Agree. What we ought to do is find treasures like this in the internet instead of getting occupied with a lot of nonsense which we are also given free access.
I don't , nor will I ever just take it for granted . I have learned so much being in this mega-library . Personally I think that Bach would never touch a fizz-box harpsichord if he could play a piano instead .
Could listen to Seymour talk for 10 hours straight. Even when I don't agree with him. His passion, conviction, and insight is a treasure to the world of classical music.
"I think you're going to love it. And if you don't love it, pretend you love it." Love this part. We're so lucky to have this video, both of you are amazing!
Regarding the Golden Ratio, I don't think listeners necessarily "notice" it, but when the performer notices it and treats it as a special moment listeners will especially be moved by it. Very nice playing!
Bach was a musician not as far as l know a mathametician or had any real interest in maths he did however apply the principle of symettery to just about all his work😊😊
I am not a musician. As far as a musical instrument goes, I can hardly pat my head and rub my belly at the same time. But I am fascinated listening to him explaining and teaching this already trained musician about the concepts of this piece. “You see how charming it is?” Love it.
"I guess consistency matters." It's amazing how intricate this piece is when using detached vs connected lines. It was interesting how when asked to play something differently how it takes a few times to do that. Muscle memory is our friend and our enemy at times.
Brilliant. Seymour is an outstanding teacher and it is a such huge privilege to still be able to learn from his insights at 95. Please Tonebase keep making as many lessons as possible with Seymour while you still can!
This video brightens my Saturday morning. I also should play this wonderful piece later today. The existence of Mr. Seymour in the same planet is already a blessing! May God bless him with good health and long life.
The chemistry between them is amazingly amiable. While Master Bernstein is been an remarkable mentor, Mr. Laude is such a humble pianist taking the advice and changing his habit right away. I love after Master Bernstein suggested something, then he said, “I think you’re going to love that. If you don’t, pretend you loved it….” The comment tickled me.
I' d like so much that Seymour Bernstein could make one video per day... Not only for his extreme intelligence, competence, but also for his charismatic presence and his spicy humor. The entire planet watches him. He inspires us to put knowledge subservient to beauty and not the other way around. All tonbase pianists bring wonderful information, however, Seymour is the the greatest and most beloved artist. ps. The golden ratio was actually a very clever find.
Seymour Bernstein is a National Treasure. Thankfully, some of his observations and insights are preserved here for future generations. I love his passion and love for music-and the integrity he tries to apply to these historic compositions. What a great teacher.
God bless my piano teacher and mentor, Marion DeJesu of Baldwin, NY. She was the one who gave me this same exact instruction that Seymour gives here. When Seymour pointed out the Baroque articulations of the eighth notes ("the long valued notes," as Mrs. DeJesu would say), I actually got teary eyed, because it instantly reconnected me to when I studied with my teacher who gave me so much. I am now the same age that Mrs. DeJesu was when she taught me, and now I share this same musical knowledge with my private students, and in doing so, I keep her spirit alive! Also, Ben really played this so FLAWLESSLY. I absolutely LOVED his choices! It was authentic Baroque style, but even BETTER. And of course, Seymour Bernstein is such a treasure and a gift to us all! I love his direct honesty and approach. Thank you!
The secret of Bach lies in the phrasing leading to purity of sound that's beyond pure articulation. Seymour just synthesises the essence of Bel Canto. Amazing to watch! A masterclass in humanity!
Ikr, insane attention to detail, accurate fact recounts, as well as the propensity towards understanding Vague Conceps; Rare amongst Musicians in particular as a Personality and Teacher. :)
Tonebase, these videos are my favorites. Love the complicity between mr. Laude and mr. Bernstein. My favorite moments are always when seymour recognizes the genius of other pianists, especially Ben here that is wonderful. Love on both of you! You guys rock!
I love this lessons. Ben Laude, who is already a far better pianist than I am, learns from someone even better with decades of knowladge that dedicated his life to teaching piano and music. It helps me see how much I am still lacking and how much I could improve
I absolutely love the rapport Ben and Seymour have together! I have learned so much by watching these two, and they always make me laugh. Please clad this whimsical old man in bubble wrap; he must be protected at all costs!
It's wonderful to see these phrases being teased apart and reassembled with improvements. As a non-musician, but avid listener, such presentations bring the music into focus, and help me appreciate a pianist's artistry. Bravo to you both, and thank you.
One of the neatest videos I have seen by you. Sometimes it seems that in Masters classes the teacher just teaches play it like I play it, and indeed Seymour outright told you how to play some parts but it seemed it was more at a foundational level and each of his suggestions were objectively better not stylisitically better. Really fascinating watch.
