Jethro Tull, Bourée - A Classical Musician’s First Listen And Reaction
HTML-код
- Опубликовано: 29 сен 2024
- My second time hearing Jethro Tull, this time it’s the Bourree! Knowing the original Bach version, I was very curious to see how it was used here, and I certainly wasn’t disappointed - it’s really great! Check it out and see what you think!
Here’s the link to the original song by Jethro Tull:
• Jethro Tull - Bourée
_________________________
If you want me to do a First Listen and In-depth Analysis of YOUR song of choice, or if you want an exclusive 1:1 session where I can answer your questions, dig deeper into a topic, or even coach you in your musical experience, such as a music theory, piano, or harp lesson, singing, music reading, etc, follow this link: ko-fi.com/amys...
If you want more, join my Patreon: / virginrock
Twitter: / virginrockmusic
Instagram: / virginrockchannel
Facebook: / virginrockchannel
Special thanks to those who are keeping my ko-fi cup supplied:
I’ve formed the habit of publishing all the names of my supporters simply because I appreciate your appreciation of my work, and I want to recognize each one of you personally. But, unfortunately, RUclips allows a limited number of characters for the description, and I cannot fit all names anymore. So, this is my message to each one of my supporters personally:
THANK YOU!
_________________________
Amy Shafer, LRSM, FRSM, RYC, is a classical harpist, pianist, and music teacher, Director of Piano Studies and Assistant Director of Harp Studies for The Harp School, Inc., holds multiple degrees in harp and piano performance and teaching, and is active as a solo and collaborative performer. With nearly two decades of teaching experience, she teaches privately, presents masterclasses and coaching sessions, and has performed and taught in Europe and USA.
_________________________
Credits: Music written and performed by Jethro Tull
This video may contain copyrighted material whose use has not been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. VirginRock is using this material for educational, critical, research, and commentary purposes in our effort to promote musical literacy and understanding. We believe that this constitutes a “fair use” of the copyrighted material as provided for in Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, which provides allowance for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing.
If you wish to use this copyrighted material for purposes of your own that go beyond “fair use”, you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.
If your copyrighted material appears on this channel and you disagree with our assessment that it constitutes “fair use”, please contact us.
As usual, please write here your questions only.
This question is for Vlad. My good man, when are you going to introduce her to Focus?
ruclips.net/video/gKSrq_qjB_Y/видео.html
What composers insperd you to beginn playing harp?
Thank you for this! Your reaction gives us a taste of how other classical musicians might have reacted to such an arrangement. Has Vlad also suggested analyzing Jethro Tull's song "My God"? It features what is probably the most obvious example of Ian Anderson's "flute + vocalizations" in their studio recordings. Of course, when the band would perform live, he added even more vocalizations. 🙂
"My God" also features a more formal arrangement, like a short suite with parts.
If your intend to come back to Jethro Tull, pleasee listen to the live version of, My God. It´s like watching Ian Andersson having a jamsession of his own on his flute. The song it self is more of an prog rock song but watching Ian is really something. There are manhy pro flutists that didn´t knew it was possible doing stuff like what he does when they see his performence. So please do watch that
Listening to my favourite bands, while watching someone from a different background hearing these songs for the first time was already one of the most pleasant ways of spending my time. Your historical and musical knowledge along with your presentation style is utterly mesmerizing. Thank you so much for the work you are putting in, it's sheer joy.
only sad, that its only a music reaction, because he is one of the biggest stage beasts and you can see all the power of him...^^
@@seelenwinter6662 So true. I suggested she do just that.
Rush!
@@marslennon1 No worries. Karl is Canadian and I understand a HUGE fan. They are master musicians.
Here, here!
Fab as ever. Come on dear Amy!...when are we going to hear your take on pre - 1975 Genesis? It's got to happen😉. Tracks choices from me are 'The Musical Box', 'Cinema Show' and 'Suppers Ready'. Go on... You know you want to. Ps: Happy New Year x
Actually, Jethro Tull is the name of the band. The guy with the flute is Ian Anderson.
