YOU'RE annoying fuckwit you absolute fucking fun sponge!
I truly admire the no shoulder rest route 😂
Dani Gonzalez-Dotti YES😂
Neck massages often??
I'm ok without shoulder rest myself too, partially because I have a short neck lmao. One of my friend's got a rather long neck so he must use shoulder rest though. different way fits different ppl I guess
So damn clean.
Edit: Except for all those coughing audience members and creaking doors.
Vokaynroks Those flaws help prove the video isn't fake. This guy's accuracy is quite unbelievable, awe-inspiring!
I have many different recordings of this piece, some on viola and others on cello. I always come back to your performance as my very favorite.
Susana Maria thank you so much for the kind comment Susana.
I showed this to my viola teacher
Listen to the classical guitar recording, played by Ana Vidovic.
Wow, I was looking for a good performance of Bach Suites in viola and I found this! I myself am playing the viola and wanted to play them since they're so beautiful.
I'm just so mesmerized. May your spirit always rejoice in the music.
Thank you Musrar! Enjoy the suites, they are magical and mystical works that you will grow with over a lifetime.
@@marcsabbah5275 Fantastic - I am hobby viola player. I discovered the hobby of playing after more than 10 years not playing. My viola teacher inspired me to play the Bach Suite while making fun. I think also that the suites will be with my lifetime. (I play on a wonderful Mare Zaharie viola, built 1981 in romania) Greetings from Austria!
Medientechniker I'm glad we both share the love of Bach and Viola. Don't hesitate to subscribe or check out my website if ever I'm playing in your area. Best wishes
Hello, Mr. Sabbah! Congratulations on your interpretation ... I really enjoyed all the dances. Especially the Courante is the best I've ever heard. Thank you for sharing with us.
Beautiful tone, impeccable intonation!
I am more than moved by your interpretation and the color of your tone, as it takes me to that place. I also love your bowings. Thank you for sharing as I believe Bach would be very proud.
This has inspired me to learn the viola. I wanted to learn cello but can't afford one. I had no idea the viola sounds so mellow and beautiful.
Marc, you are wonderful ! Could you record the other five suites? Please?
Dude, I realise I have always played the Menuett 1&2 wrong.
Excellent Interpretation
I'm glad I could shine new light on this piece for you. Keep up the good work.
Same
7:58 is my favorite omg that sound
0:00 is my favorite
18:02 my favorite part
Watched this video so many times....love it! Never thought that a viola could sound so majestic and beautiful. I would like to try one. BRAVO for the performance...so light, clean, passionate yet seems effortless 🥰 Such musicality and expression with such minimal vibrato....wow.
Thank you! I'm very glad you liked it.
Hey Marc. I enjoyed a lot your playing. Congrats!
Beautiful tone with special non vibrato moments made it so incredible. Thanks a lot for sharing it with us. I'd be glad if you could share about playing without a shoulder rest in this video. How are you dealing with playing Back and also the Vieuxtemps caprice?
Thank you!
Hi Amaro, thanks for your nice message. Playing without shoulder rest is not something I do always. I felt like playing without it on that day. The viola sounds much better and responds with more ease when played with not shoulder rest. There is a delicate balance between holding the instrument with your right hand and your head. This 50/50 combination allows you to enjoy the full resonance of your viola. It is easier to play baroque repertoire with no shoulder rest as most of the music is in 1st position. When shifting and sliding for more romantic music, it can be more challenging but still rewarding. Viola is a physical instrument and needs muscle and stamina to play. Enjoy these aspects and good luck with your playing.
Marc Sabbah Hi, thank you for your response.
Certainly the instrument responds freely without a shoulder rest. I feel the same. Thanks for taking the time to reply to my comment. Please, keeping playing and posting the videos, it has been an inspiration for all of us.
As a person who plays the cello and the viola, I love that I don’t really have to learn this twice, it almost translates perfectly
Umas das melhores performances que ouvi em minha vida, parabéns por passar esse virtuosismo para quem lhe ouve!!!
Muito obrigado Roger !
Absolutely flawless performance. The playing was as if I was in a different time and a different state of mind.
Wow thank you for your comment. I'll be putting up more suites soon.
Until now my clear favourite for Bach Suites was Lilian Fuchs' marvellously rich heavy weight version... but I'm kind of wavering, now, coz yours work really well for me too....
Amazing Courante, stunning freedom within the metrics...congrats!!!
the Viola is simply a cello, just an octave lower. I think that's why this piece sounds so good on the viola
**Octave higher and yeah it essentially is even though the viola is older than the cello
A baby cello
@@Squidynx After the research I did, the cello and viola were founded in the pretty much same period (1530-1550).