Such a beautiful lesson. How many students just play it mindlessly? I did too as a young student. One should train the ear much more carefully. This lesson should be essential for every piano teacher. Let each student watch it.
This “lesson” reminds me so much of my early training on trumpet, and how every year, every piece, you learned something new about the instrument, the pieces, the artists, yourself. At some point you begin to want to impose yourself upon the artists work, which is fine, once you’ve first learned what the artist intended and why. I’ve long since left off playing trumpet after many fun and frustrating years, but this video brought the teacher/student relationship back to me with my favorite music instructor, Louis Oliverio AT Lincoln High School in Shinnston, WV from 1992-1995. He wasn’t as tender as Seymour 😂 But he was passionate and knowledgeable. And nearly thirty years since I still think often - quite often - of all I learned through him not only about music, but about myself, and life.
Thank you for another great episode. I agree with Mr. Bernstein’s suggestions about dynamics and articulation. However, harpsichord is not inferior than piano. They are two different instruments by mechanism. One can’t compare apples and oranges. I played both harpsichord and piano professionally. Every thing Bach wrote made sense on harpsichord. It is not until I started playing the harpsichord that I understood Bach more. All the sequences, polyphony, and articulations are there. Pianists take advantage of the instrument’s ability to make dynamics and legato, but we forget that timing is the most important thing. Because you can’t make dynamics on the harpsichord, you have to find other ways to make a piece musical. You have to do more articulations to make the harpsichord “speak”. And that is when you start to realize that Bach is a genius! I hope there are more people playing the harpsichord. It will even make your piano playing better because you become more creative.
I agree that the harpsichord is not "inferior" to the piano, per se; but I do also agree with Seymour that had the piano been in existence when Bach was writing (or collecting) many of his pieces, he probably would have preferred the piano over the harpsichord. That's not to say I don't enjoy the sound of the harpsichord or the way in which music had been written for it. It's just that you can do so much more with a piano to color the music than you can with a harpsichord, IMO. But I am glad there are still people out there who play the harpsichord to keep the instrument alive. There are many beautiful sounding pieces that are played on a harpsichord that just wouldn't sound the same on a piano. Thank you for your perspective on the harpsichord vs. piano.
Mr. Bernstein is a bit incorrect about one thing - Bach did know and did try an early version of pianoforte and did not care very much for it. I am sure the early pianoforte action was far heavier (and thus more clumsy to a new user) than any keyboard Bach had used up to that time. So it's easy to understand why Bach would not like early piano. Bach also had clavichord, lautenwerk, organ, orchestras, chamber ensembles, and choirs all of which no doubt naturally employed dynamics and vibrato to a lesser or greater degree. As we all know, "cantabile" is an Italian word that means "singing" or "melodic," which indicates a kind of supple, seductive, vocal, birdlike, connected quality to the phrasing. Yes even birds, whose brains weigh less than a penny, have a far wider range of piano and forte in their music than the harpsichord. Harpsichord, despite it's very lovely shimmering metallic sustain, was just about the only instrument Bach had with practically no dynamics. I see in this no implied mandate to let the harpsichord - the flattest instrument - dominate centuries of performance practice of dozens of other instruments that were more supple to the Baroque restrained-cantabile style that Bach nearly always demanded in the forward to most of his collections. Apparently, Bach's favorite expressive keyboard instruments were (especially) the moderate 3 course Lautenwerk, the quieter and most expressive clavichord (perfect for not waking up multiple children while composing at home), and of course the very loud organ. Bach almost certainly spent more time on these three more cantabile keyboards put together than on the harpsichord. Some recent research is indicating that Lautenwerk or (less likely) clavichord may have been Bach's favorite keyboard instrument.
Seymour, live forever! I am neither a teacher nor a professional pianist, but I have been slack-jawed to find that every even slightly controversial musical opinion I have is one you have too. In this case, the superiority of the piano over the harpsichord, the cantabile/legato identity, etc. You also, in your film, relieved me forever of worrying that I was pedaling too much. Thank you, thank you!
Wow! Seymour is a marvelous treasure of teaching and communicating musical ideas into concrete actions. That we have RUclips to capture his teaching is also marvelous.