By the way, which one is “Pink”
As I understand the name "Jethro Tull" is from English folk lore. Ian adopted the name for his band. Like in Pink Floyd where there is no "Pink"
@@danwilcox7650 Pink Floyd took their name from the blues duo, Pink Anderson and Floyd Council. Quite frankly, I quite liked one of their earlier names, which was the Architectural Abdabs.....
@@danwilcox7650 Incorrect. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jethro_Tull_(agriculturist)
I love watching your reactions to the music. You’re so sweet. Welcome to being a fan like the rest of us.
I would love to see your reaction to Jethro Tull’s album A Passion Play” and “Thick as a Brick”.
It is soooo fun to watch your reaction to his village dance sequence at 5:00!
One of my favorite all time songs by Tull and Bach. Actually it was this song that introduced me to Bach and been listening to early music ever since. So you made my day when you said at 6:04 "I like it"
Interesting that you mentioned the Lautenwerk. I believe my friend WIllard Martin constructed the first Lautenwwerk since the mid 18th century, back in the 70s. Now, both Keith Hill and Kevin Sorli build them. I hope you have had the pleasure of playing one of these instruments. My favorite recording are the Lute Sonatas of Silvius Leopold Weiss played on the Lautenwerk.
This was my introduction to Bouree. I found the Bach version later, which just goes to show... something or other! :-) It's worth mentioning that Jethro Tull is the name of the band, not the lead singer/flautist, who's called Ian Anderson. (The original Jethro Tull was the seventeenth century agricultural innovator who invented the seed drill.)
Xhalster
Listening to Jethro Tull decades later, sometimes feels like living in the past 😉
I'd really love for you to make it also playable on a lever harp- I'm good with doing lever changes
i find your reaction fresh and honest
Bach is, in general, the favourite classical musician to jazz musicians.
Ian Anderson is the guy's name, the band is called Jethro Tull
Jethro Tull is not the only adaptation of Bourree in E minor in Rock.
Andrew Lloyd Weber used the opening theme as part of the melody of “This Jesus Must Die” in the rock opera “Jesus Christ Superstar.”
Please expand on the Bass theme. The Bass theme ( a solo by Glen Cornick ) is the hook for all of us that listen to the early Jethro .tull.
Made me somehow remember "House Of The King" by Focus
Nice..now you will have to listen to Procol Harum "Whiter Shade of Pale" ,melody inspired by Bach's Air ...because its important part of rock history..studio version ,because in live version there's no hammond organ
Funky Bach Baby!
Bourre is premium best,,,watch the black and white live performance,,it was probably 1969,not long or before that year,,it's on youtube
Brava
If you enjoy such kinds of adaptations, it might be worth checking Swan Lake by Madness. (Be ready for some ska-punk though.)
Also, I think you've hit the nail on the head with the appeal of these reaction videos. It's unimportant whether you get what I get from a piece of music. My reaction will always largely be the same but hearing in detail what someone else gets from a piece is what is so fascinating. Especially when it's from someone with such a depth of knowledge and experience.
The Jethro Tull band was named after Jethro Tull (baptised 30 March 1674 - 21 February 1741, New Style) who was an English agriculturist from Berkshire who helped to bring about the British Agricultural Revolution of the 18th century. He perfected a horse-drawn seed drill in 1701 that economically sowed the seeds in neat rows, and later developed a horse-drawn hoe. Tull's methods were adopted by many landowners and helped to provide the basis for modern agriculture.
Tull was a contemporary of Bach although unlikely would have met.
Are you trying to say IAN ANDERSON? I understand they are all playing but so many call Ian "Jethro"
@@mehansen1772 , I’m uncertain if you mistakenly replied on this thread when intending to reply to someone else. This thread is discussing the late Jethro Tull, who lived 300 years ago. We weren’t discussing Ian Anderson.
Yes, I'm sure the band's name was deliberately chosen to suggest "Elizabethan minstrels catapulted into the era of steam, noise and coal-smoke". As well as being snappy. Jethro Tull is a major part of the boundary between the old ways and the agricultural-industrial revolution.
This lady is absolutely delightful. I really enjoy listening to her and she totally gets it. There's more than one way to relate to a piece of music. I get the vibe she really knows what she is talking about.
