Hilary Hahn Bach Violin Sonata No. 2 Part 2 

At least we know for certain she can play this double speed

This piece is also recorded in her latest Bach CD, 2018 (Sonatas 1 & 2, Partita 1). She plays incredibly in the CD, but I find her even more impressive in this video. This is just awesome - grand, yet organic way to play - and flawless. She adds so much to Bach's mystery.

She is absolutely fabulous! Her playing of these Bach solo partitas and sonatas must be amongst the best I have heard. She must really love this music! Thanks for posting!

She is one of the best violin-player in the world. The performance is always amazing. Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Tschaikowsky, etc... Hilary Hahn is just terrific.

What stunning intonation and singing qualities of her instrument, I mean seriously!

All the pieces she played during this day were just so spot on...She definitely practiced 40 hours for this performance.

By far a better interpetation here than in her latest CD issued 2018 - fluid, forward-moving, magnificently balanced and articulated. Perfection.

Hilary Hahn..'fait corps 'litéralement avec son violon...tout y est...la sonorité...la justesse..-irréprochable-..la construction..de l'oeuvre..l'interprétation... elle' joue-droit'...mais jamais ennuyeux.. !!.c'est vraiment fantastique...!!!!

Ling Ling !!!

Incredible! I saw her play this same program in Hudson, Ohio. In the Fugue, it is really incredible how she stays on the string the whole time while never sounding labored or un-dancelike in some way. She knows exactly what she is doing. (:

I can't come up with any substantive, objective complaints about this performance. It's amazing.

I cannot get enough Hilary Hahn.

I wish everyone well and hope they experience Hilary's work at some point in their lives.I think it's very balanced,tasteful,and satisfying. But I have a few words for all those who have been,all who will be,and all that are-such as Hilary-musicians that have worked and sacrificed for the betterment of us all:thank you,very much.

I would so love to get to see her play live. she's amazing.

An angel playing the violin. Her dress (the colors) and the beautiful purple light in the back make the experience even more pleasant. One of the best interpreters of Bach's music. Actually, everthing she plays is gold. No doubt, one of my favorite musicians. Bravo!!!

I think we are mostly agreeing here! I agree also that it varies among different groups and players. But coming back to Hahn....I like her playing of Bach because it is essential simple, uncluttered, beautifully in tune, with a beautiful sound, and not full of distracting mannerisms of the kind I described. As she says herself, her goal is not to place any barrier between the music and its communication.

Why didn't they put the second violinist on camera? Just kidding.

What a gift - to speak so eloquently and so long the words of a genius; with no sheet music - all from the mind and the muscles, leaving all kinds of room for careful expression and no fret over the mechanics. Not overstated, not understated, and not cold. And there's enough of her own emotion in it to show her investment and interest without getting in the way of Bach's work.

100%violin talent 0%editing talent

makes you want to start practicing all over again...

Versión absolutamente demoledora. Una aplanadora en los acordes, sonido siempre pleno, vibrato presente y enérgico, afinación perfecta, sonido gigante. Tempi correctísimo. Perfección para Bach. Hilary, genia.

I must say; Hahn is my favorite performer of Bach. When it comes down to it though, Oistrakh is my all-around favorite.

OMG! It's absolutely incredible! I think this Fuga is the most difficult of all Bach for solo violin. She plays it so easily!

Fabulous!!! Amazing!! Cannot even be better. Wow!

Hilary isn't one of my favorite violinist but I do have to say she plays Bach wonderfully

I am totally in love. Absolutely amazing.

This is my favourit version! very nicly played.

Best playing possible!

This is a treat to hear. Unlike many of you who have this fuga by as many as ten violinists, I am hearing it for the first time as I have purposely avoided listening to it. I play this piece on guitar and learned it from the Bach manuscript. It took forever to memorize it but it sounds great on guitar. There are a few places here where she takes liberties from the original folio.

this is divine😇

You hear what I hear.. and her music touches the soul

awesomeness.

lovely

Wow♥

Search Deutsche Grammophon's site for the Verbier 2007 stream. It includes the complete Sonata 2 and much more.

awesome

beautiful girl...playing a beautiful piece....

Fugues are soooo beautiful.

Bravo!

Hilary is the best female violinist of the world, by far. Just wonderful. This concert she was particularly inspired.....a true delight! Thank you for posting!

