J.S. Bach on 8-string guitar. Adagio and Fuga BWV 1003 

I am disabled, and also very ill, but due to a compromised immune system, my doctor does not want me to go to a hospital. You cannot imagine how much joy you have given me in a very difficult time. Thank you so very much.

I want to never take for granted the ability to enjoy the craft of a truly great musician like Drew because I can access it with the tap of a screen. Long ago, performances of this quality would likely have not have been available to one like me. Calming, inspiring. Many thanks!

I can't even put into words the amount of time, patience, practice and skill it takes to play something as intricate as that piece is...and then to play it all from memory. Mindblowing.

Absolutely beautiful work-the playing, the sound, the camera angles. You let Bach do the talking, and that takes mastery.

My wife is a really incredible guitarist and can memorize pieces on the instrument very quickly... So once, when we were teens, I had had a particularly bad day and couldn't sleep that night. So, knowing how much I love classical music, she learned this piece and sat next to my bed playing it all night until I fell asleep. I can't listen to it without getting a little teary-eyed now.

The precision of a well trained classical player is almost as beautiful as the music itself. I am forever in awe at the determined work ethic required to play like this.

ONE OF THE MOST MUSICAL , CULTURED & CLEANEST GUITAR PERFORMERS OF TODAY !

I fell in love with the classical guitar when I would listen to buskers in San Francisco as a young teen. My mother got a guitarist to give me private lessons, but with an old acoustic guitar, it was very difficult. Even though I never learned to play well, at 63, I still love to listen to those who have mastered it.

Drew's ability to emphasize the fugue's motif from beginning to end, to articulate the voicing, keeping each voice distinct while maintaining perfect tone and technique both amazes and inspires me. José Tomás, who made the 8-string guitar a concert instrument, would be blown away by Drew's talent. I heard him play this same Adagio and Fugue decades ago in Alicante.

Requires repeated listening to fully appreciate the depth of this performance.... humbling beautiful.

This is truly a superb performance. The Bach fugues are not easy to bring together at this level. So much perfection in your playing Drew. I think Bach would have big smile on listening to this.

This is just incredibly beautiful and precise. I've played guitar for 55 years and never approached this level of technique. There is no better way to hear much of Bach's music than nylon strings and ten fingers dancing all over them. Thankyou Drew for your dedication to this instrument.

Mr. Hendersen, you do both the guitar and JS Bach justice. Thank you for sharing your talent. Bravo!!!!!

The artist gives the music all the tenderness and passion it deserves and of course Bach deserves a lot.

My deaf son (with coclear implant) loves this performance. Thank you!

What a wonderful performance. Inspiring.

An ASTONISHING performance! Clapping! Made my cry. You really pulled off an entire large Bach fugue on a GUITAR and did it with exquisite musicality and panache. I love you man. Wow.

Very nice sound of 8 string guitar. The performance is wonderfull. Thank you so much.

Nice to see another musician who actually understands Bach with their heart rather than head. I don't find too many musicians who get to the depth of Bach as you do in this performance. Great work.

I m from Russia. I m watching this video many times. It s amazing! I began to play guitar 15 years ago, but I m cant imagine HOW? This is high level! Thank you very much! I will see all your video and will enjoy your magic performance!

That 8-string guitar is like an extension of his own body...perfectly executed. A perfect balance of technique & emotion, his intonation and timbre is flawless. 302 tone-deaf haters.

Absolutely beautifully preformed..🎶🙏🎶

Holy Hannah My dear brother Drew. Julian Bream is in musical heaven, probably wondering why he didn't record on an 8 string. It's lovely, it's beautiful, and you play deeply beautifully, and it helps make the world a better place than how we found it. Which was Bach's whole point. How many subjects and Ideas come together to create truth, beauty, and meaning, to help make existence worthwhile. Thanks for your gifts and sharing them with us. Ronnie

5:29 wow that bass string I love it! Excellent performance thank you Drew!

That was excellent. The people who gave it a thumbs down are truly joyless individuals.