Witnessing/Being so intellectually intimate over the performance of Bach with someone who ‘gets it’ is one of the most fulfilling experiences I think I’ve ever experienced in my life… that and discovering a well-curated ambient jungle playlist. This video is a treasure. Peace ✌🏼
@@hugoclarke3284 If it isn't the famous 'historical rigor and performative gate-keeping is more important than musical intuition' conversation starter, how've you been? It's good to see you bro ✌️
This is so beautiful to observe, the loving care of a wise teacher with receptive student. It's so personal. Blessings to Seymour and Ben, and warm wishes from Michigan.
They are both so charming with great chemistry and provide wonderful insights. I love peaking behind the curtain and seeing the wizard (Seymour) in action
Seymour and Ben content made stick so long with your youtube content that I needed to buy a lifepass for tonebase - just to appreciate what you do. Thank you for sharing so much also outside a paywall and thank you for your content, it opend totally different layers to my piano playing for me.
I have been watching some of the videos on this channel with Seymour, and he is the best piano teacher I have ever seen to date. I don't say this to put him on a pedestal, but I really appreciate his ability and skill, and most importantly, his wisdom in how he approaches playing. Thank you Seymour for all of the videos you post on tonebase, and for being an amazing teacher!
Some beautiful playing, and lots of resourceful articulation and ornamentation. A refreshing re-visit of a piece we all know and take too much for granted! Thank you!
The No1. Invention is one of my favourite and under-loved pieces. I always had my students play this glorious piece. How I long to play it again. Thank you both so much.
Actually, Bach did know the pianoforte: […] Silbermann had the necessary know-how as well as the financial means to develop his own model, based on Cristofori's mechanics, which he was able to present in 1726. He subsequently built another fortepiano. "One of them had been seen and played by the blessed Kapelmeister Herr Johann Sebastian Bach. He had praised, even admired the sound of it: But he criticized it for being too weak in the treble and too difficult to play. Mr. Silbermann, who could not stand any reproach to his elaborations, had taken this very badly. He was angry with Mr. Bach for a long time because of this." Nevertheless, Silbermann worked for almost ten years on improving his instruments and finally earned Bach's recognition. After King Frederick II of Prussia came to power, the Freiberg instrument maker was able to deliver 15 instruments to the court in Potsdam. In 1747, Johann Sebastian Bach improvised his three-part ricercare in front of the king on one of these fortepianos. This instrument, which is now kept in the New Palace in Potsdam, is reproduced by the Neupert company. (translated from the German Wikipedia)
The old fortepianos were of course much closer to the harpsichord than the modern Steinway, in terms of transparency and beauty of tone. This is, of course, a matter of taste.
@@danielwaitzman2118 I for one get triggered when someone who _personally prefers_ the piano over the harpsichord (taste!) claims that the piano is somehow _better_ than the harpsichord, and that Bach and his contemporaries would never have touched a harpsichord again _if_ they'd only had a Steinway at their disposal already! - as Seymour does here. My _personal_ opinion is that anyone who has heard Jean Rondeau's (or any other good harpsichordist's) version of, say, the Goldberg Variations or the Well-Tempered Clavier _must_ be weaned off the piano for the rest of his life! But would I ever say that out loud in a RUclips commentary? Never! Ever! 🤪 Here I have a bonus video for you of the Invention No. 1 on the harpsichord: ruclips.net/video/eVkNc3LSgOo/видео.html
@@hape3862 I doubt Bach would prefer the modern pianoforte to the harpsichord, I agree. That said, Bach's compositions transcend musical instruments. I personally prefer the pianoforte in terms of tone quality and expressiveness. The greatness of Bach's music is that it can be interpreted in really wonderful ways whether it's a harpsichord or a pianoforte. Purists and heterodox may strongly disagree with many things but agree on the profundity of his compositions. Cheers!
Thanks a lot, Mr Bernstein. I have been playing this piece for years and your idea is so inspiring and bringing freshness. I'm going to try it out. You're a treasures ! Inspiring, as always !
These interactions are so interesting, beautiful and full of poetry! Thanks a lot for producing and sharing such beautiful moments of musical construction!
I watch Mr. Bernstein explaining a piece, and feel like I have to drop everything and sit behind the piano. Also, Ben and Tonebase you guys make fantastic videos. Some of them can be referenced in schools TBH.
I never liked this piece, but seeing how different interpretations are learned makes me fall in love with the nuances of the piece. Love this video! Very inspiring.
Thank you Seymour, after playing this piece since Iam 10y, you opened my heart to find with 60y a new level of joy playing this wonderful treasure. Kind regards from the homeland of J.S.B.
