Joel Hastings performs J. S. Bach's Overture to Cantata No. 29, "Wir danken dir, Gott" ("We Thank Thee, God"), arranged by Camille Saint-Saens. Ouverture BWV 29 download available on iTunes: itunes.apple.co... Amazon: www.amazon.com/...
I was fortunate enough to attend high school with Joel and we became friends over those years. This is a sublime performance and I find myself backing up to the 0:28 mark to hear that descending passage again and again.
@steve1605 Yes he did!!! BWV 1006 Sonata for solo Violin Prelude became this Sinfonia from cantata 29. Bach did this a few times arranging his solo Violin and Cello works for keyboards and lute. Another example of this would be BWV 1003 Sonata for solo Violin became BWV 964 Sonata for Clavier.
WOW!! I heard this piece on August Rush.......one of my favorite movies! I fell in love with this piece back then after hearing just with the melody, and now that I know it was one of Bach's creations........well, it's true love FOREVER!! AMAZING....your fingers fly across the keys to effortlessly, and yet so mucially.....BRAVO!
A perfect work. A splendid use of the piano possibilities, in an excellent integration of the baroque language of Bach with the romantic style of Saint Saens. And a very impressive execution of Hastings. What a pleasure!
After having listened to many interpretations (orchestral, organ, guitar and more…) I was absolutely amazed that this wonderful Bach composition could be performed with such perfection and wonderful transcription (for and) on the piano. Thank you to Bach for the composition, Saint-Saens for the transcription and Joel Hastings for a world class performance.
Stunning! After learning this myself for the organ I can appreciate both the sensitivity and the technical element involved with this piano transcription ( a lot of playing in octaves).
Lovely to hear. What's interesting is to compare this with Rachmaninovs transcription of the simfonia of BWV 1006, the violin partita in E. Because that's the simfonia on which Bach based the simfonia for BWV 29, as you may or may not know ;)
@riceboii101 I am aware of that, but Cantata 29 wasn't written for organ solo; instrumentation is three trumpets, two oboes, violins, violas, organ and basso continuo. You can download the score at imslp.org and see for yourself.
It also exists in piano solo form under the title "Preambule to the 6th Violin Sonata in E Major". The arrangement is somewhat different from the sinfonia version and is somewhat challenging. It is not what Joel Hastings in performing here.
Just listened/watched 6 times in a row. Pray for me, I can't stop. Where can I buy the CD? The Baroque rhythm is very nearly perfect, and the piano lends itself to a dynamic expression not available on the organ, though I find the organ transcriptions compelling as well. Much depends on the organ performer's adaptation to the qualities of the instrument and of the auditorium. I too wish I could meet Bach, but I guess meeting God would be better because maybe God could explain Bach.
Porqué dice Bach/Saint Saens ?? Que alguien me explique por favor. Hasta donde yo se, esta pieza es solo de Bach y es una de mis favoritas, junto con los conciertos de Brandemburgo y otras más. Gracias.
There's also a later and lighter transcription by the Russian pianist Aleksandr Siloti which is worth comparing: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-XTJbs1FOwDE.html Considering that the original version of this piece is for solo violin, I suppose the weight you choose is optional. But my favourite transcription of Bach's orchestral version is the multitracked recorder performance by James Howard Young: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-tIXBUp55SUc.html
Outstanding performance of an excellent arrangement. IMHO this arr is much superior to the Kempff which everyone raves about or any others I have found (I have not seen the Rachmaninoff). A public domain copy (free!) can be found at musopen dot org (for some reason listed as BWV 28)
Wow very pollished and played much the way it was written. I do disagree with Jeremy D. though Paul Jacobs rendition on the Hazel Wright Organ was about as good as you will ever hear for organ.
Perfect rhythm. Bravo! Some of the organ guys (Paul Jacobs) add these dramatic pauses that ruins it. Bach would be turning in his grave if he heard those.
