Jascha Heifetz - Chaconne (Bach) 

I feel like this is one of those very rare pieces of human creation that seems so impossibly perfect to be made by a human. But at the same time it is exactly so great because was made by a human and it possess all those very human emotions and it has a sort of awareness of incompleteness and human fragility, and at the same time it's expressing gratitude and acceptance. And exactly this is what makes it transcend itself above other music. It's so haunting to think that his piece was once a concept in someone's mind. A simply unparalleled piece.

This from the man who gave his life to the violin. A treasure of greatness from both the composer and the musician.

Chaconne is the piece you take with you when earth is about to be destroyed and you have to jump in the spaceship and leave. From it one can recolonize music from earth. Damn! It is sublime❤

Heifetz really brings Bach's emotion alive. Strong forte, delicate piano, Huge dynamics. Sounds like music from Heaven.

My parents insisted on taking hear Heifetz play when I was a little boy, telling me it would was a once in a lifetime occasion that I would remember for the rest of my life They were right, and now 61 years later, I can still hear those notes seared into my brain. Wonderous in the literal sense of the word.

Bach's music is eternal! Stop taking it down, youtube!!!!

One of the great testaments in western civilization. Universal. We are so lucky to have this.

Heifetz was the greatest violinist of the 20th century.

Heifetz. A tornado bottled neatly. He is my absolute favourite when it comes to Bach. Perfect.

This is what goes on in the mind of a genius.

Brahms: “On one stave, for a small instrument, the man writes a whole world of the deepest thoughts and most powerful feelings. If I imagined that I could have created, even conceived the piece, I am quite certain that the excess of excitement and earth-shattering experience would have driven me out of my mind. If one doesn’t have the greatest violinist around, then it is well the most beautiful pleasure to simply listen to its sound in one’s mind.”

There shouldn't be a dislike button in this video. It's Jascha Heifetz for God's sake!!!

How does this NOT have 10 Million+ views? Kids these days… most will find out Heifetz in their college years.. Sad.

This is so heavenly that I wanted to cry but I don't 😮😮! What a masterpiece of God's vibration on earth!

I loved Perlman’s interpretation of Chaconne. But Heifetz’s, for me, is God tier. His interpretation is kind of like what rage, desperation, longing and acceptance in the end sounds like. As for Perlman’s, it’s more on the sweet taste of loving someone and setting them free. It goes straight to acceptance. More like reminiscing the good memories, yes longing, but more on a positive light. Chaconne has always felt to me like the sound of betrayal by a loved one, the ache and the hurt that comes with it and still having love and hope for them despite.

After this performance Heifetz looks up at the recording booth and says "Was that okay?" (I amuse myself to no end with that one).😄

Whenever I watch this, which is not that often because it hits hard, I think that it's probably the greatest video I've watched (and listened to) as to what being human is about

I love the moment at 2:23 when Heifitz plays a wrong note (two Fs instead of E then F), because it shows how even Heifitz, probably the greatest violinist to ever live, still makes mistakes. And, the way he hides his mistake is amazing, he continues on without hesitation and seamlessly blends the wrong note into the rest of the piece.

I love how this dry and intimate recording allows the technical mastery and expressive delivery Heifetz brings to the Chaconne shine. So many recordings are done in acoustic spaces with longer reverb tails that don't allow the same type of performance. This shows off bow control in separate bow legato transitions is smooth as butter (example 3:23 ). In the best situation, the different acoustic spaces feel like a part of the instrument and the setting may subtly shape how to play a song. Of course, if you have been in High School Band playing in a closed stadium it can be tricky, and I appreciate the performers, sound engineers, and performers playing on a stage underground in a bar one day and the next in an amphitheater with concrete and stadium speakers. A great performance of Chaccone in a longer reverb performance is by Itzhak Perlman in his 1978 live recording where he played the pristine acoustics of Saint John's Smith Square, London. Perhaps one of my favorite moments for comparison is how Heifetz treats the variations of the bariolage towards the end: 11:11 - First, without harsh bowings, he keeps dynamics similar and lets the open string and slight tempo change develop that tension 11:21 - In the second variation, the A at the tip of the bow begins delicate and softer, with the repeated A remaining in the background as he brings out phrasing clearly in the prominent double stops. The ease with that he performs this is to quote a user below "God-tier". To compare. Perlman's performance of this passage really allows some of those single notes to sing out into the space and it is beautiful that they come through so clearly. (ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-qtyTaE7LvVs.html) -- I don't know if Heifetz's performance would have worked here, my thoughts are no. However, I have heard artificial reverb added and I hope that never happens again.). It is understandable why this piece has been played on so many instruments, and ensembles, and why it is so loved. I hope my links work! (edits fixing links timings)