@@pesto.3598 Yeah pretty much. The viola is just slightly older since “cello” is derived from the Italian word “violoncello” meaning “little violone”; “violone” meaning “big viola”. Not a huge margin tho in age
@@Squidynx Yeah, that's true probably. Man, I'm so glad, that I can hold a civilised conversation on the internet without throwing insults at each other, but agreeing to the point from the other one.
This video is what convinced me to finally try to learn the viola. Thank you
So I have a question
How do you have the confidence like how do you play in front of people because I always get so nervous
madmax gaming I try to think only of the music and not myself. Once you become a factor than the performance becomes about you and your nerves rather than the composition. Maybe that will help you.
Thanks I’ll take any tips I can get I have to play this for region test and I’m super nervous but thanks anyways!
And also playing a lot in front of an audience helps a lot. You can always volunteer to play for elders' club, children, at church etc. for free - you'll become more confident with the particular piece you play. And after tens and hundreds of public performances you'll surely find a way to overcome the nervosity.
Thx
Try busking. It can be very nerve racking to start, and then once you've got over the terror of putting yourself out there in such an extreme way, you have to not get demoralised when you realise lots of people just don't care about your music. Either way it's a good way to get over stage fright. And at the end of the process to can always say to yourself "well at least it's not cold and windy and these people came here specially to hear my music".
Seriously, give it a go!
Beautiful, very clean pristine quality and wonderful acoustical space! You brought out the unique and lovely sound quality that this under appreciated instrument is capable of. Thank you for your lovely playing!
How is the courante so damn good??
Thanks!
so much passion 😭
Qualité du son toujours merveilleuse, comme le jeu, on ressent tout à travers cette vidéo, merci du partage !
Beautiful interpretation! Love your sound and how you play delicate notes
HOW DO YOU REMEMBER ALL OF THOSE!!!! thats like 12 pages but it just shows u have great memory and accuracy
Beautifully played
It’s honestly is just repetition
Bravo - I have played this so many times - but you knock it out of the park.
Still watching man always amazing!😁
Can anyone tell me the name of this church? It's really beautiful
My oldest son finally grew into the smallest size viola last year (been using restringed violin before), and he's studying this piece now. He's still on the prelude and your performance is a huge inspiration for him. Thank you!
Magnifique cher Marc !!! Superbe interprétation !!!
Wow...best bach in viola I've see...thanks bud!
I just started playing again after a two decade hiatus and this is the piece I started working on. It’s a rough one to shake the rust from my fingers. Came here to listen to it played competently
I watch this video several times a week as inspiration. I hope to play this half as well as you some day. Lovely
I still listen to this like every day omg
Thanks Madmax :)
Mesmerising wonderful sound of viola!
This perform has inspired me to learn the instrument .
Since I discovered this performance, I listen every day, and this music became my most favorite viola music! The most artistic expression, I love not only the tone purity but freedom of time which comfort my heart with serenity.
Bach would have been proud. How blessed we are to listen to such musicians, such music.
Listening to you playing Bach is the go-to destination from reality .... Thank you
Beautiful but sounds like there is so much added reverb, can we not just let good playing speak for itself?
Thank you but there is no added reverb. This the natural acoustic of this church.
@@marcsabbah5275 Wow!!!! That fascinates me. Never have I heard something like this. Thank you for putting out your beautiful playing. I am learning this on viola as well currently and this video is giving me a great reference for my learning.
The bowings in the prelude - are they his or are they published? I think I’m seeing 3 slurred, 2 slurred, 1 separate, and 2 slurred. Right? They certainly add to the overall effect.
Wonderful Bach rendition!! Thank you for the video!!
Mark ❣️‼️
I unironically use this as a focusing aid whilst practicing saber drill in the morning. Beautifully performed, bravo.
very wonderful, how much time did it take you to master the entire piece?
Mo M thank you MO. I'm still mastering it ;) it's a lifetime of work. Memorization is just internalization. Sing the music before you play it and it will grow inside of you.
Thanks for the advice, may your career be full of success.
bruh
Me hizo llorar! Tan hermoso❤️🎻
Beautifully played and phrased. I love it!
❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
In my opinion the best Viola version of Prelude G Mayor out in the web I've found. Well done.
Zertifizierte intergalaktischen! Halleluyen! Allahu Aardvarken!
my brother does violin
i do cello
7:20
마치 비올라연습 교본처럼 잘 보고있습니다!
Your performance is just beautiful! Thank you so much for sharing it, it became my favourite interpretation as soon as I heard it. Love from Argentina 😊
The next Yo-Yo Ma??????
