Flipping a Bach Partita- Flamenco (Split Screen Video)

July 30, 2018, 11:24 AM · A shared reference point can make all the difference in getting a point across.

A piece of repertoire, in this case a Bach Partita, is often chosen as a reference point exactly for this reason. (See video below.)

Reaching one million views on my YouTube channel inspired the making of Bach’s 2nd Violin Partita in the style of a Flamenco buleria, playing multiple parts on violin, octave violin, electric bass, the Yamaha Electric Violin, & featuring Cedric Easton on cajon, percussion, & drums.

The arrangement occurs in three sections:

The opening follows Bach’s original violin melody with staggered entrances on hand claps + electric bass, followed by Cedric Easton entering on cajon.

The “jazz violin solo” starting at 1:06 coincides with the entrance of Cedric on drum kit.

The original rock-inspired outro, featuring the Yamaha SV-250 Electric Violin, starts at 2:36.

People ask me all the time about what it’s like playing “Jazz” on the violin, and I have a hard time answering the question because.. well, because it’s complicated…

The word “Jazz” means different things to different people. Jazz, like classical music, covers a wide range, and many jazz musicians, like classical musicians, are influenced from a wide realm of influences.

It seems easier sometimes to SHOW this rather than discuss it. And having a common reference point makes all the difference in getting the point across.

The origin of the video-

My oldest kid, Camille, was home on break from college and was like, “Hey dad let’s jam on the D Minor Partita.”

After years as a Suzuki dad of pleading, bribing, and begging my kid to get excited about violin, I wasn’t about to miss this chance, so we sat down and looked at the chord changes.

“Why don’t we make a video?” said one of us. We never got around to the video that time, but when Camie left for school I asked permission to use the idea… and thus was born this arrangement of Bach’s Partita.

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CREDITS

Bach Partita #2- (“Giga”)
Produced by Christian Howes
Arrangement & Original Material by Christian Howes
Performed by Christian Howes and Cedric Easton (drums, percussion, and cajon).
Based on and inspired by J.S. Bach’s Partita No. 2 in D minor, BWV 1004
Cedric Easton recorded drums and percussion in Columbus, Ohio.

Thanks to Greg Byers for assistance with post production.

Special thanks to Camille Vogley-Howes for the inspiration!
Recorded, mixed & mastered by Justin Hrabovsky