For me, Heifetz's version of chaconne shows a longing for someone while remembering the passionate times they spent, and for me, it also shows a raging emotion of a person that can not move on from his loss. On the other hand, Perlman's version seems to express the intimacy that the lovers experienced and the bittersweet feeling of goodbyes. Hilary's version fully expresses the grief caused by the loss of a beloved person.

This is real music. One gem in a vastness of space speaking about existence.

ハイフェッツのシャコンヌ、このver.が一番好きです。 初めて聞いたとき泣いてしまうほどでした。

There is no word to describe J.S. Bach but he was a mastermind complete genius of the whole universe of music. Heifetz the greatest violinist since Paganini no other words to describe Heifetz than genius and the greatest virtuoso. When you put Bach and Heifetz together 🤯🤯🤯😮😌😌😌😃😄😁

Qué manera de tocar el violín¡¡¡¡ Qué barbaridad¡¡¡¡ Genial¡¡¡¡

Jascha Heifetz has really interpreted Bach to an extent like no others before. Combined with his impeccable dexterity, it will always hold true that he is one of the best violinists ever. Also, I love his old-school and bold approach to Bach, using vibratos which modern violinists no longer use when playing Bach.

Such a unique performance. His posture, like that of a surgeon, doesn't move, not even for a moment.

Heifetz el mejor violinista en interpretar Chacone de Bach, mi total admiración

A performance of superb musicality and power within the constraints of the chaconne form. Thank you to the Jascha Heifetz Estate for making this available on RU-vid.

I love his tempo in this recording! thank you

That is one of the best performances I've ever seen.

When he came to Peru, he performed this piece.

Jascha chases away all shadows and brings light to everyone who listens

A brilliant, iconic, performance that captures every nuance of this miraculous work. Heifitz's wondrous bowing technique is truly awe inspiring. The Chaconne sings out as if from heaven.

Listening to this today was truly a transcendental experience. The purity of this piece by Bach especially played by Heifetz, was overwhelming. I found myself totally riveted to every movement of Heifetz, completely absorbed in the mind of Bach and at one point I was so overcome with emotion, that I started crying uncontrollably. The beauty of the music touched me very deeply and profoundly. There are other recordings of the Chaconne, but none matches, in my opinion, Heifetz.

"Heifetz's violin performance is absolutely mesmerizing! The way they effortlessly draw emotions from the strings is truly incredible. Their technique and passion shine through in every note. I could listen to this over and over again."

何度聴いても最高です♪ナマで聴けないのが残念です…

To hear him is to listen to magic happening.

Damn, no shoulder rest. This dude went all out

His solos sound orchestral, the sounds he creates are mind bending. I just discovered him in the 1947 film Carnegie Hall with Marsha Hunt, his performance is a must see if you are a fan.

"Heifetz was the greatest of all violinists in the past, present and future." - V. V. Zibulkin

In this speed, I could listen to the music itself, instead of hearing the skills.

Arguably the greatest piece of music in history.

Heifetz…..che violinista leggendario….😌

Ah..so beautiful, the music and also Heifetz himself

Wow........what a performance.....it sings, skips, meanders, hops, runs, glides....swirls and gathers.....

Heifetz is one of the best violinist in my heart ❤️

That sound though, every string has its own voice!

Heifetz’s rendition of this piece is my favorite

Energetic . Peaceful . Amazing . Only talented people can play this 👌🏻

Just the most incredible piece 😪😍😁🤔🎼🎵🎶

Don't know who am I more obsessed with, Bach or Heifetz?

The epitome of musical perfection, absolute and unparalleled skill. The emotion and intent behind each stroke of the bow and slide of the fingers across the strings are so beautiful, the expressiveness is as if it were a voice talking. Wonderful!

