In the third installment of the Ask Augustin masterclass series, Augustin talks about different ways to break chords in Bach's music in order to highlight the polyphony.
Dear Augustin, you have broken a wall of silence, along with artistes like Hillary Hahn. For the first time, the world has witnessed a new breed of violinists whose are completely down to earth , non-egocentric and open. You have shared secrets and techniques, which for centuries, none of the famous violinists before you ever care to speak about. Bravo Sir ! I appreciate and respect you.
Listen to what this guy says, he has been called one of the several greatest violinists working today!! Of the younger generation, he is absolutely on the very short list of superlative players. I'm glad he shares some of his trade secrets...most of them absolutely do not and never will!
Augustin is a gift to the human race. He is so generous for sharing his incredible insights freely with all on this platform. Amazing video and great subject, thank you!!
You're my favorite violinist. Thanks for this lessons they help a lot. I'm actually playing the Adagio, so I have tools to work with for a better final product. Thank you again. Stay safe!
That was one of the best masterclasses I've ever listened to - So useful in your honesty, frankness and lack of pomposity - Not pretending you have 'THE' solution to a given problem. Thank you very much, hope to see you play music live some day, greetings from the UK.
846 Likes and 1 dislike. Seriously? What is wrong with people? He's trying to help. In the past, this sort of masterclass information would have cost a fortune. That's if you were even a good enough violinist to be there. Bravo maestro.
Mr Hadelich, you play bach beautifully. I wish I could make my violin speak like that but I don't have a fraction of your talent and skill. However, thank you for your insights that are making me a better player and more importantly has made me think of the music on a much deeper level. Thank you.
Thank you for that explanation. I had been listening to your recordings trying to work out how best to approach them, particularly the Adagio. Your thoughts provide an excellent starting point towards helping me clean up some very messy chords.
Thank you very much for the clarity of your explanations of how to approach chords in Bach’s works. I am working on the Preludes of the first and third Bach Cello Suites (I play viola as well as violin, having returned to it after not playing for 38 years, I went off to college and became a physician), and you have really helped me with how I will approach these chords as I practice.
Augustin reminds me of my first voice teacher. She was kind and forthcoming regarding voice technique. She loved the music and wanted all to share in her passion. These tutorials are so interesting. I really enjoy them and the beautiful music Maestro plays. He is darn near perfect as a human and musician.
Thank you, Augustin!! If I ask you, can you please show us some tips on how to produce an amazing sound, from the right hand? The things that compose the sound from the right hand, how to produce actually the sound to have different colours and how to sustain a note properly. Eventually even one exercise that was very helpful for you. Thank you so much!
What a fantastic way to begin the day. I'm going to practice Bach today! I was so looking forward to you playing Britten with us in Montrèal. It would have been the highlight of the season. Best wishes and thank you for your inspirational videos.
I could not help but shout out a big “amen” when you said you’re not a big fan of playing chords in reverse from top to bottom. I agree!! Thank you for sharing the secrets (and challenges) of your great artistry. Your reverence for the music and the meaning of each note honors our dear JSB and your admiring listeners.
Goes to show just how much detail you can go into in Bach.. Personally I would favour breaking the Bflat chord in the Gm Fantasia downwards, as it heads for the bass voice.. I've seen one and a half hours in an RNCM masterclass go by on this one phrase, and not a moment wasted.. I like to draw the bow back more sul pont once my exit note is reached. Thanks for posting!
Honestly I love the way you played the broken double stop in the "Sicilienne" when you did "bFlat+d" into "bFlat+bFlat". Never dropping the bass note, but dropping the middle note in order to allow the bass line to sound unbroken
Again, such a super interesting conversation, and my, how beautifully played, that beginning of the G Minor sonata! My favourite solution for that B flat Major chord, where the melody takes off again from the bass line, was definitely the last one, at 5:48…! ☺️ A quote from a member of the Borodin 4tet (I think it was) always comes to mind: when playing a piece, always try to discover ‘the dance’ in the music; to me that means, finding ‘the groove’, the heartbeat and the relationship to movement when playing a piece… and this might be an additional consideration in how to shape the chords in Bach’s music; preserving and bringing out the groove :) if that makes any sense. I love and appreciate these demonstrations, thank you Augustin 🙏
I'm enjoying your "Ask Augustin" series, and find your insights very helpful even though my instrument is Classical Guitar. I love Bach, and play all his violin Partitas and Sonatas. Perhaps you could talk about articulations and how they should be interpreted in transcriptions of his music. I'm particularly interested on your views regarding legato. Do violinists religiously follow the legato/bowings indicated in Bach's music?
Thank you for your wonderful insights on violin playing! I would love to hear your thoughts on how to improve bow control, such as what exercises, studies, etc. you would recommend. Kind regards!
Thank you as I am practising Bach and other pieces but am getting stuck on how to express the double ,triple,and quad notes .thats why you are so amazing as you do what I dream and practice doing.this helps a lot the way you are explaining.
i think you can play 4 stings together if you play the bow much more forward where the stings have less distance or you bow diagonally..but i am not sure if this works
Augustin, Master, may I give you a video production tip? I have observed that in your recording set up as is, your violin sounds great, but your voice is oftentimes way quieter, to the point of being hard to hear on mobile, compared to your violin. A good solution to have these two sound sources, contrasting highly in pitch quality and loudness, is to have two microphones, one ambient one you use to record thw violin, which is great, and another, A Lapel microfone, on your shirt recording your voice. Syncing them up in video is easier than it sounds, and it would make quite a jump in your video's quality, hope it helps!
Ask Augustin: how about making a new work on La Folia ? It is now most commonly played with baroque instruments but there was an interesting arrangement by Leonard for piano and violin that isn't played anymore. Jakob David Rattinger did interesting variations on the theme by Corelli and Marais with baroque instruments. Vivaldi's folia arranged by Jeannette Sorrell is also on RU-vid. Bach's folia is also a useful source. I can't help to think that this may be a good time to write a fresher and more modern Folia.
Hi Augustin. Lovely. I enjoy and learn things. Thank you. Try different mic solution so your voice sound more present. Easier to listen. Stay strong 💪🏻
Das kann man automatisch mit RU-vid übersetzen, in den Videoeinstellungen. Erst den Englischen Untertitel einstellen, danach nochmal auf Untertitel klicken und auf automatisch Übersetzen klicken. Hoffe das hilft :)
Hello Mr. Hadelich I'm happy to greet you. 😄 Please can you teach us about "how to practice scale, and how play correctly. Sometimes the notes not sound tuning, if you can help with a tip to work better. Sorry for my english.
You might want to try a book called "A Violinist's Guide for Exquisite Intonation" by Barry Ross. It doesn't tell you exactly how to practice scales, but it will help you think about intonation in a more precise way, which will definitely help with scales.
