Ultimate music CANVAS - interpreting JS Bach - Amazing insights on Bach's music 

5:52 "Play what you WANT to play, play what you LOVE to play."

It is great pleasure to listen Your teaching and playing. I find it inspiring and useful . Thank you very much.

I find your videos extremely inspiring Mr Houston - thank you so much! Please keep it up.

Goodmorning Mr Houston, thank you a lot for your lesson because as you say Bach is Bach no matter wich instrument you play 😊 Bach Is my Master and his music is always a new discover, a research. I played when I was a guitarist many years ago and then as a flutist wich still I am. Enjoy his music playjng viola .. well, I just began to study it but I know I will 😊

Rounded bow strokes generate a well rounded sound.

Start on the string and let it lift off...why didn't I thought of that. My bow bounces in a very aweful way that I couldn't hear my own playing. Thank you so much for the pointers.

Just starting to play the violin, but hearing you talk about the viola, and listening to you play, I'm so tempted to switch instruments. Also: I just love and need Bach in my life.

Nice lesson!!

Sir very good tips

Sir, listening music is most important, really very nice to listen. Thank you once again.

Such SAGE instruction.

Grand merci ! Dorénavant, "Bach du matin, je vais bien !" 😅

The truth is that playing the music of J.S. Bach is a privilege. And if that passion arrives that you want to transmit! of course ! Thank you very much for the master class. If you allow me a question... don't you use Shoulder Rest? Regarding the position of the viola to play... it is interesting that each one says a shape, as well as the size. But I don't want to bother. Thank you so much ! And regards !

Great vid as always!!! Off-question though - where did you get your shirt from? I've been trying to find one with a halfway button-down for a long time, no luck :-/

There is no fair copy manuscript in Bach's hand for the Cello Suites. The version we play is in Mary Magdalena's hand. Some contemporary scholars have asserted that she actually wrote these pieces, and though the proof they present is not convincing yet, it is intriguing to consider. There is a fair copy manuscript of the Sonatas and Partitas for Violin, and they are fundamentally different than the Cello Suites. They don't allow as much room for interpretation as the Cello Suites, which are far more introspective. They are beautiful pieces, but to play them on Viola is like fitting square pegs into round holes. They are not really suited for an instrument played on the shoulder like the Sonatas and Partitas are. I prefer to play those on Viola. I really liked your video and look forward to seeing more. Best - David Zimbalist (Stretto)

Ron, were you at tanglewood?