Dear Ms. Hahn: please record the rest of the solo Bach already :D This is a phenomenal take on the A minor

Eres ,una virtuosa del violin ,y con una sesibilidad especial ,eres una maravilla y un encanto oirte.un saludo

Bach is a genius. God I love him so much it hurts... FUCKING RIDICULOUS what he did!

@amiraniable I don't think Podger, Holloway, Schroder, etc would call this pathetic or unprofessional. I've never met a period musician who looked down on modern Bach interpretations as inherently wrong. Just a different yet equally valid interpretation. I wonder what Bach, who seemed to be a progressive forward-looking innovator, would think of 21st century musicians trying to emulate the past. He might've actually liked the Tourte bow and pianoforte. For me Kuijken and Hahn are preferred.

I have recordings of this piece by Tetzlaff, Ehnes, Milstein, Perlman, Grimaux, Kuijken, and Galbraith. Here, Hahn is the best I have heard in the fugue.

Her Bach is amazing. It easily compares to Milstein and Szeryng in my opinion. She doesn't do them too fast like other violinists tend to, and she knows how to bring out the important notes, which can be quite tricky.

The recital took place in a church at the Verbier Festival, 2008. There's your explanation.

Hilary Hahn ist ein Wunder an Technik und Präzision; sie ist die bedeutendste Bach-Interpretin der Gegenwart.

genius!!!

@fingerhorn4 And by the way, I think Hahn plays bach beautifully, with great taste, pulse, structure, line, phrasing, tuning, bowing and in all ways superbly.

holy shit.

I really want to see other parts.

The only thing I don't like is that the video cuts off and I can't hear the ringing of the beautiful final chord. What a wonderful performance.

Do you have another three pieces,Grave ,Andante ,Allegro? Thank you:))

Henryk Szeryng used to stand alone as the absolute all time master of these solo sonatas/partitas. i think Hilary has now joined him on the highest pedestal. it's a pity he didn't live long enough to hear her play.

why did you delete other parts? i had seen them and they were awesome..really why?

yeah!!! she makes it look so easy. the double stops are so smooth it's like different flavors of ice cream melting together. how does she do it?

special

The more I listen to that girl the more I become deeply uncomfortable - how come on earth are such musical sense and such technical perfection possible ??? There is something unconceivable in here

personality and good sound... what else

She is the ling ling !!!

Very nice interpretation. Lovely. But what's with that thing in the background that looks like a cross? Cover that up, please!

@SGPlayer0008 : This might be a composition that could be a walkover if one 'investigates' the composition (David) !

none plays bach like Hilary end of story !!!!

Very good points. Glenn Gould would have agreed.

10 people disliked it while they were crying and missed the like button

Bach makes me want to cry because he's such a genius. I am honored to play anything he wrote.

Well, depends on whether you see this as a 4 tone fugal subject or not, this and the c# minor fugue of WTC book1, show how Bach was a genius beyond imagination. Although I do not actually see this subject as "4 tone" I must say, that it is an incredibly short subject which... is very hard to develop into such a masterpiece. Bach is a genius... beyond imagination.

como a varios lo dijeron aqui prefiero hann ke szeryng en bach y cabe mencionar que en entrevista hann dijo que la interpretacion debach que mas le gusta es precisamente de szeryng

I think he was the absolute all time master. What about Grumiaux's brilliant rendition, as well as menuhin's chaconne for instance. You should also check out Salvatore Accorde in the fugue. Hilary Hahn is amazing in her own right, but I won't go as far as to apply "the absolute all time master" title to anyone, even more so on something as incredible on Bach.

From a contemporary violin performance standpoint, she is top notch. Her technique is basically perfect, and her chord rolls are flawless and clean. However, I prefer period-appropriate performances, where Baroque style is employed. Listen to a Brandenburg concerto, where fast notes are long and longer notes are abbreviated. Here, she plays most of the long notes long, as well as the short ones. I've studied the style, and have performed them on Baroque violin. Just another interpretation.

@cageynerd For violin perhaps, but no violinist's interpretations of Bach can even begin to compare to the level of understanding and insight found in the recordings of Glenn Gould

I was just speaking metaphorically and having met her in person I think she is also very callous and unfriendly which further supports my theory.