Seymour is at the point in his life where he really doesn't care if others agree or disagree with him. Bach was a true creator who would have composed for whatever instrument he could get his hands on. If I could go back into the past, I would have love to have introduced Bach to the modern piano and watched him plan how he would compose for this formidable instrument!
Delightful and insightful! About the golden ratio: one doesn't have to know where it is in the piece. It's everywhere in nature to be found but we can blissfully enjoy a walk in nature without noticing. But for those who do the research they will find deeper levels of beauty and bliss. That's what it is about.
Bach was an instrument designer and an enthusiast of modern instrument design and played pianos when they were shown to him, but he said the action was too heavy and slow, and that the bass was not strong, so he preferred the harpsichord, which requires great skill and dexterity to play well but also has a much lighter and gentle action, allowing for strings of notes to be played quickly and requiring great precision to play with dynamics of any kind. Mr. Bernstein is a wonderful pianist and teacher, but the harpsichord also has merit in Bach interpretation and enjoyment.
I wonder does the golden measure apply to all pieces? I loved the detached parts of the invention. I feel like I've played it wrong my whole piano life. I love this!
Such a privilege to get notes from such an expert with so much expert and knowledge. My guess his days were numbered, but, that he really wanted to pass on his knowledge, is so wonderful, and illuminating to so many of us trying to play Bach.
![Seungmin "그렇게, 천천히, 우리(As we are)" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/kAzmhLHePqU/mqdefault.jpg)
Seymour is still an ambitious pianist and dedicated teacher at 95. I'm speechless.
He's actually 96, born 24th of April 1927
Unbelievable ❤ Music keeps you young
wow 96???
he seems like he still got some smack left.
He is a beautiful man! I believe we all do love and respect him!❤❤❤
Man do you realise how lucky we all are that cameras and internet exsists so we can have one little masterclass with this genious every day!
Is it every day??
Yes truly!
Yes please... These videos are a true gift to us all! ❤🎶
Agree. What we ought to do is find treasures like this in the internet instead of getting occupied with a lot of nonsense which we are also given free access.
I don't , nor will I ever just take it for granted . I have learned so much being in this mega-library . Personally I think that Bach would never touch a fizz-box harpsichord if he could play a piano instead .
His book With Your Own Two Hands changed my life. I'm 75 and still studying. Bless his heart.
Yes. It is magnificent.
a jew telling me what i should "pay"
@@heytibby yup
Could listen to Seymour talk for 10 hours straight. Even when I don't agree with him. His passion, conviction, and insight is a treasure to the world of classical music.
Im a Broadway Pop composer but i get so much inspiration from him. Mostly ..his passion and childlike entbusiasm for music.
a jew telling me what i should "pay"
"I think you're going to love it. And if you don't love it, pretend you love it." Love this part. We're so lucky to have this video, both of you are amazing!
a jew telling me what i should "pay"
@@heytibbygreet greet antagonize
@@heytibbyreported
Regarding the Golden Ratio, I don't think listeners necessarily "notice" it, but when the performer notices it and treats it as a special moment listeners will especially be moved by it. Very nice playing!
Agreed
It's subconsciously noticed as much as intervals are to the average listener.
Bach was a musician not as far as l know a mathametician or had any real interest in maths he did however apply the principle of symettery to just about all his work😊😊
Yes, I couldn’t agree more.
KNOCK KNOCK
IT'S ME
THE RAT BOY GENIUS
I really love how Prof. Bernstein motivates other piano players. He knows how to let others realize the “Ah-hah!!” moment.
Clearly you listen to a lot of Bernstein
What a wonderful teacher Seymour is that even Ben can learn from him.
🤣 I spit out my coffee :)
Sense . And doesn't the harpsichord beg bigger rubato all over the place to explore structure ? ❤
I am not a musician. As far as a musical instrument goes, I can hardly pat my head and rub my belly at the same time. But I am fascinated listening to him explaining and teaching this already trained musician about the concepts of this piece. “You see how charming it is?” Love it.
Every one of these lessons is fascinating!
"I guess consistency matters." It's amazing how intricate this piece is when using detached vs connected lines. It was interesting how when asked to play something differently how it takes a few times to do that. Muscle memory is our friend and our enemy at times.
Exactly! Kinesthetic motions are hard coded in Our Brains, no matter what skill level; always trips us up.
I love that specific part legato. It's a beautiful sang melody
Brilliant. Seymour is an outstanding teacher and it is a such huge privilege to still be able to learn from his insights at 95. Please Tonebase keep making as many lessons as possible with Seymour while you still can!
Seymour's observations can apply to any art form . I'm a visual artist and get so much inspiration from his critiques
With Seymour you can see more...