Love listening to Bach on the classical guitar, and the 8-string guitar is a nice touch

Gorgeous! Flawless performance, soulful interpretation, wonderful setting, beautiful instrument.

I've seen this videos over a hundred times over the years, and yet, every time I come back I'm blown away all over again! Drew, my goodness, your talent is immense.

Bach transcribes so well to nylon string guitar...this man is amazing.

Haunting beautiful tone.The fugue was awesome.

The great things about the music of Bach is that it can be transposed and interpreted by artists in so many ways and yet still retain its appeal to purists who appreciate his musical genius.

Absolutely impressive! Tone, phrasing, fluency...everything. Wonderful playing!

A very majestic performance that suits this composition of Bach ...

You are without a doubt, the best guitarist I have ever seen or heard.

Total perfection comes as standard! Fabulous!!👏👏👏👏👏

I'm in awe, the command, the phrasing, its just on another level entirely; I'm so humbled by your performance. Thank you.

Magnificent! So many classical guitarist I see seem to be struggling with their instruments, particularly in pieces transcribed from other instruments, but you play with an effortless fluidity and an evenness in tone and touch that is remarkable. it really lets the music be free and live. And what music! Your instrument is a marvel, too. The fullness of the tone, the range, all are unique. Just beautiful work.

Bach's music always draws pictures for me. If it comes to pick either Mozart or Bach, many people pick Mozart. I'd pick Bach. I never understood why he is well know, but at the same time does not get the same recognition as Mozart. Of course it is a matter of taste, but is one really able to dislike Bach? Just listen at the colors of his music. It has so much life in it. Bach speaks to me. He is my spirit animal! Sometimes it amazes me that this was written hundreds of years ago. Bach isn't just music. Sometimes I like to believe there is god in it. That's how amazing it sounds to me. Great performance, Mr. Henderson! You did Bach justice!

The adagio is beautiful but the fugue shows the full brilliance of the master, with each phrase building and building to an incredible level of beauty. Gorgeous playing of this sublime piece.

You are a magician Drew, everything you play is amazing. I also love your duos with Michael, you and he seem to be "as one" when playing together, almost like it is ONE person playing. Thank you for all you share with us here.

This is truly one of the most inspiring guitar performances, the way you have used this instrument, particularly in the fuga, is just crystalline. You, sir, are in a class of your own. I also just want to say that your performance with Michael Kolk of Bach's Dm concerto is one I return to over and over. Please keep it up!

Exquisite! Such clarity! I love the depth provided by the additional strings. BRAVO!

leaves me speechless and in tears! so wonderful !!!!

Wow, that guitar has a beautiful tone. It almost sounds like a piano.

Incredible! I've honestly never heard that fugue sound so good. Thanks for sharing this .

So beautiful and almost nobody watching. This video should have millions of hits and LIKES. When i see this, my guitar sits in the corner for a few days.

Good heavens! It takes true mastery of not only the piece, but the instrument, to be able to close your eyes and feel it. I've been trying to focus on that more lately in my own playing. This is beautiful in every way!

After listening to this I am unsure if I should resume my guitar studies or simply retire. MANY thanks for sharing. It is grand to know what the music I am struggling with is supposed to be.

Completely lost for words. Amazingly accurate and beautiful.

That impressed me to the core, what a wonderful sound and very nicely played. Thank you Drew.

It's so perfect in every aspect I could cry. I grew up on rock music but now I'm sitting here speechless. You got a new subscriber. Thank you.

Fantastic! Bach is a Master, but Henderson is more than up to the task!

The tone, mastery and interpretation of this are all masterful. Such a good job, man.

Beautiful performance. Full of virtuosity and talent. Thank you very much.

Very talented professional,on an 8 string lute! Magnifico classical!

I've come back to listen to this beautiful performance several times, and I must say I've never heard such a crisp yet gentle and balanced guitar tone in my life! The singing top notes and the velvety, caressing basses are heavenly! Clearly, this is a superb instrument. Likewise, your precise, intelligent playing, and humble attitude to this music are exceptional. These put you far above the rest, Drew. Greetings from another multistring player, and my deepest respect!