It's such a touching and great performance. I'm just thankful that I can hear it like this.

Fantastic! Makes me feel so grateful to God and the artist.

The greatest

Hace 20 años que la escucho tambien toco el violin y no puedo creer como puede ser tan perfecta es de otro planeta

What a tone! So much passion in his music. Heifetz is divine!

Thanks for the reupload.

Here is perhaps the greatest ever studio recording of Bach's Chaconne and Heifetz's expression at the end is... OK, that was adequate.

私にとって一生かけて練習する曲です。

Transcendent! 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

Beautiful recording

Lyrical, emotive and monumental... Wonderful. I love how Jascha is in tune with Bach's heart as he plays this..

If not for American gods, I may not be able to have seen this beautiful artistry in the first place.... Nice one sir, you are TRULY a legend.

Always, thanks to you, Master!

30년전 가난한 나의 고등학생 시절, 친구가 복사 해준 하이페츠의 샤콘느, 멘델스존 바이올린 협주곡을 들으며 비참한 삶을 견뎠다. 시끄러운 임대 아파트, 답답한 미래 그리고 끝날 것 같지 않던 가난..... 지금은 그저 그런 중년의 아줌마가 되어 그럭저럭 살아 가고 있지만 그 시절 밤바람 맞으며 듣던 하이페츠가 주던 감동은 없다. 삶이 더 이상 절박하지 않아서인가? 다시 돌아 가고 싶진 않치만 하이페츠와 함께 하던 그 시간만은 떠오고만 싶네.

At the moment, this is the best piece of music I have ever seen performed.

Always The Maestro.

ハイフエツツのシャコンヌがとても好きです。魂に響いてくる感じで、この曲を作った大昔の作曲家であるバッハが何を考えどんな性格の人であったのか、とても興味が湧きます。学術的な難しい事は分かりませんがバッハの人間性を感じさせる名曲であり、それを解釈して弾いているハイフエツツに脱帽します。しかもとても冷静に彼らしく演奏し曲創りする。こんな素敵なバイオリニストはまた現れるのでしょうか？

Just... DAMN!!

a celestial interpretation and a flawless execution!

people who disliked this are violinists who couldn't play this piece as good as this legend.....Lolol...... Just kidding.... they're people who got covid and lost sense of taste of actual good music.....

Love his vibrato. You can really hear it at the beginning

So beautiful

a great performance reminiscent of his 1930's recording that was also like white light/white heat. Heifetz recreates this immortal cathedral of sound with a rhythmic forward propulsion quite different than dozens of other violinists. All in one take, live!

I like his style ,because his tone is not flatter. natural and not exaggeration.

This is my favorite recording of the Bach chaconne

Beautiful!! Just Beautiful!! It touched my soul 💕💕🔮🎶

This should get much more views than Hilary’s, this is more than a gem!

Can't thank you enough.

Melhor versão da chaconna 😍

감사합니다.

Heifetz' interpretation of La Chaconne is: Fantastic!

amazing!

Bach played the violin, but how could he deal with this piece? Brahms said that it would have driven him insane to have conceived such a piece of music.

emotional. superior performance to anyone I've seen or heard play it before or since. bravo.

Can not decide which one is the greater, the xomposer or the artist. Bach will be smiling when he listens to Heifetz playing this piece. 😊

Love this..!

I like the sound of Heifetz. I think there are various opinions about the charm of his performance, but I think that his tone is the origin of the charm. Even among violinists, he doesn't seem to be the type to play so emotionally, but maybe that's why when I listen to his tone, there's something that appeals to my feelings, and I'm struck by it every time. The same goes for this Chaconne, a word that is absolutely wonderful. Unfortunately, his last concert was before I was born, but I definitely wanted to listen to him perform live.

Emocionante fantástico, amenizar os sentimentos negativos, obrigado por você existir.

This piece is definitely top ten!

Master violin

master!

Bravo, maestro!

Bravo 👏🏾

Pure greatness. Together with the classical guitar transcription played by Andrea Vitis, the best I've heard and seen so far.

Perfect!

Toutes les œuvres passées sous l'archet de Jascha Heifetz sont des références musicales.

Maravilloso!

Dear God! it was and indescribable experience.