Me too.
Yes, love him. All the arts are one.
This video brightens my Saturday morning. I also should play this wonderful piece later today. The existence of Mr. Seymour in the same planet is already a blessing! May God bless him with good health and long life.
He already has!
The chemistry between them is amazingly amiable. While Master Bernstein is been an remarkable mentor, Mr. Laude is such a humble pianist taking the advice and changing his habit right away.
I love after Master Bernstein suggested something, then he said, “I think you’re going to love that. If you don’t, pretend you loved it….” The comment tickled me.
So agree! Watching them work together is pure joy.
I' d like so much that Seymour Bernstein could make one video per day... Not only for his extreme intelligence, competence, but also for his charismatic presence and his spicy humor. The entire planet watches him. He inspires us to put knowledge subservient to beauty and not the other way around. All tonbase pianists bring wonderful information, however, Seymour is the the greatest and most beloved artist. ps. The golden ratio was actually a very clever find.
It's crazy to me how good you have to be for Seymour to be able to make you better. 😮
Seymour Bernstein is a National Treasure. Thankfully, some of his observations and insights are preserved here for future generations. I love his passion and love for music-and the integrity he tries to apply to these historic compositions. What a great teacher.
God bless my piano teacher and mentor, Marion DeJesu of Baldwin, NY. She was the one who gave me this same exact instruction that Seymour gives here. When Seymour pointed out the Baroque articulations of the eighth notes ("the long valued notes," as Mrs. DeJesu would say), I actually got teary eyed, because it instantly reconnected me to when I studied with my teacher who gave me so much. I am now the same age that Mrs. DeJesu was when she taught me, and now I share this same musical knowledge with my private students, and in doing so, I keep her spirit alive!
Also, Ben really played this so FLAWLESSLY. I absolutely LOVED his choices! It was authentic Baroque style, but even BETTER.
And of course, Seymour Bernstein is such a treasure and a gift to us all! I love his direct honesty and approach. Thank you!
my parents used to pay real good money for me to have lessons like this. To be able to sit through this instruction with such a master is priceless.
The secret of Bach lies in the phrasing leading to purity of sound that's beyond pure articulation. Seymour just synthesises the essence of Bel Canto. Amazing to watch! A masterclass in humanity!
Amen
How beautiful to see a piano music professor accept a lesson from a 95 year old Maestro
Prof. Seymour has a sharper mind than most of us half his age...
Ikr, insane attention to detail, accurate fact recounts, as well as the propensity towards understanding Vague Conceps; Rare amongst Musicians in particular as a Personality and Teacher. :)
My favorite Tonebase Piano videos involve Seymour.
Tonebase, these videos are my favorites. Love the complicity between mr. Laude and mr. Bernstein. My favorite moments are always when seymour recognizes the genius of other pianists, especially Ben here that is wonderful. Love on both of you! You guys rock!
I love this lessons. Ben Laude, who is already a far better pianist than I am, learns from someone even better with decades of knowladge that dedicated his life to teaching piano and music. It helps me see how much I am still lacking and how much I could improve
I absolutely love the rapport Ben and Seymour have together! I have learned so much by watching these two, and they always make me laugh. Please clad this whimsical old man in bubble wrap; he must be protected at all costs!
I am not a piano player but i watched this 20 times and still gets inspired....thank you Mr. Bernstein🙏🏻
Love their friendly banter! They have such great chemistry.
What a masterclass in nuance. Shows you knowing the notes and the basic rhythm is just the start
Have been playing this piece for three years, still discovering new things. Thank you!
It's wonderful to see these phrases being teased apart and reassembled with improvements. As a non-musician, but avid listener, such presentations bring the music into focus, and help me appreciate a pianist's artistry. Bravo to you both, and thank you.
What an amazingly sharp mind, and at 96 years old! So wonderful
One of the neatest videos I have seen by you. Sometimes it seems that in Masters classes the teacher just teaches play it like I play it, and indeed Seymour outright told you how to play some parts but it seemed it was more at a foundational level and each of his suggestions were objectively better not stylisitically better. Really fascinating watch.
Great point. It’s incredible how his suggestions were “objectively better.” They just seemed to convey the essence of the piece much more naturally
I never would have paid attention to these details, it sounded so much better after Seymour’s advice!
I could watch Seymour Bernstein on tonebase piano for hours. I only watch when he is in a video as i know it will be worth it 😀
In the last 2 years I've fallen in love with Piano. This is really cool to see ❤🎶🎵
Seymour Bernstein, a real treasure to humanity
The videos with Seymour are among my favourites on Tonebase. Definitely the most entertaining!