You may find it interesting that Emerson, Lake & Palmer has also reworked some classical pieces, such as "Pictures at an Exhibition" by Mussorgsky, and "The Barbarian" by Béla Bartók.
Emerson Lake and Powell did Mars, Bringer Of War.
And do not forget their fantastic interpretation of Aaron Copland 's Fanfare for the Common Man , specialy that live one : ruclips.net/video/c2zurZig4L8/видео.html
I've always felt that Emerson, Lake, and Palmer was my introduction to classical music.
As did the Nice, Egg , Rick Wakeman and many more of the early prog rock band's .
And fabulous bass playing by Glenn Cornick!
Ian Anderson had actually only been playing the flute for just about three years when this was recorded. He was also completely self taught.
And he didn't do drugs, which was one of the reasons Frank Zappa liked him.
@@markschattefor6997 Its also probably one of the reasons why he's alive and mostly healthy today (apparently he has a little COPD).
@@markschattefor6997 Well, Zappa also liked Don van Vliet, and he definitely did drugs. But he generally didn't allow his musicians do do drugs.
It was probably only two years as it was recorded in May 1969!
@@GeoffCB April 24, 1969
I always think of Jethro Tull as a folk/minstrel band, as if someone went back in time and gave King Arthur's court lute band modern rock instruments.
In the same vibe (Bach and Rock), I would recommend to react to: Procoll Harum / A Whiter Shade of Pale
ruclips.net/video/Mb3iPP-tHdA/видео.html
"It starts of nicely, then descends into a kind of despicable cocktail-lounge jazz..." Ian Anderson, introducing this piece at a Mozart tribute. He continued to get better & better over the years. I've never seen Jethro Tull, but I've seen Ian twice, and both were overwhelming performances. He's an amazing guitar player, and that gets overlooked because of the flute novelty. He brings a LOT to the table. He's much better than the commercially oriented "singles" suggest.
Maybe you didn't see him, cause he died back in 1741. (Sorry, this joke had to be made 😓😂)
“Flute ‘novelty’”
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
🤔
I've always loved Ian's guitar playing and I agree that that aspect of his musicianship is sadly overlooked.
Только не Моцарту, а Баху...
@@ДмитрийБрылов-ж6к The PIECE is by Bach, yes. The Tribute concert is Mozart themed. Ian just chose to play this because he thought it might please the crowd, I suppose.
Even before I start watching may I say that this lineup of Jethro Tull was their finest. And nobody in Rock had a more imaginative and diverse portfolio as Jethro Tull. Especially their first 5 albums
As always, love Amy's interpretations and reactions. Also, always liked how Jethro Tull would give the songs a medieval sound to them.
Insightful and engaging, as always. My other favorite Jethro Tull adaptation of a classical piece is Faure’s Pavane from their Christmas album. That album includes a different take on Bourée as well.
This will likely echo many other comments, but I will say it anyway. Watching your reactions, hearing your brilliant takes, along with your naivety of the band or artists I have listened to all my life is so much fun. I keep clicking on the next one, then another and another. I find myself telling myself, "self, you should really start listening to music you've never heard before too". Thank you for the inspiration to begin doing so.
This music caused me to become a flautist at 12. I tried to play the way Ian Anderson does, and subsequently discovered classical music. So Jethroe Tull definitely altered my life's trajectory.
I've always loved Jethro Tull's treatment of this piece. I'm thrilled that somebody with a background in classical music enjoys it too. Very insightful to hear your comments, it makes me appreciate the song even more. I was wondering what you think of the bass guitar in this song. It's very important for the song's jazzy sound, but it's so far removed from Bach's original music that it's probably the thing classical music listeners are going to dislike the most.
Actually bass was very important in Bachs music and in the first part of the song the bass guitar counterpoint was close to what Bach would have written.
@@nyobunknown6983 Bass is very important in Bach's music indeed, but the sound of the bass guitar is very different to the left hand on the organ or harpsichord. My experience is that it's the sound, not the notes that classical music listeners dislike. Sorry for not stating that more clearly.