@my666vs777 I disagree, her technique is exceptionally a high tier. Her recording of the Schoenberg Violin Concerto sounded effortless whilst Heifetz claimed it as unplayable. I don't get what you mean by very very good or great, but I do know she's young and has MUCH more room for improvement. Look at David Oistrakh, he didn't get serious with violin until his college years. Until then, he was playing viola. Nobody knew what he could do with that violin.

@bartmeijer1954 : To avoid repetitive counter practising. Some pedagogues are fibbers !

her purity makes bach so amazing! although, i'd have to say i prefer james ehnes for bach a tiny bit more :)

How do you mean to investigate? Do you mean the independent motion of lines, the dynamics, the theory? Investigate what aspects? Why avoid practicing? Are you saying that once you have gained a certain level of technique you no longer need to stay in touch with your instrument? Your technique I suppose could be kept up by finger tapping etc. But the instrument should be a part of your body and soul, like it was to Rachmanninoff. It is very good to research the relationships between notes

and i am not discounting Glenn Gould's methods (if that is your school of thinking) I am just aware that everybody has different strength and inherent abilties, perfect pitch or not being an example, and everyone should do what's most effective, extensive, and heartfelt for them. How about investigating on your instrument?

@viola989 Yes I'm familiar with Quantz and the various "manuals" of baroque playing. Baroque music is kept alive and fresh by not burying it in playing "rules". Provided the player does not become tasteless or over-play, any style which musical and communicates the composition is fine. Bach rarely indicated any detail apart from the notes. It is the pretentious mannerisms of modern baroque playing which disturb me.

Her Bach is the best one

I have ten recordings of this piece, and nine of them are slower than this.

Grumiaux will forever remain my favorite interpreter of Bach, and honestly, violinist in general. But I have to give it to Ms. Hahn, her style is unmistakable, and I would say this to an extent, where even an inexperienced musical ear could discern this. That is not something most violinists have a claim to. I can only say in words, that it is the fluid connection of notes, and the singing nature in which she plays. Not my favorite, but bravo nonetheless.

do you know how old is she? xD couse she look like 16-18

Gould is a genius but it is difficult to express four part music as effectively on the violin compared to the piano

@MusicPredominates Of course. And avoid too much repetition.

When I hear her, I only want to listen to Hillary Hahn for now on. Even Perlman pales when it comes to Bach. Only Kuijken can do Bach better, but also differently.

*Vuillaume Violin played by a Japanese Robot Bach fugue*

Everyone has an occasional bad day. Perhaps you caught her on one.

You're right...they are general rules and not cast in stone. Some example mannerisms: Long and unnecessary pause before last cadential chord at end of slow movements; tendency to crescendo on every truncated long note in slow movements; complete absence of vibrato when a little would sound better; over-precious and bland playing of vigorous pieces; obsession with ornamentation rather than basic musicality; taking fast movements miles too fast; taking slow movements miles too slow, etc.

For some reason, I like Bach when when it is louder and courser. I like the vibrato only on the longer notes. Is anyone familiar with this style of Back interpretation? What do you guys think about this?

man. once you look at her hands you will fid our that she is no robot. there is no robot in this world can do this complecated solos yet.

@my666vs777 hahahah

Destroys Grimaux's recording...

Oh man I am convinced this girl is just a robot with organic skin over an endoskeleton I mean look at her movements.

10 people either have VERY bad coordination or VERY bad vision and missed the like button. This is not music for mortals to comprehend.

10 people dislike it while they were crying and missed the dislike button

What is old-fashioned? Hilary Hahn's style of performance, which has its merits, is perhaps 60 years old, not much more, not much less. Musicians who specialize in Early music tend to find out about things as well as think for themselves, which is why many people consider that a truly modern approach. It's interesting to listen to Joseph Joachim's recordings of Bach. Gives you perspective - they are rather different from anything you hear today.

This piece is horrendously difficult. She gives a wonderful interpretation of the lines. I've played this on the piano (BWV 964 in Dm), and this four part fugue is far more difficult on the violin. It's bad enough on a keyboard. My biggest problem was starting this section a bit too fast. Do that and you're ******.

some times I doubt is real

But what is the Baroque style? At best it is an assumption of how Bach and others were played. There are no recordings and no videos, only scant descriptions which are not reliable. The mannerisms now forming the assumed baroque "style" are often just that: for example the habit of exaggerated pausing before a cadence, which I find extremely irritating, has no basis in evidence. The best performance is a muscial one, and the best "style" is that which brings out the music.