Steven Wechsler lets hope not.
That Was Different!
🖤🎻
What I love about this is that you don’t even need to learn different fingering - all the strings are an octave higher than their cello counterparts.
Thanks! Unfortunately, cello and viola fingering are very different. I wish it were so easy ;)
Still inspiring! Thank you!
Thanks for posting this. I learned the first suite a while ago, but never really mastered it. I’m renting my first 16 inch viola, and I’m looking forward to playing even half as beautifully as you have.
Glad to hear it. Good luck discovering this rich and colorful music.
What is he looking at you ask? Ive learned the cello suite arranged for viola as well. Not nearly skilled enough on the instrument to upload it, so take it with a grain of salt. Yet I can still tell you upon what he gazes; He looks upon the very face of God.
Great comment and true! Thanks
Qual microfone você usou pra capturar do áudio?
I'm in heaven. I just want to thank you for this heavenly moment. Love your playing.
I'm so glad you enjoy it. Thank you.
I can see the music with my ear
Marc, I was wondering whether you memorize your music visually, with images or with stories? I am quite struck as to how far over your left shoulder and upwards that you look. That sort of eye movement activates remembering images.
I love your interpretation of this Bach piece. I have listened to the Prelude and the Courante over and over and over. Your Courante is so impish and playful! I I am planning to learn the Courante for an audition piece this spring. Thank you so very much for posting this. I was also studying your Prelude because I love your interpretation of that also and I wish I could figure out your bowing! But the Prelude itself is difficult for me mentally to understand, so I'm going with the playful Courante instead
Hi viola00princess, Thank you for your nice comment. As to memorizing music, I internalize almost everything I learn/play. I try to understand the composition from a composers point of view, as if i'm composing it right there on the spot. The most important step to internalizing is to 'turn off' the analytical part of the brain and enter into the impulsive and irrational side. I find that looking off helps me disconnect from the viola and thus allows me to play with no inhibitions. In terms of holding the viola, sometimes I play with and without shoulder rest. It really depends on the acoustics, repertoire and overall mood I'm in. I hope this helps..playing music/viola is so personal that self discovery is the best device for improvement. Challenge and question your musical beliefs and conceptions constantly, this will allow you to evolve and improve. Best wishes. Marc
U made a chordy song to live and elegant. I cant help listening and listening again! I can see u did a very nice job!! :) Your wonderful playing plus the great sound the place gave made these songs incredibly good! You're one of the best viola players I can find out there! Keep it up my man!!!
Thank you so much. I'm glad you enjoyed it.
Who was the arranger on this piece? I can only find the lifschey
I arranged it myself. Simply transposing the bass clef to viola clef. Then be creative and make it your own. Good luck.
When I was in high school we had to pick a piece to perform individually in front of the ensemble. I performed this on the viola and the conductor was like “why the hell are you playing this on the viola it’s meant for cellists to showcase their technique” -_- WELL BECAUSE IT SOUNDS NICE AND I WANT TO, BIATCH
Very Rizzy
Exquisite
So, so beautiful!
What is he looking at? :)
Man I just want to know what he was looking at for the whole performance
I was looking at nothing. When I play, the music takes over and I somehow leave this reality.
@@marcsabbah5275 that's pretty epic
Absolutely beautiful, executed nicely but still with emotion - that's what makes a great classical musician! And yes we all see the stare just ignore it lol
When you want a portable cello ! Honestly my favourite over the violin cause it's bit too shrill sounding for me. But Viola is beautiful
This is one of the most gorgeous renditions if not the most gorgeous rendition I’ve ever heard. May I ask: what size viola do you play?
hello I am a student of viola in chile I would like to know if you can pass me a link of your version of the suite with arches that I love and I want to play in my exam ... you would be very kind, I love your videos.
Sorry I’m so late, but I play the viola and I was wondering if it was possible to play it on the viola and sound good, so yeah! Thanks
Que perfeição, passei a admirá-lo, tb sou violista, claro que não profissional mas estou aprendendo, bonito demais, meu Deus!
Bravo! You play so effortless seemingly and without the facial grimacing.
I love the music so much
Maestro, I love your performance, but I would like to know the bowing of the prelude... greetings
Fernando Lanza thank you. The bowing are mostly improvised on the spot. I take much inspiration from the original Bach manuscript but most of it is how I feel in the moment.
Marc Sabbah thanks for the info...
Beautiful sound and technically superb. I'm always fighting against some of the bow strokes in the prelude... Yours look so natural! Even the way you distribute the contact point from sul trasto to neutral middle point is very nice! Really inspiring video!
Now I see why people play in churches. My heart is just melting! ❤️