As a lover of classical, melodic jazz, blues, and quality rock n roll, I would say that the more you know about all of the genres, the more you get out of Bouree!
You gotta admit, the flute was no mere gimmick for Ian Anderson, he could play that thing... and at the same time he stretched the boundaries of the instrument. Frequently he vocalized through the flute, but as you say, it works so well 🐱
Actually Ian Anderson could not play the flute. He did it all wrong and had a wonky pinky that made it difficult to play certain notes. It drives flute teachers crazy when students try to play like Anderson did in the early days. It was not until way later that he learned how to properly play the flute. However that is what made his playing even more remarkable. He mastered an instrument that he kind of did not know how to play. Most flute players can't do what Anderson does, because of their formal training. He was kind of the Jimi Hendrix of flute. Hendrix was left-handed, so his guitar was upside down and backwards.
@@robinblackmoor8732in other words he DOES know how to play. To play an instrument, one needs to be able to reproduce a piece of music recognisably. It has NOTHING whatever to with HOW the notes are played. He may not have been able to play like a trained flautist, but then a trained flautist would have great difficulty playing like he does. To say he couldn't play because he doesn't do it the way you think he "should" is purest snobbery and elitism. Music has enough of that...... no need to add to the pile.
I agree that you can't say that someone doesn't know how to play an instrument unless he plays it with proper technique. Speaking of the guitar, possibly the two greatest jazz guitar players ever were Django and Wes. The first played with just two fingers of the left hand, and the second just with the thumb of the right. Not exactly what Segovia recommends. That being said, it's not simply the way "he" thinks that the flute "should" be played, it's just the way anyone who is a competent flutist thinks the flute should be played (including Anderson, probably). There is a reason why the classical technique is classical.@@catzkeet4860
@@robinblackmoor8732 is called improv and creativity. No one played with the power Ian did.
@@catzkeet4860 My comment is the same as yours. We both stated he could not play as a properly trained flute player. I also said his playing was remarkable. Is English a second language for you?
And this is why I love Jethro Tull!
And why you need to listen to the "Songs From The Wood" album.
In particular you should save "Ring Out Solstice Bells" for the next holiday season. That would be an absolute gift!
Great album.
I think she would love Velvet Green
@@samuelecallegari6117
Absolutely!
My favorite song from that album is "The Whistler." I can't keep still when I hear it.
What an excellent reaction to this piece, one of my favorites by Tull. If you do more Tull, I'll throw my vote in for 'Velvet Green' - as others have already suggested.
Please do not abandon this format for the deep dives into Pink Floyd and the History series. At least not before you get to the gigantic 'Pictures at an Exhibition' by Emerson Lake and Palmer. Love your insights! Stay Healthy!
Ian Anderson was self-taught and re-learned flute after years of playing due to his daughter leaning flute and pointing out he wasn't doing it correctly.
The genius of Jethro Tull brings tears to my eyes. Ian Anderson is a reincarnated wizard from mid evil times come to share his magic of music and the joy it brings.
You must mean 'medieval'!? At least I hope so! 😅
@@mightyV444 Yeah, that's what I meant. Thanks.
@@dsgp7835 - No worries 😊 And I agree with your comment otherwise! 😀👍 The "mid evil" bit gave me a little fright, though! 😉 But there probably actually _was_ a lot of evil around during those times, too! 😅 Happy New Year! 😀🥂🎉
@@mightyV444funny though XD. Full evil wouldn’t come to fruition until the XXth century.
Yeah, Ian was a remarkable composer and some are just songs so perfect they do bring tears of joy to me as well.
Delighted that you chose to react to this piece!
It's interesting to note that Ian Anderson was entirely self-taught in the flute. He has a unique style because he didn't know any better. When his son began learning the flute, Ian tried to correct his son's fingering, only to learn that he'd just been doing it "wrong" for 20 years or so
It might also help to contextualize Jethro Tull with a disclaimer that progressive rock, arguably the most prevalent genre of their catalog, is very much characterized by its jazz influences
So this is a jazzy homage to Bach, by a musical genius without much clue about what he's doing, and it's wonderful
Actually, it was his daughter....