Standing ovation, bravo, bravo, bravo.

Absolutely beautiful tone, space, time, composition. As nearly flawless as humanly possible. Great Music, Great musician.

Oh Man this is divine what you play, and all by heart, Bech, amazing colours amazing tones, simplicity, beauty, color, would listen and liten.

After years and years of watching all types of amazing guitarists playing various genres on RU-vid you kind of get desensitized and very hard to impress. But once in a blue moon you come across one of these videos that makes you go "god damn" again. Extremely clean playing. The definition of a smooth operator.

Who would give this a thumbs down? Wonderful playing!

Adágio 0:00 Fuga 4:22

I love me some Bach. So relaxing and soothing to hear, and this version with this instrument did not dissapoint.

This is the perfect control, coordination and relaxation of mind and body in action that I am envy so much about. Great arrangement and performance !

Extraordinary! Your performance is the envy of most violinists!

Amazing performance, every note was so clean and the emotion is just unreal.

This guitar sounds exceptionally well. Great playing.

Che suono pulito, preciso, sicuro...... Si! Mi piace! Bravo Maestro!

Wow! The guitar sounds great, very big soulful sound.

This is absolutely divine.

Wow! An amazing performance - somehow the extra bass strings give the piece even more dimension. Wonderful interpretation and so cool to hear Bach played on an 8-string guitar.

This performance is soul-drenching!

not a note out of place, incredible.

Honestly Drew you're one of my favourite guitarists man. Yet another spectacular video and performance.

Such a difficult piece technically, and musically with regard to producing distinct voicing. It's amazing just how talented Drew Henderson is, making pieces like this appear easy to play. I'll take his playing over anyone else's.

Dude is an amazing guitarist.

I only discovered you yesterday and am blown away by the sound you make. Glorious! Thank you Drew.

I always think playing fugue on a guitar is extremely difficult as your left hand must be very flexible,quick and accurate.You absolutely nailed it👍

It´s really impressive even after watching the great greatest guitar players ever, no kidding, your musicianship is way over normal great. Thanks for doing this!

Most beautiful performance. The ressonance is phenonminal! Bravo!!!

Spellbinding. I needed this today. Thank you.

Such an elegant sound. And the trills are just perfect! Thanks for sharing this video!

All angels have descended and whisper in my ear the song of Grace.

And to think he did that in his sleep

Simply amazing Drew - the music, the technique, the guitar. Beautiful!

Absolutely exquisite! What beautiful expressive playing. I hope there will be much for us to listen to.

Thank you so much for this and indeed all your stellar work. It is almost magical the way you symbiotically synthesize musician, instrument and material taking us to another realm. I cannot tell you the hours of pleasure you give me. Thanks again!

Мои бурные аплодисменты!!!👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏💖💖💖💖💖💖💖 Благодарю за прекрасную музыку и великолепное исполнение! Просто блестяще!!!

Brilliant! Great sound, phrasing, sonority, certainly moved me!

Realmente hermoso. Una interpretación impresionante. perfecta técnica, sonido, musicalidad que enamora. Felicitaciones

As some ppl say: if there's a music of Bach then there must be a God

The best. Period. The Fuga is one of my favs and this is flawless. How anyone could give a thumbs-down is beyond me.

Excellent musical playing. This guitar rocks, great balance and beautiful tone.

Wow the 8 strings sound so different... great playing

The mastery of Bach on display.

This is wonderful in every way. The playing, the sound of the instrument, the recording, the acoustics, and the absolute respect shown to the master of all masters, Bach. I have only just discovered Drew, but he leaps to to the top of my list. Thank you ❤️☯️🙏

Great playing, fantastic interpretation!

Simply, a giant artist.

On reste sans voix devant tant d'éloquence musicale, tant de virtuosité!

Truly inspiring, I can't fathom those trills between two strings. The notes in the bass are not overwhelming. Just good.