This is mind blowing ...yet it's just one of over 200 cantatas Bach wrote weekly for his Church. "Hello congregation, here's something I threw together this week". And Bish is nothing short of leading the Angels of Heaven in Worship here. Just wow
and as any church musician knows, the actual Sunday performance for the parish doesn't even hint at the backstory - copying out the parts, rehearsing with the choir and soloists, rehearsing with the instrumentalists, rehearsing with everybody... all the while thinking and planing for the cantata week after, writing solo pieces, teaching students (as the contract demanded). By any musical quality standard, Bach is a genius, but damn, his throughput is mind boggeling!
There’s something about Bish’s ability to chat intelligently yet lightly about a piece then sidle over to the MONSTER of all musical instruments and provide us with a seamless, beautiful performance. She doesn’t allow the technical brilliance she possesses to overwhelm the music she so obviously loves. Brava!
THIS piece was one of the synthesized pieces on SWITCHED ON BACH - that turned me ON to BACH which my English teacher, Gloria Smith played in our class! We were tasked with writing our impressions on paper. I WAS IMPRESSED and sold for LIFE! ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥
Enrique Sanchez - this is exactly how I became acquainted with JS BACH and particularly this piece. I heard "Switched on Bach" in my 6th grade music class and I was hooked.
This sinfonia is one of the miracles of the High Baroque period. It is not only a perpetuum mobile (which is common enough), but a true melody constituting one long phrase.
The original console came with the organ built by Fratelli Ruffatti in 1974, then in 1989, a new upgraded console was installed by Rodgers, and recently, in 2005 a new console control system and digital voices were added by Walker Technical, as well as new pipework and regulation by Burton Tidwell.
This song and the style of the rendition has to rank as one of the very best pieces of music I have ever heard in my life. Only music haters would give it a thumbs down, but I give it an awesome thumbs up!
If someone gives a negative opinion, it's their right to do so. An opinion positive or negative is not hate. Did you know that the most loving thing you can do for yourself is to pray, which is the deepest type of thinking, and to pray thus.. Dear Lord, you make me as your image and likeness which is Love. Therefore I can not hate nor be hated.
It's hard to imagine a less satisfying performance of this piece than that given here by Bish. Is she racing to finish it so she can can a departing flight? She's loud and fast. And got all the notes right. If you want to hear an outstanding performance of this piece, search RU-vid for organist Olivier Penin, playing it on the Cavaillé-Coll organ in Ste. Clotilde in Paris.
Yep, I'm watching/listening to it again. I think I've listened to about every other performance of this on the organ. Do you know what strikes me about this one? Her rhythm is PERFECT. It never varies. Other performers either can't or won't keep it consistent like Diane did. The most recent version I listened to was a 70s recording on vinyl by E. Power Biggs. He's one of my most respected baroque keyboardists, but he didn't do this piece nearly as well as Diane Bish did. There's one version of this on RU-vid allegedly performed in Notre Dame that is also really good. But again, not as good as this. (may have something to do with being performed in a huge stone cathedral.) But look at my comments there, and the snobbish replies. Very disappointing.
Hi Jeremy: Like you, I love to hear Diane play-anywhere, and any piece. She is indeed one of the best artists of our time. I'm an organist myself, and learn much even after 47 years on the bench from watching her play. I respect your opinion here, however, I must respectfully disagree with you regarding the comparison of Diane's rendition vs. the Biggs recording you cited. Many (although not all) organists agree that Biggs is still the standard by which organists are measured today. This takes nothing from Diane Bish; as I said, she is one of the finest organists of our time. But, as I'm sure you recognize, they are of two different styles. So there will always be something we like more about one performance vs. another. I don't think that either performance is necessarily "better" than the other, both are well played. Taste is indeed subjective. I still admire them both. Have a great day.
TODA TODA LA MUSICA DEL siglo XX y lo que va del XXI,queda OPACADA ante esta cascada GALACTICA del Gran Juan Sebastián.....!!!! Gracias Mme Diana!!!!Espectacular!!!!!
Love Ms. Bish. What a sincere, modest, and skilled performer. Love the historical backdrops she gives. So many musicians become jaded in their later years but Ms. Bish retains a girlish enthusiasm always. This little sinfonia is terrific.
And a great heart. She's helped so many other people (musicians). She's already gain a level of immortality in this old world. Bless her heart forever!
It is most certainly a blessing from God to even be allowed to hear such sacred music. Dianne is a humble and faithful servant that I have followed for over 30 years. This recording and watching her play...makes me close my eyes.
@@grandpa9776 I had no idea W. Carlos was trans. Neither do I care. Ignorant people will find offensive at anything and that's their problem - not mine or yours. Nice trolling, btw - you got a hit!
I respectfully diagree with you. In my opinion she`s not so an American treasure but even more a global jewel-gem for mankind, for fine music, perfecly played.
After all these years, watching Miss Bish, I am still left breathless by an amazing performance. Her faith in the Lord, shines brightly through her music.
Don't forget she was awarded the french government a grant to study piano with Nadia Boulanger and organ with Marie Claire Alain in Paris too. "No WONDER she's so good !" She designed this 117 ranks Ruffati's organ in Fort Lauderdale, Florida whom she has the tenure.
+Jeremy D I'm re-reading that comment now, it's maybe not giving Diane enough of her own credit. This level of virtuosity cannot be attained without a lot of one's own hard work.