Great Uncle Seymour is a Treasure, undoubtedly.
Wonderful video, thank you both!!! The ‘Golden Moment’ insight is fantastic!
i got a kick out of it, too!
Such a beautiful lesson. How many students just play it mindlessly? I did too as a young student. One should train the ear much more carefully. This lesson should be essential for every piano teacher. Let each student watch it.
This “lesson” reminds me so much of my early training on trumpet, and how every year, every piece, you learned something new about the instrument, the pieces, the artists, yourself. At some point you begin to want to impose yourself upon the artists work, which is fine, once you’ve first learned what the artist intended and why. I’ve long since left off playing trumpet after many fun and frustrating years, but this video brought the teacher/student relationship back to me with my favorite music instructor, Louis Oliverio AT Lincoln High School in Shinnston, WV from 1992-1995. He wasn’t as tender as Seymour 😂 But he was passionate and knowledgeable. And nearly thirty years since I still think often - quite often - of all I learned through him not only about music, but about myself, and life.
The two of you together is really a joy to watch. Giving great advice, and having from what it looks like a great friendship. Thank you :)
Thank you for another great episode. I agree with Mr. Bernstein’s suggestions about dynamics and articulation. However, harpsichord is not inferior than piano. They are two different instruments by mechanism. One can’t compare apples and oranges. I played both harpsichord and piano professionally. Every thing Bach wrote made sense on harpsichord. It is not until I started playing the harpsichord that I understood Bach more. All the sequences, polyphony, and articulations are there. Pianists take advantage of the instrument’s ability to make dynamics and legato, but we forget that timing is the most important thing. Because you can’t make dynamics on the harpsichord, you have to find other ways to make a piece musical. You have to do more articulations to make the harpsichord “speak”. And that is when you start to realize that Bach is a genius! I hope there are more people playing the harpsichord. It will even make your piano playing better because you become more creative.
Thank you!
Harpsichord has its own color entirely. It has its place for sure.
I agree that the harpsichord is not "inferior" to the piano, per se; but I do also agree with Seymour that had the piano been in existence when Bach was writing (or collecting) many of his pieces, he probably would have preferred the piano over the harpsichord. That's not to say I don't enjoy the sound of the harpsichord or the way in which music had been written for it. It's just that you can do so much more with a piano to color the music than you can with a harpsichord, IMO. But I am glad there are still people out there who play the harpsichord to keep the instrument alive. There are many beautiful sounding pieces that are played on a harpsichord that just wouldn't sound the same on a piano. Thank you for your perspective on the harpsichord vs. piano.
I could not wait until the end to comment: what a simply fantastic video. Such charm, such good guidance and understanding, such warmth.
Watching Seymour teach is so inspiring. It’s enough to make anyone want to become a musician!
I am so grateful to have the opportunity to watch this great music making, their discussion and the thought behind it.
It’s always a delight to watch Seymour. Thank you for uploading all these amazing videos!
This must be priceless information for Ben or any other student pianist watching this...in how to aproach the music of Bach!!
Mr. Bernstein is a bit incorrect about one thing - Bach did know and did try an early version of pianoforte and did not care very much for it. I am sure the early pianoforte action was far heavier (and thus more clumsy to a new user) than any keyboard Bach had used up to that time. So it's easy to understand why Bach would not like early piano.
Bach also had clavichord, lautenwerk, organ, orchestras, chamber ensembles, and choirs all of which no doubt naturally employed dynamics and vibrato to a lesser or greater degree. As we all know, "cantabile" is an Italian word that means "singing" or "melodic," which indicates a kind of supple, seductive, vocal, birdlike, connected quality to the phrasing. Yes even birds, whose brains weigh less than a penny, have a far wider range of piano and forte in their music than the harpsichord. Harpsichord, despite it's very lovely shimmering metallic sustain, was just about the only instrument Bach had with practically no dynamics. I see in this no implied mandate to let the harpsichord - the flattest instrument - dominate centuries of performance practice of dozens of other instruments that were more supple to the Baroque restrained-cantabile style that Bach nearly always demanded in the forward to most of his collections.
Apparently, Bach's favorite expressive keyboard instruments were (especially) the moderate 3 course Lautenwerk, the quieter and most expressive clavichord (perfect for not waking up multiple children while composing at home), and of course the very loud organ. Bach almost certainly spent more time on these three more cantabile keyboards put together than on the harpsichord. Some recent research is indicating that Lautenwerk or (less likely) clavichord may have been Bach's favorite keyboard instrument.