Ian Anderson does not have a son. He has a daughter. She is married to the actor who starred in the original “The Walking Dead”. They have 2 children intern grandchildren to Ian Anderson. His daughter was the one who also became a flutist.
Correction: I did not know that Ian Anderson had a son. Nice information to finally know. The thing is is that I have not followed a whole heck of a lot for a couple of decades on Ian Anderson and Jethro Tull. Back in the 60s and 70s and a little bit in the early 80s I followed them religiously along with my brothers who originally got me onto them. One of my brothers has seen Jethro Tull 32 times. That’s how fanatical they were back in the day. I even have there VCR tapes that they put out when Ian Anderson purchased his estate back then to start his fish farm and a state hunting venture when he purchased that a state to live on. That was the 20th anniversary of Jethro Tull. That’s how long ago I was following them on a more close basis. Ian Anderson did not talk about his family a whole heck of a lot even in interviews so I was totally unaware that he had a son only a daughter because I remember the interview when he talked about having his daughter. That was decades ago. I’m in my 60s and quite frankly I do not get fanatical over a lot of bands anymore. Also, his son if he’s in the limelight now or had been at one point it was long past the time that I followed the band religiously. Some people keep themselves to themselves, and I was totally unaware of the fact that he had a son. I knew he had the daughter and I just by happenstance saw the interview or reference of who she was married to when that guy from The Walking Dead was doing an interview on a news show. From what Ian Anderson said, in an interview, talking about the fact that he did not hold the flute traditionally, and why that was at the time that he performed with Tony Snow right before he passed away. And he made that remark concerning the fact that he had been for so many years, holding the flute, and using the finger movements in a flat manner for so many years, it was difficult for him to curb his fingers in the proper manner. Did most often he ended up, still holding the flute and his curve structure for his fingers, the old way that he taught himself. So excuse me for making a mistake for the fact that I don’t follow bands religiously anymore because I’m not young and have nothing else to worry about. At this point in time I’m more worried about, dealing with making sure that I have enough for when I eventually retire in a handful of years. This is satisfy everybody that I made an Oopsie mistake. This is why I rarely make comments on anything anymore and when I do, there’s always gotta be somebody who’s got to prove that you’re wrong, or you made a mistake. I hope you’re all happy. Goodbye🤪🙄
Ian has taken lessons on the flute in the early 90's.
@@jacquelinehogan8021 correction. Ian’s firstborn was his son James Duncan Anderson who doesn’t play flute but drums. His daughter played flute and taught him how to play flute correctly.
I think that Jethro with this piece walks us from folk / classical, to jazz, to rock, and back again showing that it can be both beautiful and fun in any age. And...in doing so...that it's ok to have a childlike sense of play and to never lose it... It's both showing freedom and a genuine respect and love for the original music.
You've got to give it to Glen Cornick. What an inspired bass part! Such an influence on bass players everywhere. Pity he couldn't have stayed with the band.
I've never really been able to hear the bass in any song in anything other than an addition in the background but here I can appreciate it as an entity unto itself and I can appreciate it so much that I want more. Many songs have drum solos but bass solos not so much. Just my observation of admittedly limited exposure.
Ian heard the Bach piece incessantly from the room above his as a guitar student practiced it and decided to persue it. A very similar version was first played by Rashan Roland Kirk the famous Jazz woodwind player.
Fantastic! Please listen to RICK WAKEMAN, a classically trained pianist playing rock. Please listen to ONLY A DREAM , Merlin the Magician, Morning has broken , Morning Haze . Your insights are fantastic-would love to hear your thoughts!!
I've been listening to Jethro Tull for over 50 years, have heard every one of the albums many times over. You have opened my mind to see new things in their music! Thank you!!!
This exactly. Could not agree more.
Yes I was weened on Aqualung too.
Just subbed! Huge fan of music theory, as well as Jethro Tull!
Didn't realize the connection to classical with this particular piece!
Great content, btw, to bridge the audiences of classical and other genres, such as rock!
Gee. I must say that I adore what you are doing here. It's like looking at pieces of music I love from another perspective, and learning something new simultaneously. Thank you!
