Title: J. S. Bach -Chaconne from Partita No. 2 for Solo Violin, BWV 1004 Source:
YouTube URL Source:http://youtube.com/watch?v=UFdbQtu2A4Q Published:May 18, 2007 Author:Johann Sebastian Bach Post Date:2007-05-18 20:19:18 by Peetie Wheatstraw Ping List:*Music Club* Keywords:None Views:754 Comments:10
Violinist Nathan Milstein - Part I
Violinist Nathan Milstein - Part II
Violinist Jascha Heifetz - Part I
Violinist Jascha Heifetz - Part II
Poster Comment:
Just one of the movements of the Partita for Solo Violin in D Minor, BWV 1004, this is a titanic work, lasting nearly fifteen minutes in full - hence the performances given here are divided in two parts.
This chaconne (or ciaccona) is considered a summit of the solo violin repertoire, covering practically every aspect of violin-playing known during Bach's time. It is among the most difficult pieces to play for that instrument and is commonly included as a required repertoire piece in violin competitions all over the world.
Johannes Brahms, in a letter to Clara Schumann, said about the chaconne: "On one stave, for a small instrument, the man writes a whole world of the deepest thoughts and most powerful feelings. If I imagined that I could have created, even conceived the piece, I am quite certain that the excess of excitement and earth-shattering experience would have driven me out of my mind."
The score is unbelievable.. looks extremely complicated..
There's a famous story about Beethoven's Opus 130 String Quartet: when the quartet he wrote the piece for complained that the last movement, a long and complicated work comparable to Bach's Chaconne, was "impossible to play," Beethoven, who could often be "impossible" himself, raged, "What do I care for you and your FUCKING FIDDLES?!!" and stormed out.
Later, as was also typical for Beethoven, he remorsefully relented and wrote a new finale.
The old ending is now his Op. 133, the Grosse Fuge, regarded as one of Beethoven's and Western music's greatest achievements. ;) **