Damn, you know your stuff.
What a charming lesson! Thank you Seymour and Ben for sharing !!!
Seymour, live forever! I am neither a teacher nor a professional pianist, but I have been slack-jawed to find that every even slightly controversial musical opinion I have is one you have too. In this case, the superiority of the piano over the harpsichord, the cantabile/legato identity, etc. You also, in your film, relieved me forever of worrying that I was pedaling too much. Thank you, thank you!
Wow! Seymour is a marvelous treasure of teaching and communicating musical ideas into concrete actions. That we have RUclips to capture his teaching is also marvelous.
Can't get enough of Seymour. This old cat has a million dollar smile! 💯
And million dollar passion
Witnessing/Being so intellectually intimate over the performance of Bach with someone who ‘gets it’ is one of the most fulfilling experiences I think I’ve ever experienced in my life… that and discovering a well-curated ambient jungle playlist.
This video is a treasure. Peace ✌🏼
He has musical sense, but no real knowledge of Bach or the history.
@@hugoclarke3284 If it isn't the famous 'historical rigor and performative gate-keeping is more important than musical intuition' conversation starter, how've you been? It's good to see you bro ✌️
As a pianist with plodding fingers, way beyond whatever I can do. As a video, time well spent. Thanks.
This is so beautiful to observe, the loving care of a wise teacher with receptive student. It's so personal. Blessings to Seymour and Ben, and warm wishes from Michigan.
They are both so charming with great chemistry and provide wonderful insights. I love peaking behind the curtain and seeing the wizard (Seymour) in action
Wow…..terrific insight into what certainly is a master class. I’ve sat in on jazz master classes and this is right up there. Amazing.
Beautiful piece, beautiful playing, and beautiful insights.
Que honra ter um professor como Sr. Seymour Bernstein, at 97 yars old.Precioso !!!
I learned just by seeing the way you guys are discussing the piece. I never think about music in that way
I agree ☝️
Seymour and Ben content made stick so long with your youtube content that I needed to buy a lifepass for tonebase - just to appreciate what you do. Thank you for sharing so much also outside a paywall and thank you for your content, it opend totally different layers to my piano playing for me.
Mr Seymour feel the music in such a wonderful way
The man is an absolute treasure, full of wit , eloquence and humour. ( Oh, and Seymour is great too)
Amazing video, thanks for sharing it!
These masterclasses are pure gold.
I have been watching some of the videos on this channel with Seymour, and he is the best piano teacher I have ever seen to date. I don't say this to put him on a pedestal, but I really appreciate his ability and skill, and most importantly, his wisdom in how he approaches playing. Thank you Seymour for all of the videos you post on tonebase, and for being an amazing teacher!
Some beautiful playing, and lots of resourceful articulation and ornamentation. A refreshing re-visit of a piece we all know and take too much for granted! Thank you!
The No1. Invention is one of my favourite and under-loved pieces. I always had my students play this glorious piece. How I long to play it again. Thank you both so much.
Thanks!
I love Ben's playing! It reminds me of Maria Tipo, so clean, elegant, precise...thank you for posting
Actually, Bach did know the pianoforte:
[…] Silbermann had the necessary know-how as well as the financial means to develop his own model, based on Cristofori's mechanics, which he was able to present in 1726. He subsequently built another fortepiano. "One of them had been seen and played by the blessed Kapelmeister Herr Johann Sebastian Bach. He had praised, even admired the sound of it: But he criticized it for being too weak in the treble and too difficult to play. Mr. Silbermann, who could not stand any reproach to his elaborations, had taken this very badly. He was angry with Mr. Bach for a long time because of this." Nevertheless, Silbermann worked for almost ten years on improving his instruments and finally earned Bach's recognition. After King Frederick II of Prussia came to power, the Freiberg instrument maker was able to deliver 15 instruments to the court in Potsdam. In 1747, Johann Sebastian Bach improvised his three-part ricercare in front of the king on one of these fortepianos. This instrument, which is now kept in the New Palace in Potsdam, is reproduced by the Neupert company. (translated from the German Wikipedia)
That's a fun piece of history, thanks for sharing
The old fortepianos were of course much closer to the harpsichord than the modern Steinway, in terms of transparency and beauty of tone. This is, of course, a matter of taste.