Diane Bish is incomparable! She sets a tempo for this piece that many amateur organists start but can't keep it driving to the conclusion. Ms. Bish's registration is bright and the sounds don't get mushed together in the vastness of Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church. I love this performance.
I'll never forget the day I got a pair of AR 3a speakers in the early 70's while in college where I was a music major. They were supposedly the best at the time and the first thing I played on them was the synthesizer version of this piece from the SWITCHED ON BACH album. I was completely blown away at the sound on those speakers and this Bach Sinfonia. I played it over and over until I had every nuance of that piece memorized and still love it just as much today. If you like this piece (how could you not?) you HAVE to listen to the version I just told you about.....but you have to have a good set of speakers with good bass to appreciate this version. IT'S AMAZING!!!!
Mike, the first version of this was what I heard on the Switched On Bach Album in the late 60's...I was blown away! I STILL enjoy that album today!! So many ebbs and flows that all tied together at the climax and closing of the piece!! Diane does it beautiful organ justice here, and I'm hoping I can find a version by Virgil Fox eventually!!!
I wonder if the audience knew what a special thing they witnessed. I think I would be the happiest man in the world if I could witness her playing this in an old European church. I bet I would cry like a baby. I cried when I heard a sub-par rendition of Bach's Toccata & Fugue in such a church. The bass can be felt in one's chest, the sound echos for several seconds afterwards. It is absolutely breath-taking. To hear someone of Bish's caliber? It might be too much to take.
I grew up in Germany and the bach pieces are made for smaller Baroque churches, in a gothic cathedral the echos are not right. 😁 but you are right, organ has to be listend to life
She is much older now, but still very much alive. Very Spiritual, too! She plays these European instruments in Germany and Holland on the "Joy of Music." Check it out!!!
I did get to hear her perform live once. She opened with her own toccata-style version of "Christ the Lord Is Risen Today". I get chills just remembering her play it, and it was 20+ years ago.
12years ago and i still comments your performance. All my dreams are just to meet you Diane. It's impossible to play this organ like that, but it easier for you...
Sorry to disagree but it's typical Diane Bish - too fast, too loud and tending towards virtuosity for its own sake.The French organists Olivier Penin and Thomas Ospital have recorded much superior performances, in M. Penin's case twice. Check them out to hear how it should be done.
I love this performance. Ms. Bish looks so happy and she appears to just bounce with delight in this piece. Her tempo is a bit faster than Paul Jacobs at the Crystal Cathedral. The bright registration is incomparable with just the right blend of voices so that all the melodies in the sinfonia can heard clearly!
Maestra Bish brings such joy to all who listen to her play, especially in this piece. She truly brings glory and praise to Almighty God - Wir danken dir Gott, wir danken dir!!!
I wish I could like this a thousand times. Thank you Diane Bish! I remember when I was a teenager (the 1980s), very much into heavy metal, I would see Diane Bish on some obscure cable channel on Sunday mornings, some church show I assume. She always had awesome crazy shoes. Forget the shoes though, she was amazing! I was stunned. I loved the keyboards of Jon Lord (Deep Purple) and my Dad noticed and pointed me toward Bach and such... And now I'm back to finding Wendy Carlos and Deep Purple and Diane Bish. Her shoes are pretty conservative in this video. 🙂
This Diane Bish at her best. I love way she just bounces along on the bench and that smile makes me believe that this piece is an old friend of hers. Great performance!
This the first time I heard a pipe organist play this piece. I heard Wendy Carlo's realization for years and it is my very favorite J.S. Bach piece. Carlos and Tomita was my introduction to classical music, basically. THANK YOU! This is great!
This woman is truly magnificent! I first saw her jam out on the pipe organ when I was a kid on The Eternal Word Television Network. Since then, I've been a fan.
Glory to our God in Jesus Christ Name for the Reformation and all blessings we received through it!!! Let's keep and save our Christian faith and culture!!!
Playing this marvelous instrument the way she does is truly awesome, and mind blowing!! Even more amazing is human hands built every part of this marvelous instrument. #verytalented
Woooooooh ! la plus belle musique du monde. The most beautifull music of the world. Quelle puissance. Quelle jubilation ! Bravo au compositeur et à l'interprète. La musique de Dieu.
One of the greatest composer's compositions, registered and rendered brilliantly by a legendary artist on a magnificent instrument. I'll be buying this video and listening to it a thousand times. Thank you for sharing.
I do not know how many times I have watched her performance of #29, but every time I see Diane Bish perform this piece her smile and talent makes me happy to see someone who loves what they do, she is fantastic.
At 2:25 that is a very gorgeous sounding reed in the pedal, amd also love how at the end it takes the audiance a few seconds to applaud, its like there in a trance, "OMG" shes so good"!!!!! there speechless
Your observation on the audience's reaction sounds interesting: to me the applause starts rather early (the last chord still sounding). Maybe that is a good sign for cultural differences between old and new world? When performing the St. Matthew Passion in Jerusalem I even experienced applause right in the middle of the secondlast chord...
Pour moi cette musique exprime la puissance de Dieu. C'est la victoire définitive du bien sur le mal, lorsque le christ ressuscité est descendu aux enfers et a vaincu Satan. C'est la jubilation de la résurrection du christ. Merci à Bach et à Diane Bish. Et quelle qualité de son. Merci.
![Bach | SINFONIA FROM CANTATA [BWV 29] | Diane Bish at Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church, Ft Lauderdale](/img/logo.svg){kind=logo}