What a great video. This is a much loved Tull piece. My father was a Bach fanatic, and he bought, and LOVED, Switched on Bach by Wendy Carlos. All synthesizer Bach works. I hope that's on your reaction list. My father used to say Bach would have approved the Carlos work.
Ian Anderson is the guy playing flute..... Jethro Tull is the name of the band...
Emerson, Lake, and Palmer have a tune called “Knife Edge” which has a Bach interlude which is really excellent. Would love to hear if you think there are other parts of the piece which are borrowed that I am ignorant of.
This piece, along with two other classical music instrumentals, "Pavane" and "Greensleeves" are on Jethro's Tull's Christmas Album.
The Bouree on th Christmas album is terrible though
Wonderful insights as always! One point...
"Jethro Tull" was the name of the band. Ian Anderson was the creative genius behind the compositions of the band. Over the 4+ decades of Jethro Tull, many talented musicians came and went but Anderson was the only constant from beginning to end.
I made the same mistake for years, by the way... Ian Anderson was/is one of the great composers of modern, "rock" music IMO. "Progressive rock" is the genre most often applied to his work.
"Thick as a Brick", an early album of theirs, is probably my favorite "rock opera" of all - a genre not heard much these days.
Helluva bass player on this - was that Glenn Cornick?
maybe Bach just left the F off the title of the Lute Suite Lol great video Thanks
To quote Ian Anderson “If Bach were alive he would jump up on the stage and strangle me” 😂😂😂
Add your attention to the band Focus and Thijs Van Leer solo albums. Its beautiful progressive music with huge classic influence
You should watch one of their live performances, Anderson is quite the interesting stage performer.
Yes definitely. They were an incredible live band and Ian was mad as a hatter
While I agree with your use of the word "quite", I really think that he is more "off the wall", idiosyncratic and at times bizarre than just "interesting"!
@@johnjones4825 I would go so far as to say cringey sometimes
Ian is unique in his talent with many instruments. He picked up the flute as a secondary instrument when he realized he would never be as good as Clapton on the guitar (his quote). And he doesn't read music. He composes and performs everything by memory.
A truly fascinating comparison of the artist and the classical origins. I would really enjoy this as a thread for further exploration. Have you listened to the six wife's of Henry VIII' by Rick Wakeman (keyboard player in Yes)?
You should listen to/ review Emerson Lake and Palmers version of Ginestras Tocatta now you go in this direction. Its from their album Brain sallad surgery. Ginestra was still alive when they where allowed to make their version of it. And he absolutely loved it.
I know you have a lot on your plate right now, but I really hope you get to Jethro Tull's Thick as a Brick at some point. A whole 45-minute album that consists of only one suite (split in two parts due to the technical limitations of vinyl records). Ian Anderson intended it as a parody of the grandiose progressive rock compositions, but it itself became one of the most celebrated prog rock albums of all time.
That…. would be…. SPECTACULAR‼️ Thick As a Brick, side 1 & 2. W.O.W!
Thick as a Brick is a great album. One for the ages.
there is a strong influence here from a song called Swinging Shepherd Blues by Canadian jazz flautist Moe Koffman
I really enjoyed your reaction, along with the Bach info. While the flute plays the central role in this piece, I was also hoping you would have commented on the use of the walking bass, which I really think enhance the feel of this piece. It even has that little bass solo in the middle. This was released in 1969, so Ian Anderson had only been playing flute for two years at the time (he first learned to play the flute in the summer of 1967).
That bassline is the entire feel of this piece.
@@Hartlor_Tayley Agreed. Of course as a bass player and student of bass you had to know I would zero in on the bass part. 😁 I guess Ian deserves some notice too.😉 I don't know if he did both flute parts or had another flutist doing the second flute part on this recording.
The bass is already walking in the original
Glenn Cornick on bass. A great player. This bass part was really different at the time.