@@danielwaitzman2118 I for one get triggered when someone who _personally prefers_ the piano over the harpsichord (taste!) claims that the piano is somehow _better_ than the harpsichord, and that Bach and his contemporaries would never have touched a harpsichord again _if_ they'd only had a Steinway at their disposal already! - as Seymour does here.
My _personal_ opinion is that anyone who has heard Jean Rondeau's (or any other good harpsichordist's) version of, say, the Goldberg Variations or the Well-Tempered Clavier _must_ be weaned off the piano for the rest of his life! But would I ever say that out loud in a RUclips commentary? Never! Ever! 🤪
Here I have a bonus video for you of the Invention No. 1 on the harpsichord: ruclips.net/video/eVkNc3LSgOo/видео.html
Yeah, all due respect to him for his age and whatnot, Bernstein is wildly unprofessional and ignorant in saying that...
@@hape3862 I doubt Bach would prefer the modern pianoforte to the harpsichord, I agree. That said, Bach's compositions transcend musical instruments. I personally prefer the pianoforte in terms of tone quality and expressiveness. The greatness of Bach's music is that it can be interpreted in really wonderful ways whether it's a harpsichord or a pianoforte. Purists and heterodox may strongly disagree with many things but agree on the profundity of his compositions. Cheers!
Thanks a lot, Mr Bernstein. I have been playing this piece for years and your idea is so inspiring and bringing freshness. I'm going to try it out. You're a treasures ! Inspiring, as always !
Your love and dedication towards music is commendable 🎉
These interactions are so interesting, beautiful and full of poetry! Thanks a lot for producing and sharing such beautiful moments of musical construction!
You guys are such an amazing duo truly
I watch Mr. Bernstein explaining a piece, and feel like I have to drop everything and sit behind the piano. Also, Ben and Tonebase you guys make fantastic videos. Some of them can be referenced in schools TBH.
The idea of connecting the last note to the first note in each bar is brilliant.😳
Thank you for uploading this. Very heartwarming and insightful at the same time.
Thank you so much Ben and Seymour, pure gold!
He was born decade earlier than WW2, now he reads ad to the RUclips audience. What a life.
This has helped me immensely learning that piece.
I never liked this piece, but seeing how different interpretations are learned makes me fall in love with the nuances of the piece. Love this video! Very inspiring.
My brain had this epic fireworks moment when Ben told Seymour about his research on the golden ratio. I truly love this video
Thank you Seymour, after playing this piece since Iam 10y, you opened my heart to find with 60y a new level of joy playing this wonderful treasure. Kind regards from the homeland of J.S.B.
Seymour is at the point in his life where he really doesn't care if others agree or disagree with him. Bach was a true creator who would have composed for whatever instrument he could get his hands on. If I could go back into the past, I would have love to have introduced Bach to the modern piano and watched him plan how he would compose for this formidable instrument!
I play one Invention/sinfonia daily. Wonderful music in every way and some are tricky. They are also so wonderful to experiment with.
Delightful and insightful! About the golden ratio: one doesn't have to know where it is in the piece. It's everywhere in nature to be found but we can blissfully enjoy a walk in nature without noticing. But for those who do the research they will find deeper levels of beauty and bliss. That's what it is about.
Bach was an instrument designer and an enthusiast of modern instrument design and played pianos when they were shown to him, but he said the action was too heavy and slow, and that the bass was not strong, so he preferred the harpsichord, which requires great skill and dexterity to play well but also has a much lighter and gentle action, allowing for strings of notes to be played quickly and requiring great precision to play with dynamics of any kind.
Mr. Bernstein is a wonderful pianist and teacher, but the harpsichord also has merit in Bach interpretation and enjoyment.
The charm of legato contrasting with detache is such a great point.
Just subscribed...two geniuses talking, playing piano...this is art.
I wonder does the golden measure apply to all pieces?
I loved the detached parts of the invention. I feel like I've played it wrong my whole piano life. I love this!
HE IS BACK, MORE SEYMOUR VIDEOS
That was great! Cant wait to see more!
I'm learning Inventio 4 and my teacher has me do this as well: detach the 8th notes and legato the 16th. I like the way it sounds.
Also it's amazing to see this much opinionated passion.
What a brilliant teacher. A joy to see this video!
I learned this a few years ago and watching this has motivated me to pull out my piano again. This video is priceless.
Such a privilege to get notes from such an expert with so much expert and knowledge. My guess his days were numbered, but, that he really wanted to pass on his knowledge, is so wonderful, and illuminating to so many of us trying to play Bach.
Why do you think he thinks his days are numbered?
Every suggestion Mr Seymour made was exquisite building to a perfect whole.