@@LeeKennison I can’t imagine them hiring another player for this besides it sounds like Ian but you know studio decisions were not all entirely rational. I had a small book of some Segovia Bach notation, there wasn’t much sheet music around for guitar when I was a kid., just folk songs and that Segovia book, I found a copy of “ the Girl from Ipanema” with chord charts so I focused on that song a lot but that song is musically insane ;). and I soon realized that Bossa Nova Jazz sheets had chord charts etc. Ok what I’m trying to say is that Rock is almost entirely based on artists that are self taught. Back in the sixties that meant everyone picked different things and developed in different directions in an almost random way. Jerry Garcia likened it to creating your own Frankenstein monster out whatever you could find and jolting it with energy until eventually it comes alive. This is why Rock is the way it is or at least was.
Thank you for being open minded, Ian Anderson & Jethro Tull are a personal favorite of mine for over 50 years now.
The first year The Grammys included a category for Hard Rock/Metal, the ceremony featured a performance by Metallica. They had just pushed farther into the mainstream with their hit single One. They performed the song live, shortly before the inaugural winner was announced. Every one expected Metallica to walk away with it.
Which is why everyone was shocked when the award went to Jethro Tull.
I was delighted, I loved the album Crest of a Knave. Have it on vinyl.
Ahh 1989, just like yesterday.
Anyways, great breakdown. I was hoping you'd possibly played the original before and was thrilled to hear how familiar you were already with the source material.
🤘🧙♂️🤘
Rich the Ancient Metal Beast
You should do Gentle Giant. Please do "Funny ways". Please please please!
I really enjoy your breakdowns, and how you experience this music for the first time, something I have heard for 30 years. It makes me listen to it with fresh ears, and child-like enthusiasm.
I'm watching this and then heading to your interpretation on the harp. I'm guessing that you're younger than me by quite a bit, Amy. I used to stick thumb-tacks into the felt of the hammers of my Mother's piano to try to make it sound like a harpsichord. Mum was disgusted I was scolded for doing this. I ended up trying to do it covertly. I was always caught in the act. To be truthful, it never sounded right anyway, but it never stopped me from experimenting. The other option was to try and find a grand piano where I could pull it to pieces and make a harp out of it. That never happened and I found myself disillusioned by Harpo Marx and the way he was able to do it on screen! 😁
I’m really glad you enjoyed this jethro tull classic, and I am excited to see your breakdown. Ian Anderson is an interesting musician. Also, never mind the haters. They would make all the earth theirs and theirs alone, and music especially cannot be made an object of possession.
Have you ever heard “Pictures at an exhibition” by Emerson Lake and Palmer? Amazing, I think!
In the 60s 70s were quite some bands which transferred classical music to rock music. Try King Crimson, Ekseption, Emerson, Lake & Palmer or Electric Light Orchestra.
This was a new piece for me too and I really enjoyed watching you enjoy it too!
But please, Jethro Tull was an historic character (he invented a seed drill (in 1701) for planting seeds more efficiently) and the band are named after him, it's not the name of the lead musician. Jethro Tull is a "they" not a "he".
Jethro Tull are one of the most underrated bands of all time. Check out any of their back catalogue at random, and just sit back and listen!
They aren't underrated. Their numbers prove it.
I always felt their second album "Stand Up" was their best.
Jack, it might be better to say that they are underrated now, as they were never underrated in the 70's. Not a lot of young people know them at this point in time. In 1972, "Thick as a Brick" was breaking records for sales. The only other prog-rock band at that time that was seeing success was 'Yes' with their 'Close to the Edge' album.
They are only underrated by the Rock and Roll Hall of fame.
For a time, in the early to mid seventies, Tull were the biggest band in the world, especially in the States.
I'd really like that you listen and give a first reaction to some ELP or Dream Theater pieces. ELP's Trilogy, or Dream Theater's The Dance of Eternity, for instance.
Ian Anderson is nothing but a real genious and was one of the few to use classical music to the rock.
Other ones were Keith Emerson and Rick Wakeman.
That is just the living process of music.
He should deserve a bit more of respect if not understanding.
Never knew it was Bach at all - far as I know this is the only piece of music that sounds like the artist eats his instrument when it's done.
16:20 "maybe you wish I would get it too" - that's the thing many don't get, it's a shared experience with multiple perspectives of the same artifact, which we then get to talk about in the comments section wherever someone knows a different tidbit - that's the beauty, each video functions as a tribute to the music even if the reactor dislikes the piece, because someone in the comments will love it. Even when it's objectively trash lmao
You should react to Genesis - Firth of Fifth
True. I hope she will.
I’m happy to see you chuckle while listening to Tull. There is definitely an element of humor and sarcasm, and it’s something that people either get, or miss it completely. Similar to Zappa.
is there a way you can reach out to Ian Anderson for an interview about a song you are reacting to. After all you are a serious musician, I would like his take on your in depth reactions. and you have a sizable following. Just a question. Thank You.
This is actually a very mainstream version of how jazz treats classical pieces. Some of it -- the "notes inégales" and improvisation -- are completely within the baroque tradition. The harmonisations and blue notes and chord progressions and walking bass line are very traditional jazz.
Are you familiar with Trio Jacques Loussier? They are the all-time masters of jazz arrangements of Bach, and well worth a listen or 27.
I knew as soon as I saw the title that you would enjoy this one! I've always considered Jethro Tull's song to be a set of variations on Bach's original piece - each variation repeated only a few times (less than is expected in a more classical set of variations, I think?). Anderson begins (and ends) with only minimal variation, then gets more and more divergent until the bass solo portion - which then reaches a high-energy point and stops almost suddenly ... the bass then returns to the original "walking" bass from the first variation, and the band replays the first section's minimal arrangement to finish the song.
Glenn Cornick was taking the bass for a jazzy walk.
In classical terms, wouldn't it simply be described as "variations on a theme by J S Bach"?
Another group's re-interpretation of a famous classical piece you should check out would be Emerson, Lake and Palmer's cover of Aaron Copeland's "Fanfare for the Common Man".
Or even Pictures at an Exhibition...
I also think you would find Gentle Giant interesting, when introduced to a friend, he said it sounded like medieval rock music.
Gentle Giant - Pantagruel's Nativity, Knots, Experience, On Reflection.
Definitely there is no one way of looking at any piece of music. I think Anderson (and Tull) are turning this into an English folk tune. His entire style is medieval country music.
The approach is the same as most jazz of the 50's and 60's:
Theme, then improvisatory solos based on the same chord changes, then back to the theme and possibly a coda.
Ian has said many time , I made a Classical piece by Bach into some appalling Ballroom Jazz !! Wink-wink 🧐 😉
Classical players became shocked with Ian Anderson
This is perhaps the first tune that made folks stand up and listen to Tull. 1968 I believe. Ian Anderson now describes it jokingly as a loathsome bit of cocktail lounge jazz. And he still plays it in concert.
From their second album "Stand Up" released in 1969.
I'm interested in the bass part of the music. Does it correspond to what your left hand does on the harp. If so, is it faithful to the tempo of Bach's original section. Also there is a short bass solo, is more related to Tull's version or Bach's original.
I may not always like the song choices, but your analyses are the best out there. Thank you! Oh, and I hope you get to do live Tull with "My God" Live At the Isle of Wight 1970. My favorite performance by JT.
If you like flute in rock music, you need to give the Dutch band 'Focus' a listen.
The Bassists work is also worth receiving some attention ...
Amy, I know many orchestras are struggling because their core audience is getting older. The kind of stylistic mashup on display in this piece has been around since the late 1960's (Kieth Emerson is best known for this with his bands The Nice and ELP), but for some reason orchestras have been resistant to recognizing it and putting it to use expanding their audience base. I'd love to know why something like "Bouree" is considered so vulgar and beneath these organizations, when I feel they may have benefitted from it. Why not just give this kind of music one night out of the entire season. They're all doing movie soundtrack nights. Is that all that much better?
Jethro Tull tied together 2 generations in my family. My older teens and all the old relatives…it became a feature at all family reunion. Let’s go listen to some Jethro Tull. All generations would gather.
I've just got to imagine that Johann Sebastian would have approved.
YNGWIE MALMSTEEN : FAR BEYOND THE SUN . 🎼🎼🎼✨✨✨🎸🎸🎸